Yesterday, Garmin announced its new watch. The biggest selling point? It connects to both cellular and satellite networks. That means users can make phone calls, trigger an SOS, and have two-way text communications with friends, family, and emergency responders all from their wrist鈥攐ff-grid and without their phone. Even with all these battery-sucking features, Garmin claims that the f膿nix 8 Pro will pack an incredible 27 days of battery life in smartwatch-mode. Also announced was the , which has the same connectivity features but a much brighter screen鈥攖he brightest on the market according to Garmin鈥攁nd a battery that still lasts up to 10 days.

The post Why Garmin’s New, Satellite-Messaging f膿nix 8 Pro Watch Matters to Backcountry 国产吃瓜黑料rs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I used to hate packing. It stressed me out because I never did a good job; I either forgot something important or brought stuff I didn’t need. But I鈥檝e discovered the best travel backpack that’s singlehandedly curing my travel stress: .

Here’s how the bag’s organization and design has reduced my packing volume and time by almost half, and, to my amazement, even made me look forward to the formerly dreaded task.

The post The Best Travel Backpack I’ve Ever Used appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I鈥檓 the father of two middle-school girls and two grade-school boys. Weekdays during the school year are absolute sprints that start before dawn and end when my wife and I fall asleep before 9:30 p.m. As many of you can relate, it鈥檚 exhausting. As a gear reviewer, I鈥檝e spent a lot of time dialing in the items that help keep the family on track and pulled together. Here are my top seven pieces of gear for busy families like ours.

The post I Have 4 Kids鈥擳his Is the Back-to-School Gear That鈥檚 Saving My Sanity appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Even though the high temperatures where I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, have averaged 95 degrees over the past three months, and my wardrobe has been reduced to shorts, sun hats, the most breathable shirts I can get my hands on, I鈥檝e also been appreciating two summer jackets. To be clear, I鈥檓 not wearing these jackets during a run at noon. But on occasion, even in this sweltering heat, I鈥檝e needed a layer to block wind and keep me warm without broiling me. These are the two standout summer jackets that get the job done鈥攔ain, shine, or suffocating heat.

The Windproof (But Breathable) Summer Jacket That’s Created by Mountain Bikers

Case in point: I recently ran up 10,500-foot Sandia Mountain, and up top the wind was howling and temps were in the low 50s. When I stopped to refuel and take in the view, I pulled out my trusty ($140) to cut the wind and keep from getting chilled.

Flylow Davis Jacket

Made from a DWR-coated, stretchy ripstop nylon, the Davis summer jacket balls up to the size of an apple so it takes up almost no room in my running pack and adds almost zero weight at just over six ounces. In the summit wind, it created immediate warmth and endured getting scraped over rocks without showing any signs of wear. Just as importantly, since the Flylow Davis doesn鈥檛 block all the breeze, I was also able to keep it on as I started my descent and didn鈥檛 overheat as I worked my way back into warmer temps.

Flylow co-founder Dan Abrams told me that the company spent an obsessive amount of time picking the fabric for the Davis because they wanted to find the perfect mix of wind resistance and breathability. An avid mountain biker himself, he designed the jacket so he could wear it to keep warm while ripping down singletrack, cruising on the flats, or pushing during the next climb.

鈥淛ust like it鈥檚 easy to make a ski jacket waterproof but harder to make it breathable, it鈥檚 easy to make a wind jacket windproof but much harder to create the right balance of breathability,鈥� Abrams said.

Flylow considers breathability so important that they list the jacket鈥檚 air permeability rating on their website. CFM stands for 鈥渃ubic feet per minute,鈥� and it relates to how much air can pass through fabric鈥攐ne component of breathability. For context, a trashbag鈥檚 CFM is zero, a cotton t-shirt has a CFM of around 60, and the most permeable tech running shirt we’ve tested came in at 464 CFM. The Davis鈥檚 CFM, listed at 22.8 (verified by the , clearly blocks wind better than a shirt, but is far enough away from a trashbag that you really notice the airflow when it鈥檚 needed.

The Lightweight Wonder with Insulation Worth Geeking Out Over

Rab Evolute Hoody

The second summer jacket in my summer wardrobe came with me to the 13,000-foot top of Arapahoe Basin鈥檚 East Wall in Colorado. Long known as a fun place to ski steep terrain, the East Wall is also the spot for the ski area鈥檚 . I had just scaled the wall with a group, and emerged at the top ready for lunch. The wind was calm, but at that elevation, it was in the low 40s. I pulled out my lightly insulated ($165) that I鈥檇 packed for this very situation. Like the Davis, the Evolute took up little room in my pack (balled up it was about the size of a grapefruit) and weighed a scant 12 ounces.

This hoodie is my one insulation piece that never gets put away for any season because it always provides immediate warmth, but鈥攍ike the Davis jacket鈥攊s designed to be as breathable as possible in fluctuating temps. Credit the thin layer of PrimaLoft Evolve Active insulation, which I鈥檝e found to be the most breathable insulation on the market for high-output activities. I鈥檝e worn midlayers with Evolve Active while hunting, skiing, hiking, and climbing, and the material always does a nearly-perfect job of shedding excess heat and moisture, no matter the temp.

The secret is in the fiber design. If you want to geek out on insulation, check out my colleague Wes Siler鈥檚 deep dive into what makes Evolve Active unique. The quick summary is that designers took a cue from animal fur, which is variable across their bodies, and made the insulation鈥檚 recycled polyester fibers in variable thicknesses and lengths. The longer fibers are designed to create warmth and the shorter fibers let excess heat escape off your body without making you cold.

That microscopic design was more than I could focus on as I started my descent of the via ferrata. I kept the jacket on until I could stop at a spot where I wasn鈥檛 blocking traffic, but it worked as promised. While I sweated in the jacket for 30 minutes, both out of fear and exertion, I never once felt I was being boiled alive. I also appreciated the jacket鈥檚 tight-fitting hood that I threw on under my helmet at the start, and the fabric鈥檚 built-in stretch that gave me full range of motion as I splayed out like a starfish to reach different holds.

Another beauty of the Davis and the Evolute is that they鈥檙e great in the fall, spring, and winter as well. The Evolute was my go-to ski touring jacket all winter since I live in New Mexico and don鈥檛 need a ski shell that often. The Davis lives in my work backpack at all times, year-round, because it鈥檚 the perfect layer when the wind picks up in the fall and I need to add a touch of warmth鈥攐r if I get caught in an April rainstorm and need to stay dry while running errands.

The post Why These Are My Two Favorite Summer Jackets appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I recently took an informal inventory of my gear to try and figure out what piece I鈥檝e used the most over the past three months. A favorite pair of and a were near the top, but as I finished the tally, it became clear that individually sealed wipe packets, like those from and , led the way by a longshot. I’ve used them countless times in every scenario imaginable, and trust me, I’ve never regretted carrying one with me while playing outside.

One standout moment was during an epic backpacking trip with my kids in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness; my wife and I relied on wipes to keep their faces (somewhat) clean during three days in the dirt. Another was the weekend I spent camping out of a car at Overland Expo West, where a morning face wipe-down was equally as important as my daily coffee鈥攁nd much easier and more effective than washing in the sink of a public restroom.

But the majority of my wet wipe uses, and the biggest reason I now find them indispensable, have come while running. At the ripe old age of 44, I鈥檝e decided to go all in on distance running鈥攁nd I鈥檝e quickly found out that the more miles I run, the more often I have to poop.

I鈥檝e visited the Porta-Potty that sits in the middle of my run loop so many times I almost take ownership. When a wind storm knocked it over for a week, it completely changed how I organized my day because I had to find another route and an accessible bathroom.

As runners know, a dirty bum, especially combined with sweat, is an easy way to increase your chances for butt chafing. And yet, toilet paper sometimes falls short in its cleaning duties. Through lots of testing (haha), I鈥檝e found that the added moisture in the wipe does a much better job cleaning so there鈥檚 as little chance as possible for chafing鈥攚hich is why I now carry a wipe on every run, no matter the distance or location.

Moisture and butts is a topic that America is actually converging around in a big way at the moment. After decades of wipes being just for babies, tons of companies now offer adult wipes for butt health. One of them, , echoes my recent revelation on its website, 鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 wash your face with a dry washcloth, why would you clean your butt with dry toilet paper?鈥�

One problem I鈥檝e had to overcome, however, is how to dispose of the used wipes. Companies claim that their wipes are 鈥渇lushable,鈥� and it鈥檚 technically true that the wipes will go down your toilet. But once they reach the city鈥檚 sewer system, the wipes don鈥檛 break down fast enough, so they cause backups and shutdowns (). Non-plant-based wipes not only cause blockages but also leak micro-plastics into the water system. Wipes, whether plant-based or not, stand almost where I live, so they鈥檒l be a hazard if left in the wild.

The good news is that there鈥檚 a fairly simple fix. At home it鈥檚 been as simple as using the wipe and then throwing it in a special plastic-bag lined trashcan. The trashcan never smells, thanks to a lid, and when the bag is full I tie it up and throw it in the outside trash, where it will eventually be taken to a landfill and have time to biodegrade. This process feels a little gross at first, but after the 100th wipe, I鈥攁nd my family鈥攃ame to treat it as normal.

国产吃瓜黑料 of the house, things get a little messier, but with a little practice, the process is totally manageable. Any time I have to use a wipe in the backcountry or when visiting the Porta-Potty, I put the soiled product in a sandwiched-sized plastic bag and either throw it away at the trailhead or at home. It can be weird to hike or run with a poopy wipe bouncing around in your pack or shorts, but there are usually bigger things to worry about (e.g., don鈥檛 trip, where鈥檚 the trail, look at that stunning sunset), so it鈥檚 easy to forget the baggage.

In terms of brands, I鈥檓 pretty agnostic, but have gravitated toward companies like the ones from that are made from plant-based ingredients so that I鈥檓 not using petroleum products and putting more plastics into a landfill. At home, I鈥檓 a big fan of because they鈥檙e cheap and come in bulk.

It鈥檚 ironic that as a gear tester, I show up to a run or a hike decked out in the newest shoes, the fanciest shorts, the most powerful GPS watch, even high-performance socks鈥攂ut secretly feel completely unprepared unless I have a wet wipe in one of my pockets. I would certainly survive my run or backpacking trip without these moist towlettes, but I鈥檓 glad I don鈥檛 have to.

The post An Ode to the Small But Mighty Wet Wipe appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

While it鈥檚 ironic to discover the best new outdoor gear while walking the floors of a windowless convention center, I was excited to attend the inaugural Switchback show in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this month. After two days of pounding the sticky trade show floor, here鈥檚 the gear that got me most excited.

Lifestraw Escape Purifier

[Launching August 5, 2026]

You can find tons of different water filtration tools for backpackers but none for the car camping/overland crowd. Lifestraw is about to launch one. The Escape is a 5-gallon jug fitted with a purifier inside and a pressurization pump up top (sort of like a beer keg). You can fill it with water from any source鈥攁 river, a pond, or a stock tank鈥攑ump it up, open the nozzle, and it will provide clean water at a flow rate similar to your kitchen sink. Because it鈥檚 a purifier and not just a filter, it gets rid of viruses in addition to bacteria, microplastics, silt, and more. Those worried about the end times will also love this unit and will keep it in their basement near the canned food cache.

Mimikai Mosquito and Tick Bug Spray

Deet and Picardin have long been the go-to ingredients in bug sprays even though both are pretty nasty. The natural bug sprays usually don鈥檛 work very well. But Mimikai, a brand new company, says they鈥檝e found a much more friendly anti-bug ingredient that鈥檚 derived from wild tomatoes and is just as effective as the harsher chemicals at repelling mosquitoes and ticks. We have yet to put it to the test, but the spray has been years in the making and is the first new EPA-registered repellent in 25 years, so it can鈥檛 be total snake oil.

Gossamer Gear Piku Sling

Most sling bags are fashion accessories or only made to hold your everyday carry. The Piku, on the other hand, is a full-on adventure pack. Thanks to the roll top, it can hold enough gear for a full-day adventure in the backcountry and comes with a little pad you can pull out and sit on for lunch. On a civilized vacation, it will hold your water bottle, a rain jacket, and other necessities, and then expand to hold whatever treats or souvenirs you buy during your day. Two included straps allow the Piku to mount on your handlebars for bikepacking adventures. Made from 100-denier recycled nylon, it鈥檚 tough as nails but only weighs 8.9 ounces.

Neve Smoothie Pouch

Neve founder Nora Fierman, an adventurous skier and mountain biker, was always looking for the best way to quickly and efficiently fuel on long backcountry adventures. Gels were fine but kinda gross, and regular apple sauce packets didn鈥檛 pack enough punch. To fill the gap, she invented her own smoothie pouches that are loaded with all the stuff you need for big, all-day outings like naturally sourced carbs, fats, and sodium, plus tons of other beneficial ingredients found in beets and boysenberries. We tried a few pouches at the show, and they are delicious, so no one should have a problem downing a couple to prevent bonking.

Akaso Seemor-200 Night Vision Goggles

These see-in-the-dark goggles aren鈥檛 intended for bad-guy hunters but for nature lovers. A variety of technologies, including infrared, let you scan a forest and immediately see things that otherwise would be hidden in the dark. Bird watchers will love using them to track owls, and I can absolutely see my kids spending hours tracking creatures in the woods after dark outside the house or on a backpacking trip. If you do see something poke through the trees, it鈥檚 easy to record the animal in 4K video so you can share your experience.

Birkenstock CT

[Launching August, 2025]

The Birkenstock Boston Clog has had more than a moment for the past year or so. Aging boomers down to high school students are now rocking these sandals, and stores can鈥檛 keep them on the shelves. Now the company is about to launch the same style of clog but with an off-road PU sole so that you can wear them to work, on vacation, and even up a trail. They鈥檙e not full-on hiking shoes, but the meaty sole will provide enough grip to get you off the pavement, and Birkenstock aficionados will undoubtedly love the chunky look. Like all Birks, the CTs come with a wildly comfy, contoured footbed and a high-quality leather upper.

GiantMouse Ace Jutland Slipjoint Brass Knife

Most knives these days are packed with as many features as possible: locking mechanisms, innovative blade designs, and more. We loved this knife from GiantMouse because it relies on simplicity and quality. Instead of a lock, there鈥檚 a slipjoint that provides a little resistance when you close the blade but still allows you to snap it shut (like your grandpa鈥檚 old knife that you played with as a kid). There鈥檚 no clever way to open the knife, just a small slit for your fingernail. It isn鈥檛 cheap at $225, but you get high-quality components, including a beautiful brass handle and an edge-holding S90v steel blade.

鈥婥raggy Portable Metal Ring Toss Game

The ring toss game has been around for a long time, but this version is made from metal and folds down for easy transport. That means it can live in your car at all times and get pulled out during every camping trip or tailgate. If you鈥檝e ever played this game, you know how addicting it can get, for kids and adults鈥攊t鈥檚 easy to spend hours battling back and forth as you perfect your technique. Seventy bucks is a lot for a game, but after it鈥檚 been used for hundreds of hours of fun, the cost will seem like a pittance.

The post Our Favorite New Gear From the Switchback Trade Show appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Like many runners, each evening I tell myself that I鈥檓 going to wake up at 5 a.m., get out the door at 6, and be home by 7. But more often I sleep through my alarm, or have to deal with an early-morning kiddo problem, and end up running midday. And by high noon, my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, regularly reaches temps well past 90 degrees, often into the triple digits. I鈥檓 careful about hydration, but my secret weapon is a carefully-constructed running kit that helps me stay cool. Over the past couple months I鈥檝e tested well over 40 pieces of gear to find the best for summer runs. Here are my five favorites.

Path Projects Moab Arm Sleeves

If you鈥檙e on a long run during the summer, you鈥檙e going to spend plenty of time getting pounded by the sun鈥攅ven if you start before dark. And here in Albuquerque, which sits at 5,300 feet, it feels like someone is holding a magnifying glass between the sun and your skin. That鈥檚 why I now pack Path Project鈥檚 skin-tight polyester/spandex sleeves, which not only block the sun, but also create an evaporative cooling effect when the moving air hits my sweat-soaked sleeves. Path Projects nailed the details with an extra-long cut that covers the back of your hand (which is an oft-neglected burn risk) and a watch slot in the wrist so you can still check your pace.

Also check out:

• : Not as fully featured, but equally good at keeping you cool.

Currently Running Pro Singlet

During really hot runs, all the younger guys in my running club just go shirtless. They鈥檙e cut and fast, so no one bats an eye. But as a hairy 44-year-old dad of four, I鈥檓 not quite as comfortable going shirtless. This singlet is more my style. I chose The C-R Pro Singlet from a large selection, mostly because of the stretchy, airy, nylon/elastane fabric. Sourced from Italy and perforated with numerous laser-cut holes, it鈥檚 the most comfortable running shirt I鈥檝e ever worn. Over dozens and dozens of miles, it鈥檚 always felt weightless but still protects my back and chest from a sunburn and provides me with just the right amount of dignity.

Also check out:

• : Offers more sun protection than the C-R Pro Singlet, but runs a little hotter.

Miler Base Running Short-Sleeve Tee

Most 鈥渉ot weather鈥� shirts feel like they鈥檙e going to fall apart after the first wash because they鈥檙e made from ultra-thin material. Miler gets around this by using a slightly-thicker polyester/elastane fabric from Switzerland that can breathe incredibly well thanks to thousands of knit-in holes, but can still take a beating from a tree branch or a washing machine. Up close, you can tell the shirt is a perforated mesh, but from afar, it just looks like a solid shirt, so you don鈥檛 come off as a creep from the 1980s. I also love that the shirt is cut and sewn in New York City, which means higher quality control.

Also check out:

• : Not as durable as the Miler shirt, but less expensive, very breathable, and comes in a host of great colors.

Satisfy Space-O Five-Inch Shorts

On the run, these shorts feel like a speedo. That鈥檚 because the only material you feel on your skin is the inner liner. The outer short material is so stretchy and full of small holes that it pretty much disappears. In fact, the nylon/elastane material is so 鈥渘ot-there鈥� that I actually felt weird for the first mile I wore them and had to look down to make sure I was covered. Lots of people will balk at the pricetag, with good reason: you鈥檙e paying for the brand, which is particularly trendy right now. But for me, the price is worth it. In addition to being the lightest-feeling short you鈥檒l ever wear, the Space-O鈥檚 have a host of nice features like a sweat-proof phone pocket, a sturdy key ring that never leaves you chafed, and perhaps the best-fitting waistband I鈥檝e ever tested.

Also check out:

• : These shorts don鈥檛 feel quite as light as the Satisfy version, but they鈥檙e made from a plush and airy material that won鈥檛 fall apart.

Ciele GOCap SC GRP鈥擵ented Athletics

While the common factoid that 80-percent of your body heat is lost through the head is merely rumor, letting your head breathe is as important as any other part of your body. nd when it鈥檚 really hot outside, a poorly-vented hat has the psychological effect of making you feel trapped and overwhelmed. That鈥檚 why I love this super-airy, all-mesh cap from Ciele. The hat also comes with a fairly large brim, at least for a running hat, which helps keep my rather large nose from getting completely cooked on long days out.

Also check out:

• : I love the 360-degrees of sun protection but I definitely sweat more with this hat on.

The post My Favorite Running Gear for When It鈥檚 Hot as Hell 国产吃瓜黑料 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The other day, while getting groceries, I saw a well-loved first-generation Toyota Tacoma with a camper shell. Walking past it, I realized that even though I hadn鈥檛 seen the owner, I had them pegged. This was the type of Tacoma that a young person would drive all across the American West. I was confident there was a homemade wooden sleeping platform and a pair of well-used hiking boots somewhere in the back.

This was all conjecture, of course, but it got me thinking about how each Tacoma, more than any other kind of car, develops a certain look and feel that often says something about their owner鈥檚 ethos, interests, politics, and lifestyle. I should know: I鈥檝e owned two Tacomas over the past decade and both trucks definitely reflected who I was, or at least who I wanted to be.

You may think your Tacoma is just how you get around, but I believe every one reveals something about the owner. I put together a random collection of Tacomas and made up descriptions of who would drive each truck. Read on to see if you find yourself in one of these stereotypes.

The Stock Classic

Even though it鈥檚 bone stock, this truck has seen more dirt miles than any overland truck out there. It鈥檚 creeping past 200,000 miles but doesn鈥檛 eat any oil and still cruises on the freeway. It鈥檚 had three owners, and the current one (which could be a man or woman) works for some kind of crunchy nonprofit that allows them to spend a lot of time outside. They had always wanted to go to NOLS, but never had the time or the money and instead got their WFR and did a three-day avalanche training course five years ago. They鈥檙e not a mountain biker because it’s too much gear, but love to in the summer (they particularly love trail running hats) and backcountry ski in the winter. There鈥檚 a sage bundle somewhere on the dash that鈥檚 never been burned, and they鈥檝e been guilty of stringing up Tibetan prayer flags at their rental house.

The Techie鈥檚 Toy

This type of Tacoma owner lives somewhere in Southern California and works in tech. They鈥檙e not at Google, but instead have an engineering position at a smaller company that contracts for the larger ones (a fact that irks him and hurts his ego a bit). The owner is a slightly overweight man, who is married but doesn鈥檛 have kids so he doesn鈥檛 feel guilty about spending thousands on his truck (there are, however, occasional fights about money with his wife). It鈥檚 his daily driver, and he secretly loves the way it stands out while stuck in freeway traffic on the 5. He鈥檚 also part of an informal Tacoma club that goes for trail rides on the weekends. In that group, he鈥檚 known as a timid driver, but is still welcomed because he鈥檚 generous and often buys dinner for the gang at a local brewery post-ride. His garage is immaculate, and he鈥檚 done some of his own modification work, but sends the truck off to the local overland shop when things get complicated.

The Lifetime Love Affair

This truck has only had one owner and they bought it new back in 1985. The owner, now 72 years old, is happily retired after a 30-year career as an accounting professor at the local community college. At least twice a week, someone leaves a note on their windshield offering to buy the truck, but they鈥檒l never sell because it only has 105,000 miles and they still love driving stick shift to get groceries (even if they now have trouble finding the gears at times). That, and the truck is full of memories. They loved the summers when they and their lifetime partner (loyalty runs deep) used it to tow a little camper out to various national parks for early-morning hikes and late-night hankypanky. They also love to talk about that one time the truck safely got them up a high-alpine Colorado four-wheel-drive road that scared the shit of them and was probably more than they should have chewed off.

The Redneck鈥檚 Rowdy Ride

This Tacoma鈥檚 owner has a Ford F-250 for their daily driver because they need more power for towing and hauling, and because they鈥檝e modified this Tacoma so much that it sucks to drive on the freeway. But when the owner, who鈥檚 very much single at the moment, is not at work, they spend hundreds of hours tinkering with this truck and love driving it at stupidly high speeds on dirt roads, rock crawling at their local spot, and standing in the bed to drink beer, listen to Kid Rock at high volume and shoot AR15s with their buddies out in the middle of the desert. The owner did all the modifications and even custom-fabricated the front bumper based on their own design. Politically, they鈥檙e on the exact opposite end of the spectrum from the first-gen owner above, but they both appreciate Toyota engine reliability in just the same way.

The Low-Key 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Rig

You can tell this owner is completely unpretentious because there are zero modifications on the truck other than a simple gear rack. The on the rack also shouts 鈥渄own to earth鈥� because canoeing is such an easy-going outdoor activity (unlike jet skiing, or rock climbing) and one that鈥檚 easily shared with spouse or friends (even if he has to go solo much of the time). There were kids in the picture, but they are off to college so there鈥檚 no need for a quad-cab setup. That makes him feel a bit old, but he reinforces his youth and vigor every time he lifts the canoe off the rack and carries it on his shoulders past the trucks with trailers waiting their turn at the state park boat landing. When the canoe isn鈥檛 on the truck, there鈥檚 usually a steel-frame Jamis hard-tail in the back. The owner likes that the truck is four-wheel drive because they live down a dirt road and have to battle mud and snow. They鈥檝e never upgraded to all-terrain tires, however, because he prides himself on how well he knows their road and has never been stuck鈥攅xcept that one time when he over-estimated his skills, slid off a washout, and they had to call a neighbor to pull them out with a tractor.

The Midlife Image Change

After decades of driving boring-ass Camrys, this is a splurge by a 55-year-old man who鈥檚 wanted a truck since he was eight years old. He鈥檚 spent years obsessively researching and finding the exact truck he wants. His wife has long encouraged him to shut up and just spend the money, but he鈥檚 resisted because he prides himself on his frugality. He鈥檚 going with a Tacoma because he knows they鈥檙e legendary for being reliable and that makes him feel better about spending more cash than he ever has on a car. It鈥檚 not new, but has low miles and never been in an accident. He would never put bigger tires on (which would lower the fuel economy) and doesn鈥檛 want a camper shell because he wants to use it as a truck to haul landscaping supplies, lumber, and other materials for DIY home improvement projects. He鈥檚 meticulous about maintenance鈥攃hanging the oil every 3,000 miles even though the dealership said 8-10,000 is now the norm鈥攌eeps the interior spotless (he has a monthly membership to the do-it-yourself car wash), and isn鈥檛 bothered by the fact that the truck has no get-up-and-go because he drives defensively on city streets and never goes above 70 on the freeway.

The Handyman鈥檚 Toolbox

We all love when this Tacoma shows up in front of our house because it means the local handyman has arrived. He鈥檚 missing a few teeth, smells like cigarettes, is kind of hard to get a hold of because he鈥檚 not a proficient smartphone user, but does amazing work, can fix anything, and always undercharges, especially if you pay him cash. The back of his truck is full of tools that are organized in his own special way, and there are definitely some fast-food wrappers scattered around the cab. There鈥檚 a Steely Dan CD stuck in the stereo that still works and he drives around without a spare because he blew a tire and never got around to replacing it. He intentionally bought a rear wheel drive version of the truck: It gets much better gas mileage and the only dirt he drives on is in the alleys behind houses he鈥檚 working on.

The post What Does Your Tacoma Say About You? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Most of the vehicles displayed in the booths at Overland Expo West are showpieces. They鈥檝e been built to catch your eye and highlight the newest gear. There鈥檚 nothing wrong with these adventure rigs鈥攖hey鈥檙e works of art that any overlander would be excited to drive. But, because they sit at the very top of the overland gear pyramid, they don鈥檛 exactly represent the reality of everyday overlanding.

Consequently, our team always spends a day out in the nearby campgrounds. It鈥檚 out there, under the trees and in the dirt, where you find trucks, vans, and other creations that represent the best of DIY culture and showcase the kind of rigs that people actually use on global adventures. Here are our favorite DIY overlanding rigs from this year.

Also check out: The Best Trailers, Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025 and The Best Tents for Car Camping

The post The 7 Best DIY 国产吃瓜黑料 Rigs from Overland Expo West 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Overlanders are arguably the most intense gearheads in the outdoor community. They鈥檙e willing to spend months (if not years) and thousands (if not tens of thousands) of dollars dialing in their perfect setup. As such, the overland product market is usually a rich place to find new and innovative gear. Some of it is way too specific and not much use to the general public, but a handful of items have a much broader appeal, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e rounded up below. Over three days, we scoured dozens of booths at Overland Expo West to find the gear that will help recreational campers enjoy summer camping trips that much more.

Watch: Our Favorite Rig at Overland Expo West

($269)

Air conditioning and adventure rigs have never really gone hand in hand. Usually, the AC units you see sitting atop travel trailers and RVs require a lot of electricity to run, meaning your rig needs to be plugged into a standard, household 120v outlet (or 鈥渟hore power鈥�). Twelve-volt AC units, like the or portable , are capable of running off your rig鈥檚 house battery, but they鈥檙e very expensive and run times are usually limited to a few hours without a massive battery bank. The Transcool E3, on the other hand, can run for up to 157 hours on a 100ah battery. It鈥檚 an Australian-made, portable evaporative cooler that holds a half gallon of water and only weighs 4.2 pounds. While it won鈥檛 cool down an entire rig or room the way a true air conditioner will, it could be the perfect solution for anyone looking to add a little cool air to their rig鈥攅specially since it costs just a fraction of a 12V AC unit.

($3,299)

, which until recently was called , makes these nifty little camper boxes that are meant to be mounted in a truck bed or on a flatbed trailer. At 180 to 190 pounds depending on the size you choose, they’re lightweight and designed to be easily removed from your truck or trailer when not in use. They鈥檙e also very well insulated鈥攖he two-inch, rigid foam walls have an R12-15 rating, which is incredibly high for a camper and means it won鈥檛 take much to heat or cool this thing. You can pick from either a truck mounting or during purchase, or you can simply strap the box down via ratchet straps.

Devos LightRanger 1200 ($175)

Camping lanterns have been around forever, but Devos is changing the market with their LightRanger series of lights. The LightRanger 1200 is a USB-C rechargeable LED lantern that puts out 1200 lumens and comes with an adjustable light stand capable of telescoping the lantern up to 9 feet in the air. Raising the lantern that far overhead means it’s capable of lighting up a 60-foot area, and it鈥檒l keep the bugs up above you rather than buzzing around your camp table. It can run for up to 80 hours on its lowest setting (60 lumens), and nearly four hours on max.

(From $30)

We love it when someone finds a problem with an existing product and decides to make it better. Case in point, the Rollercam L Track Kit. The founder of Rollercam got sick of using traditional cam straps on river trips, which become difficult to tighten when friction builds between the cam and webbing. He designed a strap with a brass roller (hence the name Rollercam) integrated into it, which alleviates the friction problem problem and makes it easier to tighten the straps securely. Rollercam鈥檚 latest innovation is the L Track kit, which lets you pair different-length straps that come with L-Track fittings attached to the ends. As a result, you easily secure all sorts of gear to L-track systems commonly used in van builds, trailers, truck beds, and more.

While Koni has a long history in the automotive world, the brand is still somewhat unknown in the overland space. This was Koni鈥檚 first year at Overland Expo West, and they were showing off their current line of shocks along with the new , which is the company鈥檚 first overland-specific shock. The Explorer is a 2-inch aluminum, monotube design that features the brand鈥檚 ACTIVE FSD, or Frequency Selective Damping, technology. Basically, it uses mechanical components to automatically switch between low and high damping forces depending on whether you鈥檙e driving on the highway or off pavement. In other words, these shocks will likely be perfect for the vast majority of overlanders out there.

($549)

It can be a little spooky to drive your overland rig out into the middle of nowhere, set up camp, and just hope that nothing goes wrong. Some people bring firearms for protection, but if that makes you uncomfortable, the Byrna is a great alternative. The device, which looks exactly like a traditional gun, fires less-lethal projectiles that are powered by a CO2 canister. Those projectiles, which are round and not designed to penetrate, come out at 400 feet per-second and will deter most humans and many animals within a 60-foot range. If you want added protection, you can also load the Byrna with rounds that are full of a chemical irritant that sprays out when the projectile makes impact. The CL is not classified as a firearm so you don鈥檛 need a permit or background check, but you do have to be 18 years old to buy one.

($122)

When we first walked up to the Kama booth, we were confused by the product on display but drawn in by the beautiful colors and designs. Owner and founder Rachel Dobronyi explained that what we were looking at were high-quality mats made from a 1000-denier nylon shell and lined with marine-grade foam. These mats spreadsout quickly but also pack up into a tight and easy-to-transport bundle. When we asked about their intended use, she gave us a laundry list. She said people use them as changing mats during ski, surf, and bike days, put them outside their vans as a place to hold their shoes, and even drape them over the back of their truck tailgate so they can transport mountain bikes without scratching any paint. We photographed the medium-sized offering but there鈥檚 also a larger mat that would be great for gatherings in the park, and a smaller version that people can use as a place to sit when backpacking or hunting.

($100)

When you head out camping, there鈥檚 always a question about how to transport and store the little stuff. We鈥檙e talking headlamps, walkie talkies, extra cords, flashlights, etc. The best place, based on lots of experience, is in a headrest bag like this one from Onwrd. With two big storage pockets, it will hold a family鈥檚 worth of headlamps, help you keep your cords organized and tangle-free, and also comes with a padded sunglasses pocket so you have a safe space to store your sunnies overnight. There are other companies out there that make headrest bags, but we think Onwrd’s design is the best because it slips over any headrest on the market via elastic bands and then can be tightened down with straps so it doesn鈥檛 rattle around on rough roads.

($699)

We鈥檝e been going to Overland Expos for a decade now and noticed that there鈥檚 a new trend in the market. Some people still want big campers and plush rooftop tents, but lots of other folks want to keep their camping setup as simple as possible. Enter sleeping platforms like the Hideaway, which slides into the back of your SUV or truck and creates a comfortable but ultra-simple way to sleep in your car when you鈥檙e adventuring off the grid. Similar to an extra-large cot designed for vehicles, the Hideaway come in three sizes (single, double, and XL) and is made in the U.S. from durable materials, including 500-denier cordura fabric for the cover and anodized aluminum for the legs. The legs are also adjustable so you get storage underneath, and when not in use, the Hideaway packs away and roll up into a similarly-sized package as a ground tent.

($400)

The Bugout is a wildly popular model from Benchmade because it鈥檚 the perfect size for everyday carry. At just 4.22 inches when folded up, it fits nicely in your pocket and never interferes when you need to grab your phone or keys. But at a respectable 7.46 inches when open, it鈥檚 enough knife for any everyday task鈥攃utting salami at the campsite, gutting a fish, opening a box, etc. This version of the Bugout recently launched and ups the ante by using a higher quality blade (CPM-S90V stainless steel) and by including the red richlite material on the handle that鈥檚 designed to come away with its own unique patina over time. The Bugout is not the knife you want for a hunting trip, or a survival outing, but you鈥檇 be hard pressed to find a nicer knife for everyday use.

($1,719)

Well-known as the premier bike rack company on the market, 1Up just expanded its offerings with a rack specifically designed for motorcycles. The Moto Rack borrows a similar design from the company鈥檚 original bike racks with two arms that clamp down on the wheels but don鈥檛 rub any of the frame compartments. It also comes with included wheel chocks that fit in the trays and sit snugly against the tires to cut down on wobble. If you want even more security, the rack has a mechanism to hold and tighten down ratchet straps that go over the arms (or any part of the bike) to create one more layer of assurance. Rated to carry motos up to 500 pounds with tires up to seven inches wide, the Moto Rack is not designed for big road motorcycles but instead for dirt and enduro bikes or other smaller, two-wheel motorized devices. An included ramp that pulls out of the tray makes loading and unloading a cinch.

More Gear Reviews

The Best Trailers, Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025
The Best Tents for Car Camping
15 Camping Accessories That Aren’t Essential But Are Really Nice to Have

The post The Most Exciting New Gear at Overland Expo West 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.