23Zero’s Peregrine Pro 270 Degree Awning – Trail Tested
The summer sun sets behind the high peaks of the Idaho mountains, which signifies the end to another stunningly beautiful day in the backcountry of the Potato State. I found a lovely place to camp along a crystal-clear mountain stream with a firepit and tall, natural, green grasses. I popped my rooftop tent open and unzipped my 23Zero Peregrine Pro Awning. Why would I need to deploy an awning with night quickly approaching? Ahhh, the lights of course!
The Peregrine Pro Awning is the latest awning offered by 23Zero, an overland equipment company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Yes, awnings are nothing new to the overlanding market. For many overlanders, it’s a must-have purchase for their vehicle. Awnings offer sun protection and shield from the rain and snow. So, what makes the Peregrine Pro Awning unique?
The Peregrine Pro Awning is specifically designed with the vehicle in mind. The awning is constructed with either five or six swinging arms that support the awning’s fabric. The vehicle’s rear door style, determines whether one should select a five or six arm awning. My Land Cruiser 200 has a hatchback style rear door, so the five-arm awning is ideal. The six-arm awning is made for barn style rear doors or overlanding setups without a door at all. This attention to detail might sound minor; but when I opened my rear hatch and the fifth arm paralleled my hatch rather than lay across and against it–it all made sense. Attention to detail!
What other features does this awning offer to the overlander? The awning is made of 23Zero’s Light Suppression Technology fabric which blocks sunlight from penetrating the seamless awning and allows for cooler conditions underneath the awning. The awning’s hardware is constructed of lightweight aluminum colored in black and assembled with stainless steel hardware.
The 270-degree awning opens effortlessly. Lights are permanently mounted underneath the swinging arms of the awning; and with a quick plug in to my small, portable power block, voila, the lights shone brightly and the ground illuminated.
One observation I made was the wiring from the lights just kind of hung there and seemed to get caught in my vehicle’s door. Later, I reached out to Justin Dowey, 23Zero’s owner, and he informed little, fabric loops hold the wires. Sure enough, my mistake. Attention to detail!
The awning also has walls that can be attached in case one wanted to create a major interior space. With over 20 feet of coverage, the awning is a wonderful place to spend some time enjoying the outdoors. Other features of the awning include heavy duty, fabric loops for tie downs during windy conditions. Thoughtful, smaller, fabric loops allow for water to easily run off during rainy conditions. Even though the awning is freestanding, within the awning’s arms, three poles are neatly stored to deploy when extra support is needed.
An awning is definitely not an essential overlanding item. With that said, during a rainstorm or escaping the hot sun, an awning is ideal and invites the adventurer to savor the outdoors. The Peregrine Pro Awning is an example of high-quality overlanding gear purposely constructed. Attention to detail makes this awning a worthy consideration.
