The “Gathering of the Tribe” of Overlanders once again came together this May 12-14, for Overland Expo West. This year it was held at a new venue, Fort Tuthill County Recreation Park, in Flagstaff AZ. Many of the people we spoke with felt the new venue created a less intimate and more commercial vibe than previous years, however it also provided must needed and ample room for vendors, demos and camping amid the pines. Hey change is inevitable as our little industry flourishes and in our opinion it was a great event. Here are some highlights of the show in the form of a photo journal. This is simply meant to give you a taste of the weekend and a brief view of various products that were showcased. We highly recommend you go check it out yourself in 2018, and TAP into Adventure!
Here are a few cool products that caught our eye:
The new Borah Wheel from AEV with it’s beadlock or non-beadlock capability.
Aluminess new product: The Bike Rack Swinger.Wilco released it’s three part, ADV modular rack system.The Tembo Tusk Mini Skottle, a backpack friendly version of their classic Skottle grill.The Kariba stove/shower combo; compact and functional.Tepui Tents released it’s “Zipper Gimp”which allows for an interchangeable canopy, making it easy to adapt from cold to warm weather.Trail Kitchen an impressive addition to any JKU
There were trainings all day every day and a multitude of round table discussions, areas to test drive vehicles, product discounts and much much more. We encourage you to join the Tribe at Overland Expo 2018 and TAP into Adventure!
Tim Nickles Roofnests founder camping outside Grand Junction CO. The Adventure Portaljpg
TAP likes to keep our readers up on new companies. Here is a new roof top tent company that offers low-cost, light weight, roof top tents. Based in Boulder CO and born out of his passion for exploring and playing in the outdoors, owner Tim Nickles, tells us about his new venture. Read on and TAP into Adventure!
One of our customers enjoying his impromptu campsite.
Roofnest is a small Boulder based, company that makes hardshell roof top tents and accessories. We opened our doors in December of 2016 and have been rapidly expanding our reach both online and on our customers’ roofs ever since! The idea to create Roofnest started on a road trip to Moab when a big group of friends got together to laugh, play music, share stories, and enjoy all the fun a good desert weekend can serve up. This trip inspired me to create something that would help others partake in this type of experience. The experience of just taking off, going somewhere fun, and having a blast. I want to make it as easy and enjoyable as it can be. That’s why I started this company.
One of our customers enjoying the Moab Spring.Overlanding with the Roofnest Eagle.
Our basic model comes in two sizes, the Eagle (large) and Sparrow (small). In addition we have the Sparrow X (for eXtend) which has a rack built into the top of the tent for transport of bikes, canoes, paddle boards, etc. And the soon-to-be-introduced I (Eye) which opens on one side only to form a triangular tent with a single door. All models come in Black or White with gray tent fabric.
The soon to be released Roofnest Eye
All three models (the Basic, the eXtend, and the Eye) share the same great features that make Roofnests so popular:
– durable and weatherproof fiberglass shell.
– reliable pneumatic gas struts for raising and lowering the tent.
– comfortable 6 cm High Density Foam (HDF) mattress with removable cover.
– heavy-duty, waterproof 280g poly-cotton canvas tent walls.
– modular and secure roof rack mounting system attaches tent to any crossbars.
– mesh windows with canvas covers and mesh and/or canvas at all doors.
– 8’ aluminum telescoping ladder for entry.
In addition to our line of hardshell roof top tents, we have two awnings that easily attach to your vehicles roof rack to provide shade and weather protection at any campsite. The basic model, the Little Wing (ala Jimi Hendrix), expands to provide a 2.5m(~8 ft.) x 2.5m(~8 ft.) square awning. Our “Foxwing-style” model, the Wingspan, expands to form a large, hexagonal shaped awning with a radius of 2.5m (~8 ft.). Both awnings pack away into a heavy-duty soft shell case for travel and are made from the same heavy-duty 280g poly-cotton canvas that makes our tents so waterproof and durable.
Roofnest Eagle in the Colorado National Monument.
The Roofnest is so convenient and comfortable that once you have used it, you’re going to be daydreaming of other places you can go to explore. It will make it easy for you to roll out, see new things, and to create new experiences.
Getting out of town and into a new place is good for your soul. Making that escape from your routine with it’s familiar sights and sounds refreshes you, relaxes you, and reminds you of why you’re living and what (or who) you really want to be chasing. That’s what this company is all about: helping you get out there and have a concrete-free experience. The Roofnest gives you a simple, durable tool to make your road trip easy, fun, and comfortable.
The Eagle makes a great addition to a simple camper van build.
At Roofnest our goal is provide an excellent, personalized experience to our customers. We know that $2000+ for a camping tent is a large expense for many and we try to make sure everyone interested in a Roofnest gets all their questions answered and can confidently make a decision to purchase one. We value each and every customer and love to hear and see how our customers are using Roofnests to achieve their dream; whether that’s a comfortable weekend under the stars or a 25,000 mile road trip across North America.
The Sparrow atop a 2017 Subaru Outback
We have structured our company to keep our overhead costs low and sell Roofnests directly to the customer so we can keep our prices low and make the Roofnest experience available to as many people as possible. By streamlining our manufacturing, sales, and distribution, we have kept our margins low and still run a company that sells and supports a high quality roof top tent.
Stealth camping outside Grand Junction, CO.
That’s what this company is all about: helping you get out there and have a concrete-free experience. The Roofnest gives you a simple, durable tool to make your road trip easy, fun, and comfortable.
For more information go to Roofnest.comor call 720-324-4005
The Rebelle Rally is a 7 day, 1,200 mile, mainly off-road rally spanning from South Lake Tahoe to the Glamis Recreational Sand Dunes in Imperial Valley, CA. In this article, I4WDTA certified trainer, participant and veteran wheeler, Nena Barlow, talks about her experience in terms of the importance of teamwork and communication when tackling this challenging venture. Read on, these principles apply to all of us whether on an overlanding trip or during our day to day interactions.
The nature of true teamwork is being open to what others bring to the table, objectively identifying each other’s strengths and weaknesses and working together to create a plan to take advantage of each other’s strengths and overcome weaknesses. I learned a lot about teamwork leading up to and during the Rebelle Rally. Though I can only imagine what other teams experienced, what I can share are some specifics that my teammate, Kande Jacobsen and I, experienced and figured out together.
It goes without saying that no Rebelle team could have finished without teamwork. I am always in wonder at how the things we learn are usually not the things we expect to learn. One of the things that was so fun about the rally were the cool things I learned from my partner Kande. I am one of those who says “No one ever knows it all” and “learn something new every day,” and I can honestly say that I learned things from her that had never occurred to me before.
We squeezed as much as we could out of every waking minute, which meant it was a race just to get to the starting line each morning—break camp, pick up checkpoint list, plot, eat breakfast, load truck. For efficiency, we took on seperate responsabilities and after a few days, worked together like a well oiled machine. photo credit: Tim Calver
I can’t say this without laughing, but she was a great coach for teaching me how to dress and eat. Seriously! First, I have always been a natural-fiber t-shirt and jeans or cargo pants kind of girl. Kande enlightened me to the miraculous technology of synthetic fibers. Not only were they lighter and quick-drying, but also helped with my dilemma of packing space. We knew we did not want to haul heavy bags of our week’s worth of clothes in and out of the truck every night. Kande said leggings were more comfortable and easier to pack than jeans and cargo pants. She looked at me with a deadpan stare when I said I needed pockets for my credit cards and license and phone and stuff. “You will be carrying those on you during the rally?” Oh, yeah, huh. Leggings it was! I was all in, and even embraced the loudest print patterns I could find.
Then there was the food. I had recently become aware of my body’s disagreement with dairy products, but Kande was adamant about us eating high-protein, non-bloating foods, and just all around healthy. Though I enjoy quality foods, I am known to live on peanut M&M’s and pretzels if that is what is convenient. Kande insisted on healthy, low-sugar, high-protein snacks, and she was right. I never felt that afternoon crash like I do when snacking on carbs and sugar all day. The only crashes I had were the morning that I gorged on Drew’s scrumptious pancakes, instead of the high-protein and fruit breakfasts I had been sticking to, and then the other kind of crash—the morning I crashed the truck, but that is an different and not diet-related story.
One of my jobs was taking care of the truck, Rebekkah, who was our third teammate. This was snapped just after I lawn-darted off of a dune and was making sure there was no mechanical damage to prevent us from going on to the next segment of checkpoints. Photo by Nicole Dreon.
I admired Kande’s unflagging determination to plot coordinates as absolutely accurately as possible. While I have always adhered to a horseshoes and hand grenades attitude towards navigation, Kande never lost her patience for checking and double-checking every line or dot on that map. It was my role to compute any math and set time parameters for reaching checkpoints, and calling it off if I couldn’t drive the terrain we had planned or had not reached a checkpoint by the turnaround time required to reach the critical green checkpoints. We respected each other’s roles and reassured and uplifted each other when we made mistakes.
Kande plotting checkpoint coordinates on the map while sitting in the truck. She found this to be the quietest and least distracting place to do so. This is what worked for her and our team.
We made it a priority to take care of each other. Kande knew that I could not make complicated decisions or calculations before sunrise, and that I needed chocolate around 3 pm each day. I knew that Kande needed meat on a regular basis, and to keep her away from sugar and red dye. Another thing I did to help Kande perform her job was to hold the magnifying glass for her while she plotted coordinates. We are both well north of 40 and the old eyes needed both reading glasses and a Hubble-sized magnifying glass! Was this tedious? Yes. Was it necessary for us to be as accurate as possible? Yes.
Kande getting comfortable in the Nevada desert. When we had to triangulate, we took the flattest spot with the best view away from any metal to confuse our compasses.
We had planned as much as we could in advance—everything from packing to snacks, to who would handle what aspects of the trip. As with any trip, there were many things we had to figure out on the fly. Once we saw the pace we would need to keep in order to compete effectively, we had to make some decisions and adjustments. For example, I took on the job of the heavy lifting. I loaded all of our gear in the truck each morning.
While Kande plotted checkpoints, I loaded the truck, filled water, and made sure everything was secure for the rough terrain we would be traversing.
We had originally thought to do our map plotting in the morning in the tent at one of the big tables, but quickly found that there was more space and fewer distractions to have Kande sit in the truck to plot. She took on the role of rounding up all the day’s food. she had purchased and arranged our snacks, and she also decided it should be her to pick up our sack lunches each morning. When we reached checkpoints, it became my role to jump out and record the tracker, while Kande used every spare second we had parked to do more plotting. These roles were decided upon once and never discussed again all week. We respected each other’s roles and let the other person do their job. It proved an efficient time saver.
Kande plotting on the maps, while I record checkpoint coordinates on our score card and recalculate our timing and strategy plan. It took us a couple of days to get into the groove, but once we did, there were no wasted minutes.
Were there mistakes? Oh yes, we both made a lot of mistakes, and we each had our moments of doubting ourselves, but we made the effort to encourage and lift each other up, shake it off and move forward. The hardest for us was Day 4, Dumont Dunes. That was the day I wrecked the truck. We thought we were finished in the dunes and I let my guard down. It took over an hour for us to regain composure and reassure ourselves that we, and the truck, could continue.
We were determined to pick it up. We went on to nail our next black checkpoint (The most challenging and difficult checkpoints to navigate. They yield the highest points.). We went from the low to that high, then back to low when it took us until well after dark to find base camp that night. Though both of us were in pain, exhausted, and hungry, Kande was absolutely certain she knew where we were and had us on track to find camp. Though much of our rally navigating was a team effort throughout the day, at that point I was totally lost. I put my trust in her and just drove where I was told. We did get to base camp, rested, recovered, put it behind us and went on to have a great Day 5.
Every fork in the road required a team decision. Kande would be describing our distance travelled, desired heading and possible landmarks on the map, like power lines or washes, while I would be describing what I was seeing on the ground, how far we had actually travelled according to Rebekkah, and what landmarks were visible all around us.
Teamwork means supporting each other, and not blaming when things go wrong, but committing to learn what you can from mistakes, getting over it and moving forward. There will always be moments when you are feeling low or when your teammate is feeling low. That is when it is critically important to dig deep and find that positive and supportive thing to say or do. Focus on how wonderful it will be to cross that finish line together. Laugh as much as you can. Give it everything you have–don’t hold back.
By Nena Barlow: Rebelle Rally participant, International 4WD Trainer Association certified trainer, and owner of Barlow Adventures
As a professional off-road driving instructor and 15 year member of Moab’s Search & Rescue, I have seen a lot. The back country can be very unforgiving. Most of the back country mishaps are a direct result of the decisions that took place just moments before the unfortunate happened. It is not the typical “hold my beer and watch this” that gets people into trouble, but more often it is when they simply let their guard down. (brain to off position) As we trek farther from the perceived safety of pavement and its link to endless resources, we need to shift our off-road decision making mentality. In other words, the further out we get, the more conservatively and smarter we need to drive. This is where teamwork, training, research and effective communication will help to take you farther, safer.
John Marshall conducting a 4WD training class.Travel safely. Don’t go alone.
Recently, I was contracted by the United States Army Special Forces division to create an off-road expedition training program. Their commander requested I incorporate several emergency medical and vehicle recovery scenarios into the training. I was fully prepared for these scenarios, but could not have predicted the real life emergencies we would stumble upon during our exercises. Day one: 22 miles into the desert with a temperature of 113°. As I looked to the west, I saw a lone female subject walking over scorched earth in our direction. I approached her and asked if she needed help. Nearly in tears, she said, “Yes, my husband has driven off of a ledge and our vehicle is going to slide off into a canyon.”. Her plan had been to walk the 22 miles back to civilization to get some help. She then asked if we could possibly help her. I looked over my shoulder at the United States Army Special Forces Division and replied, “Why yes ma’am, I think we can help you.”. Once we arrived at the scene, I was able to quickly assign roles and facilitate a winching rescue for the vehicle. We were also able to patch up the bumps, bruises and scrapes that her husband had received during the accident. We then turned them around and sent them back toward civilization.
Just a few more miles up the road, we came across a giant boulder that had fallen from the ledges above and was now blocking our path. Once again, tasks were assigned and a plan was created to move the obstacle out of our path. Using a whiteboard, we detailed a mechanical advantage system to help illustrate the plan and it’s objective. Once everything was ready and inspected, we reviewed exactly what everyone’s role was. This helped assure a total overall level of safety. Keep in mind, when winching a boulder off of a ledge, your rigging must release, otherwise when the boulder starts heading down, it can take your vehicle with it to the bottom. This could be bad. Later that night, the Army Commander pulled me aside and complimented me on the realism of scenarios that I had put into place for the benefit of their training. I just smiled and said, “Why thank you sir.”. I can only assume he thought I had staged each of these situations.
Just another unplanned training moment.
I am always amazed at the number of people in need that I run into while teaching my off-road training classes. It’s almost as if these people went out ahead of time and got themselves into a mess in order to make our classes more interesting. Just a few week ago, I was leading a three-day training expedition and a participant asked me about back country vehicle repairs and what I carry with me for these. I then rattled off a list of spare parts and tools I typically carry including the required supplies to create a makeshift welder. Oddly enough, within an hour we came across a Porsche Cayenne with a broken tie rod. The timing was perfect and we had a welding 101 class out on the trail.
In-field training class turns to welding 101.
The stories seem endless and with each is an opportunity to teach, hone and refine our skill set. I once came across a group of Russian tourists that had driven their Jeep into a deep water crossing and had no knowledge or way to recover it. One time I pulled a Toyota Yaris rental car 68 miles out of the desert canyon on a very tight UTV trail. The driver told me he had taken the UTV trail because he thought it was a shortcut to the interstate. Deep in Canyonlands National Park, I once found a mother and her three young daughters that had been stranded and out of water for three days after burying their jeep up to the frame in a deep sand wash. After several hours of digging in the hot sun, it was time to try to recover their vehicle. It was then that, I discovered that they had never put the Jeep into four-wheel-drive. When I asked the mother about this oversight, her response was: “We don’t know anything about that stuff because we are from California.”. (My apologies go out to everyone from California!) I’m not quite sure what that meant, but because of this simple mistake, they nearly became another statistic. In the dark of night, I once came across a pick up truck that was teeter tottering with the front two wheels off of a cliff. The driver was too afraid to move, so he had been sitting motionless for nearly 39 hours. On another occasion, I found a gentleman that had driven through a stream that became a raging river after a rainstorm. He had been stranded for two full days eating only a pack of cigarettes that his ex-wife had left in the glove compartment. Yummy.
Communication Devices: The Spot and In-Reach. Mapping devices: Magellan, the Avenza ap for Apple and android products and the nuts and bolts map and compass.
So many of these unfortunate tales could have been avoided with better planning and preparation. There is never a substitute for having a good plan. Always know where you’re going and have multiple backups in place for whatever may go wrong. If you carry a GPS or digital mapping system, you should also carry paper maps and a compass. I typically carry multiple mapping systems plus paper maps because batteries die and things get wet. I can always rely on good old fashion map reading. This skill is one that seems to be disappearing from people’s skill-sets. Additionally, many of the above listed mishaps could have been minimized by simply being able to communicate with the outside world. With so many new devices on the market such as the SPOT satellite messaging device or the DeLorme InReach, there is no reason to have to be stranded alone for a prolonged period of time when in trouble in the back country. As an Off-road trainer, I choose to carry both systems so I can teach the pros and cons of each. Unfortunately, even with the best of plans and the latest gear, mistakes will happen and vehicles will break.
When traveling off the grid you are bound to stumble upon bad situations, people in need of help or find yourself in your own off-roading nightmare. The question is this: are you prepared for things that could go wrong? Do you have the training and knowledge to assure that you do not become another statistic? Before venturing out, obtain Off-road driving and recovery training from a certified trainer. Practice your skills. Get to know your rescue equipment before you need it. Here at Coyote Adventure Safari we specialize in multi-day overland expedition training that helps prepare adventurists for the big picture. We cover everything from navigation skills and recovery techniques to back country cooking and so much more. Our next three-day training session is June 9-11. You can read more about these trips on our Coyote Adventure Safari Facebook page.
Additional trainers in your area can be located by visiting the International 4 Wheel Drive Trainers Association (I4WDTA) at www.i4wdta.org
Author: John Marshall, Owner of Coyote Adventure Safari.
CoyoteAdventureSafari@gmail.com
435-260-6056
During this year’s Easter Jeep Safari, AEV and TAP sponsored a free women’s run on the Golden Spike Trail. Chris Wood, AEV Global Parts Sales Director and I4WDTA Master Trainer, was our lead. We had Jackson Ellis of Glendale Ellis Jeep Dealership, helping out, Jeff Clark of AEV as our tail gunner and me, from TAP, injecting encouragement and enthusiasm into the mix. This was not an anti-male thing. I just don’t see that many women off-roading and we thought that it’d be cool to get a group together for a run during Easter Jeep Safari.
Our group was made up of women from all over the United States. We met at a the Spanish Trail Shell station at an ungodly hour, drove to the staging area, and huddled for a word from our trail leader, Chris Wood. Chris embodies all things safe when it comes to wheeling. Before leaving, he laid out seven rules of convoy travel:
1. Always travel with your headlights on.
2. The lead vehicle will announce oncoming traffic.
3. No tailgating.
4. Keep trailing vehicles in sight.
5. One vehicle at a time on steep up-hills and down-hills.
6. Advise convoy drivers of directions to final destination.
7. Last vehicle keeps others advised of problems and progress at the rear.
We hit the trail at around 7:30 a.m and completed our journey by around 8:30 p.m. (The extended amount of time had to do with traffic on the trail.)
Line up along the Golden Spike Trail.
The Golden Spike Trail is challenging and amazingly beautiful. It’s approximately 22 miles long and intersects two other difficult trails: Poison Spider and Gold Bar Rim. The trail skirts around the rim above the Moab valley and the panoramic views are breathtaking. We had views of the snow covered La Sal Mountains, the Colorado River, our lunch stop overlooked Arches National Park and on the way to the Golden Crack, you look out toward the west at Jeep Arch (also called Gold Bar Arch).
The La Sal MountainsJeep Arch
The obstacles along the Golden Spike Trail are epic. They include the Launch Pad, Skyline Drive, the Golden Crack, the Golden Stairs, The Wall and Double Whammy. To reach the trail, we had to first drive Poison Spider Mesa then join the Golden Spike and end on the Gold Bar Rim. I had heard stories of Jeeps rolling off obstacles, vehicle damage and carnage in excess. Our experience was nothing close to that. The culture of this run was based on a couple of things; respect for the environment (Tread lightly! ) and safety. We took the trail as slow and with as much spotting as needed. As I mentioned before, our group ranged in driving skill levels and we all worked together to support and encourage one another. Our trail leader and obstacle coach, Chris Wood, was well-prepared and a great communicator when leading folks easily and smoothly through obstacles. He made hard lines seem easy. Chris was able to read the needs of the group, which benefitted us greatly. There was no carnage, no damage, just lots of fun.
Jackson Ellis spotting the caravan.AEV’s Jeff Clark spotting Deb through the “Wedge”.This move by Jackson Ellis was intentional. Done safely and slowly.
This will be more of a photo journal than an article. I want you to see how physically beautiful The Golden Spike Trail is. It covers such amazing landscapes and is filled with so many beautiful, big, rock formations… that you have to figure out how to drive over…..the experience fills all your senses. I was on full alert for 13 hours because of both the overwhelming beauty and the frequent adrenaline rushes that the obstacles inspired.
My Jeep was climbing up and descending walls and stairs that I never would have thought it could. Ah, I’ve given myself away. I’ve never gone off-roading in Moab. Here at TAP, we are primarily overlanders. The Adventure Portal was born out of our passion for going off the grid, primitive camping. Personally though, I am an adrenaline junkie and like to push it. This trail did just that. My rig is kitted out with AEV components which makes it extremely capable on-road, off-road and over challenging terrains. It handled beautifully. I have never had my Jeep as vertical as it was on some of the slickrock obstacles. It’s never climbed as many stairs or nose-dived (ok, slowly crawled) off ledges that tall. Check out the pictures below and TAP into Adventure!
Going up the Launch Pad…………and coming down.
Deb, walking down some stairs.Here goes Amy, “nose crawling”.Monica on the” Wedge”.Kristina demonstrates “Articulation 101”Jackson and friends going up.Chris Wood ready to spot Kristina up the stairs.Piece of cake….notice everyone leaning to the right.Ojai Rubicon Girl, and TAP contributor, Lisa climbing up the “Wall”.Monica skirting a bowl.
It was Epic!
Author: Lori Palmer, TAP Co-Founder and Editor
TAP would like to extend a Big Thank You to Suzanne Slifka who
graciously took over as our trip photographer.
Spring has sprung, summer will be here in a heartbeat and it’s time to get out and enjoy. TAP has had the opportunity to test out the following products and would like to pass on what we have learned to you.
The Pioneer Swag Tent
This tent originated in Australia and would be carried by men who traveled between farms and towns looking for work. It was effectively a canvas bedroll which the owner would carry with their few belongings wrapped up inside. These nomadic workers were often referred to as “Swagmen”. The Outback Swag is a heavy duty, easy to pitch, one person tent that TAP endorses 100%. It’s made with rip-stop canvas and a PVC base. The dimensions are 7′ x 3′ with 2.5′ head clearance. It’s got 4 internal storage pockets and a loop to hang your light. The tent, including it’s two inch foam matteress, weighs about twenty pounds, so it’s definitely a “vehicle supported adventure” type tent. It’s easy to set up, cozy, and has a fly mesh layer for warmer weather. The storage bag is roomy, so it’s easy to roll and stow away. For more details check out this video. outbackswags.com
The Slimfold Cook Station
TAP had found this item to be very useful and it’s now a staple item in our camp kitchen set-up. The Slimfold Cook Station is easy to set up and break down, has ample storage and shelves for supplies and folds flat for easy packing/storage. Here are some of it’s features:
-Alluminum countertop -Lower rack for storage -Fold out side tables -Beverage holders -Hooks that can be used to hang utensils or a trash bag -An elastic paper towel holder. -Dimensions: Open- 20.9 x 52 x 32.3 in. -Dimensions: Folded- 20.9 x 3.7 x 34.6in -Weight: 19 lbs.
The Sunshade Easy Chair
This is a sturdy chair that offers a UPF 50 fabric adjustable shade to maximize sun protection. It comes with a totebag for easy storage and weighs approximately 12 lbs. It’s dimensions folded are: 6.1 x 7.9 x 43.7 in. Open: 33.1 x 27.6 x 54.3 in. It’s a good option when you don’t feel like putting up your awning for shade. Consider this a chair to bring to outdoor events as well. It’s comfy and nice to have the sunshade. gcioutdoor.com
Micro-Start XP-10 Jump Starter
This little beauty belongs in your rig. It is the most powerful jump starter that Antigravity Batteries carries and is capable of jumpstarting a V8 up to 30 times on a single charge. It can also be used to jumpstart diesel vehicles up to 7.3 liters, motorcycles, watercraft, ATV/UTV’s and snowmobiles. It’s got 3 power ports to charge your electronic devices, two 5V USB ports for phones, tablets and cameras. and an led flashlight. Not to be corny, but this really is a personal power supply unit.
Specs: -Size: 9″ x 3.5″ x 1.2″ -Weight: 22 oz -Charging Time: 5 hours from full discharge -Starting current: 300A -Peak current: 600A -Operating temp: -4 F ~ 140 F
This kit contains: -1 Leatherette Carry Case that holds all parts neatly organized. -1 Micro-Start XP-10 PPS. -1 Set of SMART Mini Jumper Clamps with Multiple Safety Protections built-in. -1 universal DC Cable (black) for all 12V Accessories -8 detachable Laptop Tips (Fits many but not every Laptop charging port. Fits: Apple, Acer, Dell, HP, Asus, and more). -1 universal 4-into-1 USB Cable (white). (Tips: Mini USB, Micro USB, Apple 8-pin, Apple 30-pin). -1 Mobile Charger (plugs into cigarette lighter socket). -1 Home Charger (plugs into wall outlet). -1 Instruction Manual.
Classic, well crafted and dependable. This is probably not the first time that you have read a great review on SOG knives and tools. They are a staple camping item of ours. Below are the three tools that we have been using.
Cam or Arc lock
The Spec Elite I shown above on the left, employs a clip point blade, which means that the tip is moved closer to the center line for easier piercing-style cuts. It’s made out of VG-10 steel for corrosion resistance durability. It’s Extremely lightweight and features a hard, anodized, machined, aluminum handle. It’s easily carried with its pocket clip.The Cam lock or Arc Lock mechanism uses a pivotal block to lock the blade in place. It’s ambidextrous (the pocket clip can be moved to either side of the knife), and very safe to use. The SOG Hand Axe, is sharp and durable, made of 420 stainless steel with a black oxide finish for corrosion resistance. It’s lightweight and is 11″ long, making it easy to use and to pack either in your rig or backpack. The ax comes with a heavy duty, snap-on sheath for safety. We highly recommend this for all your outdoor expeditions and we’ve used it extensively for cutting kindling.
The Seal Strike-Black-Deluxe Sheath, is the latest creation from SOG in the SEAL fixed-blade knife line. This beauty is made of AUS-8 stainless steel and has a partially serrated blade. The deluxe sheath comes with a built in blade sharpener, a flint for sparking a fire and a line cutter. It hooks onto your pocket for easy carrying and the knife snaps securely into the sheath for safety. This is a great survivalist tool and when we’re in the backcountry it’s always on our belt. sogknives.com
Subscription box
Bored of getting junk mail and bills in your mailbox? Check out this subscription box from Nomadik. Here’s how it works. Create an account, then create an interest profile. Your interest profile helps Nomadik determine what your boxes will contain. Choose your plan: a one shot deal, monthly for 3 months or 6 months. Then, wait for your goodies to arrive. Box contents are valued up to $50.00. TAP has received two Nomadik boxes and here is what we found inside:
-A Wild Hedgehog Tactical- Ouch Pouch: A lightweight, small, basic first aid kit. -A 5 oz. bottle of Gear Aid- Water repellent spray for gear, apparel and tents. -A GSI infinity Backpacker Mug-Spill resistent, lightweight and insulated. -A pack of Epic Wipes-Biodegradeable wet wips. Larger than normal wipes made for a full body cleanse when water is scarce.
Our Next box contained:
-Parks Project-Park Watcher Beanie: proceeds from this product go to park clean-ups and trail restorations. -Mizu-Collapsible shot glass: Tequilla? Need I say more. -Ritual- Caffeineated Energy Snack: Small, chocolate and peanut butter squares containing 100mg of caffeine (the equivalent of a large cup of joe). -Nitele S-Biner#3: A dual gate carabiner. Perfect for keys or to hang a light in your tent.
We found the contents in the box to be made up of good, solid quality items.
Check out Nomadik subscription gift boxes at thenomadik.com. Once you subscribe, check out the Nomadik challenge. Tag them, tag us and see what happens.
Nomadic kindly offered TAP readers this discount code: TAP2017 at checkout for 20% off all plan & gifts + FREE shipping (domestic)
Rugged, Weatherproof, 8000mAh dual USB Battery Pack
A perfect item to bring when on an extended overlanding trip. ToughTested products are just that; tough and durable. These products have taken a beating from TAP in dust, rain and mud and have held up. The photo above features the battery pack, the 8′ PRO Armor Weave Cable and the Tech Gear Bag for safe storage.
Battery info from the ToughTested site:
The ToughTested rugged battery pack has a protection rating of IP-65 meaning it’s water/dust/and shock proof and the rugged casing offers added protection from drops and dings. 8,000 milliamps of power is enough to charge most smartphones up to 5 times and dual USB ports let you charge/power 2 devices simultaneously. InstaSense™ technology provides the proper power distribution and optimal charging handshake between devices to give you the fastest possible charge. Integrated LED flashlight for emergency situations. Includes Micro USB charging cable and car charger. Battery lowdown from TAP: Handy, easy to pack (we always use their gear bag), rugged, a good addition to your camp kit. **We run our time-lapse photo shoots through an APP that seriously drains the i-Phone battery. This Tough-Tested battery has solved this frustrating issue.
Camp Kitchen Utensil Set
Camp Kitchen Utensil Set
The Adventure Portal had a community event recently called Run To The Sun at Trona Pinnacles. We had a raffle with items provided by many outdoor companies. When we were loading up the prizes, I came to this kitchen set and started walking away with it. I didn’t want to give it away. We store our cutlery in a tupperware container in our (Goose-Gear) drawer system and our cutting knives and bottle openers, spatulas etc. in another container in the drawer. This Camp Kitchen Utensil Set keeps all of that plus a cutting board together and can be hung up wherever it works best, then packed up easily in a “tool style” roll. In the end, I gave it up to be raffled off to a lucky individual at the event. When we were at RTTS, we walked around checking out everyone’s rig and set up. I saw a few of these sets and asked the owners how they liked them and if the quality was good. I got thumbs up all around, so I bought one. It just arrived and is going to be going to Overland Expo West with us next.
CONTAINS: 4 x serrated knifes, 4 x steak forks, 4 x dessert spoons, 4 x tea spoons, 1 x chopping board, 1 x paring knife 1 x bread knife 1 x carving knife 1 x serving spoon 1 x spatula 1 x BBQ/Campfire fork 1 x Bottle opener and corkscrew
Frontrunner Expander Camping Chair
Super compact, comfortable, sturdy yet lightweight and easy to use. These chairs fold down to the size of a laptop. When folded, they have a handle at the top for easy carrying.
-Folds in 3 easy steps.
-Does not sink into sand.
-Comfortable table height.
-Constructed of rugged steel.
features include:
-A cup holder.
-A media pocket for cell phones, gps, or mp3 player.
-A carry handle.
-A utility pocket, for books, magazine, maps.A utility pocket,
for books,magazine, maps.
We spend a lot of time overlanding in the local deserts or in the Sierra. Sun protection is imperative. Shelta hats have built in UV protection and a “No Flop” brim that provides constant protection. These hats were designed not only for land, but for water sport use as well. Good for fishermen, sailors and waterspouts enthusiasts, as well as for those of us who travel through hot, desert and mountain environments.
The Seahawk Sun Hat features the patent pending “Winged Vision Visor” that provides a good amount of shade and is sturdy so it stays in place. It features a “Convertible Cord System” giving you the opportunity to loosen or tighten the fit of the sport hat.
This is a hat that is specifically designed to provide heavy duty UV protection. Shelta’s hats are designed for outdoor activities and sports. The Seahawk is waterproof, has a handy pocket in the crown for keys, drivers license or the convertible cord system when not in use. As stated above, it’s brim is sturdy and stays in place during water sports or in high desert winds.
A few more specs:
-Shelta Sun Hat Moisture Management System – Interior mesh liner effectively wicks moisture away from your skin to evaporate quickly through breathable fabric. The headband then wicks away any remaining perspiration from your forehead.
-Breathable Sun Hat Fabric – Extremely breathable, which allows moisture and heat to escape from the inside out. DWR (water repellent) rating which repels moisture, dries quicker and floats better. Environment friendly recycled polyester.
-Shelta Sun Hat Moisture Management System – Interior mesh liner effectively wick moisture away from your skin to evaporate quickly through our breathable fabric. The headband then wicks away any remaining perspiration from your forehead.
-Shelta Sun Hat Venting – Critically placed eyelets allow heated air to escape quickly and effectively. A simple, but critical part of keeping your head cooler.
-Shelta Sun Hat Head Band – The headband is sewn to the mesh liner, which keeps it from sagging when it gets soaking wet. This makes for a no hassle experience when putting your hat back on in the water. www.sheltahats.com
The Original #401 First-Aid Kit
This is a solid first aid kit. The bag is sturdy with many pocket and elasticized loops. Check out the contents below. We added: aspirin, motion sickness pills and BenGay pain relieving patches (our own “special needs” items).
Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 10 inches
Weight: 5 lbs. * Here at TAP we are NOLS First Aid Trained and we strongly suggest you get this first aid training as a minimum. www.race401.com
Krazy Beaver Shovel and KBT Bracket Mount Set
A lot of our travels take us to places with extremely packed dirt and clay. This shovel helps break through the hard stuff (including ice) when needed. Krazy Beaver is a family owned business and owner/manager Jason was a former member of FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue and was rostered as a Search Team Manager, Boat Manager and K9 handler. Jason is currently employed as a Law Enforcement Officer in the state of New Mexico. It’s because of the unique situations that he has experienced over the years that compelled him to provide the public with Professional Rescue Gear.
The Krazy Beaver Shovel is made with 13 gauge heat treated tempered steel which makes it twice as thick as a normal residential shovel. It’s got reinforced teeth to prevent them from bending and breaking. It’s powder coated inside and out to prevent rusting. The handle is made of lightweight fiberglass. The head to handle connection has a permanently mounted solid 14″ fiberglass reinforcing core to withstand breakage. The D-Grip is made of solid polymer. No soft rubber is used as it breaks down over time and becomes sticky. The shovel has lock pins with a “tab” that makes it easy to attach or remove from the shovel. Bottom line: the teeth work extremely well when having to break through packed dirt, clay and ice. krazybeavertools.com
Our AEV tire carrier requires us to mount our Krazy Beaver shovel using the KBT Bracket Mount set. The shovel mounts to the Hilift jack and will not hit the tail light when the back is opened
We were first introduced to Trailhead Automatic Tire Deflators by our friend and International Four Wheel Drive Trainers’ Association off-road instructor and guide, Tom Severin. We’ve tried other pre-set tire deflators and they have not worked. These are tried and true. Adjust the PSI by turning the adjusting screw with the allen wrench ( included in the set) counter clockwise until it is even with the end of the body tube. This will set pressure at the lowest end of the adjustment range. Every complete turn clockwise will increase pressure approximately 1.5psi for the 5-20psi range, and 3psi for the 15-40psi range. trailheaddeflators.com
Trailhead Automatic Tire Deflators will automatically reduce the air pressure in a tire to a pre-determined level and stop, preventing any further loss of air from the tire. They will function properly whether your vehicle is stationary or traveling at speeds of 20 mph or less. The shut off pressure on your tires may vary due to several factors, especially the flow rate of your valve stems.
Check out anything here that interests you then indulge yourself and your family in some quality Vehicle Supported Adventure.
