SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1411910
New Outdoor Gear For Overlanding Trips OUTDOOR GEAR FOR OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES By Stuart Bourdon Photos by Stuart Bourdon, Dan Sanchez, and courtesy of manufacturers Baja is only one example of the perfect places for a kicked-back weekend with family and friends. For many, it can be a long overland exploration into the deep boonies with all your gear, or a night or two of camping within safe viewing distance of the SCORE International off-road race held in the desert and mountains of Baja, Mexico. No matter how you plan it, however, you’ll need more than just a well-built off-road or Overlanding vehicle to have a successful trip. A SCORE Journal readership survey indicated that 91-percent of SCORE Fans actively participate in outdoor and Overlanding lifestyles that include camping, hunting, fishing and more. Top-notch outdoor gear like coolers, stoves, camp furniture, clothing, footwear, fire-pits, and first-aid kits are essential to making a Baja trip with family, friends, and teammates, one to be remembered for all the right reasons. To learn more about the latest outdoor gear, SCORE Journal walked the miles of aisles at the 2021 Outdoor Retailer Summer Show held in Denver, Colorado. This is the largest specialty outdoor gear and equipment trade show in the country, and it was a great place to discover some of the newest camping and overlanding gear that can make any trip into Baja your best adventure yet. CHILL COOLERS ORCA COOLERS GETS WHEELS Orca Coolers offers high-quality, hard-sided (roto-molded) coolers that stand with the best in the category. Seven sizes of Orca Coolers ranging from 20 to 140 quarts in interior capacity make it easy to find the right one for your camping or overlanding adventures. New among the Orca Coolers collection of high-performance coolers is a 75-quart wheeled model (shown) recently introduced at the country’s biggest outdoor gear trade show. The wheels are rugged and offer easy rolling on all surfaces. The sturdy handle is designed for good leverage and control and is just the right length to keep the cooler away from your heels. Visit www.orcacoolers.com. DOMETIC GO SERIES COOLER BOX One of the hottest new products we found is the Dometic Go Series of cold or dry storage solutions. The Dometic Go PAC-H50 Hard Storage Box features sturdy aluminum sidewalls and an impact-resistant polyethylene base. It’s a great addition to any off-road gear collection. The Dometic Go 50-liter waterproof and stackable storage chest can hold three soft storage bags inside, and it has tie-down locations and holes for padlocks. Visit www.dometic.com. FIRE, FOOD & FIRST AID FIRE SIDE OUTDOOR POP-UP PIT The Fire Side Outdoor Pop-Up Pit is a simple, efficient, and environmentally responsible way to have a campfire when enjoying the outdoors. It’s portable and lightweight, yet simple and durable enough to take with you anywhere you go camping. Built from high-quality aluminum and stainless steel, the Pop-Up Pit weighs just 8 pounds and folds down smaller than a camping chair. The Pop-Up Pit’s folding legs, ash screen, and heat shield protect anything underneath it from catching fire. An optional and very useful Ember Mat for the ground is available. The removable folding 22.5 x 16.5-inch grill is ideal for cooking and is easy to clean. The Pop-Up Pit can also be converted for use with propane. Visit www.firesideoutdoor.com. NUTRIENT SURVIVAL Described as “top-shelf, delicious, Special Ops grade nutrition,” the hearty nutrient-packed entrees, tasty snacks, and immunity-boosting drinks and shakes from Nutrient Survival are available in easy to prepare and serve single meal packs, bulk cans, and 3- to 90-day survival kits. Offering everything from Triple Cheese Mac, Southwestern Medley, and Hearty Lasagna meals to Maple Almond Grain Crunch, Hearty Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal breakfasts, and Vitamin Coffee, the extensive selection of high-quality Nutrient Survival products is formulated for camping and overlanding adventures, emergencies, or everyday health and performance. Visit: www.nutrientsurvival.com. SOLO STOVE Perfect for any off-road outing, the Solo Stoves are a family of camp stoves, grills, and fire pits that feature the company’s innovative 360-degree airflow design that pulls air in from the bottom of the double-walled stainless-steel canister-style portable stoves. The Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit (pictured) measures 14 inches tall, 19.5 inches in diameter, and weighs 20 pounds. It can take logs up to 16 inches long and is great for larger groups. The diverse Solo Stove line ranges from the size of a coffee can that runs on twigs to the Yukon at 17x27 inches. Solo Stove offers a wide variety of accessories for its stoves, grilles, and fire pits. Visit. www.solostove.com. IGNIK GAS GROWLER DELUXE REFILLABLE GAS BOTTLE The Ignik Gas Growler means never having to buy single-use gas cylinders for your camp stove ever again. Able to hold the equivalent fuel of five of those green propane bottles, the Ignik Gas Growler costs about the same to refill as it does to buy one single-use propane bottle. Adapters can fit the Ignik Gas Growler up to almost any camp stove, gas grille, or the Ignik 2-In-1 Heater Stove. Best of all, the Ignik Gas Growler weighs a heck of a lot less than that clumsy 20-pound gas tank you’ve been lugging around. Visit. www.ignik.com. UCO GEAR FLATPACK PORTABLE GRILL & FIREPIT The UCO Gear Portable Grills & Firepits are perfect for camping because of their lightweight, small folded-down size, and stainless-steel construction. They offer the experience of campfire cooking with the convenience of a contained above-ground fire. The largest Flatpack offers a cooking surface of 20x16 inches, accepts firewood up to 18 inches long, and folds down to 2 inches thick. The Flatpack Medium has a grilling area of 13x10 inches and folds to 1.1-inch thin. The Small (or Mini) Flatpack is perfect for two people with a cooking surface of 9x6.75 inches and a weight of two pounds. Visit www.ucogear.com. UNCHARTED SUPPLY Uncharted Supply offers first-aid, survival, and gear repair kits for your vehicle, campsite, home, or cabin. The First Aid Pro is their latest compact bag that features high-quality first-aid products in an extremely durable package, perfect for Overlanding, camping, and UTV adventures. The bag is made from durable, water-resistant, coated 600D Oxford polyester. Inside you’ll find things like adhesive bandages, stainless steel sheers, nitrile gloves, a heavy-duty SMART bandage, adhesive tape, emergency blanket, sterile wound closures, and a resuscitation face mask. In addition, the First Aid Pro contains CPR instructions. An included MOLLE System allows for attachment for trucks, cars, buggies, and UTVs. Visit www.unchartedsupplyco.com. UCO GEAR MESS KITS When we think of camping cookware, we think easily packable, easy-to-clean, and non-breakable. The UCO Gear Mess Kit delivers all that and more, making them an indispensable item in your camp kitchen box. Our favorite is the UCO Gear 6 Piece Mess Kit. The UCO Gear 6 Piece Mess Kit includes a bowl, plate (doubles as a lid with leakproof seal), Camp Cup, and Switch Spork. All of it packs together neatly. UCO Gear Mess Kits are manufactured from BPA-free polypropylene, there’s never a worry something will break if it gets dropped, and they are microwave and dishwasher safe. Visit www.ucogear.com. CAMPING CONVENIENCES CANOPY BREEZE CANOPY FAN Out in the middle of the Baja desert, you can pray for a cool breeze. Instead of depending on nature, you can use the Canopy Breeze, a lightweight and easy-to-set up portable ceiling fan designed just for your outdoor canopy. The Canopy Breeze is cordless, rechargeable, has a 6-hour run time, sets up in minutes, and comes in a compact carrying case. Extendable hooks can be raised from the top of the Canopy Fan, allowing it to be hung inside the top of most 10- and 12-for canopies on the market. Visit www.canopyfan.com. DOMETIC GO SERIES COMPACT CAMP CHAIR All camp chairs are not alike. Some simply provide a place for your rump. Others deliver comfort, support, and easy set-up, fold-down, and storage. The lightweight Dometic Go Compact Camp Chair supports up to 260 pounds, features a folding aluminum frame, heavy-duty 600D fabric, and real beech wood armrests, and includes a rear seat pocket and carrying sack. Visit www.dometic.com. DOMETIC GO SERIES LUNAR LANDER TABLE Folding camp tables never looked this good or worked this well. The Dometic Go Lunar Lander Table (CMP-T4) is versatile, sturdy, and made for the on-the-go off-road or overlanding enthusiast. The Dometic Go Lunar Lander table is large enough to seat four adults. Its top is made from solid bamboo, the four aluminum legs are adjustable to three different heights, and the table folds in half for easy storage. A carrying case protects the Dometic Go Lunar Lander folding table while stowed for travel. Visit www.dometic.com. DOMETIC HYDRATION WATER JUG AND FAUCET Every once in a while, we see something that makes us think “wow.” The Hydration Water Jug and Hydration Water Faucet from Dometic are two new products that made a big hit. Best thought of as a high-tech water can, the Hydration Water Jug holds 11 liters of water, is designed for easy carry, and offers multiple dispensing options with two openings for filling, pouring, and cleaning. The mate-product to the Jug is the Dometic Hydration Faucet. Designed to work with the Water Jug (or any water container), the Hydration Faucet transforms a water container into a running water system with a one-touch operation, a magnetic base, and no external power source required. Visit www.dometic.com. IGNIK HEATED SEAT COVER The Ignik Heated Seat Cover is a 22-inch by 13.5-inch heating pad that can convert any vehicle seat or camp chair into a comforting and controllable heated seat for your backside. The Ignik Heated Seat Cover gets its power in two different ways. It can be powered via optional 5V USB battery packs for efficiency mode or connected to 12V power through a vehicle-auxiliary (cigarette lighter) outlet for instant heat. The secret to the Ignik Heated Seat Cover is its Radiant Carbon Strand design that eliminates bulky wires often found in heated products. Visit www.ignik.com. Outdoor Hygiene KLEAN FREAK BODY WIPES When camping out in Baja, it’s hard to keep clean with all the dirt and dust. Klean Freak Body Wipes are all-natural body wipes ideal for personal clean-up when camped out to watch a SCORE Off-Road Racing event, or anytime. Klean Freak Body Wipes are antibacterial, have zero alcohol, are safe for sensitive skin, and leave a pleasant scent. Available in various fragrances each individually packaged, 11x11-inch Klean Freak Body Wipe can be purchased in 12-packs, The Bucket (60 wipes), or The Jug (120 wipes) for convenience. Visit www.kleanfreak.com. SHOWER TOGA When we first saw the Shower Toga, we thought the same thing you might be thinking now. But then we realized, it’s a great idea. The Shower Toga allows you to wash up from head to toe outdoors after a long day of camping, overlanding, or just road-tripping, and all while maintaining a modicum of modesty. The lightweight yet sturdy waterproof-coated nylon wearable Shower Toga can be used for changing, showering, and redressing, and can double as a bag for wet or dirty clothes. Step in, pull up and tighten around waist (for men) or armpits (for women), tighten the drawstrings, and you’re ready to disrobe and clean up after any outdoor activity. Visit www.showertoga.com. PERFORMANCE CLOTHING FARM TO FEET SOCKS It’s hot and the terrain is rugged in the Baja desert, so to stay comfortable on your feet, the type of socks you wear matters. Farm to Feet are American-made wool socks from American materials, manufacturing, supply chain, and workers. One of our solid favorites is the ultra-comfortable Damascus (pictured) from the Trail category that can be found in light and full cushion models, and in ¼ Crew, ¾ Crew, and Crew heights. Another hot sock pick is the Eureka (coming spring 2022) made from 100-percent U.S. merino wool and featuring a lightly padded footbed. Visit www.farmtofeet.com FLYLOW GEAR OUTDOOR CLOTHING Off-road adventures demand tough gear and that includes what you wear out in the Baja boonies. Flylow Gear makes sure you have durable and functional duds that look and feel good too when going from your desert campground to wine-tasting in the Guadalupe Valley. One of our favorites is the new Trailworks Pant (pictured) from Flyflow Gear. The Trailworks Pant is a sturdy trouser made from burly canvas and nylon coated in a PCF-free DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment. The antimicrobial and 30+ UPF Flylow Shaw Shirt from Flylow Gear was also a big winner with us. The Shaw Shirt is comfortable, durable, and perfect for the off-road lifestyle. Visit www.flyflowgear.com. MINUS 33 SOCKS Based in Ashland, New Hampshire, Minus33 began as a snowmobile apparel brand, but it has roots that reach down into a long family history in the wool industry. Minus33 has now branched out into outdoor product markets such as hiking, skiing, and hunting, offering a full line of merino wool outdoor products ranging from base layers to beanies to some truly amazing socks. Some of our favorites are from the Mountain Heritage (pictured) line of high-performance socks offering everything from micro and lightweight mini crews to full cushion over-the-calf socks. Visit www.minus33.com. LOWA BOOTS Within the expansive Lowa Boot product line are examples of top-shelf footwear designed expressly for activity categories ranging from All Terrain Sport and Everyday Outdoor to Trekking/Backpacking and Mountaineering. We spotted a few perfect for the off-road and overlanding lifestyle. The new Lowa Explorer II GTX Lo (shown) is lightweight but features rugged and waterproof construction and a split leather/fabric upper, GORE-TEX liner, and Vibram Rock Trac Evo outsole. The Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid and Lowa Malta GTX Mid are two examples of lightweight waterproof outdoor footwear with the ankle support of a hiking boot. Visit www.lowaboots.com. KNIVES/MULTI-TOOLS BUCK KNIVES 040 ONSET KNIFE A sleek yet tough Every Day Carry (EDC) folding knife, the new Buck Knives 040 Onset (pictured with the also-new Budgie above) features a black G10 handle to offer grip under any circumstances, ball bearings, and a blade flipper to ensure smooth one-handed opening. The removable clip is designed for “deep carry” in your pocket. The Buck 040 Onset’s full flat blade made from S45VN steel with a heat-treating process pioneered by knife industry legend Paul Bos delivers longer edge life and easier resharpening. The drop point style Buck 040 Onset has a blade length of 3-3/8 inches, weighs 4.9 ounces, and features a frame lock for security and easy one-hand closing. Visit www.buckknives.com. LEATHERMAN CURL MULTI-TOOL The Leatherman Curl is a 4-inch-long toolbox with 15 tools inside that deliver the means to cut, snip, slice, dice, twist, untwist, open, repair, measure, and grind just about anything you encounter on an off-road or overlanding trip. The Leatherman Curl’s tool list includes pliers, wire cutters, a wire stripper, bit driver, scissors, can and bottle openers, a ruler, wood/metal file, and a 2.9-inch blade made of 420HC stainless. Perfectly capable of assisting its owner with tasks ranging from in-the-field electrical auto repair to food prep, the Leatherman Curl is a good addition to any gear bag. Visit www.leatherman.com. SPYDERCO KNIVES ENDURA Famous for its trademarked round hole design for easy ambidextrous, one-handed blade opening, Spyderco offers a full range of knives and tools to make any job outdoors (or indoors, for that matter) much easier. Our favorite among the many Spyderco offerings is the Endura line. The Endura is one of the company’s originals, with more than a dozen blade and handle options, and is now in its fourth generation of product refinement. We are especially fond of the Endura 4 K390 (shown) pocketknife for its 3.8-inch K390 Microclean tool steel blade. This fully serrated version offers serious cutting power and the low-friction geometry of a full-flat grind. Visit www.spyderco.com.