Skip to main content

Taxa Outdoors’ Rugged Mantis Travel Trailer Just Got Even Better

For decades, the best option for hardcore, adventurous campers was a classic teardrop trailer. The 21st century opened things up, bringing a slew of ingenious new manufacturers, all building capable, lightweight, rugged travel trailers ready to go anywhere. New for 2019, Taxa Outdoors — one of our favorite towable brands — returns with a redesigned flagship model.

The most noticeable thing about the refreshed Mantis is its size or, more specifically, lack thereof. While the model gets a 12-inch bump in length up to 19 feet, it’s still incredibly compact with a footprint that can be stored in most 7-foot garages. At roughly 3,000 pounds, it’s towable by even moderately equipped trucks and SUVs. It all rides on 15-inch steel wheel all-terrain tires for a comfortable ride that’s capable of venturing off-road when necessary.

Inside is a surprising amount of elbow room. The pop-up roof guarantees plenty of headroom with comfortable seating for six. After dark, the Mantis will sleep four with a comfortable full-size bed/couch at the rear and bunk beds at the front. The rugged, military-inspired exterior belies a premium cabin. The long list of features includes a birch plywood kitchen with a Dometic Combo 2-burner sink and stove, plus ample storage. A 6,000-BTU air conditioner, oversized fresh and gray water tanks, exterior hot/cold shower, 8-foot patio awning, and 12-volt USB outlets throughout are all standard. Buyers can even upgrade to a 78-liter refrigerator/freezer and a wet bath with a shower and cassette toilet, making the Mantis a real off-grid camping solution.

Taxa Outdoors first made industry waves with the pared-down Cricket. The mid-range travel trailer was instantly recognizable for its quirky, asymmetrical shell. It was a love-it-or-hate-it design. For us, it was love at first sight, which is why we still rank it among the best ultra-light travel trailers. That Taxa managed to engineer a boatload of storage, features, and usability into the Cricket’s 15-foot shell proved the company knew how to build a legit towable for the avid outdoorsman. The redesigned Mantis builds on their years of research and development, making their already great flagship product even better.

The 2019 Taxa Outdoors Mantis is available with a starting price of around $37,500, but a fully loaded model pushes closer to $40,000. That might seem steep, but for a durable, well-designed adventure trailer, it doesn’t get much better.

Not sure which model — teardrop, ultra-light, or full-featured Airstream — is right for you? Kick the tires with a multi-day RV or travel trailer rental to narrow your search.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Many ski resort opening days are this weekend, but El Niño may cause delays
There's been a serious lack of snow lately
Snowboarder riding down trail at Smuggler's Notch

Skiers and snowboarders ride a trail DTMG

There's been a lot of interest in how much snowfall ski resorts would have this season. After a monumental 2022-2023 snow sports season, few believed this year would rival last year. Rather than seeing a natural and expected dip in snowfall, we might face a real problem with ski resorts opening for the 2023-2024 season. And it seems we can blame El Niño.
What's happening with ski resort openings?
Utah, which had one of its heaviest snowfall seasons last winter, is well off its pace this year. Alta Ski Area, one of Utah's best ski resorts, has had 54.5 inches of snowfall this year. Last year, Alta reported 101 inches of snowfall by November 20.

Read more
Everyday carry label The James Brand has a new collab for something you definitely shouldn’t carry daily
The James Brand's latest collab involves a hatchet
The James Brand Hatchet

The James Brand is well-known for its sleek pocket knives and minimalist multitools. This Black Friday, they're breaking new ground, unveiling a collaboration that might just be the coolest ever. It's a pleasant surprise to us that The James Brand has teamed up with Adler, a renowned German hatchet and axe maker, for their newest collaboration. And no, you read that right—it's not your typical pocket-friendly gear.
The James Brand reveals a new everyday carry hatchet for their lineup
Set to launch just in time for Black Friday, The James Brand and Adler are introducing the TJB x Adler hatchet. Crafted with precision, this collaboration embodies the ethos of both brands — a commitment to quality, functionality, and timeless design. Priced at $149, this hatchet features an American Hickory handle with a non-slip coating, offering a firm grip even in the most challenging conditions. The forged steel head, complemented by a protective sheath, ensures durability and sharpness, ready to tackle any task at hand.

If you're thinking of gifting this baby to a friend or loved one, this hatchet nestles within a stunning wooden box which is perfect for gifting and secure storage.

Read more
This popular Kershaw pocketknife is $10 for Black Friday
A man holding a Kershaw Cinder pocketknife.

It's Black Friday, which means huge price cuts on big dollar items. But it also means that you can get a pretty good deal on smaller items, like this pocketknife. While this Kershaw pocketknife, which has dropped to just $10 for Black Friday, isn't from one of our usual recommendations of pocketknife brands, it does have the backing of customer satisfaction. The Kershaw Cinders is $4 off for Black Friday, bringing it from $14 to $10 for the holiday event. Tap the button below to grab yours today, or keep reading to see why we think this is a good deal.

Why you should buy the Kershaw Pocketknife
The Kershaw pocketknife is a small pocketknife that is perfect for getting everyday tasks done, such as box opening or trimming growths off of trees. About the size of a key, it isn't meant to do the job of the best self-defense weapons, but rather to be something that helps you throughout your day. Far from being a true disadvantage, we consider the size of pocketknives to be an advantage as part of your array of knives. As per our knife guide, pocketknives are good for precision cutting and are easy to clean. An overly large knife can actually be a disadvantage when your foe is ridiculously thick tape.

Read more