Trekking: Keep high and dry with Topeak’s Bikamper

By Brandon Widder August 28, 2014

Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons, or fiending to catch some waves someplace other than the North Shore. One day we may highlight a new ultra-light camping stove or minimalist water filter, and the next you may find us getting wrapped up in a set of Norquayco’s handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace and home, so get outside and live it.

The mere thought of camping typically conjures images of muddy hiking books and overly-large backpacks, often set against an alluring backdrop of towering trees and serene rivers. However, not all camping treks begin and end with the pair of boots on your feet and the pack on your back. For some, the thrill of outdoors rests in mountain biking cross country and extended excursions carried out on the open road. Thankfully, the Topeak Bikamper ($230) is designed for such occasions.

Topeak Bikamper Primarily constructed using water-resistant urethane coated with 45D ripstop nylon, the Bikamper is a single-person tent built with the bike enthusiast in mind. The tent’s clever design utilizes the front wheels of a 26-inch mountain or 700c road bike for support in lieu of traditional tent pulls, conveniently reducing weight and unnecessary bulk without sacrificing function. Three mesh panels also ensure proper ventilation — and occasional stargazing on clear clear nights — while the waterproof nylon fly furthers protection from the elements should the weather turn foul. Best of all, the three-season tent weighs just under three pounds and packs down to a size barely larger than your bicycle seat, allowing you to easily strap the tent and accompanying stuff sack to the front of your handlebars or back rack before you hit the pavement for your next adventure.

Check out the main Topeak website for more information or to make a purchase. Keep in mind the company also makes a smaller, lighter version of the Bikamper dubbed the Bikamper EXP.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…

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