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Mike Richard

Mike Richard

Contributor

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South Africa, and survived a near-miss great white shark attack in Mexico. His travel advice has appeared on the websites of industry-leading publications for Forbes, Travel + Leisure, CNET, National Geographic, and Vagabondish. He loves the great outdoors and good bourbon, and (usually) calls Massachusetts home. Mike also enjoys speaking in the third person.

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A Kia PV5 WKDNR EV concept van parked in the desert.

Kia’s PV5 WKNDR camper van concept hints at the future of electric vanlifing

The SEMA debut of Kia's radical PV5 WKNDR EV concept hints at the company's futuristic vision of all-electric vanlifing.
orion 365 ford transit camper van

Orion’s 365 Ford XL camper van has room for five and all your outdoor gear

The Orion 365 is roomy enough to pack everything you need for life on the road and versatile enough to customize every cubic inch.
Front view of Honda's 2025 Passport TrailSport splashing through a puddle in the backcountry.

Honda to release its most rugged, overland-ready Passport SUV ever

The 2025 Passport TrailSport will be Honda's most adventure-ready SUV ever with all-terrain tires, a beefy V6, and an all-new overland-friendly nav system.
Iveco Daily Switch 4x4 Camper Van parked in a field with the pop-up roof opened.

Iveco’s Daily Switch is ready to work during the week, and play on the weekends

A modular, open-concept design allows for endless customization, with the versatility to work hard during the week and play harder on the weekends.
Young man hiking through the mountains

Layering outdoor clothing: Expert tips from a U.S. Special Operations Forces survival pro

Survival expert John Barklow was handpicked by the U.S. military to develop this field-tested, eight-piece system to help you survive almost any situation.
airpot inflatable outdoor camping toilet seat setup

AirPot is an ultra-portable inflatable toilet for doing “the doo” on the go

It's the size of a coconut and weighs a little over a pound, making it the perfect portable bathroom solution for vanlifers, overlanders, and car campers alike.
Rendering of a Brabus Big Boy 1200 luxury motorhome parked on a cliff overlooking a river.

Brabus’ first motorhome is a luxurious jet-black monolith fit for a supervillain

The 40-foot-long monolith features a massive 320-square-foot interior outfitted with smart TVs, heated bathroom floors, an oversized bedroom, and Starlink.
snow falling in football stadium

How to stay warm at a football game: The tips, tricks, and products you need

From Merino wool socks to battery-operated blankets to the right foods to eat, here's how to stay warm at a football game no matter the weather outside.
Man jumping off the back of a Moonlander X truck camper shell.

The all-new Moonlander X is both and neither a truck camper and pickup hardshell

A "floating" bed/couch design leaves the entire truck bed available for gear storage, making this one of the year's best truck camper setups.
rumpl backcountry puffy camping blanket lifestyle

Backcountry Puffy Blanket is cozy enough for home, rugged enough for overlanding

It's lighter, more compressible, more affordable, and every bit as warm as down, even when wet. Meet your new outdoor adventure blanket.
A concept rendering of Living Vehicle's CyberTrailer being towed by a Tesla Cybertruck through the desert.

Finally: Official details on the next-gen, Cybertruck-inspired CyberTrailer

With built-in Starlink, onboard water harvesting and recycling, and the potential for unlimited solar power, this could be a dream RV for digital nomads.
Invader Duo X Off-Road Camper expanded and setup at camp.

This tiny travel trailer transforms into a spacious, multi-room overlanding rig

Despite its teardrop silhouette, the Duo X off-road camper pops, slides, raises, and expands into a multi-room rig with all the comforts of home.
Nanopresso

The best portable coffee options for making joe on the go

Here are our favorites for the best portable coffee options to make coffee on the go, no matter where you're headed.
Person snowmobiling at high-speed on a Ski-Doo snowmobile.

The ultimate guide to snowmobiling: What to expect and how to ride like a pro

With the help of a 45-year veteran snowmobiler, we break down everything you need—from gear to skills to sleds—for your first-ever snowmobile ride.
Dethleffs Globebus 4x4 Performance motorhome parked on a heavily wooded forest road.

Dethleffs’ first-ever AWD camper bus is rugged, tricked-out, and trail-ready

The first all-wheel-drive RV from Germany's Dethleffs features a rugged, go-anywhere design with the company's typical spacious, luxurious interior.
Man winter camping with a green tent

Winter camping: Your life could depend on these life-saving tips

Keeping comfortable and toasty warm while camping in winter is not about packing more. It's about packing smarter. Here are some simple tips to help.
Couple camping with the Shine portable wind turbine.

We tested Shine’s ultra-portable wind turbine, and you may want to rethink solar-powered outdoor gear

Shine's portable, 40-watt wind turbine is a compact, renewable energy generator that relies on wind to spin a turbine to produce electricity.
Mini bottles of alcohol

The most surprising things you can bring on a plane

While the TSA has banned plenty of things from carry-on baggage, it still permits travelers to bring surprising things. Here are a few of our favorites.
Couple and a dog walking alongside a Litefar Orion powered smart wagon.

Haul your car camping gear smarter and faster with the Orion powered smart wagon

Hong Kong-based Litefar is leveling-up the old-school wagon design with a clever, AI-powered smart wagon capable of hauling up to 180 pounds.
Red Jeep towing a Hiker Trailers GearLoft travel trailer/micro-camper.

This clever trailer is an all-in-one gear hauler and high-rise micro-camper

Built for maximum versatility, Hiker Trailers' Gear Loft is part gear hauler, part micro-camper, so you can tow all your favorite adventure gear to camp.
Nissan Caravan MyRoom campervan parked in a waterfront field.

The all-new Caravan MyRoom isn’t the campervan you might expect from Nissan

Nissan turned its one-of-a-kind campervan concept into one of the most unique campervan models we've ever seen.
An electric Mercedes-Benz prototype van covered in vehicle camouflage.

Mercedes-Benz’s next-gen, factory-built electric camper vans are coming soon

The next generation of vanlife-worthy campervans will no doubt be electric, and Mercedes-Benz wants it to happen by 2026.
Closeup of Hiker Trailers' Highway Lite compact teardrop travel trailer.

Hiker Trailers’ new ‘cube’ camper is the year’s most affordable teardrop trailer

The Highway Lite is stripped down to little more than a teardrop trailer "skeleton" to keep it lightweight, ultra-affordable, and completely customizable.
Man opening the Uncharted Supply x Yeti Overland overlanding kit.

Uncharted Supply Co. X Yeti’s Overlander is the perfect offroad vehicle prep kit

The Overlander is an all-in-one vehicle preparedness kit that packs everything you need and nothing you don't into a single, "wildproof" gear box.
iwoody wooden bike teardrop travel trailer wood

This wooden teardrop travel trailer is bike-towable, but there’s a catch

The unique, 150-pound bike-friendly i:woody features a few design elements that set it apart from almost every other teardrop travel trailer on the market.
Stowe Vermont

Stowe travel guide: Where to stay, what to eat, and more

The historic town of Stowe offers outdoor adventures year-round, with a vibrant dining scene and a wide array of hotels, so there's something for everyone.
Big Sur glamping

The best gear for tricking out your first ultra-luxe glamping setup

From portable outdoor living room sets to camp-friendly fridge/freezers to glamp-ready dinnerware—this is the best glamping gear worth buying in 2024.
The Muraka at Conrads Rangali Island

Deep sleep: The world’s most incredible underwater hotels

“Sleeping with the fishes” is rarely a good thing. But the world’s swankiest hotels are reimagining what’s possible in undersea suites with stunning views.
Couple using a TentBox GO rooftop tent in the desert.

The TentBox GO might be the lightest and easiest-to-setup rooftop tent on the market

With a featherweight design and dead-simple installation/setup, the TentBox GO might be the best entry-level rooftop tent available today.
best portable pellet grill pulled pork sandwiches

7 best portable smokers to up your tailgating game for 2024

Portable pellet grills and smokers have the convenience, reliability, and user-friendliness of their bigger, beefier brethren, but with go-anywhere portability.
tiffin gh1 off grid camper van

The Tiffin GH1: A rugged and luxe yet surprisingly affordable off-grid camper van

Luxe RV maker Tiffin has thrown its hat into the camper van ring with the all-new GH1 — a rig that's rugged, cleverly designed, and surprisingly affordable.
Twin bedroom in the 2025 Airstream Trade Wind 23FB travel trailer.

Airstream’s newest travel trailer offers same iconic look in a more towable body

The new Airstream Trade Wind 23FB features a versatile layout and four times more power potential than any other Airstream in a compact, easy-tow design.
Man grilling while tailgating with a Goal Zero portable power station.

The best portable power stations to charge up your tailgate party

These tailgate-friendly portable power stations are designed to keep your smartphones, cameras, camp fridges, and portable grills going anywhere, anytime.
Outpost Campers' Outpost 6.5 truck camper parked with mountains in the background.

The Outpost 6.5 truck camper is a full-sized rig with a pint-sized price tag

Despite it's compact size, Outpost Campers' latest Outpost 6.5 truck camper features all the amenities of today's best motorhomes at a fraction of the price.
Grilling at a tailgating party.

Tailgate essentials: Get the best gear to level up your game-day celebrations

To some, tailgating is as much a profession as it is a pastime. Having the right essentials can make or break your game-day rally.
Tesla sedan towing a Polydrops P21 camper trailer

The Polydrops P21 camper trailer is off-grid-ready with room for the whole family

The all-new P21 camper trailer features the company's unique "ugly-cool" aesthetic that's all hard angles on the outside and thoroughly modern throughout.
Person using Jackery portable power station outdoors while fishing

How to choose a portable power station (even if you don’t have an engineering degree)

Here's how to shop for your own portable battery or power station, even if you don’t happen to have an advanced electrical engineering degree.
Hardsider HardTent rooftop tent mounted atop a silver SUV parked by a lake.

Hardsider’s hard-sided HardTent is unlike (almost) any rooftop tent you’ve seen

Forget the condensation problems, constant wind noise, and complicated setup process of ordinary rooftop tents with Hardsider's unique, hard-sided HardTent.
SylvanSport's 2025 Micro Adventure Series line-up mounted to a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck

SylvanSport’s 2025 Micro Adventure Series: Lighter, smarter, and more versatile

SylvanSport — our go-to brand for featherweight vehicle accessories — announced the debut of the 2025 Micro Adventure Series in time for its 20th anniversary.
Closeup of seated man wearing Arc'teryx's new Mo/Go motorized hiking pants.

Are Arc’teryx’s motorized hiking pants the next revolution in hardcore hiking gear?

These next-gen powered pants promise a 40% "boost" on the climb and extra knee support on the way down, all while making the wearer feel 30 pounds lighter.
War Horse All-Terrain custom camper van parked near a lake in Florida.

War Horse All-Terrain’s built-to-order camper vans: A cozy, luxe off-roader

With luxurious features, premium fit and finish throughout, and hardcore off-road chops, these custom camper vans are built to take you far from home in style.
Man opening a Dometic portable refrigerator mounted inside a truck.

I went camping with a portable fridge, and I’m never going back to a cooler

The best portable fridges are lighter, cheaper, more efficient, and just plain better than traditional coolers. Here's why it's time for you to upgrade.
View of Yellowstone National Park waterfall

Here’s everything you need to pack for a trip to Yellowstone National Park

Just like Old Faithful, these essential items can always be counted on to ensure a safe and fun adventure trip to Yellowstone National Park.
Lumahai Beach

Head to one of the most underrated beaches in the U.S. this summer

Some of the best beaches in the world are right here in the U.S. Summer's here, so let's dive into the most underrated sandy spots.
White Jeep camping in the Australian desert.

The best tips and tech for beating the heat while car camping this summer

Summer car camping can be brutal. But, clever planning and the right gadgets—including portable fans, fridges, and even ACs—can make it a lot more enjoyable.
A view from the inside of a tent looking out on a campground.

The ultimate packing list for summer camping (so you’ll never forget a thing!)

We've put together the only camping packing list you'll ever need to help you prepare to venture into the great outdoors this summer.
Exodus Capax travel trailer being towed by a black SUV down a desert highway.

Exodus’ Capax travel trailer is luxe, off-road-ready, and fits in a standard garage

Inspired by traditional pop-up travel trailers, Exodus' Capax features a streamlined design with a surprising amount of luxury features and living space.
Relaxing in the back of a car on a mattress

Car camping: How to live in your car comfortably for a few weeks (or longer)

Here’s everything you’ll need to stay safe, sane, and happy when you choose to live out of your car for a little while if you ever want or need to.
A Roam Resilient Baja Edition overland trailer parked by a lake.

The overland trailer from this new company is rugged enough to take you anywhere

With hardcore specs and a bright, modern interior, the Baja Edition overland trailer is ready to take you anywhere without leaving the comforts of home behind.
Ford Bronco Raptor parked on the roadside in Big Bend National Park.

We drove the Ford Bronco Raptor in the vast desert of Texas’ Big Bend National Park

The Ford Bronco Raptor is taller, wider, meaner, and more aggressive than any of its brethren, making it one of the most capable factory SUVs on the market.