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Both my tents are at least 40 years old so naming brands wouldn't be helpful. But with 60 years of tenting experience here is what I would look for: All tents: - stable in wind; worrying if your tent is going to blow away isn't conducive to good sleep or a day hike. - Taut; flapping in wind...

One of the reasons (among many) that I would not consider buying an EV now is the volatility in the market. Looking at early 1900s there were over 100 companies making cars; most didn't last long. Is it still off-roading/overlanding if there are convenient fuel stations along the route? Do we...

My last years of working as an engineer I was involved in cross disciplined new product design meetings. Sales and marketing would always insist on a new look, claiming that our base market would buy our product if it looked the same but we get a sales boost from those buyers that will buy...

Used mine for 8 years this way. AND forgetting about it being open traveling down the freeway at speed. AND in 50+MPH crosswinds in Wyoming and South Dakota. YMMV. I should clarify that 1/2 way is a very rough estimate. I simply crank it open a little. Does the MaxxFan still draw outside air...

I open it about 1/2 way. Sometimes on washboard it will open up all the way; hasn't hurt it yet.

I just use my MaxxFan on medium speed. My camper has the old 2 panel, crank out jalousie windows that don't seal at all. No dust intrusion on dusty roads. One could add a filter easily, if desired.

Except where there are biting insects or blowing debris (sand, dirt, snow, driving rain, etc.). Or when you have to carry poles to erect. Used both. Advantages and disadvantages to each.

My 2¢: When backpacking I keep my base pack weight as low as possible, especially if carrying climbing gear. No extra tarps. When car camping, canoeing, x-c ski camping I carry 3 tarps. Under tent: for tent floor protection. Last 'tarp' was a piece of one of those woven matts they sell for RV...

After you have enough horsepower any extra is a luxury but more range is always advantageous. My aunt and uncle travelled all over the west in their pickup loaded with a hard side camper powered by a 225 cu.in. slant six (145 horsepower, 215 ft-lb torque) and 3-in-the-tree. It did the job (and...

First 'National Park' designation belongs to Yellowstone but earlier Arkansas Hot Springs were designated 'National Reservation' in 1832 (became a National Park in 1921) and 'Yosemite valley and the Marisopa Grove' was deeded by the US Congress to California as a state park in 1864 (became a...

We already have places like that. They are called 'Wilderness Areas'. And most of them don't get many visitors. Walk in would limit National Park access to only to those willing and fit to make a multiple day backpacking trip. Few children, no disabled, no elderly; average American keep out...

When someone points a gun at you, assuming all they want is your stuff is poor thinking.

For planning at home: Paper: State highway maps Delorme and Benchmark Altas' National Geographic Atlas - US and Canada Appropriate Motor Vehicle Use Maps for National Forests Book: Corps of Engineers Campgrounds any other maps I find useful (been collecting for 60 years). Apps: Apple Maps (used...

Communist countries build walls to keep people in. Capitalist countries build walls to keep people out.

For desert wear best to look at what natives living in the desert wear (wore): Native Americans and prospectors in the American Southwest, inhabitants in the Sahara regions. It gets cold in the desert and the problem with cotton is it provides NO insulating value when wet. It in fact will rob...

The only cotton mountaineers used was oiled canvas, and that was only if rain was expected. Most used natural wool (with the lanolin still in) that was almost completely waterproof or oiled or waxed leather. Cotton could be used next to skin if wool was not tolerated but it was not optimal...

IIRC I paid $600 for in 1984(?) after wind destroyed our tent on Mt Robson. I got 25+ years of use out of it. If you never in extreme weather or have emergency shelter close by (vehicle, etc.) then anything that is weather tight will work.

Bibler I-Tent; had mine for ~35 years. I've slept in it in 60+mph winds (blow you away). Been great for me in high mountain storms. I learned to set it up alone in windy conditions. - Me and my backpack fit inside. - Two adults is very tight. - Sitting up and dressing inside is not a...

I agree; let the early tech adopters work the kinks out. Meanwhile, we need a better battery technology. Li-ion doesn't have enough energy density for long range and heavy work. It could be argued that cell phones have not been good for our culture. All tech advances have down sides.

Filled and buried stuff sacks were my go-to tent anchors in granular snow in the mountains ; should work well in soft sand. We carried deadman snow anchors that were shaped to dig deeper when pulled on. I've seen something similar as an anchor for winch recovery.