Built by Dutch company FlevoBike, the GoLo GoCamp is a tiny camper built on a recumbent e-bike platform. It offers similar amenities you’d enjoy while car camping but maintains the cycling experience. It’s based on the FlevoBike GoLo, a four-wheel cargo bike capable of carrying a surprisingly heavy load, but it adds a bunch of extra functionality and features for recreational trips. Even cooler is the fact that the camper is a removable module sitting on top of the GoLo cargo bike, so you can always take it off if you want to use the bike for more practical everyday travel.

The camper module is ultra-compact, at least compared to most RVs, but it pops up and extends a foldable canopy to offer additional length when the user is laying down. In bedroom mode, it’s also big enough to seat two at an interior fold-down table. The 33.5 by 86.6-inch mattress is comfy for a single occupant, and in its extended form, the camper features mosquito mesh and a window for ventilation. The side wall pops up to turn into another canopy offering shelter and shade.

An integrated 60W fridge, storage under the sleeping area, and wall shelves give you space to store your food, toiletries, and other items, and there’s a drawer hidden in the base for a spare wheel and bike tools. You’ll also find USB, 12V, and 220V outlets inside. Boosted by 400W solar panels mounted to the outside of the camper, the 250W motor and 1,000Wh battery provide maximum e-assist for 31 miles (50km) per charge. That may not sound like much, but most people usually only use assist when going up hills or when they’re feeling extra tired. Plus, on a sunny day, you’ll be juicing up the battery as you ride.

The camper’s narrow profile may be a snug fit for sleeping, but it’s a pro rather than a con when you’re on the road. It sticks to the width of a typical cycling path for safety. When you want to remove the camper shell to use the bike on its own, it’s fairly easy to do, simply clicking in and out of the bike’s base. Designed with delivery and service fleets in mind, the GoLo e-bike itself is comfortable and easy to ride, even when pulling a load this large, thanks to its recumbent design.

The GoLo GoCamp bike camper is still brand new, and the company has only produced one prototype to show off what it can do. But that prototype has already traveled 500 kilometers (more than 300 miles) across the Netherlands, so it’s looking pretty promising. We know what you’re thinking: how can you get one? Contact the company on their website or Facebook for more information.

The post GoLo Solar-Powered Bike Camper Makes Cycling Trips a Lot Comfier first appeared on Dornob.

“Mesa lights easily and with its smaller size, fits any outdoor space,” explains Solo Stove’s Clint Mickle. “Creating good moments has never been easier, and we’re thrilled to see new and existing customers gathered around this ingenious, low-smoke tabletop fire pit.”

The Mesa relies on the same dual-wall Signature 360° Airflow design as its larger Bonfire predecessors to create a smoke-free fire experience. Air comes in through holes at the base of the outer wall and vents through holes at the top of the inner wall. While the fire is burning, air between the layers heats up, expanding up and out as it sucks fresh air in from below. The exiting air — now super-heated and oxygen-rich — ignites any smoke particles it touches, eliminating the annoying fire by-product.

The Mesa can be fueled by conventional hardwood (Solo Stove sells their own Mini Oak Firewood packs, perfectly sized for the smaller basin) or with bagged wood pellets (a special pellet adapter is also included in the purchase). It lights up quickly with the help of a Solo Stove fire starter, producing hot fire in just a few minutes. Reviewers say the heat is sufficient for about “four people seated in marshmallow-roasting range.”

To keep the heat from burning any plastic or wood surfaces, the Mesa also comes with a handy one-inch stand that easily folds up and fits inside of the fire pit when not in use. Solo Stove also throws in a durable nylon carry case for “compact storage and ultra-portability.”

Unlike the standard Solo Stove Bonfire, which only comes in a stainless steel finish, the petite Mesa fire pit can be ordered in one of six “seasonal” colors: Deep Ash, Mulberry, Bone, Water, Ash, and traditional Stainless Steel. The color options definitely make it a more attractive accessory for backyard parties, and thanks to the Mesa’s high-heat ceramic coating, less likely to rust over time.

Solo Stoves are solidly constructed from SAE 304 stainless steel, known to be highly durable and super lightweight. The company guarantees all their products with a lifetime warranty, promising to replace any defective unit.

Not only would the ultra-light Mesa be helpful on a hike or in the backyard, but it’s also a smart solution for city-dwellers who want to bring a bit of the outdoor experience into their urban jungle. The petite fire pit could easily fuel a smores-roasting party on an apartment balcony, roof, or patio. Of course, it is only designed for outdoor use. Even though this version is portable, you should avoid trying to bring the bonfire fun inside.

The Solo Stove Mesa tabletop fire pit is available on the company website with a price tag of $79.99 for the stainless-steel edition and $89.99 for the colored options.

The post Solo Stove Goes Mini with Portable Tabletop Fire Pit first appeared on Dornob.

Winner of a 2021 Red Dot Design Award, the Ventje campervan comes complete with a flexible central space that acts as a bedroom, living room, office, and dining room, as well as a tailgate kitchen that can be used from in or outside the van. The custom IKEA-style built-in furniture found throughout folds, unfolds, and transforms to offer work surfaces and plentiful storage. Would you believe there’s a toilet hidden inside, too?

Instead of placing the bed at the rear, Ventje centers it within the main area. By day, it can either function as benches that face a fold-out table, sort of like a restaurant booth, or it can be arranged into an L-shaped sofa to lounge and watch TV. By night, you simply lower the table surface and move the cushions for a nearly queen-sized bed measuring 55 inches wide and 83 inches long. This setup might not be similar to that of other campervans, but centering it allows for what might be the Ventje’s best quality: a surprisingly spacious kitchen.

When the seating is arranged as the L-shaped couch, the kitchen set along the rear can easily be accessed from the interior. Campervans are often designed so that the kitchen is either exclusively indoors, set directly behind the cab, or exclusively outdoors, accessed by opening the rear doors and standing outside. Ventje’s design isn’t just more practical, it also makes it easier to access storage under the counter. The kitchen features a dual-burner propane stove/sink combo, a 7-gallon freshwater tank, a cutting board, a refrigerator beneath a hinged panel, and bi-directional drawers that swing in or outside the van.

The campervan even has spare flat-pack outdoor chairs stored beneath the benches, so you can pull up a seat to a removable tabletop attached to the outer kitchen frame to create an outdoor dining and work surface. Also located beneath the benches are the toilet and a 95-Ah battery for the rooftop solar panel system. Extra storage compartments can be found in the driver and passenger sidewalls, where you’ll also find 12V electrical sockets and USB charging ports. In addition to the bed for two, another two people can sleep in the somewhat narrow pop-top bed.

Ventje uses either secondhand Volkswagen T5 vans or brand new T6.1 vans as the base for their campervan builds, with prices ranging from $52,600 to $73,600. That’s not bad for a specialty vehicle, but this is where the Ventje’s compact size is extra handy. When everything is all packed up, you can use it as your everyday driver, provided you don’t need to seat more than two passengers (in addition to the driver).

As the company explains: “Ventje is an extension system for Volkswagen buses or transporters, facilitating quick and easy conversions into campervans. With this product, the manufacturers and the designers have got their fingers on the pulse of the times, as it allows people to gain maximum use from a potentially already-available or relatively inexpensive-to-buy vehicle. The effort-benefit ratio of this solution is outstanding. It is fundamentally very simple, modular and logical, with surprising details, and it is smart and practical.”

The post Ventje’s VW Campervan is Conveniently Compact and Impressively Equipped first appeared on Dornob.

Fast forward to 1985. While most people were flocking to theaters to enjoy the fun, futuristic romp Back to the Future, the pop-up camper industry was on the cusp of a futuristic innovation of its own: the awning (also known as the “de markies”). A relatively new concept at the time, the idea was initially developed by Dutch architect Edward Böhtlingk for an architectural competition. Styled as a mobile home and envisioned as an accordian-like caravan that could expand in seconds with a simple push of a button, it was indeed the camper of the future.

Meant to combine “temporary living with a creative travel experience,” Böhtlingk’s cool camper didn’t exactly appear extraordinary on the surface. A box-like construction while traveling, the magic didn’t truly happen until the camper arrived at its destination. There, with the push of a button, the camper would increase to approximately three times its size, complete with distinct spaces that included a bedroom, a small kitchen with appliances, and a sitting room, in addition to several storage spaces built in throughout. While this type of expansion may seem commonplace in today’s camper vans, at the time it was quite the innovation.

Despite Böhtlingk’s success with the concept, the studio wouldn’t go on create a prototype until ten years later, subsequently winning a Rotterdam Design Prize in 1996. Still, it never ended up reaching the market, depriving holiday-makers everywhere of its bigger on the inside,TARDIS-like construction. Perhaps it was simply ahead of its time. Introduced during the excesses of the 1980s, its minimalist, compact simplicity would be much more attractive to today’s campers, who are increasingly embracing design-forward, autonomous structures that allow for more transformative camping experiences.

Next year, this innovative blast from the past will finally have its moment. A project almost 36 years in the making, Böhtlingk’s ‘”folding caravan” will finally meet the public at the 2022 Geneva Architecture Exhibition. With potential investors at the ready, it’s possible that this time-traveling camper will finally reach the market to take its place among its more contemporary fellows. And who knows? By the end of the decade, these small but mighty caravans may even replace their larger, more imposing camper cousins – and prove once again that good ideas never really go out of style.

The post Meet the De Markies: the Innovative Mobile Home That Never Was first appeared on Dornob.

“The only company I can think of that could do that is my company,” King told Business Insider. “We’ve got the software developers; we’ve got the AI; and we’re really creative. We wanted it to be a Tesla-like experience even when you were in an RV.”

That means the CyberLandr is more than just a hunk of metal and plastic that fits into the back of Tesla’s controversial pickup. It’s a piece of high-tech machinery that aims to level up the whole camping experience using Stream It’s AI sensors, solar power, and the ability to connect to Elon Musk’s StarLink satellite internet service. In other words, anyone toting this camper around in their Cybertruck definitely won’t be roughing it.

The uniqueness of the CyberLandr’s design starts with its form factor. Since it fits so snugly into the truck bed, it’s only revealed when the tailgate is opened, offering a fold-out set of stairs and a pop top that rises surprisingly high for comfortable standing height inside. This compactness when closed means the pickup’s center of gravity is maintained during travel, its aerodynamic drag is unaffected, and the driver’s rear visibility is unimpaired. The 1,200-pound weight of the camper is estimated to reduce the range of the electric truck by just five percent, and the whole thing can be lifted in and out of the truck using a special dolly.

Capable of holding 40 gallons of fresh water and 20 gallons of gray water, the CyberLandr camper manages to pack a functional bathroom into its tiny footprint, featuring a spa-style shower head, heated one-piece porcelain floor, and a self-cleaning dry flush toilet that eliminates the need for a black water tank. The shower and sink water can be continuously recirculated thanks to an onboard four-stage water filtration system with UV sterilization, which also allows you to safely refill the fresh water tank from a source like a river or stream.

Inside, you’ll also find a built-in kitchen with an intelligent faucet featuring touchless voice control, a built-in colander, wash bin, drying rack, and cutting board, along with a five-square-foot porcelain countertop, an invisible induction cooktop, and a compressor fridge. A set of freestanding chairs and pivoting tables slide out of the walls to offer seating inside the camper or outside, if you want to dine al fresco, and they transform into a queen bed when it’s time to hit the hay. A 32-inch smart TV, dual pane windows with electrochromic dimming, a built-in surround sound system, and voice-activated home automation with a 360-degree-view surveillance system add to the sense of a luxury home on-the-go.

All 20 initial CyberLandr offerings at a discounted price of $39,995 have sold out, but you can still place a preorder at the $43,995 tier for a deposit of just $100. If you prefer to wait until this thing is actually built and on the market, you’ll pay $49,995, which is higher than the base price of the Cybertruck itself. Let’s be real, though – the kind of people who would drop the cash on this high-end, Tesla-specific camper aren’t sweating the price. Production is supposed to start later this year with development and testing beginning after the Cybertruck is available sometime in 2022.

What does Elon Musk think of the CyberLandr camper? One word: “cool.”

The post High Tech CyberLandr Camper Slots into the Back of Tesla’s Cybertruck first appeared on Dornob.

Designed in partnership between the two brands, the Pottery Barn Special Edition Travel Trailer is a 28-foot camper with a classic Airstream look on the outside and full-bore Pottery Barn catalog on the inside, including one of the most overstuffed couches you’ll ever see in an RV. You can choose between either a queen or twin bed floor plan to sleep up to five people, and both plans feature exclusive Pottery Barn bedding.

The design theme takes inspiration from the Pacific Coast Highway in California, featuring a soft palette of neutral textiles, pale plywood, gray cabinetry, Shaker details, and lush textures. The sofa is covered in boucle performance fabric made to stand up to kids, dogs, and the occasional spill, and it also offers a hidden airline-style table. The dining table is solid oak, inspired by Pottery Barn’s best-selling Benchwright Dining Collection. In the kitchen you’ll find a stainless steel apron sink with a walnut cutting board top, a pull-down faucet, a gas range with an oven, and a generously sized refrigerator.

Other features include a bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink made to feel as residential as possible, custom storage solutions like canvas baskets that slide under the bed, blackout curtains that wrap around the panoramic windows, and Airstream Smart Control Technology that lets you monitor and control onboard features like the lights, thermostat, and awning. Roll out that awning, set up the included Indio Outdoor Folding Table and Armchair Set, and hook the outdoor hanging table to the window for a cocktail bar on demand.

“Since launching two co-branded collections of home goods with Airstream, it’s become clear that fans of both brands understand the unique value of coming together,” says Marta Benson, President of Pottery Barn. “We were as excited as our customers to see how we could apply Pottery Barn’s design expertise to Airstream’s live anywhere mentality, and we couldn’t be more excited about the results.”

“It’s a match that makes sense in many ways,” says Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “Pottery Barn has this kind of magical ability to shape a space. You see it in their home interiors, where there’s a comfortable, functional beauty to even the smallest pieces. They understand how your home is this canvas where real life happens, and we love how they applied that to the Airstream lifestyle.”

The price for the Pottery Barn x Airstream travel trailer is steep, starting at $145,000, but plenty of #vanlifers end up spending that much on their conversions anyway, and this one’s all ready to hit the road. Since most Airstream interiors are built-in, it’s usually not a small project to customize one to your liking, and this one definitely has a feeling of home.

The post The Airstream x Pottery Barn Travel Trailer Makes Camping Comfier Than Ever first appeared on Dornob.

As complex as it looks, the ARK isn’t too hard to set up. It comes with a lightweight military-grade telescopic carbon fiber frame, which is a pretty big upgrade from your standard tent poles and tarp. Of course, this inflatable frame is what gives it the extra stability it needs to be roomy and comfortable, whether you’re setting it up on the ground or between a few trees. Inspired by kitesurfing technology, the frame also holds the tent erect in stormy conditions. On top of that, a multi-anchor strap system gives you virtually infinite possibilities for suspension set-ups, including using a single hook point to hang it from something like a bridge or branch overhead.

A description on the ARK’s Kickstarter page explains that “a classic camping stretcher weight is usually around five to 10 kg, and it’s bulky. Thanks to our carbon tubes we have reached the weight of 2.9 kg. In addition, our telescopic system allows unparalleled compactness for easy transport. This type of profile has a highly specific mechanical resistance (related to its weight), lightness, rigidity, great resistance to fatigue and vibrations, resistance to oxidation and corrosion, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and durability.”

Designed for either a comfortable single occupant or a tight fit for two, the ARK measures about 38.5 inches tall and 122 inches wide once assembled, and when it’s in hammock mode, the floor creates three storage areas for all your gear, so it stays dry no matter what’s happening outside. It packs down reasonably small, too, at about 8 by 20 inches for the compression sack and 27.5 inches for the poles (both of which can be strapped to your hiking pack like a normal tent).

Another cool feature is the transparent roof, made of high-quality medical polyurethane to resist extreme temperatures and rain while giving you a view of the stars. Fabric shutters let you close it if you’d rather shut out the morning sun, and stiff Dacron fabric and kevlar reinforcement keep the whole thing from being damaged or punctured by falling sticks and rocks.

As you might expect, the ARK hammock tent costs a little more than something you might pick up at REI. The complete kit, which includes the tent, carbon frame and cam straps, was recently offered as a reward on a recent Kickstarter campaign for €1,895+ ($2,240). Shipping is set to start from France to the United States in April 2021, and it will likely be available on the retail market around that time as well.

The post Ark Adaptable Outdoor Shelter: Part Inflatable Tent, Part Hammock first appeared on Dornob.

With these changes come new opportunities. If you’ve ever considered running an Airbnb, a treehouse company is offering an easy, relatively low-maintenance way to do it. “Treewalkers” by O2 Treehouse is “a treehouse hospitality franchise” with beautiful modular treehouse structures that can be erected as single units or “treehouse villages,” so you can turn a chunk of vacant land into a money-making paradise.

First of all, the structures are beautiful, providing an experience that’s a few notches above tent camping — more in the realm of “glamping.” They can either be strung up among trees or installed on the ground, coming in modular kits that are customizable to adapt to the final location. They consist of O2 Treehouse’s “tetra truss” wooden structure system, a wooden platform, built-in furniture, tension cables, and a canvas canopy. Each unit can also contain all the furniture you’d normally find in a hotel room, including a queen-size bed, built-in benches, bookcases, and a dining bar.

Aiming to capitalize on both the ecotourism and home-sharing markets, “Treewalkers” is a franchise network that enables investors to start their own mini getaway businesses for about $35,000 to $50,000 per glamping treehouse (plus the cost of whatever land you’re putting it on). The company recommends renting them out for $150 to $200 per night with 30 to 60-percent expected annual occupancy, potentially earning buyers a fast return on their initial investment.

The ecotourism industry was valued at $265 billion worldwide in 2018, and while it definitely took a hit this year, it’s still projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 14 percent. O2 Treewalkers founder Dustin Feider believes that his company’s unique treehouses are exactly the kind of thing travelers are going to be looking for in 2021 and beyond.

“We offer the ideal product both for potential franchisees looking for a unique opportunity to invest, and for consumers looking for a chance to get away from their fast-paced, concrete-filled life and enter a more tranquil and beautiful world,” says Feider.

“Our vision is to create stunning and inspired architectural forms that delight heart and soul and bring people together in unique natural settings. In this way, we believe that the disconnect between humans and the natural world may begin to heal.”

O2 Treehouses has built about 85 treehouses since Feider built his first geodesic structure in a Wisconsin poplar tree in 2005, many of which have been featured in over 100 design publications. Their portfolio is full of stunning custom treehouses, including geodesic domes and the unique (and appropriately named) Pinecone Treehouse.

If you’d rather just buy one exclusively for your own use, you can definitely do that, too. And hey, if the project is successful, maybe there will be a Treewalker treehouse for rent in a desirable area near you sometime soon.

The post Create Your Own Glamping Airbnb With O2 Treewalkers Treehouses first appeared on Dornob.

Zeltini describes it as a “house-boat-trike” or “tiny amphibious home/camper,” and it’s all of those things. Far more compact than any conventional camper, it’s capable of doing a lot more than just cruising down country roads on the weekends. It also contains far more than meets the eye. But best of all, it can seamlessly transition from land to water and back again, giving its users the kind of adaptability we can usually only dream of.

Designed for two people, the Z-Triton is equipped with two electric motor hubs, an electric outboard engine, and 250 watts worth of solar panels. It has three wheels: one in the front and two in the sides, all of which can fold up when the craft hits the water. When that happens, the “back end” of the bicycle camper becomes the front of the boat. When it’s time to head back home, the bike can easily carry the lightweight body of the camper/boat along the road, with a little electrical assistance, to boot. It’s capable of traveling up to 25 miles on land or 19 miles on water.

One of the not-so-great aspects of camping is the need to lug around a ton of separate gear, unpack it when you reach your destination, and then pack it back up again. If you’re camping in more than one spot, you’re repeating that process multiple times on a single trip, which gets old fast. The Z-Triton offers a sleeping pod for two people, eliminating the need for a tent, as well as an entire fold-up kitchen. Almost everything inside is modular, too, so you can remove things like the benches and tuck them away when you don’t need them.

Its blocky proportions aren’t exactly aerodynamic looking, and the overall aesthetic is reminiscent of retro Soviet design, but in a fun way. There’s even a live plant sticking out of the roof, which… sure, why not?

Is it kind of goofy? Absolutely. It sort of looks like it belongs in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. It’s easy to imagine Bill Murray piloting it while wearing that little orange beanie. But unlike a lot of other oddball creations, this is a real product with a working prototype, and its creators hope to make it available for rent to the public in 2021.

Latvia-based Zeltini is known for its unusual designs. Previously, they unveiled their “Temple of Poop,” a modern outhouse made of wood that’s elevated above the landscape with a giant pane of glass offering beautiful views to enjoy while doing your business. Built on the designer’s property, it composts human waste into fertilizer for its own rooftop garden.

The post Zeltini’s Z-Triton is an Amphibious Boat, Tricycle, and Camper in One first appeared on Dornob.

New from Tentsile, the company known for its robust and colorful tree tents, the “Universe” is “the world’s first three-element tent” designed to float, hang, or set up on the ground. That means it can serve as a generously sized party tent, a portable treehouse, and a paddleboard shelter with just a few adjustments in between. One of the primary features that makes this possible is an inflatable base that acts as both a mattress and a floatation device.

When used on the ground, the Universe looks like a fairly normal tent, albeit an extra-spacious one with room for up to five adults or a large family. A full 5.9 feet of headroom allows many people to stand upright inside it, and the internal living area is accented by three large porches for a total of 237 square feet of floor space. It takes about 15 minutes to complete the “ground mode” setup, and everything you need packs up into a bag on wheels.

In the air, the Universe is like a larger version of Tentsile’s most popular tree tent products. Whereas camping hammocks generally only fit one person at a time (and only in a lying or sitting position at that), the Tentsile Universe is a full-sized elevated tent. In this mode, it comfortably fits three adults (or two adults and two children) along with gear, and its inflatable base is more than rigid enough to walk on.

But the coolest way to use the Universe is definitely on the water. Here’s what the company has to say about that:

“Whether you’re looking to lounge lakeside, float out to your favourite fishing spot, or simply have a fun-packed swimming accessory for the kids, the Tentsile Universe is your oyster! Designed in conjunction with Glide paddleboards, its three-inch drop stitch inflatable floor combines with the 3000HH high-quality rainfly to create a floating structure you can take for a relaxing day out on the water.”

“The Universe converts from a family-sized tree or ground tent to water mode in less than five minutes! Simply remove the insect mesh and roll back the rainfly doors to create an incredibly stable three-person SUP-style raft with unbeatable views. Thanks to its rigid structure and sunshade, kids can use this as a swimming pontoon to play on all day long!”

“The fun doesn’t stop on the water! This multifunctional all-terrain product has been specifically designed with family camping adventures in mind. The Tentsile Universe can be used as a spacious ground tent, or it can be set up as one of our more traditional tree tents and elevate your camping experience.”

Check out all of the Tentsile Universe’s bells and whistles on the brand’s website, where it retails for $1,999.

The post Universe 5-Person Tree Tent Floats in the Air or on Water first appeared on Dornob.

The Voyager Kettle does all that and more. This highly portable kettle can go virtually anywhere you do, making it easy to boil water within minutes whether you’re at the office or out on a backcountry trail. While it’s not the first collapsible kettle made of food-grade silicone, it’s the first one that doesn’t require an accompanying hot plate or stove.

The Voyager features a 1000W heating element that can be powered by either a 110- or 220-volt current, which means you can use all sorts of different charging devices to power it up, including your car, without the need for an inverter.

The kettle’s coolest feature (other than its collapsibility, of course) is the fact that it will hold your water at the selected temperature for as long as 30 minutes. No more boiling a kettle of water, stepping away for a few minutes, and coming back to find that the water isn’t hot enough.

A digital screen displays the temperature inside the kettle, and you can either choose from 10 preset temperature options or set your own to get things brewing. True tea and coffee aficionados will love that feature, since different types of tea leaves and beans can require different brewing temperatures for optimal flavor. Just remember that the next time you use the kettle, it will automatically heat up to the temperature you last used unless you specify otherwise.

If there’s one caveat to the Voyager, it’s the fact that you still have to plug it into an outlet or charger. A truly portable electric kettle would actually be battery powered so you wouldn’t have to fuss with cords or power supplies while on the go. But perhaps making it self-contained would add too much bulk to the base and defeat the purpose.

The Voyager Kettle recently completed a successful round of crowdfunding on Kickstarter, raising over $43,000 to go into production. With any luck, it should be available to the public in the near future.

The kettle’s Kickstarter page reads: “My company, Nomad Joe, introduces Voyager Kettle to make your time away from home feel more like home. It is our mission to bring people worldwide a simple solution for making coffee or tea while traveling.”

“If you want to have your coffee just the way you like it, why not make it yourself, no matter where you are? People need a simple solution for making coffee or tea while traveling. Whether you’re a world voyager or you just want to make a decent cup of coffee in your office, dorm room, or Airbnb, you need a portable coffee-making option to help you get your fix.”

The post Flat-Pack Voyager Tea Kettle Collapses For Easy Travel first appeared on Dornob.

Modular tents aren’t entirely new, but they’re typically designed for large-scale use, essentially creating connected mini-cities of generously-sized models. What if you just want the ability to easily control the size of your own tent by adding or removing small sections? Ideally, you could go from a solo backpacker-sized shelter for one to a virtually unlimited party tent within a matter of minutes.

That dream just became a reality with the RhinoWolf 2.0, an “all-in-one attachable super-tent” that fits all your basic outdoor sleeping essentials into one compact package. Not only is it modular, allowing you to connect as many individual units as you like into one big “tentipede,” but it also features a built-in air mattress and down sleeping bag.

As you might guess from the name, the RhinoWolf 2.0 is an improvement upon an earlier design. The original RhinoWolf debuted in 2017 and offers most of the same components, but the new version adds a “roll and lock” feature that makes the seam between individual modules more resistant to rain, wind, and sun. Two additional air vents improve air flow, and the new and improved ergonomic one-pole design makes it faster and easier to set up, which is a definite plus.

To get started, you just unpack and unroll the modular tent, thread the single pole through the loops, secure the pegs, and inflate the lightweight, supportive polyester air mattress, which comes with its own innovative fabric “pump sack” that folds up into practically nothing when it’s not in use.

The built-in sleeping bags zip right into the bottom of the tent to create a snug pocket, and they’re available in either standard 150g weight made of synthetic fibers with a cold temperature limit of 59° Fahrenheit or duck down 375g weight with a cold temperature limit of 40° Fahrenheit. To top it all off, two exterior storm flaps create a shaded alcove for your gear.

The makers of RhinoWolf explain: “We didn’t just create a tent. We created an outdoor sleeping system that combines the best and most durable elements of our camping gear into one high-quality, heavy-duty, lightweight (6.2 lbs / 2.8 kg) superpack.”

“Thanks to RhinoWolf’s modular design, you can connect your RhinoWolf to your friend’s RhinoWolf, to her spouse’s Rhinowolf, to that guy’s friend’s RhinoWolf to…you get the picture. RhinoWolf 2.0 was created with the toughest and most durable of climate protective materials. And with even more integrative and customizable features, this SuperTent is totally full-spectrum.”

The RhinoWolf 2.0 recently raised over $1.1 million on crowdfunding sites Kickstarter and Indiegogo, offering pre-sales for as little as $199. That’s especially good considering the fact that the tent is expected to retail for $349 and up, depending on the options you choose, later this year. It’s available in pink, light green, or dark green, and when it’s all packed up, it weighs just 6.2 pounds.

If you’re intrigued by this idea but prefer to camp up off the ground, you’ll want to check out the triple-decker Vista tree hammock tent by Tentsile, which lets you design your own pop-up Ewok village in the woods in the form of a tiered temporary treehouse.

The post RhinoWolf 2.0: The Connectable Modular All-in-One Camping System first appeared on Dornob.

In perfect conjunction with the initial reveal of a new merit badge aimed at sustainability, the Boys Scouts of America teamed up with Seattle-based Mithun Architects to create the 5,800-square-foot treehouse as both an example of eco-friendly design and an educational center.

The idea spawned from the history of the surrounding land, a 10,000 acre-plot in the forested slopes of the Summit Bechtel Reserve. Situated on a former coal strip-mining site, the area speaks volumes on the need for sustainability awareness, and the architecture is beginning to respond accordingly.

The five-story treehouse is vertically oriented to minimize its ground footprint and environmental disruption to the area. Spiraling 125 feet into the air, its steel frame provides views and interactive displays that teach people about sustainable living practices. Teaching by example, the treehouse is also a net-zero structure thanks to the use of strategically-placed solar panels and wind turbines. Plus, its incorporation of unfinished natural materials like Corten steel, reclaimed oak, and locally-sourced black locust in the siding and floors means a lot less upkeep is required. It’s also attained net-zero water consumption through the implementation of water collection and filtration systems. Campers rely on composting toilets to further conserve water and create a full-cycle system that’s completely free of waste.

The team from Volume Inc. was tasked with making the educational spaces as interesting as the surrounding activities at the adventure camp. To pique interest in youth while competing against ziplines and a skate park, they integrated information throughout the building in both in and outdoor exhibits meant to engage passersby. For example, a message draws the eyes up while climbing the stairs, revealing more words on the backdrop of each step that eventually reads, “Climbing stairs could generate enough energy to power a laptop, a phone, anything really, (Just climb).” Other words and phrases jump out from the corridor walls sending messages related to water consumption, electricity savings, and resource conservation.

Inspiring scouts towards environmental stewardship, the exhibits not only encourage awareness, but explain how systems work with art-like tactics. A camping cup rain chain exemplifies water collection, while a see-through glass display gives a visual representation of how power generation works.

The Sustainability Treehouse hosted the first Jamboree for the Boy Scouts of America in 2013, an event that takes place every four years and draws over 50,000 scouts from around the country. Since then, its design has caught the attention of several organizations and earned several awards, including:

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Design Awards, Citation Award, 2015

Society for Experiential Design Exhibition Awards, Honor Award, 2014

CORE77 Design Awards, Professional Award, Interiors and Exhibitions, 2014

AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award, 2014

AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Award of Honor, 2013

The post Inside the Boy Scouts of America’s Sustainability Treehouse first appeared on Dornob.

It says something about a design (particularly for a fast-paced mobile house) when someone can look at it three decades later and still marvel at the simple, efficient and effective use of materials and space.

Created by Dutch designer  Eduard Bohtlingk, the name of this classic award-winner means ‘The Awning’ – a fitting description of the fold-down mechanism at the heart of its ingenuity.

On the road, it folds up to look like any other camper, but once on site, it deploys to have a footprint three times the size of the main volume, simply by having the walls turn into floors on either side.

Add a few pieces of furniture to these auxiliary spaces and they become functional overflow for living and sleeping, while the core functions remain housed in the central area. When stored up for the season, it’s incredibly compact – especially compared to standard trailers and recreational vehicles.

From Campanda:

“The magic happens when the trailer’s side walls are opened and the accordion-like awnings come down to create two new living compartments. In seconds, you can effectively triple the living space into 290 square feet — enough room for up to six campers.”

“While the bedroom awning shields light and provides privacy, the other awning is made of a transparent but weatherproof plastic. In nice weather, the awnings can be retracted like the ceiling of a convertible — making it possible to sleep under the stars or spend a breezy morning under a summer sky without ever leaving your couch.”

“Only a few prototypes of the De Markies trailer were ever produced. But with the growing “tiny house movement” there has been a revival of interest in Böhtlingk’s design. It may only be a matter of time before this visionary concept becomes a viable reality and De Markies trailers start appearing in your local RV park.”

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If you’ve never tried camping in a hammock before, you should get on it ASAP. Particularly for those who find sleeping on the ground uncomfortable, spending the night suspended in a hammock can feel like being cradled by a cloud. Hammock tents equipped with bug nets and rain tarps have even become mainstays in every major retailer’s outdoors section, but alas, their use is still limited to places with plenty of trees.

If you want to make a trek out to a desert, beach, alpine plateau, or simply a place where hammock camping isn’t allowed, you’ll have to pull out your conventional tent and sleep on the ground — unless you get yourself a Tammock, of course.

Fresh off a round of crowdfunding on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the Tammock is exactly what its name suggests: a combination tent and hammock. But unlike the kind that uses straps to hang from trees, this one is freestanding, making it versatile enough to go with you just about anywhere. A group called LIT Outdoors came up with the idea for this hybrid while camping in the Southern Utah desert, where trees can be hard to come by.

The company explains: “Our goal was to design a portable solution that would allow outdoor adventurists to use their hammocks anywhere in the world, whether it be a desert, beach, music festival, hotel balcony, bedroom, or your very own backyard. As development began, we discovered many hammock-lovers shared the same problems we faced, such as unpredictable weather, storage needs, bugs, and animals. This gave us the idea of putting a protective tent around a relaxing hammock. And so, the Tammock was born. You can now take your hammock adventure anywhere.”

The Tammock comfortably accommodates one person using a sturdy metal frame for support. Large openings on either side allow you to sit sideways and longways, allowing you to enjoy the views around you in whatever position you find most comfortable. Minus the rain fly, the section of tent directly above the hammock is almost entirely mesh, so you get plenty of air flow throughout the night and can gaze up at the stars while you drift off to sleep. Plus, setup is simpler and takes less time than the average tent, since there’s only one pole to handle and the frame unfolds into place with zero assembly required.

A mesh storage pocket directly overhead offers a place for sensitive items like phones and keys as well as tent lights, but you can also keep your valuables in another pocket on the side. The waterproof rainfly is easy to throw on if it starts to sprinkle. You can also use the hammock by itself, if you like, making the Tammock a double-duty piece of gear that would be pretty nice to have at pretty much every outdoor event.

If there’s one major downside to the Tammock, it’s the size and weight once it’s packed up in its carry bag. The packed size is 44 inches by eight inches, and it weighs in at a cringe-inducing 20 pounds, so it’s definitely not for backpackers or anyone else keen on traveling light. Still, if you don’t have far to hike or don’t mind toting the extra weight around, it’s a worthwhile investment.

LIT Outdoors raised $175,466 to get the Tammock into production, with backers of the crowdfunding campaign expected to receive their rewards in September 2019. That means the rest of us can probably snag some up for ourselves this fall.

The post Freestanding Hammock Tent Lets You Lounge in Treeless Places first appeared on Dornob.

The basic design of the Wonderbag is simple, consisting of little more than standard fabric and repurposed foam chip insulation. Its cinch-top allows for a variety of cookware to fit inside, accommodating containers from two to nine quarts in size. And unlike other portable cooking devices, the Wonderbag doesn’t use any type of fuel or electricity. Instead, the cooking container inside it stays warm for up to eight to 12 hours after first being brought to a boil. On top of that, its fabric lid and drawstring make it incredibly easy to pull closed and seal in the heat. That means you can give your pot a quick boil, insert it into the Wonderbag, and head out for as long as it takes to cook.

Since it doesn’t require any charge, the Wonderbag is the perfect option for tailgating, picnics, and dinners at the campground. To use it, you must first gather and prepare your ingredients. Then add them to your stainless steel, enameled cast iron, copper, aluminum, or glass pot. The company recommends that you use the appropriately-sized pot for the meal you are making (not too big or small), as well as one with short handles that fits neatly inside the Wonderbag. Once you bring your meal to a simmer and cover your pot with a tight-fitting lid, all that’s left to do is tuck it into the Wonderbag for cooking.

Once you’re done cooking, the Wonderbag should be spot-cleaned and hung to dry. It can be machine washed if a gentle cycle is available, but it should still be hung-dry for the best results.

Sarah Collins, the brainchild behind the Wonderbag, was raised in rural Africa, where she experienced frequent rolling power outages. Whenever this happened, her grandmother would wrap the pots containing partially-cooked food in sofa cushions and blankets. The technique had been used for generations and inspired her to create the Wonderbag using the same basic design.

One of Collins’ longtime goals has been to empower women in Africa and make life a little easier on them. The Wonderbag allows these women to spend less time in front of the stove. It also helps preserve natural resources like wood, and burning less wood also means hauling less wood, buying less wood, and inhaling less smoke as a result of burning it. Because of this focus at the forefront of her business plan, each Wonderbag purchase results in a donation to foundations that help support the cause.

The company website reads: “Our mission is supported by the Buy One, Subsidize One model — for every Wonderbag purchased, a donation is made to the Foundation in order to support Wonderfeasts and subsidize Wonderbags to communities across the world one community at a time.”

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