Product: Off-Road Trip
Manufacturer: Roundup:
Wired Rating: 0
Route 66 has the world’s largest ketchup bottle. Yay. Here’s a better road trip idea: Leave the asphalt behind and visit someplace that’s not already on a postcard.
1. Outdoor Research DryComp Ridge Sack
WIRED Super-lightweight and surprisingly strong. Shrugged off mud, water, rocks and scraping branches. This day pack even survived the ultimate test — being checked as airline baggage. Comfy straps.
TIRED Hip belt could use some padding. Still smells like our campfire, even after washing.
$120, outdoorresearch.com
2. ARB Fridge Freezer
WIRED It may be the size of your old Igloo, but this is no mere cooler; it’s a full-on fridge, complete with electronic thermostat. Runs off a 12-volt socket yet works as well as your kitchen model.
TIRED Costs almost as much as your kitchen model. Exposed cooling fins are easy to damage. Heavy.
$850, arbusa.com
3. Cobra CJIC 350 Power Pack
WIRED We brought it along for its air compressor — handy for tailoring tire firmness to terrain — but it does so much more. It’ll jump-start a V-8, power a flatscreen or charge your iPod.
TIRED Jumper cables too short. Wimpy compressor takes forever. Three separate power switches?
$100, cobra.com
4. Garmin Oregon 550t Navigator
WIRED Because “Elvis Rock” (a) isn’t on any map, and (b) might not look like Elvis when you’re sober, the 550t lets you take a geotagged photo that you can click on later to find your way back. 16 hours of battery life! Water- and shock-resistant.
TIRED Better off-road than on: Street maps cost $100, screen is too small, and instead of “turn here,” it just says “beep.”
$600, garmin.com
5. Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
WIRED Small, bright and rugged. Flashing red “follow me” light on back. Comes with a jillion different plugs for overseas charging.
TIRED No plug will help if you run out of juice in the middle of nowhere. Wiring-lined head strap chafes a sunburned brow.
$100, blackdiamondequipment.com