January 03, 2023
By Wheels Afield staff
Vehicle Gear Turning night into day is important when traversing rugged country into the late hours after dark. MOOSE UTILITY DIVISION’S light bars offer five different models ranging from 8 inches all the way up to 42 inches wide. The bars feature an IP67 waterproof rating and a military-style breather for moisture control to standup to the toughest weather. The lights have a life expectancy of over 50,000 hours to ensure that they will light the trail for years to come.
$110-$300; mooseutilities.com
Now more than ever travelers need dependable, reliable electricity when they go off grid. These inverters use a pure sine wave that delivers smooth, consistent power to computers, appliances and other high-demand electronics. This prevents overheating, surging and varying voltages that could cause damage to gear. REDARC INVERTERS are built into a slim and lightweight aluminum housing for easy, no-hassle mounting and are fitted with a temperature-controlled and short-circuit protection.
$255-$1,260; redarcelectronics.com
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We love our TruckVault DRAWER SYSTEMS for storing everything from long guns to recovery gear, but now they’ve extended their versatility with series that’s focused on overlanding. The Base Camp series still functions as handy, in-bed storage, but also comes with a host of camp-centric options, like slide-out stove platform and cutting boards, top-access cubby storage and small storage drawers, all sitting under a bed-length sleeping platform. They’re the perfect way to turn your topper-equipped truck into a mobile sleep-and-store system.
$4,420+; truckvault.com
Attaching straight to your hitch receiver and equipped with a pivoting arm, HitchFire’s LEDGE PLATFORM offers a versatile attachment for any vehicle. With a 17x31.5-inch platform and a weight capacity of 100 pounds, the Ledge offers the user the perfect spot to store those bulky items that take up space in the trunk. The swing arm is operable while the ledge is loaded, so you don’t have to unload before accessing the rest of your gear. The platform also makes for a great spot to place your camp stove once you’re settled in camp.
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$325; hitchfire.com
After more than 20 years of innovating, ARB has finally put its stamp on the hardshell roof-top tent, a category that has become more popular recently. Their new ESPERANCE features a rugged canvas tent with an oxford nylon fly, all of which packs inside the durable, impact-resistant ABS shell. Deploying the tent is fast, with assistance from the gas-operated struts that lift the shell, and the attached ladder provides easy access to the roomy sleeping platform. Inside, a 1 ½-inch high-density sponge mattress ensures a great night’s rest as you gaze up at the stars through the integrated moon roof.
$2,680; arbusa.com
Outdoor Gear With new leadership in place, Taurus has changed the way it does business, and the new generation of Taurus firearms is sure to turn heads. Enter the G3 TACTICAL , which not only looks good, thanks to Magpul FDE reciever and matching Cerakoted slide, but performs at a high level. The polymer, striker-fired pistol is ready for customization, too, with the company’s interchangeable optic mounting plates that accepts a wide variety of the most popular red dots and a Pic rail for light or laser. Suppressor ready with ½x28 threaded barrel that treated with a diamond-like coating.
$583; taurususa.com
We’ve been waiting for Alps to enter the world of high-end packs for a while, and in 2022 they made a splash. The ELITE SERIES is designed to carry the heaviest of loads easily and comfortably. The frame weighs 3 pounds, 10 ounces and features an ergonomic lumbar design. A load shelf assists with packing meat and other cumbersome loads, and the frame can be used by itself or in conjunction with the hunter’s choice of an 1,800- or 3,800-cubic-inch pack.
$300-$500; alpsoutdoorz.com
A worthy successor to Leica’s flagship GEOVID 42MM, this 8x32 rangefinding binocular has all the optical attributes of its heritage, in a smaller and nimbler configuration. In addition to a fast and precise rangefinder, the groundbreaking PRO 32 has GPS mapping ability, so you can combine ballistic-enabled rangefinding with geolocation. Add Bluetooth, a compass and mobile-app connectivity to a full Applied Ballistics library, and you have a first-rate hunting and shooting tool.
$2,899; leicacamerausa.com
Fully customizable, with multiple barrel length and color options, the Rock River RBG-1S has a propriety short-action receiver that’s been fitted with a Wilson stainless-steel barrel, all set in an aluminum chassis from Kinetic Research Group that guarantees sub-MOA accuracy. Other features include an AICS-style magazine, Triggertech trigger and 20-MOA rail for easy mounting of the shooter’s choice of optics. Currently available in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor.
$4,450+; rockriverarms.com
Norma went back to basics with the WHITETAIL line of hunting ammunition, and “basics” to Norma means reliable, effective and affordable. For this line, the company matched its high-quality brass with their Soft Point bullets featuring an exposed lead tip, thin jacket for expansion at low or high velocities and quick-expanding lead core for a combination that produces a hard knockdown punch and deep penetration. In eight popular calibers from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag.
$30+; norma-ammunition.com
The ideal bushcrafter knife needs to be versatile—with a blade up to big tasks like butchering big game or batoning limbs, but also delicate enough for shaving firesticks and whittling wooden pegs. The NORD is designed for just such jobs, with a stout, comfortable curly birchwood handle and full-tang Sandvik 14c28n steel blade that’s corrosion resistant and holds its edge. Well balanced and easy to wield, the Nord comes with a crafted, leather sheath.
$249; no.helle.com
Travel Gear Upgraded in 2022, Kuiu ’s MOUNTAIN STAR two-person tent offers three-season protection for bivvying out and high-mountain hunting. Unique pole structure with horizontal truss maximizes resistance to wind load, while the asymmetrical footprint increases interior space to better accommodate two hunters (or one hunter and all their gear). Other new additions include durable, lightweight 15-denier fly material; new, stronger sleeve design and upgraded stake tensioners. All at just over 3 pounds packable weight.
$499; kuiu.com
Powered easily by the 12V outlet in your rig, the CFX3 COOLER SERIES allows adventurers to take a little bit of the civilized world with them into the field. The coolers have a temperature range of 68-degrees Fahrenheit all the way down to negative 7-degrees Fahrenheit. The series allows for users to connect and monitor the cooler via Bluetooth. There are seven different sizes and the 75L and 95L feature dual zones to separate your freezer items from those that just need to be refrigerated.
$900-$1,500; dometic.com
The RUGGED CAMP STOVE from Four Winds allows you to cook the best meal wherever you park the truck. This single-burner stove features the robust construction of the enamel-coated steel in a one-piece rectangular design. The gas can is secured with magnets to ensure no gas leaks while you’re cooking, and the burner is protected by the double wind shield to prevent high winds from ruining your cooking experience. The stove weighs 5.3 pounds and has an output of 11,000 BTUs.
$149; fourwinds.com
Built to be long, narrow, tall and durable, the TAMARIN TRUNK from Step 22 is a great storage solution for your gear. The bag measures roughly two feet in length and eight inches wide by eight inches tall. It is built from 500D coated fabric and is reinforced with heavy-duty bartacks at all stress points. What’s more, this bag is designed to work with other Step 22 gear and will fit the company’s packing cubes easily for an organized load.
$90; step22gear.com
