Welcome to another installment of Staff Picks from our Sports and Outdoors team. Each week, we select our favorite pieces out of the gear we’re testing, mainstays in our kits, as well as items on our wish lists. It’s like a sneak peek at the gear we’re testing and what we’re stoked on. Have something you think we should check out? Or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at [email protected].
1989 Toyota Dolphin M-800 Mini Motorhome
In the early 1990s, Toyota stopped making its Dolphin, a camper slapped onto the back of a Hilux, depriving Americans of a glorious road-tripping future. Some still exist, thank goodness. The Hilux (ISIS’s truck of choice, unfortunately) runs forever, and the camper section is tiny but still big enough for a lofted bed, couch, table, full kitchen, and bathroom. It might not look as cool as those refurbished conversion camper vans that are all over your Instagram, and it’s not as absurdly awesome as a converted Sno-Cat or fire truck, but I’d argue it’s a much better option for the reasonable man. That price. I can practically feel its 135 horsepower hauling me, my gear and my gal toward the horizon now.
— Chris Wright, Associate Editor
1969 Tucker Sno-Cat and a 1953 Converted Renault Military Ambulance 4×4
How could I pick just one? One for the winter and one for the summer. The Tucker Sno-Cat is the ultimate winter overlander, allowing you to go deeper and farther to access the best ski and snowboard terrain. This choice is, of course, inspired by pro skier Mark Abma‘s recently converted Tucker Sno-Cat. It’s complete with a rooftop tent; there’s simply nothing else like it.
