MSR Hubba Tour 2 Review: The Definitive Adventure Motorcycle Tent

"Camping and motorcycling go together like bread and butter: a great combo, but too much of one and not the other can lead to a lousy breakfast, or in this case, a lost weekend. You don’t want your kit to become a burden or be too cumbersome. Setting it up and breaking it down should be a no-brainer, and more often than not, less is more when it comes to camp gear. So, choosing the right equipment for your motorcycle adventures is vital. Items need to be light, pack easily, accommodate you, and often the person you’re riding with as well. Designed to house two motorcyclists (or cyclists) and all their gear, the new MSR Hubba Tour 2 is the ultimate two-person tent for two-wheeled travelers. According to MSR, it was the motorcyclists in the office that designed the tent."

My review of MSR's new Hubba Tour 2 tent just went live on Gear Patrol.

Jacob Bromwell Vermonter Flask - Part Deux

28 months ago, Kyra gave me a gift. She had our friend Hobo Shane in Ohio carve a likeness of my little dual-sport - taken from a drawing our friend Doug in Denver had done about a year prior - onto a hand forged Jacob Bromwell flask. It was a gift unlike any other I'd received. I filled it with my favorite whiskey and took it with me everywhere. Across the country on motorcycles, twice. Off the coast of Africa. Into the Sierra Mountains where a friend poured hot sauce inside it as a prank. To the Bonneville Salt Flats and Baja, around England and just about everywhere else.

Then one night not too many months ago, someone broke into a friend's car and stole my stuff - camera equipment, clothing, riding gear and, perhaps most unfortunately, my beloved flask. Fuckers. If you're reading this, which I doubt, just know that if I see you sipping from that thing, you'll be removing it from your ass shortly thereafter. Anyhow... Fast forward to my birthday this year and guess what that goddamn woman got me, again? Yea, another flask to replace the one that had been nicked. This time, though, she had Shane carve a likeness of my Indian Scout sitting on the beach in Baja, from a photo I'd taken a few months earlier. Same Lana Turner quote, and same incredible craftsmanship, both from Hobo Shane and the boys and girls at Jacob Bromwell. So if you're in the market for an American made alcohol drinking apparatus, one that'll only get better with age, check out the Vermonter Flask.

Fujifilm XE-3 Mirrorless Camera

It's been a bit since I reviewed anything on here. But considering the circumstances, I thought it might be worth my while. You see, nearly all of my camera equipment was stolen out of a friend's car in Seattle a few months ago. Canon kit - a body and two lenses - as well as my beloved Yashica T4, my laptop, flask, some motorcycle gear, and about half of all the clothing I own. It sucked, most certainly. The kind of sting that comes only from knowing someone is out there drinking from your flask, shooting photos with your gear, and tippy typing on our computer. But that's not what this is about. This, my fearless readers, is about the little mirrorless camera I acquired as a stop-gap. Something to hold me over while Kyra and I film the first three episodes of our new travel show, Perpetual Motion.

Much research went into this acquisition. Much. Like maybe a solid 48 hours without sleep. My criteria was convoluted. Something small, easy to carry, not too expensive, but that could also shoot images fit to print. I initially looked at Leica. And nay - too expensive, too much commitment. Then at some Sony stuff. An older A7 (small-ish, full frame, etc), but it seemed soulless, no matter what Linhbergh says. If I was going to gamble, I wanted something that inspired me. Something which would allow me to create an image on the camera, not in post. Something that made me feel like I was shooting film, only not wasting a wad of coin every time I burned a frame. And so I started looking at Fujifilm - much to the delight of my friend Nimi from Big D Speedshop, an avid Fuji shooter, fellow surfer and generally dope dude.

Silver Piston + Hobo Shane

A few months ago, I asked my buddy HoboShane Hunter to carve an R2-D2 likeness onto an old Mercury dime. Shane then shipped the coin to Steve from Silver Piston who turned it into this epic ring. Needless to say, Kyra was stoked when I surprised her with this one-of-a-kind ring. So, if you're unfamiliar with either of these fellows, I suggest you take a look at what they do. Their collaborations are quite incredible. And if you're in the PNW this weekend, be sure to stop by The One Motorcycle Show and check out Steve's stuff!

Poler Surf Stuff

Apparently Poler started making "surf stuff," and they sent Mikey and Trevor to PR to do some "testing."

So You Want To Ride Your Motorcycle Around The World

You’d think this would be easy to explain. You’re interested in “adventure motorcycling,” some of that ‘travel the world with only what you can carry’ stuff that everyone in the motorcycle industry is talking about. You want to explore the unknown aboard your bike - camping, cooking and living ‘the Good Life’ along the way. But what kind of “stuff” is essential? A motorcycle, yes, but what else will you need to start exploring? Well we’re here to help, offering you - the entry level adventure motorcycle enthusiast - an easy guide to the gear, gadgets and other accouterments you’ll need to get going.

ICON 1000 Elsinore Boots

I fell for ICON’s Elsinore Boots the moment I set eyes on them. They were in a photograph that Justin had shown me on Facebook, modeled by his friend and ICON press-rider, Alicia (aka MotoLady). It was less "love affair" than "mild obsession," but I couldn't imagine getting back on a bike without those boots. At the time, we were living in Los Angeles and owning motorcycles without a parking spot didn't make sense. I would have to wait a couple more months before riding was even possible, so I put any thoughts of owning a pair of ICON's on the back-burner. However, I can't say I didn't spend moments checking out pictures and reviews online until that time… Did I mention that this was an obsession? Days and weeks passed. Soon, the idea was born to embark upon an adventure through Baja - aptly named WESTx1000 - on dual-sport motorcycles to witness the 47th annual Baja 1000. This developed the need for appropriate riding gear. Immediately, my thoughts were the ICON 1000 line (accompanied by a devilish grin). Cue: Elsinore. At Last!

Akela Surf's Zebra Dress

I’ll admit, at first I was skeptical of Akela Surf’s Zebra Dress: the material, the shape, the stripes. These were qualities a bit unfamiliar to me. I’m a petite lady, meaning loose fitting, thick strapped items tend to display me on the “frumpier” side. It was only on a surf trip to Malibu that I understood what had been missing from my life.

Triangularly cut with wide arms, a crew neck and, yes, thick straps made the dress incredibly easy to put on and off. This could be a feature completely overlooked by the average vested woman, but to an avid nature dweller, ease is as important as comfort - which it was just that. Covered in sand 'n salt and sticky from sweat, I had no problems slipping on my Akela dress to slip -more like peel- my wet suit off. I typically opt for a towel which can be cumbersome and precarious. The dress however gave me plenty of room, kept me modest and draped me stylishly. Best of all, because of the thinner (bathing suit?) material I was hardly concerned about getting my dress wet. It warms and dries on a quick stroll in the sun to your post-surf gelato.

EPICSLIDE III - Harvesting Stoke

To celebrate the three year internet anniversary of the Peanut Butter Coast, our friends at Stoke Harvester are producing this limited edition shirt they've dubbed EPICSLIDE: III.

"Here's to three years spent searching for surf, camping on the coast, cooking with cast iron, drinking whiskey when there aren't waves, wearing warm wetsuits when there are, missing work on Monday, and eating plenty of peanut butter."

Click here and pre-order your shirt to ensure they get printed. BLAST IT!

Eddie Bauer's 1936 Model Skyliner Jacket

It had hung in the closet my entire life. A baby-shit-brown puffy coat from the late eighties. My old man's. Something he had worn in the winter, when snow settled across Seattle, or when we'd drive east into the mountains to find some fun. I thought nothing of it initially. A warm coat. When I was in high school, however, I started to steal it. It was a bit big and smelled a little musty from all the years it had spent in our apartment. But it was warm as fuck and made me feel like a man. Like my old man. Years passed and I moved on to other apparel, other outerwear.

But it was always there, hanging in his hallway closet, waiting to be worn when the weather was the worst. Fast forward a few more years and my friend Shawn, who was working for Eddie Bauer at the time, asked if I was interested in any of their outdoor gear. I browsed around a bit, sorting through their extensive inventory, but found only a few things I was interested in, namely this remake of their 1936 Skyliner Jacket, the same coat my father had purchased prior to my arrival on earth.

Featuring their signature diamond quilting, which holds the down insulation in place, Eddie Bauer's 1936 Skyliner Jacket features a rugged cotton/nylon shell, StormRepel durable water-repellent (DWR) finish, 550-fill Premium Goose Down insulation and the same fit and finish as the coat my father owns. Available in both Saddle Brown and Black, the jacket retails for $199 and is an excellent alternative to all those ultra-premium, "I climb Everest," lightweight, bright-colored puffy coats everyone wears.

Tellason's Fleece Lined Jean Jacket

There are only a few things that get better with time. Wine is one of them. Leather is another. I suppose cars, motorcycles, and even surfboards acquire character over the years, but unlike other things that will naturally age no matter the owner, denim is something that differs from person to person. The patina, the wear pattern, the holes and the split seams. Denim is different. Almost alive. And every pair of pants (or jean jacket) looks different than the next, effected by its owner and his or her lifestyle. Maybe you work on motorcycles; covered in oil and petrol all afternoon. Or perhaps you spend your weekends in the woods, hiking over hills or camping along the coast. Each of these activities changes the way it wears. The way it smells. Which is why, perhaps, we become attached to a particular pair. We wear them when we ought not to. Long past their prime. After all the indigo is gone, and the back pockets have huge holes. But that's when they're best. Because there's something comforting about a proper pair of pants, or the jean jacket you've kept in your closet since you were sixteen. Canadian Tuxedo? Sure. But there's nothing better than some damn fine denim. Handmade in America. Aging alongside you. Till your wife won't let you wear it.

Eddie Bauer's Downlight Jacket

Eddie Bauer has been in the down business since day one. My old man bought one of their Skyliner coats sometime in the 1970's, and has since passed it on to me. It's tough, warm and indispensable at times. But it has seen better days, and so when an opportunity to use and review the latest down layers from our friends at Eddie Bauer presented itself, we jumped.

Karissa opted for the Downlight Linear Hooded Jacket, which features 800-fill Premium Goose Down insulation, a windproof shell made from recycled ripstop polyester and Eddie Bauer's StormRepel durable water-repellent (DWR) finish on the outside. The fit is fantastic. Light enough to put a Cloud Layer Pro Fleece beneath, and yet warm enough that she can wear it in the winter without anything else.

I went with the traditional Downlight Jacket (sans hood), which features the same Premium Goose Down insulation and StormRepel finish as Karissa's coat. One of the few differences we noticed between our two coats, however, were the tall interior pockets on the inside of Karissa's jacket. Aside from that they're essentially the same. An excellent outer layer for those windy winter mornings out west. Oh, and they also work well as a makeshift pillow!

Eddie Bauer's Cloud Layer Pro Fleece

My mother used to buy me a new fleece every winter when I was a kid. Outgrowing the one she'd purchased the year prior, I could always count on finding a new fleece wrapped and waiting beneath our Christmas tree. They varied by brand, color, fit and finish. I remember a certain brand-name being emblazoned across the front of one fleece - a feature of utmost importance at the time, as I would have almost certainly been a social outcast had I worn one without a logo. As time marched on however, the frequency of the Christmas fleece went from once a year to every so often. I was done growing, and to be perfectly honest, fleece wasn't what the kids were wearing anymore. But now, fifteen years in the future, a fuzzy fleece is just the thing I need to keep me warm in the winter.

Enter Eddie Bauer's Cloud Layer Pro Fleece. Made with Polartec's 5.5oz micro velour fleece, the Cloud Layer is designed to be both warm and lightweight, allowing you to layer if necessary. The 100% polyester velour construction used in Eddie Bauer's fleece creates air pockets that trap air and retain body heat, while also drying quickly and resisting pilling (funny little fleece balls). The Cloud Layer Pro Fleece is available as either a 1/4-zip pullover or a full-zip jacket, and comes in both men's and women's shapes and sizes.

Topo Designs Cinch Tote

I've always been a fan of big bags. Something you can stuff a lot of... well... stuff into. Zippered pockets and separate sections on the inside of backpacks and bags can be cool, but sometimes what you really need is just an oversized sack of sorts. And so I was super stoked when I saw Topo Designs new Cinch Tote ($89), a tall 1000d Cordura creation featuring natural leather lash tabs, long nylon handles, a removable shoulder strap and pack cloth interior. There's a small zippered pocket on the front of the tote, as well as a wide sleeve-style pocket behind it. The top of the tote can be cinched shut to keep your shit secure, or you can stuff it inside to make everything easy to access. Like all of their equipment, the Cinch Tote is made in Topo Designs LEED certified building in Denver, Colorado. And for just $89, the Cinch Tote (which is available in four different color combos, btw) is a perfect replacement for that tattered old grocery tote you keep in the trunk of your car, or an excellent alternative to that big backpack you bring with you every weekend.

L.L. Bean's Norwegian Crewneck

Some people wear sweaters. Wool ones. Warm ones. With a crewneck or some kind of shall collar, and big brown football buttons. I'm one of these people. Always have been. Look through the photos from my childhood and you'll see Cable-Knit and Ugly Christmas all over the place. Cardigans I could never get into, though. Maybe when I'm old(er) and don't care if it makes me feel like Fred Rogers. Or when all the skinny hipster shits stop wearing them. Anyhow, about this here sweater. I've always wanted one. My mother's fourth husband had one and I was always rather envious of it. Knit in Norway using 100% worsted wool yarn, this sweater features a traditional Scandinavian bird's eye pattern that will likely evoke a yearning for yesteryear. The crewneck is comfortable and will keep the cold air out, however the overall length is a little on the short side, as far as I'm concerned. Warm is an understatement, though. Two nights after I acquired it, I spent six hours beside a cold campfire wearing nothing more than the sweater, pants and a pair of slippers. I've worn it every weekend since. Now, they're not cheap ($139), but you get what you pay for. Click here to learn more about L.L. Bean's Norwegian Crewneck.

Surf Artists Anonymous

Limited edition t-shirt featuring original art by our friend and fellow van dweller, Todd Fischer. Men's crew neck shirts are available in medium, large and extra large sizes, while women's v-neck shirts are available in medium and large sizes. $20 plus $4.95 for shipping (or you can find them in Fargo). All of the proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to support Todd's surf art habit. Click here to snag your shirt!

The Joey Chair

Camp chairs come and go. Maybe you got one as a gift, or grabbed one at the General Store on your way outta town one weekend. Or perhaps someone forgot theirs at the beach and it ended up in the trunk of your car? Whatever way you come across one (or four), a comfortable chair is an essential for anyone that spends a lot of time surfing and camping on the coast. So when our friends at Travel Chair sent us their latest offering, a small, light, four-legged seat sack they're calling the Joey, I was stoked to see how much better - or worse - it would be than the Teddy chairs they sent us last summer.

Patagonia R3 Wetsuit Gloves

To be honest, I hate gloves. Cumbersome comes to mind. Disconnected. Uncomfortable. For years I refused. And when I did wear them, the only thing I wanted to do was shake my hands feverishly like some kind of inspired spirit fingers performance - trying desperately to free myself from them. Oh, and did I mention that getting them on was no easier than getting them off? A real pain those goddamn gloves were. But when you start surfing in the winter, or the fall for that matter, they become more important. Because unless you're some sort of Ice Man, like Arnold in that shitty Batman movie, your fingers are gonna freeze. So I caved and bought a pair, some 3mm gloves made by Matuse, or maybe they were made by O'neil. Anyhow. They kept my fingers from freezing. For awhile. Then everything went to shit. The seams split and I wore a hole right through the palm, and they eventually let so much water in that I may as well have not been wearing them.

The Cloak of Stoke

Wetsuits suck. If you've ever surfed in board shorts or a bikini, you know this. I'm not saying they aren't important - that they won't keep you warm or let you surf when it's winter - I'm simply suggesting that they suck. In general. And honestly, it's the in-and-out process that makes surfing with a wetsuit a real pain in the ass. On the side of the road, in a muddy parking lot or sitting inside the van, getting one on (or off) takes time and often leaves you both cold and uncomfortable. Enter The Mancho, or what I've dubbed the Cloak of Stoke. This terry cloth robe like layer allows you to get in-and-out of your suit without showing your business bits to all the people in the parking lot. It also works wonderfully as an alternative to a towel, allowing you to shower and then saunter back to camp without freezing your ass off. Its hood is huge and works wonderfully on a wet head. The front pocket is a perfect place to keep your claws, and there's even a little loop on the back of the neck so you can hang it outside the shower. They're long enough to cover up all of your essentials and wide enough for you to slide into your suit without feeling claustrophobic or cramped. Now, I'm sure your mom could make one, or that you're just fine wrapping up your underbits in a beach towel, but they sell for $75 (including shipping) on Stoke Harvester, and as far as I'm concerned, that's a damn good deal.

Cuppow!

Some things go real good together. Think chips and salsa, crackers and hummus or milk and cookies. But when you're living outta your van, car camping or hiking to somewhere secret, two containers are required. And that's a lot of extra equipment. So when I discovered Cuppow's BNTO Canning Jar Adapters, I was all sorts of stoked. Just one jar! Made from BPA/BPS-free rigid plastic, these BNTO (ben-toh) adapters are dishwasher safe and can hold six ounces of sauce or snacks. So if you have a cupboard full of old canning containers, pick up a couple of these adapters ($7.99) and save yourself some space.