Last week we attended the Outdoor Retailer Summer Show, the largest trade show for the outdoor industry. This was our first time at OR and our stoke was high. We met countless van life enthusiasts and had the opportunity to catch up with folks who have followed DM Vans from the beginning. Outdoor Retailer is a trade event and is not open to the public, but we didn’t want you to miss out on the fun, so our team did the legwork for you and scoured the show floor to find the most useful pieces of gear for life on the road.
Vargo Outdoors MegaHex Portable Fire Pit
Vargo Outdoors was founded by Brian Vargo after he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, which inspired him started a hiking website. As his site grew in popularity he realized how lacking the backpacking space was when it came to lightweight, high-quality gear. 20 years later, Vargo offers ultralight titanium cookware, backpacks, tents and tools for backpacking and camping. We were excited to see something a little larger than expected at their booth this Outdoor Retailer, the Megahex Portable Fire Pit. While not yet available on their website, the Megahex would be the perfect addition to any van lifer’s patio space. It allows you to have a contained campfire without leaving behind a burn scar, charred wood, and ash. The best part? It folds flat so it won’t take up precious space in your van.
Coalatree Trailhead Shorts and Decaf Denim
Coalatree makes eco-minded goods for the outdoor and active lifestyle communities. They got their start as a self-sustaining organic farm in Colorado, taking a turn into the outdoor industry when they created their own line of workwear. Their Trailhead Adventure Shorts drew us into their booth where we learned a little more about their clothing and the brand. The Trailhead Shorts come in men’s and women’s and are made from recycled plastic water bottles. With the perfect amount of stretch, a cool and casual outdoorsy fit, and a variety of color options, these shorts are an ideal piece for everyday wear. Even better? They are anti-microbial and stain resistant, meaning you’ll make fewer trips to the laundromat, and they make a unisex full length version. We also loved the Decaf Denim, which is made from old coffee grounds and comes in a slim and a relaxed fit.
GSI Outdoors Cookware
We are big proponents of stocking our vans with a select few high quality pieces that are functional, compact, and built to last. GSI Outdoors offers a wide variety of kitchen supplies, cookware, and more. Two of their recent launches stood out to us for van life, the Guidecast Lightweight Cast Iron Frying Pan and the Rakau Knife Set. While traditional cast iron offers many benefits in the kitchen, it is heavy and unwieldy in a van sized cooking space. GSI’s Guidecast Frying Pans are 35-45% lighter than traditional cast iron frying pans and feature a polished interior and exterior surface, meaning they take less water and effort to clean.
The Rakau Knife set includes three sizes of wood-handled knives, a dual-sided bamboo cutting board with gutters, a knife sharpener, and a dual-sided microfiber dish cloth with a soft, non-abrasive side and a scouring side. Multifunctional is the name of the game when stocking a van kitchen and this set is thoughtfully constructed to offer maximum utility. It also comes in a carrying case, so the pieces won’t rattle around in your drawers while you drive.
Dr. Bronner’s All-One
When it comes to multifunctional, with 18 uses in one bottle, no single item come close to having as many uses as Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap. Their products are made with fair-trade certified and organic ingredients. Dr. Bronner’s is a B-Corporation and strives to expand awareness of social and environmental issues, promote equitable compensation, and they’re on their way to being near-zero waste. Uses for their soap include face and body wash, shampoo, shaving, dishes, laundry, mopping, all purpose cleaning spray, plant spray and more. Many of us are familiar with Dr. Bronner’s soap, but they recently launched Magic All-One Chocolate, which is fair-trade certified, vegan, sweetened with coconut sugar, and was a huge hit with the crowd at Outdoor Retailer.
Silipint Silicone Cups and Dishes
Based in Bend, Oregon, Silipint was the first company to make silicone pint glasses and glassware. They offer pint glasses, wine glasses, bowls, and more in a variety of colors. They have a high-quality feel and we love that they won’t rattle or break in our kitchenette when we are driving down bumpy forest service roads in the van. They are also microwave and dishwasher safe (if you find yourself with access to those appliances), plastic and BPA free, and they are easy to clean, which cuts down on the amount of water you will need for dishes.
Last But Not Least…Ike The Dog
Yes, Ike technically isn’t a van life product for sale, but he is the best thing we saw on our hunt for van life gear at Outdoor Retailer. This guy may take up most of the living space in our van, but we wouldn’t say no if he wanted to be our next roommate. Every van needs a dog.
