Mike Richard

Massachusetts

Freelance Writer at Hearst

Contributing Writer at The Manual

Founding Editor at vagabondish

I like dark skies + wide open spaces / Next up: Antarctica

Articles

Make overlanding even cooler with EcoFlow’s Wave 3 portable air conditioner

6 days ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

Overlanding purists may sneer at the idea of bringing boatloads of tech into the backcountry. But, if you’re someone who likes hardcore off-road exploration and a healthy dose of tech-heavy creature comforts, there’s never been a better time to be alive. With that in mind, EcoFlow just debuted the latest iteration of its Wave portable air conditioner, and it’s every bit as cool as it sounds.
Make overlanding even cooler with EcoFlow’s Wave 3 portable air conditioner

6 days ago | flipboard.com | Mike Richard

1 hour ago Overland Expo West is Coming Back to Flagstaff! The ULTIMATE overlanding, camping, and adventure travel event is back in Flagstaff, Arizona! Join us May 16–18, 2025 for Overland Expo West, the premier event for overlanders, adventure travelers, campers, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts: https://www.overlandexpo.com/west/ Held in the beautiful pines of Fort Tuthill County Park, this unforgettable weekend will feature: ✅ 400+ exhibitors showcasing the latest in overlanding gear,...
Honda inspires hardcore campers to DIY their very own CR-V Dream Pod concept

1 week ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

Stock minivans and campervans make easy donor vehicles for DIY vanlifers. But SUVs, especially small to mid-sized models, aren’t often a starting point for most custom van builds. Now, Honda wants camping enthusiasts to rethink what’s possible with more ordinary “grocery-getter” SUVs. Introducing the Honda CR-V Dream Pod camper concept. The Japanese automaker released the one-off concept to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Honda’s popular CR-V SUV.
Coleman looks to overthrow Yeti as the go-to cooler brand for campers

1 week ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

Rotomolded coolers have long been the standard for campers, car campers, and overlanders. Yeti has been the go-to brand for such coolers for more than a decade, with an almost cult-like following. But, Coleman (yes, that Coleman) is setting its sights on dethroning the king with its all-new Coleman Pro line-up. The Chicago-based brand has been a camper staple for more than a century, with some of the most lightweight and, most importantly, affordable coolers on the market.
Unicamp’s Sienna Pop Top brings mid-sized minivan camping back to the masses

2 weeks ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

Overlanding-centric vans are all the rage these days. But they’re often very pricey and not designed to be practical daily drivers. For campers looking for something a bit more versatile — something to pull double-duty even when you’re not camping — it’s hard to beat a traditional minivan. Unicamp agrees, which is how its Sienna Pop Top campervan add-on was born. After more than a year in development, the Korean campervan modder finally released its much-awaited Sienna Pop Top stateside.
Escapod drops Topo2 MTB: The first-ever travel trailer built for mountain bikers

2 weeks ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

Teardrop travel trailers were once the pinnacle of RV "purity." But, in recent years, many of the latest models ballooned into boujee, overstuffed, and overengineered versions of their former selves. Hiker Trailers—known for its no-nonsense trailer builds—has responded to this dilemma with a pared-down teardrop trailer that's built and priced for the Everyman. Meet The Highway Lite.
Runaway Campers’ Venturist is a rugged “squaredrop” towable for minimalists

2 weeks ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

I’m of the school of thought that “simpler is almost always better,” especially when it comes to camping. Whether it’s backpacking, RV camping, or overlanding, less is often more. It’s clear that Runaway Campers agrees. Case in point: It’s perfectly minimalist Venturist “squaredrop” travel trailer series. Each of the three models in the Venturist series (or “V-Series”) comes standard with everything avid overlanders need and nothing they don’t.
Aterra Slide-In truck camper transforms your pickup into an overland-ready rig

2 weeks ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

For our money, there’s no better solution for overlanding than a classic truck camper. Now, Arizona’s AT Overland Equipment has just debuted an all-new slide-in solution that perfectly balances weight, features, and price. The Aterra Slide-In is the latest addition to AT Overland Equipment’s Aterra series. It’s designed for maximum versatility and customizability for full-sized pickup owners who want a truck camper that’s exactly as dialed-in as they need it to be.
Aterra Slide-In truck camper transforms your pickup into an overland-ready rig

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Mike Richard

When you’re choosing to live off-grid in a van, it’s tempting to assume that bigger is better. The bigger the van; the more space you’ll have and the …
Rumpl Wrap Sack is the Goldilocks “un”-sleeping bag you never knew you needed

3 weeks ago | themanual.com | Mike Richard

It wasn’t until fairly recently that I discovered the joys of swapping my traditional sleeping bag for a camp quilt, but I’ve never looked back. Especially for car camping and overlanding, the latter is infinitely more versatile and comfortable for the way I sleep. But Rumpl’s Wrap Sack is a clever, new “un”-sleeping bag that has my attention. The Wrap Sack is shaped like an ordinary sleeping bag, but that’s really where the similarities end.