{"id":8047,"date":"2016-05-02T09:12:53","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T16:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=8047"},"modified":"2018-11-11T21:40:22","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T05:40:22","slug":"inspiration-and-tips-for-the-weekend-adventure-mobile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/inspiration-and-tips-for-the-weekend-adventure-mobile","title":{"rendered":"Inspiration and Tips for the Weekend Adventure Mobile"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s something romantic about living on the road and having the freedom to explore the great outdoors. On Instagram, there\u2019s no shortage of photographers taking pictures of their traveling life via van or other vehicle. Maybe that\u2019s why living in a van, camper or RV is becoming a dream for many outdoor enthusiasts. Not everyone, though, is able to make the jump to being a full-time nomad.<\/p>\n

So I introduce the weekend adventure mobile.<\/h4>\n

Those who love an outdoor lifestyle want to be ready to ditch the daily routine at a moment\u2019s notice, no matter the weather, to get an outdoor detox. An adventure mobile is your ticket to getting out there fast. And, they can be customized to fit various personalities, from full-time dirtbag to weekend warrior.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve interviewed my extended crew of REI teammates to learn more about the decisions it takes to become an adventure-vehicle owner. Activities, gear, events and experiences have put most on the road to finding that home away from home. Many didn\u2019t want the shoulder seasons to stop them from going outside. A season that\u2019s a little too rainy, cool and dark to pitch a tent and pack it up is the perfect time\u00a0for weekend adventure mobiles!<\/p>\n

Below are the inspirational weekend vehicles I see while walking around REI\u2019s campus, as well as tips I\u2019ve picked up through my conversations.<\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Marcos F. is a merchandising analyst and races cyclocross in his free time. The proud owner of his first van, Marcos has big plans for TINA\u2013named after a character from \u201cBob\u2019s Burgers\u201d TV show that seemed to fit the van\u2019s personality. Decorated to be a second home, TINA has been gifted with a Southwest-style rug and is a social hangout on Marcos\u2019s adventures. Marcos doesn\u2019t hide the fact that he\u2019s excited to talk about TINA: \u201cHaving a teal van, it\u2019s easy to invite new friends from the crag to hang after a long day of climbing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip: Get to know your vehicle before naming it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Rachael M.<\/a>, a program manager for REI Outdoor School\u00a0for the last two years, spends her weekends climbing, running and cycling. Rachael named her van Lola after the free-spirited child of its previous owner. \u201cIt just seemed fitting,\u201d she says. And indeed, since purchasing the van early this year, Rachael has been caring for Lola like it\u2019s a child. Being new to van ownership, Rachael\u2019s still figuring out the rules of vanlife\u2013from where to park for the night to packing. One of the van\u2019s first decorations is a dreamcatcher that hangs from the rear-view mirror. Her father bought it for her on her first national park trip, to the Grand Canyon.<\/p>\n

Tip: Pack supplies into easily foldable, small or compatible containers. Added storage, like a roof box, optimizes sleeping space.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Jason Z.<\/a>,\u00a0a program manager for the direct marketing team for five years, can be found snapping climbing, hiking and camping photos. After spending time in a friend\u2019s truck, Jason knew the customizations he wanted to make when building his. On a warm summer night, he left the back open and woke up to a swarm of mosquitoes. Now, he\u2019s searching for ways to add mesh screens to still enjoy the open ventilation without bugs.<\/p>\n

Tip: The mattress is key. Invest in a foam mattress and cut to size for a better night\u2019s sleep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Adam H. is currently a design researcher and has been with REI for the last 21.5 years. His outdoor adventures usually include cycling, backpacking or day hiking. Look for at least one pink flamingo and you\u2019ll find Adam\u2019s adventure mobile. After buying his vehicle, he drove it down to California and had the roof outfitted into a pop-up bedroom with room for two. He\u2019s added a storage box to the back that swings out and acts like a table. He\u2019ll sometimes bring along a large tent and set it up as a \u201cguest house\u201d for friends.<\/p>\n

Tip: Personalize your vehicle with stickers to help tell your vehicle\u2019s story.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

For the past 6.5 years Jason S. has been working as a\u00a0forecast analyst and seeks climbing adventures after hours. Wanting to keep his 4WD SUV, Jason decided to invest in a roof-top tent. Jason describes, \u201cIt\u2019s like a treehouse.\u201d He\u2019s become quite crafty by adding storage compartments where he can.<\/p>\n

Tip: Look for parking where you can wake up to a mountain view.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Melissa H., a training specialist for merchandising for the past six years, and her husband spend days on the road heading to mountain biking competitions. It says it on the van: Get Up, Get Out. She says they constantly get stopped to give tours of their van. The van is decorated with stickers of where they\u2019ve been, and they\u2019ll sometimes find a new one tucked under their windshield wiper to add to the collection.<\/p>\n

Tip: Keep a bag with the necessities ready to go at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Daniel W. has been with REI for 14 years and is a senior designer for Novara bikes, which explains his passion for biking. Having an older van, it\u2019s all about community for Dan. He dabbles in many outdoor activities with his wife, Jay, and heads out even if the weather is iffy, which is most of the time in the PNW.<\/p>\n

Tip: Check online forums and van communities for used parts, fixes and advice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Greg D., a skier, hiker and cyclist, has been with REI for three-plus years and is a senior manager for REI\u2019s private brands. Greg\u2019s been an adventure-mobile owner since the early 2000s and is ready to go adventuring at the drop of a hat. Keeping the name of his first van, Wally, from the \u201cWallace & Gromit\u201d comedies, his second Wally has more bells and whistles. The adventure mobile didn\u2019t slow down after Greg had a son. The van gets a lot of questions with its unique build, and Greg doesn\u2019t mind sharing.<\/p>\n

Tip: Some of the best adventures are unplanned ones. Stay wherever and go whenever you want to wander. It\u2019ll take you to some of the best experiences in your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Weekend<\/p>\n

Jon A. is a product manager in merchandising for the last nine years and enjoys white-water kayaking. Jon and his wife camp to facilitate their outdoor activities, and with that, they tend to be \u201cearly to bed, early to rise\u201d to take advantage of the day. Jon\u2019s reasoning for the van: \u201cMost campgrounds are closed during the winter months. And in Western Washington, winter usually means rain.\u00a0Lots of rain.\u00a0We actually enjoy camping in the rain.\u00a0But often what is a dry tent site in summer becomes a small lake in the rainy season. Plus, drying out the tent and fly after every trip is never fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip: Keep the design simple. It\u2019s more customizable for a variety of trips and gear.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After walking around the REI campus, I\u2019ve tossed around the idea to maybe one day get an adventure mobile of my own. Until then, I\u2019ll have to live vicariously through my coworkers.<\/p>\n

Share your\u00a0weekend adventure mobile photos on Instagram<\/a> by tagging #OptOutside.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s something romantic about living on the road and having the freedom to explore the great outdoors. On Instagram, there\u2019s no shortage of photographers taking pictures of their traveling life via van or other vehicle. Maybe that\u2019s why living in a van, camper or RV is becoming a dream for many outdoor enthusiasts. Not everyone, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[386,293],"internal-tag":[573,1672],"class_list":["post-8047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","tag-letscamp","tag-rei-employee","internal-tag-angela-anderson","internal-tag-pre-redirect-camp"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/camp\/inspiration-and-tips-for-the-weekend-adventure-mobile","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Inspiration and Tips for the Weekend Adventure Mobile","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/inspiration-and-tips-for-the-weekend-adventure-mobile","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/inspiration-and-tips-for-the-weekend-adventure-mobile"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/FullSizeRender1-edit-web.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/FullSizeRender1-edit-web.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Angela Crampton"}],"creator":["Angela Crampton"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["letscamp","rei employee"],"dateCreated":"2016-05-02T16:12:53Z","datePublished":"2016-05-02T16:12:53Z","dateModified":"2018-11-12T05:40:22Z"},"rendered":"