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Mike Richard

Mike Richard

Contributor

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South Africa, and survived a near-miss great white shark attack in Mexico. His travel advice has appeared on the websites of industry-leading publications for Forbes, Travel + Leisure, CNET, National Geographic, and Vagabondish. He loves the great outdoors and good bourbon, and (usually) calls Massachusetts home. Mike also enjoys speaking in the third person.

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A view from the inside of a tent looking out on a campground.

The ultimate packing list for summer camping (so you’ll never forget a thing!)

We've put together the only camping packing list you'll ever need to help you prepare to venture into the great outdoors this summer.
Exodus Capax travel trailer being towed by a black SUV down a desert highway.

Exodus’ Capax travel trailer is luxe, off-road-ready, and fits in a standard garage

Inspired by traditional pop-up travel trailers, Exodus' Capax features a streamlined design with a surprising amount of luxury features and living space.
Relaxing in the back of a car on a mattress

Car camping: How to live in your car comfortably for a few weeks (or longer)

Here’s everything you’ll need to stay safe, sane, and happy when you choose to live out of your car for a little while if you ever want or need to.
A Roam Resilient Baja Edition overland trailer parked by a lake.

The overland trailer from this new company is rugged enough to take you anywhere

With hardcore specs and a bright, modern interior, the Baja Edition overland trailer is ready to take you anywhere without leaving the comforts of home behind.
Ford Bronco Raptor parked on the roadside in Big Bend National Park.

We drove the Ford Bronco Raptor in the vast desert of Texas’ Big Bend National Park

The Ford Bronco Raptor is taller, wider, meaner, and more aggressive than any of its brethren, making it one of the most capable factory SUVs on the market.
Backyard wildlife sanctuary bird feeder

How to turn your backyard into a wildlife-friendly sanctuary

Wildlife adds a whole new experience of enjoyment to any outdoor space. These tips can help turn your backyard, deck, or patio into an animal-friendly oasis.
Wolves looking through the bedroom window at Canada's Parc Omega Wolf Cabin.

Sleep among a pack of wolves at Canada’s luxe-adventure Parc Omega Wolf Cabins

If you crave more than a "traditional" wilderness glamping experience, this one-of-a-kind lodge lets you sleep among the world’s greatest predators.
Rendering of a Toyota Tacoma with a Scout Yoho pop-up truck camper installed.

Scout debuts Yoho, its first pop-up truck camper, with more models to come

Yoho, the first in Scout's all-new line of pop-top campers, packs a kitchen, toilet, and sleeping quarters for four adults in the bed of most midsized pickups.
Man stepping out of a Noovo Plus camper van parked near the beach.

This luxe, high-roof camper van is like a Parisian micro-apartment on wheels

With premium finishes, off-grid tech, and a Euro-inspired "boho chic" interior, the Noovo Plus is a cut above most DIY camper vans on the market.
Biker wearing Apple watch

Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

The best smartwatches in 2024 feature the aesthetics of a regular watch with technology that makes your life more convenient.
Man fishing on a boat while wearing an Orvis DriCast sun protection hoodie.

Protect your skin in style this summer with the best sun shirts of 2024

The best sun protection shirts can take you bushwhacking in the morning and back to the bar in time for post-adventure drinks in the evening.
Camper sitting inside the rear hatch of Vistabule's DayTripper teardrop camper.

This new ultra-compact teardrop camper packs in a lot for under $15K

Vistabule takes the modern RV camping experience back to basics with the new DayTripper—a featherweight teardrop camper designed with minimalists in mind.
A man and a woman eating snacks as they look ahead

Fuel yourself for the trail ahead and avoid hiker hunger

Here are our time-honored tips for keeping yourself fueled on the trail and avoiding hiker hunger and the sugar-crash cycle.
Camping fire

How to gather firewood responsibly while camping

Whether planning a weekend escape or a multi-day backpacking excursion, we should all strive to be good stewards of the Earth by gathering firewood responsibly.
Concept rendering of Living Vehicle's Cyber Trailer all-solar travel trailer.

This company made a Cybertruck-inspired travel trailer that could run off-grid forever

Living Vehicle's Cybertruck-inspired CyberTrailer promises unlimited power and air-to-water conversion, allowing campers to get farther off-grid than ever.
Great Sand Dunes National Park

The best campgrounds in the U.S. for stargazing and enjoying the night sky

To see the stars as our ancestors did requires an escape to somewhere remote, somewhere untouched by light pollution and civilization.
Mammoth Overland TL Travel Trailer being towed by a black Jeep Wrangler.

Mammoth Overland’s ultra-rugged TL travel trailer has an insane amount of space

The all-new Mammoth Overland TL overland trailer is rugged, overbuilt, and surprisingly luxurious—all with enough room to sleep four adults comfortably.
Mama bear with two cubs

How to use bear spray and live to tell the tale

Avid outdoorsmen know the importance of bear spray in the backcountry. But carrying it is of no use if you don’t know how to use it. Here's how.
A Bean Stock 2.0 ultralight travel trailer being towed down a wooded trail by a new Ford Bronco.

Hitch up with the 7 best off-road trailers ready to take you anywhere in 2024

These off-road trailers offer beefy tires, serious suspensions, durable chassis, and most of the comforts of home—all in a compact, towable package.
Three Outside Van camper vans parked in the desert.

The best camper vans for adventurous luxury living in the great outdoors

The best camper vans go way beyond those Insta-famous vanlife rigs with swanky interiors, high-tech amenities, and off-road features ready to take you anywhere.
Vanspeed California Coast camper van parked in a parking lot.

Vanspeed’s California Coast camper van is built for bold coastal adventures

The all-new Vanspeed California Coast camper van features a sleek, coastal-inspired interior, plus enough space inside and out for your favorite adventure gear.
Coast Model 1 solar electric travel trailer/RV parked near a pond.

Coast’s all-new Model 1 solar electric trailer is a luxe, off-grid-ready stunner

Coast's all-new Model 1 is a luxurious, solar-powered travel trailer designed to take you just about anywhere without having to leave your gadgets behind.
Camper van outfitted with Super Pacific's CloudCap pop-up roof tent parked among a stand of trees.

This rooftop tent kit will turn your van into a pop-top camper for about $12K

Super Pacific's clever CloudCap pop-up tent kit expands your van's living space by converting the unused roof space into a legit "bedroom" with a view.
Two men fly-fishing in a river.

You’ll soon be able to fish year-round at Yellowstone National Park

Great news for anglers! Yellowstone National Park is expanding the fishing season to offer year-round access in two popular locations within the park.
Side view of a Remote Vans camper van with its sliding door open.

Remote Vans drops 3 new camper van models designed for luxury living on the road

With Starlink internet, premium appliances, a hot water shower, and a beefy power system, this van is built for living, working, and traveling almost anywhere.
A Beginner's Guide to Kayaking

A beginner’s guide to kayaking in the spring

Is there a better way to spend a spring or summer day than in a kayak? Save yourself time and frustration and learn how to kayak with our beginner's guide.
Redtail Overland Skyloft Campervan parked next to a river.

Redtail Overland’s new luxe Skyloft camper van is a $500,000 thing of beauty

It has room for four and a long list of luxury amenities, including handmade cabinetry, heated flooring, dual climate control, and serious off-road chops.
A midsection of a man wielding a hatchet in the outdoors

Get the best camping axes for cutting, chopping, and prepping your way around the campsite

Every outdoorsman needs a quality camping axe. From survivalist specials to lightweight backpacking models, these are the best hatchets.
HYK Outdoors teardrop trailer camper parked in a field.

HYK Outdoors’ clever new teardrop camper trailer is made with eco-friendly cork

Lightweight, recyclable, insulating, and just plain handsome, all-natural cork might be the next "it" building material for teardrop campers.
Side view of Bend Teardrop's new Tall Boy Stand-in teardrop travel trailer.

You can stand in this unique high-roof teardrop trailer (and it sleeps four)

With six feet of interior headspace, Bend Teardrop's Tall Boy is not your average teardrop trailer. Plus, it sleeps four with room for an outdoor kitchen too.
Rear view of SylvanSport's GO All-Terrain Camper Trailer being towed by a Jeep.

SylvanSport’s multifunction GO camper trailer gets an off-grid makeover for tackling the toughest terrain

SylvanSport's GO All-Terrain (GOAT) is a versatile, jack-of-all-trades adventure trailer for camping, gear-hauling, and serious backcountry exploration.
Bowlus Rivet travel trailer being towed by an SUV through a grassy field.

Bowlus debuts the all-new 2025 Rivet travel trailer, and it’s a retro-modern stunner

The 2025 Bowlus Rivet is an all-aluminum travel trailer with retro-modern good looks, serious off-road capability, and bleeding-edge tech throughout.
Couple on a road trip

The 10 best road trip apps to make your next journey more epic

Eat, sleep, and sightsee your way across America (and stay safe while you do) with the best, must-have road trip apps.
Rear corner view of the Tufport Overlander truck camper concept.

This popular truck camper shell maker is debuting its first fully furnished overlander camper

Famed slide-in camper shell maker Tufport just announced their first entry into the overlander camper space, and it’s a fully furnished stunner.
Packing a pipe

How to smoke a pipe like a gentleman (a beginner’s guide)

Learning how to smoke a pipe is a classy way to enjoy tobacco, but it only looks sophisticated if you actually know what you're doing. Here's how.
Bodie, California

Here are the 17 coolest ghost towns in the U.S.

During the 1800s and 1900s, towns across the U.S. seemingly sprung up overnight with the discovery of gold. Many are now the ghost towns we know today.
Young man checks water filter alongside river

Stay hydrated on the go with our bulletproof water purification tips

Staying hydrated is key to days on the hill, but carrying heavy water bottles weighs you down. Stay ahead of the game with our water purification tips.
Person on a phone and computer rating a hotel

How do hotel star ratings actually work? Well, it’s complicated

In theory, hotel star ratings were designed to help travelers comparison shop. In reality, they're often arbitrary and have mostly complicated things.
Closeup of a vehicle engine.

How to check brake fluid in your car and refill if needed

You don't need a mechanic to check or refill your car's brake fluid. Learn how to check brake fluid yourself
Mount Everest Nepal

This is how much it actually costs to climb Mount Everest

We spoke to mountaineers Alan Arnette and Garrett Madison to find out what it takes to summit Mount Everest and how it feels to stand on top of the world.
Moterra Campervan rental parked in a Utah National Park campsite.

This van life camper van sleeps 8, goes everywhere, and you can rent it for less than a hotel would cost

Looking to give van life a shot? Don't buy - rent! These fully-equipped camper vans sleep up to eight and rent for less than a hotel for a group of people.
A couple car camping

The best luxury camp gear to elevate your outdoor experience

You already know the camping essentials you absolutely need. We’ve rounded up the premium gadgets that elevate your camping experience above the ordinary.
Person holding passport and luggage at the airport.

Do you need a passport to travel in the U.S. in 2024?

There’s still confusion around the REAL ID Act, particularly when it comes to flying. Do you need a passport to travel in the U.S. once this goes into effect?
Person bicycling on a single track

Hop on the best mountain bikes for under $1,000 – Trek, Specialized, and more

Whatever your budget or skill level, there are tons of great mountain bikes at affordable prices. From Cannondale to Giant, you'll love these picks.
Person fishing from a canoe at Buntzen Lake in British Columbia, Canada.

Rods, reels, and rooftop racks: Get the best fishing gear to elevate your angling game

It's never too early to plan the ultimate fishing trip. So, to help you, here's a list of the best fishing gear for anglers of every skill level.
Sitting on an air mattress while camping

Sleep like a baby on one of the best air mattresses for camping (or for wherever you need it)

We’ve found the best air mattresses for camping, from full-sized, double-height air mattresses to little ones made just for the smaller ones.
Man pouring liquor from a flask

Take your favorite tipple from town to trail with the best camping flasks

From stainless steel to plastic and packable, the best camping flasks let you unload the weight and keep drinks flowing on the trail. Here are our top picks.
Jump rope with shoes and weights

The 12 benefits of jumping rope (it’s not just for your inner child)

It’s deceptively simple, but jumping rope is one of the single best cardio fitness exercises.
Hyundai Staria Lounge Camper parked in a field.

We really wish these compact, Korea-exclusive RVs and campervans were available stateside

Korea knows what's up when it comes to minimalist RVs and campervans, like these three ultra-compact campers we really wish were available stateside.
Luxury vanlife build using Garnica lightweight poplar wood paneling.

We love this handsome van-life wood paneling, and it’s sustainable too

Few material choices can impact the look and feel of your van as good wood for your interior. So why not invest in something you love?