Travelling by motorbike around the world means you have very little room for gear, and that everything you do carry must be diverse. When we arrived in the U.S., our 40th country, Big Agnes offered us one of their tents: a Copper Spur UL2, weighing 3-lbs., at 5.5" x 17.5", with significantly reduced numbers compared to our previous gear. And it has a feature that we really appreciated—an interior LED lighting system! It requires only three triple-A batteries or can be connected via USB to a computer or battery source, allowing the light we needed to keep working on photo editing and our diary even after the sun had set.

We also needed equipment that resisted the challenge of a route that would take us from San Diego to Deadhorse, confronting all kinds of extreme weather from the heat of Death Valley, the moisture of the Cassiar Highway, the wind of the Highway 101, to the cold air of Alaska. The creators of this new generation of tents were able to use materials resistant to almost all kinds of weather, and a low-profile design that makes it perfect shelter from the wind. It’s the perfect formula of comfort without diminishing the quality or strength of the gear.

The perfect complement to this tent are the Big Agnes sleeping bags: Ethel 0 and Storm King 0. The north, well into the Arctic Circle, where we would spend several months, is wet and cold so we had to protect ourselves if we wanted to stay healthy. These down sleeping bags allowed us to sleep comfortably at temperatures around 0°F while their outer shells were capable of repelling water—keeping us completely dry even in the wettest places.

After four months using the Big Agnes equipment, we’re convinced they’re the brand that will accompany Around Gaia during our next continent. With a road full of adventures, Africa is waiting for us, and no doubt Big Agnes is the best partner for that mission. BigAgnes.com MSRP: Copper Spur UL2 mtnGLO tent—$479.95 | Ethel 0—$329.95 & Storm King 0—$379.95 sleeping bags

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