Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/763593
54 nJanuary 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS the riders was an air mattress that infl ates by waving it from side to side to scoop in air. Let's face it; for those a little older, sleeping right on the ground really isn't that fun anymore but we often sacrifi ce comfort for room. The air mattress was also super compact and given that no pump was required, space was saved for more precious cargo. Ryan offered two lev- els of thickness and price points: the lower-end model was just 50 bucks. For $150, you got the Harley level, extra wide and twice as thick, yet still tightly compact upon defl ation. As we prep for this summer's adventures, the dream of waking up and not rubbing tight sore lumbar muscles as you "get going" in the morning appealed to many in our group. From these into gadgets, Ryan offered infl atable solar lights. These little gems fl atten down for easy stor- age and you just blow them up once you reach your destination. The small solar panel charges even in low light, perfect for the Northwest and our grey skies. These items would be perfect for large camping venues where the sea of brown and green pup tents make fi nding your own home impossible. But not with one of these little puppies strapped to your tents poles. Instead of ending up in a stranger's tent, you could have that beam of light calling you home after a great night of danc- ing with your friends for about 10 bucks. And, it's techy cool. Once last item that caused a little rumble in the crowd was the water purifi er. It looked, well, a little odd to me dangling from the handlebars. While providing me with a quick demonstration, Ryan explained that the purifi er was perfect for use in just about any stream or lake you'd fi nd. This handy-dandy gizmo would allow folks to step away from tradi- tional campgrounds and make their own home anywhere they want while venturi ng into the wild. All you have to do is fi ll the bag and let gravity do the work. In the time it takes you to unpack your gear you have several gallons of safe water ready to use. No need to carry big bottles any longer because this tool rolls up to the size of a burrito making it a no-brainer when creating the list of essentials needed for a smooth and successful camping trip. As the clinic wrapped up, newly energized campers tried out the wide variety of gear on display. It was clear by the presentation that adding a trip to The Next Adventure to prepare for the upcoming season is a must. Ryan and his staff will help you update your gear to add comfort and style without sacrifi cing space on the bike and your hard-earned cash. He understands the bikers' needs and can fi ne-tune your selections, eliminating the most diffi cult packing challenges without sacrifi cing comfort or safety in our varied landscape. As the crowd dis- persed, there were a few folks whip- ping out photos of their past camping excursions. Yep, they all had that omnipresent pain-in-the-rear camping chair strapped to the back of the lug- gage rack. Ryan took it all in stride and offered this advice, "You need this tiny camp chair. No, it's not a luxury, it's essential after a long day in the saddle." Walking away, I thought, "Yes my friend, you really need it." 4 Camping Continued from page 48 Clinic leader Ryan (l) highlights his top picks in high tech gear that won't weigh you down