TREAD September/October 2023

As we embrace the spirit of adventure, the newest issue of Tread Magazine brings to you a collection of thrilling stories that celebrate the off-road lifestyle and the joy of exploring the great outdoors. This edition is packed with exciting content, from remarkable off-road vehicles to essential overlanding gear, useful skills for off-roading, and our keys to memorable weekend adventures. Off-Road Warriors: Toyota Tundra, Isuzu Vehicross, and the Ultimate Custom Jeep For all of us, off-roading and overlanding are more than just hobbies—our pursuits are fueled by a passion that connects us with nature and pushes the boundaries of exploration. In this issue, we’re thrilled to feature some exceptional off-road vehicles that exemplify the spirit of adventure. The Tundra, always stalwart off-road, is showcased for its remarkable capability to handle…

01. HELLA AUTOMOTIVE/BLACK MAGIC LED LIGHT BAR Expanding on their already-successful line of Black Magic light bars, Hella Automotive delivers 16 awesome new designs. They offer up to 20,000 maximum effective lumens, making them ideal for off-road applications, when proper illumination is an essential. Both the single- and double-row lightbars, with their distinctive look and all-black design, are an eye-catcher on any off-road vehicle, SUV, or truck. MSRP: from $195.00 myhellalights.com 02. SHERPA EQUIPMENT CO./ THE STARLIGHT RACK This modular roof rack for the 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler JL expands on Sherpa’s lineup of tried-and-true rack systems. Industry-leading ¼-inch thick aircraft-grade aluminum side panels, 3/16-inch steel gutter mounts, and nine extrusion crossbars secure your gear. Since it’s constructed in two separate sections, you can choose to remove the Freedom Top and…

01. LIFESTRAW/ PEAK SOLO The Peak Solo is the latest lightweight, ultra-durable water filtration solution from trusted brand LifeStraw. Weighing in at only 1.7 ounces, it’s ideal for backpackers and hikers. It screws on to most standard water bottles and lasts up to five years. The membrane microfilter is fast-flowing for as much a 3L per minute and filters out bacteria, parasites, and micro-plastics as well as dirt and debris. MSRP: $29.95 lifestraw.com 02. OTTERBOX/ SOFT COOLERS Available in three different silhouettes, these coolers are just as perfect for sunny days on the beach as they are as your trusty companion on epic road trips. The tote cooler (pictured) has a 24-can capacity and is insulated to keep ice up to two days when you pre-chill your cooler and pack…

01. BENCHMADE/ FULL IMMUNITY Overall Length: 5.94”Closed Length: 3.46”Blade Length: 2.49”Blade Material: CPM-M4 Super SteelHandle Material: 6061-T6 AluminumWeight: 2.29 ozMSRP: $300.00 benchmade.com 02. BEAR AND SON CUTLERY/ BEAR OPS 4 ½” AUTO BOLD ACTION XV AC-1500-AIBK-B Overall Length: 7.63”Closed Length (if a folder): 4.5”Blade Length: 3.125”Blade Material: 14C28N Sandvik Steel Handle Material: Aluminum w/black finish Weight: 2.6 ozMSRP: $179.99 bearandsoncutlery.com 03. TOPS KNIVES/ THE WOODCRAFT Overall Length: 8.75”Closed Length: 4.37”Blade length: 4.38”Blade Material: 1095 High Carbon SteelHandle Material: Tan Canvas/Black Canvas MicartaWeight: 7.0 ozMSRP: $235.00 topsknives.com 04. SPYDERCO/ STRETCH™ 2 XL LIGHTWEIGHT Overall length: 8.90”Closed length: 4.97”Blade length: 3.99”Blade material: VG-10Handle material: Fiberglass-Reinforced NylonWeight: 2.7 ozMSRP: $160.50 spyderco.com…

What are the odds of finding a stray push rod in the middle of the Nevada desert? Pretty thin, right? And the odds of it laying in such a position to pierce a hole in your tire? Well, you probably have a better shot at finding a Bitcoin in your backyard, but there we were pulling the offending metal shaft from my buddy’s tread block. Back then (we’re talking late ‘80s) we didn’t carry tire plugs or patches, so we swapped in his spare and continued on… spareless. But times they are a changin’, and with the tools now available to repair a tire in the field, running spareless should be a thing of the past. In this Backcountry Skills, we are going to review a few high-quality tire repair…

“BEYOND SHARING KILLER CAMPING GEAR WITH THE CREW, BROOKS HAS A BEVY OF SWEET RIG ACCESSORIES FROM LEITNER DESIGNS, DECKED, AND IKAMPER MOUNTED ON HIS TUNDRA.” Though you’d never guess it today, looking through these pages or scrolling through his Instagram feed, this 2018 Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD Off Road is the rig that catapulted Nick Brooks into the overlanding community. Although a lifelong avid camper and outdoorsman, the only vehicles he owned before the Tundra were sedans. Bulking up into something more capable was the key to unlocking some serious adventure. Though he initially wanted a Tacoma, the Tundra quickly became the more obvious choice. “I was hesitant to buy a Tundra as it was the biggest vehicle I had ever driven,” Brooks explained. He had some concerns about…