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For decades, drivers who wanted a light, well-built, and aerodynamic travel trailer had few choices beyond a "silver bullet" Airstream. Thankfully, today's RV manufacturers have started to introduce trailers of all sizes for a variety of applications. Looking for a road tripper, overlander, or weekender for a short trip to your next destination? You’re guaranteed to find a camper you'll love. Small Teardrop Camper
That's true even if you’re not interested in a big, fancy RV or the best premium motorhome because ultralight trailers are a great choice. They’re more compact, easier to tow, and more aerodynamic—all of which means they're better on gas too. Here are our top picks for the best ultralight travel trailers on the market, all primed for your adventure.
The pint-sized Happier Camper HC1 offers an ingenious solution for travelers looking to take only the most essential elements of home along for the ride. While the retro-modern shell oozes vintage cool, it’s what’s on the inside that will interest most road-trippers. The clever Adaptiv interior features Lego-like cubes that are infinitely configurable to suit almost any traveler’s style. The sleeping space, kitchen, and work areas can all be repurposed to however large or small you need them to be. It’s the closest thing to a mobile Swiss Army knife we’ve seen on the travel trailer market. The company even offers travel trailer rentals for anyone looking to try before they buy.
TAXA Outdoors’ Cricket is arguably the most love-it-or-hate-it design of any travel trailer, ultralight or otherwise, on the market. The asymmetrical shell may seem strange, but there’s a method to the company’s madness. Every interior space offers only as much space as is necessary and, even by RV standards, the company crams a boatload of intelligent storage solutions into one tiny package. We especially love the panoramic, 32-inch by 20-inch rear window that keeps the cabin awash in natural light. Perhaps the best part, though, is the Cricket's diminutive size (15 feet long by 6 feet, 11 inches tall) and weight (just 1,732 pounds unloaded), ensuring it can easily be towed by most compact, four-cylinder vehicles.
California-based Polydrop deviates from the usual bland RV aesthetic by building futuristic-looking travel trailers, such as the P19. But don’t judge a trailer by its appearance. The R-14 structural insulation delivers maximum energy efficiency, priming the P-19 Shorty for all-season camping.
Virtually any vehicle can tow this featherweight travel trailer as it's built on a lightweight 6061 T6 full aluminum tube frame and Timbren independent suspension that help deliver a smooth, quiet ride to the backcountry. Camp-ready features include a four-inch, tri-fold mattress, and an optional open galley for a homey stay in the outdoors.
Like the Polydrop, the French-built Carapate teardrop trailer demands to be noticed. The trapezoidal, blue and natural wood shell recalls mid-20th-century yacht design. It’s a playful and unique aesthetic that would feel perfectly at home in any Wes Anderson flick. A large side hatch and oversized windows help bring the outside in. The interior features all the essentials one would expect in a midsize travel trailer. There’s a slide-out kitchenette with a stove, sink, and two-way refrigerator — all of which can be used outside or inside the trailer. Tech-friendly features include LED lighting, multiple USB ports, and an optional solar kit for staying off-grid as long as you like. Instead of one fixed mattress, the interior features three single-sized mattresses that can be reconfigured as a large bed, a front-facing sofa, or a lounge-like, L-shaped couch.
Sadly, the Carapate teardrop trailer is only for sale overseas. So, American buyers will either need to plan an extended road trip around Europe or figure out how to ship it home.
Aptly named Hiker Trailers has one goal: To create affordable, lightweight travel trailers with serious off-road capability. Like most teardrop trailers, every model is purely utilitarian and features only the most essential amenities, all packed into the most compact space possible. Basic models offer little more than a durable, bare-bones aluminum shell that’s intended to be buyer-customized.
Deluxe models of these unique ultralight travel trailers, however, feature 14 inches of ground clearance, plus hardcore, off-road-ready upgrades like 33-inch tires, 3,500-pound axles, and 2-by-3-inch steel off-road frames. Their lightest model weighs just 640 pounds, meaning it’s towable by just about anything stronger than a bicycle. What we really love about the company is they offer so many custom options., so you can truly build the perfect camper for your needs and budget.
With an all-in price tag of more than $46,000, Airstream’s gear-hauling Basecamp is pricey. At roughly 2,600 pounds, it’s towable by most midsize SUVs but hardly qualifies as ultralight. Still, there’s nothing quite like it on the road today. It’s designed to live up to its namesake as a “basecamp” for your most epic, wide-open-space adventures. Clever, off-road-centric design features — including an aggressive departure angle and oversized tires and wheels — allow you to get far, far off the beaten path.
It boasts all the essentials today’s outdoorsmen expect in a modern camping experience, including a bare-bones sleep space, a workable kitchenette, a bathroom with a shower and toilet, and a sizable cargo area for hauling your outdoor toys. Plus, the taut aluminum exterior is sleek, handsome, and unmistakably Airstream.
The teardrop travel trailer market has exploded in recent years, thanks to their being towable by just about any vehicle (in some cases, even a motorcycle). The Timberleaf Classic is minimal and functional, with just the right amount of charm. The company’s woodworking skills are evident in the beautiful craftsmanship throughout.
Inside, the cabin features a massive skylight, making for perfect stargazing, and ample shelving guarantees plenty of space for your camping essentials. Round back, the hatch reveals a beautifully designed birch galley with a cooktop and pull-out drawer. An optional custom-built cooler provides ice retention for days, and leather grab handles add a dash of sophistication to your best campfire cooking escapades. Almost every aspect is customizable, too, so you can make it as plush or as "rugged minimalist" as you like.
Teardrop trailers are great for efficiency and portability, but by design, they’re usually thin on amenities. The Alto R Series by Safari Condo aims to solve that problem. While towing, it features a traditional, streamlined teardrop trailer design that the company claims reduces drag by up to 75%. Once at your campsite, however, an electric switch raises the clever Alufiber (an aluminum/fiberglass composite) roof to reveal a spacious, full-featured interior with panoramic windows. It manages to pack a surprising number of amenities into a tiny space: A king-size bed, two-burner cooktop, mini-fridge, fixed-flush toilet, and shower are all standard. Plus, the kitchen, beds, storage, and toilet are all still usable even with the roof lowered.
KZ RV's Sportsmen Classic 130RB may not have a “hey, look at me design,” but it’s incredibly lightweight and allows travelers to bring most of the comforts of home with them on the road. Even if the outside is a little drab, it’s what’s on the inside that matters. The 130RB is one of the lightest and smallest trailers in KZ’s lineup, weighing just 2,350 pounds and measuring in at just under 17 feet long and 6.5 feet tall on the inside. That means you won’t have to have a hulking SUV or pickup truck to lug it around. Despite the small size, the 130RB is big enough to fit a queen-size bed, a kitchenette, and even a wet bath with shower and toilet. There’s even a nifty compartment that runs the full width of the trailer, making it an ideal spot to store camping equipment.
Ever since Prometheus stole fire from the gods of Mount Olympus and bequeathed it to humans, we've used it to ward off predators, to cook our meat (thereby enlarging our brains), and for light. Over the years, The Manual has offered more than a few tips and tricks on how to build a fire both out on the trail and at home. We've condensed and collated this information down to one handy guide that teaches you how to build the perfect fire in a fireplace and campfire in the great outdoors, including tips for working in the rain and without matches. With everything you need to get your fire roaring, consider this your go-to guide for when you're ready to light it up anywhere and for any reason.
Learn how to build the perfect fire in a fireplace and a campfire in the great outdoors. We've included tips for working in the rain and without matches. Consider this your go-to guide for when you're ready to light it up anywhere and for any reason.
There's snow falling in ski resorts already, and the top skiing and snowboarding companies are starting to announce their winter lineups for you to expand your quiver. If you've not got your lift pass for the season yet, what are you waiting for? All that's standing between you and being on the first lifts at the best resorts in the U.S. is having that ticket in your hand — or maybe putting it in your ticket pocket so you don't lose it.
Here's my plea to you: whether you're a skier or snowboarder, a local or a road tripper, make this winter the winter your teenage self dreamed of. Remember when you were a ski bum, crashing on your buddy's sofa, dreaming of that winter when you chased great lines and rode every resort available to you? With conditions lining up for 2023/2024 to be an epic winter, the best way to get the most out of it is to get the right pass and open up as much skiable ground as possible. These are the best ski and snowboard passes you can get.
So you’ve decided to learn how to ski. Welcome to the party, pal! Prepping for your first day on the slopes can seem daunting. Unlike simpler outdoor pursuits like hiking or biking that require minimal gear, skiing is an entirely different animal. It’s more like scuba diving in that it involves more preparation and equipment, and you could argue, a greater sense of adventure, especially if you're gunning to ultimately take on backcountry skiing. Skiing for beginners involves figuring out what clothes to pack, which gear to buy, and how to transport it all to the mountain.
And all of that is before you even get to the mountain. Then there’s the matter of actually learning how to ski. Should you book a proper lesson or go it alone and hope for the best? There's no right answer, really. Here, we tackle these questions and more with the best pro tips for beginner skiers (and a few for intermediate and expert skiers too).
Cheap Travel Trailers The Essential Guide for MenThe Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, including fashion, food, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis.