TREAD March - April 2021

editor's letter

Nothing beats the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, alone with your thoughts. Whether it be backpacking through the High Sierras or remote camping by a lake, many of us know the feeling that sweeps over as you take in the scenery and sounds of nature. Do you remember your first time? Imagine having always lived in a city full of its noises: helicopters, sirens, people talking and moving, cars honking, construction—all the hustle and bustle. The change is both peaceful and frightening. All senses are on high alert because one doesn’t know what to expect. While it should be stress-free, the body is stressed with the unknown, mind racing, tension in the muscles. But then that moment comes when it all washes away and one can finally…

rock ’n’ roll

Your ride deserves a new look for the New Year. The easiest way to accomplish that while simultaneously bumping up its performance is by way of high-quality aftermarket wheels. The right wheel can not only update the look of your truck, SUV, or Jeep, but also increase its off-road worthiness. With so many wheels on the market, where do you start your search? Why, right here, of course. Let’s take a look at the latest offerings and put our vehicle’s best foot forward. WARN/MOONSAULT Warn Epic Wheels are a perfect fit for the Wrangler JK, JL, or Gladiator JT. Available in a 17x8.5 size with a 5x5 (5x127) bolt pattern and 0 offset, these hubcentric, high-quality, cast-aluminum wheels come with a choice of black or gunmetal powdercoated finishes for a top-notch look…

outfitted

01. ORACLE/WHITE UNDERBODY WHEELWELL ROCK LIGHT KIT These durable and intensely bright white LED rock lights from Oracle Lighting feature over 2,400 lumens of output, which makes them brighter than most headlights. Drive with confidence using these white rock lights with sturdy housings that withstand any terrain you put them through. MSRP: $100 oraclelights.com 02. DOMETIC/CFX3 45 Enjoy 46 liters of cooling capacity. Dometic’s powered cooler produces impressive cooling/freezing capabilities, allowing you to bring more of the food and drinks you love wherever you go. The CFX3’s robust design and ExoFrame construction is built for tough outdoor use. Enjoy efficient cooling and freezing with convenience wherever you go. Download the app to control the temperature and other settings from your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. MSRP: $960 dometic.com 03. GOAT/THE HUB 70 + 4 CANS This massive…

gear box

O1. FENIX/HM61R MULTIFUNCTIONAL RECHARGEABLE HEADLAMP This multifunctional headlamp uses a single rechargeable 18650 battery to provide 1200 lumens of bright white light and up to 5 lumens of red light to help guide your way. With a runtime of 300 hours on Eco mode, this light includes a pocket clip so that it can also be used as a flashlight. MSRP: $85 fenix-store.com O2. ELEMENT CASE/BLACK OPS X3 PHONE CASE If you’re in the market for a do-it-all, armored case for your smartphone, you’ll want to take a look at the Black Ops X3. It delivers military-inspired armored protection for your phone while also providing extra functionality, including a removable card and cash compartment, retractable kickstand, protective sliding camera lens cover, and more. MSRP: $250 elementcase.com O3. KODIAK/WOMEN’S KODIAK CANORA PLAID BOOT These seriously cozy boots feature…

made the cut

When was the last time you upgraded your knife? If you said not since last year or even sometime before that, we’re here to tell you that there are plenty of new blades out now that are worthy of your attention. With so many tasks you depend your knife on, carrying the latest and greatest in your pocket, in your pack, or on your hip only makes sense. After all, don’t you deserve a new knife to start off the New Year with? Let’s take a look at the latest 2021 releases from some of our favorite knife manufacturers. 01. CRKT /THERO CLOSED LENGTH: 4.22” OPEN LENGTH: 7.31” BLADE LENGTH: 3.08” BLADE MATERIAL: 8Cr14MoV HANDLE MATERIAL: Glass reinforced nylon/carbon-fiber underlay WEIGHT: 3.1 oz. MSRP: $70 crkt.com 02. BENCHMADE /535-3 BUGOUT CLOSED LENGTH: 4.22” OPEN LENGTH: 7.46” BLADE LENGTH: 3.24” BLADE MATERIAL: S90V HANDLE MATERIAL:…

no compromise

01 PERFORMANCE ENGINE Developed from the MT-07 Hyper Naked sportbike, the CP2 689cc liquid-cooled DOHC four-stroke, eight-valve engine combines exceptional reliability and exciting power delivery in a compact, fuel-efficient package. Its 270-degree crank provides linear torque in response to throttle input. TRANSMISSION The six-speed transmission “stacks” the gearbox and the crankshaft in a triangular layout to keep the overall engine size shorter front to back, which optimizes the bike’s weight balance. FUEL INJECTION Electronic fuel injection settings provide excellent fuel economy, robust acceleration, and precise controllability on- and off-road. Fuel injection is calibrated to deliver precise response for technical riding off-road as well as casual pavement rides. 02 SUSPENSION SUSPENSION Aggressive dirt riding requires capable suspension. The Ténéré 700 is equipped with a long-travel 43mm inverted fork with 8.3 inches of travel. Its robust inverted layout shrugs off flex…