RV News: Imperial Outdoors Towable Review, Super Pacific’s X1 Rivian Camper, and Grand Design Launched Podcast

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The calendar says it’s Friday, which means it’s time for our weekly round-up of everything that happened in the RV industry this week. Here are a few things to have on your radar:

GearJunkie Reviews Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195: Imperial Outdoors is known for making some of the best four-season off-road towables on the market. This week, our friends at GearJunkie put that reputation to the test by publishing their review of the XploreRV X195 model. Their verdict? You’ll have to read the full review to get all of the intel, but let’s just say they were not disappointed.
Super Pacific Brings X1 Camper to Rivian R1T: It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the folks over at Rivian. Two weeks ago, the company unveiled three new electric vehicles, and last week, Dometic announced it was releasing a line of roof racks for the EVs. Now, lightweight truck camper manufacturer Super Pacific is showing its support, too, by announcing a version of its X1 Camper for the Rivian R1T pickup. Production will begin once the company has received orders—and deposits—for ten X1s, with the first buyers getting to provide input on the design and features of the camper. The price will start at $14,495, with deliveries slated for Q4 of this year. For more information, contact SP here.
Grand Design Launches New Podcast: RV Manufacturer Grand Design launched a new podcast this week. The GDRV Fireside Chat podcast is hosted by Grand Design Multimedia Producer Tom Gropp and Grand Design Sales Development Manager Jeff Muffoletto and will touch on topics surrounding the company’s vehicles, the RV lifestyle, camping, rallies, and industry news. The show will feature 20-30-minute segments with plenty of insights, humor, and information. The first episode is available now on popular audio platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and more.
US Senate Examines Impact of Climate Change on Outdoor Recreation: Several representatives from the outdoor industry testified in front of the Senate Budget Committee this week, speaking on the impact of climate change on outdoor recreation. Committee members heard testimony from Jessica Wahl Turner, President of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Theresa McKenney, Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs at NEMO Equipment, and numerous others on the challenges that climate change now presents. Those challenges include economic losses due to weather disruptions, the long-term impact on infrastructure, and growing threats to public health. A video of the entire hearing can be found here, with further information available from RV Business.

Photo Credit: Sea to Summit

Sea to Summit Launches New Camp Kitchens, Sleeping Bags, and More: Outdoor gear manufacturer Sea to Summit has announced new products ahead of the 2024 camping season. This week, the company unveiled its Frontier, Detour, and Passage line of cooking products, each with its own distinct design and properties. The Detour collection should be especially interesting for overlanders and RVers, as it is the first collapsible kitchen equipment designed to work with both gas stoves and induction cooktops. New sleeping bags include updated versions of the Spark and Ascent, as well as the addition of the Spark Pro, a lightweight option for demanding adventures. Find out more about all of these new products here.
HipCamp and REI Announce ‘Summer of Magic’ Campout Series: Online campsite reservation service HipCamp is joining forces with outdoor gear retailer REI to host a series of camping events this year. Dubbed the Summer of Magic Campout Series, the events are designed to help more people get outside and embrace more outdoor adventures. Those who want to join in on the fun will want to register early, as space will be limited. Once an invite to an event is sent, they’ll also want to RSVP to reserve their spot. The first of the events is scheduled for April 8 in Arkansas, with the campsite falling in the path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse. Other activities will include night hikes and stargazing with REI experts. For more information, click here.
The Dyrt Announces 2024 Glampy Awards: This week, online campsite discovery and booking site The Dyrt announced the winners of the 2024 Glampy Awards. Given out annually, the Glampys go to the best glamping destination across the US. This year’s winners include Yurts in Washington State, a geodesic dome in Tennessee, and a B&B that looks like a gypsy wagon in Idaho.
Adventure Travel Booms in the US: Adventure travel continues to be a hot market segment in the US, according to the latest trends report from Go RVing. This week, the organization noted that adventure tourism rose to $42.5 billion in 2021 and is expected to have a compounded growth of 14.2% through the end of the decade. Furthermore, research data indicates that despite increased costs and challenging economic conditions, RVers continue their active outdoor pursuits.