Is Air Conditioning in Overlanding a Luxury?
"Go home, baby, if you want comfort," some say. Overlanding is about embracing the wild, venturing into the outdoors, and leaving behind the conveniences of home. Using an air conditioner, often associated with home comfort, seems to contradict the spirit of remote travel that defines overlanding.
But does bringing an air conditioner truly mean abandoning the adventurous spirit? Some people equate the use of certain gear with a betrayal of the overlanding lifestyle. Is this a fair assessment, or is there more to the story?
The Other Side of the Coin
Before drawing your own conclusions, let's share a few stories from our overlanding community.
One user says, "Overlanding is generally about exploration, but my vehicle also serves as a cozy safety break and impromptu sleeper for the long-haul US trips I often take. It also acts as a basecamp at RV areas of music festivals throughout the US when larger groups of friends join."
Another shares, "Bikepacking with my dog in the Arizona desert!"
A slide-in truck camper owner notes, "With a 4x4 truck, I have the opportunity to travel almost anywhere. I enjoy dry camping in the most remote, secluded areas I can find with friends and family."
A car camping enthusiast adds, "I love taking our kids tent camping, but historically it is either way too hot to tent camp, or an unexpected storm pops up. We can weather the storm in our Odyssey, but there isn't much we can do for the heat!"
Exploring remote areas on your own, with friends, pets, or family, without being hindered by the weather and seasons—this is how our users utilize their Mark 2 AC while overlanding. You might be surprised to find that bringing an AC to the outdoors doesn't diminish their courage or adventurous spirit. Instead, the cool breeze expands the possibilities of overlanding and enhances the memories.
When people think of overlanding, they might picture an adult driving a Jeep, meeting fellow travelers on the road. But overlanding is also about family trips, with kids showing boundless curiosity about nature, or an older person enjoying a peaceful sunset. Why is this aspect less represented? It's because the outdoors is full of unpredictable weather challenges, especially heat and humidity, which can be dangerous without nearby medical assistance.
Outdoor enthusiasts know this well. Often, they climb to higher elevations to find cooler camping weather, sacrificing the views of Denali Mountain, the geothermal features of Yellowstone National Park, or the chance to swim, boat, and paddleboard in Lake Tahoe and California. Some may argue that enduring the heat is part of the adventure, but we must ask: are we overlanding for the experiences and memories, or to suffer unnecessary hardship when we don't have to?
Using air conditioning in overlanding isn't about turning the trip into a home tour. It's about making the journey safer and more enjoyable, allowing us to experience everything the great outdoors has to offer without the threat of extreme weather.
Not Just Stay Cool, Stay Safe
While you may have the mindset to combat heat, your body has its limits. Staying outdoors in the summer requires careful attention to hydration, adequate rest, and avoiding prolonged sun exposure.
Extended heat exposure can lead to dizziness, nausea, and headaches due to significant loss of water and salt from your body. If not properly managed, your body's temperature regulation system can fail, leading to heat stroke. High body temperatures can damage your organs and brain, potentially resulting in death. For individuals with cardiovascular conditions, heat increases the heart's workload as the body demands more blood circulation to expel heat. Electrolyte imbalances, such as the loss of sodium and potassium from excessive sweating, are common in such scenarios.
Moreover, extremely high summer temperatures have become more common due to global warming. An air conditioner becomes a lifesaver, protecting us from sudden emergencies rather than merely providing home comfort.
Many overlanders now use the Mark 2 as a spot cooler during the day for relief from the intense sun. Additionally, they rely on it at night to ensure comfortable and restful sleep, essential for maintaining energy for the next day's activities.
Even when temperatures drop and the sun's intensity wanes, it takes time for the environment to cool down. The Mark 2 helps overlanders fall asleep quicker by providing a cool enough environment. Without it, they might wake up fatigued due to reduced sleep time, a dangerous factor often overlooked. Driving over rough terrain, crossing rivers, and navigating woods require high concentration. Distraction can lead to serious trouble.
This is why more and more overlanders are seeking cooling devices for their trips, just as they pack fridges, ovens, winches, mattresses, tents with better insulation, and repair tools into their trunks. The goal is to enhance their experience, stay longer in the wild, extend their range, and conserve energy for outdoor activities. If possible, why not better prepare yourself to handle unexpected situations on the road? After all, when you set off, you are often on your own.
A Good Companion is Half of a Successful Journey
In the back trunk of a Jeep Wrangler, on the roof of a Tacoma, and next to the window of a Scout truck camper, it's becoming increasingly common to see the Mark 2 air conditioner with its distinctive two white hoses. This raises the question: why do outdoor enthusiasts prefer the Mark 2 over other options? The answer lies in three key features that align perfectly with the overlanding lifestyle.
First, the Mark 2 offers low energy consumption while providing a cool breeze and dehumidification, ensuring a comfortable night's sleep. Unlike many portable air conditioners or cooling devices not specifically designed for outdoor use, the Mark 2 is tailored for overlanding. It consumes only 300W at maximum and provides 2300 BTU of cooling capacity. While 2300 BTU is not as powerful as a home AC, it is sufficient to cool your sleeping space at night, which is when you'll use the AC the most. One of the great lessons the outdoors teaches us is to use precious and limited energy wisely.
Second, power availability is not a concern with the Mark 2. It comes with an 840Wh battery, supporting the AC for 5-8 hours at night in sleep mode. Additionally, the battery can be recharged using solar power, making it an even more practical choice for extended outdoor adventures.
Finally, its compact size of only 20"L x 8.6"W x 2.3"H and light weight of merely 16.5lbs provide extensive convenience for overlanders. When selecting gear for outdoor activities, especially for overlanding, compactness and portability are paramount. We have to be like space scientists, meticulously deciding which gear to pack. The Mark 2 occupies minimal space and is light enough to be easily picked up with one hand, making it easy to place in the trunk, lift onto the roof of the Jeep, or share with fellow travelers. Simply connect it to the battery, and you're ready to go.
The engineering team has listened to feedback from the overlanding community and improved the user experience with thoughtful features. A front air inlet duct adapter saves more space in the sleeping area and enhances cooling efficiency. An infrared cable extends the remote control range, allowing overlanders to control the AC from a distance, even if their sleeping area is not easily accessible.
Check out the video below to see how you can use the Mark 2 in a rooftop tent.
With the ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 portable air conditioner, you no longer have to worry about sweating through the night. You can enjoy a restful sleep and wake up refreshed and ready for the day's adventures.
Open Eyes, Open Mind
Gear evolves day by day as people delve deeper into an activity, often accompanied by heated debates when an activity trends.
"Overlanding is a costly and exclusive hobby."
"You can just get there on foot; you don't need a six-figure trailer to reach your destination."
More and more people are discussing overlanding and related gear, which is a positive development as it signifies growing interest and a larger, more diverse community.
While we respect the choice to keep overlanding minimal and embrace the extreme cold and heat of the outdoors, we encourage staying open-minded as new innovations emerge.
Because with the advent of new technology, you might find more companions on the road. Family members who were previously unwilling to endure the heat can now join in and enjoy the same breathtaking views. Retired veterans with illustrious records can stay comfortable while savoring the wilderness.
Your summer overlanding adventures are taking you further into the middle and southern latitudes: Florida, Arizona, Utah, and beyond. Visiting these places in summer renews your appreciation for the stunning beauty of nature. The vibrant landscapes, from the swamps of Florida to the deserts of Arizona and the majestic rock formations of Utah, offer a unique and breathtaking experience that highlights the diverse beauty of the American outdoors.
As you explore these regions, new memories are forged, and the essence of overlanding—embracing the journey and the destination—becomes even more profound.
We never know what surprises new technology might bring, but staying open-minded isn't a bad choice at all.
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