Review: Roundup: Off-Road Trip

Route 66 has the world's largest ketchup bottle. Yay. Here's a better road trip idea: Leave the asphalt behind and visit someplace that's not already on a postcard.

Roundup: Off-Road Trip

Learn How We Rate ##### Wired

It may be the size of your old Igloo, but this is no mere cooler; it's a full-on fridge, complete with electronic thermostat. Runs off a 12-volt socket yet works as well as your kitchen model.

Roundup:

• 1/10A complete failure in every way
• 2/10Sad, really
• 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
• 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
• 5/10Recommended with reservations
• 6/10Solid with some issues
• 7/10Very good, but not quite great
• 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
• 9/10Nearly flawless
• 10/10Metaphysical perfection

1. Outdoor Research DryComp Ridge Sack

2. ARB Fridge Freezer

3. Cobra CJIC 350 Power Pack
WIRED We brought it along for its air compressor — handy for tailoring tire firmness to terrain — but it does so much more. It'll jump-start a V-8, power a flatscreen or charge your iPod.

TIRED Jumper cables too short. Wimpy compressor takes forever. Three separate power switches?

$100, cobra.com

4. Garmin Oregon 550t Navigator
WIRED Because "Elvis Rock" (a) isn't on any map, and (b) might not look like Elvis when you're sober, the 550t lets you take a geotagged photo that you can click on later to find your way back. 16 hours of battery life! Water- and shock-resistant.

TIRED Better off-road than on: Street maps cost $100, screen is too small, and instead of "turn here," it just says "beep."

$600, garmin.com

5. Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
WIRED Small, bright and rugged. Flashing red "follow me" light on back. Comes with a jillion different plugs for overseas charging.

TIRED No plug will help if you run out of juice in the middle of nowhere. Wiring-lined head strap chafes a sunburned brow.

$100, blackdiamondequipment.com