Yakima Stories: Road Trips, Gear Tips & Outdoor Life

October 13, 2026

Building the Ultimate 2025 Ford Ranger

For our latest vehicle build, we took the new-generation 2025 Ford Ranger XLT and transformed it into a purpose-built overland rig centered around Yakima's latest special edition truck rack. From...

July 14, 2026

Pedalpalooza Take It Easy Ride

Up here in rainy Portland, OR, we’re lucky to have some gorgeous summers. When the sun does finally come out, we celebrate. We celebrate with Hot Dog Week, Bánh Mì...

September 15, 2025

Our History

In 1972 Otto and Jeanne Lagervall built something more than gear in a small machine shop in Yakima, Washington; they built a legacy. What started with hand‑forged canoe braces and...

August 26, 2025

2025 MADE Bike Show Recap

There are bike shows, and then there’s Made. Tucked right here in our backyard of Portland, Oregon, Made isn’t just an event, it’s a celebration of everything we love about...

August 12, 2025

How to Pick the Best Hitch Bike Rack for Your Vehicle

Less guessing. More riding. The right hitch bike rack makes loading up and heading out easy. But not all racks are built the same. Some are made to handle heavy...

July 22, 2025

Lost on Purpose: Southern Oregon Coast Dunes

Some stops on a road trip feel like detours. Others don’t show up on the map; they show up when you quit caring about one. That was the Southern Oregon...

March 20, 2025

Motherhood, Travel, and Life on the Road

Words by Pro Mountain Biker, Mother, and Yakima Ambassador Rachel Strait. “As a female athlete, I always knew that one day I wanted to get married and start a family....

July 16, 2024

Tight Lines In Squamish

Romy and Ali, long-time friends, embarked on a weeklong road trip around British Columbia, Canada, their hearts set on adventure and rekindling old friendships. Their first stop was a hidden...

July 16, 2024

The Ya-kei-ma truck

We get a lot of questions about our kei truck And rightly so. I mean, not to toot our own horn too much, but this thing is sweet. But not...

June 13, 2024

Testing, Testing, One Two Three

We’re big on diligence and getting our headlights dirty. At Yakima, there’s no such thing as makeshift. We’re lighthearted in nature, but we’re downright relentless about developing equipment that provides...

January 22, 2024

Tips to Rack Smarter This Winter

Our customer service team knows racks.We asked them to share their knowledge. Here are smart tips to keep yourYakima Winter mounts working right all season long… 1. LOCK AFTER YOU...

December 10, 2023

Ski Cargo Boxes – Where to Start?

Roof cargo boxes are like the unsung heroes of gear hauling, especially when winter rolls around. Ready to give your cargo box a winter upgrade? Yakima’s got you covered for...

October 24, 2023

Ben Hicks Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

#beoceanminded Ben Hicks – Fine Art Photographer, World Traveler, Conservationist, Entrepreneur, along with many other roles. A human who is truly trying to make a difference in this world and...

October 02, 2023

EXO OpenRange

Open Unbelievable Not totally sure what this new box is from Yakima? Is it a cooler? Is it a satellite that fell from space? Even better, the Yakima EXO OpenRange...

September 20, 2023

Rack Maintenance Tips and Tricks

Year-Round Vs. On n’ Off There’s nothing wrong with keeping your gear mounts on your vehicle all year round. But, if you don’t plan on using them for a while,...

July 19, 2023

Summer Road Trips Essential Packing Tips

Pack it up, pack it in It’s summer – You’re ready for that perfect road trip you have planned. Your packing list is long and as it grows your car...

July 18, 2023

Sunset Shreds: Empowering Women Through Mountain Biking

Sunset shreds In a world where women are breaking barriers and embracing their passions fearlessly, one event stands out as a shining example of camaraderie, empowerment, and the sheer joy...

June 28, 2023

Border Lines

Baja Mexico – rugged landscapes, breathtaking coastlines, and amazing culture make it a must go destination for any Overlander. Also, non-stop tacos. With never ending coastlines riddled with perfect waves,...

February 08, 2023

Soup or Bowl on the EXO OpenRange

There’s nothing quite like tailgating with friends and passing the time with good food. The EXO OpenRange makes it easy to bring your kitchen to the tailgate party with easy...

October 17, 2022

Life Is Better With a Dog

RackPack Ambassador, Kayla Lockhart, knows better than anyone that life is better with a dog. This year, The Flyfish Journal followed Kayla around for a few days of camping, fishing,...

August 25, 2022

The Best Racing This Side Of The Mississippi

Strait Acres 2022 Recap You smell that? That’s the sweet smell of racing. And if there is one thing that Kyle and Rachel Strait know, it’s racing. This year, for...

April 14, 2022

2022 Sea Otter Round-Up

Sea Otter Classic Recap The Sea Otter Classic. The event that brings consumers and industry folks together for a long weekend of bikes, bikes, and more bikes. If you can...

April 04, 2022

California Winters

A California Winter Living in Southern California sure has its perks. Ocean views, t-shirt temps, and endless single track are just a few things that have us mouth breathing. But...

September 20, 2021

Strait Acres Slalom 2021

The Straits know bike racing. Rachel and Kyle Strait have been fixtures on the dirt scene for years, creating their place in the mountain bike community through a combination of...

August 21, 2021

An Update From Yakima

Recovery mode Labor Day is quickly approaching, and while you might normally find yourself searching for the best deals for, well, just about anything, you’ve probably noticed a trend. Nothing...

July 20, 2021

Fishing Addicts

Meet Marlin LeFever People joke, “Oh, your name’s Marlin! You must like to fish?” And they are absolutely right. Marlin is the founder of Fishing Addicts NW, or as they...

December 09, 2020

No Lodge? No Problem

In a year where everything looks a little different, being flexible with your approach to winter recreation is key. While the ski resorts will be spinning their lifts, most of...

November 24, 2020

Dropping In with Robin

Professional athletes are just like normal people, except for, you know, being faster and stronger. So, just like for everyone else, this year has been strange and challenging for those...

November 18, 2020

Assembling a Cold Weather Vehicle Emergency Kit

Our friends over at Expedition Portal put together a stellar winter-ready vehicle kit that we thought was just too good not to share. Read through and get your vehicle ready...

October 07, 2020

Weekend Getaway: Big Bear, CA

Andrew Villablanca is a Los Angeles based outdoors enthusiast. If he isn’t mountain biking, he’s out on an adventure in his truck to explore the Southwest. His 2006 Dodge Ram...

August 21, 2020

Life on the road came to an abrupt stop

Nomad Life: On Hold Did you know that there is not a true antonym for the English noun nomad? We learned this the hard way earlier this year, when we...

August 05, 2020

Meet Scout, and Her Human

People + Dog + Outdoors=Love It’s a familiar story, but it never gets old. Person gets dog. Person falls in love with dog. Dog becomes catalyst for new experiences. Person...

May 26, 2020

Meet Rachel Strait

It Rides...In the Family Growing up with a motorcycle racing dad, Rachel Strait didn’t have to go far to discover a love of two-wheeled speed. When she was young, her...

April 29, 2020

The Backyard and Beyond

Changing Times, Adjusting Expectations As the global pandemic continues to unfold, all our lives have been affected in some way or another. Outdoor lovers everywhere have been forced to rethink...

March 30, 2020

Chrome Steelhead: Love at First Swing

Jean-Marie Bousquet, also known as Jean Bug—a family given nickname; turned a passion for action sports into an obsession with fly fishing. Traveling with a fly rod in hand, Jean-Marie...

February 11, 2020

Meet Kayla Lockhart

Water Woman and Yakima RackPack'r For as long as she can remember, Kayla Lockhart has always been drawn to the water. Born and raised in Minnesota, she was the only...

December 09, 2019

Brianna’s Home For the Holiday’s Recipe

Brianna Madia is a desert-dweller and storyteller who spends most of her time wandering through slot canyons, traversing desert roads, and sleeping amongst the red sandstone rocks of southern Utah....

August 19, 2019

A Family of Fearless Adventurers the WildRoots

Meet the WildRoots He was a fly fisherman and skier from Utah. She was a tomboy adventurer from Northern California. It was a match made in heaven. Nate and Candice...

August 06, 2019

Meet Robin Van Gyn

Being at home with the land, one adventure at a time From snowboarding to surfing, four-season athlete Robin Van Gyn has been exploring her native British Columbia since age 16....

July 30, 2019

Yakima & NRS Founder Bill Parks

Yakima & Northwest River Supplies Whether to stream, river, lake, or ocean, Yakima has easily and safely been getting people to the water going on five wild, original decades. To...

April 10, 2019

Sit Back, Relax, and Take It Easy

Celebrating 40 years of transforming how people travel As the days lengthen and the sun shines into the starlit evening, there’s no better time to roll your window down, turn...

October 08, 2018

Van Life: Dirty, Smelly, and Perfect

Brianna Madia spends her time roaming the desert in a van named Bertha. She loves the warmth and solitude, and the environment’s scrappy toughness. “There’s something really intentional about the...

September 14, 2018

Jordan Lee: Gone Fishing

Jordan Lee has competed in four Bassmaster Classics. He won two of them. “Winning the Classic twice has been special. The stars have really aligned for me and things fell...

August 16, 2018

Roaming with Loki the Wolfdog

Loki the Wolfdog, Bailey the dog dog, and Kelly and Ally, are a pack of road roamers and snack enthusiasts. There’s a lot of love in this group so it’s...

August 13, 2018

Wild River Life – Roaming Free to Celebrate Our Rivers

The Wild & Scenic River Act is having its 50th anniversary, so Susan and Adam Elliot loaded up their ’91 Coachman RV and set out to paddle, float, and experience...

August 09, 2018

Home on Wheels – Tips for Van Life

Jace, Giddi, little Juniper, and Lotus the Dog live in a van – and it’s a nice one. After selling their first van in March of 2016, they purchased another...

July 09, 2018

Meet Henry & Baloo

An unlikely pair that can adventure anywhere Furry Adventure Henry is a dog. Baloo is a cat. Cynthia Bennett is a human. All of them love to pile into...

July 01, 2018

Never Leave the Dogs Behind

Tips for Traveling with Your Beloved Best Friends For the last two years, I have lived in an old van with my husband and our two dogs. From 31-inch snowstorms...

June 20, 2018

Meet Outdoor Afro

Yakima is a proud supporter and friend of Outdoor Afro, and we’re handing this one over to Yanira Castro, their Communications Director and a regional leader. She’s going to tell...

June 14, 2018

Hit the Road with WildRoots

Sharing the Road Nate and Candice are the adult portion of WildRoots, an outdoor-loving, Utah-based family with jobs, school, and four boys – Zev who just turned 10, seven year...

June 07, 2018

Brianna’s Road Trip Tips

Getting there is half the journey. That’s what they say, right? But, if you end up laid out on the side of the freeway with smoke pouring from the hood...

June 05, 2018

Life in the SkyRise

Feels Like Home Randy Propster, Backpacker Magazine’s Get Out More Guru, practically lives in our SkyRise rooftop tent. In just about a year, he’s logged over 150 nights in his...

May 18, 2018

Get Out More Tour

IT’S TIME TO GET OUT MORE WITH YAKIMA and BACKPACKER MAGAZINE It’s summer – time to get and explore and find new adventures, right? But before you head out, shake...

May 14, 2018

Meet Diego Huerta

Diego Huerta: Photographing the World, Living the Stories Diego Huerta writes stories with a camera. “To tell a story you have to live the story,” explains Diego. “You have to...

May 07, 2018

Future Wild & Scenic Rivers

By Susan Elliott, Wild River Life Sure, there are over 200 rivers across the country that our nation has decided to protect as Wild and Scenic. Rivers like the Middle...

April 23, 2018

How To choose your bike rack

Choosing the right bike rack can be a little daunting…but we’re here to help! On The Back Or Up On Top: There are a few ways to carry bikes on...

April 13, 2018

Rachel Strait – Riding Fast & Taking Names

Growing up in a cycling family meant Rachel Strait was born to ride. Biking was consistently Rachel’s childhood family activity because her father, Jeff, was racing motocross growing up. “He...

March 14, 2018

YogaSlackers and the PeaceLoveCar: Riding Tiny, Living Big

A 1988 Ford Festiva is a small car. Super small. At 28 square feet, it’s efficient and easy to park, but not much of a living space. But the YogaSlackers...

January 19, 2018

An Insider’s Guide to Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge

Historic Timberline Lodge sits at the base of one of Oregon’s most popular recreation areas, majestic Mount Hood. Built during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Lodge is a...

December 12, 2017

Brianna Madia – Home For the Holidays

Here at Yakima, a lot of us are traveling “home” for the holidays. To some that means a ten minute drive, or a plane ride to Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, or...

November 03, 2017

NICA – I wish I had this in high school

NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, provides systems, procedures, leadership and services to help form regional leagues that put on competitive – and not so competitive – middle and high...

September 26, 2017

Unracked: Fly Fishing the Pacific Northwest

Matt Swainbank: Events and Training Manager / Fly Fisherman Winter steelhead, summer trout – Matt is an avid fly fisherman. And – let’s get this out of the way...

September 14, 2017

Unracked: 5 Tips for a Successful Mountain Biking Trip

Raul Bonifacio : Customer Service Lead Raul Bonifacio lives to bomb around on his bikes – both Mountain and Cyclocross – but also loves to unrack by quietly hanging...

September 12, 2017

Unracked: SkyRise Tent Tips & Tricks

Ian Betteridge : Product Integrity Lead No one has spent more time with our SkyRise rooftop tent than Ian. Ironing out bugs and refining new products – it’s a...

September 05, 2017

Unracked: Kayaking with Tex Alexander

Tex Alexander – Fit and Technical Training Lead Tex makes sure your rack is gonna fit. “My job is to go out to auto dealers, or customers who are...

August 26, 2017

Unracked: Family Vacation Essentials

Garrett Barnum – CATEGORY DIRECTOR Garrett Barnum and his wife love to pile their five kids into the Suburban and head out to set their base camp – wherever...

August 21, 2017

Unracked: Paddleboarding with Jenna Fallon

Jenna Fallon – Digital Director Jenna loves to stand-up paddle. “Every moment in the sunshine makes me do a happy dance.” And she makes it a point – even...

August 14, 2017

Unracked: Road Biking with Kenny Graham

Kenny Graham – Product Integrity Specialist “I ride as much as I can,” says Kenny. “I ride to work – an hour and a half commute – then I’ll...

July 13, 2017

The Gambler 500

Born From a Dream A dream of giving forgotten, tossed aside and abandoned autos new life. A chance to become legendary. How do they become legendary? By completing a 500...

June 29, 2017

Outdoor Afro: Rediscovering the Inner Nature Swagger

Outdoor Afro helps to reconnect people with their “inner nature swagger.” We’re psyched to partner with them, and recently joined them on a trip to Olympic National Park to celebrate...

April 24, 2017

Yakima X Deathgrip

Brendan Fairclough is one of the world’s best mountain bike riders. Clay Porter is one of the world’s best mountain bike filmmakers. They’ve been good friends for a decade. You...

April 17, 2017

5 Incredible National Parks for Cycling

From the seat of a bike, exploring America’s national parks takes on a different view. As you pedal slowly through these protected lands, awareness of nature becomes strong, filling your...

March 27, 2017

Our Home on Wheels

Hey there! We are Our Home On Wheels, also known as Jace, Giddi, and baby Juniper. We are a full-time traveling family living in a 2005 self-converted Sprinter van with...

March 20, 2017

Brianna Madia

I think a lot of folks hear that we live in our van and assume we’re on some sort of trip. But there is no Point B to our Point...

March 13, 2017

Carabiner Coffee

Oh hey there! This is Erik from @carabinercoffee. Our story is what you get when you take one dirtbag climber, one hefty dose of wanderlust, one 71 VW bus named...

March 06, 2017

The Bus and Us

We are @TheBusAndUs, which consists of Dillon, Tessa and our 1975 Volkswagen Bus, Rita. It was 2014, while we were two young working professionals making a life for ourselves in...

January 30, 2017

Skiing and Snowboarding Near Boulder

Boulder isn’t technically a ski town, but with eight world-class ski resorts within two hours, it’s a suitable launching point for getting out and ripping lift-accessed turns. Eldora is a...

January 12, 2017

5 Amazing National Parks for Camping

Nothing is as memorable as camping in the breathtaking wilderness of America’s national parks, where lifelong memories of sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, and gazing at the gazillion stars...

November 15, 2016

Dead Reckoning – A Summer of Getting Lost

“…pack your stuff late, get up early, and hit the road” We jumped on board to help Yonder Journal, a team of cultural anthropologists and sportsmen, on their latest big...

November 10, 2016

Kayak Bassin’

The only thing Chad Hoover enjoys more than catching big fish is exploring and finding fish where powerboats can’t reach. Chad is host of Kayak Bassin’ on World Fishing Network...

August 23, 2016

Team Rally RAV4 - Going Places

Rally racing is a team sport. Christina Fate and Ryan Millen are Team Rally RAV4. They steer their two-wheel drive 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE – with no mechanical modifications –...

August 15, 2016

Mountain State Overland – Season 3

Mountain State Overland (MSO) is a YouTube series dedicated to documenting adventure travel and telling stories that promote responsible lifestyles along the oldest mountain range east of the Mississippi;...

July 18, 2016

Pack Like a Pro – Our Vie Weighs In

This spring we partnered with Our Vie, a couple consisting of Cees and Madison accompanied by Vladimir Kitten, to help them achieve a lofty yet amazing goal. They approached us...

March 28, 2016

A Mountain Biker’s Guide to Leaving No Trace

Originally written for RootsRated Mountain Biking provides an amazing mix of outdoor adventure. On a bike, you can pedal at a pace that promotes intimacy and interaction with the environment,...

March 22, 2016

21 Awesome Places to See in Colorado

Everyone and their mother knows that Colorado is a place of unending beauty and incredible geographic diversity. From the infinite plains in the East, to the craggy spine of the...

March 01, 2016

21 Awesome Places to See in the Southeast

Originally written for RootsRated On May 1, 2015, two lucky members of the RootsRated team set off on a 5-month, 20,000-mile cross-country road tour across the United States. The main...

February 12, 2016

5 Outstanding National Parks for Paddling

There is something about being on the waters of America’s national parks that nourishes the soul. On the water, the wilderness and your boat meld into one, letting you connect...

January 12, 2016

Bus Life Adventure – Episode 5

After the long drive to Alaska and waiting in the grey clouds for almost 9 days we were finally able to hike lines and ride some beastly terrain in...

January 12, 2016

Bus Life Adventure – Episode 6

The last episode of Life In The Bus Lane took us to Valdez, AK where we set up camp in the Tailgate Alaska parking lot. As with any Alaska...

January 12, 2016

Bus Life Adventure – Episode 4

It’s 2,500 miles from Salt Lake City, UT to Valdez, AK and the Alaskan Highway while stunning can also be treacherous if weather is present. We were lucky on...

January 12, 2016

Bus Life Adventure – Episode 3

Episode three of Life In The Bus Lane takes Brock Butterfield, Jacob Carey, Sam King, Adam Chuntz and Claudia Avon to southern Colorado where a predicted seven foot storm...

November 06, 2015

Bus Life Adventure – Episode 2

Episode 2 of Life In The Bus Lane features the beginning of last winter when we met up with Mike Hood on Vail Pass and tested out the snowpack....

November 02, 2015

Bus Life Adventure – Episode 1

Life In The Bus Lane – Episode 1 from Bus Life Adventure on Vimeo. The sound of avalanche bombs wake me up as I lay in the bed of my...

July 22, 2015

Chad Hoover is Alright

His unorthodox views and outrageous energy levels have earned him the nickname “Knot Right”, but it’s clear to see Chad Hoover is really pretty alright. Tune in to Kayak Bassin...

July 22, 2015

Going Big With The Gentle Giant: Kelly McGarry

Nothing represents the biggest, baddest most technical freeride mountain biking like the Redbull Rampage. And no one has left an impression from the event like Kelly McGarry. “McGazza”, as he’s...

July 22, 2015

Nikki Gregg: Professional Paddler

Meet Nikki Gregg: professional stand up paddler, whitewater racer, surfer, mountain biker, kayaker, fitness instructor, and former snowboarder. If her list of daily activities wasn’t enough to exhaust you, Nikki...

January 05, 2015

5 Bucket List Rides Across the Country

Cycling is a sport that quite literally takes you places. Whether you’re strapping your bike to the car and heading out for a destination-ride, or simply pulling the bike out...

September 18, 2014

5 Great American Road Trips to Take This Fall

Arguably, there’s no better time to hit the open road than during the fall, when this country’s landscapes and forests are ablaze in their full fiery force, and when the...

October 23, 2013

Kelly McGarry Red Bull Rampage GoPro Video

Kelly McGarry took home the Silver Medal at the 2013 Red Bull Rampage. We checked in with Kelly after Day One last week and this week he released his GoPro...

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Stories

Building the Ultimate 2025 Ford Ranger

Pedalpalooza Take It Easy Ride

Our History

2025 MADE Bike Show Recap

How to Pick the Best Hitch Bike Rack for Your Vehicle

Lost on Purpose: Southern Oregon Coast Dunes

Motherhood, Travel, and Life on the Road

Tight Lines In Squamish

The Ya-kei-ma truck

Testing, Testing, One Two Three

Tips to Rack Smarter This Winter

Ski Cargo Boxes – Where to Start?

Ben Hicks Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

EXO OpenRange

Rack Maintenance Tips and Tricks

Summer Road Trips Essential Packing Tips

Sunset Shreds: Empowering Women Through Mountain Biking

Border Lines

Soup or Bowl on the EXO OpenRange

Life Is Better With a Dog

The Best Racing This Side Of The Mississippi

2022 Sea Otter Round-Up

California Winters

Strait Acres Slalom 2021

An Update From Yakima

Fishing Addicts

No Lodge? No Problem

Dropping In with Robin

Assembling a Cold Weather Vehicle Emergency Kit

Weekend Getaway: Big Bear, CA

Life on the road came to an abrupt stop

Meet Scout, and Her Human

Meet Rachel Strait

The Backyard and Beyond

Chrome Steelhead: Love at First Swing

Meet Kayla Lockhart

Brianna’s Home For the Holiday’s Recipe

A Family of Fearless Adventurers the WildRoots

Meet Robin Van Gyn

Yakima & NRS Founder Bill Parks

Sit Back, Relax, and Take It Easy

Van Life: Dirty, Smelly, and Perfect

Jordan Lee: Gone Fishing

Roaming with Loki the Wolfdog

Wild River Life – Roaming Free to Celebrate Our Rivers

Home on Wheels – Tips for Van Life

Meet Henry & Baloo

Never Leave the Dogs Behind

Meet Outdoor Afro

Hit the Road with WildRoots

Brianna’s Road Trip Tips

Life in the SkyRise

Get Out More Tour

Meet Diego Huerta

Future Wild & Scenic Rivers

How To choose your bike rack

Rachel Strait – Riding Fast & Taking Names

YogaSlackers and the PeaceLoveCar: Riding Tiny, Living Big

An Insider’s Guide to Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge

Brianna Madia – Home For the Holidays

NICA – I wish I had this in high school

Unracked: Fly Fishing the Pacific Northwest

Unracked: 5 Tips for a Successful Mountain Biking Trip

Unracked: SkyRise Tent Tips & Tricks

Unracked: Kayaking with Tex Alexander

Unracked: Family Vacation Essentials

Unracked: Paddleboarding with Jenna Fallon

Unracked: Road Biking with Kenny Graham

The Gambler 500

Outdoor Afro: Rediscovering the Inner Nature Swagger

Yakima X Deathgrip

5 Incredible National Parks for Cycling

Our Home on Wheels