A Passion Project

Jeff & Cynde Clark ● On Top Adventures ● Idaho Falls

Jeff Clark has been camping his whole life, starting where he grew up in North Carolina and 27 years later when he met his wife Cynde in Cheyenne Wyoming. Cynde is from Idaho so it’s nosurprisetheyeventuallymovedback here. They purchased their first roof top tent in 2017 and by June 2020, knew this was a passion they wanted tosharewiththecommunity.

Jeff and Cynde started On Top Adventures and partnered with 23Zero. They rent a 1500 sq ft space at the Idaho Innovation Center, a business incubator in Idaho Falls, where they sell products from all the big letters in overlanding. Along with 23Zero tents, you can find DMOS shovels, GSI camping gear, ALP generators, ARB recovery gear and CBI bumpers and bedracks.

Part of this passion project includes a love for coffee that lead to a single farm sourced Columbian bean lovingly calledHappyAssCoffee.

Cynde hand knits hats and makes camp soaps. The future of On Top Adventures will include a leather and canvas shop to make overlanding goods like firewood carriers, overnight bags, gear pouches and tool rolls, including one for your fireside cocktail tools.

Jeff and Cynde also host free monthly events at their shop. Check out the 4Runner gathering coming up February 16.

Overlanding Replaced Backpacking

Dan Sunderland ● Talus Expedition Gear ● Boise

Dan and his younger brother Will grew up in the outdoors of Ouray Colorado. Being avid backpackers, they understood the importance of carrying everything needed for extended trips in the backcountry in the most efficient way possible. Each suffering devastating ankle injuries caused them to hang up their backpacks and start thinking of how else they could get to places where other people couldn’t go. Dan hadanoldtruckwithasinglepersoncampingsetupandthatgotthemthinkinghow overlanding would replace backpacking. It’s the same concept, packing everything neededforextendedtripsinthebackcountryasefficientlyaspossible.

TalusAdventureGear(talusisthenameoftheanklebonetheybothbroke)launched in 2019, and James, long time friend and fabricator, became a business partner in 2020. May of 2021 saw the opening of their retail shop in Boise, just recently expandedforatotalof7300sqfeet.

Talus specializes in electrical upgrades, fabricating custom campers, drawer systems, and bed racks along with selling a full line from all the top brands of tents, awnings, recovery, cooking and camping gear. Dan, James and newest addition Dustin, will talk you through your build, problem solving for any vehicle, budget and level of experience. I have first hand experience working with this crew and can say they have the patience of saints. Dan has talked me through so many iterations of my rig, which sits in his shop as I’m writing this, getting electrical and solar sorted out.

The future of Talus Expedition Gear will include a larger retail space so customers can touch and feel the products, climb in the tents and sit in the chairs. They are working on a full production drawer system in addition to the custom systems they do now. The new larger shop space also opens them up to more van builds, specializinginelectricalupgradesandretrofittingoldervanswithnewproducts.

Talus is hosting their first meet up of the year on February 25th starting at 10am. Be sure to check out the taco truck across the street! You can also find them at the Idaho Sportsman Show, The Great Northwest 4x4 Show, Overland Expos West and PNW, Teton Overland Show, NW Overland Rally and Panhandle Overland Rally, either asvendorsorattendees.

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