Yes, you’re good to bring the guitar. But no more Dispatch. Please, no more Dispatch. Photo: Ticla
Glamping has all the wrong connotations — there is and never should be anything glamorous about camping. It’s about getting in touch with nature. And while nature is awe-inducing and countless other adjectives that attempt but fail to fully describe its grandeur, it isn’t glamorous. So let’s make one thing clear: even though Ticla‘s new line of car camping tents are like pop-up log cabins wherever you pitch ’em, these are much more appropriate for the great outdoors than the oversized bag of stakes you grabbed off Sky Mall. This is not an exaggerated umbrella for soccer moms cutting up oranges; this is a tent, and a surf tent at that. Founder Rich Hill was inspired on a surf trip and named the company after the little fishing village he found himself in, La Ticla, on the west coast of mainland Mexico.
Anyhow, this was an awesome field test as I love camping, yet generally am more prone to trek my route than drive it. I really enjoy hoisting up a week’s worth of supplies onto my shoulders for a few days or weeks of treading the eager expanse ahead. Makes me feel like goddamn man, I tell ya. But there’s only so many miles I’m comfortable lugging round a board. And quite frankly, I’m not physically capable of hiking umpteen miles to the tucked-away break that is going off. It’s also nice to load the trunk up with beers. Don’t forget the beers. With all that in mind, driving is a mighty fine alternative. But no one wants airplane neck from sleeping in their SUV, or being completely cramped in that hybrid you never hear coming. Therefore, the Tortuga 4 is an absolute necessity for the surfing wanderlust, even more so than that van you call home.
The first thing I noticed, or rather was in complete surprise of — following a relatively painless set up — was the sheer size of the thing. It’s enormous! A freakin’ mansion, really. You’re told it fits four people and you don’t think of what that means as those measurements rarely mean anything. Well, let me tell you, at Ticla, it means four full-sized humans. Like the Malloy brothers, Reef McIntosh, or, hell, even Kaiborg. Big dudes who need to be able to stretch without tearing through the sidings. And the Tortuga 4 delivers. This time around, for our purposes, there were only a couple people using it for shelter — reaching all of 5’10”, 5’11” on a good day — so we basically had space to lay our gear out and take inventory inside the tent, which surfers, fisherman, and outdoor enthusiasts in general will immensely appreciate.
Additionally, it is chock-full with nifty features: durable dog proof materials for yet-to-be-potty-trained Wolfie, Tsubo sizing (which I had to look up but is Japanese and effectively translates to plenty of elbow room), and the G.O.O.D. System storage tote meaning you’re able to pull it down on the fly and get out of there if there’s an urgency accompanying your departure. With full views on blue and stormy (removable rain fly) and especially cold mornings alike, going out for a surf check is as simple as sitting up. And you’ll have a couple strides head start when you see the grizzly making for your the raw burger meat you left out from the night before.
That’s a bigger opening than any of the windows in your full-time house. Photo: Ticla
Pack the Goal Zero with the Tortuga 4 or any of Ticla’s line and you’re good to chase that swell while “working remotely.” Yep, thank the technology gods for this whole working remotely act. Or if there is a lil’ beach time in the near future, use it as the base camp rather than having your deli slices overheating in the truck. And we suppose if you have to, go ahead and take it to Tanner’s tournament. You’ll be the coolest parent there.
At $350, it’s rather affordable relative to its peers. Aside from the Tortuga 4, there is the TeaHouse 2 ($300), TeaHouse 3 ($375), Tortuga 3 ($275), Mojave 4 ($425), as well as a supply of shades, sleeping bags, and ground cloths. Visit the online store for more details.
