The following is a report from Outside.
There was a time when you had to choose between comfort and off-roading chops when it came to pulling your adventure home along with you. You could spend a week in a luxury trailer as far as the pavement would take you or sleep off-kilter in a Jeep pop-up camper deep in the wild. Now, whether you chase your motor-powered thrills at a gravel campground or 500 miles from the nearest interstate, your options are better than ever.
Our favorite slide-in, pop-up and tow-behind equipment of the year keeps your storage space usable, maximizes sprawl — yes, there’s a short-bed camper that fits a king-sized mattress — and promises as much off-road prowess as you can dream of.
Best Off-Road Trailer
Boreas Campers EOS-12
Type: 4-Season off-road travel trailer
Material: Composite and metal construction
Weight: 3,750 lbs (dry weight)
Pros & Cons
- Incredibly capable off road
- No-wood construction (no mold, rot, etc.)
- 50-gallon fresh water capacity
- Expensive
- No indoor sink/cooking option
We’ve followed Pueblo, Colorado-based Boreas Campers closely since it debuted its AT and XT models, both class-leading off-road teardrops, a few years ago. The EOS-12 builds on the solid foundation of those campers and takes everything to a new level — literally.
The EOS-12 is a 20-foot, overland-style pop-up travel trailer built to go anywhere and keep you comfortable off-grid for extended periods of time in any weather conditions. Composite panel construction keeps the rig well insulated and light on its feet with a dry weight of 3,750 pounds.
The trailer features a slim canvas pop top that keeps it aerodynamic, a well-appointed outdoor kitchen, and a full indoor wet bath. With one queen-sized main bed and a dinette that folds out to about a twin sized bed, we found it could sleep three adults comfortably, and appreciated the copious amounts of storage inside.
The EOS-12 really shines when it comes to its mechanical and electrical features. It rides on a Cruisemaster XT — an independent trailing arm suspension with airbags and auto-level, capable of handling much rougher terrain than you’re likely to experience — 540 amp hours of Battleborn lithium batteries, Victron electrical components, and 400 watts of solar panels.
Everything on this camper, from the exterior rock lights to the air compressor and the furnace, are operated by a portable Garmin O.N.E. tablet, which, despite our initial hesitation, performed flawlessly.
“We loved using the EOS-12 on a 5-day mule deer hunt,” said Eric Ladd, a mountain biker, hunter, skier and all-around adventure-seeking ER doc based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “We never worried about where we were towing it, it didn’t come close to running out of power or water, and we ate like kings thanks to the amazing outdoor kitchen—despite being off grid the entire time.”
Best Luxury Rig
Airstream Trade Wind
Type: Travel Trailer
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 6200 lbs (dry weight)
Length: 25 feet, 2 inches
Pros & Cons
- Fully off-grid power system
- Gorgeous interior design
- Roomy floor plan
- Expensive
- Not as off-road-capable as others
The reintroduction of the Trade Wind model shows that Airstream is listening to consumers. While the Basecamp models have been marketed towards younger generations looking to get a little further off the beaten path, the Trade Wind is the first of the company’s iconic, silver bullet-shaped travel trailers to come off the factory floor with everything a boondocker needs — and, as it turns out, everything our testers have added to their personal Airstreams.
It comes with a robust solar system, Battle Born lithium batteries, a 3-inch lift kit and all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler Workforce Tires. When you combine the system upgrades with a stellar floor plan that sleeps up to five, gorgeous interior design, and other smart features like a recirculating water heater, optional composting toilet, and an optional rear hatch that lets you easily load bulky gear, it all adds up to an incredible, luxurious, off-grid basecamp.
“We have owned an Airstream for nearly a decade and modified it for heavy, backcountry, boondocking use. The new Trade Wind is everything we always wanted ours to be — and much more,” said Gulley. “This is a rig built to go anywhere and do everything, and to do it in classic Airstream style. We definitely see an upgrade in our near future.”
To read the full article, including Outside’s other top picks for 2025, click here.
