Author: Cole Mercer
Cole Mercer is a gear specialist, moto journalist, and environmental advocate based in Bozeman, Montana. With a background in mechanical engineering from Montana State University and a decade of field-testing riding gear across the Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska, Cole brings rigorous, hands-on analysis to every helmet, boot, and GPS unit he reviews. He has logged over 80,000 miles on everything from a vintage Honda XR to a fully loaded Ténéré 700 and is passionate about responsible riding practices and the ecosystems riders pass through. Cole has contributed gear reviews to Rider Magazine and Cycle World and serves as a volunteer trail steward with the Backcountry Horsemen of Montana. His gear and culture content on RedSky Adventures is grounded in real-world durability testing and a deep respect for the landscapes that make moto travel worth doing.
Finding a tent where your feet don’t press against the fabric is harder than it should be. We tested seven models for headroom, floor length, and.
We slept in five SUV tents for a month to find the one that actually holds up to rain, wind, and daily use. Our top pick surprised us. Honest.