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Perched in an Inspired Overland Trailpeak atop Ben's car (take two, after audio gremlins claimed the first!), Ben and Lauren zip up season 6 with a look back at its biggest hits. From down-to-earth chats with Bushman Fridges and Trangia to the 12V appliances episode that split the comments section – our gear gurus unpack what you watched, what you debated, and what they loved most. Along the way, Lauren returns from the Larapinta Trail with desert storms, wildflowers, and a hard-won lesson in trail food, while Ben stands by the four beers in his hiking pack. Then, it's down to business: two 12-episode seasons a year with recording blocks in between – meaning fewer episodes, but better ones. Be it road tests you want run, interviews filmed on location, or your own rig in the hot seat – tune in for how you can help shape what's coming, the lowdown on the lightweight 38-kilo Trailpeak, and a tight-lipped teaser of the special episode landing in November, before the new season rolls out in early December. 00:00:00 - Intro: Recording from a Rooftop Tent 00:01:35 - Season Highlights: Bushman Fridges and Trangia 00:04:06 - Our Most-Watched Episode: 12V Appliances 00:05:29 - A Moto Guzzi Interruption (and Motorcycle Touring) 00:07:24 - 12V Power Draw and Our Most-Commented Episodes 00:09:25 - Lauren's Larapinta Trail Wrap-Up and Trail Food Lessons 00:14:37 - Why We're Changing: Fewer Episodes, Better Content 00:18:09 - What's Next: November Special and December Return 00:20:28 - The Inspired Overland Trailpeak Rooftop Tent 00:26:07 - Call-Out for Your Ideas and Season Wrap-Up Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

Fresh from filming some new gear in the wild, Ben and Lauren sit down with Zempire's brand engagement guru James - a Toronto-born, bad-weather-loving New Zealander - to unpack the why behind the brand's kit. This isn't a spec-sheet sales pitch; it's a candid chat about building to a priority, not a price point. From the pioneering air-textured yarn behind the Shape Shifter to the pop-up ease of the Aerospeed, the return-rate maths on air poles versus hard poles, and a sneak peek at a brand-new chair range, a redesigned multi-gas cooker, and a pint-sized Hexolite table — our gear gurus get to the heart of what makes Zempire tick. Be it packability, durability, or camping that's for everyone — tune in for the philosophy behind the products! Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome back to the Snowys Camping Show 00:47 - Meet James, Zempire's brand engagement guru 01:28 - Why Zempire went all-in on air 04:36 - From Toronto to New Zealand: James' backstory 07:22 - What 'brand engagement' actually means 08:02 - Talking the 'why', not the spec sheet 10:29 - Designing the new chair range from scratch 11:53 - The Hyperfold: one bag, a lot of chair 16:24 - Cooker 2.0: slimmer, multi-gas, smarter burners 21:52 - Hexolite tables and the new compact 60 31:05 - Shape Shifter: the tent that grows with you 32:30 - Building to a priority, not a price point 43:28 - Future-proofing your kit and the base system 47:37 - Air poles vs hard poles: the return-rate reality 51:11 - What's next in Zempire world Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

Two and a half weeks, 223km, and a whole lot of honesty about what actually happens on trail. In this episode Ben turns the mic on his co-host Lauren, who's about to walk the Larapinta Trail - 223km from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder with two colleagues over 14 days. They dig into the gear debates that actually matter (trail runners versus boots, three wildly different backpacks between the group), the sleep system upgrades that finally made multi-day hiking bearable for Ben, and the practical realities of toileting, safety, and staying calm about snakes. Tune in for a genuinely candid conversation about preparing for a long trek, whether you're a first-timer feeling intimidated or a seasoned hiker fine-tuning your kit! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

100 years, one factory, and a stove design nobody's been able to improve on. From a small Swedish village called Trångsviken to a factory that's shipped over a quarter-million burners a year, in this episode Ben and Lauren sit down with Magnus Rydel, CEO of Trangia, to unpack a century of doing things the slow way on purpose. They dig into why the brass spirit burner hasn't meaningfully changed since the 1950s, how a scrap of aluminium punched from one part becomes the lid on another, and the story behind the brand's most unlikely bestseller: a glittery pink windshield born from a 9-year-old's note in a suggestion box. Tune in for an hour of manufacturing philosophy, fuel-safety myths busted, and a genuinely lovely reminder that not everything needs to boil water faster! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

Turns out the cheapest mod you can make to your rig doesn't cost a cent. From a fuel price shock that pushed regular unleaded past $3 a litre to reworking your entire weekly shop, in this episode Ben and Lauren strip fuel economy right back to basics. They dig into why weight is the single biggest lever you can pull on any trip, how one multi-purpose camp oven lid lifter can replace three separate tools rattling around your kit, and why the smartest fuel-saving habit might have nothing to do with your car at all - it's what you do with your bike, your kids' public transport cards, and your online shopping cart in the weeks before you even leave. Tune in for a genuinely useful hour on stretching your fuel budget further, no fuel additives or dodgy chip tunes required! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

The quiet achiever of the camping fridge world finally steps into the spotlight… From wire-on-tube heat exchangers straight out of Nan's old Kelvinator to a 35L base that expands into a 52L weekend beast -- in this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack the quiet achiever of the camping fridge world with the man who's lived and breathed the brand for over a decade. They dig into why a swappable wiring loom beats a fancy touch panel, how steel construction outlasts plastic in the harsh Aussie sun, and why Bushman would rather you call them about your dodgy DIY mod than void your warranty over it. Tune in for an hour of fridge philosophy, real-world efficiency tips, and proof that sometimes the most underrated gear is the stuff that just quietly gets the job done! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

From a one-trick water-boiler to a whole new way of cooking at camp… JetBoil is shaking up the kit you thought you knew. Fresh off last year’s chat with Mike Hebert, Ben and Lauren welcome JetBoil’s International Sales Manager Nicole Walburn into the studio to unpack the brand’s biggest range refresh in years. From the Flash 1.8L that quietly steps in for the much-loved Sumo, to the all new Trail Cook stoves, and the ever-popular Genesis two-burner — our gear gurus dig into what’s changed, why it’s changed, and which JetBoil suits the way you actually camp. Along the way: regulated vs unregulated stoves, the great Mini Mo loyalty debate, the truth about ceramic coatings, and even the wartime backstory behind Duck Camo. Be it a fast-boil purist, a backcountry chef, or a car camper after one clever stove that does it all — tune in for the full rundown on JetBoil’s 2026 lineup! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

Pocket-sized, brick-shaped, and punching well above its weight… it’s the little four-wheel drive that’s built a cult following. In this episode, Ben and Lauren pull up a chair with Snowys’ OG ambassador James — better known online as Jimmy Chimney — to unpack five years of thoughtful mods, hard-won lessons, and the fine art of camping out of a car barely bigger than a shopping trolley. From slimline lithium setups and lightweight rooftop tents to GVM headaches, roof load realities, and cooking a proper feed out of a 20-litre fridge, our gear gurus dig into what it really takes to tour Australia in its most lovable little 4WD. Be it a weekend warrior eyeing off your first build, a die-hard tourer weighing up the trade-offs, or simply a Jimny tragic who waves at every JB74 you pass — tune in for an honest yarn about doing a whole lot more with a whole lot less! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

Seven tents, five swags, and a fridge that moonlights as a weights bench... It turns out even the most seasoned gear gurus aren't immune to a good old camping hoard! In this episode, Ben and Lauren throw open the shed doors and take an honest, hilarious inventory of the gear they can't quite bring themselves to part with - from sentimental scout-era stoves and hiking packs that haven't seen a trail in years, to duplicate eskies, eleven mugs, and enough camp chairs to seat a small army. Be it the surprisingly relatable logic of keeping a broken fridge, the case for holding onto your eighth sleeping bag, or the moment Lauren admits she has more tents than she has weekends to use them - tune in for a candid, laugh-out-loud conversation about the gear we accumulate, the reasons we justify keeping it, and why sometimes the hardest part of camping isn't the hike... it's the shed! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

200 Episodes, 5 Secret Sounds, and a Whole Lot of Gear to Give Away! It's our 200th episode -- and we're celebrating the milestone with something a little different... A Secret Sound! Ben and Lauren reflect on five years, four studios, and nearly a million YouTube views, before diving into the stats (you've listened to us for 150,000 hours!), the standout episodes, and the moments that have made the Snowys Camping Show what it is today. From the ghost camping crackdown that sparked 300+ comments, to the interviews that stuck with them most -- it's a look back at the people, the gear, and the banter that's kept the conversation going for 200 episodes strong. Be it a JetBoil Trail Cook 2.0, a Sea To Summit sleeping mat or the Cybertake Air Conditioner grand prize up for grabs -- listen in, guess the sounds, and you could be walking away with some seriously good gear! More details here - https://www.snowys.com.au/blog/podcast-200-episodes-giveaway-special/ 0:00 – Welcome to Episode 200! 2:01 – Introducing the Secret Sound competition and how to enter 5:01 – Show stats – nearly 1 million YouTube views and 150,000 hours watched 7:07 – Most viewed episode of all time (Ep. 78 — Australian Camp Oven Festival) 7:40 – Most commented episode – the ghost camping crackdown 8:28 – Ben and Lauren’s favourite episodes and guests 13:50 – Our cameraman Larry (doesn’t) show his face on camera 14:25 – How the giveaway is going to work 19:38 – Prize 1: Cybertech S2 Portable Air Conditioner & Heater 21:19 – 🔊 Secret Sound #1 – guess to win! 23:08 – Prize 2: Sea to Summit Circuit Down Sleeping Bag (-9°) 24:35 – 🔊 Secret Sound #2 – guess to win! 26:22 – Prize 3: Gerber Complete Cook Set 30:35 – 🔊 Secret Sound #3 – guess to win! 32:48 – Prize 4: Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe Double Sleeping Mat 36:52 – 🔊 Secret Sound #4 – guess to win! 37:49 – Prize 5: JetBoil Trail Cook 2.0 41:30 – 🔊 Secret Sound #5 – guess to win! 42:33 – All 5 sounds played back-to-back 44:20 – How to enter – comment by April 30, 2026, winners announced on Star Wars Day! Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

From van life solo to a Troopy built for two... meet Kira and Mitch of Suretosea Ben and Lauren welcome Snowys' ambassadors Kira and Mitch, into the studio, a Tassie-based couple currently doing a full lap of Australia in their 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser troop carrier, affectionately known as Troopski. Fresh off 10 months on the east coast and down the centre, they've barely had time to wash the red dirt out before hitting the road again - this time heading west. From the rooftop tent decision that changed everything, to budgeting $1,000 a week on the road, bulk-buying meat and the very real burnout that comes with trying to see it all — be it the highs of Babinda Boulders and Kakadu or the flies, the heat, and the moment you just want carpet under your feet -- tune in for an honest, unfiltered chat about life on the road with two people living it. Shortcuts: 0:30 – Ben introduces Kira and Mitch of Suretosea 1:59 – Kira shares her background growing up in southern Tasmania 3:04 – Mitch talks about his upbringing on a farm on the Yorke Peninsula 6:39 – Kira and Mitch reveal they’re heading west for a full lap of Australia 10:24 – The story of Troopski — a 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser troop carrier 11:50 – Why they chose a rooftop tent over a roof conversion 25:00 – The origin of their brand name, Suretosea 29:31 – How they afford full-time travel (savings, budgeting, and UGC work) 37:50 – Fridge, freezer, and food prep tips for life on the road 50:20 – Favourite locations in Australia so far 1:06:24 – The items Kira and Mitch never leave home without 1:10:50 – The craziest thing they’ve seen on the road Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

From the campfire to the cooktop — every camp cooking question you’ve ever had, answered Whether you’re chasing the perfect camp coffee, cooking through a total fire ban, or wondering if freeze-dried meals are actually worth it — Ben and Lauren have served up a feast of answers. In this Q&A compilation episode, our video guy, Larry, has raided four years’ worth of content to collate your most common camp cooking and food questions into one well-seasoned episode. From camp oven lamb shanks and the great damper debate, to induction cooker realities, 12V oven limitations, and the AeroPress fan club — our gear gurus dish out practical advice on planning your camp menu, prepping smarter at home, and making the most of whatever cooking setup you’ve got. Tune in for a blast from the past — and a whole lot of food for thought! Shortcuts: 00:00 — Intro & episode format explained 03:54 — Q: What’s your favourite recipe for camp stove and open fire? (John) 07:00 — Q: Camp meal ideas, preparation & tips for stove-only cooking (Karen) 09:14 — Q: What cooking options do you recommend for total fire ban days? (Curtis) 14:43 — Q: Induction cooking is on trend — what’s available for camping? 21:26 — Q: What are the best coffee makers for camping? 24:43 — Q: Best ultralight crockery and cutlery for hiking at the lowest price (Everyday Alchemist) 27:13 — Q: What’s your favourite meal to cook when camping? 29:12 — Q: Have you reviewed BackCountry/Outdoor Gourmet freeze-dried meals? (Mel) 36:18 — Wrap up Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

From bad backs to bad sleeps, the humble camp stretcher has a lot riding on it. Whether you're looking to get up off the ground, create some storage under the bed, or simply bring a touch of home comfort to the campsite - Ben and Lauren stretch the topic thin and lay it all out flat. From easy-fold favourites and flat-fold classics to compact Helinox-style options and swag-specific setups, our gear gurus cover the lot: single vs. double, pole vs. no pole, saggy middles, tent fit, mat pairings, and the age-old question of whether your tent floor needs protecting. Tune in for a no-nonsense guide to navigating the camp stretcher range -- and finally get a good night's sleep sorted! 0:26 – Intro: Why get a camp stretcher? Benefits covered (bad backs, storage, swag use, flood protection) 2:48 – Negatives of stretchers: bulk, weight, insulation limitations, and tent fit challenges 5:01 – Sturdy stretcher options: OZtrail Easy Fold, Zempire Z-Leg, and Quest Fast Bed reviewed 7:36 – Flat-fold stretchers: Big Sky and OZtrail Rhino Bed discussed, plus comfort vs. portability trade-offs 9:25 – Cross-leg stretchers: Oztent RS1, Coleman Swagger, 23Zero and others compared for stability 10:59 – Compact stretchers: Helinox options reviewed, value vs. cost debate, and budget alternatives 13:39 – Double stretcher deep-dive: pole vs. no pole, the sagging middle problem, and Quest's platform solution 16:28 – Swag-specific stretchers: matching dimensions, overhang tips, and whether tie points are really necessary 18:31 – Stretcher tents: Oztent Bunker, OZtrail, and Quest options explored as an all-in-one alternative 24:18 – Common questions answered: mattress pairing, tent floor protection, uneven ground, and putting two stretchers together Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

From the drawing board to the sleeping bag, great gear doesn’t just happen… …it takes 13 years, a children’s IKEA desk, and a whole lot of passion. In this episode, Ben and Lauren sit down with Sea To Summit’s senior product designer Tim Miller — the mind behind some of the brand’s most iconic gear — for an inside look at what it really takes to design outdoor equipment that lasts. From the Xpot’s award-winning origins to the engineering upgrades behind the new Ultralite XR air mat, Tim pulls back the curtain on the design decisions, trade-offs, and material innovations that keep Sea To Summit at the pointy end of the market. Be it the bombproof weld construction of the updated air mat range, the clever Memory Lux pillow solving the ‘home pillow hogging the boot’ problem, or the tantalising tease of an airbeam mozzy net on the horizon — tune in for an hour and a half of product insights straight from the source! Shortcuts: 0:00 — Intro & welcome: Ben and Lauren introduce Tim Miller, senior product designer at Sea to Summit 1:45 — Tim’s background: How he stumbled into Sea to Summit after university, starting unpaid at a children’s IKEA desk 5:00 — The design team: How the long-tenured team of six designers collaborates and avoids working in silos 8:40 — Sea to Summit’s design philosophy: Ground-up original design vs the “me-too” factory approach common in the industry 11:00 — Manufacturing process: Factory visits, quick prototyping, and the story of designing a machine when no existing equipment could make what they wanted 13:10 — Field testing & expeditions: Design team Kimberley packraft trips, testing prototypes in the wild, and the brutal feedback culture 17:15 — Working 2 years ahead: The challenge of designing for 2028 while reacting to what competitors launch today 19:20 — The ultralight balance: Why Sea to Summit won’t sacrifice durability for weight claims, and the lightest-isn’t-always-best debate 25:15 — Sustainability: Sea to Summit’s approach — durability as the best environmental policy, solution-dyed fabrics, and replaceable buckles 31:45 — 2026 sleep systems: Deep dive into the new Circuit sleeping bag — the spiritual successor to the original Trek 37:15 — Women’s fit sleeping bags: Lauren makes a passionate case for keeping women’s specific sizing in the range 39:00 — Air mat updates: The new Ultralite XR — thermally reflective film insulation, dramatically reduced bulk, and the improved weld construction 45:40 — The Comfort Deluxe mat: The 10cm car camping mat that actually folds up properly 51:45 — Pillows: The upgraded Premium Pillow, Down Pillow, and Tim’s passion project — the Memory Lux adjustable pillow 54:40 — Liners: Thermalite vs Coolmax fabrics explained, Tim’s controversial hot tip for the Breeze liner 1:05:30 — Other new products: Pack taps refresh, hydration bladders, and the X range and dinnerware updates 1:06:50 — Community questions: Mat longevity in humid climates, sleeping bag temperature ratings, what’s in the pipeline for 2027/28 1:09:10 — The big teaser: Tim drops the airbeam sealed mozzy net passion project — Sea to Summit entering the airbeam category Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au

Rest assured — we’ve got your camp comfort questions covered. From self-inflating mats versus air mattresses to the best sleeping bags for bigger people, a comfortable camp starts with the right sleep system — and in this episode, Ben and Lauren are answering your biggest questions about beds, bags, tents, and shelter to help you build a setup that actually works. Whether you’re weighing up stretchers against air beds (bad back and all), wondering if that new down bag smell is normal, or trying to track down a light and easy-to-roll swag for solo adventures — our gear gurus cover it all. They also tackle the big shelter debates: pop-up tents for boat and island camping, compact 4-season family tents, the cheapie tents from Kmart and Big W, air tents from Outdoor Connection and Zempire, and how to stop your gazebo from becoming a kite in high winds. Tune in for real-world advice, honest opinions, and practical tips to help you sleep sounder and camp smarter! Shortcuts: 00:00 – Intro 03:43 – Choosing a sleeping mat 08:27 – How to repair leaks on sleeping mats 11:15 – Bed options for mobility issues 15:17 – Sleeping bags for larger people 19:35 – ‘Wet dog’ new down bag odour 20:57 – Swags for solo female travellers and solo camping safety 27:34 – Mattress toppers for swags 29:30 – Pop-up tent alternatives and four-season tents for families 40:05 – Tents for beginners and bad backs 43:50 – Cheap vs quality tents 45:08 – Opinion on Outdoor Connection air tents 47:53 – Roof covers vs tarps 51:19 – Gazebos in high winds 56:57 – Outro Join the conversation over on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowys Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au