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Yakima stories

Explore our travel tips, helpful product reviews and everyday adventure stories from folks like you.

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Motherhood, Travel, and Life on the Road

Words by Pro Mountain Biker, Mother, and Yakima Ambassador Rachel Strait. “As a female athlete, I always knew that one day I wanted to get married and start a family. But I also knew I didn’t want to wait until retirement to do it. I wanted our children to grow up immersed in our lifestyle—traveling, exploring, and experiencing the world alongside us. Of course, the fear of the unknown crept in, filling my mind with endless “what ifs.” But despite the uncertainties that come with starting a family, Kyle and I took the leap, welcoming our baby girl into the world in February 2021. Life changed, but not in the way you might expect. By the time Stevie was three

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March 20, 2025

The Ya-kei-ma truck

we get a lot of questions about our kei truck And rightly so. I mean, not to toot our own horn too much, but this thing is sweet. But not many people are familiar with these types of cars here in the USA, let alone folks outside of Japan. So let us officially introduce the Ya-kei-ma truck. A 1992 Honda Acty. All time 4WD with just under 69k km on the odometer.  First, we have to go back to the day we picked this up. We bought Ya-kei from a local motorcycle dealership who has a passion for importing these kei vehicles. Kei vehicles, or kei jidōsha, are Japanese imported mini-cars, with the trucks like you see above being found

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July 25, 2024

Tight Lines In Squamish

Romy and Ali, long-time friends, embarked on a weeklong road trip around British Columbia, Canada, their hearts set on adventure and rekindling old friendships. Their first stop was a hidden gem of a fishing spot, where they were to meet their old friends Jarred and Nicole. Both Jarred and Nicole were seasoned fly-fishing anglers, known for their knack of finding the best fishing spots. The drive to the spot was rough, with a narrow, wooded road that twisted and turned through the dense forest. Romy and Ali clutched the car seats as their Bronco bounced over roots and rocks, feeling like they were in an off-road rollercoaster. “Are we there yet?” Ali joked, peering through the windshield as branches slapped

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July 16, 2024
Yakima products being tested.

Testing, Testing, One Two Three

WE’RE BIG ON DILIGENCE AND GETTING OUR HEADLIGHTS DIRTY At Yakima, there’s no such thing as makeshift. We’re lighthearted in nature, but we’re downright relentless about developing equipment that provides serious leverage in life. All of our proven solutions do more than meet ISO requirements; they undergo extensive testing inside our high-tech facilities and out in the real world. We use foolproof lab simulations and actual street smarts to maximize the strength and safety factor of every product. We shake, stress, and pummel all parts independently and together in the form of fully assembled units. Having a methodical process means we can stand behind the very best warranty policies in the business. Static testing We perform static pull testing to

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June 13, 2024

Tips to Rack Smarter This Winter

Ourcustomer service team knows racks. We asked them to share their knowledge. Here are smart tips to keep your Yakima Winter mounts working right all season long… 1. LOCK AFTER YOU LOAD Every time you put your skis or boards back into the rack, make sure you secure it with the SKS lock. It’s a good habit, and helps deters thieves when you have to leave your gear unattended during pit stops. 2. winter camping The Skyrise HD is the Ultimate mobile base camp in any season. The Skyrise HD tent body is ruggedly constructed with 600D Ripstop polyester fabric and a 3000mm waterproof PU coating. paired with the weather-shedding waterproof rainfly, you’re set for the complete protection against the elements.

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January 22, 2024

Ski Cargo Boxes – Where to Start?

Yakima cargo boxes are an excellent year-round gear-hauling phenom. They come in various lengths, widths, and styles to accommodate whatever excursion you set forth on. From week-long soccer tournaments, to cross country road trips. Holding up to the expansive paved roads crisscrossing the country to roads with limited access crisscrossing the backcountry

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December 10, 2023

Ben Hicks Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

#beoceanminded Ben Hicks – Fine Art Photographer, World Traveler, Conservationist, Entrepreneur, along with many other roles. A human who is truly trying to make a difference in this world and enjoying every step of it along the way. We’re here for it, and we support his efforts. A true adventurist – Ben has been traveling around the US, and Americas since 1999. He first built out a Ford F150, where he took to the road for 72 days, sleeping inside the cab, alongside by tent, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, fishing, and plenty of exploring. In 2007, he moved into a 4×4 van that was a bit more adventure ready – this time joining a crew that was documenting the Americas and

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October 24, 2023

EXO OpenRange

Open Unbelievable Not totally sure what this new box is from Yakima? Is it a cooler? Is it a satellite that fell from space? Even better, the Yakima EXO OpenRange is the ultimate outdoor kitchen organizer. Set it on your back seat, slide it into your truck bed, or secure it to your hitch using out Yakima EXO System. If you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who has gone through the struggle of packing cooking supplies to go camping. Plates, bowls, cups, stove, spices, pots, pans, kettles, french press, utensils, etc. The list feels never ending, especially if you’re cooking for multiple people. Or maybe you’re extremely smart and planning to cook while camping for the first time. Either way,

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October 2, 2023

Rack Maintenance Tips and Tricks

Year-Round Vs. On n’ Off – There’s nothing wrong with keeping your gear mounts on your vehicle all year round. But, if you don’t plan on using them for a while, take them off. This prevents any unnecessary build-up of road grime and bugs. Whether you keep them on year-round or remove them after use, here are some helpful tips to increase their life span, and ease of use. Keep them clean DON’T GO THROUGH THE CAR WASH – If there’s one thing to take away from all these tips, it’s keeping your racks and gear mounts clean. Brush off any loose dirt and road grime…and bugs. Hand wash with an environmentally friendly soap. Never go through a car wash with

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September 20, 2023

Summer Road Trips Essential Packing Tips

pack it up, pack it in It’s summer – You’re ready for that perfect road trip you have planned. Your packing list is long and as it grows your car seems to be shrinking. Overpacking + small cars is a never-ending story we hear at Yakima. Our products are designed to help you take it easy. So, let’s dive into some essential packing tips for summer road trips. The Duffle Bags – You should probably bring some clothes. It’s 2023, we all have smart devices available with ways of checking the weather forecast. Pack according to the climate you’ll be in and what the weather is calling for. Fill the duffle bags with what you need and maybe pack an

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July 19, 2023

Sunset Shreds: Empowering Women Through Mountain Biking

Sunset shreds In a world where women are breaking barriers and embracing their passions fearlessly, one event stands out as a shining example of camaraderie, empowerment, and the sheer joy of mountain biking. The Sunset Shreds 10-city coast-to-coast event, sponsored by Pivot Cycles, Yakima, DT Swiss and Wild Rye, brought together women, femme & non-binary identifying riders to celebrate their love for the sport while supporting the non-profit organization World Ride. With its mission to empower women globally through mountain biking, World Ride is seeing, first-hand how mountain biking is making a difference in the lives of the women. Let’s dive into this extraordinary event and explore the incredible stories of camaraderie and empowerment that unfolded. Setting the stage Yakima

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July 18, 2023

Border Lines

Baja Mexico – rugged landscapes, breathtaking coastlines, and amazing culture make it a must go destination for any Overlander. Also, non-stop tacos. With never ending coastlines riddled with perfect waves, Baja has a rich surf history dating back to the early 60s. Back then, small groups of American surfers would head south with their boards, which soon inspired locals to start their own Mexican surf clubs. In the 70’s, replacing the dirt roads with paved highways made accessing Baja beaches much easier and since has created a culture of camping and surfing along the coastal highway. Today, the goal isn’t just about finding the perfect camp spot, its about a journey to find surfing, camping and culture – overlanding through

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June 28, 2023

Soup or Bowl on the EXO OpenRange

There’s nothing quite like tailgating with friends and passing the time with good food. The EXO OpenRange makes it easy to bring your kitchen to the tailgate party with easy set up and take down, fitting everything back inside the EXO OpenRange box. Here’s our take on an easy Taco Soup recipe that you can cook on the CookOut stove while tailgating or camping.                                           prep time: 10 minutes                                          total time: 40 minutes cook time: 30 minutes servings: 6 people Taco

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February 8, 2023
Kayla Lockhart and her dog

Life Is Better With A Dog

RackPack Ambassador, Kayla Lockhart, knows better than anyone that life is better with a dog.  This year, The Flyfish Journal followed Kayla around Montana for a few days of camping, fishing, and chasing Juniper, her Blue Heeler. Kayla travels all over the world seeking out perfect fishing spots and never forgets her best friend, Juniper.  “There’s not one time that I’ve ever been like ‘I wish my dog wasn’t here.’ I always want her with me.” Shop Kayla’s Top Products Read more about Kayla at The Flyfish Journal

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October 17, 2022
Strait Acres Racing

The Best Racing This Side Of The Mississippi

Strait Acres 2022 Recap You smell that? That’s the sweet smell of racing. And if there is one thing that Kyle and Rachel Strait know, it’s racing. This year, for their annual event in Big Bear, California, Kyle built what could only be the most difficult and fun Dual Slalom course yet.     Ambassadors Rachel Strait, Kialani Hines, and Bubba Warren were all eager to race alongside some of the fastest riders in the world. Bubba qualified 3rd, and was looking incredibly fast going into finals. Unfortunately, a nasty crash in practice (watch if you dare..but viewer discretion advised…Bubba’s crash) injured his foot. He fought through the swelling and pain and decided he would still race in finals. During

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August 25, 2022

2022 Sea Otter Round-Up

The Sea Otter Classic. The event that brings consumers and industry folks together for a long weekend of bikes, bikes, and more bikes. If you can think of it, and it has something to do with bikes, you can likely find a booth for it. And with us living in the Pacific Northwest, if there is one thing we love, it’s bikes. There are plenty of Sea Otter recaps out there that will skim the surface of the event and let you briefly see some of the things that appeared at the Monterrey, California event. But we wanted you to see some of the rad things we had out in the open at our booth. **Warning, some of the things

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April 14, 2022
Rachel and Kialani taking it easy

California Winters

Living in Southern California sure has its perks. Ocean views, t-shirt temps, and endless single track are just a few things that have us mouth breathing. But for RackPack ambassadors Rachel Strait and Kialani Hines, the state that delivers over 284 sunny days a year means riding all winter long. To make life easier, Rachel and Kialani use the all new HangTight 4 to carry both their mountain bikes and dirt jumpers. Check out Rachel and Kialani in A California Winter.   Learn more about Rachel and Kialani. Shop for the HangTight 4.

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April 4, 2022
Strait Acres 2021

Strait Acres Slalom 2021

The Straits know bike racing. Rachel and Kyle Strait have been fixtures on the dirt scene for years, creating their place in the mountain bike community.

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September 20, 2021

An Update From Yakima

Recovery mode Labor Day is quickly approaching, and while you might normally find yourself searching for the best deals for, well, just about anything, you’ve probably noticed a trend. Nothing is in stock. Bikes? Good luck. 2022 models are just starting to ship, but it’s hard to get your hands on one. Paint? Yep, that’s in short supply as well, with some companies pre-purchasing large quantities now for jobs 10-12 weeks in the future. Household appliances? Used cars? The list goes on. The U.S., like much of the world, is experiencing a supply chain challenge that’s historic in scale and seems to shift monthly in terms of where it hits hardest. It has already shifted since we wrote this blog.

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August 30, 2021

Fishing Addicts

Meet Marlin LeFever. Marlin is the founder of Fishing Addicts NW, or as they are fondly known as “Addicts”, and now called Addicted Fishing. And the name is exactly as it sounds.

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July 20, 2021

No Lodge? No Problem

In a year where everything looks a little different, being flexible with your approach to winter recreation is key. While the ski resorts will be spinning their lifts, most of the lodges are either closed or operating at an extremely limited capacity. Suddenly, parking lot lunch (and everything else) is taking on a whole new meaning. For some people though, “Lot Life” has always been where it’s at. Arriving at the mountain with a plan, and the right gear, can make any day at the hill feel epic, not to mention a little easier to manage.

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December 9, 2020
Robin Van Gyn

Dropping In with Robin

Professional athletes are just like normal people, except for, you know, being faster and stronger. So, just like for everyone else, this year has been strange and challenging for those whose lives and livelihoods revolve around getting outside and getting after it.

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November 24, 2020

Weekend Getaway: Big Bear, CA

Andrew Villablanca is a Los Angeles based outdoors enthusiast. If he isn’t mountain biking, he’s out on an adventure in his truck to explore the Southwest. His 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 is equipped with a Yakima SkyRise HD rooftop tent, SlimShady Awning, and OutPost HD rack.

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October 7, 2020

Life on the road came to an abrupt stop

Usually, home for us is wherever we park our Slacker Van—a 1988 Mitsubishi Delica that we purchased in 2017. Before the Slacker Van, we lived in a 1988 Ford Festiva. Together, we have been living nomadically for over seven years. Sam is holding strong at 10 years and counting! But, can we truly still call ourselves nomads much longer?

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August 21, 2020

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