We are so excited to announce Chris Tennal as one of the newest members of the HEST Family! As Director of Sales for HEST, Chris is looking forward to the 2023 HESTIVAL and traveling to most of the Overland Expos this summer. With varied experience and years working in the outdoor industry, Chris is excited to finally discover a solution for a great night's sleep in the outdoors!
As a passionate mountain biker, Chris is looking forward to riding in the BRECK EPIC again on his single speed mountain bike, and racing his first gravel race at the 100-mile Steamboat Gravel race (SBT GRVL) at the end of August!
In the proper HEST introduction, here is more information on Chris' adventure rig, a comfortable "turn-key" basecamp for bike riding, fly-fishing, and ski touring adventures!
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Nickname: We haven't had "that moment" yet. Looking forward to having our nickname experience!
Make & Model: Automatic 2023 Winnebago Revel
HEST products: Made sure I was a good customer before coming to work for HEST, and purchased a couple of Camp Pillows from REI just after driving the van from the dealership! I also have the newest HEST product, the Dually Short in my van!
Critical dimensions for your bed platform: The Revel has a unique bed shape and HEST has the perfect solution! I keep the Dually Short on my platform, and a Sleep System Wide and a regular Foamy rolled up in the van for nights outside or for friends sleeping on floor of the van!
Is this your daily driver or getaway car?
Randomly, this just became my daily driver - which so far - the rig is crushing it in daily Colorado mountain town snow.
What do you like most about your rig?
I looked at so many custom builds, and was planning on starting a build in the next year, but then a great deal on a factory Winnebago Revel came my way from working in the industry. I couldn't pass it up, and it had so many of the criteria I had been considering for a custom build. It's just a big toy box - and the power lift bed is what specifically attracted me to this build. The power lift bed system can move up and down to allow for storage when the bed is not in use - pretty nifty! Whatever game I'm looking to play, I can just throw everything in the rear garage area and hit the road quickly. Right now my gravel bike and backcountry skis just live in the van, ready to go into the backcountry or out towards the desert, depending on the day and the weather.
On your average weekend adventure, what is the gear set up you bring with you? How did you navigate gear storage needs into your rig set up?
Just coming from Dometic, the Dometic camp furniture and my CFX3 Electric cooler live permanently in the van - stoked I can keep food in the built-in fridge, and drinks in the CFX3.
Any cool custom details you’re proud of?
The only thing I bought for the rig so far other than the HEST pillows is a bamboo cutting board from the guys at Canyon Adventure Vans. I was going down the rabbit-hole on their website checking out the GLSS upgrades for the rear of the van. I thought by buying a fully-built rig from the factory that I wouldn't want to upgrade and change much. I was so wrong!
Coolest place you’ve taken your rig to?
The van already knows how to drive itself from Breckenridge to 18 Road in Fruita.
Any projects in the pipeline to get your rig even more adventure ready?
Kuat bike rack addition! Goals for summer are focused around some big Gravel and Mountain Bike races - so priorities are bike and food storage, and a great place to take naps.
Biggest challenge in your build out?
Monthly payments.
