What if extra sleep at the trailhead didn’t cost thousands or require a rooftop crane? We sit down with Kai Nevers and Kate Raber, the duo behind Wanderhut, to tell the story of a hatchback tent that deploys the moment you open your rear door—adding headroom, real ventilation, and bug-proof comfort without the hassle of pitching a tent in the dark. Born as a taped-up class project and validated by a stranger in a Home Depot parking lot, their design carries a simple promise: save time, breathe easier, and wake up ready for the adventure.
We walk through the messy first prototype, the year-long quest to solve attachment (snaps for the win), and why focusing on the third-gen Subaru Outback became a superpower. Along the way, OSU Cascades and Bend Outdoor Works opened doors to mentors like former Nike design leader Naomi Morrison and industrial designer Ryan Price, whose hard-earned wisdom sharpened costing, positioning, and supply chain thinking. The result is a product that respects real-world constraints: it installs in minutes, lives in the car between trips, and hits a price point that welcomes new campers and overlanders without compromise.
Under the gear talk is a human story about partnership, grit, and community. Kate’s textile precision and Kai’s big-picture push create the tension great products need. They’re candid about cash flow, MOQs, tariff delays, and imposter syndrome—and how they keep the brand grounded by turning “marketing trips” into true resets outdoors. If you’ve ever chased vanlife comfort on a hatchback budget, this conversation offers practical insight, honest lessons, and a glimpse of what affordable, elegant outdoor design can look like.
Subscribe, share with a friend who sleeps at trailheads, and leave a quick review to help more builders and weekend warriors find the show. Want in early? Join the waitlist at wanderhut.co and tell which car they should build for next.
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