Over the years I've tried many different camping configurations inside my VW ID.4 SUV. I've come close to being comfortable sleeping inside the cabin, but my best night happened while testing the Hele Box Car Camping Platform.

Essentially, the Hele Box Solo is an adjustable-leg platform that fits inside the car. It's 6' long and 24" wide. I placed mine on the passenger side of the car, moving the front seat forward to allow for extra space. The platform has 6 adjustable legs, with the two front ones long enough to take advantage of the foot well. The shorter legs got atop the folded down back seat and in the rear boot. Since all legs are independently adjustable, I can configure a level sleeping surface.

The soft storage foot locker slides beneath the sleeping platform.

The case that the kit ships in becomes a storage foot locker that slides beneath the sleeping platform. I use this to stash my camp chairs, side table, foot stool, extra blanket, and more. The system is very efficient, allowing for more storage space along side the bed.

When it comes time to get into bed, however, the space alongside the Hele Box needs to be open. My approach was to slide in alongside the bed, then raise my bottom and slide up atop the platform. I'll be honest, this took a little practice.

It's quite pleasant once in bed. The wooden slats have a not-too-rigid feel to them, and my sleeping pads added plenty of cushion, allowing me to sleep on my sides or my back comfortably.

I have a panorama glass roof in the ID.4, and that big window certainly helped prevent feeling claustrophobic in the tight quarters. If you find that the roof is too close for your sleeping comfort, then you can purchase a set of "stubby" legs that lower the platform. Doing that, however, foregoes the storage space beneath the Hele Box.

Another advantage of the Hele Box is that it doesn't affect my EV range compared to the TentBox Go rooftop tent that I normally camp with. The TentBox Go is more comfortable for sleeping because of its extended width and voluminous headroom. But for long drives over 70 MPH, the TentBox reduces my efficiency from 3.3 miles per kWh to 2.7 miles per kWh. The Hele Box does not affect the car's range.

I like having both options. It's nice to know that I can get a good night's sleep inside the car for those situations when efficiency is most important.

The Hele Box Solo is well-designed, sturdy, and provides a good night's sleep with the right amount of padding. It's available online for $399.

No extra charge for the invigorating sense of freedom that comes with it.

Other Articles in This Series

The Bluetti AC70 Power Station Review - Off-the-Grid Freedom.

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Review - Power Your Roadtrips.

Jackery 40W Mini Solar Panel for Your Cameras and Devices.

Roadtripping with the BODEGAcooler Mini 12V Portable Fridge/Freezer - A Review.

Hot Coffee, Soup, on the Road with this Portable Electric Kettle.

A Hands-On Review of the TentBox Go Roof Top Tent.

The BodegaCooler Dual-Door 48-Quart Review.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #997, April 29, 2025. Today's theme is, "Outdoor Gear Guide 2025." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

As we stand at May's doorstep, thoughts of outdoor adventure enter our minds. Yes, we want to take pictures. But we also looking forward to enjoying being in nature. And we can do so comfortably with just a few outdoor accessories. And that's what I'm going to share with you today. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Outdoor Gear Guide 2025

GrandPeak™ 2-in-1 Stool & Footrest $49 - A Sizeable Footrest or a Convenient Stool, Robust Structure & Stay Dry Fabric, Innovative Elastic Cord Assembly, Also Doubles as a Handy Side Table, and Easy Packable Fit in Tight Space. Weighs just 1.2 pounds.

Big Agnes Mica Basin Camp Chair - XL $129 - A lightweight, compact backpacking chair now available in X-large, the Big Agnes Mica Basin XL camp chair adds extra height and width to the reliable, stable original for comfort you can depend on.

Patented frame construction--lightweight aircraft aluminum pole system with a self-equalizing center pole levels chair on uneven ground. Solid-colored fabric styles are lightweight, high-tenacity Robic™ nylon with polyester ripstop for extra tear strength and a waterproof UTS coating. Aircraft aluminum frame.

Joulle Electric Kettle Pot $99 - Ignite your creativity in the kitchen or outdoors with a versatile electric kettle, equipped with three preset buttons for easy and diverse culinary adventures. This 500W electric kettle quickly boils water in 5 minutes. It's portable, easy to clean, and has dual filters for smooth pouring. Compatible with portable power stations and standard outlets.

Macook Mini Rice Cooker $29 - The small rice cooker 1-3 cups also suitable for soup, oatmeal, pasta, veggie, stew and more. The small capacity allows for healthier portion control, or individual, quick and easy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or sides. The aluminum inner pot is treated with food-grade non-stick coating and prevents the sticking of cooked rice to the bottom. The inner pot features removable, portable, and easy to clean. You can soak it in water for 10 minutes before cleaning or wash it in the dishwasher conveniently. Only uses 200 watts.

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Portable Power Station $429 - With an 800W output, the Explorer 600 Plus effortlessly powers home and 3C appliances like coffee makers, refrigerators, and toasters. Its 632Wh capacity is ideal for 2-day camping trips and a variety of activities, including road trips, family outings, and emergencies.

Weighing in at just 16.09 Lbs, the Explorer 600 Plus is your ultimate on-the-go companion, featuring a foldable handle for convenient carrying and compact size for effortless storage. With the total amount of screws reduced by 20%, it's now more lightweight and environmentally friendly.

632Wh LiFePO4 Battery - It maintains an impressive 70% battery level - after 4,000 charge cycles, coupled with advanced BMS protection functions, ensures unrivaled safety and durability.

JOYTUTUS Vehicle Awning 4.6'x6.6' Roof Rack Pull-Out Sun Shade $104 - The overall fabric is made of waterproof and UV-proof polyester fabric. All four corners are waterproof and glued. Even when it rains, there is no need to worry about rain and water leakage. The roof frame and support poles are telescopic structures with twist locks for quick and easy installation and retraction in 1 minute.

Hele Box - Car Camping Platform $499 - Lightweight sleeping platform + storage system + camping table that fits into most SUVs/Trucks. Go from daily-driver to car camping in minutes!

The Hele Box is designed to transform your vehicle into the vanlifing, overlanding, roadtripping rig you've always wanted without committing to a heavy and expensive buildout. Set it up for the relevant weekends/trips, and store it away when not in use. You can read my review here.

Your outdoor adventures will be both enjoyable and comfortable with these accessories.

Other Reviews in This Series

The Bluetti AC70 Power Station Review - Off-the-Grid Freedom.

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Review - Power Your Roadtrips.

Jackery 40W Mini Solar Panel for Your Cameras and Devices.

Roadtripping with the BODEGAcooler Mini 12V Portable Fridge/Freezer - A Review.

Hot Coffee, Soup, on the Road with this Portable Electric Kettle.

A Hands-On Review of the TentBox Go Roof Top Tent.

The BodegaCooler Dual-Door 48-Quart Review.

Camera Industry News

Skylum's Luminar Neo photo editing software adds four new features with its Spring Upgrade on DPReview.com.

If You Miss Aperture on Mac, Musebox Could Be the Answer on PetaPixel.com.

Fujifilm scoops Red Dot Award for a staggering 23 products, including the popular X-M5 and X100 VI on DigitalCameraWorld.com.

Virtual Camera Club News

TDS Photography Workshops! Reserve your spot now. We have an exciting slate of online and in-person events. If you have any questions, use the Nimble Photographer Contact Form. I will get back to you ASAP.

New Workshop!: Route 66 Photography Workshop led by Rob Knight, starting on Oct. 16, 2025.

Join pro photographer and Route 66 explorer Rob Knight to explore the "mother road" this October. We will be based in Winslow and Kingman, Arizona, putting us right in the middle of the action. The stretch of Route 66 through northern Arizona contains many of the most iconic spots that still exist from the heyday of American car culture. We will visit towns along Route 66 like Seligman, Oatman, and Williams, Arizona. Along the way, we will explore and photograph the roadside attractions that made Route 66 so legendary.

New Workshop!: Sony Creative Master Class led by Rob Knight, starting on May 8th, 2025.

This all-new class is designed to help you make the most of your Sony camera. We will dive in to the features, custom functions, menus, and MORE. Each online class will include presentations and tutorials based on years of professional photography experience using various Sony cameras and lenses, PLUS plenty of time for your questions about the system.

Workshop Updates!

Creative Camera Techniques led by Derrick Story, starting on June 5, 2025.

In addition to the full slate of goodies I have planned for iPhone photographers, Fuji cameras, Nikons, and more, I'm adding creative techniques for the new OM System OM-3. Photographers will be able to pick and choose techniques based on the camera system they shoot with.

Sonoma County Autumn Adventure Workshop, led by Derrick Story, starting on Nov. 4, 2025.

We will be returning to Safari West African Wildlife preserve, and visiting the world famous Coppola Vineyard, home of amazing wines, rolling vineyards, Academy Awards, an authentic Tucker car, and more.

You can reserve your place of each of these events by visiting our Workshops Page.

Schedule a My TDS Moment Recording Session

If you want to participate in our 1,000th Podcast Celebration, here's how it's going to work. I've set up a Meeting Calendar for Friday appointments. If there's an open slot, you can sign up for it. On that date, we will connect via Zoom and I will record your TDS Moment. I hope you can join us in the festivities!

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.