Summer 2022

SHORT CUTS BUSINESS Business partners Asa Engstrom and Cody West create easy-to-install upgrades for cars, vans and overland vehicles with their business, Radius Outfitters. C ody West started tinkering as a child, crafting homemade gear for his Carmel Valley camping adventures. He expanded those efforts after purchasing a Sprinter van in 2014. Last year, the local engineer and builder turned his experiments into a business. Through Radius Outfitters, West and busi - ness partner Asa Engstrom create versatile gear boxes, rattle-free tool organizers, collaps- ible dish-drying bags, and other easy-to-install upgrades for vans, cars and overland camping vehicles. West is especially proud of a fold-out Sprinter van bed debuting this season, as well as the popular Headliner Overhead Shelf. Its light- weight frame and sturdy fabric create valuable storage space for bulky blankets and jackets. “Vans look huge from the outside, but inside, it’s compact living. Getting stuff off the floor and harvesting as much volume as possible is important,” West says. Through a partnership with Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Radius Outfitters supports trail-building projects in Plumas, Sierra, Butte and Lassen counties. And, drawing on her work with Indigenous communities, West’s wife, Maija, is shaping the company’s new “Know Your Radius” campaign. It recognizes the origi- nal residents of California’s public lands. These projects link the company with major mission-driven brands and like-minded customers. “The social purpose work has become a very rewarding part of the business,” West says. For more information about Radius Outfitters, visit www.radiusoutfitters.com . Local Company Builds Camping Gear With a Purpose B Y R ENE E B R I NCK S 80 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 Photo: Kelli Uldall