horntools Crew: Christian and His Life for Overlanding

At horntools, it's not just our products that take center stage — the people behind them matter just as much. In our new series "horntools Crew", we introduce you to our team, their vehicles, and the gear they never leave home without.

First up is Christian. As a customer advisor, he impresses every day with his expertise and friendly manner. But his passion for vehicles, off-road adventures, and camping began long before his time at horntools.

Christian, where does your passion for cars come from?

Christian: "I'm the youngest of three brothers and grew up in a completely car-obsessed family. Vehicles were always a big topic for us. So it was almost inevitable that I'd eventually spend a lot of time with cars and modifying them."

Today, Christian is on the road with his Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle forms the basis of his personal overlanding setup and accompanies him on both longer trips and spontaneous weekend getaways.

How did you get into overlanding?

Christian: "After finishing school, I spent three months in Australia. I traveled around the country in a 4x4 and basically lived in or around the vehicle the whole time. That's when I discovered my passion for off-road trips, overlanding, and camping."

The trip through Australia left a lasting impression on Christian. Back home, it quickly became clear to him that he wanted to continue this style of travel in Europe as well.

When did your first own setup begin?

Christian: "Right after I got back, in 2019 I bought my first off-roader and a horntools Desert roof tent. From that point on, pretty much all my vacations and trips involved the roof tent."

Since then, Christian has been on numerous tours. With his roof tent, he's traveled to Austria, Croatia, Sardinia, the French Western Alps, and Albania, among other places. On top of that come many smaller weekend trips, where the destination is often decided spontaneously.

What do you like about this way of traveling?

Christian: "With the roof tent, I'm incredibly flexible. I can set off spontaneously, discover new places, and always have my sleeping spot with me. At the same time, you spend a lot more time outdoors and experience a region completely differently than on a classic trip."

For Christian, overlanding isn't about covering as many kilometers as possible. What really counts is the freedom on the road, special campsites, and shared experiences off the beaten path.

What equipment do you use today?

The heart of his current setup is the Themis roof tent. Christian particularly appreciates the generous amount of space, the high level of sleeping comfort, and the quick setup.

Christian: "After a long day, I want to set up my sleeping spot without any hassle and enjoy the evening. The Themis offers plenty of space and comfort, yet is still quick to get ready."

The roof tent is complemented by the freestanding 270° awning. It creates a large sheltered area around the Land Cruiser within a short time and provides space for cooking, relaxing, or taking a break in the shade.

Christian: "The 270° awning transforms the whole camp. You open it up and immediately have a generous living area around the vehicle."

What's part of your recovery gear?

Anyone who regularly travels off paved roads should also be prepared for unexpected situations. That's why Recovery Boards, Compressor Box, and Winch Box are a permanent part of Christian's equipment.

The Recovery Boards provide extra grip on sand, mud, and loose ground. With the compressor, Christian can adjust tire pressure to the terrain and later bring it back to the right road pressure. The mobile Winch Box offers additional support in case a vehicle recovery becomes necessary.

Christian: "Good recovery equipment gives me extra security on tour. Ideally you don't need it — but if you do, you're glad to have it with you."

The shower tent is also a must on longer trips. It serves as a sheltered space for showering, changing, or a mobile toilet, providing extra privacy at camp.

Real experience that shapes his advice

Christian doesn't just know horntools products from the catalog — he knows them from real-world use. He brings his experience from countless trips and weekend tours into his daily work as a customer advisor.

Whether it's the right roof tent, the right awning, or a well-thought-out recovery setup: Christian knows what matters for a practical, field-tested overlanding setup.

"For me, gear has to be reliable, uncomplicated, and genuinely useful on tour. That's exactly what I focus on with my own setup — and when advising our customers."
– Christian, Customer Advisor and Overlanding Enthusiast

Christian's overlanding setup at a glance

• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Themis roof tent
• Freestanding 270° awning
• Recovery Boards
• Compressor
• Winch Box
• Shower tent