How We Shot It: Desert Roads & Pelican Packs
You should probably be listening to this playlist while reading…
When Pelican reached out about their new Aegis Collection and ModPak accessories, I immediately started dreaming up how to bring these rugged, adventure-ready pieces to life in a way that felt real. I was on the road in Moab at the time, camped out with friends—most of us living out of our vans and other mobile dwellings. Instead of creating a perfectly curated brand shoot, I wanted to let the environment guide the story—something that would feel less like a photoshoot and more like a moment you could’ve stumbled into at golden hour.
The concept came together fast: a short overnight escape by bike, packing light. Leaning into the kind of grit and freedom that makes living on the road so magnetic. We started the shoot at camp, loading up the gear—the DX45 Duffel/Pack held everything with ease—the Packing Cube Bundle and DK5 Toiletry Bag tucked right in. We loaded the bikes, zipped everything into place, and hit the road.
The ride led us to a quiet overlook, with just enough clouds in the air to catch the light. We unpacked and took turns photographing the gear in real use—strapped to bikes, slung over shoulders etc... My favorite surprise was how versatile the SX5 Sling turned out to be: ideal for carrying secondary camera gear or quick-access essentials on a hike or climb.
This shoot reminded me how fun it is to blur the line between real adventure and content creation. As much as we were staging—we were also just doing what we’d be doing anyway, with thoughtful gear that happened to photograph beautifully and function even better.
After a grand evening of adventure we went into town for pizza singing classic rock songs all along the way. Bench seat and all, it was a vibe.
The desert always delivers, but the people, the bikes and the sky—gave the story its shape.
Later in the week we climbed a South Sixth Shooter in Indian Creek, a desert tower with the sling bag in tow—another spontaneous adventure that proved this gear is ready for anything. Pelican’s designs hold up every step of the way.
Featured Gear From the Shoot
🔗 DX45 Aegis Duffel/Pack – Charcoal
🔗 SX5 Aegis Padded Sling – Sand
🔗 ModPak Packing Cube Bundle – Sand
🔗 DK5 ModPak Toiletry Bag – Charcoal
Watch the Story Come to Life
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This blog post was written with ChaGPT through my verbal direction and dictation.
