Organizing and securing your overland gear in a pickup can be something of a challenge. While the bed of the truck is a blank canvas with nearly endless opportunities for designing a build-out all your own, the sheer number of options can also be daunting. The bed rack is a neat and tidy solution to this conundrum—modular, versatile, and bomber for hard-core off-roading, bed racks offer a lot of flexibility in terms of expedition storage and day-to-day usability when you’re not traveling. The Ibex bed rack system from Küat is one of our favorites, and it recently garnered a prestigious international design award.
Every year, the Red Dot Award honors “products that impress with their exceptionally high design quality.” The jury consists of experts from 20 countries in design, engineering, and media, and they assess the submissions based on Red Dot’s four basic principles of good design: the quality of function, the quality of seduction, the quality of use, and the quality of responsibility.
“Küat is driven by innovation, and we are relentless in progressing our products,” said Luke Kuschmeader, founder and CEO of Küat. “To be recognized with a Red Dot Award is not only an honor but real validation of our brand’s commitment to excellence in design.” Thousands of products enter the competition in over 20 different categories.
Can you be seduced by a bed rack? If you ask Expedition Portal’s Scott Brady, the answer might be yes. In our review of the Ibex system, he wrote, “It cannot be overstated how premium the Ibex is, with the extruded frame, textured powder coat, and precise assembly. The rack also looks appropriate on a modern truck, with the right finish and profile to match vehicles like our test Tundra.”
The Küat Ibex for full-size trucks weighs only 85 pounds and features a 1,200-pound static load rating to support even big roof tents with several occupants and can also shoulder 300 pounds of dynamic load. Küat is known primarily for its outdoor sports racks for bicycles and watercraft, so the range of useful accessories for the Ibex is extensive. Starting at $1,490 for the basic system, the Ibex also features an impressive limited lifetime warranty.
Read more: SEMA Best New Products Awards Round-Up
Images: Scott Brady
Our No Compromise Clause: We do not accept advertorial content or allow advertising to influence our coverage, and our contributors are guaranteed editorial independence. Overland International may earn a small commission from affiliate links included in this article. We appreciate your support.
