Turn your car into a camper with this portable unit

With planes ground, hotels closed and international travel restrictions in place, road trips have become an increasingly popular and relatively safe form of travel this year, provided they're done with social distancing in mind. But if you're struggling to secure a camper reservation this year, due to the sheer demand, or are unwilling to commit to the expense of purchasing your own, you might be interested in the Nestbox.

A modular camping kit in the trunk of a car — The Nestbox comes with a compact kitchen unit and mattress ©Egoe

Designed by Czech design firm Studio 519 for the outdoors company Egoé, the Nestbox is a modular all-in-one trunk extension which essentially turns most cars into a fully-fledged camper in a matter of minutes. Constructed from locally sourced birch plywood and designed to fit neatly into the trunk of the car, the Nestbox comes in a range of sizes and can be customised with different accessories and modules to suit everything from an epic road trip to a family day at the beach.

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A collie dog jumps to get food from a camper — Each Nestbox comes in a range of sizes to suit a small, mid-size and large vehicles ©Egoe

The main body houses a compact kitchen with a dual-burner stove, mini fridge, water modules, workspace, collapsible sink and storage drawers and bags for dishes, cookware, food and utensils. While the bed is stored on top of the kitchen unit and extends out over the rear to sleep two adults comfortably with a foldable mattress.

A family dine on foldable chairs in a field — Accessories such as storage bags, foldable furniture and rooftop tents can be added to the experience ©Egoe

According to Egoé, if your car has a little extra space, it can likely house a Nestbox. "There's no need to drag a camper trailer with you or spend money on an expensive motor home [when] you can put a camper unit right in your everyday car," says the team.

A foldable mattress on display in the trunk of an SUV — Mattresses are available in different sizes but most sleep two adults comfortably ©Egoe

Outside of the Nestbox, the company offers other products designed to accommodate life on the road such as the Nestbags, which are textile storage bags that can be attached to windows and roofs to make use of space and stow away clothing and equipment, the Nestblock, a foldable table and chair unit, and rooftop tents.

If you're interested, prices start from around $3400 for the smallest, entry-level Nestbox module. See the full list of compatible vehicles here.