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Our Story
It started with a packing problem.
The first overnight ride I ever packed for, I brought everything. Two pots, a chair that took up half a bag, a giant sleeping bag and a iron pan that weighed as much as my 3.5kg tent. I spent more time rearranging bags at fuel stops than I did enjoying the trip.
By the third trip I'd ditched half of it. By the tenth, I knew what the real problem was: most camping gear isn't built for the way we camp on bikes. It's built for car boots and caravans, for people who don't have to worry about their pack size and weight.
Every extra kilo costs you something. Not just in fuel and fatigue. It costs you confidence on a descent. It costs you that feeling of freedom that made you want to ride in the first place.
— Andy BalshawSolara Founder
Our Timeline
2022
The Realisation
I started chasing lighter, tougher gear and kept hitting the same wall. The ultralight hiking market had options, but nothing was designed for the punishment that comes with motorcycle travel, dropping the bike, weather, limited space... there was no room for fragile kit. The 4WD market had durability but it was heavy and oversized. Nothing sat in the middle that I was stoked with.
2023
Finding The 'Sweet Spot'
With a crew across all skill ranges, from seasoned pros to those dabbling in the idea of motorcycle adventure, we really put the full range of gear to the test over a variety of trips. Crossing the Simpson Desert, weekend dirt stints, flooded river crossings and bike-focused travel around Australia. Here we discovered what worked and what didn't.
2024
Design & Production
From here I found myself in a great adventure community, and I also found myself moving from a qualified chef career into premium motorcycle parts production. Learning the ins and outs of taking ideas to scale, with the help of skilled hands, refinements, the right network and decision-making based on providing value where I needed it.
December 2024
Solara is Born
Two years of finding the right gear, countless nights in the wild, many times hitting the deck, with my kit just not holding up - I knew what I was looking for and I knew how to approach quality moto-camping gear; it was time Solara was born.
October 2025
Initial Launch
After nearly 11 months of testing, learning and designing, Solara launched with an initial titanium cookware range. Coming from a decade in the kitchen, food has always been an important part of my life, and keeping fuelled on the road was a great place for Solara to grow. Our titanium cookware was our foundation to build outdoor gear that excels.
March 2026
The Range Grows
Now partners with Radix Nutrition, Throzt Hydration and producing top-tier moto-camping and outdoor equipment, the Solara range is growing rapidly.
In Q1 and Q2 of 2026, we will have released our adventure meal kits, our Emberline sleeping bag, Nimbus pillow and Baseline R8 insulated sleeping system, along with our longest yet design project, the Waypoint 1P tent.
2026 and Beyond
Community and Commitment
As Solara grows, so does our community. With our community growing, so does our feedback and development of new and exciting gear built for adventure. It is important for us to remain committed to providing quality products, local fulfilment and service.
We're proud to be owned and operated from Brisbane, Australia.
We'd love to have you in our corner.
Solara exists because riders deserve gear that earns its place.
Every product in our range is designed around one question: does this justify the space it takes up? If it doesn't nest, , doesn't serve more than one purpose, or doesn't survive being strapped to a bike for 500km of dirt, it doesn't make the cut.
We use Grade 1 titanium across our cookware range because it's the best material for the job. It's 45% lighter than stainless steel, it won't rust or corrode, it handles direct flame, and it'll outlast every other piece of gear in your setup. No coatings and no plastic that holds the flavours of last trip's curry.
Our shelters, sleep systems, and camp gear follow the same rule: lightweight, compact, and built to handle real adventure.
Built for riders. Ready for anyone who travels light.
Solara was born in the moto-camping community and that's where our heart is. The riders who load up on a Friday afternoon and chase new roads. The ones who'd rather sleep under a tarp at a creek than book a hotel.
But ultralight gear doesn't care how you got to camp. Hikers carrying everything on their backs, bikepackers, 4WD crews who want a clean setup without filling the whole tray; they all end up here because the problem is the same: heavy, bulky gear gets in the way of the experience.
If you believe your kit should disappear into the background so the adventure stays front of mind, you're in the right place.
What we stand behind.
Every Solara product ships with a lifetime warranty. Not because we hope you'll never need it, because we're confident you won't.
We dispatch same-day from Brisbane, we offer 30-day returns if the gear doesn't suit your setup, and we answer every email personally. There's no call centre. There's no chatbot. Just a small team that uses the same gear you're buying.
