The Journey of the Duo Maxx

2016 – The Duo is Born

The Crua Duo  was born out of the same innovative ideation that led to the creation of the iconic Crua Tri and Loj. Inspired by the concept of insulated bedrooms that redefined comfort in the Tri and Loj, the Duo was envisioned to offer a similar experience with the flexibility of a modular design. Developed alongside the Crua Core as part of the Clan Tent System, the idea was to create a versatile setup where tents could interconnect seamlessly, providing endless possibilities for customization. The addition of the Crua Cocoon was conceived to bring the insulation and temperature control of our flagship tents to the Duo, allowing campers to adapt their setup for any season. This vision for modularity and comfort made the Duo a natural evolution of Crua’s commitment to rethinking outdoor living.

2017 – From Vision to Prototype

After much research and development, we received our first prototype of the Crua Duo. This initial design brought our vision to life—a lightweight, versatile 2-person tent with the potential for modular upgrades and compatibility with the Crua Core. The prototype incorporated key features like its compact design, durable materials, and the ability to integrate with the Crua Cocoon for an insulated bedroom experience. It was the first tangible step in creating a tent that not only stood on its own but also served as a cornerstone in our innovative Clan Tent System. The Duo hit its kickstarter target on day one and proved its need in the camping market.

2018 – Listening to Our Community

When the Duo first launched, it was hailed by many as a versatile and innovative tent. However, one key piece of feedback stood out from our community: "What about my child?" This sparked the development of a larger 3-person version, alongside this, it became clear that the Crua Cocoon needed a larger counterpart to complement the new tent, leading to the creation of the Cocoon Maxx. This early feedback proved invaluable, highlighting the need for family-friendly solutions and setting the stage for Crua to cater to a broader audience with enhanced versatility.

2019 – The Launch of the Duo Maxx and Cocoon Maxx

In 2019, we proudly launched the Duo Maxx alongside its perfect companion, the Cocoon Maxx. This larger, more spacious tent quickly outsold its smaller cousin(in fact we had issues keeping up with demand), solidifying what our community had told us all along—they valued comfort and practicality above all else. Families, rather than typical lightweight campers, embraced the Duo Maxx, proving they were truly our kind of people (we love you, by the way!). Like the original Duo, the Duo Maxx was designed to connect seamlessly to the Clan Tent System, continuing Crua’s legacy of modular innovation.

2020 – Listening, Learning, and Innovating

At Crua, we pride ourselves on listening to feedback and making thoughtful changes—not just to a single product, but often across our entire range. If you’ve been following our journey, you might notice a pattern here! 😉 Based on feedback and our own internal testing, we developed and launched a reflective flysheet to complement the Duo range. This innovative flysheet was double-sided, allowing users to reflect heat outward on hot days or inward during colder conditions. It was a game-changer for comfort and versatility, further cementing the Duo’s place as a tent for all seasons and situations.

2022 – Tackling Durability and Condensation

As always, feedback from our community guided our next steps. Across our ranges, durability and condensation were recurring themes, so we took an in-depth look at how vent placement affected airflow and overall comfort. The result? Enhanced venting and stronger seams for the Duo Maxx. These updates significantly improved airflow, reduced condensation buildup, and tackled that dreaded morning groggy feeling as much as possible. By focusing on these critical factors, we ensured a more comfortable and refreshed night’s sleep for all our campers.

2023 – A New Realization

By 2023, we came to a realization—the Duo Maxx was a solid tent. There wasn’t much feedback to criticize it, and the early changes we made kept our community really happy. However, there was a big but! People absolutely loved the Combo, the pairing of the Duo Maxx and Cocoon Maxx, but both products individually carried a higher price tag. This made the Combo less accessible for some campers.

So, we set out to create a more affordable solution without compromising on quality. The answer? We took inspiration from where it all started—the Loj and Tri—and began merging the best elements of the Duo and Culla into one innovative product. This approach would allow us to offer the comfort, insulation, and versatility our community cherishes, but at a price point that’s accessible to everyone.

2024 – The Duo GS Maxx: A Journey of Challenges and Silver Linings

In 2024, we introduced the Duo GS Maxx on Kickstarter—a more accessible version of the Duo Maxx that combined the tent with its own hanging insulation, eliminating the costly air beam setup of the Culla. It was an exciting launch, but things quickly took a turn. After inspecting the prototypes, we weren’t satisfied with the overall quality. This put us under immense pressure, as premium quality is a non-negotiable standard for Crua.

Faced with this challenge, we made the difficult decision to part ways with the factory, putting us back at square one. In October, I embarked on a whirlwind trip to find a factory that could uphold our commitment to excellence. After an extensive search—proving the old adage of "shop around" true—we found a manufacturing partner who not only met but exceeded our standards of quality.

The best part? This new factory allowed us to bring all components together at an even lower price, reducing the original price tag of the GS from $609.99 to an incredible $399.99. This breakthrough makes the Duo GS Maxx more accessible than ever, furthering our mission to deliver premium quality products to campers of all budgets. What began as a setback turned into a game-changing opportunity for Crua and our community.

2024 Continued – A Commitment to PFAS-Free Materials

Over the past few years, feedback from around the globe has highlighted a growing concern that truly resonated with us: the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals. These substances, often used for their water-repellent properties, have significant environmental and health impacts. We knew it was time to make a change.

In 2024, we drew a line in the sand and committed to ensuring that all products produced by Crua moving forward would be made with PFAS-free materials. This pledge reflects our dedication to protecting the planet and our customers.

The Duo GS Maxx is a proud part of this change. When negotiating with our new factory, one of our key stipulations was that all components of the Duo GS Maxx must be PFAS-free. By making this a non-negotiable standard, we’ve not only aligned with our values but also set a precedent for future Crua products. This step ensures that we’re doing our part to create safer, more sustainable gear for campers everywhere.

2025 – A New Chapter for the Duo Maxx

With manufacturing complete and ready for loading, we couldn’t be prouder of the new-look Duo GS Maxx. The decision to retire its smaller cousin from the lineup wasn’t easy, but it was the right move. By streamlining our focus, we’ve been able to significantly reduce costs, making the Duo GS Maxx even more accessible without compromising on quality.

We’ve listened to your feedback every step of the way and will continue to do so as we strive to improve. The Duo GS Maxx officially lands in March, and we couldn’t be more excited for you to experience the next evolution in Crua innovation. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

The Future of the Duo GS Maxx

While we believe the Duo GS Maxx has reached a stage where no further changes may be necessary, we know our community will be the ultimate judge. Your rigorous testing and valuable feedback will guide the next steps, and we’re eagerly awaiting your verdict.

During the Kickstarter campaign, some fantastic ideas emerged—like adding carry straps to the bags—that we didn’t have time to implement for the initial launch. Rest assured, we’ve heard you, and we’ll be looking into these improvements as we continue to refine and evolve our designs. Stay tuned, and thank you for being part of the journey!