2019 ~ The First Trip
Tom, Luca & Jack met in first year at Flinders University as mechanical engineering students. Tom and Jack were already deep into the world of camping and 4x4 driving, and they dragged Luca along to Deep Creek for his very first trip. One campfire and some red tins was all it took, he was hooked.
2020 ~ The Problem
Fast forward a few camping trips to Robe and Beachport, and we were starting to see less of the scenery and more of the mess. Rubbish on the beaches, junk left behind at campsites, it wasn’t a good look. We wanted a solution, something to make taking your rubbish home with you quick and easy for all vehicles.
2021 ~ The Idea
Between classes (when we should’ve been finishing assignments), we sketched up the very first idea for what became the Utility Bag. A prototype was built, it wasn’t perfect, but it was proof the idea had legs.
2022 ~ The setbacks
Like any good story, the early versions didn’t go smoothly. Bags slipped off, canvas faded, buckles cracked. We scrapped designs, rebuilt, tested again. By revision 7.0, we finally had something tough enough to survive the Aussie outback, and tougher still, our own standards.
2023 ~ The Launch
"Cactus Camping" was born, and the Utility Bag hit the market. The feedback blew us away, campers all over Australia were using it, loving it, and telling us we were onto something!
2024 ~ Momentum
We couldn’t help ourselves – more designs followed. The Big Red and the LITE bag were launched at the Adelaide 4x4 Show, and suddenly our gear was making its way to America, the UAE, and Japan. Not bad for three uni mates who just wanted a decent rubbish bag.
2025 ~ Rebrand
Every adventure has a detour. A clash with another business name meant it was time to evolve. So, Cactus Camping became RedGum Camping. The same team, the same passion, just with a fresh identity.
The Dream
We’re still based in Adelaide, juggling our day jobs as engineers while running RedGum in our spare time. It’s late nights, weekends, and plenty of caffeine, but it’s worth it every time we see our gear out in the wild.
The dream? One day to hang up the hard hats, quit the 9-to-5, and make RedGum our full-time adventure. Until then, we’ll keep building, testing, and creating products we actually want to use ourselves.
Meet The Team
Tom ~ The Fisherman
If there’s water nearby, Tom’s already got a line in it. When he’s not casting for the catch of the day, you’ll find him chalking up for a game of pool.
His claim to fame? Owning a Jimny before they were cool!
Jack ~ The Bush Mechanic
Jack has a habit of pushing his cars to breaking point. Two Jeep motor rebuilds, a Triton harmonic balancer that bailed on him twice, and a string of daily drivers that never seem to last.
But when something breaks on a trip, he’s the one you want around. Jack knows his way around an engine bay better than most know their own kitchen!
Luca ~ Swagless Swagman
Luca has a knack for forgetting the odd crucial bit of gear, like swag poles, but never lets it stop him. A rope, a tree, and some questionable knots later, and he’s got a setup that (mostly) works. Forgetful? Maybe. Resourceful? Absolutely.
