There was a time when most manufacturers refused to offer lift kits for their off-road-based vehicles. A suspension lift is, however, one of the most common and desirable modifications, and for decades, drivers have been relying on the aftermarket industry to provide these suspension kits. The problem with user-selected lift kits is that they all…
The ARB Intensity IQ Driving Light :: One Light to Rule Them All
While one of the golden rules of overland travel is “Never Drive at Night,” it is unavoidable that you may eventually find yourself driving through the night to catch the last ferry, or were held up due to roadworks or an accident, or you may be surprised that the remote trail through the Moroccan mountains…
Stream2Sea Sunscreen And Bodycare Products: Sunscreen, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Lotion, and Lip Balm That Won’t Harm Waterways
Stream2Sea creates sunscreen and other hair and body care products that are safe for waterways. Many companies claim to make environmentally safe sunscreens, natural shampoos, and more. Stream2Sea also makes this claim but backs up its assertions with testing. Stream2Sea has the only products proven safe for simple nematodes (C. elegans), freshwater fish, saltwater fish,…
Field Tested :: iKamper Blue Dot Voyager (BDV) Duo
The overview effect happens when a traveler reaches far enough into space to look back on Earth and observe their home planet, free of international borders, languages, and cultural divides. A profound shift happens to the voyager, seeing the celestial object as a blue dot. It is a good perspective and often results in a…
Makita Launches Cordless Outdoor Adventure Range
The Makita Outdoor Adventure range launches with 16 battery-powered products, including a chain saw, inflator, wet-dry vacuum, lighting, fans, audio equipment, a coffee maker, and more. Duality of use is a huge draw for us, and products that can be used daily on the job site and around the home and can then be repurposed…
Dometic GO Soft Storage With PAC Insulated Insert: Stay Organized with 10- and 20-Liter Storage Cubes That Convert to Coolers.
Dometic was once a small operation that specialized in making refrigerators for RVs and hotels. Fast forward 20 years, and they have expanded into every aspect of mobile living. With the Dometic GO collection, Dometic is making moves to make car camping more comfortable and easy. I’ve been using the Dometic GO 10- and 20-liter…
Field Tested: Rugged Road Ultralight Coolers
I like to think that I’m pretty strong. After all, as a 5.13+ rock climber and competitive ultramarathoner, I’ve worked pretty hard to get that way. I’ve gotten used to the fact that my muscles are usually the first thing people comment on when we meet. Strength is an essential part of my personality, my…
iKamper Introduces A New Wedge Style RTT and a 270- Degree Awning
We here at Expedition Portal have a comprehensive “Field Tested” review of the new iKamper Blue Dot Voyager wedge-style rooftop tent and the ExoShell 270 Awning heading your way within the next two weeks. That does not mean we can’t spoil you with a preview of two new iKamper products launched on 5 October 2022….
Over-The-Counter :: Medicine for Travelers
As travelers prepare to return to international travel, many will likely forget to pack their over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Many more will forget to check the international rules and regulations for common medicines easily obtained in their home countries—but possibly not allowed overseas. Trip-takers consistently list “forgetting to pack prescription and over-the-counter medicine” as one…
Brat Class 2 E-bike Coming from Volcon
Volcon ePowersports, the first company to make all-electric off-road powersports machines, announces a new Class 2 electric bicycle they call the Brat. The single-syllable moniker follows the lead of their Stag UTV, and the fat-tired, two-wheeled, go-most-anywhere Volcon Grunt, reviewed by Scott Brady. Volcon states the Brat is built “for any adventure, on or off…
Colfax Design Works Project TOAD 65 Liter Drybag: A Fully Waterproof Duffel That Doubles as a Backpack
Colfax Design Works is a soft goods designer that creates durable products for diverse environments. All their products are made in the USA to lessen the carbon footprint. They make products for adventure travel, and their primary offering is the Project TOAD (tactical operations amphibious drybags) 65-liter drybag. I’ve been testing the TOAD drybag for…
Overland News of the Week
Prints for Wildlife Fundraiser Running for the third year, Prints for Wildlife will be raising funds for African Parks. This conservation non-profit currently manages 20 parks in 11 countries on behalf of governments in the hope of safeguarding and securing protected areas in Africa. Over 100 wildlife photographers will donate one fine art print each,…
Nomadix Puffer Blanket: An Ultra-versatile Blanket For Minimalist Overlanders and Travelers
“Own Less. Do More” is more a manifesto than just a tagline for Nomadix. They call their first and most popular product The Only Towel You Need. In short, it’s designed to work for everything you could possibly use a towel for. Nomadix’s original towel is lightweight, super-absorbent, odor and sand-resistant, and dries quickly. And…
Expo Gear You Will Want to Explore: Savvy Creations for Outdoor Comfort
Amid massive builds with habitat boxes, larger-than-life bumpers, rooftop tents, and overlanding gear at this year’s Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado, the displays of homegrown and sustainable-minded companies punctuated the landscape. These are the companies and products that always garner my attention for their creative ability to meet industry demands and emerging markets….
Fly-and-Drive Kit: Universal Equipment That Works Anywhere in the World
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2022 Issue. Over the years, I have found myself stepping into rented or borrowed vehicles for a myriad of trips. These adventures include flying into a destination, borrowing a vehicle, and dry camping for multiple days. Last year I chased the Baja 1000 and needed…
Scosche Powerup 600 Torch Portable Emergency Car Jumpstarter: For The Time When Your Vehicle Needs A Jump
Headquartered in Ventura County, California, Scosche is a family-owned company of outdoor enthusiasts that creates consumer technology for adventurers. They make vehicle accessories, car audio products, and other electronics, testing them in real-world scenarios to see how they’ll fare. I’ve been testing the Scosche Powerup 600 Torch portable emergency jumpstarter for the past month. I…
Making it Out Alive: Learn to save your own life or the one you love
Fieldcraft Survival and TacMed Solutions, companies providing industry-leading medical, simulation, and protection solutions for combat military personnel and first responders, collaborated on this comprehensive trauma kit, the MTK (Mobility Trauma Kit), with everyday mobility, off-roading, and overlanding in mind. The kit includes everything you could need in a life-threatening emergency: a tourniquet, modular bandages, combat…
Stopping the Bleed: Yes, it Can Happen to You
Kevin Henson has been answering calls to horrific accident scenes for at least 34 years. The trained paramedic and retired fire chief still grimaces a little when thinking about the worst accidents he’s attended. Many of them involved motorcycles. But there’s one item he never reached for in a trauma event: a first-aid kit. When…
Starlink and T-Mobile Team Up to Launch “Coverage Above and Beyond”
Due to the absence of a significant cellular tower network in rural and low-population areas in the USA, mobile connectivity is a challenge when traveling off the beaten track, but, eventually, we will look back on the good old days when you could pack the rig and leave the world, and the internet, behind while…
BioLite BaseCharge 1500 Rechargeable Power Station and SolarPanel 100: The User-Friendly Battery Bank and Solar Panel For Everything, Anywhere
BioLite’s mission is to empower people and do good for the planet by providing access to renewable energy in the developing world, especially in East Africa. Until now, BioLite has mainly done this by creating products for sustainable cooking, home lighting, and low-power devices. BioLite has historically sold energy-efficient smokeless fire pits, wood stoves for…