As overlanders, we aim to travel light and avoid excess gear that can be cumbersome, especially as a family of four where space is always an issue. We truly appreciate well-designed storage solutions and carriers for when we’re out and about, and Mystery Ranch consistently delivers. Mystery Ranch was co-founded by Dana Gleason and Renée…
Category Archives: Gear
Overland News of the Week, August 16th, 2024
Pakmule Launches the Motomule Moto Hauler In this week’s, Overland News of the Week, we introduce Pakmule’s Motomule. A motorbike is a great overlanding accessory, but hauling bikes has always been a challenge. The Pakmule Motomule is an innovative hitch-mounted moto hauler designed for the easy loading and transport of dirt bikes and light adventure…
It’s All in the Name: The Story Behind Goose Gear
In this installment of the Expedition Portal series on brands that inspire us, Senior Editor Ashley Giordano profiles overland industry leader and vehicle-based storage solutions manufacturer Goose Gear. It’s easy to notice the quality of a Goose Gear product at a glance. Burly slides hold expertly crafted wood drawers. Marine-grade plywood coated with a proprietary blend of bedliner…
Van DIY Conversion Kits :: Buyers Guide
Vanlife has captured the imagination of many overlanders driven by the desire to have their cake and eat it, too. While many overlanders enjoy the simple, minimalist experience of living out of a compact 4WD, there is a growing trend toward the comforts of home while having the capability to explore far reaches of the…
Getting Unstuck: Recovery Items to Keep You Moving
Okay, let’s be honest. Just because I’ve been driving four-wheel drive vehicles for 50 years and just because I’ve covered most of the major four-wheel-drive events in the United States (including numerous trips over the Rubicon Trail, the Jeepers Jamboree, All 4-Fun, Sierra Trek, and Moab’s Easter Jeep Safari), I am not a “four-wheeler.” Getting…
Overland News of the Week, July 5th, 2024
Snow Peak Long Beach Campfield In this week’s Overland News of the Week, we’re excited to share the news that Snow Peak recently established the Long Beach Campfield between Seattle and Portland, along Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula. This 25-acre luxury campground redefines outdoor leisure while offering a unique camping experience. The campfield offers three…
Top Gear :: Overland Expo Pacific North West 2024
While exploring the booths at this year’s Overland Expo West PNW, I realized that the products worth highlighting should not only be ones I would personally use (and those backed by powerful PR firms) but, more importantly, those created by entrepreneurs. As someone who has been an entrepreneur, self-employed, and a freelancer for most of…
Portable Fire Pits for Every Season
I learned to explore the outdoors when I was quite young, and one of my early mentors-in-adventure was a scoutmaster who was exceptionally cautious about when and where he built a campfire. “Every campfire needs the right campsite, but not every campsite needs a fire,” he would say. These are wise words to live by….
Minimalist Wallets :: Best of Breed
Good times—at least of the sort we’re after—come with a downside. The hard truth behind adventure is that you can’t safely peace out beyond the confines of cell service with nothing but a sandwich in one hand and your car keys in the other. For those of us desperate for even a brief escape from…
NEMO Dagger Osmo Lightweight 3P Tent :: Field Tested
After an undulating 14-kilometer hike with 35 pounds on my back, I opened the NEMO Dagger Osmo three-person tent for the very first time under the looming shadow of Mount Assiniboine—motivated by a relentless cloud of thirsty mosquitoes. Perhaps this wasn’t the smartest plan in the world, but it made for a perfect opportunity to…
The Story Behind AluBox
In this installment of the Expedition Portal series on brands that inspire us, Senior Editor Ashley Giordano profiles the multi-generational Denmark-based storage company AluBox. She connected with Søren Wiberg to learn more about AluBox’s origins, its involvement in field expeditions, and how consumer preferences have changed since the company’s inception in 1999. Cover photo courtesy…
Flextail Tiny Repel :: Field Tested
Photography by Jason Spafford Outdoor endeavors should be about embracing nature, not battling mosquitoes. Enter the Tiny Repel. Designed by the Shenzhen-based company Flextail—increasingly known for their multifunctional outdoor gear since 2015—this compact device serves as a mosquito repellent, light, and power bank. Using DualRepel technology quickly creates a 30-foot mosquito-free zone (including horseflies), with…
Scout Campers Launches New Lightweight Pop-up
Each day, the overland industry grows in unexpected ways. And for the 3rd of June, Adventure Manufacturing’s Scout Campers announces their new Pop-up. It is no coincidence that the other significant event for the 3rd of June was when Martin Behaim released the first extant globe, the Erdapfel, to the world in 1492. The new…
Overland Expo West 2024 :: More Gear
There are some subtle shifts happening at Overland Expo. With new owners since the middle of last year (Emerald Expositions, purveyors of huge industry events like Outdoor Retailer), the purpose and scope of the four yearly Expos are slowly moving. This was inevitable, given the sheer scale of Overland Expo now (especially the Flagstaff event)….
Stage 1: Project Jeep Wrangler 4Xe for Overland Fun
Each year, we identify one significant international project vehicle and one more modest undertaking. For 2023, it was the Grenadier for crossing Africa and a new Jeep Wrangler 4xe overland project for North America. For this new project, we wanted to try a list of new products and approaches that had not crossed our keyboards….
Overland News of the Week, May 24th, 2024
Hilleberg Introduces Two New Tent Models for Spring 2024 In this week’s Overland News of the Week, we’re excited to hear that Hilleberg, the well-respected, premium Swedish tent maker, is expanding its range with the Saivo 4 and the Rogen 3. The Saivo 4, part of the all-season Black Label series, is a robust 4-person…
Redarc Unveils Three Revolutionary Products at Overland Expo West
Redarc, the Australian mobile power solutions company whose products have earned our trust over the years, will unveil three innovative products at the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ, tomorrow, Friday, the 16th. According to the press release, these new offerings have been designed, engineered, and rigorously tested in Australia’s toughest conditions. With these launches, Redarc aims…
DJI Power 1000 :: Field Tested
One of the challenges when overlanding is having a reliable source of sustainable electricity on tap to power lights, charge an array of electronics from cellphones to computers to drones, and run convenience items such as 12-volt fridges, 110-volt grills, and cooktops. Most off-road RV trailers have that covered with a deep-cycle house battery. But…
Küat Ibex Bed Rack Lands Design Award
Organizing and securing your overland gear in a pickup can be something of a challenge. While the bed of the truck is a blank canvas with nearly endless opportunities for designing a build-out all your own, the sheer number of options can also be daunting. The bed rack is a neat and tidy solution to…
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 Tire To Be Available in More Than 100 Sizes
Long considered an elite tire for overland travel, the BF Goodrich All-Terrain has reliably helped adventurers explore remote corners of the globe. The new All-Terrain T/A KO3 is being touted as a worthy successor to the widely respected All-Terrain T/A KO2. This new tire integrates advanced technologies to meet the increasing demands of off-road enthusiasts, promising…