In 1980, BFGoodrich introduced an unconventional tire that would forever change the way we thought about off-road traction. They called it the T/A Mud-Terrain, “T/A” borrowed from their successful line of street-performance offerings, and the latter for the type of terrain it would call home. It was the first such tire with an aggressive tread…
The Overland Journal Air Compressor Test
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2015. Air, the simple mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and a few other gases, is not only elemental to life, it is a fundamental requirement for a vehicle or moto-based backcountry trek. In addition to assisting our internal combustion engines in converting chemical energy into…
Jeep Obsession
Last week we gave you a sneak-peek teaser of Jeep and Mopar’s fleet of 2018 concept vehicles. This week, we’ve been in Moab, Utah, for the Easter Jeep Safari, part of which was not only photographing, but also driving these seven beauties over the region’s stunning red sandstone. We even took a few out to…
Field Tested: Zarges K470 Cases
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2016. My first experience with Zarges aluminum cases was during the Expeditions 7 crossing of Antarctica. We used them to store everything from tents and clothes to spare parts and oil. They were tossed in and out of the vehicles, used as step ladders, chairs, and…
2018 Jeep Concepts Sneak Peek
For more than a decade, we’ve headed to Moab each spring for the Easter Jeep Safari, the annual spring gathering for off-road aficionados from around the globe. In addition to dozens of great trail rides, a ginormous tradeshow, and a monster raffle that benefits the local Boy Scout troop, the folks at Jeep and Mopar…
Field Tested: Weego JS12 Jump Starter
We’ve all been there, turn the key and a faint click click click is heard from the engine bay, the result of a flat battery. If you are fortunate enough to be parked at the mall or with friends, you are golden. But if it happens while traveling alone in the backcountry, you will pat…
First Drive: Ram’s new 1500
A few months ago we shared with you a preview of Ram Truck’s new 1500, a from-the-ground-up redesign of one of America’s favorite half-ton pickups. Earlier this month we spent a few days near San Antonio, Texas, testing various configurations not only on the trail, but also tracing hundreds of miles of twisting tarmac, some…
Overland Journal’s Long Term Tacoma: Part 1
I’m not the type of person who feels the need to have every bell and whistle on the planet, nor do I believe that a higher price is necessarily indicative of higher quality (although Wal-Mart-cheap items are often exactly that, cheap crap). My Coleman stove is 30 years old, has been sandblasted and repainted, and…
Field Tested: Speedway 50-liter Hybrid
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. Perfecting the duffle bag has long been the quest of purveyors of outdoor equipment. It must not only protect our clothes and a medley of gear, but also be durable enough to survive the rigors of real-world travel. During the past few decades, we’ve tasked…
Factor 55 FlatLink E
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2012. If you stop by Factor 55’s booth at a trade show you will find a variety of their winch shackle mounts disfigured, torn, and mutilated. This might seem odd, until owner Mike Costa hands you a spec sheet from the US-certified destruction lab they use…
First Drive 2019 Jeep Cherokee
Back in the early ’80s, the automotive industry was responding to consumer demands for compact sport utility vehicles capable of tackling the backcountry with same moxie as their forebearers. Jeep answered the call in 1984 with the Cherokee XJ, which took its cues from the venerable Wagoneer. Though not immediately embraced by the off-road world…
2019 Ram 1500 Preview
As an automotive enthusiast, one of the things I look forward to each year is reviewing and driving the new crop of vehicles. Manufacturers continue to up the ante with regard to performance, capability, fuel economy, navigation systems, electronics, and creature comforts. While first public appearance usually takes place at one of the big auto…
Field Tested: Think Tank Camera Bag
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2017. One of the quandaries photographers face is how to transport an assortment of expensive equipment in different environments. When on field assignments my camera gear is toted around in a daypack, with additional lenses, bodies, and strobes stowed in a Pelican case. However,…
The Last Mile
For some, breaking away from the norm and living a life of adventure becomes, well, normal. When it comes to folks like Loren and Patty Upton, I maintain that Merriam Webster should add “Upton” to the definition of the word adventure. Back in June of 1984, the couple packed up their CJ-5, affectionately called Sand…
Mobility for a Million: Free Wheelchair Mission
In the vast world of so-called humanitarian organizations and NGOs that promise to save the world, several of us at Overland Journal have been blessed with the hands-on opportunity to work with one that puts the ox before the cart: the California-based Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM). What began as one man’s spiritual conviction to help…
Off-Road Review: 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL
When the Wrangler made its début in 1987 as the YJ, Jeep purists poked fun at Jeep’s new prodigy, casting derogatory insults such as “Yuppie Jeep” and “Real Jeeps have round headlights.” While I agree with them regarding round headlamps, the YJ retained the DNA of its venerable predecessors in the CJ lineup. It had…
The 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for You
On Monday we published the first of three holiday gift guides for 2017. (You can see it here) It covers some of our favorite outdoor and four-wheel drive products that cost $125 USD or less, making it perfect for things you’d give to family, friends, or yourself. However, it does it feel a little lackluster under…
2017 BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails
$20,000, cash on the barrel to keep our backcountry trails open for all.
Field Tested Long-term review | Yeti Tundra 45
Last year, we presented you with The Big Chill, an exhaustive review of some of the best rotomolded coolers on the market. Over the course of 10 days, we analyzed construction and design, drain systems, ergonomics, capacity, and structural integrity. We then filled them with ice, set them on a deck under the midsummer sun…
ExPo Roundup: Storage Cases
We lugged our gear around the world to bring you the best of the best in storage case solutions.