I think we can all agree nothing beats a warm fire on a cool night with a tasty beverage and a comfortable place to sit. I’ve tried all manner of camp chairs over the years, some good, many not worth the materials they’re made of. In the last few months I’ve come to love two…
Field Tested: TrekPak Custom Dividers for Alu-Box 42
My name is Christophe, and I’m a compulsive organizer. Some of you might find that humorous, but I know many of you are shaking your heads in affirmation because you too just can’t stand having one tiny thing out of place. Fortunately for us, we have a support system—TrekPak. I first started using TrekPak organizers…
Sneak Peek: MSR Hubba Tour 2
When foul weather forces me within the safe haven of a tent, nothing is more precious than a cavernous vestibule. With the passing of every wet minute, each inch of dry space is called upon to stash gear and makes for the ideal place to prepare meals or just stretch out. As useful as a…
Field Tested: Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station
If you read my most recent skills piece on the nuances of power management for overland travel, you know I was a bit dismissive of solar. This is not to say it lacks usefulness, but for most people the tools used to store power are more convenient. Solar can be slow, require constant alignment of…
From the ExPo Vault: The Best of the Best – Sporks
We answer the question few dare to even ask: Which spork reigns supreme?
How to Buy a Rooftop Tent
I’m sure you’ve noticed, but you can’t swing a dead cat these days without hitting a roof top tent. There are now dozens of purveyors of car-top sleepers with some auto dealers even selling them as add-on upgrades. If you don’t have one yet, statistically, I’d say you will soon enough. For those inclined to…
Bikepacking: Field Repairs, Tools, and Spares
Whether you’re just heading out for a quick fitness ride or traversing a continent, every rider must be ready for the mechanical woes that frequently disrupt an otherwise perfect bike ride. No matter how well maintained your bike is, there’s still a chance something wildly unexpected could happen like having a squirrel dive into your…
Adventure Photographer: The GNARBOX Backup Drive and Editor
Like many travel photographers, I often accrue so much data while on location I need to back it up in the event I lose a camera or card. On longer trips, I also like to share my image assets in real-time, requiring modest editing capabilities. In the last few years, I’ve patched together a few…
Miners and Cannibals: Pedaling the Passes of Southern Colorado.
With a continual torrent of rain and grapple pelting my rainfly I burrowed deeper into my sleeping bag. I had been holed up in my little nylon sanctuary for several hours and the steady assault levied by an early winter storm indicated I had many more hours to go. I didn’t care. I had a…
Classic Gear: The Leatherman Multi-Tool
It’s one of the most exceptional inventions of our generation, but its inception could not have been more ordinary. It happened during a European vacation in 1975 when a young mechanical engineer from Oregon named Timothy Leatherman needed to repeatedly fix his cantankerous rental car and leaky hotel plumbing. The only tool he had available…
Head to Head: Hammock vs. Tent
Like many of you, I love the comfy repose and gentle sway of a good hammock. I also think they pair well with a warm beach and a cold cocktail. As much time as I’ve spent relaxing in a hammock, I don’t often think of them as the go-to for backcountry bedding. That’s not to…
Gear Classics: Danner Jag Hiking Boots
It’s hard to believe, but many of the most successful names in American business got their start during the worst economic period of the last 100 years. With the Great Depression crushing the nation, companies like Zippo, Ray Ban, and Macy’s entered the market with a simple promise to provide quality goods at affordable prices….
Long Term Review: iOverlander Travel Resource App
In the fall of 2014, I wrote a small review of an upstart web and app-based travel resource called iOverlander. At the time it had equal potential to be a runaway success, or just one of a million great ideas to vanish into the cyber-ether. Three years later, the iOverlander platform is a proven winner…
La Aduana: Fully Restored 1979 FJ43 Land Cruiser
In the pantheon of off-road legends it could be argued only three vehicles vie for the title of most revered. That list includes the American Jeep, British Land Rover, and of course, the Japanese Land Cruiser. In its many forms, the Cruiser has proven a formidable tool, but the 40 Series introduced in 1960 represents…
Field Tested: Filson Ultra-Light Jacket
Of all the gear I own, a lightweight insulated jacket has to be one of the most well-used. Even during summer months in the mountains I almost never leave home without one. Pulled over a t-shirt or tucked under heavy waterproof shell layers, a puffy jacket has year-round utility. If you don’t have one in…
Adventure Photographer: The Tank-Mounted Camera Bag
As a motorcyclist and photographer, I’ve often struggled with how to best carry my camera on the bike. For years I just plopped my DSLR into a tank bag but the constant vibrations resulted in the early demise of one lens and eventually a nice camera body. The most protective approach has been a tail-mounted…
Long Term Test: Therm-a-Rest Altair HD Sleeping Bag
For what seemed like decades, sleeping bag technology languished. There were a few minor innovations with regard to baffle shapes and fabrics improved slightly from year to year, but not until recently has the humble sleeping bag received the engineering advancements it deserved. This is particularly true of bags in the Therm-a-Rest line like the…
Trail Tested: Topeak’s Latest Kit for Bikepacking Adventures
As some of you know, I ride my bike nearly every day and have for the last 3 decades. For half of those years, I have pumped up my tires before each ride with a Topeak Joe Blow Pro floor pump. On every ride, I carry a 17-year-old Topeak Alien multi-tool, and my many Race…
Today in Weird Auto News: The Rezvani Tank
Over the last decade we’ve seen an increasing number of boutique automakers enter the marketplace, some a bit more impressive than others. The Local Motors Rally Fighter was one of the first in the off-road space to catch our eye, but others have popped up since like the Bollinger Motors all-electric off-roader. That vehicle is…
Field Tested: La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX
In late 2015, I had the good fortune to visit Nepal and trek deep into the Khumbu Valley. Because I travel light, I only packed two pairs of footwear for the near month-long trip, both from La Sportiva. For rugged hiking days, I used Trango Cube boots. The rest of the trip, including the long…