When news of Kawasaki’s Versys X 300 started to circulate, many people thought it was just another also-ran in a growing category of diminutive motorcycles aimed at new or fair weather riders. Others thought it might be the KLR’s replacement, which are big shoes to fill. After spending a few days atop the Versys X…
American Overlander: Gerber Center-Drive with Bit Set
I’m not sure how it happened, but I’ve become somewhat of a multi-tool nerd. I think it started while evaluating tools for an extensive review for the Fall 2016 issue of Overland Journal. In that roundup I tested Gerber’s Multi-Plier 600 Basic and was impressed with its ease of use, thoughtful selection of functions, and…
4×4 Legends: Toyota Land Cruiser, From Sakichi to Series 20
On an average year, Toyota sells roughly ten million automobiles worldwide culminating in a gross sales digit registering in the hundreds of billions of dollars. It is a mind bending exercise to fathom the scale of the global Toyota empire, and equally difficult to comprehend how and when it all began. Just as the flashpoint…
Field Tested: Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium
A tale of two Yetis. How well does the new Lithium powered Yeti 400 improve on its popular predecessor?
Head to Head: Roof Top or Ground Tent
Which is better, the roof top tent or the ground tent?
Field Tested: Nemo Equipment Symphony Luxury Duo Sleep System
Nemo’s super sleeper is the most comfortable bush bunk we have ever tested.
American Overlander: C.C. Filson
It is one of the most influential dates in modern history, but one easily forgotten. The day was August 16, 1896 when in the far flung wilds of the Canadian Yukon George Carmack, his wife Kate, and her brother Skookum Jim found massive gold nuggets along the banks of Rabbit Creek. It was a discovery…
Field Tested: Solo Stove Bonfire
Several times a year I’m contacted by an upstart company asking if I can help promote their Kickstarter campaign. My canned answer, delivered sometimes abruptly, is always––no thanks. I’ve learned my lesson featuring projects which not only failed to achieve their fundraising goals, but effectively robbed people of their hard won cash. That doesn’t mean…
Toyota’s Adventure Mobile for the Future, the FT-4X Concept
Automakers have to overcome a host of challenges to stay relevant in an ever changing marketplace. One of the smaller hurdles is navigating the crowd of eye-rollers like me every time a far fetched concept car is presented to the public. This is not to say I don’t fully appreciate and understand the purpose of a…
Beyond the Truck: Defeat and Retreat in John’s Canyon
When my headlamp flickered one last time and everything went inky black, I wouldn’t say I panicked, but I was definitely not stoked. I stood in the darkness and looked up, the edges of the canyon walls made visible only by an outline of twinkling stars. With no moon, it was damn dark. I plucked…
Rumor Mill: More Renderings of the 2018 Wrangler Surface
I don’t want to sound like a pedant, but automotive news often pushes the boundaries of good journalism. I liken it to celebrity rumor rags and the unabashed pursuit of attention getting. As we knew they would, leaks have started to emerge pertaining to the highly anticipated 2018 Jeep Wrangler. Before I proceed, I would…
Field Tested: Nordic Pocket Saw
The power of a chainsaw in your back pocket.
Adventure Photographer: Shooting Images Worth Publishing
For the modern story teller, particularly those hoping to get published, the ability to convey events equally well in prose and pixels is no easy task. While some nail the word making, they may struggle to capture the photos necessary to get their story on the printed page. As editors and aggregators of content, we…
Field Tested: Sea to Summit 90L Duffle
Australia’s premium gear maker jumps into the expedition duffle game.
Buyer’s Guide: Hard Shell Roof Top Tents
This article was updated on 06 December 2023 The roof top tent has become an omni-present fixture 0f the overlanding world. As such, we have published dozens of reviews and op-eds espousing the benefits of truck-top sleeping as well as comparative thoughts on soft-sided tents versus their hard shelled counterparts. Without rehashing that debate yet again, let’s…
Field Tested: Ruger Go-N-Heavy Compact
There are two types of guys in the world. There are knife guys, and there are guys with knives. I tend to fall in the latter group and while I love to geek out on gear, I don’t pretend to possess the acumen of a genuine blade guru. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a…
Creating a Convenient Cup of Camp Coffee
If you’re anything like me, getting my day rolling without a cup of piping hot coffee is nigh impossible. Because my backwood outings range from vehicle supported forays with copious amounts of gear, to trips with the absolute minimum, my coffee making methods vary wildly. Fortunately, there are a number of new products on the…
Field Tested: Gear Aid ARC LED Light and Power Station
Shed some serious light on your situation with this 320 lumen light and battery pack.
From the ExPo Vault: Hard Shell vs. Soft Shell Roof Top Tents
Which is better, hard or soft RTTs?
Beyond the Truck: Grand Canyon Solitaire
A walk into the abyss where time stands still.