Ötzi Adventure Gear Spark Flatpack Portable Grill Bringing the barbecue along on off-road adventures can present a bit of a dilemma if you have limited space. But with Otzi’s flatpack portable grill and 9- by 9-inch footprint (when packed flat), there’s no reason to leave it behind. The Spark is made of precision-cut pieces of…
Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication
Product Review—Garmin inReach Satellite Communication First off, a disclaimer: my husband and I used Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication during a round-the-world motorcycle trip that lasted 708 days. DeLorme inReach (bought out by Garmin in 2016) gave us two Explorer devices—one we received on loan; the other we paid for at a 50-percent discount. The company…
Hyperlite Ultamid 2 – Ultralight Pyramid Tent
The Hyperlite Ultamid 2 is a portable palace targeted primarily at the hiking/bikepacking community and weighs just 534 grams (just over 1 pound, weight only includes perimeter guy lines). The optional insert adds an additional 626 grams but turns the tent into a four-season shelter (there are lighter inserts available on their website, including a…
Overland News of the Week
Kuju Single-serve Pour-over Coffee Finding the motivation to crawl out of your rooftop tent or campervan in the morning can be challenging. But I speak from experience when I say that Kuju Coffee’s single-serve pour-over coffee is a great motivator to get out of bed. They offer six different options: a traditional light, medium, or…
Overland News of the Week
GoSun Brew If you think there are too many coffee gadgets available to us caffeine-loving, shaky-handed, hot-drink enthusiasts, I hate to break it to you, but you’re wrong. There are never enough coffee gadgets (wink, wink). And if you are one of those folks who like to brew coffee on the go, then say hello…
Overland News of the Week
Kahtoola EXOspikes If you’re one of those people who don’t like to let snow and ice slow you down, having traction devices for your footwear is a simple, low-cost investment that will go a long way. Kahtoola makes many high-quality devices, but their new EXOspikes seek to improve on previous designs with better traction and…
Hudski Debuts Doggler Bicycle in Three Purpose-built Configs
Bicycles have gotten pretty fancy lately, with electronic shifting, battery-powered pedal assist, and complex geometries all created in an effort to make the riding experience…better? But with electronic components and complex systems, there are ultimately more opportunities for component failures. This is where Sausalito, California, based bicycle company Hudski has bucked the trend and offered…
Field Tested: Grayl Geopress OnePress Water Filter
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2020 Issue. When we travel remotely or in the developing world, it is critical to prepare for accidents, spoiled supplies, and survival scenarios. I started carrying a water filter in every vehicle after a leak in my primary supply tank emptied all of…
We Test the New V2 Bivy Stick Blue
Communication is one of the cornerstones of backcountry travel, as the ability to advise family and friends of our progress, call for assistance, or make an SOS during an emergency all helps provide us with confidence to travel further afield. During my travels in Southern Africa, it was helpful to know that the Bivy was…
Titus Adventure Vehicles Adds Mountain Biking Packages
Founded in 2019, Titus Adventure Company (TAC) is a one-stop adventure vehicle and gear rental company offering overland-ready rigs out of Denver, Colorado. As outdoor adventurers who care about preserving the natural resources that we all love, TAC offsets all of the carbon emissions from their fleet through regenerative agriculture via a partnership with the…
Tired of Carrying a Dozen Keys? Ditch the Extras With Bolt Locks
It was almost midnight, and the weather couldn’t have been worse. The temperature was just above freezing, rain was pouring down, and the wind was gusting so hard that I thought I might fall over. To make matters worse, the hill my Airstream was parked on had turned to mud, and the trailer was now…
Field Tested: KLIM Badlands
KLIM updates their classic adventure suit with new armor and a more refined style.
First Test: New 2018 Gear from MSR, Therm-a-Rest, and Seal Line
My wife likes to chide me for my ability to generate bad ideas. When I told her I was going to squeeze in one last bikepacking trip to the high peaks of Colorado just as winter storms are likely to crush my route—I realized she might have a point. The truth is, I love the…
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…
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…
Field Tested: Rocky Mounts BackStage Swing-Out Hitch Rack
Hitch-mounted bike rack systems with integrated swing-out pivots are not new, but most of them up to this point have been of the less desirable hang-and-dangle style with the bikes draped over two rack arms. Most riders, myself included, much prefer the tray style racks which clamp only to the front wheel and accommodate a…
Bikepacking: Maintenance Tips for a Fuss-free Trip
When bikepacking started to gain momentum roughly 10 years ago, concerns over bike reliability were not just overstated, they were wildly overblown. The reality is, most bikepacking trips clock in at well under 500 miles—if not fewer than 200. If your bike can’t survive a week of use without catastrophic failure, you need to rethink…
Bikepacking: The What, Why, and How to Pack
I break down my gear list from soup to nuts.
Field Tested: Rocky Mounts SwitchHitter
With the proliferation of wagons, crossovers, and SUVs, the hitch rack has become the most ubiquitous type of bike hauler, but there are still occasions when a roof-mounted bike rack is preferred. For long road trips I tend to portage my bikes aloft as it frees up the back of my car providing unfettered access…
The Widening World of Mountain Bike Wheels
Which wheel size is best? Is it 26, 27.5 or 29-inch? Should you go skinny, chubby or full fatty?