On a bikepacking trip or any strenuous human-powered adventure, you depend on a good night’s sleep. I can’t tell you how miserable it is to spend a night unable to rest through discomfort, and then forcing yourself over a mountain range the next day. Lack of sleep, combined with hunger and dehydration, is a first-class…
Overland News of the Week
Mac’s Tie Downs Monkey Face Mac’s Tie Downs’ latest offering is a nifty little device called the Monkey Face, designed to make securing cargo even simpler for folks with stake pockets. The .375-inch laser-cut steel tie-down interface is welded to a .1875-inch square steel tube (which secures in stake pockets with an included linchpin), and…
Leatherman Rebar
Prehistoric man required the bare essentials: water, food, shelter, fire, and the latest multi-tool. Humans, like moths to a flame, cannot resist their primitive urge for a pocketable device concealing many tools. In such an instance, Steve, a mid-level IT consultant, happily married, with three kids and a Prius, can be found in the garden,…
Field Tested :: Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8 x 25 Binoculars
Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8 x 25 Binoculars Fuss and bother are two elements I can live without when it comes to gear, and these binoculars from Nocs Provisions, lovingly conceived in San Francisco’s Citadel of Excitement, fit the bill. First off, they come in a small, recycled cardboard box put together without glue—easy to…
BFGoodrich All-terrain KO2s
It’s time I say goodbye to four dear old friends, my faithful BFGoodrich All-terrain K02s. I remember the day I brought the BFGs home—they were so pristine, with an advanced tyre footprint to evenly distribute stress, and crucially, that new tyre smell (just me!?). However, I was told by my doctor (tyre doctor) that years of…
Video of the Week: GFC V2 Platform Camper
If you like going fast and light, you’re probably familiar with GFC, aka Go Fast Campers. GFC is a Montana-based platform truck camper and rooftop tent manufacturer making the “most huckable” equipment out there, and they make it all in-house at their Belgrade warehouse. If you are debating purchasing a lightweight canopy camper that won’t…
Overland News of the Week
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…
New from RedArc: Tow-Pro Elite V3 Trailer Brake Controller
The newest version of RedArc’s trailer brake controllers, the Tow-Pro Elite V3, has just been released and it’s got some enhancements over the previous version that aim to provide a safer, more enjoyable towing experience. Following the Tow-Pro V2, which received a 2017 Global Media Award at SEMA 2017, V3 features an easier installation process,…
The Prometheus Design Werx A.G. Wilderness Quilt for Rooftop Tents
Want to snuggle with your significant other, your dog, or maybe just get under something cozy after a long day? Prometheus Design Werx has just introduced their A.G. Wilderness Quilt, a premium goose-down comforter you can use in your two-person tent, rooftop rig, or for couch-potatoing. The quilt is like your down comforter at…
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…
Kinsmen Hardware Rapid Deploy 270 Degree Awning
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2021 issue. Kinsmen Hardware is the quintessential example of American small business. Their story doesn’t begin with an angel investor, a flashy viral video, or funding from a multinational conglomerate, but with a need, and a craftsman who was willing to do something…
Overland News of the Week
Scout Leather Co. Hex Bit Driver If you’ve worked with high-quality hand tools, you’ll appreciate Scout Leather’s titanium hex bit driver. It accepts 1/4-inch hex bits and makes detailed work a pleasure, thanks to a ball bearing assembly that sits snugly in the palm. The knurled thumb grip provides purchase when you need to put…
Be a Backcountry Chef with ARB’s New Slide Kitchen
ARB’s drawer system gives pickup truck owners slide-out storage for quickly and easily accessing essential gear without needing to climb into the bed of the truck. And for owners that are looking to get additional functionality out of their system, the new Slide Kitchen replaces one of your existing ARB full-height, mid-height, or low-height slide…
Overland News of the Week
Luno Seatback Organizer The problem with those knee-height pockets in the back of your vehicle seats? Eventually, they just become one big pocket full of food crumbs, old tissues, and who-knows-what-else. That’s why the Luno Seatback Organizer is a breath of fresh air. It attaches to your seat’s headrest, putting it at eye level where…
Topper Lift Makes Your Truck Topper a Camper
Here is an interesting camper and cargo storage system that can enhance the versatility and space offered by your pickup truck topper. It’s called the Topper Lift, and it’s an electric, universal truck topper lifting system that fits pickup truck beds ranging from 5 feet to 8 feet in length. No Hydraulics or Air,…
Snomaster CL56D Long Term Review | Field Tested
We have been travelling for a long time now and I am a large man who loves a cold drink, my family consumes more meat than even the most carnivorous Uruguayan. What do cold drinks and meat have in common? Well, they both need to be kept cold, or at the very least cool. Until…
Is a “Hard-Side” Camper Worth the Investment?
Hard-side, built-on, live-in campers are all the rage these days. But are they worth the investment? I was having a conversation with my friend John the other day. Three times a year, he tows a large off-road caravan with a V8-powered Land Cruiser to Namibia, Botswana, or Zimbabwe. I suggested that a hard-side camper such…
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…