Australians know a thing or two about overland travel. Their country is enormous, and a traveler must be well prepared for every eventuality in the most remote areas. The Aussies have a love affair with their Utes (utility vehicles), and the flatbed configuration seems by far the most popular. But why? Well, there are a…
Redarc Unveils New Line of Adventure-ready Solar Panels
Australian power management equipment manufacturer Redarc has announced its new line of adventure-ready solar panels. Designed to survive the harsh environments that many of us explore with our overland vehicles, this collection of fixed, portable, and flexible solar cells capture additional power to keep your battery system topped off in the backcountry. “REDARC’s solar panels…
Eye-Catching Vehicle Builds of Overland Expo West 2021
Photography by Richard Giordano After a hiatus in 2020, Overland Expo West was back in the saddle this past weekend with a busy event at Flagstaff’s Fort Tuthill County Park. Offering their usual jam-packed schedule of roundtables, educational sessions, trail rides, presentations, and vehicle walk-arounds, the Expo fairgrounds were also filled to the brim with…
2021 Overland Expo West :: Day 1
Overland Expo West is officially underway in Flagstaff, Arizona. Day one brought beautiful weather and an enthusiastic crowd of attendees, all of them eager to see what the 400+ exhibitors from the overlanding and offroad industry had on display. The Expedition Portal film crew eagerly jumped in the mix, visiting a variety of exhibitors, including…
Airstream and Pottery Barn Team Up for Special Edition 28-foot Travel Trailer
Airstream’s newest collaboration is a special edition 28-foot travel trailer designed in partnership with home-goods retailer Pottery Barn. Positioned at the intersection of comfort and style, this new trailer features the amenities we’ve come to expect from Airstream with finishes, fixtures, hardware, and fabrics from Pottery Barn’s best-selling collections. “It’s a match that makes sense…
Memoir and Travel Diary: Van Living 1971, by Gay & Jack Reineck
These days the term vanlife is hardly ever mentioned independently of web-based social media platforms, but the truth is that van living predates the internet. So who were the early pioneers? And what did the early days of van living look like? Gay and Jack Reineck might just have the answers to those questions and…
Video of the Week: 600-pound ATerra Tacoma Overland Camper
A fully enclosed four-season sub-600-pound flatbed truck camper? Yes, it’s true, and it’s a first for the North American market. The ATerra camper was designed by Tern Overland and is being sold exclusively through AT Overland. After 25 months of development, the main engineer behind the project, David Soza, gives Scott the first glimpse of…
REDARC’s New Manager30R Gets Color Display and App Connectivity
The name REDARC is synonymous with off-grid power systems, and the newest version of their fan-favorite battery management system, the Manager30R, has added a handful of new features, including a RedVision color display and app connectivity. *It is also compatible with REDARC’s RedVision Vehicle Management System. The idea behind the Manager30R is simple: bring the…
VF Corporation to Discontinue Eagle Creek Brand in 2021
Eagle Creek, the luggage and backpack brand owned by VF Corporation since 2007, has confirmed that it will cease business operations by the end of the year due to “strategic and financial concerns.” The company was founded by Steve and Nona Barker in 1975 in the San Jacinto Mountains of California, where they ran a…
New Airstream Interstate 24X is a Luxury 4×4 Built for Adventure
Airstream, the manufacturer of (arguably) the most recognizable travel trailers on the road, is bringing a new Class-B adventure van to market in 2022 dubbed the 24X. Part of the Interstate product line, which includes three other coaches, the 24X is aimed at the adventure-minded individual, or family, who wants a hearty helping of luxurious…
Dometic Acquires Zamp Solar
Dometic, a global market leader in branded solutions for mobile living in the areas of food and beverage, climate, power and control, and other applications, has a warranted reputation for quality within the overlanding and outdoors community. It’s therefore exciting news that on May 26, 2021, the company acquired Zamp Solar, thus broadening its position…
Leatherman, The Bond
I’ll be refraining from gratuitously quoting Bond movies throughout this piece; that would be immature. Leatherman, akin to a much-loved secret agent, “likes to do some things the old-fashioned way” (definitely not taken from Skyfall), and their latest offering is inspired by the company’s very first multi-tool, the PST. Those of you who’ve read my…
MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier
MSR is a company synonymous with quality backcountry gear, and their latest offering, the Guardian Gravity purifier (GGP), is no different. I actually shared my friend’s older MSR water purifier during my bikepacking ride through the Spanish Sierra Nevada, and I was really impressed. On the bike, hiking or overlanding, it’s remarkable how quickly you…
Rigid, Adapt-XP
I’ll admit, I have a devious auxiliary light fetish. In fact, my Vanagon Syncro would be the perfect lighting rig for a Floyd concert or qualify as a mobile lighthouse. Admittedly, I went a little overboard, much like the sailors depending on me. However, at the time, it did feel as though the wider overlanding…
Terranova Expedition Truck Joins the EarthCruiser Ranks
As the demand for purpose-built overland trucks continues to rise, EarthCruiser has answered the call with its new Terranova expedition truck. This cab-over-style composite adventure rig is built on one of three domestic 1-ton chassis including the 2020 or newer Ford F-350, Ram 3500, or Silverado 3500. “The EC Terranova is the culmination of years…
Nemo Spoon Bags
One key issue with most ultra-lightweight sleeping bags is they’re super snug and, if you’re a larger build or broad-shouldered, they don’t allow for much movement besides lying on your back. Well, Nemo has come to the rescue with a range of Spoon bags that provide enough space for side sleepers! According to Nemo, “Seventy…
Nitecore FSP100W IPX5 Rated Waterproof Foldable Solar Panel
Nitecore is on a mission to bring durable tech to the outdoors, and their FSP100W promises to be a solar panel you can depend on in the backcountry. I currently own the Goal Zero (GZ) Yeti 1250 and their Boulder 100-watt panels and love them, but I’m intrigued by some of the cheaper alternatives. That…
Front Runner Load Bed Rack Side Mount for Bike Carrier
Try saying that product name quickly. Front Runner (FR) continues to be a market leader when it comes to overlanding accessories. Legend has it that the company was conceived between a 1988 Land Cruiser 70 and a 1992 Mercedes G-Wagen in Botswana. A handful of friends with backgrounds in engineering, design, manufacturing, and off-road racing decided…
Nemo 2021 Collection
Nemo was born after its founder, Cam Brensinger, spent a sleepless night on Mount Washington in a poorly designed bivy. He realised that evening how much opportunity there was in creating quality functional gear that enhanced the outdoor experience. As a result, just three days after graduation, he founded Nemo (New England Mountain Equipment). Seventeen…
Nitecore NPB4 Power Bank
There’s no shortage of portable power banks on the market, but there are fewer focused on the Great Outdoors. The new Nitecore NPB4 is packed with features designed to embrace rough treatment in the field whilst still integrating all the latest technical specifications and functionality. This 20,000 mAh Li-ion battery pack showcases multiple fast charge…