Loki’s transition from building modular showrooms and tradeshow displays to slide-in truck campers may seem a little odd, but it’s certainly not the first business shift motivated by the pandemic, especially in the recreational vehicle market, which is booming. With demand for campers and RVs still peaking, many consumers are eagerly waiting (sometimes over a…
Field Tested: Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted in Overland Journal’s Spring 2021 Issue. The Micro Grid hoodie from outdoor clothing manufacturer Melanzana has developed a cult following over the past decade and a half. Perhaps it’s because this synthetic hooded pullover achieves the perfect balance of comfort and technical performance or because its two-tone…
Featured Campervan :: 1977 Mercedes Benz LA 911 B – “Akela”
People often assume that we’re able to travel full-time because we’re millionaires, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Nevertheless, I always say, yes, I am. I’m a “time millionaire.” I may not have lots of money, but I have time, and that’s most important. -Leander Nardin Akela World is comprised of Leander, Maria, their son,…
Field Tested: Nomad Grill and Smoker
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2021 Issue. There is nothing better than a satisfying meal after a day of adventure in the backcountry, and it needn’t consist of hotdogs and Kraft singles on white bread. Enter the Nomad, the low-mess solution to smoking and grilling. As travelers, we…
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…
Ballistol Oil
A few blissful years ago, I stood near Lake Bodensee, which borders Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, helping a meticulous German man called Olaf attach a folding bracket and stainless steel sand ladders to my Land Rover. He worked diligently and took pride in his work; the bracket and sand ladders had been designed and manufactured…
Featured Campervan Upfitter :: Voyager Campervans
Voyager Campervans was founded after a 2017 road trip when founder Grady converted and took a van on the road as part of a job with a beverage start-up. The experience of traveling for an extended period of time reminded him of road trips that he used to take with his family (and dog). Grady…
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…
Featured Overland Trailer :: Oregon Trail’R DoDrop Alpha
Photos courtesy of OregonTrailer.net Raised in the mountains of Southern Oregon, Jon and Sawyer Christianson are the brothers behind Oregon Trail’R. As outdoor enthusiasts, the pair knows what it takes to make an off-road trailer functional and comfortable. Sawyer’s professional building background is in woodworking, and Jon has loads of experience with fabrication, CNC operation,…
Vasque Breeze LT NTX-Mid
Vasque, “inspired by history, driven by innovation,” is the brainchild of William Sweasy. After travelling to Europe in 1964, he realised a hiking craze was sweeping the continent and returned home “determined to create purpose-built trail boots to mobilize Americans outdoors.” In the decades that followed, Vasque steadily built a reputation for durable mountain footwear,…
Overland News of the Week
USWE CORE 16 & 25-liter Dual Sport Daypack USWE Sports is a Swedish backpack company that was founded by a group of dirtbike riders. Their idea was straightforward: design a backpack that doesn’t bounce around when you are participating in action sports, like riding dirtbikes, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, or anything else that involves…
Featured Truck Camper :: Global Expedition Vehicles Turtle
Photos courtesy of Global Expedition Vehicles When it comes to designing an expedition vehicle that can traverse continents, having experience behind the wheel in a variety of locations is indispensable. Founder of Global Expedition Vehicles (GEV) Michael Van Pelt understands this well. He’s been refining his expedition vehicle designs since the 1980s in an effort…
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…
Overland News of the Week
Trestle Aeropress K-cup Adapter Let me ask you a question: are you really an overlander if you haven’t added aftermarket parts to your Aeropress? The Trestle Aeropress K-cup adaptor allows you to utilize K-cup coffee pods with your trusty coffee syringe. Advantages? Well, to start, K-cups are pre-portioned and pre-ground which makes measuring or adjusting…
Custom Composite Truck Campers :: Bahn Camper Works
The appeal of truck campers for off-highway travel is hard to deny. They are positioned at the intersection of capability and comfort. Truck campers are homes on wheels that can get to the majority of places you’d like to camp. They provide a retreat from the elements, surpassing the protection of conventional ground or rooftop…
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…
Tommy Campervans and the Hotshot Adventure Truck
Photos by Justin Wade Orton Tommy Campervans is an Arizona-based campervan and adventure vehicle upfitter. Their skilled crew converts standard cargo vans, but they also upfit decommissioned Hotshot buggies for use as overlanding and adventure rigs. To give you a little more context, Hotshot buggies are crew carriers used by BLM and Forest Service firefighters….
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…