There are very few vehicle accessory companies with such a long-standing reputation for quality as KC Hilites. Moreover, the designs and performance of their latest products have overlanders like me transfixed, jaw agape, breathless like a deer in Flex Era 4 spots! I remember purchasing my VW Syncro and immediately (childishly) investing in four cheap…
RacksBrax Mounting Brackets Now Available in the US From Adventure Imports
Family-owned Australian company RacksBrax offers an innovative accessory mounting system that allows for the quick removal (10-seconds or less) of roof-rack mounted accessories like recovery boards, jacks, and now awnings too. And the exciting news for US-based customers is that RacksBrax products are now available for the first time in North America from Prescott, Arizona-based…
Featured Off-road Trailer :: Beaver Built Adventure Trailers
Beaver Built Adventure Trailers, based in Airdrie, Alberta, is located just over an hour east of Banff National Park in central Canada’s spectacular Rocky Mountains. Robbie Cunningham, one of the co-founders of Beaver Built, created the company out of necessity. He was looking for an off-road trailer that was comfortable for backcountry adventures and rugged…
Bikepacking Bedtime
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…
Episode 36 The Best Overland Gear of 2020
Show notes for episode 36 Summary: Join Matt and Scott as they discuss the overland industry challenges and opportunities of 2020, along with their favorite overlanding equipment, 4WDs, and motorcycles. Host Bios: Scott Brady Scott is the publisher and co-founder of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal, and is often credited with popularizing overlanding in North…
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…
Featured Campervan Upfitter :: Boulder Campervans
In the world of upfitters offering fully custom campervan builds, there are a handful of businesses that stand out from the crowd, and Boulder Campervans is one. Founded by Anna and Brian Crider in Boulder, Colorado, this business is the culmination of the couple’s life-changing experience living and traveling full time in a campervan. After…
Airstream Flying Cloud 30FB Office Debuts Following Uptick in Remote Work
Inspired by the widespread shift to remote work that has occurred during the pandemic, Airstream has responded with an exciting new travel trailer specifically designed for those with the new-found freedom to roam. It’s called the Flying Cloud 30FB Office and it’s built on the bones of the Flying Cloud trailer which was originally introduced…
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…
The Apocatron – 1986 Volkswagen T3 Syncro
I remember six years ago when I initially began the hunt for a Volkswagen (Vanagon) T3 Syncro, a wise man once said, ‘he who seeketh a Syncro will always pay £15,000 ($20,000) regardless of initial purchase price’. As I gazed up from one knee in awe of the stoic, I finally understood. I may have…
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…
Featured Flatbed Truck Camper :: Bison Overland Space Wrangler
Photo: CD Davis Pairing a compact camper with a 4WD truck is a capable and nimble approach to comfortable overland travel. But not every truck camper is created equal. Slide-in campers have some advantages, like simple installation, but they sacrifice space due to their integration with existing truck beds, and many are not really…
Nissan Debuts e-NV200 Winter Campervan Concept
While the e-NV200 compact cargo van from Nissan has been around for a little while now, this new winter camper concept aims to demonstrate how adventurous individuals or couples might enjoy an emissions-free vanlife in the colder, snowier months. And while it’s a concept and not a production vehicle, it’s certainly interesting to see another…
Boreas Campers Partners with Australian-made Cruisemaster Suspension
Boreas Campers, who made headlines recently with their feature in the new Ford Tremor announcement has another exciting development in this year. Starting in 2021, Boreas will be the first North American off-road trailer manufacturer to feature Australian-made Cruisemaster suspension across their entire line of trailers. Unfamiliar with Boreas Campers? Check out our feature of…
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,…
Featured Truck Camper :: Kimbo Camper
Drawing his inspiration from the USS Alabama (a nuclear submarine), Mark King, founder of Kimbo Camper, designed his first truck camper back in 2016. At that time, there was nothing on the market that perfectly met his needs as an inventor and entrepreneur, so he was motivated to create something new. His goal was simple:…