At events like Overland Expo, you can’t even throw your favorite collapsible spork without hitting at least one new portable power pack dealer. To be special in this market, you can’t just be good; you have to excel. When I was asked to review the new Flexopower Lithium444 I wasn’t all that excited until Chris…
Organizational Alchemy
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2018 “Junk show” were the words used to describe one camper’s vehicle, the back seat and storage area a cascading pile of sagging Rubbermaid containers and crisscrossed bungee cords. While the words were harsh, the Internet, and community forums in particular, often show little…
Locked and Loaded
The subtle art of properly storing your gear and working with your vehicle’s GVWR.
The Modern Campaign Camp
Backwoods accommodations can be rustic without roughing it.
My Favorite Free Travel Apps
I have been living on the road for just over a year now, and one of the more common questions I receive is What are the best apps for travel and overlanding? As you can imagine, this is a tough question to answer. There are so many useful applications out there these days that I…
Treeline Outdoors Tamarack Constellation
A new roof tent comes to market with everything but the kitchen sink.
Gear Bag: February
Kovea Cupid Heater For those willing to brave the cold, winter camping can be a rewarding experience. It allows you to escape the fair-weather folk for a serene and secluded experience, giving you the chance to see nature in a whole new light. Just because you’re camping in the cold doesn’t mean YOU have to…
Burning Rings of Fire
Exploring the best firepit options for camp and cooking.
Field Tested: Pull Pal RW6,000
If you’re looking for a lighter and more compact alternative to the full-size Pull Pal, you might want to check out the redesigned RW6,000. It shaved 2 pounds off its predecessor and has an improved soft shackle connection while still retaining compatibility with metal D-rings. Although the RW6,000 is designed for smaller rigs like UTVs,…
Gear Bag: January
Blue Ridge XL Tire Bag Trash, firewood, fluids, muddy boots, and dirty gear are things we don’t want rolling around inside our vehicles on a camping trip, yet often times there just isn’t a better place to store them. That’s why Blue Ridge Overland Gear created the XL Tire Bag for the back of your…
Field Tested: Nemo Stargaze Luxury Recliner
As ridiculous as it sounds, camp chairs are a hotly debated subject these days. Everyone has their preference, and whether it’s small lightweight options or the most expensive canvas and wood campaign chair you’ve ever seen, each has its merits. I’ve been on the hunt for my own favorite for some time now, and after…
Classic Kit: The Ural Sidecar
The tri-wheeled motorcycle favored by the Red Army and adventurists alike.
MaxTrax Extreme :: First Field Test
“Expedition Portal gets a first look at the newest, and most durable MaxTrax yet.” I remember the first time we really, really, really needed Maxtrax. The Expeditions 7 team was deep into the Canning Stock Route in Australia and encountered a half-mile long, water-logged track. We had already been stuck many times that day, but…
Roof Top Tents Vs Campers: The Pros and Cons
Four years. That is how long my family and I lived in a roof top tent. The four of us camped almost every day of those long years—cooking outside, living outside, and sleeping between walls of canvas. As the kids grew and our journey evolved from an adventure into a lifestyle, we realized that it…
First Test: The iKamper X-Cover Roof Top Tent
Innovation is a rarity, and quality is even more elusive, but this new roof top tent (RTT) from iKamper has them both in spades. At Expedition Portal, we were given the first access to this new tent and took the opportunity to use it in the field, digging into every feature and fabric looking for…
The British Touring Jacket You’ve Always Wanted
I’ve wanted a Belstaff Tourist Trophy motorcycle jacket for a while. That classic, British, belt-waisted jacket made famous by just about every American actor who’s thrown a leg over a motorcycle. Most notably, Mr. McQueen (see: here). My good friend Andy has one, something he scored from a smelly thrift shop in the Pacific Northwest….
Field Tested: GSI Glacier Stainless Camper Set
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I tend to purchase expensive gear. It’s not because I want to appear fancy or anything, but rather because of the countless hard lessons I learned with cheap gear in my early days of camping. Ever had a pot of hot coffee and grounds fall on your lap…
New Expedition Portal & Overland Journal Shirts are Here!
We’re excited to say that we’ve just received our full stock of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal T-shirts! This latest update features a vintage Power Wagon in the mountains, equipped with a classic slide-in camper for an old-school look we love. The Overland Journal shirt plays off of our previous design with the Defender, but this…
A Look Back at 2018
It seems like yesterday that we were sitting down to write this same story on 2017, and now here we are aggregating our favorite trips and memories from 2018. Holy cow, were there a lot. This past year held some of our biggest adventures to date, from right here at home all the way to…
2018 Holiday Gift Guide $300+
It’s hard to believe that December is already halfway gone, meaning there is precious little time left before the holidays. Of course, by this time you’ve probably got most of your gifts for friends and family sorted out, but if you haven’t, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with two lists of great outdoor ideas….