The Gnara x Livsn EcoTrek Overalls are one of those rare pieces of outdoor clothing that feel genuinely designed for women who actually spend time outside. For a pair of technical, utilitarian overalls, they’re surprisingly comfortable, and I wear mine constantly, much to my husband’s disdain. He says I always look comfortable, but also like…
Category Archives: Gear
Overland News of the Week, October 9, 2026
Vintage Rides Iron Horse Nomad Trails Documentary Film Coming Soon Each year, Vintage Rides brings the vision of motorcycle travel to life by producing an original documentary film centered on heartfelt stories of adventure. In the latest edition (launching October 15), Vintage Rides tour leader Johann Rousselot arrives in Kyrgyzstan and sets off alone on…
Patriot Campers Introduces a Lighter, Lower-Priced Gen 3 X1
Patriot Campers has introduced the Gen 3 X1 off-road camper trailer, positioning it as a return to the company’s roots: a trailer built for exploration with fewer “unnecessary necessities.” The new model combines structural aluminum construction, revised suspension, and an integrated tent, with a listed tare weight of 895 kilograms (1,973 pounds). For overland travelers,…
Luminous Flux: Swim, Sink, or Shine; We Test Nine LED Driving Lights to Their Limits
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2013 issue, this article is part of that celebration. I distinctly remember the moment I became aware of auxiliary lights. I was 15 years of age and…
Shopping With Purpose: Practical Tips for Finding Meaningful Travel Mementos
Photos by Richard Giordano All I wanted was a pack of Japanese sheet masks. A seemingly simple task, but as I entered Don Quijote’s brightly lit shopfront, welcomed by the store’s familiar jingle, I was met by the crush of people akin to the nearby Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Shoulder to shoulder with my fellow shoppers,…
EP325 | Principles of Overlanding: App Navigation with Chris Cordes
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady discusses the core principles of overlanding navigation with Chris Cordes, highlighting primary, secondary, contingency, and emergency backups. They compare three main app categories: turn-by-turn tools like Google Maps, reference/layer apps like iOverlander and Tracks4Africa, and hybrid discipline-specific platforms such as onX and Gaia. While Google excels at everyday routing…
Gear Callout: Laundry at Camp
I haven’t owned a washing machine since 2018, when we sold our first house on wheels, a 40-foot diesel motorhome. Through the intervening years, as my family’s movable homes have shrunk in size, my appreciation for modern appliances has deepened. Some days at camp, when I’m playing catch-up, I relate to Mary Lois Walker Morris,…
Classic Kit: The Hi-Lift Jack
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2012 issue, this article is part of that celebration. It is the unsung hero of expedition travel, an essential piece of kit that any mindful backcountry regular…
Classic Kit: The Pith Helmet
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2010 issue, this article is part of that celebration. Home, they say, is where you hang your hat. If that hat happened to be the legendary pith…
Field Tested: Pelican ATX and Aegis Carry-On Luggage
Airline travel without checking bags is a cheat code that is well worth striving for. Free yourself from the worry of theft, damage, and lost luggage (and the wasted time associated) with either of these two premium carry-on options from Pelican. Both offer organized space for up to a week of travel between laundry cycles…
Field Tested: The Campspotter App
Michiel Pruijssers thought he had planned the perfect camping trip. The weather forecast looked good, the campspot ideal. But when a powerful storm rolled in and ruined the experience, Michiel, a longtime outdoorsperson and SAR volunteer, felt unprepared. Thus, he built Campspotter, an app with a simple mission: to make finding and planning your next…
Overland News of the Week, September 11, 2026
KC Hilites Platform One Roof Rack for Full-Size and HD Trucks KC Hilites has expanded its Platform One roof-rack system to fit full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. The low-profile platform uses proprietary aluminum extrusions and precision-formed steel components, combining a broad cargo surface with multiple mounting points for overland equipment. Its modular design lets owners…
Field Tested :: Alu-Cab ModCap Canopy Base
For years, I ran an RSI SmartCap on my Ford Ranger. It’s a canopy that’s hard to fault—stylish, sleek, and built with clean lines that give any vehicle a polished, factory-fresh look. I loved how refined it made my rig look; it had presence, and it turned heads. But as my trips became longer and…
Overland News of the Week, August 28, 2026
iKamper and Rivian Launch New Skycamp 4.0 DLX Rooftop Tent Suitable for the Rivian R2 and R1S, the new Skycamp introduces an HC Staircase and an electrical junction box that routes power from a compatible external 12-volt source. Additional campsite functionality includes independently dimmable interior and exterior lighting, dedicated HVAC and electrical passthroughs, and USB-A,…
Motsmann Engineering Introduces the 2027 Outranger Fiberglass Off-Road Camper
The ultimate long-term overland vehicle, in my admittedly biased opinion, is a classic Defender with a galvanized chassis beneath its aluminum body. Lightweight and resistant to rot and corrosion, it is the kind of vehicle that can last for decades while continuing to serve faithfully. And who does not love the Defender’s boxy profile? Motsmann…
Riding 50cc Kreidler Florett Bikes in Australia with Bea and Helmut of Time to Ride
Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano welcomes Bettina “Bea” Höbenreich and Helmut Koch to discuss the impacts of returning to ADV basics, answering the question “How minimalist can you go and still function in expedition conditions?” Join us as Bea and Helmut share their incredible journey of traveling the world on vintage 50cc motorcycles, exploring…
Jeremy Bergh on Facing Mortality
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Jeremy “Thor” Bergh of Alu-Cab about building his South African export-driven business and supporting over 600 employees. Bergh shares a deeply personal account of his health journey, beginning with a seizure diagnosis and a brain tumor (glioma) near critical brain regions. He details the immense challenges of managing…
Geotrek Flatiron Balances Compact Dimensions With Practical Off-Grid Capability
It is no secret that we are not a #vanlife kind of family. A while back, I wrote an article for my website that may have included an introduction comparing overlanding to Hendrix and #vanlife to Nickelback. It might also have mentioned that the good news for #vanlifers—after they had been berated for 500 words—was…
Trail Feast and Benchmade on the Alvord Playa
The Alvord Desert is one of our favorite locations in the entire USA, so when an invitation from knife maker Benchmade popped into our inbox, inviting us to a weekend of food, fun, and friends, we jumped at the opportunity. We loaded our gear into a Geotrek van and headed east from Bend, a little…
Fix Manufacturing Tools :: Field Tested
Long after my poor father gave up on trying to teach me anything mechanical, he did at least instill one important bit of wisdom: the whole “right tool for the job” thing is real. I spent $39 on a tool whose sole job is to hold my drivetrain in place so I can spin the…