We’re here in Denver Colorado for the 2018 Outdoor Retailer summer show, and we’re happy to report that there is a flood of new products being unveiled for your next overland adventure! That’s right gear lovers, rejoice, for there are tents, bags, chairs, tables, lights, vans, and four-wheel drives for you to soak in at…
Field Tested: Helinox Chair Zero
With hobbies like backpacking, climbing, and paddleboarding, I find myself using a wide range of outdoor gear on off-road trips. Unfortunately, the longer the trip, the more difficult it is to squeeze all of that equipment in. Every square inch of space becomes crucial, which is why I ended up replacing my traditional camp chair…
Ruffwear Products for Your Roverlander
If you’re going to be an adventure dog, you’d better sport the best gear. I decided to try out some of Ruffwear’s offerings on a recent trip to Comb Ridge, UT.
Field Tested: Front Runner Spare Tire Braai
I love so many aspects of camping, but one of my favorites has always been the campfire. There’s something so relaxing about sitting in the cool night while a warm flame crackles nearby, and it’s the perfect opportunity to share hopes, dreams, and laughs between friends. Of course, there is one thing that can make…
The Traveler’s Tree House
We put five leading hard shell roof tents to the test to see which one is tops.
Field Tested: Engel HD30 Soft-Sided Cooler
Just when we thought 12-volt refrigerators were all the rage, the cooler revolution began. First, high-quality rotomolded cooler boxes came to market boasting the ability to keep ice for a week. Next came soft-sided models with durable construction and everyday usability (think überlunchbox) and portability. While not the first to market, the Engel HD30 has…
First Test: New 2018 Gear from MSR, Therm-a-Rest, and Seal Line
My wife likes to chide me for my ability to generate bad ideas. When I told her I was going to squeeze in one last bikepacking trip to the high peaks of Colorado just as winter storms are likely to crush my route—I realized she might have a point. The truth is, I love the…
How To Build an Inexpensive Rear-door Awning
“Gosh, how I love that small awning,” Karin-Marijke exclaimed, raising her voice above the noise from the rain pelting on the canvas. She stood cooking outside but stayed dry. “How come it took us this long to build one?” I had pondered that question myself and reflected on the start of our trip. The first…
Sneak Peek: MSR Hubba Tour 2
When foul weather forces me within the safe haven of a tent, nothing is more precious than a cavernous vestibule. With the passing of every wet minute, each inch of dry space is called upon to stash gear and makes for the ideal place to prepare meals or just stretch out. As useful as a…
Field Tested: Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station
If you read my most recent skills piece on the nuances of power management for overland travel, you know I was a bit dismissive of solar. This is not to say it lacks usefulness, but for most people the tools used to store power are more convenient. Solar can be slow, require constant alignment of…
From the ExPo Vault: The Best of the Best – Sporks
We answer the question few dare to even ask: Which spork reigns supreme?
Head to Head: Hammock vs. Tent
Like many of you, I love the comfy repose and gentle sway of a good hammock. I also think they pair well with a warm beach and a cold cocktail. As much time as I’ve spent relaxing in a hammock, I don’t often think of them as the go-to for backcountry bedding. That’s not to…
Long Term Test: Therm-a-Rest Altair HD Sleeping Bag
For what seemed like decades, sleeping bag technology languished. There were a few minor innovations with regard to baffle shapes and fabrics improved slightly from year to year, but not until recently has the humble sleeping bag received the engineering advancements it deserved. This is particularly true of bags in the Therm-a-Rest line like the…
The Coolest Cooler: Otter Box’s New Venture 45
As a long-time fan of Otter Box phone and pad cases, I was a little surprised to see the Colorado-based company enter the seemingly saturated cooler market. That said, I knew they had the resources and design acumen needed to create a winner capable of standing above the competition. After receiving an early sample of…
Field Tested: Primus Onja
Did you know that a camp stove can help you meet new people? I sure didn’t, but it can if that stove is the Onja. It seems bystanders can miraculously appear from thin air just to say, “What the heck is that” or “Hey, now that’s cool,” when you least expect it. It even happened…
Field Tested: Yeti Panga 50-Liter Duffel
When it comes to product marketing, talk is cheap which is why I respect brands like Yeti. They let their products speak for themselves. If it could talk, their new Panga 50 waterproof duffel would be a loud-mouth braggart. I would argue it is the toughest and most weather-thwarting duffel ever made. If you have…
Field Tested Long-term review | Yeti Tundra 45
Last year, we presented you with The Big Chill, an exhaustive review of some of the best rotomolded coolers on the market. Over the course of 10 days, we analyzed construction and design, drain systems, ergonomics, capacity, and structural integrity. We then filled them with ice, set them on a deck under the midsummer sun…
Long Term Test: Yakima SkyRise Rooftop Tent
When Yakima first announced the release of their roof top tent last year, three attributes from the press release immediately caught my attention. The 95-pound weight for the smallest of two sizes made it one of the lightest roof top tents on the market, and because Yakima has spent several decades perfecting all manner of…
Cool Cutters
Anyone who knows me is aware that I’m the guy, or was, who’s always asking for a knife to borrow. I used to not like toting around a blade, and certainly wasn’t particular about the ones I did manage to carry. Then I started getting spoiled by having a knife on me at all times,…
Field Tested: Big Agnes Foidel Canyon 2
Buried deep in the dark recesses of my gear closet reside a trio of tents I seldom use. Their stuff sacks are tattered and torn, the tents within equally haggard. Oddly enough they haven’t been on many outings. Whereas my backpacking and mountaineering tents look brand spanking new even after a decade of adventures, just…
