It seems Ramona Cox was born for adventure. She won’t share the locations of her favorite fishing holes, but she’s quick to share her survival stories with other adventurers, whether they travel by land, air, or sea. The Hollywood, California, native has adventured through 50 countries, pushing the limits of her comfort zones and navigating…
Hikers Brew Coffee Review: Adventure-ready Coffee for the Trail
I’ve had a lot of backcountry coffee. Some of it is just plain bad, and others are pretty good. Most of the coffee marketed to adventurous folks like me is instant. I don’t mind good instant coffee, but who says every adventure necessitates it? For the times when you have room in your kit for…
Children of the Road, A Life of Unconventional Norms
Heidi and Jens, full-time overlanders for 15 years, are the real deal. They’ve crossed rivers in Mongolia, the Canning Stock in Australia, and the salt flats of Bolivia. Jens boasts a Unimog tattoo from a parlor in Shanghai; Heidi cooks Kashmiri curry and speaks five languages. We met in Oaxaca, Mexico, in one of those…
Trail Fire Grill, High-Elevation Cooking the Campfire Way
I knew I liked the Trail Fire Grill when I saw creator Mark Ritchie demo it at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona, this past spring. He had made a bacon and eggs breakfast for me and showed me how this camping grill serves as a barbecue, wok, and oven. I took the grill home…
Opinel Nomad Cooking Kit and Picnic+
A while ago, we declared that Opinel knives are art. We stand by that declaration and, as if to prove us right, Opinel has launched a new, innovative multi-purpose range which has us drooling and dreaming of a long hike and a campfire feast. Multi-purpose gear is the outdoor explorer’s holy grail; we love a product…
Best Finds for Overlanders from the Big Gear Show
Presented by: The Big Gear Show isn’t specific to overlanding, but that’s a nice change of pace in some ways from more niche events. The versatility of full-time travel means that some of the best tools to enhance life on the road come from unlikely corners of the market. The entire outdoor industry is fair…
Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube 8 x 32 Monocular Telescope
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2022 Issue. The Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube is a fun little gadget to keep in your vehicle’s center console or mount to your backpack strap when you are heading out the door for an adventure. Primarily designed to help you get a closer glimpse of…
The Dometic Go Camp Collection Review
I like to keep my car packed with whatever I’d need for my favorite outdoor pursuits. On any given day, my car is full of camping gear, bike gear, a camp cook setup, and probably more. But since I also use my vehicle for hauling people, groceries, and other less adventurous things, a lot of…
C6 Outdoor Rev Tent
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2022 Issue. Roof tents certainly have their place, but most buyers would benefit from purchasing a solution that is lightweight, easily removable, and half the cost. There have been few options to address those practicalities until the recent launch of the Rev Tent by…
When Comfort is King: The Vipor XVI Chair
A good camp chair can make or break the moment when relaxing around a campfire, fishing next to a mountain stream, or just enjoying the sights, sounds, and scents of nature. The adventurer’s chair needs to be comfortable and durable enough to hold up to the elements under continuous use. It must also be supportive…
SylvanSport Announces Loft Hard Shell Roof Top Tent
There is a new, well-established player in the hard shell roof top tent (RTT) market, and with a well below average unit cost (and limited period of free shipping to the US Lower 48), this attractive, rapid set up roof tent is sure to be in high demand. The Loft RTT is available in any…
Born Outdoor Badger Bed
As a kid, I remember going on our annual quail trip and seeing a bedroll for the first time. I was intrigued and immediately wanted one, as it was thicker, more comfortable, and definitely easier to put away than my sleeping bag and tent. Most people conjure an image of a canvas-wrapped pad with leather…
Dometic Launches Inflatable Tent Range for the EMEA Market
Inflatable outdoor products used to be terrible; we can’t count how many times we’ve woken up with a hip on cold, solid ground when yet another “indestructible” inflatable mattress self-destructed. Most older overlanders and campers have been traumatized by these products to the point that they would prefer that only the tires on the vehicle…
Overland News of the Week
REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform Two pieces of gear caught my attention at the Northwest Overland Rally, and REI Co-op’s Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform was one of them. Car camping is arguably the most accessible form of vehicle-based travel for most, and I can see how a tiny interior could be made functional by…
IceCapades: High-performance and Lightweight, Soft-sided Coolers Get the Job Done
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2022 Issue. Soft-sided coolers have gotten good—really good. From the back seat of your truck to your campsite and on the trail, they provide cold storage for food and drinks, with waterproof closures and excellent ice retention. But beyond these fundamental functions, they are also significantly…
The Kammok Crosswing is Killing it on Kickstarter
I have an awning on my Defender; it is very well made but relatively poorly designed. To set it up, I need to motivate the assistance of a teenager or my ever-busy wife, and over the next five minutes of unzipping, unrolling, pole deployment, and leveling, a relationship may very well suffer. Yes, I could…
ARB Premieres Two New Rooftop Tents Including a First Hard-shell Design
Rooftop tents have come a long way since they first appeared in the 1930s and will always remain a relevant element of the overland and outdoor lifestyle. With the simple installation of a roof tent, a vehicle is elevated and repurposed at a relatively low cost. While older roof tents were large, heavy, and hard…
Overland News of the Week
Purtrek 2-in-1 Trekking Poles Purtrek have developed an ingenious water solution for while out hiking. The innovative, “why didn’t I think of that” 2-in-1 trekking pole provides you with clean and safe water on hand, on-demand, and frees up space in your backpack. The trekking pole has an integrated water filtration system that you submerge,…
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Backpacking Tent
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2022 Issue. Few brands in the world of bikepacking have an equal reputation for quality, innovation, and functionality as Big Agnes. The Colorado company was established 20 years ago with a mission to “build better gear for sleeping in the backcountry” by a team who…
Treeline Outdoors Tamarack Plus Rooftop Tent
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2022 Issue. Many tents are coated in flame retardants to meet regulatory standards in North America, and these chemicals can easily transfer from fabric to skin to the hands (and ultimately, to your mouth). This is where Treeline Outdoors is making progress toward a safer…