Benchmade 5370FE Shootout OTF OTF automatic knives can be deployed single-handed in an instant, making them the perfect blades for use in high-stress situations. But many of them are heavy and prohibitively expensive due to complex mechanisms. Benchmade’s new Shootout aims to change that, with a $300 price point and a lightweight build that is…
Sea Eagle FastTrack Angler
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2021 Issue. If you are overlanding near water, one of the healthiest and fun things you can do is fish for dinner every morning; it’s also a great way to save money. While casting a lure from shore can be productive, there is nothing…
Field Tested: Wacaco Picopresso Travel Espresso Maker
The first article I ever had published in the pages of Overland Journal was a field-tested review of Wacaco’s Nanopresso travel espresso maker. Given that fact, it feels especially fitting that now, two years later, I am reviewing Wacaco’s newest product: the Picopresso. The Wacaco Picopresso The Pico is the culmination of eight years…
I Owe the Poolahoop Inventor an Apology
Life has taught me to at least appear humble. I have a childhood friend who somehow got it into his stubborn mind that he would never, ever apologize. He is a miserable, wealthy adult. I am relatively poor but proportionately happy. I say sorry. As my Brazilian friend Rafa (pronounced Haafa) likes to observe about…
New Gear for Overland Travelers at Outdoor Retailer 2022 Snow Show
Considered by many to be the premier outdoor industry trade show in North America, Outdoor Retailer brings together brands, store owners, athletes, PR, media—pretty much anyone that has anything to do with outdoor recreation. The winter version of this get-together, referred to as the OR Snow Show, just took place at the Denver Convention center….
Act Now and You Could Get Free Spare Parts for Your Primus
For the second year running, Primus announces the return of the Service For a Reason initiative to provide free repair parts for select Primus backpacking stoves. Following a successful campaign launched in Spring 2021, the company aims to continue growing the culture of repairing gear in the outdoor industry rather than replacing it with new. The…
Nimbl Evolution Camper Review
The Donner Pass has a formidable reputation, and this festive winter found a South African family driving a marvelous vehicle over record depths of ice and snow—white-knuckled. Us Southern Hemisphere people know as much about snow as you might about sangomas and umqombothi, and to be perfectly honest, we avoid the white stuff as we travel…
Black Series HQ19 Trailer
Photography by Richard Giordano When I sent a membership request to the Black Series Camper US Facebook group, I felt like a bit of an infiltrator. Sure, I had spent over a month in the 2020 Black Series HQ19 and had my own opinions about the trailer, but I was also genuinely curious how the…
7 of the Best Overland Camp Tables
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2021 Issue. When I venture into the great outdoors in search of nature’s simplicity, there are many items that I am eager to leave at home, like my laptop, cellphone, and internet connection. But one thing that I’ve come to consider essential gear…
Moto Camp Nerd—an All-In-One Online Store for Motorcycle Camping
One of the biggest challenges for overnight, multi-day, or long-distance motorcycle trips is what to pack. Although you can get most camping gear at any backpacking store, you may run into blank stares while asking a staff member what they recommend for lightweight camping on two wheels. Wouldn’t it be great if all this gear…
Overland Gift Guide 2021: 15 Affordable Overland Gifts UNDER $100
This overland gift guide is presented by GCI Outdoor When giving holiday gifts, it’s the thought that matters the most. That’s why the Expedition Portal team has rounded up this list of 15 affordable overland gifts, all under $100. If you’re shopping on a budget and in need of an affordable overland gift for…
Overland Gift Guide: 15 Gifts OVER $100 For Your Favorite Overland Adventurer
This overland gift guide is presented by iKamper The holidays are upon us, and if you’re looking for a big overland gift for the road warrior in your family, you’ve come to the right place. The Expedition Portal team has put together this list of must-have overland gifts over $100. From sleeping systems to…
Thanksgiving Overland Gift Guide
Presented by GCI Outdoor Beyond Clothing Guide Lite Gloves Gloves are one of those small, crucial items that can protect your fingers from cold weather, winch cables, tool handles, and grime. However not all gloves are created equal, and few (in my experience) are often up to the task of protecting your delicate…
The iKamper Disco Series: One-Hit-Wonder or Multi-Functional Cooking System?
Photography by Richard Giordano When it comes to overlanding gear, I’m a firm proponent of items serving multiple functions. Unless you have a ton of space and ample payload to carry the proverbial kitchen sink, priorities must be made, sacrifices identified, and potentially, tears shed. For each of us, this means something different. I recently…
Overland News of the Week
Harley Davidson Bagger Riding Jacket w/ Integrated Backpack Heading out on a short motorcycle ride and need a little bit of additional cargo space? Harley Davidson’s new Bagger riding jacket, constructed from 600-denier polyester canvas with a Teflon coating, offers protection from the pavement with a removable integrated backpack offering 20-liters of storage (men’s size…
Dryad Cookery Titanium Spatula, Leather Skillet Handle Cover
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2021 Issue. When I think about ways to add enjoyment to my cooking experience, it’s nearly always about a new recipe or a fresh set of knives. Maybe even some new pans, but a spatula was never on the list. Earlier this year,…
Field Tested – Quick Pitch North America Roof Top Tent, Weathershade 20 Second Awning, Quick-en-Suite Shower Cubicle, and Quick-Barbe
I was faced with a dilemma when planning a journey across the USA with a borrowed Range Rover Classic: accommodating three adults and a teenager in a compact SUV. We would be camping every day, and needed a sleeping solution for four people as well as space for those multi-day breaks from the road. We…
The Best Overland Fridge Freezers
Editors Note: This article originally ran in the print version of Overland Journal, Winter 2021 Issue Coolest of the Cool | Testing the latest fridge-freezers to their limits. Having interviewed hundreds of overlanders, we often ask what their favorite piece of kit is, and almost sheepishly, many reply “my fridge.” The reasons vary, like making…
Field Tested: Improved iKamper SkyCamp 2.0 Rooftop Tent, Annex S Awning, and HC Steps
Photography by Jason Spafford Three years ago, when we installed the first generation (2017) SkyCamp 4X (the original four-berth) upon White Rhino, our 2015 Toyota Hilux, little did we know where the rig would see us make camp—certainly when compared to where we had set our sights. The Cape to Cape plan kick-started well on…
New Overland Gear at Expo West 2021
There was a huge selection of new overland gear at Overland Expo West 2021 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Here are some highlights from the show. iKamper Disco Series Cooking Outfit iKamper makes a strong entry to the cooking game with this modular setup, complete with burner, adjustable legs, and more. What makes this cooking outfit unique?…