When I arrived back in the US after a multi-year journey across Europe, West, and Southern Africa, I stepped on a scale outside a Publix supermarket in Florida. I was amazed to find that I weighed almost exactly 300 pounds. The pandemic lockdown in South Africa had obviously not been good for my waistline, and…
Overland Expo Mountain West :: Top Gear
The 2024 overland show season keeps churning, and the most recent stop for its marquee event, Overland Expo, was in Loveland, Colorado. Every Overland Expo has its own character, and the show owner, Emerald Expositions, is trying hard to lean into those differences: Expo West is where the travelers gather, Pacific Northwest feels the “crunchiest,”…
Mystery Ranch :: Field Tested
As overlanders, we aim to travel light and avoid excess gear that can be cumbersome, especially as a family of four where space is always an issue. We truly appreciate well-designed storage solutions and carriers for when we’re out and about, and Mystery Ranch consistently delivers. Mystery Ranch was co-founded by Dana Gleason and Renée…
Overland News of the Week
Pakmule Launches the Motomule Moto Hauler In this week’s, Overland News of the Week, we introduce Pakmule’s Motomule. A motorbike is a great overlanding accessory, but hauling bikes has always been a challenge. The Pakmule Motomule is an innovative hitch-mounted moto hauler designed for the easy loading and transport of dirt bikes and light adventure…
Rux Essentials Hybrid Storage :: Field Tested
Organization is a key component to enhancing your overland travel experience. From mapping out your route and menus to sorting your gear, having some semblance of a plan goes a long way toward boosting the fun factor. I have found that a little bit of organizing ahead of time even allows for more spontaneity in…
The Inflatable POD-01 Tent by EXØD Might Be the Camp Solution You Have Been Waiting For
Thanks to the evolution of material technology, inflatable outdoor equipment is becoming more practical for short- and long-term overland travel applications. The POD-01 by EXØD represents a novel approach to portable outdoor living, blending advanced kite-surfing technology with the practical needs of a temporary shelter. Designed for up to four occupants, the POD-01 weighs a…
The Inflatable GT Sky Loft is the Largest Rooftop Tent Available
One of my favorite pearls of earned wisdom is that space and light are the ultimate living luxury when overlanding. It was that belief that led me to convert my Land Rover into a camper with five large windows after living with my family in a rooftop tent for nearly five years. That conversion cost,…
Ignik Topside and Flipside Heated Bedding :: Field Tested
Rest is one of the most underrated necessities of overland travel. One of the first pieces of advice I offer to new overlanders is to go all in on their sleep systems. Waking up refreshed with a comfortable eight hours on the pillow makes everything you do during the day that much more vibrant and…
Top Gear :: Overland Expo Pacific North West 2024
While exploring the booths at this year’s Overland Expo West PNW, I realized that the products worth highlighting should not only be ones I would personally use (and those backed by powerful PR firms) but, more importantly, those created by entrepreneurs. As someone who has been an entrepreneur, self-employed, and a freelancer for most of…
Portable Fire Pits for Every Season
I learned to explore the outdoors when I was quite young, and one of my early mentors-in-adventure was a scoutmaster who was exceptionally cautious about when and where he built a campfire. “Every campfire needs the right campsite, but not every campsite needs a fire,” he would say. These are wise words to live by….
VSSL Nest Pour-over Kit :: Field Tested
When VSSL released its Nest Pour-over kit in early 2024, promising a bombproof, go-anywhere all-in-one solution to coffee on the go, it faced long odds as a substitute for my evolved camp kit: the Lardera Chestnut C2 Max hand grinder, Hario V60 metal dripper and stainless Able Kone filter. This durable and lightweight combination has…
Bubba Goose Packs :: Field Tested
I stepped into a friend’s atmospheric cabin in the shadow of Mt. Rainier as the last of winter’s snow melted in the shade of innumerable fir trees. I received a text message from my friend, an accomplished and respected industrial designer, saying that he had left a few cool things on the sofa beside the…
Overland News of the Week
Opinel Releases New Grilling Set Fabricated in France, this grill set includes a stainless steel folding knife, a spatula insert, and extra-large tongs with a stonewashed finish. The No. 12B folding knife features a beechwood handle from sustainably managed French forests and is equipped with a bottle opener at the end, while the spatula is…
Field Tested :: Hest Down Comforter with Top Sheet
Having already had the privilege of putting the Hest Foamy mattress and pillow to the test, I eagerly seized the opportunity to evaluate Hest’s down comforter and coordinating top sheet. In the mountains of Northern New Mexico, as the fall leaves were meeting the first snow dustings of the season, I found a cozy spot…
NEMO Dagger Osmo Lightweight 3P Tent :: Field Tested
After an undulating 14-kilometer hike with 35 pounds on my back, I opened the NEMO Dagger Osmo three-person tent for the very first time under the looming shadow of Mount Assiniboine—motivated by a relentless cloud of thirsty mosquitoes. Perhaps this wasn’t the smartest plan in the world, but it made for a perfect opportunity to…
Flextail Tiny Repel :: Field Tested
Photography by Jason Spafford Outdoor endeavors should be about embracing nature, not battling mosquitoes. Enter the Tiny Repel. Designed by the Shenzhen-based company Flextail—increasingly known for their multifunctional outdoor gear since 2015—this compact device serves as a mosquito repellent, light, and power bank. Using DualRepel technology quickly creates a 30-foot mosquito-free zone (including horseflies), with…
Scout Campers Launches New Lightweight Pop-up
Each day, the overland industry grows in unexpected ways. And for the 3rd of June, Adventure Manufacturing’s Scout Campers announces their new Pop-up. It is no coincidence that the other significant event for the 3rd of June was when Martin Behaim released the first extant globe, the Erdapfel, to the world in 1492. The new…
Overland News of the Week
Hilleberg Introduces Two New Tent Models for Spring 2024 In this week’s Overland News of the Week, we’re excited to hear that Hilleberg, the well-respected, premium Swedish tent maker, is expanding its range with the Saivo 4 and the Rogen 3. The Saivo 4, part of the all-season Black Label series, is a robust 4-person…
Top Gear Overland Expo West 2024
With every year that passes and the overland lifestyle grows in popularity, it becomes increasingly challenging to find innovative products that are practical and worthy of investment. A few years ago, we proudly discovered the Poolahoop, which we initially mocked and later praised. Was the Poolahoop the zenith of modern American overland innovation? No, it was not. Instead of…
Overland News of the Week
Storyteller Overland Acquires Taxa Outdoors In this week’s overland news, adventure lifestyle and adventure van manufacturer Storyteller Overland has acquired camping habitat and overlanding utility trailer brand Taxa Outdoors. Entrepreneur and former Global Brand President for Harley-Davidson Neil Grimmer will serve as the chief strategy officer of Storyteller Overland and CEO at Taxa. “With the…