There were nearly 400 exhibitors at this year’s Overland Expo West held in Flagstaff, Arizona. Amid high-dollar overland vehicles and numerous impressive motorcycle displays, it was the work of homegrown entrepreneurs that stole the show. These ingenious products take on the challenge of overlanding travails and provide useful, productive, and practical solutions to make life…
Gear Roundup at Overland Expo West
I love overland vehicles and I love overland gear! While there were some amazing vehicles at the recent Overland Expo West, it is the search for excellent equipment which, in the words of James May, gives me the fizz. Great gear is essential to an overland journey, and well-designed gear should be good to look…
Bear-proof Food Storage for Moto Campers
Many of us traveling overnight or long distances on motorcycles are going into bear territory; that’s why we love our ADV and dual-sport bikes—to get off main roads and into the backcountry. But what about storing food out of reach from bears while we sleep at night? Growing up in the Canadian Rockies, I often…
The Coleman 1900 Range – Functional and Nostalgic
Coleman gear has been synonymous with exploration of the great outdoors since 1900 when William Coffin Coleman began selling gasoline pressure lamps. During WWII, Coleman camping stoves transformed the way soldiers ate in the field, and we have all admired the build quality and patina of classic Coleman gear found at garage sales and campsites…
Overland News of the Week
Method 312 Double Black Wheel Method’s 312 wheel is now avaiable in a “Double Black” matte black/gloss black finish, and they look slick! If you are unfamiliar, the 312 is constructed from A356 aluminum with a T6 heat-treatment for strength and features a six-windowed design. The 312 has a load rating from 2650- to 3640-pounds…
Introducing Flated Inflatable Topper, Rooftop Storage Box, and Pickup Deck
A few years ago, my family volunteered to take care of a ranch in the mountains of Baja. Our pickup had carried us across the Americas and was soon stripped of all overland gear and repurposed temporarily as a farm truck. Unfortunately, I did not have the manpower to remove the aluminum topper, which had…
Field Tested :: Lifestraw Peak Series Gravity System and Straw
Photo: Thomas Ward Lifestraw Peak Series 3-Liter Gravity System Overlanders are incredibly adaptable, and we have figured out how to thrive in a wide variety of environments. But we’re still human, and no matter how far into the backcountry we manage to travel, we can’t neglect basic necessities, including clean drinking water. It’s a…
Dometic GO, the Camping Collection You Have Been Waiting For
The recently launched Dometic GO range attracted us at the bustling SEMA 2021 Dometic stall with its handsome, masculine functionality, clean lines, and premium quality design. We were fortunate enough to spend time with the Dometic Product Manager–Outdoor, Owen Mesdag, who took the time to show us the Dometic GO pre-production range. We did not…
Good to the Last Drop :: Instant Coffee Options for the Trail
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2022 Issue. I have a secret to share with you: I’ve been drinking instant coffee for the last few weeks and have been enjoying it. I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, especially after past articles where I have no…
Overland News of the Week
Aspen Frontiers Patagonia Black Hole Duffle Bag Hangers I get really excited when I see innovations in the campervan space, mostly because the industry seems to be maturing a bit and unique solutions are a little less frequent these days. But here’s something new: Black Hole duffel bag racks from Aspen Frontiers. This clever solution…
Western Mountaineering Sycamore MF Sleeping Bag
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2022 Issue. There’s nothing like sliding into a cozy sleeping bag at the end of a long day in the wild. Whether you’re ensconced in a tent, tucked away inside your vehicle, or dirt camping under the stars, a comfortable bag is essential to a…
iKamper Raises the Overland Roof Tent Bar With Their New Skycamp 3.0
iKamper releases their largest Skycamp yet, version 3.0, providing king-sized comfort. The roof tent has become a boon for vehicle-based travelers, providing tree-fort security with condo comfort. The trail can be rocky or muddy, and the car-top mounted tent keeps you clean and dry. The roof tent also offers the security of being off the…
Overland News of the Week
Let’s Go Aero Moon Unit In the search for the perfect overland shelter, there are many options to choose from (did you listen to our recent podcast about ground tents?). Personally, I have been intrigued by the hanging enclosures that integrate with some rooftop tents, creating a weather-resistant shelter annex with access to your…
Overland Pros Baja Wedge RTT and Wraptor 270-degree Awning
A brand new, high-quality wedge rooftop tent and 270-degree awning for less than $3,500? Impossible! On a recent tour across the width and breadth of the USA, we equipped a Range Rover Classic with a Wedge rooftop tent and a 270 awning, transforming the vehicle instantly into an overlander. In an age when recreational…
Overland News of the Week
Snow Peak Home and Camp Lantern Continuing their tradition of designing outdoor gear that bridges the gap between function and form, Snow Peak brings us the Home and Camp Lantern. This camp light has modern features, like dimmable LED bulbs and a USB-rechargeable battery in a retro silhouette. Maximum light output is 400 lumens and…
Opinel Knives are Art
The Opinel Knife company is no ordinary company, and its knives are themselves not ordinary. The history of one of the worlds best-selling knives extends back beyond 1890 when the first Opinel factory was established in Savoie, France. Since then, the company has sold more than 15 million knives a year and the range has…
Field Tested :: Planar Diesel Air Heater 2D-HA-PU5-(TR) Truck Kit
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2021 Issue. As the wind howls across a frozen lake, our 1990 Toyota Pickup sways back and forth. It’s winter in the Rocky Mountains, and the snow falling sideways from the dark grey sky is proving it. We hop into our Go Fast Camper, battered…
Overland News of the Week
Decked x Pathfinder Cooking Kit Decked and Pathfinder Survival have been busy. Since we featured the Pathfinder survival kit two weeks ago, a new module has already been released: the Decked x Pathfinder. This all-in-one cooking kit solution is neatly organized in a Decked D-bag and designed specifically to fit in the Decked truck bed…
BioLite Headlamp 200
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2021 Issue. As overlanders, we often think of multi-purpose function, compact size, durability, and comfort when it comes to our rigs. BioLite incorporated each quality into this headlamp, and it has earned a place in my seat-back system. The device is so comfortable that I…
Introducing C6; the Game Has Changed
C6, the California-based company, is a new player in the overland market, but the talent behind the company is well-known in the world of outdoor products. Tina and Dave Payne were the duo behind the incredible success of Frontrunner in the USA and are now bringing all those years of experience to the C6 project….