The best thing you can say about a starter battery is that you never have to say anything about it at all; it should simply work every time you turn the key. An even better one doubles as an auxiliary power source. At just 21 pounds, the OrangeTop QH6 LiFePO₄ dual-purpose power unit punches above its…
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Category Archives: Electronics
Forest Service Launches New Recreation Mobile App
The United States Forest Service has launched a brand new mobile app that the agency says provides the most complete and accurate collection of Forest Service recreation sites that has ever been made available to the public. The announcement came as a surprise to some given the recent wide-spread budget cuts and general reduction of…
Overland News of the Week, June 19, 2026
Free Spirit Recreation Updates RTT Line Up Free Spirit Recreation has introduced a fully updated 2026 rooftop tent lineup, featuring upgrades across the Nova, Kali, Aspen Lite, Aspen Pro, and Evo XL models. The revisions focus on durability, comfort, and improved usability based on customer feedback and field testing. All models now feature redesigned floors…
Overland News of the Week, June 5, 2026
The Ford Bronco Filson Has Made its Debut Ford and outdoor outfitter Filson have teamed up to introduce the Ford Bronco Filson. This collaboration is rooted in the American legacy of outfitting pioneers, the US Forest Service, and search-and-rescue organizations, culminating in a premium version of the 6th-generation Ford Bronco SUV. Featuring a twin-turbo 3.0-liter…
Top Gear :: Overland Expo West 2026
Someone I know who has been in the adventure travel industry for many years told me that we are currently in a “creativity crisis.” He thinks we’re stuck in a rut and that very few truly new ideas have been filtering into the overland world lately. I had this claim front and center in my…
Overland News of the Week, May 8th, 2026
The New Thule Widesky Rooftop Tent Is a Looker The Thule Widesky is an attractive two-person hardshell rooftop tent designed to balance quick setup with improved comfort in camp. Its gas-strut-assisted design allows the tent to deploy in seconds, while a durable aluminum shell and recycled fabric construction provide weather resistance and longevity. Inside, a…
Principles of Overlanding 12V Fridges: Choosing the Right Size and Power for Real-World Travel
For this episode of The Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Scott and Matt discuss choosing overland 12-volt fridges over coolers, advocating for the smallest necessary size (25–35 liters for one/two, 45–55 liters for small families) to avoid heavy slides and oversized units (like an 80-liter unit for just drinks). They compare chest/drawer fridges to less-efficient door-opening…
Overland News of the Week, March 27th, 2026
iKamper Launches Skycamp 4.0 Rooftop Tent Series iKamper has introduced the Skycamp 4.0 series, the latest evolution of its flagship rooftop tent platform, featuring a refined design that improves interior space while maintaining a compact external footprint. The updated lineup includes duo, trio, and quad configurations, expanding fitment across mid-size SUVs, crossovers, wagons, and truck…
Optics for Overlanding
Over time, I’ve come to view optics as a quiet force multiplier. They stretch human vision beyond its factory settings. They help you see farther down the trail, closer at what your aging eyes can’t quite see, and deeper into the dark when your imagination is running wild. In remote travel, where recovery trucks do…
Light It Up
It was a hot, muggy night in early 2019. We had driven most of the day on terrible, muddy tracks and arrived in a small Gabonese town just before sunset. The air was thick with smoke, as much of the local economy seemed dedicated to turning healthy trees into charcoal, alongside the extraction of palm…
Overland News of the Week, January 2nd, 2026
Adventure Ready Norden 901 Expedition Motorcycle The Norden 901 Expedition is a long-distance, off-road motorcycle powered by an 889 cc parallel-twin engine paired with a six-speed gearbox and a power-assist slipper clutch, all housed on a chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame. What sets it apart from the standard Norden 901 is the various factory-installed technical upgrades…
Overland News of the Week, December 19th, 2025
Toyota Launches New Generation Australian HiLux The latest generation HilLux has landed in Australia, promising improved driveability, enhanced interior technology and comfort, and an exterior design spearheaded by Toyota Design Australia. The 2026 Hilux is available in cab-chassis and pickup configurations, with 4×4 or 4×2 drivelines, and in single-, extra-, and double-cab body styles. Upgrades…
For the Minimalist Who Fancies Luxury :: Gift Guide
I’ll preface this guide by reminding one and all that the greatest gifts cannot be bought. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. So, during this festive season, check in with loved ones and make time away from your devices to be present. With that out of the way, who’s going to buy me…
Featherweight Gifts for Your Over-GVWR Champion
Groaning springs, nose in the air, the struggle to the top of the next hill, always bringing up the rear, thirsty at the pump—we all know that traveler in our lives who could use some gear that lightens the load. Whether on two wheels or four, reducing avoirdupois reaps many benefits, not least safety. As a vehicle’s mass…
10 Holiday Gifts for the Overlander Who Has it All
Photo by Richard Giordano We often assume that someone who “has it all” owns every desirable item—whether toys, vehicles, accessories, or other overland gear and gadgets. But as the holiday season approaches, it may be worth widening that definition. Some overlanders have everything they need and want nothing more; others “have it all” simply because…
Do It for the Kids Gift Guide
Every year, non-overlander children open their presents under the tree to find gifts that are, for the most part, useless for the rest of the year. Overlander kids are different—they live lives of exploration and deserve gifts that help fill a year with fun and adventure. I don’t remember 99 percent of the gifts I…
Renogy 12.8V Super Slim Solid State Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery :: Field Tested
Lithium batteries are evolving rapidly, resulting in tumbling prices and new products every few months. At the forefront of consumer lithium batteries for over a decade, Renogy continues to iterate on well-proven solutions, pushing the envelope of what is possible. Its latest super-slim solid-state battery provides 104 amp-hours of energy in a tough metal enclosure…
Overland News of the Week, November 21st, 2025
The Landrovers Launch a Fully Custom Land Rover Defender 90 The Landrovers (recently ISO 9001 certified) of Amsterdam have unveiled Discidium, a highly bespoke Land Rover Defender 90 distinguished as the first of its kind to feature an electric sliding roof. Powered by a 525-horsepower Corvette LT1 V8 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, it…
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is a Meaningful Evolution Rather Than a Complete Revolution
Toyota’s pace shows no signs of slowing. Fresh from a commanding presence at SEMA—where the brand unveiled a slate of headline-grabbing concept builds—and supported by new model reveals across global markets, including the recent launch of the 2026 4Runner, Toyota continues to demonstrate its commitment to steady quality, forward-leaning engineering, and competitive market strategy—complete market…
New Gear and Innovation Take Center Stage at SEMA 2025
SEMA 2025 delivered another year of inventive hardware, with manufacturers using the Las Vegas show floor to highlight practical solutions for real-world travel, towing, and off-road use. While concept vehicles and big-budget builds often draw the early headlines, the steady evolution of equipment remains the backbone of the event, and this year’s selection underscored how…