Whether or not you’d use the word sweet to describe me is still in question, but there is no arguing that there is something about my blood that is more enticing to insects like mosquitoes. It seems like I come home from camping with a dozen bites for every one or two that my friends…
Gear Scout: Brake Light Antenna Mount
We’re always fans of simple products developed with a little ingenuity, especially when they solve rather annoying problems. Case in point, this flush mount antenna bracket for your rear brake light. It was originally designed by Neal Technologies for the new Ford trucks, as the magnetic mounts wouldn’t stick to their aluminum body panels, and drilling…
Field Tested: WeBoost Drive 4G-X
The Ford’s diesel whistled a sweet tune as I cruised across a remote section of the Southern California landscape. I watched as the shaggy hides of Joshua trees flitted by, while swirling clouds of dust rolled behind me, the road disappearing beneath their form. I took a deep breath and relaxed back into my seat….
The New and Cool Overland Products of Outdoor Retailer 2018
We’re here in Denver Colorado for the 2018 Outdoor Retailer summer show, and we’re happy to report that there is a flood of new products being unveiled for your next overland adventure! That’s right gear lovers, rejoice, for there are tents, bags, chairs, tables, lights, vans, and four-wheel drives for you to soak in at…
Gear Scout: Luci Lights
We’ve all seen them. Those little solar grids gracing the front dash of a four-wheel drive, van, or camper. It is not just a symbol of “I get out a lot” but one of the most versatile, tough, and useful lights currently on the market. I’m talking of course, about Luci Lights. MPOWERD Inc. created…
Field Tested: Kalipak 401
Like it or not, we live in a digital age. Nearly everything we use requires power, and that need for electricity doesn’t end when we head out into the backcountry. Many of us like to run GPS on our phones or iPads, take photos of our adventures with a camera, or might even need to…
Field Tested: Weego JS12 Jump Starter
We’ve all been there, turn the key and a faint click click click is heard from the engine bay, the result of a flat battery. If you are fortunate enough to be parked at the mall or with friends, you are golden. But if it happens while traveling alone in the backcountry, you will pat…
Field Tested: Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station
If you read my most recent skills piece on the nuances of power management for overland travel, you know I was a bit dismissive of solar. This is not to say it lacks usefulness, but for most people the tools used to store power are more convenient. Solar can be slow, require constant alignment of…
Adventure Photographer: The GNARBOX Backup Drive and Editor
Like many travel photographers, I often accrue so much data while on location I need to back it up in the event I lose a camera or card. On longer trips, I also like to share my image assets in real-time, requiring modest editing capabilities. In the last few years, I’ve patched together a few…
Did Google’s Pixel Buds just break the language barrier?
The written and spoken word have been shaping our lives since the dawn of mankind. They’ve built and defined societies, led to a greater understanding of the world around us, and helped to bridge the gap between nations, but they’ve also been a barrier. Even simple differences in dialects can lead to difficulties in communication,…
Long Term Review: iOverlander Travel Resource App
In the fall of 2014, I wrote a small review of an upstart web and app-based travel resource called iOverlander. At the time it had equal potential to be a runaway success, or just one of a million great ideas to vanish into the cyber-ether. Three years later, the iOverlander platform is a proven winner…
Overland Skills: Make Power or Store Power, Which is Best for You?
If you follow Expedition Portal with any regularity, you know we cover the topic of power management quite often. The business of watts and amps has become inextricably intertwined with the pursuit of overland travel. Even when we’re roughing it, we can’t seem to live without our electronic devices. Over the last many years the…
Midland FRS/GMRS Handheld and Dash Mount Radios
There are a handful of items in the overlander’s inventory which seem to never go out of fashion, and radio communication systems rank high on that list. On our Expedition Portal forum we have a category dedicated to that one subject and it has accrued thousands of posts over the years. It is also a…
Field Tested: Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium
A tale of two Yetis. How well does the new Lithium powered Yeti 400 improve on its popular predecessor?
Field Tested: Gear Aid ARC LED Light and Power Station
Shed some serious light on your situation with this 320 lumen light and battery pack.
Field Tested: The ROAM app from onXMaps
I test one of the newest map apps on the market.
Field Tested: SnoMaster Traveler Series BD/C-42SS
Developed in the African bush and now available in the States, we test SnoMaster’s 42 liter fridge/freezer.
Field Tested: UE Roll 2
A speaker to survive all your adventures
Field Tested: Dometic CFX-50 Fridge/Freezer
This price-minded 12V chiller offers great performance at a reasonable price.
Last Minute Gifts Under $50
Great gifts don’t have to break the bank.