Electronics Archives

A portable solar panel, power bank, small keyboard with a tablet, and a wireless router—field tested—all set up on wooden planks outdoors. Perfect for carry-on workflows or pairing with Pelican ProGear Elite cases.

Electronics, Gear, Uncategorized

Road Work: The Pocket Office Built for Adventure

We evaluate five advanced tools that allow you to work from anywhere.

A person wearing a black jacket shows their wrist with a brown-strap analog watch near the handlebar of an overlander motorcycle, which has the word WEST partially visible on the tank.

Apparel, Electronics, Gear

Field Tested: Filson Scout Watch

Justin Coffey of Westx1000 evaluate’s Filson’s classic ticker.

An Overlander wearing a grey t-shirt and a blue-and-white headlamp stands in a dark environment, the headlamp’s beam shining brightly forward to illuminate their overlanding adventure.

Electronics, Gear

Gear Scout: LED Lenser SEO 7R

Over the last several months I have been evaluating many of the newer headlamps to hit the market. While many of them have been rather uninspired additions to an already crowed field, a few have stood out as impressive discoveries. The SEO 7R from LED Lenser falls into that latter category. With a maximum output…

A small black Coast HP5R penlight with a pocket clip is turned on, resting on a brown fabric surface next to a brass key ring—perfect for anyone needing a field tested light like the popular Coast HP3R.

Electronics, Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Field Tested: Coast HP3R Penlight

Big power in a tiny package. The penlight reinvented.

A black and yellow Fenix headlamp with an adjustable strap rests on a rough, textured rock outdoors—perfect gear for any Overlander—with greenery blurred in the background.

Electronics, Gear

Field Tested: Fenix HL25 Headlamp

280 Lumens for under $50?

Two portable solar panels, a power bank, and a smartphone rest on a large rock outdoors—an ideal overlanding setup amid rugged terrain and lush greenery in the background.

Electronics, Gear

Head to Head: Sherpa 50 Solar Kit vs. Anker E7 14W Solar Charger

Which of these two kits is most adept at making power and storing?

A hand wearing a wristwatch and wedding ring is turning a row of ornate brass prayer wheels, as an Overlander pauses to take in the journey’s spiritual moments.

Electronics, Gear

Gear Scout: Garmin Epix GPS Watch

The power of satellites perched on your wrist.

Electronics, Gear

Head to Head: Goal Zero Sherpa 50 Solar Kit vs. Anker E7 and 14W Solar Panel

I test two of the more popular power solutions designed to charge small electronic devises. Which one is best?

A white Overlander pickup truck with bright headlights and roof lights is parked on a dark, uneven surface at night, illuminating the area around it.

Electronics, Gear, News

Ahead of the curve: Lazer Lamps’ Long Range LED Driving Light

We take a peek at Lazer Lamps’ new rally inspired long range light line.

A soft white light glows from a translucent water container with a phone on top, illuminating an Overlander magazine featuring a red off-road vehicle, all placed on dark fabric.

Electronics, Gear

Field Tested: LuminAID LED Lantern

I test LuminAID’s waterproof, inflatable, solar charged LED lantern and in the process, give the gift of light.

A Fujifilm X-T1 digital camera with a zoom lens and a black strap is placed on a brown fabric surface, ready to capture every moment of your overlanding adventure.

Electronics, Gear

Adventure Photographer: Fujifilm X-T1, 18-55mm XF Zoom

Fujifilm’s newest camera is ideal for travel.

A smartphone in a rugged, black and green protective case lies on a wet, textured surface with water droplets—ready for any Overlander adventure.

Electronics, Gear

Water water everywhere – Three ways to keep your phone dry.

There is more than one way to skin a cat, or in this instance, to keep your phone dry.

A small tablet with a keyboard sits open atop a stack of Overland Journal magazines, displaying an overlanding website with a scenic landscape and people walking in the background.

Electronics, Gear

Field Tested: ZAGG Rugged Folio for iPad Mini

The iPad Mini makes for an ideal travel tool when paired to a proper case and keyboard.

Six different satellite communicators and GPS devices are displayed on large gray rocks outdoors—perfect companions for any Overlanding adventure—with distinct colors and buttons, including orange, green, black, and yellow designs.

4WD, Electronics, Gear, Gear

Personal Locator Beacons and Satellite Messengers

We test the newest crop of satellite-savvy Personal Locator Beacons and messaging systems.

A collection of navigation tools—GPS devices, a smartphone, and detailed paper maps of Colorado trails like Telluride and Lake City—are spread out on a table with a Butler sticker, trail guides, and Head to Head comparisons.

Electronics, Gear

Head to Head: Paper Maps vs. GPS

Which is better, the fancy GPS unit or the paper map which has served adventurers for thousands of years?

A close-up of a Garmin inReach Explorer+ satellite communicator with an orange and black casing, essential gear for any overlander, showing its screen and buttons, resting on black nylon straps with a plastic buckle nearby.

Electronics, Gear

Field Tested: Delorme inReach Explorer

The latest iteration of the inReach now includes basic navigational features.

A person wearing a black beanie and gray puffer jacket takes photos with a camera, embracing the spirit of overlanding while standing outdoors near a snowy, frozen landscape under a clear sky.

Electronics, Gear, Photography

Field Tested: Vulture Equipment Works A2 Camera Strap

Where better to test the world’s most robust camera strap than the South Pole.

A portable Goal Zero Yeti 400 power station sits on a wooden table next to a tablet with a keyboard and a smartphone, ready to support your next overlanding adventure, all in an inviting indoor setting.

Camper/Trailer, Electronics, Gear, Gear, Gear

Field Tested: Goal Zero Yeti 400

Early last fall I made the decision to upgrade my aging and much-used Goal Zero Extreme 350 with the brand’s newly released Yeti 400. I have used Goal Zero products since they first entered the market and for the sake of full disclosure, have not always had a uniformly positive experience. It was then…