Communication is one of the cornerstones of backcountry travel, as the ability to advise family and friends of our progress, call for assistance, or make an SOS during an emergency all helps provide us with confidence to travel further afield. During my travels in Southern Africa, it was helpful to know that the Bivy was…
New Gear and Firmware Updates from Sena
Sena Technologies has been in operation since 1998 and their communication devices are regarded as some of the best on the market for motorcycling (or any sport requiring a helmet with integrated communication). Perhaps it’s their approach to product design that has grown them such a loyal following. “We boldly lay our visions on the…
Everyday Essentials :: Products That Make Your Life Easier
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2019. I recently had the privilege of leading an amazing group of women from Montana to Idaho on our very first all-ladies overland trip for XOverland. The seven of us all had different experience levels, and it was a great opportunity to plan, film, and…
Rugged, Trail-ready Tablets
Back when the first tablets began to hit the market, I remember thinking, “Users NEED real buttons—these things will never replace a computer.” Clearly, I’m not the best forecaster of technological trends. I now own multiple touch screen devices. Their compact form and intuitive gestures have replaced the need for a computer in all but…
Claymore Ultra+2 Rechargeable Area Light | Field tested
This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2020 issue. The business luminary Peter Drucker once said, “Don’t make a hundred decisions when one will do,” and that philosophy applies equally to overlanding. I have shifted my approach from highly specialized equipment to now looking for high-quality products that serve multiple uses, reducing weight,…
The Basic Overland Gear Everyone Should Have
The Overland Journal Podcast #20 Principles of Overlanding: The Basic Overland Gear Everyone Should Have Summary: For this Principles of Overlanding, Matt and Scott review the top 10 pieces of kit that help support local and international overland travel. Topics include navigation, communications, recovery equipment, medical kits, training, tools, and more. This list is all…
Ultimate Australia Touring Companion :: CAMPERX App
Some folks cringe when they see travelers using cell phones in a backcountry setting, and while I understand the sentiment, I wouldn’t be caught dead without my phone when heading into the field. The purists can gripe all they want, but as far as I’m concerned, if digital mapping, satellite navigation, and route planning software…
Garmin Drive GPS with Open Street Maps
Garmin has been at the forefront of vehicle-based GPS systems for over two decades, and it shows in their latest flagship range, the Drive series, available in 5- or 7-inch screen sizes. The touch screen is bright and responsive and automatically dims to a high-contrast night mode to preserve night vision. Garmin’s mature route-finding algorithms…
Is The Jackery Explorer 500 The Best Portable Power Station For The Money?
For many of us, camping is an escape from the media and technology that dominates our everyday lives. It’s a way to engage with nature and quiet our minds, but that doesn’t mean we want to shed our electronics entirely while we do so. Whether they’re for navigation, emergency communications, or even running a CPAP…
Outdoor Retailer Show Goes Overland
The Outdoor Retailer Show continues to reinforce overlanding as a rapidly growing segment. The Winter Market show in Denver this week included an Overland Experience area, and even broader OEM representation. For our “Day One” coverage of the industry-only event, we will feature the products, innovations, and vehicles showcased at the venue. Our day two coverage…
The Best Backcountry, Travel, and Overland Communication Devices
We live in an age of constant connectivity. Emails, phone calls, social media, TV, and the internet inundate nearly every moment of our lives. With so much emphasis on modern technology, it’s little wonder we often look to nature for an escape—opportunities to ditch the devices and disconnect. Despite the downsides, technology has also made…
Overland News :: Four New Fridges Hit the Market
For 2020, there are several new fridges to hit the market from respected manufacturers, from the classic and reliable Engel, to the efficient and industrial-grade National Luna. For this news update, we cover the best new units to hit the market for the new year. The first 12-volt fridge I ever owned was an Engel,…
Is Garmin’s Overlander Worth $700?
This past summer, Garmin unveiled the first GPS navigation device designed specifically with the overlanding community in mind. It boasted exciting features ranging from offline maps and campground databases to satellite communications and inclinometers, but at a price many of us found hard to swallow. We wanted to know if the Overlander was worth the…
The onX Off-Road GPS App Shows You Where to Explore
Knowing Where You Can Legally Overland is Half the Battle There are times that even 36 hours of adventure seems impossible to schedule, the realities of daily life, family, and work responsibilities compounding. Sometimes just a few hours is all we have, or as a side trip during a work obligation. While it will be…
One Headlamp to Rule Them All?
We received a Headspin convertible lighting system test unit the day I left for the Altar Desert in Mexico, so what better place to beat up a new product and evaluate its performance than in the largest sandbox in North America? Pros Fully comprehensive kit Easy charging via USB or wall outlet Quick change between…
Adventures in Video Filmmaking
I believe that any story worth telling is worth telling well. And that’s why I love filmmaking. Media posturing, video journaling, postcard producing, or politically acting, I like them all. We’re wired to share our experiences, and video is a megaphone. Video capture is arguably the most powerful medium in modern history and we, like…
Sena Momentum Bluetooth Helmet
The world’s first active noise control helmet.
Solar BugOut Kit for the Overland Camp
One of the cornerstones of overland travel is self-reliance, a trait inspired by the remote locations we visit and the unpredictability of vehicle-based backcountry exploration. We may be parked for days on a secluded beach in Baja, needing to keep both the fresh fish and the Coronas cold. Or we might have accidentally left the…
The Overland Photographer’s Camera Kit
Photography by Bruce Dorn and Stephanie Worstein You often hear “It’s the artist, not the tool,” that really matters. While that may be true in some cases, things definitely get more complicated when we’re talking about photographers and their choice of camera equipment. At its foundation, photography is both an art and a mechanical craft,…
How The Vanlife App Could Change Life on The Road Forever
The open road, a tank full of fuel, and no deadline for a return home; that’s a dream many travelers share. We imagine ourselves roaming the world from the crests of cascading sand dunes to the shores of remote mountain lakes, fulfilled by the vast riches our Earth has to offer and the memories we’re…