Special Edition Beast28 Helium Ultralight Frame Pack I remember backpacking with my first frame pack 30 years ago. It weighed almost more than the sum of its contents, was extremely cumbersome, and I would almost topple over when hoisting it onto my back. Granted, I may have packed too much stuff, but the Beast28 Helium…
Dometic GO Soft Storage With PAC Insulated Insert: Stay Organized with 10- and 20-Liter Storage Cubes That Convert to Coolers.
Dometic was once a small operation that specialized in making refrigerators for RVs and hotels. Fast forward 20 years, and they have expanded into every aspect of mobile living. With the Dometic GO collection, Dometic is making moves to make car camping more comfortable and easy. I’ve been using the Dometic GO 10- and 20-liter…
Colfax Design Works Project TOAD 65 Liter Drybag: A Fully Waterproof Duffel That Doubles as a Backpack
Colfax Design Works is a soft goods designer that creates durable products for diverse environments. All their products are made in the USA to lessen the carbon footprint. They make products for adventure travel, and their primary offering is the Project TOAD (tactical operations amphibious drybags) 65-liter drybag. I’ve been testing the TOAD drybag for…
Overland News of the Week
Prints for Wildlife Fundraiser Running for the third year, Prints for Wildlife will be raising funds for African Parks. This conservation non-profit currently manages 20 parks in 11 countries on behalf of governments in the hope of safeguarding and securing protected areas in Africa. Over 100 wildlife photographers will donate one fine art print each,…
Four Simple Moto Gadgets with Big Pay-Offs
FOBO Bike 2 Monitor your tire pressure continuously with this easy-to-use Bluetooth monitor, even while riding. The FOBO Bike 2 is compatible with most motorcycles and can detect slow or fast leaks, providing alerts on tire pressure changes. This tool is super easy to install. Mount the sensors onto your tire stems, download the app,…
Bulbag USA: The best little bag on the planet
UkoalaBag has undoubtedly grown in popularity since its inception in 2013. The multi-pocketed pouch bag has become a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts because of its ability to carry a wide variety of essentials while being effortlessly strapped to the hip of its wearer. And now, with the release of Bulbag USA, the Georgia-based company is…
The Dometic Go Camp Collection Review
I like to keep my car packed with whatever I’d need for my favorite outdoor pursuits. On any given day, my car is full of camping gear, bike gear, a camp cook setup, and probably more. But since I also use my vehicle for hauling people, groceries, and other less adventurous things, a lot of…
Waterproof Your Adventure
For its 50th Anniversary in June, SHAD debuted its newest motorcycle soft bag in Barcelona, Spain, and now Shad TR40 Terra Adventure Saddlebags are available in the United States. Each lightweight bag offers a 32-liter capacity and up to 22 pounds of load per bag. Installation of the rack was easy with a little help…
Mosko Moto Drops an 8-Pack of New Gear
Mosko Presents Four Things To Carry And Four To Wear The forward thinkers at Mosko Moto HQ in White Salmon, Washington, have just announced eight new products for motorcycle travelers. It’s time to get excited, but not too excited—all these items are in pre-order status. Two New Tank Bags Choose from the 2-liter Nomini…
Overland News of the Week
REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform Two pieces of gear caught my attention at the Northwest Overland Rally, and REI Co-op’s Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform was one of them. Car camping is arguably the most accessible form of vehicle-based travel for most, and I can see how a tiny interior could be made functional by…
Overland News of the Week
Purtrek 2-in-1 Trekking Poles Purtrek have developed an ingenious water solution for while out hiking. The innovative, “why didn’t I think of that” 2-in-1 trekking pole provides you with clean and safe water on hand, on-demand, and frees up space in your backpack. The trekking pole has an integrated water filtration system that you submerge,…
Outdoor Retailer Show :: Day 1
Each summer, the Outdoor Retailer descends on Denver, Colorado (soon back in Salt Lake City) with aisles of new gear and innovation. This year is no different, with even more overland components on display and a the continuation of the Overland Experience area. We were fortunate to be able to display in that section, including…
Decked Introduces the CargoGlide Heavy Duty Sliding Platform
We have all been there – that one article of gear that you can’t leave home without will lie back there in the rear corner of the load area tauntingly when you need it. Be it a second tool box or a torque wrench, the spare parts box, or a spare tire, you know that…
Necessity Fuels Innovative Creations at 2022 Overland Expo West
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Moto Gear for 4WD Overlanding
There is nothing us old-school, long-distance overlanders love more than practical gear that serves more than one purpose, is lightweight, and more durable than a bad reputation. Bikers, generally, seem proud of their collective bad rep. But they are also creative and innovative when it comes to gear, as they only want to carry the essentials and…