Tools, Recovery and Safety Archives

ComeUp UW 5000si

We love to talk about vehicle-mounted winches here in the four-wheel drive world, but not every job calls for a 9,000-pound pull. Sometimes a lighter and more portable winch is needed, and that’s where the utility winch comes in. These products are perfect for hauling trucks and UTVs onto trailers, lifting and moving heavy objects…

Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Classic Gear: The Leatherman Multi-Tool

It’s one of the most exceptional inventions of our generation, but its inception could not have been more ordinary. It happened during a European vacation in 1975 when a young mechanical engineer from Oregon named Timothy Leatherman needed to repeatedly fix his cantankerous rental car and leaky hotel plumbing. The only tool he had available…

A black off-road vehicle is being pulled up a forest trail using thick ropes and a winch, with essential winch accessories like a winch bag nearby, all surrounded by dense green foliage and towering trees.

Camper and Trailer, Camper and Trailer, Four Wheel Drive, Four Wheel Drive, Gear, Gear, Gear, Skills and Training, Tools, Recovery and Safety

What’s in your winch bag? The basic gear you should be carrying

The other day I ran into the proud owner of a well-built four-wheel drive. Eager to talk shop, he began to list a few of the numerous pieces of equipment he had installed on his new vehicle. The list included 37-inch tires, aftermarket wheels, a 4-inch lift, lights, a roof rack, a front bumper, and…

Camping, Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Cool Cutters

Anyone who knows me is aware that I’m the guy, or was, who’s always asking for a knife to borrow. I used to not like toting around a blade, and certainly wasn’t particular about the ones I did manage to carry. Then I started getting spoiled by having a knife on me at all times,…

A hand holds an ARB Digital Tire Inflator displaying a reading of 40.5 PSI, accurately measuring the pressure of a vehicle tire in the background.

Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety, Uncategorized

Field Tested: ARB’s Digital Tire Inflator

ARB throws a splash of tech at their classic inflator

Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Field Tested: ARB Adventure Light 600

ARB illuminates us with their latest adventure light

Camper and Trailer, Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety, Uncategorized

American Overlander: Gerber Center-Drive with Bit Set

I’m not sure how it happened, but I’ve become somewhat of a multi-tool nerd. I think it started while evaluating tools for an extensive review for the Fall 2016 issue of Overland Journal. In that roundup I tested Gerber’s Multi-Plier 600 Basic and was impressed with its ease of use, thoughtful selection of functions, and…

Close-up of a Nordic Pocket Saw—ideal for Overlanding—with a red strap, metal chain saw teeth, and black carrying pouch, resting on a dark, textured wooden surface.

Camping, Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Field Tested: Nordic Pocket Saw

The power of a chainsaw in your back pocket.

A black CRKT folding knife with a textured handle and partially serrated blade rests on a tan fabric surface—perfect for any Overlander’s gear setup.

Gear, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Field Tested: Ruger Go-N-Heavy Compact

There are two types of guys in the world. There are knife guys, and there are guys with knives. I tend to fall in the latter group and while I love to geek out on gear, I don’t pretend to possess the acumen of a genuine blade guru. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a…

A hand holds a small bottle of lubricant near the zipper of a green Foxwing awning cover on an overland vehicle's roof rack, set against a clear blue sky.

Gear, Gear, Skills and Training, Tools, Recovery and Safety

Travel Tip: How to Maintain Your Zippers

Never deal with a stuck zipper again

A holiday-themed outdoor overlanding scene with a small red stocking, a book titled Thin Ice, metal water bottle, mug, orange strap, yellow and black scarf, and string lights on a wooden surface.

Apparel, Camping, Electronics, Four Wheel Drive, Gear, Gear, Gear, Luggage and Storage, Motorcycle, Tools, Recovery and Safety, Vehicle Accessories and Protection

Last Minute Gifts Under $50

Great gifts don’t have to break the bank.

A white Overlander SUV decorated with a large red bow and string lights on the front, a spare tire on the hood, and a tag that reads To: You, From: Santa.

Apparel, Camping, Electronics, Four Wheel Drive, Gear, Gear, Gear, Luggage and Storage, Motorcycle, Tools, Recovery and Safety, Vehicle Accessories and Protection

Expedition Portal’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for something to get or give this holiday season? We did the shopping for you.

A close-up photo of a Superwinch EXP winch, showing its metallic body, blue accents, coiled steel cable, and roller fairlead—an essential tool for any Overlander—displayed on a table at an indoor event or exhibition.

Electronics, Four Wheel Drive, Gear, Gear, Luggage and Storage, News, Tools, Recovery and Safety, Vehicle Accessories and Protection

SEMA 2016 Day Two :: Product Showcase

While most of the project vehicles at SEMA have become the bastions of bad taste, there are still fantastic products and new innovations to be found. For this product showcase, I review some of the more notable offerings. WARN: Each year Warn manages to not only release new products, but also stay true to…