An Argentine beauty once sold me a fan bearing which I was forced to change under the hot Bolivian sun at 12,000 feet. I almost did not achieve the repair because I lacked two tools: the other half of the two-part fan unique tool and a No. 12 Allen key. Now, I know you want…
Makita Launches Cordless Outdoor Adventure Range
The Makita Outdoor Adventure range launches with 16 battery-powered products, including a chain saw, inflator, wet-dry vacuum, lighting, fans, audio equipment, a coffee maker, and more. Duality of use is a huge draw for us, and products that can be used daily on the job site and around the home and can then be repurposed…
Weekends with the Family :: How to successfully plan small vacations
I really have no quarrel with the way I live. I am a day-job dreamer and a weekender, meaning I define my relationship to travel and the outdoors by breaks in a five-day workweek and amid limited vacation time. I live for the weekend, you might say. It’s time spent with my wife in middle…
Scosche Powerup 600 Torch Portable Emergency Car Jumpstarter: For The Time When Your Vehicle Needs A Jump
Headquartered in Ventura County, California, Scosche is a family-owned company of outdoor enthusiasts that creates consumer technology for adventurers. They make vehicle accessories, car audio products, and other electronics, testing them in real-world scenarios to see how they’ll fare. I’ve been testing the Scosche Powerup 600 Torch portable emergency jumpstarter for the past month. I…
Making it Out Alive: Learn to save your own life or the one you love
Fieldcraft Survival and TacMed Solutions, companies providing industry-leading medical, simulation, and protection solutions for combat military personnel and first responders, collaborated on this comprehensive trauma kit, the MTK (Mobility Trauma Kit), with everyday mobility, off-roading, and overlanding in mind. The kit includes everything you could need in a life-threatening emergency: a tourniquet, modular bandages, combat…
Stopping the Bleed: Yes, it Can Happen to You
Kevin Henson has been answering calls to horrific accident scenes for at least 34 years. The trained paramedic and retired fire chief still grimaces a little when thinking about the worst accidents he’s attended. Many of them involved motorcycles. But there’s one item he never reached for in a trauma event: a first-aid kit. When…
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,…
Skyway to Highway, Overlanding notes from a bush pilot
It seems Ramona Cox was born for adventure. She won’t share the locations of her favorite fishing holes, but she’s quick to share her survival stories with other adventurers, whether they travel by land, air, or sea. The Hollywood, California, native has adventured through 50 countries, pushing the limits of her comfort zones and navigating…
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,…
The Boxo USA Off-Road Tool Bag and Tool Set
Image credits to Alex Zappile An overland vehicle is not complete until it is equipped with a full set of high-quality tools. It is when you are stranded beside the trail, far from assistance of any kind, that you will fully appreciate the investment in quality. But, often, tool boxes are heavy and cumbersome; they…
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…
Bear-proof Food Storage for Moto Campers
Many of us traveling overnight or long distances on motorcycles are going into bear territory; that’s why we love our ADV and dual-sport bikes—to get off main roads and into the backcountry. But what about storing food out of reach from bears while we sleep at night? Growing up in the Canadian Rockies, I often…
BearVault: A Container for Safe Food Storage in the Backcountry
As a rider, I’ve traveled through a lot of bear country, particularly in British Columbia, Alaska, and Russia. As a hiker, I’ve encountered dozens of bears—even been chased by one, which is why I take food storage in the wilderness seriously. Not only do I want to avoid being woken in the night by claws…
Garmin’s Acquisition of GEOS Might Affect Those With Additional Evacuation Coverage Who Activate inReach SOS Function
Early last year, Garmin announced the acquisition of emergency monitoring and incident response service GEOS Worldwide Limited, which operates the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) for SOS rescue efforts triggered by Garmin’s inReach personal satellite communication device. “With this acquisition, Garmin is now able to provide even more peace of mind to our inReach…
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…
Overland News of the Week
Snow Peak Home and Camp Lantern Continuing their tradition of designing outdoor gear that bridges the gap between function and form, Snow Peak brings us the Home and Camp Lantern. This camp light has modern features, like dimmable LED bulbs and a USB-rechargeable battery in a retro silhouette. Maximum light output is 400 lumens and…
The Art of Winching
This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2021 Issue. Editor’s Note: We noted several practices shown in Johan’s images that vary from how we would demonstrate winching in the field. This includes ensuring that each winch line is dampened with a sail. However, none of the images demonstrate improper use or practices, just a…
Overland News of the Week
Benchmade 5370FE Shootout OTF OTF automatic knives can be deployed single-handed in an instant, making them the perfect blades for use in high-stress situations. But many of them are heavy and prohibitively expensive due to complex mechanisms. Benchmade’s new Shootout aims to change that, with a $300 price point and a lightweight build that is…