AMERICAN NORTHWEST Descend on Bend When August 30-September 2, 2024 | Where Yamhill River, Oregon Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Descend on Bend returns with live music, a daily maker’s market, a community potluck, a raffle, and workshops. The inaugural event occurred in 2014 when 15 VW Vanagon Westfalia enthusiasts gathered at Bend’s Hole-in-the-Ground crater and vowed to…
Category Archives: Gear
Mystery Ranch :: Field Tested
As overlanders, we aim to travel light and avoid excess gear that can be cumbersome, especially as a family of four where space is always an issue. We truly appreciate well-designed storage solutions and carriers for when we’re out and about, and Mystery Ranch consistently delivers. Mystery Ranch was co-founded by Dana Gleason and Renée…
Overland News of the Week, August 16th, 2024
Pakmule Launches the Motomule Moto Hauler In this week’s, Overland News of the Week, we introduce Pakmule’s Motomule. A motorbike is a great overlanding accessory, but hauling bikes has always been a challenge. The Pakmule Motomule is an innovative hitch-mounted moto hauler designed for the easy loading and transport of dirt bikes and light adventure…
It’s All in the Name: The Story Behind Goose Gear
In this installment of the Expedition Portal series on brands that inspire us, Senior Editor Ashley Giordano profiles overland industry leader and vehicle-based storage solutions manufacturer Goose Gear. It’s easy to notice the quality of a Goose Gear product at a glance. Burly slides hold expertly crafted wood drawers. Marine-grade plywood coated with a proprietary blend of bedliner…
Overland Journal Podcast :: Episode 200
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 200 Five years and 200 episodes. Scrolling through the history of the Overland Journal Podcast, going back all the way to the first time Scott and Matt sat down to chat with Dan Grec at Overland Expo in 2019, it’s remarkable how much literal and metaphorical ground we’ve covered. The wealth…
Van DIY Conversion Kits :: Buyers Guide
Vanlife has captured the imagination of many overlanders driven by the desire to have their cake and eat it, too. While many overlanders enjoy the simple, minimalist experience of living out of a compact 4WD, there is a growing trend toward the comforts of home while having the capability to explore far reaches of the…
Overland News of the Week, August 2nd, 2024
Exped’s Mega Pump Makes Setup and Takedown a Breeze Exped has responded to one of its most frequent customer requests with the new Mega Pump. The 12.3-ounce pump includes a rechargeable battery with a USB-C port and a universal valve adapter that works with Exped and other inflatable products. The Mega features inflate and deflate…
Peak Design Phone Case, Mount, and Tripod :: Field Tested
In my midlife, I am a new motorcyclist. That means I am exceptionally careful in how, when, and where I ride. I have an acute sense of my own mortality, and on a bike, distractions are deadly. Here, of course, are a few products designed to add distraction to the riding experience—but only if we…
Rux Essentials Hybrid Storage :: Field Tested
Organization is a key component to enhancing your overland travel experience. From mapping out your route and menus to sorting your gear, having some semblance of a plan goes a long way toward boosting the fun factor. I have found that a little bit of organizing ahead of time even allows for more spontaneity in…
Getting Unstuck: Recovery Items to Keep You Moving
Okay, let’s be honest. Just because I’ve been driving four-wheel drive vehicles for 50 years and just because I’ve covered most of the major four-wheel-drive events in the United States (including numerous trips over the Rubicon Trail, the Jeepers Jamboree, All 4-Fun, Sierra Trek, and Moab’s Easter Jeep Safari), I am not a “four-wheeler.” Getting…
The Inflatable POD-01 Tent by EXØD Might Be the Camp Solution You Have Been Waiting For
Thanks to the evolution of material technology, inflatable outdoor equipment is becoming more practical for short- and long-term overland travel applications. The POD-01 by EXØD represents a novel approach to portable outdoor living, blending advanced kite-surfing technology with the practical needs of a temporary shelter. Designed for up to four occupants, the POD-01 weighs a…
The Inflatable GT Sky Loft is the Largest Rooftop Tent Available
One of my favorite pearls of earned wisdom is that space and light are the ultimate living luxury when overlanding. It was that belief that led me to convert my Land Rover into a camper with five large windows after living with my family in a rooftop tent for nearly five years. That conversion cost,…
Ignik Topside and Flipside Heated Bedding :: Field Tested
Rest is one of the most underrated necessities of overland travel. One of the first pieces of advice I offer to new overlanders is to go all in on their sleep systems. Waking up refreshed with a comfortable eight hours on the pillow makes everything you do during the day that much more vibrant and…
Top Gear :: Overland Expo Pacific North West 2024
While exploring the booths at this year’s Overland Expo West PNW, I realized that the products worth highlighting should not only be ones I would personally use (and those backed by powerful PR firms) but, more importantly, those created by entrepreneurs. As someone who has been an entrepreneur, self-employed, and a freelancer for most of…
Portable Fire Pits for Every Season
I learned to explore the outdoors when I was quite young, and one of my early mentors-in-adventure was a scoutmaster who was exceptionally cautious about when and where he built a campfire. “Every campfire needs the right campsite, but not every campsite needs a fire,” he would say. These are wise words to live by….
VSSL Nest Pour Over Kit :: Field Tested
When VSSL released its Nest Pour Over kit in early 2024, promising a bombproof, go-anywhere all-in-one solution to coffee on the go, it faced long odds as a substitute for my evolved camp kit: the Lardera Chestnut C2 Max hand grinder, Hario V60 metal dripper and stainless Able Kone filter. This durable and lightweight combination…
Bubba Goose Packs :: Field Tested
I stepped into a friend’s atmospheric cabin in the shadow of Mt. Rainier as the last of winter’s snow melted in the shade of innumerable fir trees. I received a text message from my friend, an accomplished and respected industrial designer, saying that he had left a few cool things on the sofa beside the…
Minimalist Wallets :: Best of Breed
Good times—at least of the sort we’re after—come with a downside. The hard truth behind adventure is that you can’t safely peace out beyond the confines of cell service with nothing but a sandwich in one hand and your car keys in the other. For those of us desperate for even a brief escape from…
Overland News of the Week, June 21st, 2024
Opinel Releases New Grilling Set Fabricated in France, this grill set includes a stainless steel folding knife, a spatula insert, and extra-large tongs with a stonewashed finish. The No. 12B folding knife features a beechwood handle from sustainably managed French forests and is equipped with a bottle opener at the end, while the spatula is…
Hest Down Comforter with Top Sheet :: Field Tested
Having already had the privilege of putting the Hest Foamy mattress and pillow to the test, I eagerly seized the opportunity to evaluate the Hest down comforter and coordinating top sheet. In the mountains of Northern New Mexico, as the fall leaves were meeting the first snow dustings of the season, I found a cozy…