America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (AORA) Senators Joe Manchin (D – WV) and John Barrasso (R – WY) have reintroduced this bi-partisan bill in Congress. SEMA and the Sierra Club, among other organizations, support it. It is a wide-ranging bill and includes provisions for modernizing and updating campgrounds and other recreation sites across public…
First Drive :: 20th Anniversary Jeep Wrangler 4xe, 392, and AEV
We’ve known about the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary edition for a while now. You’ve likely already read an article or two about it. But did you know that it almost never came to be? The Jeep engineers working on the Wrangler in the early 2000s were true enthusiasts, in-touch members of the off-road…
Overland News :: Aether Launches New Driving Sunglasses
The classic aviator has served me for decades, combining sun protection for my light-colored eyes, and injury prevention against projectiles. The only deviation to the aviators has been in the high-arctic and Antarctica, where glacier googles were superior for the conditions. The aviators are timeless, as are other styles like wayfarers in tortoise and black…
Hatfield-McCoy Trails Partners with onX Offroad
OnX Offoad Shows the Way Navigating the Hatfield-McCoy Trail (HMT) System, with its over 1000 miles trails will soon be easier. Navigation app developer onX Offroad and Hatfield-McCoy are partnering up to improve the user experience in the forests of West Virginia. Adding the Hatfield-McCoy to onX Offroad’s 600,000-plus miles of mapping data will improve…
iKamper Launches PNW-Inspired Roof Tent at Seattle Store Launch
iKamper, the innovative outdoor equipment and rooftop tent brand, has announced the release of its first limited-edition rooftop tent called the PNW Edition. The tent will be available in both Skycamp 3.0 and Skycamp 3.0 Mini models. Based in the Pacific Northwest region of the US, the company has created this unique version to celebrate…
Starlink Competitors To Increase Global Broadband Coverage (And Why This Is Great News For Explorers)
Starlink is a game changer for those who travel and work and explorers who benefit from the security, peace of mind, and seamless connectivity that satellite-distributed internet access provides. Soon there will be nowhere on Earth without a high-speed internet connection, with all the positives and negatives that come with it. One thing is certain:…
What You Need to Know About Water Sourcing, Filtration, and Storage
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2023 Issue. Camped beside a road in Ivory Coast, I filtered soupy rainwater from an old plastic barrel. I trusted my system but had to wonder—was the hard-working filter up to the task of removing chemicals, bacteria, and viruses? Was I hydrating my family with…
Overland News of the Week
Super Pacific Campers Launches Network for Installs, Demos, and Support Super Pacific has announced a satellite network of shops in Oregon, California, and Colorado, offering delivery and installation, and, beginning in April 2023, in-person demos, warranty support, and customer service. Prospective buyers may choose between several delivery and pick-up options, including installation at one of…
The Sword Hardshell Family Roof Top Tent Will Save You Big Bucks and Precious Time
Equipt Expedition Outfitters is now stocking the Sword Hardshell Roof Top Tent, the newest addition to the Eezi-Awn K9 line of camping accessories designed for small families. This spacious rooftop tent has a larger footprint, accommodating two adults and two children more comfortably than other clamshells or pop-up designs. Not only will you not have…
A Place in the Sun :: Comparing Eight Solar Panels for Overlanding
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2023 Issue. Long-term overland travel requires self-sustained living, and part of that living demands electricity. At the very least, most travelers are using those charged particles to power 12-volt fridges and LED camp lights. More often than not, overlanders are now including induction cooktops, freezers,…
KLIM 2023 :: New Heights for Touring Gear
KLIM announced new products and updates just last month, and are now unveiling serious improvements to their top touring gear. The women’s Altitude and men’s Latitude pants and jackets, in KLIM’s words, “combine purpose-built engineering and legendary performance for touring riders who care about comfort and weather protection.” More Protection for 2023 The new KLIM…
Overland News of the Week
Boreas Campers Teams up With Garmin Boreas Campers have teamed up with Garmin on the EOS-12, an off-road, off-grid, four-season camper trailer. The EOS-12 comes standard with the Garmin ONE system, which connects and controls all onboard systems at the touch of a button. The system is accessed via the Garmin tablet, which can be…
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Unveils Impact Bumpers for Ford Super Duty
Icon Vehicle Dynamics has announced the release of new products designed to improve the off-road capabilities of Ford Super Duty trucks from 2017 onwards. The company has introduced several new additions to the Icon Impact product line, including the Pro Series front and rear bumpers. Icon designed the Pro Series bumpers to offer the best…
Motorola Announces Defy Satellite Communications Range
Founded in 1928, Motorola is one of the oldest mobile technology brands on the planet. Engineers at Motorola invented the car stereo, the walkie-talkie, the first hand-held portable phone, and the world’s first commercial cellular device. Their 3G cell phones dominated the market for years and were instantly recognizable—raise your hand if you had an…
Overland Journal Put Synthetic Rope Winches to the Test. Here are the Results.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2023 Issue. The year 2009 was a memorable year for many reasons: US Airways Flight 1549 hit a large flock of geese shortly after takeoff and successfully landed in the Hudson River, the swine flu ravaged the world, and Overland Journal printed their 12-volt winch…
Camp Blankets for Overlanding
Photography by Richard Giordano Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2023 Issue. When Chief Three Eagles, leader of the Salish peoples, first encountered the Lewis and Clark Expedition party in the wide valley of Ross’ Hole, Montana, in 1805, he was baffled. The men weren’t wearing any blankets. Had they been…
Field Tested :: InstaPrivy Portable Toilet Kit
Of all the portable commodes on the market today, the InstaPrivy is the only one you wear on your head. From outside the privacy shelter, the user looks like an olive-drab ghost on Halloween or perhaps a tiny mobile grain silo, but the design is genius in its simplicity (more on how to use the…
Field Tested :: Black Diamond Solution 150 Merino Base Layers, North Face Thermoball Mule V Shoe
Photography by Richard Giordano Black Diamond Solution 150 Merino Base Crew and Full-Length Bottom . Black Diamond is all about mountain sports. Born from Chouinard Equipment with a “heritage that began with a backyard anvil and hammer,” the company was taken over by Peter Metcalf in 1989, where it continues to operate at the base…
Field Tested :: Beyond Clothing Arx System
The sailboat heels hard to starboard, the wind gusting to gale force and prompting a further reduction in sail area. Despite the robust cockpit enclosure, several adjustments require clipping into the lifelines and maneuvering the foredeck. I move slowly toward the mast, the rain sheeting off my jacket, the hood guarding my face against the…
Buyers Guide :: Portable Shower Solutions for Overland Travel
Let’s be honest—some travelers value a regular shower more than others. We have met those who must shower daily and others who are content with a regular swim in the sea or a river. You may also have a partner who is prepared to “rough it” and explore the outdoors with you, but who draws…