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Field Tested: Kalipak 401

Like it or not, we live in a digital age. Nearly everything we use requires power, and that need for electricity doesn’t end when we head out into the backcountry. Many of us like to run GPS on our phones or iPads, take photos of our adventures with a camera, or might even need to…

The Best Seat in the House: Scheel-Mann Vario F XXL

We evaluate a lot of gear here at Expedition Portal and Overland Journal. Tents, trucks, bags, fridges, and recovery equipment are regularly used and reviewed by our team, and normally the write-ups are pretty straightforward. We cover their specifications, talk about our expectations, and determine how well the product ended up meeting them. But today…

Vagabond Outdoors Drifter Shell

The pop-top camper shell market has exploded with activity lately. It started with the release of the AT Overland habitat back in 2016 and then heated up with the Go Fast Camper (GFC) which hit the market earlier this year. Now a new contender has entered the ring, and it’s called the Drifter. The Drifter…

Field Tested: Big Agnes Big Joe Bags

As a writer, I try not to make broad assumptions or stereotypes about anything, but today I’m going to make an exception. Most overlanders are bag junkies. I’d reckon there are very few of us that don’t perk up at the sight of a cool new backpack or duffel, and the mere mention of purpose-built…

Field Tested: Front Runner Spare Tire Braai

I love so many aspects of camping, but one of my favorites has always been the campfire. There’s something so relaxing about sitting in the cool night while a warm flame crackles nearby, and it’s the perfect opportunity to share hopes, dreams, and laughs between friends. Of course, there is one thing that can make…

The Sunglasses Revolution

You know how people always say, they just don’t make them like they used to? Well, in many cases they are probably right. Planned obsolescence has run amok in our society, and the concept has transitioned from a hushed secret to a key component of business strategies everywhere. There are plenty of examples from phones to…

The Traveler’s Tree House

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2016. The mere mention of the word overlanding is often enough to evoke images of sunsets on the Serengeti, the silhouette of a truck marked for adventure by the outline of a roof top tent. Although roof sleeping is not commensurate with overlanding,…

Curtiss Knives ODT Flipper

I’d venture to say that by now, the knife has earned the right to be called a legendary tool. It can truly do it all, and despite hundreds of years of technological advancements, it has managed to stay relevant in today’s world. I mean, how cool is it that an item used in ancient Egypt…

More Than Just a Book

When I first met the author Ulrich Dolde four years ago, the German language edition of Motorhome Self-Build and Optimisation was already a best seller. And Dolde was in the throes of completing the second edition of a unique book intricately describing in words and pictures how he built an expedition vehicle capable of providing…

The Overland Journal Air Compressor Test

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2015. Air, the simple mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and a few other gases, is not only elemental to life, it is a fundamental requirement for a vehicle or moto-based backcountry trek. In addition to assisting our internal combustion engines in converting chemical energy into…

Baja Tough: The Origin of BajaRack

“I wanted to build something. Something of quality. Something of value. Something that would last.” With that vision and a solid approach to execution, it is no surprise Sergio Murillo has built BajaRack Adventure Equipment into a company where according to their mantra, “Every day it’s Friday.” What does that mean for employees? What does…

Field Tested: Zarges K470 Cases

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2016. My first experience with Zarges aluminum cases was during the Expeditions 7 crossing of Antarctica. We used them to store everything from tents and clothes to spare parts and oil. They were tossed in and out of the vehicles, used as step ladders, chairs, and…