When they were furloughed from their Boeing jobs in 1971, Jim Lea and Neil Anderson could have never known the company they eventually built with John Burroughs would evolve into a juggernaut of the outdoor industry. As the abridged story goes, a simple gardening cushion was the flashpoint for the self-inflating sleeping pad we now…
A Tent For All Seasons: The Fjallraven Abisko Dome 2
For decades tents have been neatly split into two classifications: three and four season. As accurate as the three season label is, denoting spring, summer, and fall usage, the four season designation is misleading. Most four season tents are not really designed for all seasons, but just the fourth—winter. If not actual winter, then environments…
Water Treatment Solutions: The Mother of all Reviews
All travelers understand the importance of clean drinking water, but too few know how to best select the proper water treatment system for their individual needs. It is an understandable conundrum as there are seemingly endless options for filters, purifiers, and chemical solutions. Over the span of the last two years, I set out to evaluate…
Midland FRS/GMRS Handheld and Dash Mount Radios
There are a handful of items in the overlander’s inventory which seem to never go out of fashion, and radio communication systems rank high on that list. On our Expedition Portal forum we have a category dedicated to that one subject and it has accrued thousands of posts over the years. It is also a…
Cut it Out: The Hand Saw Shootout
A compact and portable hand saw is a convenient tool everyone should have in their arsenal. I’ve tried dozens over the years, some good, many only good for a short while before they dulled prematurely or simply fell apart. With spring fully sprung and a lot of deadfall laying around my local forest, I realized…
Truck/SUV Drawer Buyer’s Guide
No matter how much we try to trim down our kits, more and more gear continues to find its way into the back of our rigs. As these items continue to pile up, it becomes increasingly difficult to locate specific items amongst the mountain of countless duffels, tool rolls, and pelican cases—not to mention the…
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…
Field Tested: Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium
A tale of two Yetis. How well does the new Lithium powered Yeti 400 improve on its popular predecessor?
Field Tested: Nemo Equipment Symphony Luxury Duo Sleep System
Nemo’s super sleeper is the most comfortable bush bunk we have ever tested.
American Overlander: C.C. Filson
It is one of the most influential dates in modern history, but one easily forgotten. The day was August 16, 1896 when in the far flung wilds of the Canadian Yukon George Carmack, his wife Kate, and her brother Skookum Jim found massive gold nuggets along the banks of Rabbit Creek. It was a discovery…
Field Tested: Solo Stove Bonfire
Several times a year I’m contacted by an upstart company asking if I can help promote their Kickstarter campaign. My canned answer, delivered sometimes abruptly, is always––no thanks. I’ve learned my lesson featuring projects which not only failed to achieve their fundraising goals, but effectively robbed people of their hard won cash. That doesn’t mean…
Field Tested: Nordic Pocket Saw
The power of a chainsaw in your back pocket.
Field Tested: Sea to Summit 90L Duffle
Australia’s premium gear maker jumps into the expedition duffle game.
Buyer’s Guide: Hard Shell Roof Top Tents
This article was updated on 06 December 2023 The roof top tent has become an omni-present fixture 0f the overlanding world. As such, we have published dozens of reviews and op-eds espousing the benefits of truck-top sleeping as well as comparative thoughts on soft-sided tents versus their hard shelled counterparts. Without rehashing that debate yet again, let’s…
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…
Creating a Convenient Cup of Camp Coffee
If you’re anything like me, getting my day rolling without a cup of piping hot coffee is nigh impossible. Because my backwood outings range from vehicle supported forays with copious amounts of gear, to trips with the absolute minimum, my coffee making methods vary wildly. Fortunately, there are a number of new products on the…
Field Tested: Gear Aid ARC LED Light and Power Station
Shed some serious light on your situation with this 320 lumen light and battery pack.
From the ExPo Vault: Hard Shell vs. Soft Shell Roof Top Tents
Which is better, hard or soft RTTs?
Field Tested: Eco Bags’ String Bag
A cheap bag for your loose goods
Thirst for Adventure
Adventure is a thirsty business, so whether you’re making an early drive from camp with a hot cup of coffee, or passing around some craft whiskey by the fire, it’s best to have the right container for the job. Buy the wrong one, and you might end up with a leaking mess all over your car or yourself….