I stood on the Arctic Ocean in March between two pingos, my beard frozen and a smile on my lips. I monitored my body for cold and found that only the exposed skin on my face was cold, as I had recently removed my fleece garter to drink a rapidly cooling cup of coffee poured…
Stōd Gear Company Woodgaiter :: Field Tested
At Overland Journal, we have a soft spot for small businesses and appreciate the opportunity to review and feature products from aspiring entrepreneurs. Enter Stōd Gear and their budding line of storage solutions for overlanders. Over the past year, I have been using their Woodgaiter, a simple and robust firewood hauler that doubles as a…
What Overlanders Should Know About the Gore-Tex Brand
Photographs courtesy of the Gore-Tex Brand The path to purchasing outdoor gear can feel like a quest for the Holy Grail. There are many factors to consider, including sizing, materials, fit, construction, durability, and brand ethics or environmental impact. Whether it’s a pair of hiking boots or a puffy jacket, the mission always starts with…
Overland News of the Week
Born Outdoor Badger Bed 25 Kicking off this week’s overland news is Born Outdoor. The company is now supplying a narrower version of its original Badger Bed 30. Expedition Portal’s Garrett Mead reviewed the latter and concluded: “I could not find a single thing to dislike about this bed system.” High praise, indeed. So, what…
The Küat Ibex Elevates the Overland Rack
There are times when products take us completely off guard, our typical vocabulary being reduced to wide eyes and wows. The truck bed racks have been made for a long time, and most of the styling reflects either a dated jungle gym or something best reserved for a 1980s square body. Indeed, there are many…
Decked Unveils the Latest Generation of Pickup Truck Drawer Systems
If we were asked to pick only two products to transform an everyday pickup into an overland-ready vehicle, those two products would, undoubtedly, be a rooftop tent and a drawer system. No other off-the-shelf products are as convenient or fundamentally essential. Decked manufactures storage and organization systems for mid- to full-sized pickup trucks and has…
Chaco Paonia Clog and Ramble Puff :: Field Tested
In the early 1990s, Chaco made a splash in the highly competitive, shin-kicking world of outdoor footwear by taking on sandal giant Teva. Colorado-based river guide Mark Paigen designed a sport sandal with an anatomical footbed, a single pull-through adjustment strap, and a Vibram outsole. Called the Z/1, it was a snug-fitting, easy-to-clean, and made-in-the-USA…
Was the 1920s Plus Fours Routefinder Watch an Ultimate Failure or Ahead of its Time?
Imagine chugging down the bumpy roads of 1920s London in a Ford Model T, mechanical parts clattering away as you grip the manual steering wheel, shifting between high and low gear. Perhaps you are heading for the coastal town of Bournemouth in Dorset, England, eager to enjoy a weekend by the sea. To navigate, you…
Overland News of the Week
Overland News: Let’s Go Aero Introduces E-Motorbike Carrier This week’s overland news begins with the V-Lectric Folding Rack (VFR). The VGF integrates a tray mount and ramp system that can withstand up to 80 pounds per bike and features a folding V-formation structure that handles various bike sizes, shapes, and geometries. To secure anything from…
New Products Showcased at Overland Expo East
The Overland Expo events, held nationally in the US, continue to grow from strength and have become the event of choice for manufacturers to launch and showcase new products. From top-tier vehicle manufacturers to up-and-coming gear and overland-related producers, the thousands of attendees of each event can expect to find the cutting edge of what’s…
Portable Power Stations :: Buyer’s Guide
Portable power stations, also known as portable generators or battery packs, are becoming increasingly popular for travel and RV use, especially when conventional power sources are unavailable. They are also superior to gas-guzzling generators that generate unwelcome noise pollution and require propane or gasoline to run. Portable power stations offer a dependable and practical supply…
Editor’s Choice Video—Overland Hard Case Testing
Overland Journal‘s Summer 2023 issue featured a Hard Storage Boxes Main Gear Review by Chris Cordes. This video features the semi-destructive testing used to draw some of the conclusions referred to in the test. Excerpt: Some people have an innate ability to learn their lessons from the wise words and experiences of others. As I…
9 Best Hard Storage Cases for Overlanding
Some people have an innate ability to learn their lessons from the wise words and experiences of others. As I gazed at the half-empty plastic storage case on my roof with a bewildered stare, I couldn’t help but wish I was one of those people. How long had it been open? For 10 miles, 30,…
Goal Zero Launches Yeti Pro 4000
Goal Zero continues to add larger and more technologically capable power stations to its extensive Yeti lineup. Its latest is the Yeti Pro 4000, boasting a brawny 3,600 watts of continuous power and up to 7,200 watts in surge capacity. With the optional Tank Pro LiFePO4 expansion battery packs, 20,000 watt-hours of capacity is possible….
Overland News of the Week
Rux 70-liter Essentials Set This week’s Overland News of the Week has some great gear offerings and the first on the list is the Rux 70-liter system; a practical and robust alternative to plastic bins and duffel bags for efficient gear organization and transportation. When used independently, the Rux takes the form of a rugged…
Two Dusty Travelers’ 2015 Jeep Wrangler :: Featured Vehicle Interior
Used for anything from short weekend trips to multi-week summer retreats from their Seattle-based home, Aaron Reddecliffe and Emily Scott’s 2015 Jeep Wrangler has been thoughtfully built to make the most of a small space. A teacher by trade, Aaron is a wizard at installing aftermarket accessories (including building a set of sliding drawers) and…
Craghoppers Clothing :: Long-Term Review
Editor’s Note: This Craghoppers clothing review was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2023 Issue. In late 2012, we said goodbye to our home in Cape Town, South Africa, and packed the Land Rover for an expedition that would take us around the world without pause. We researched and sourced gear that would serve us…
Fall Gear Essentials—Editors’ Picks for 2023
It’s barely perceptible at first, the shortening of the days. You might notice it here and there in the background—the colder, darker mornings, a shift in the angle of the sunlight, unconsciously scooting a little closer to the campfire. Fall is my favorite time to explore off-grid. Most of the crowds from the peak travel…
Benchmade Mini Bugout CF-Elite :: Field Tested
I’ve never been a “knife guy”. Never mind everyday carry, I barely ever carry at all. With pockets jammed full of keys, wallet, pens, notebook, and phone, who has space to port around one more item? However, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been caught out on more than one occasion when I…
Gear Roundup—Overland Expo Mountain West
At the Pacific Northwest version of Overland Expo, Expedition Portal’s 4WD Editor Graeme Bell walked us through some of the more interesting and useful gear available in the vast exhibitor area at the Deschutes County Expo Center. Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado, offered an even more expansive selection of vendors hawking everything from…