To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2009 issue, this article is part of that celebration. It is well to observe the force and virtue and consequences of discoveries; and these are to be…
Category Archives: Gear
Field Tested: Gnara x Livsn EcoTrek Overalls
The Gnara x Livsn EcoTrek Overalls are one of those rare pieces of outdoor clothing that feel genuinely designed for women who actually spend time outside. For a pair of technical, utilitarian overalls, they’re surprisingly comfortable, and I wear mine constantly, much to my husband’s disdain. He says I always look comfortable, but also like…
Shopping With Purpose: Practical Tips for Finding Meaningful Travel Mementos
Photos by Richard Giordano All I wanted was a pack of Japanese sheet masks. A seemingly simple task, but as I entered Don Quijote’s brightly lit shopfront, welcomed by the store’s familiar jingle, I was met by the crush of people akin to the nearby Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Shoulder to shoulder with my fellow shoppers,…
Gear Callout: Laundry at Camp
I haven’t owned a washing machine since 2018, when we sold our first house on wheels, a 40-foot diesel motorhome. Through the intervening years, as my family’s movable homes have shrunk in size, my appreciation for modern appliances has deepened. Some days at camp, when I’m playing catch-up, I relate to Mary Lois Walker Morris,…
Field Tested: The Campspotter App
Michiel Pruijssers thought he had planned the perfect camping trip. The weather forecast looked good, the campspot ideal. But when a powerful storm rolled in and ruined the experience, Michiel, a longtime outdoorsperson and SAR volunteer, felt unprepared. Thus, he built Campspotter, an app with a simple mission: to make finding and planning your next…
Fix Manufacturing Tools :: Field Tested
Long after my poor father gave up on trying to teach me anything mechanical, he did at least instill one important bit of wisdom: the whole “right tool for the job” thing is real. I spent $39 on a tool whose sole job is to hold my drivetrain in place so I can spin the…
Overland News of the Week, July 17, 2026
The Latest Iteration of the Shoei Hornet ADV Helmet Has Arrived “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies to Shoei’s established Hornet ASV platform, which has remained essentially unchanged since its inception in over a decade. Shoei’s new Hornet ADV 06 helmet, however, takes tried, tested, true and updates the helmet to meet the…
Summertime Essentials to Help Beat the Heat
Last summer was a true test of man, machine, and miniature dog. We left our base in Mexico in the spring, pointed the Land Rover north, and spent six months exploring the US and Northern Mexico. It was an odyssey of sweat and perseverance, lived entirely from our trusty Land Rover, with no air-conditioning in…
Ducati Unveils Desmo450 EDS Dual Sport
Ducati’s 2026 Desmo450 EDS takes desmodromic valve timing into the outback with their first modern street-legal enduro/dual-sport machine. Per Ducati, the EDS was “born with a clear vision, one that speaks of passion, technology, and exploration.” The Goal Based on Ducati’s Desmo450 MX motocross bike, the EDS is built to take on the natural world…
Snow Peak’s Bomb-proof Camping Gear
In the 30 years I’ve been buying camping gear, from the expensive wool socks I took on my first backpacking trip in Big Bend National Park, I’ve never come across a brand that so marries style and functionality as the Japanese company Snow Peak. I’ve owned a tiny powerhouse of a stove from the brand…
Top Gear :: Overland Expo West 2026
Someone I know who has been in the adventure travel industry for many years told me that we are currently in a “creativity crisis.” He thinks we’re stuck in a rut and that very few truly new ideas have been filtering into the overland world lately. I had this claim front and center in my…
Adventure Motorcycle Rider Henriette Thiim on Lessons Learned from 200,000 Kilometers of International Travel
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with Danish motorcycle adventure rider Henriette Thiim to discuss Henriette’s latest trip through Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco. In this episode, Henriette dives into the logistics required to ride through Algeria and her experiences in-country, as well as what she’s learned about managing fear after…
BMW 1150 GS Adventure :: Publisher’s Project
It was sometime around 2000 when I walked into the REI store in Phoenix, Arizona, to buy a kayak. What was parked under the entry awning stopped me in my tracks: a bright yellow BMW GS resting on its sidestand, a chunky, knobby tire sticking out onto the sidewalk. I had never seen a big…
Overland News of the Week, March 27th, 2026
iKamper Launches Skycamp 4.0 Rooftop Tent Series iKamper has introduced the Skycamp 4.0 series, the latest evolution of its flagship rooftop tent platform, featuring a refined design that improves interior space while maintaining a compact external footprint. The updated lineup includes duo, trio, and quad configurations, expanding fitment across mid-size SUVs, crossovers, wagons, and truck…
Ducati Revamps the DesertX for 2026
Ducati has completely revised their DesertX adventure bike with a new V2 engine and monocoque frame. The 2026 X model evolved from lessons learned while racing in some of the world’s toughest off-road events, such as the Erzbergrodeo and Mexican 1000 Rally. In Ducati’s words, “The new DesertX was created with the specific aim to…
Easy on the Eyes: The Best Lighting for Every Campsite
The human eye has over 120 million specialized cells dedicated to processing light waves. Called photoreceptors, these cells are commonly known as “rods and cones,” and the shapes determine both how we process color and how we see in dim or bright light. Translating the physical phenomena of light into electrical and chemical signals in…
Elspeth Beard: One of the First British Women to Motorcycle Around the World
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with adventure motorcyclist, author, and traveler Elspeth Beard, who was one of the first women to ride around the world by motorcycle. Elspeth dives into the details of her two-year round-the-world trip, from 1982 to 1984 on a 1974 BMW R60 bike, and how…
Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System :: Field Tested
As a full-time overlander, I love to cook outside. But when preparing coffee in the morning or an afternoon cup of tea, I don’t always want to set up the propane stove just to boil water. Instead of a kettle, I’ve been using the newly updated Jetboil Flash. The Flash boils water fast (approximately two…
Adventure Motorcycling 101: In-Depth Training with Bill Dragoo
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, join us from Norman, Oklahoma, with special guest Bill Dragoo in his vintage-and-modern-motorcycle-filled shop. We dive into the foundational skills and training necessary for adventure motorcycling, discussing bike selection, safety equipment, rider preparation, and more. Learn about the importance of bike ergonomics, body positioning, and the critical…
For the Minimalist Who Fancies Luxury :: Gift Guide
I’ll preface this guide by reminding one and all that the greatest gifts cannot be bought. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. So, during this festive season, check in with loved ones and make time away from your devices to be present. With that out of the way, who’s going to buy me…