The sign said, “Go ahead. Blind yourself.” I accepted the challenge and pushed the button. I had heard about Ruby Moto auxiliary lighting from a friend who had recently outfitted his 2021 BMW 1250 GSA with them. They were pretty on that bike, but since we had never ridden at night, I wasn’t aware of…
Mosko Moto Drops an 8-Pack of New Gear
Mosko Presents Four Things To Carry And Four To Wear The forward thinkers at Mosko Moto HQ in White Salmon, Washington, have just announced eight new products for motorcycle travelers. It’s time to get excited, but not too excited—all these items are in pre-order status. Two New Tank Bags Choose from the 2-liter Nomini…
Air-Flow Seat Covers
Like everyone who buys a new bike with a stock seat, I quickly began looking for a solution to soften my ride. I had looked at replacing the seat on my 2020 factory-lowered BMW F 750 GS but found the price would leave me with few options in affording the multitude of accessories I dreamed…
Overland News of the Week
REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform Two pieces of gear caught my attention at the Northwest Overland Rally, and REI Co-op’s Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform was one of them. Car camping is arguably the most accessible form of vehicle-based travel for most, and I can see how a tiny interior could be made functional by…
Puig Touring Plus Windshield
Clearly I had underestimated the importance of choosing the right-sized windscreen for my 2020 BMW F 750 GS. With fellow adventure riders Parker Mims of Carlsbad, New Mexico, and Patrick Reid Hobby of Greenville, South Carolina, I tore off across the lower Texas landscape from the border town of Ruidoso. The spring winds had been…
Overland News of the Week
Purtrek 2-in-1 Trekking Poles Purtrek have developed an ingenious water solution for while out hiking. The innovative, “why didn’t I think of that” 2-in-1 trekking pole provides you with clean and safe water on hand, on-demand, and frees up space in your backpack. The trekking pole has an integrated water filtration system that you submerge,…
Bear-proof Food Storage for Moto Campers
Many of us traveling overnight or long distances on motorcycles are going into bear territory; that’s why we love our ADV and dual-sport bikes—to get off main roads and into the backcountry. But what about storing food out of reach from bears while we sleep at night? Growing up in the Canadian Rockies, I often…
BearVault: A Container for Safe Food Storage in the Backcountry
As a rider, I’ve traveled through a lot of bear country, particularly in British Columbia, Alaska, and Russia. As a hiker, I’ve encountered dozens of bears—even been chased by one, which is why I take food storage in the wilderness seriously. Not only do I want to avoid being woken in the night by claws…
Overland News of the Week
Method 312 Double Black Wheel Method’s 312 wheel is now avaiable in a “Double Black” matte black/gloss black finish, and they look slick! If you are unfamiliar, the 312 is constructed from A356 aluminum with a T6 heat-treatment for strength and features a six-windowed design. The 312 has a load rating from 2650- to 3640-pounds…
Field Tested :: Lifestraw Peak Series Gravity System and Straw
Photo: Thomas Ward Lifestraw Peak Series 3-Liter Gravity System Overlanders are incredibly adaptable, and we have figured out how to thrive in a wide variety of environments. But we’re still human, and no matter how far into the backcountry we manage to travel, we can’t neglect basic necessities, including clean drinking water. It’s a…
Field Tested :: Ridge Merino Aspect High Rise Base Layer Bottoms and Convict Canyon Base Layer Joggers
Aspect High Rise Base Layer Bottoms Ridge Merino is a family-owned business, founded in 2014 and based in Mammoth Lakes, California. As the story goes, one of their co-founders worked for a major ski brand and noticed that all of the pros always chose merino layers over synthetics, and thus the company was born, providing…
The New 2023 Triumph Tiger 1200
The rivalry for the best big-bore adventure bike has been going on much longer than the name “adventure bike” has been used. Manufacturers vie like hungry children after cupcakes for a morsel of the limelight aimed at BMW’s R 1250 GS. Each has made their play, but the big Bavarian beast still stands, proudly wearing…
Overland News of the Week
Aspen Frontiers Patagonia Black Hole Duffle Bag Hangers I get really excited when I see innovations in the campervan space, mostly because the industry seems to be maturing a bit and unique solutions are a little less frequent these days. But here’s something new: Black Hole duffel bag racks from Aspen Frontiers. This clever solution…
Moto Gear for 4WD Overlanding
There is nothing us old-school, long-distance overlanders love more than practical gear that serves more than one purpose, is lightweight, and more durable than a bad reputation. Bikers, generally, seem proud of their collective bad rep. But they are also creative and innovative when it comes to gear, as they only want to carry the essentials and…
Overland News of the Week
Snow Peak Home and Camp Lantern Continuing their tradition of designing outdoor gear that bridges the gap between function and form, Snow Peak brings us the Home and Camp Lantern. This camp light has modern features, like dimmable LED bulbs and a USB-rechargeable battery in a retro silhouette. Maximum light output is 400 lumens and…
Overland News of the Week
Decked x Pathfinder Cooking Kit Decked and Pathfinder Survival have been busy. Since we featured the Pathfinder survival kit two weeks ago, a new module has already been released: the Decked x Pathfinder. This all-in-one cooking kit solution is neatly organized in a Decked D-bag and designed specifically to fit in the Decked truck bed…
Overland News of the Week
Benchmade 5370FE Shootout OTF OTF automatic knives can be deployed single-handed in an instant, making them the perfect blades for use in high-stress situations. But many of them are heavy and prohibitively expensive due to complex mechanisms. Benchmade’s new Shootout aims to change that, with a $300 price point and a lightweight build that is…
New Gear for Overland Travelers at Outdoor Retailer 2022 Snow Show
Considered by many to be the premier outdoor industry trade show in North America, Outdoor Retailer brings together brands, store owners, athletes, PR, media—pretty much anyone that has anything to do with outdoor recreation. The winter version of this get-together, referred to as the OR Snow Show, just took place at the Denver Convention center….
Moonbikes: 100 Percent Electric, 100 Percent Silent
I’m not a fan of snowmobiles. The concept is great: floating on snow, getting high up into the mountains with the help of an engine. But one significant reason why I go into the backcountry is for the peace and quiet. Sleds have their selling points, but they smell and are loud. For these two…
Moto Camp Nerd—an All-In-One Online Store for Motorcycle Camping
One of the biggest challenges for overnight, multi-day, or long-distance motorcycle trips is what to pack. Although you can get most camping gear at any backpacking store, you may run into blank stares while asking a staff member what they recommend for lightweight camping on two wheels. Wouldn’t it be great if all this gear…