Having just returned from my first Overland Expo, I’m a bit overwhelmed. I’ve never seen so many kitted-out vehicles and overland gear in the same place. I found myself being drawn in five different directions at the same time. Woah! Check out these bumpers…and, oh wow! Is that the Acela Monterra? It was like being…
Field Tested: Micro-Start—The World’s Smallest Jump Starter
Created by Antigravity Batteries, known for high-end lithium batteries, the Micro-start is the first, original mini jump starter. These days, we rely on electronic devices more than ever—even in the middle of nowhere—which is what makes the Micro-start an essential item whenever I walk, drive, or ride two wheels off into an adventure. This pocket-sized…
Overland News of the Week
Forge 15 Hitch-mounted BBQ Take your barbeque game up a few notches with Hitchfire’s Forge 15. This hitch-mounted gas grill is a solution for cooking outdoors that will get you up and off of the ground. The grill’s 18- by 22-inch cooking surface is large enough to cook for up to 10 people, and the…
12 Tips for Packing Light on an Extended Motorcycle Trip
What I’ve learned over the past seven years of moto camping and long-distance riding is that you pretty much pack the same amount of gear for three days as for three months: tools, camping stuff, rain gear, off-bike clothing, first aid kit, camera, etc. As for food, you can only fit a few days’ worth…
Video of the Week: Field Tested Nemo Helio Shower Kit
Just because we enjoy going off-grid, and spending extended periods without the conveniences of home, doesn’t mean that we enjoy being dirty. Long days on the trail are taxing, and having a quick way to rinse off the sweat and sunscreen at the end of the day is often a luxury worth making room for…
Overland News of the Week
Haven Tent Hammock camping is one of those polarizing things that people tend to love or hate, with one of the biggest complaints that you can’t sleep flat. Instead, your back is forced into a curved position, and sleeping on your side is impossible. The innovative Haven Tent aims to improve the hammock sleeping experience….
Field Tested: Touratech’s New 2021 Aventuro Carbon2 Plus
I was excited to try Touratech’s new Aventuro Carbon 2 Plus Adventure and Dual Sport helmet for many reasons: it’s good-looking, well-ventilated, and extremely lightweight, to start. But for me, the top-selling features are its removable sun visor and its versatility as an on-road/off-road hybrid. First, let’s discuss the removable brim: some ADV/dual sport helmets…
Overland News of the Week
Hyperlight Mountain Gear Camera Pod Hyperlight Mountain Gear, makers of über-lightweight sewn outdoor goods, have just dropped their new Camera Pod, and if it’s built like their other products, I have no doubt that it will survive many miles on the trail. Hyperlight is one of the pioneering companies responsible for popularizing Dyneema (aka Cubin…
Are You Cool Enough? Tips for Riding in a Heatwave.
As I write this, we’re in the middle of a heatwave in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures last week got to over 100°F (38°C). When I didn’t want to cook and phoned a local brewery to get take-out, they were closed because it was 130°F (54°C) in the kitchen, and the staff was feeling sick. Air-conditioning…
Six Adventure Riding Boots for Summer
It’s hot. Your feet are a stinking, sweaty mess inside plastic riding boots that don’t breathe. Your girlfriend just said you smell like asiago cheese mixed with Gruyère. When you did that creek crossing last week, the boots took on a bunch of water and never dried out. Now, they’re simmering in a molding cheese…
Overland News of the Week
USWE CORE 16 & 25-liter Dual Sport Daypack USWE Sports is a Swedish backpack company that was founded by a group of dirtbike riders. Their idea was straightforward: design a backpack that doesn’t bounce around when you are participating in action sports, like riding dirtbikes, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, or anything else that involves…
Seven Hydration Packs for Summer Riding
Hydration is crucial to the human body. We all know what it feels like to be parched after a long day in the sun exerting ourselves, and it’s not a feeling we can ignore. Maybe some of you, like me, have even suffered heat exhaustion or heat stroke—a life-threatening situation that can be avoided by…
Overland News of the Week
Trestle Aeropress K-cup Adapter Let me ask you a question: are you really an overlander if you haven’t added aftermarket parts to your Aeropress? The Trestle Aeropress K-cup adaptor allows you to utilize K-cup coffee pods with your trusty coffee syringe. Advantages? Well, to start, K-cups are pre-portioned and pre-ground which makes measuring or adjusting…
Scottoiler V-system—An Auto-oiler Overview
With the dusty days of summer inbound, chain lubrication should be at the top of every rider’s motorcycle maintenance list. In fact, some experts say motorcycle chains should be lubricated every 300-600 miles, though this is debatable and depends on riding conditions. Why Do I Need To Lubricate My Chain? Lubrication will increase the longevity…
Overland News of the Week
AEV Jack Base for Jeep Wrangler JL or Gladiator AEV’s jack base for Wrangler JL or Gladiator provides an additional 3.5 inches of height for the factory JL or Gladiator scissor jack. This lets users easily change tires as large as 37 inches with their factory jack. In addition to providing extra height and being…
Five Lightweight Motorcycle Options for Vehicle Hitch-mounts
There are many reasons why riders might want to transport a motorcycle by vehicle: maybe you need to take your bike to the dealer for repairs or want to get from A to B without riding hours on the interstate. For example, if you live in Washington and want to ride the Colorado BDR, you’re…
10 Solutions for Carrying Extra Fuel on Motorcycles and Off-road Vehicles
Updated April 28, 2021. Many overlanders have a conundrum—how to carry extra fuel for those far-from-it-all excursions we all dream about. Carrying gas or diesel safely is even more of an issue: gone are the good old days of filling up plastic Coke bottles and strapping them to your overland rig or ADV ride. Even…
Overland News of the Week
Osprey Talon Pro 30 The comfort of Osprey’s backpacks is well known amongst outdoor enthusiasts, and their new Talon Pro 30 brings that comfort to the world of ultralight backpacking. A lightweight wire frame and injection-molded framesheet provide support for this 30-liter pack. Osprey lists a recommended maximum payload of 15-25 pounds for comfortable carying….
Hard or Soft? A Quick and Dirty Review of Motorcycle Luggage
Editor’s Note: This post was previously published on SheADV.com One of the most important gear items to have on your bike is sturdy, waterproof luggage. Your gear is useless if it’s exposed to the extreme elements of riding unprotected. Over the course of two years, I tried three different motorcycle luggage setups: one was a…
Motorcycle Soft Luggage
From scrublands to high mountain forests, the Idaho BDR challenges motorcycles, riders, and gear. After purchasing a BMW F 800 GS in 2009, I quickly sourced a set of expensive aluminum panniers, thinking that’s what you had to use on a GS. Victims of their own mass and structure, combined with progress…