Renogy has been relentlessly innovating its vehicle-based energy products since 2010. While the dual battery system I put together with Renogy products in 2015 functioned flawlessly for three years and 54,000 miles around Africa, Renogy’s latest round of products are more efficient and durable while being smaller and lighter. By incorporating customer feedback and real-world…
The Rover Boys: Bristol Foster and Robert Bateman Reflect on Their Round-the-World Expedition
Photography by Bristol Foster, Robert Bateman, and Erik Thorn It all began with birds. Birds near Toronto’s Forest Hill, to be exact. Back then, the nearby ravine and creek were thick with vegetation and towering willow trees, offering endless opportunities to identify warblers and flycatchers, blue jays, and thrushes. At least, that’s how it was…
Amongst Predators: Camp Safely in Unfenced Campsites Around Africa
Camping and self-driving in Africa’s national parks is one of the best ways to get to know the rhythm of the ecosystem. Each park on the safari circuit from South Africa to Kenya is different and unique in some way. What they mostly do have in common are the predators. Africa’s big cats stand at…
Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl: Field Tested
While traveling Alaska’s Dalton Highway with friends, I stopped to take in the beautiful scenery and do some fly fishing. Alas, the river contained no fish, but fortunately, I was still able to employ my favorite fly to snag a real keeper: a single, Kevlar-lined, gauntlet-sporting chainsaw glove. Catch-and-release is not my style, and thus,…
Hasselblad X2D 100C :: Field Tested
When NASA needed a camera to capture Apollo 11’s landing on the moon, they trusted one brand—Hasselblad. Chances are you and I will never get to traverse the Sea of Tranquility or crawl out of a lunar crater, but that shouldn’t stop us from wanting to immortalize our own history in the making. Like the…
Colfax Design Works Q.D. Camera Strap :: Field Tested
Colfax Design Works (CDW) has set a new standard with its latest Q.D. camera strap. Built with rugged 1-inch MIL-SPEC nylon tubular webbing and equipped with the proprietary anti-binding CDW Quick Disconnect swivels, this strap is the epitome of versatility and durability. The intuitive design features a push-top button on the swivel that allows for…
Feature Vehicle: Steyr 12M18
With the explosion of the popularity of overland travel globally, we are seeing more and more people choosing to take the plunge and choose the path in life that we love dearly. Choosing and preparing an overland vehicle is the first, and some would say, the most crucial step to getting out on the road…
In the Bag: Reliable Dry Bags to Keep Your Gear Safe
Whether you’re an intrepid overlander exploring remote locations, an avid adventurer seeking the thrill of whitewater rafting, or a beachgoer looking to keep your valuables safe from sand and surf, dry bags have become an indispensable companion for outdoor enthusiasts. Unsurprisingly, these versatile, waterproof wonders have revolutionized how we protect our gear from the elements….
Living Legends: Patricia Upton
Photography courtesy of Patricia Upton and the Estate of Loren Upton I recently had the pleasure of sharing a glass of wine and a lively conversation with legendary lady overlander Patricia Upton, world traveler and matriarch of the overlanding world, at a campsite outside of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Patricia and I initially met at an…
Bellman CX25P Stovetop Espresso and Snow Peak Field Barista Coffee Grinder
Photography by Richard Giordano, Lead photo courtesy of Bellman Bellman CX25P Stovetop Espresso and Steamer I have used moka pots in the past with the hope they would deliver the espresso I desired, but that was never the case. This Bellman, on the other hand, produces a flavor and texture very similar to a full…
Crossing Continents: Africa Wrap-Up and Lessons Learned
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 205 Join the Overland Journal Podcast as co-host Matt Scott interviews Scott Brady about his journey across Africa. Discover the valuable lessons learned, the performance of the Ineos Grenadier, and the critical role of teamwork during a challenging long-term expedition. Special thanks to our sponsors this week, Overland Explorer Vehicles. Tune…
Overland Expo Mountain West with Scott Brady and Steve Edwards
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 204 Join Scott Brady and Steve Edwards for a bonus episode of the Overland Journal Podcast this week as they explore the highlights of the Overland Expo Mountain West. From new vehicles and equipment to innovative camping solutions and industry trends, they discuss their favorite finds, share insights on market changes,…
Principles of Overlanding :: Vehicle Electrical Systems with Mark Bruce
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 201 When you’re embarking on an overland vehicle build, the electronics side of things can seem awfully intimidating. Alternators, inverters, converters, AGM, solar, induction, fuses, MPPT, LiFePO4, volts, amp hours, watts, DC-to-DC—where does the madness end? Fear not. Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady touches base this week with Redarc Electronics…
Overland Journal Podcast :: Episode 200
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 200 Five years and 200 episodes. Scrolling through the history of the Overland Journal Podcast, going back all the way to the first time Scott and Matt sat down to chat with Dan Grec at Overland Expo in 2019, it’s remarkable how much literal and metaphorical ground we’ve covered. The wealth…
The Overlanding Code to Happiness
Lead photograph by Joanie Pépin Despite becoming more materially affluent over the past four decades, those living in developed countries have not experienced the happiness boost expected from modern materialism. Since the 1940s, we’ve upgraded significantly, installing showers and bathtubs, microwaves, dishwashers, and big-screen color televisions—purchasing twice as many vehicles per person, and adding boats and…
Royal Geographical Society | Classic Kit
Even if we aren’t aware of it, overland travel provides countless immersive lessons in geography. Mobility allows us to observe how cities and towns are connected, whether by fields of cheerful canola flowers, hills punctuated by wind turbines, or riverways choked with litter. We notice how environments change from one place to the next and…
Oregon’s Alvord Desert | Overland Routes
The silence of the Alvord Desert is all-consuming. The column of quiet that descends on the dry lakebed in the evenings reaches through you. Sounds that would be swallowed by the regular cacophony of a workaday wilderness are amplified, like they’ve been plugged into a Marshall stack—the rumble of a pickup truck on the county…
Getting Unstuck: Recovery Items to Keep You Moving
Okay, let’s be honest. Just because I’ve been driving four-wheel drive vehicles for 50 years and just because I’ve covered most of the major four-wheel-drive events in the United States (including numerous trips over the Rubicon Trail, the Jeepers Jamboree, All 4-Fun, Sierra Trek, and Moab’s Easter Jeep Safari), I am not a “four-wheeler.” Getting…
Reza Pakravan :: Modern Explorer
Photography by Kevin Merrey and Mark Game It was 70 days into Reza Pakravan’s bicycle expedition from Norway to South Africa before he cracked. His body weak with a recent bout of malaria and severe food poisoning, Reza and his expedition partner, Steven Pawley, slogged through the Kenyan desert in 40°C temperatures, out of water…
Portable Fire Pits for Every Season
I learned to explore the outdoors when I was quite young, and one of my early mentors-in-adventure was a scoutmaster who was exceptionally cautious about when and where he built a campfire. “Every campfire needs the right campsite, but not every campsite needs a fire,” he would say. These are wise words to live by….