Kurt and Martha Forgét, owners of Black Dog Cycle Works, manage their business remotely and take advantage of the freedom that they get in return. From summers spent traveling to winters in Baja, the couple certainly seems to have the work hard play harder modicum figured out. Ultimately, their love of travel and adventure dictated the need for a comfortable…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2020 issue.   On an evening in July 1985, Fat Paul Wonsok met Bros at Stan’s Bar at the Babanango Hotel in distant Zululand. Wonsok, so named because a goat once ate his other sock, had a proposal. Over brandy, he spoke of the Kgalagadi, the great semidesert of Botswana, which…

The phrase “the best camera is the one you have with you” is attributed to photographer Chase Jarvis who wrote a book about smartphone photography. Basically, he’s saying that even if you own the highest-resolution camera with the best-quality lenses, it won’t do you any good if you don’t take it along on your trips. I’d wager a bet that…

Volkswagen campervans have been around since the 1960s, and the models produced from 1993 through 2003 are specifically referred to as EuroVans. While the classic Vanagons and Westfalias are well-known for their (often) underpowered, rear-engine/rear-wheel-drive configuration, the more modern EuroVan did a complete 180 and adopted a front-engine/front-wheel-drive. The Eurovan MV Weekender was originally designed for shorter weekend trips and…

In the process of building our Land Cruiser Troop Carrier into a proper 4×4 tourer, we realized the long-term sustainability of the vehicle would be based upon our comfort. Driving a vehicle from 1985 is inherently less luxurious than a modern ride, but it would be foolish of us not to do what we can to increase our standard of…

Getting started with overlanding often comes with some big gear investments. The good news is that the folks at Front Runner Outfitters and Dometic have joined forces for an overlanding gear giveaway this fall to outfit some lucky travelers with essentials for the trail.   Up for grabs are: Slimline II rack system CFX3 55 powered cooler PLB40 lithium battery…

As the Rebelle Rally draws closer and anticipation continues to build, the race developments get more and more exciting. Nena Barlow and Ram Truck’s team, Team 4 Corners, has officially announced their navigator for the upcoming race. Tana White will climb into the passenger seat, replacing Chris Mayne of Paris, France, who had to pull out due to Covid travel…

With fall approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to dust off your photography gear in anticipation of changing leaves, dynamic golden-hour light, and scenic overland adventures. To help you prepare for spectacular photo opportunities, this week’s Overland News of the week is all about photography gear.   Breakthrough Photography Filters Based in San Francisco, Breakthrough Photography is a camera accessory…

Photos: Cao Baiqiang and Zeng Tianpei, Courtesy Urbanus Architecture and Design   A spectacle of modern design, intriguing architecture, and also a unique archeological site, the Holy Fire Lit Place in Ruicheng, China, was updated to its current configuration to coincide with the 2019 2nd Youth Games of the People’s Republic of China. The site is significant in that it…

Two weeks before the start of our overland adventure, my mother and I went to Spain for a week. Coen was flabbergasted. Buried in a list of things he felt needed to be done, he couldn’t understand why I went on vacation. On the other hand, I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Couldn’t we just throw a…

Ewan McGregor has become quite notorious for his motorcycle exploits with friend and co-adventurer Charley Boorman. In 2004, the pair (along with a film crew) rode 19,000 miles from London to New York City on motorcycles. The journey was produced as a television series titled Long Way Round. Not a pair to sit idle for very long, McGregor and Boorman…

Photography by Scott Brady   Warn has been adding to its vast array of products over the past 72 years. Though best known for manual and automatic hubs, winches, and mounting systems, Warn now offers a series of Epic Bags that help any overlander organize for their next journey. So, let’s review their lineup of new bags, each providing a…

The freedom a motorcycle provides cannot be understated; it is one of the most capable adventure vehicles out there. And when it comes to adventure bikes, BMW is a bit of a legend. They’ve been designing motorcycles since the early 1900s, and their GS line of dual-sport bikes, which debuted in 1980, has been slowly refined into one of the…

Jeep is calling it the Wrangler 4xe, and according to them, it will be the “most technically advanced and eco-friendly Wrangler ever,” but it’s not the first hybrid from Jeep. The Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe models, which were introduced in Geneva last year, already arrived in Europe this summer. Fiat Chrysler Auto says that we can expect to see…

Header Photo: Terrain 365 knives with Terravantium blades are heading out to the field for testing. Top to bottom: The new STS-AT framelock folder with black G-10 scale (framelock side is titanium); the new Mako Flipper-AT with titanium handles; and already in their collection, the Otter Slipjoint with Marine Gray G-10 scales.   Terrain 365 recently launched two exciting new…

Some of you may have seen our initial coverage of the Living Vehicle camper back in May, but for those who didn’t, it’s much more than a trailer, it’s a fully off-grid home. Aside from the luxurious finishes that set it apart from pretty much anything else out there, the most unique aspect of the Living Vehicle is its monstrous…

Sonora, the second largest state in Mexico, is a culturally rich desert environment well-known for its rich copper deposits, ample sunshine, and lack of rainfall. Sonora is home to ancient societies dating back to 1500 BC, including the Yaquis, Mayos, and Cucapas, who are still active within the state. It is a region that saw Spanish explorers like Álvar Núñez…

The cash deposit I’d paid was all the ATM would give me, and a handwritten receipt was all I got back. So once I’d landed back in the UK, I transferred some money to my new Bulgarian bank account and jumped on the bike back to the European Union’s most easterly member. I was on a mission to turn the…

In 2017, my partner, Amanda, and I hiked the John Muir Trail from Yosemite National Park to the summit of Mt.Whitney. It was a spectacular 15-day trip that tested our spirits, our relationship, and our physical abilities. But like so many big adventures that give us insight into the very fabric of what makes us human, words often escape me…

Editor’s note – SOLD 9/15 Todd originally had this unique fire rescue conversion completed by the expert builders at Fornya Design Co. as the ultimate overlanding rig for a year of travel and adventure. But once Todd hit the road, he began receiving unsolicited offers almost immediately. Seeing the attention that his custom vehicle garnered on the road, he decided…