Cooking over an open fire and coals has been an essential element of human evolution ever since Homo erectus earned the ability to harness and manage fire. Sitting beside the flames and grilling a meal is something that we, as overland travelers, do more than most modern humans, and it is an important part of…
Fire-Cooked Chipotle Burrito Bowls from Epic Family Road Trip :: Video of the Week
A simple, staple meal that can be whipped up at camp or home is like gold—especially if the recipe is flexible enough to be cooked over a fire or on a propane stove. In this Video of the Week, Carol van Stralen of Epic Family Road Trip is joined by her daughter, Caroline, who shares…
The Meat Trail: A Pilgrimage Across the Americas
Meat is eaten all over the world. Inuits eat it raw, having little fuel to cook with. In Africa, large strips of beef are grilled straight on the coals with no grate. In the USA, indulging in hamburgers and steaks is practically an institution. My preference is to grill a well-marbled piece of beef over…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
Feature Image Courtesy of The Journal of Lost Time AMERICAN NORTHWEST Northwest Overland Rally When: June 20-23, 2024 Where: Leavenworth, Washington The Northwest Overland Rally caters to keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast-iron pot. Join a wine-tasting, whiskey-sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively…
Camp-Style Lu Rou Fan With Gon Dirtin’ and Mali Mish :: Video of the Week
Gon Dirtin’s Linhbergh Nguyen and Karissa Hosek have launched a brilliant new five-part series, Gon Cookin’, in which they recreate guest’s favorite dishes into camp-friendly versions. Presented by XOverland and driven by Mobil 1, the series is part Chef’s Table, part cooking class, and features recipes from Marco Hernandez, Stephanie Tea, Bound for Nowhere’s Mary…
Meal Bars for On-the-Go Energy
The eating experience ebbs and flows. There are times in life when there’s no better feeling than sitting down for a luxurious meal. Every bite tastes like a slice of heaven on Earth melting in your mouth, and you take your sweet time with each swallow in a desperate effort to make the flavors last…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Spring
Lead photo courtesy of Weird Wild West SOUTHWEST USA Adventure Van Expo When: April 13-24, 2024 Where: Scottsdale, Arizona The Adventure Van Expo series returns for 2024 with a packed schedule of events, including the first of the season in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lively music, food trucks, vendors, and camping converge in this all-ages celebration of…
Food Storage for the Overland Traveler
Editor’s Note: This food storage article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. If you think about it, food should always come first. It’s the fire behind everything we do, from everyday human functioning to scaling cliffsides and hiking through high mountain passes. Living necessitates eating. Living adventurously? So much more so. Dream…
Meal Planning for Overlanding: Tips for Preparing Delicious and Nutritious Meals
“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” –Anna Thomas “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” –Virginia Woolf There are two comforts that I refuse to give up when on the road: my down duvets and regular gratifying meals (and…
Trail Fire Grill, High-Elevation Cooking the Campfire Way
I knew I liked the Trail Fire Grill when I saw creator Mark Ritchie demo it at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona, this past spring. He had made a bacon and eggs breakfast for me and showed me how this camping grill serves as a barbecue, wok, and oven. I took the grill home…
Opinel Nomad Cooking Kit and Picnic+
A while ago, we declared that Opinel knives are art. We stand by that declaration and, as if to prove us right, Opinel has launched a new, innovative multi-purpose range which has us drooling and dreaming of a long hike and a campfire feast. Multi-purpose gear is the outdoor explorer’s holy grail; we love a product…
Staples In Tents’ The Gathering is Coming to Vancorum, Colorado, August 18-22
Sonya and Necota Staples of Staples In Tents and Black People Off-road are champions of equality in the outdoor space. They strive to make camping and overlanding accessible to everyone, including those from marginalized communities who haven’t traditionally enjoyed easy access to outdoor recreation opportunities. Enter The Gathering, a weekend of outdoor adventure and education…
Field Tested :: LivBar
Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, corn-free, GMO-free are words that all jump off the wrapper of the LivBar, lined up on a playbill of claims to fame. They are also honey-free, to ensure a vegan-friendly status. Coffee Maple Cacao, Lemongrass Cherry Matcha, Blueberry Vanilla Kale, and Raspberry Kale Maca are some of the accompanying exotic flavors that…
The Overland Adventure Rallies Return (With a New Name) For 2022
Lead photo by Bryon Bass As rally organizers gear up for this year’s full season, I know I’m not the only one looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Overland rallies are where like minds come together, bundling up for nightly bonfire raffles, visiting with colleagues and friends, listening to stories from…
Dryad Cookery Titanium Spatula, Leather Skillet Handle Cover
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2021 Issue. When I think about ways to add enjoyment to my cooking experience, it’s nearly always about a new recipe or a fresh set of knives. Maybe even some new pans, but a spatula was never on the list. Earlier this year,…
The Perfect Campsite Breakfast
If Mrs. Bell had her way, we would eat Greek yogurt with seeds and nuts and bananas and a small spoon of jelly for breakfast every day. Last night’s dinner was pasta which was actually baby marrow (did she think we would not notice?) with watermelon for dessert. I am forced to drink a gallon…
Overlander Lubricant – Drink Responsibly
It has been a long, hot, and trying day. The rig has been behaving badly, the last of 20 checkpoints involved a locked and loaded Kalashnikov, your convoy partner has been very hard work, and there is a difficult multi-day remote mountain pass ahead. It is at times like these that all an overlander needs…
The Best Backpacking (Shelf Stable) Camp Meals
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2019. I can still remember the smell of the horse shashlik, a tub of meat and indecipherable seasonings that we pulled from a freezer in the remote Russian village of Kosh-Agach. The only way I knew it was horse meat was from the line-art drawing of…
From the ExPo Vault: The Best of the Best – Sporks
We answer the question few dare to even ask: Which spork reigns supreme?
Camp Champ
A chuck box of the luxury nature