FIELD TESTED: Optimus Svea – over 70 and still hot
I like uncomplicated yet effective travel gear and seeing as the Optimus SVEA has been in production for more than 70 years, this small stove made completely from brass is right up my street. Approximately 9 cm in diameter, 13 cm high and weighing 614 g with fuel, SVEA fits in everywhere. Turned upside-down with […]
FIELD TESTED: LifeSaver Jerrycan 20000UF – Water purification for overlanding and living the van life
Portugal may be a small country compared to other much vaster territories around the world, but surprisingly there are still places in the remotest parts of the country I go to while preparing my trips, where finding a controlled source of water may be difficult. Not to mention when I’m in the middle of nowhere […]
NIKWAX COTTON PROOF: Waterproofing either works or it doesn’t – there is no middle ground.
My ARB Skydome had seen nearly almost daily use during the preceding sixteen months. With a trip to Romania on the horizon, it seemed like an ideal opportunity to give the swag a thorough exterior clean and a consequential reproofing against rain and damp. There hadn’t been any cause for complaint on my part until […]
A matter of taste – improved technology means trekking meals don’t have to be a compromise any longer
Tasting team: Caro, Claudia, Elisabeth, Mike, Stefan, and Tristan Let’s face it, seasoned steaks straight off the grill or a hearty stew simmered for hours on the coals are not only a good source of nourishment, but represent a key aspect of an active outdoor lifestyle especially when paired to a cold drink, feet warming […]
Made in the shade – a head to head test of the market’s 270° awnings
This article first appeared in Overland Journal, Summer 2019. (Republished due to popular demand.) As I tightened the last bolt of the awning’s mounting bracket, I smiled, envisioning how the scene would unfold. Soon I would be sitting on some remote sandy beach, the waves lapping on the shore while I sipped a cold drink […]
The Brands We Trust at Adventure Southside 2021
It’s been a pandemic eternity since the overlanding community had the opportunity to go to an exhibition. So, with the Adventure Southside in Friedrichshafen about to open its doors from August 20th to 22nd, it’s fair to say we’re all getting a little bit excited. Not only is this the first show this year, this […]
Hultån hatchet – following tradition and manufactured just as they were in the 17th century, by hand
An axe may look uncomplicated, but there is good reason why overlanders and outdoor enthusiasts treat their tools with reverence. A year ago, I ran into Hultafors and have since learned to appreciate my Hultån hatchet. BACKGROUND Hults Bruk axes—sold under the Hultafors brand in Europe, after the Hultafors Group bought the company in 1992—are […]
Roof top tent comparison test – our selection and what you need to consider when choosing what’s right for you
Editor’s note: this article was first published in the Spring 2019 issue of Overland Journal. Text by Scott BradyPhotography by Scott Brady and Larry Brady I still remember how -57°F felt, a cold beyond description, as if all life had escaped along with my body heat. I recall fighting against the cover of the roof […]
