Overland Adventure Gear – TAP’s 2022 Top Picks

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Overland and adventure gear, adventure gear, overland gear, vehicle supported adventure, overlanding, over land, off-road, off-roading,

We test and review a lot of Overland Adventure Gear and every now and then something finds it’s way into our personal gear and becomes a go to. Here’s a few that made it last year.

Helinox Sunset Chair

Helinox chairs, helinox tables, camp furniture, off-road, off-roading, overland, overlanding, adventure gear

We used the Helinox Sunset Chairs on all of our content creation trips last year. They probably traveled with us over 10k miles and saw cold, wet, warm and windy conditions. They’ve absolutely been put through their paces and have held up to everything we’ve thrown at them.

Pros:

Lightweight and packs down very small (important when space is a premium and weight limits are an issue).
Comfortable and well made.

Cons:

Price.
Will blow around easily in windy conditions.

Specs:

Packed Length – 18.5″
Capacity – 320 lbs
Packed Weight – 3.04 lbs

MSRP: $174.95 BUY HERE

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iKamper RTT Sleeper

camping gear, ikamper, sleeping bag, off-road, off-roading, overland, overlanding, adventure gear

iKamper are obviously known for their RTT’s and there are a lot of sleeping bag brands on the market, so I never expected to be impressed by another entry into this crowded category. Since receiving the bag in Spring of 2022, it’s been my go to on many trips. I was skeptical that a non mummy style could keep me warm in the backcountry, but it truly has. Overall, i’s a very well made warm and comfortable bag for those that like a little more wiggly room.

Pros:

Warmth and comfort
Relaxed and roomy fit
Padded neck warmer
Non stick pull YKK zippers

Cons:

Price
Weights makes this purely a car camping bag

Specs:

Fill – 1000g RDS Down
Shell – DWR coated 30D Ripstop Nylon
Compressed Dimensions – 10″x9″x18″
Open Dimensions – 37″ x 82″
Weight – 3.9lbs
Temp rating – Comfort 25 F

MSRP: $369 BUY HERE

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Pelican Air Case 1535 carry – on size

off-road, off-roading, overland, overlanding, adventure gear, Pelican Air Case, storage box. camera storage box, overland gear box

We received these Pelican Cases at the end of 2022 just in time for a week in Moab, Utah. Conditions were wet and muddy and our camera gear is very expensive, so I was stoked to be able to carry my cameras/lenses in air/water tight and very robust storage cases. We’ve obviously not used them for any length of time yet, but I was impressed with their quality and design and am certain they’ll be utilized all this coming year.

Pros:

Dust/water tight and crushproof.
Solid and sturdy construction
Internal adjustable padded dividers
Wheeled and carry-on size
Lightweight
Lockable

Cons:

Price (camera gear is expensive, now I need expensive cases to protect it all) LOL
Highlights expensive camera equipment to potential thieves.

Specs:

Exterior Domensions – 20.39 x 11.20 x 7.21″
Weight with foam – 9.98lbs
Wheels and pull handle
Min Temp – -60F
Max Temp – 160F
Automatic pressure equalization valve

MSRP: $274.95 BUY HERE

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Truma Fridge – 44L

Truma Fridge, Truma, Overlanding, over land, off-road, off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

We started using the Truma 44l fridge at the beginning of 2022 and it has stayed in our 4Runner ever since. It’s definitely seen some heavy action and has worked flawlessly from day one. In really cold weather camping, I often turn the fridge off over night and then forget to turn it back on when I hit the trail. That’s when the Truma APP comes in, as I can turn it on/off or adjust the temp from the cab. Love this convenient feature.

Pros:

Robust construction and quality product
Perfect size for average size overlanding rig
Bluetooth APP control
Bottle opener and 3A USB port and charger

Cons:

Price at $1196
Only single zone

Specs:

Dimensions: 26″x16″x19 (L,W,H)
Weight: 53 LBS
Temp Range: -8F to 50F
Average HR amp draw 0.6
Digital display for cooler zone
Bluetooth App compatible
3A Port and Charger
LED interior light
Stepped dual compartments
Powered by 12/24 V DC compressor

MSRP: $1196 BUY HERE

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MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove

MSR Pocket Rocket stove, overland ing stoves, over land, overlanding, overland, off-road, off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

The MSR Pocket Rocket Stove first came with us on a Snoverland Trip in the High Sierra back in 2021. Since then, it’s been on every trip we’ve taken. It’s our early morning coffee making stove, when we don’t want to set up our main two burner. It’s also the stove we use when it’s blowing a gale and we want to cook something quickly in the back of the rig. TAP can’t recommend this little stove enough!

Pros:

Ultralight and small.
Easy to use push start ignition.
Boils water extremely fast even in cold weather. In our in-field test, it easily beat out it’s competition.
Wind blocking burner lip.

Cons:

Only suitable for limited cooking, so is an additional stove to the main camp stove.
It’s so efficient, it can easily burn food in cooking pot.

Specs:

Weight: 2.9 oz
Height: 3.3″
Boil time 1 liter 3.3 mins
Water boiled per 1 oz of fuel 2.1 litres
Burn time per 8 oz canister 60 mins

MSRP: $69.95 BUY HERE

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Planetary Design – Basecamp French Press

Planetary Design, Brutek, French press, overland coffee gear, camp coffee, overlanding, overland, off-road, off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

If you’re anything like us, you drink a lot of coffee around camp in the mornings. We’re often shooting astro shots at 2am, so a good coffee set up is essential. The Planetary Design 48oz Basecamp French Press has become our go to for outdoor brewing. Large enough to accommodate two mugs each and built to take a heavy beating on the trail.

Pros:

Robust design
32 and 48 fl oz sizes
Easy to operate and retains heat well
Great looking product

Cons:

Price at $60-70 (good coffee gear doesn’t come cheap!)
Tight screw thread to lid
Can be hard to align top with spout when fully closed

Specs:

32 – 48 fl oz sizes
Spill proof spout
Leak proof lid
Double walled vacuum sealed
Rubber bottom

MSRP: $190 BUY HERE (COFFEE KIT)

MSRP: $70 BUY HERE

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Support us! TAP may earn a small commission from some affiliate links in this article.

The Roamer 1 – Off-Road Trailer

By

Andy Palmer

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Roamer 1 trailer, Roamer 1, off-road trailer, offroad, overland ,over land, overlanding, off-road, off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

The Roamer 1 is an Off-Road Trailer that can compete against the best in the world. In the Overlanding world, Australia is recognized as setting the gold standard in the off-road trailer category, but with the American manufactured Roamer 1 camper, that’s about to change.

Features of the off-grid trailer made for any adventure.

Insulation:

The ROAMER 1 has the best insulation you will find on the market. The walls are almost 4” thick. This insulation was originally used in trailers built for ice fishermen on the Canadian borders in Negative 40 degree F. Extreme cold will not penetrate the ROAMER 1.

Not only can it hold up in some of the coldest places you will find anywhere in the world, but it can easily endure the other end of the spectrum as well. Sitting in the desert in 100+ degrees, it can easily keep a cool temperature below 70 degrees inside the trailer.

It’s made with composite material that has zero wood. The one piece composite extends the entire length of the walls, floor and ceiling. With one piece, composite, and no aluminum studs this cuts thermal bridging from the outside to inside. It’s truly revolutionary!

Parts and Construction:

The ROAMER 1 has been equipped with some of the best materials and components in the world. Parts like the Truma from Germany and the isotherm fridge from Italy. The quality of these components stand side by side with gear you find on a yacht! You know, those nice boats that can cost upwards of 10 million dollars? You could think of the ROAMER 1 as the Lamborghini of the off-road camper world.

Off-Road Capability:

The ROAMER 1 can compete with any other off-road camper when it comes to off-road capability. This unit is equipped with CruiseMaster ATX Airbag Suspension. When it comes to off-roading, independent suspension is king, and that is exactly why the ROAMER 1 has it. Each tire can move independently of the others, allowing you to easily pivot and handle all those holes and rocks along the way. If your truck can get there, the ROAMER 1 will effortlessly come along for the ride.

Staying off-Grid:

So often we want to extend our adventures out in nature, but something always brings us back. Whether it’s not enough water, or not enough power in our batteries, the adventures always seem to get cut shorter than we want.

This trailer has power like nothing else. An enormous battery bank of 1080 amps of lithium power and 1240 watts of solar feeding those batteries and external ports to add briefcases.

In the heat you can run your air conditioner off this massive battery bank. Using a 12 volt high efficiency, air conditioner. In the cold, the Propane Truma is one of the most efficient heaters on the market.

At 60 gals water and no black tank to empty your off grid trip can truly be extended. The ROAMER 1 has an ingenious way to extend your water tanks further than you could imagine. This trailer enables you to pump from a stream with an inline pump. With a portable filtration system, you can easily pump and stay on your adventure forever.

The ROAMER 1 is truly in a class by itself! An ultimate adventure rig!

For full specifications check HERE

To view the ROAMER 1 in person, give ROA OFF-ROAD a call: 801-860-0035

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**This featured article is Sponsored Content*

Earthcruiser: Electrifying the world of Overlanding

By

Andy Palmer

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EarthCruiser, ev, Electric vehicles, expedition vehicles, overland, overlanding, over land, vehicle supported adventure, off-road, off-roading,

The Electric Vehicle (EV) market has been getting a lot of attention and todays announcement from Earthcruiser, of its new Slide in Camper specifically designed and engineered for EV integration, is a brave and cutting edge step into the world of EV Overlanding. Of course there will be the naysayers and there’s still lots of questions to be answered, but we believe that Lance Gillies and the EC team are the people to head down this trail with. Obvious EV pickup choices are the Rivian R1T and the Ford F-150 Lightening and future EV platforms from Chevy and Ram. To date, EC talks of optimizing camper weight, aerodynamics and the efficient integration into the vehicles energy systems. However, details are scarce at the moment, so we plan to keep a watchful eye on this exciting initiative. As we learn more details, we’ll be sure to update you.

EarthCruiser Announces Expansion Into Overlanding EV Market

Official Launch of a Pre-Order Deposit Program for a slide-in camper designed for EV trucks

EarthCruiser, a globally recognized brand behind the most accomplished 4×4 expedition vehicles available in the world, announces the expansion into overlanding products specifically for electric vehicles. This includes the official launch of a pre-order deposit program for slide-in campers engineered for the next generation of EV trucks.

EarthCruiser has a proven track record of over fifteen years of building light, aerodynamic overlanding products designed to be efficient and capable and work off-grid for extended use. This requires deep knowledge of complex energy systems, weight distribution and aerodynamics. EarthCruiser is taking this unparalleled expertise and applying it to develop new approaches and designs to pave the way for electric vehicles in the overlanding sphere.

The shift to EVs is a certainty EarthCruiser has seen coming and been talking about for years. Industry stats and new government regulations demonstrate the momentum EV has with automakers and consumers. EarthCruiser is uniquely positioned to design products that excel within EV parameters

“We have been keenly following the evolution of EV vehicles and have been waiting until the time is right and the time is now. We are a company that loves to discover, innovate, and test, over and over until we get it right. Our deep expertise in building world-renowned expedition vehicles makes it easier for us to roll into electric platforms compared to competitors,” said Lance Gillies, founder of EarthCruiser.

As electric vehicles enter the overlanding space, domestic automobile manufacturers require a partner with expertise in maximizing overland vehicle efficiency, and ensuring critical systems fit within a limited footprint and usage envelope. With impressive features that offer a smooth ride, breathtaking power, and unbelievable off-road capabilities, electric vehicles open a new world of possibilities to the overlanding community.

EarthCruiser’s innovation division, ECI (EarthCruiser Innovations), is currently developing products for the electrification of overlanding, including the slide-in truck camper for domestic EV trucks. EarthCruiser Innovation is currently in collaboration with key domestic automotive manufacturers and looks forward to expanding that division of the company. Further details to be announced at future dates in 2023.

“There are many similarities with our current EarthCruiser habitat and one that would be required to function with an electric platform. It’s critical to maximize efficiency in order to allow vehicles to go further. Managing limited storable on-board energy capacity, operating within acceptable range envelope and staying safe and comfortable is the essence of an overlanding vehicle and we have been doing that for years. EarthCruiser is extremely good at energy efficiency and the amount of energy required to move an EC down a road is significantly less than our competitors,” added Lance Gillies.

EarthCruiser EV Camper Pre-Order Program

The future is charged.

Redefine your off-road mission. Introducing a new class of lightweight slide-in campers from the go-anywhere, do-anything adventure leader. Bred for everything that comes after it, this adventure-ready slide-in takes the most advanced EV, hybrids and conventional gas-powered trucks to places others wouldn’t dream.

Customers can place a fully refundable $100 deposit to reserve their exclusive EarthCruiser slide-in camper. EarthCruiser recognizes that the customer voice and travel requirements are critical to the success towards the transition to renewable energy. As part of this deposit program, EarthCruiser Innovation will gather customer platform preferences for this product as it finalizes the development.

EarthCruiser understands that consumers will adopt electric vehicles at different rates and has designed our new slide-in truck camper to transition with them. For customers that are not quite ready for an EV truck, the camper will work flawlessly with internal combustion engine vehicles. When customers are ready to transition to EV, after a few simple software updates, the camper will be ready for life on the back of an electric vehicle.

Reserve the EarthCruiser EV Camper HERE

Expedition Rove – Camper Build Walkabout

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Contributor

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Expedition Rove – Traveling the World in a Land Rover Defender 110

Andy and Mary Hannah (“MH”) of Expedition Rove have managed to transform a standard Defender 110 into their dream home-on-wheels and are now exploring the world in it.Since their first roadtrip together in 2015, they’ve taken on the USA, the Pan-American, the Arctic Circle, and Europe and they’re just getting started. Africa, Alaska, Asia – you name it, it’s on their list. And, they invite you to follow along on the adventure of a lifetime.

As their trips have progressed and their travel style has evolved, so has their build. In 2021, after spending 5 weeks in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic without a diesel heater, the pair decided it was time for a big change. The following 6 months they worked to convert their Defender into their dream camper.

Since then, their Defender Camper build has been getting a lot of attention and not just because of its bright orange color. The build is incredibly practical and has allowed their pair to go further and stay longer than any of their previous setups thanks to everything they’ve been able to pack into the build. A few highlights:

Induction cooking powered by their 420 watts of solar on the roof and their 240Ah lithium battery bank – with options to cook both inside and outside
Their water filtration system that allows them to fill up their 65L tank from rivers and streams
A kitchen complete with a sink and running water, and a 55L fridge with an ice maker
Sleeping for up to 4 thanks to their pop-top roof conversion and a slide out bed platform

Check out the video for the full build specs.

Follow Expedition Rove:

www.expeditionrove.com

Instagram

Facebook

Youtube

Big news in the Overland Industry

By

Andy Palmer

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Overland Expo, Overlanding, Overland, Over land, off-roading, off-road, OX Epo, Vehicle supported adventure,

Emerald Expositions, a public company best known for the trade show events, Surf Expo and and Outdoor Retailer, this week announced the acquisition of Lodestone Events, the company responsible for the Overland Expo Series. In the outdoor lifestyle world, this is is a major development with Emerald diversifying its mission to now include consumer facing events in its portfolio, rather than simply having a business to business focus. On a personal note, it also feels like our little Overlanding Industry just got recognized as an accepted recreational category and that, my friends, is a positive.

So what does any this mean for you, the reader and everyday overland adventurer? Well, on the surface and immediate future, probably not much. However in reality, we’re likely to see the Overland Expo Series grow in scope and potentially locations. That’s a good thing, as it will allow you, the participant, greater access to what’s new in Overlanding and the Outdoor recreation space.

Luckily, today TAP was able to grab a few minutes of conversation with Jeff Davis, Group Vice President of Emerald Expositions and the man behind the acquisition. Here’s a couple of take-aways:

What’s the broad brush strategy behind the acquisition?

Jeff believes in growing the Outdoor Recreation space overall from an industry and participant point of view. In his opinion, the Overlanding category has become significant, and is a natural fit within their portfolio. Also, with the pandemic, they’ve seen a massive interest in outdoor recreation, particularly in the overlanding category, so Jeff believes that speaking to the consumer directly makes sense.

Expansion and consolidation vs. expansion and diversification?

I asked him if we were going to see the Overland Expo Series grow while remaining an overland specific event, or are we going to see expansion and diversification into the middle ground of Vehicle Supported Adventure? I asked this question because the average overland consumer is also diversified in their adventures. They’re surfers, mountain bikers, hikers, climbers etc. and use their built rigs to support these pastimes. With the purchase of Lodestone, Emerald also acquired the Outdoor Adventure X Festival and it will be interesting to see if these stay separate or combine into one Vehicle Supported Adventure series. Jeff was non-committal and said that time will tell.

Conclusions:

Change is inevitable, but personally I feel it’ll be positive. This week, the Overland Category came of age as an Industry and today we have a bigger voice and influence. Having a voice at the “recreation table” potentially keeps trails open and educates the sometimes over zealous “trail closure folks” about our purpose and needs. I’m excited about the future and for now, I’ll simply get back to having fun in the backcountry!

See you on the trails!

Pouch Meals – A quick and tasty option

By

Contributor

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Backpackers pantry, POUCH MEALS, overlanding, over land, off-road, offroading, vehicle supported adventure, trail meals,

Overlanders often share stories about harsh weather, mechanical challenges, or just down-right exhaustion from a full day of travel. On those days, it may not be enjoyable or even practical to break out the full camp kitchen for a luxury meal, nor are local food establishments always accessible. This doesn’t mean you need to resort to granola bars or going to bed on an empty stomach.

Enter pouch meals! While freeze dried or dehydrated meals have been commonplace among backpackers, military personnel and even astronauts for decades, they have historically been oriented toward survival vs. flavorful cuisine. However, we have recently seen an industry trend whereby makers of these meals have gotten serious about delivering flavorful meals for just about any appetite. Moreover, these pouch meals pack away nicely into your vehicle, require no special storage, no refrigeration, carry extended shelf-lives, and are easy to prepare by simply adding boiling water; which is why I think they are a perfect addition to any overland pantry.

Backpackers pantry, pouch meals, overland trail meals, overlanding, over land, off-road off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

Backpacker’s Pantry is an industry leader in the pouch meals market. They pride themselves on creating delicious and diverse meals with authentic recipes, using healthy & sustainable ingredients. They have also been doing so since the early 1970’s with roots going all the way back to The Girl Scouts in the 1950’s.

A few popular pouch meals that were tested:

Pad Thai with Chicken

Details: $12.99 / Add 1.5 cups of boiling water / Ready in ~15 min. / 2 Servings

I’ve tried just about every Pad Thai pouch on the market and this one rises to the top of its class. I liked the blend of flavorful ingredients and for an added extra touch, it comes with a packet of peanut butter for topping before serving.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken

Details: $11.99 / Add 1.5 cups of boiling water / Ready in ~15 min. / 2 Servings

For me, this hits the “comfort food” mark. It has a rich and creamy flavor that most reminds me of mom’s cooking.

Three Cheese Mac & Cheese

Details: $8.99 / Add 1.25 cups of boiling water / Ready in ~15 min. / 2 Servings

At one of the best price points, I think this is a decent vegetarian option, but it came out feeling more like a side dish vs. a full blown meal. I would also note that it was a bit “soupy” with the recommended water.

Blueberry Peach Crisp

Details: $8.99 / Add 1.25 cups of boiling water / Ready in ~7 min. / 2 Servings

I have a weak spot for sweets and being able to make a warm dessert either for your own enjoyment or sharing with others a nice “wow” factor. While the consistency and presentation reminds me more of a warm breakfast bowl, the flavor is delicious anytime of day.

Final impression:

Regardless of your appetite or brand preferences, I definitely recommend adding a few packable pouch meals to your overlanding kit.

In-Field Contributor: Chris Lenkeit – 2021 JLU Rubicon

Every overlander/car camper has a philosophy. Mine was to build my vehicle with a minimalist mindset. While my rig is designed for cabin sleeping with all the necessities, I never travel in excess of GVWR. This enables safe travel for me, my vehicle, those around me and finally the places I visit.

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Helinox Sunset Chair

Pros:

Cons:

Specs:

MSRP: $174.95 BUY HERE

iKamper RTT Sleeper

Pros:

Cons:

Specs:

MSRP: $369 BUY HERE

Pelican Air Case 1535 carry – on size

Pros:

Cons:

Specs:

MSRP: $274.95 BUY HERE

Truma Fridge – 44L

Pros:

Cons:

Specs:

MSRP: $1196 BUY HERE

MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove

Pros:

Cons:

Specs:

MSRP: $69.95 BUY HERE

Planetary Design – Basecamp French Press

Pros:

Cons:

Specs:

MSRP: $190 BUY HERE (COFFEE KIT)

MSRP: $70 BUY HERE

Features of the off-grid trailer made for any adventure.

Insulation:

Parts and Construction:

Off-Road Capability:

Staying off-Grid:

For full specifications check HERE

To view the ROAMER 1 in person, give ROA OFF-ROAD a call: 801-860-0035

******This featured article is Sponsored Content*****

EarthCruiser Announces Expansion Into Overlanding EV Market

Reserve the EarthCruiser EV Camper HERE

Expedition Rove – Traveling the World in a Land Rover Defender 110

Follow Expedition Rove:

A few popular pouch meals that were tested:

Final impression:

Check out TAP’s Ultimate Overland Gear Resource Guide HERE

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