Overlanding and Offroad articles

Quick Verdict: Year-round vehicle camping is realistic with a hot tent and a compact wood stove. Where standard 3-season tents force you indoors by October, a properly equipped hot tent maintains 70-85°F interior temperatures even when outside conditions drop to -20°F. Setup takes under 60 seconds with umbrella-frame designs...

Quick Verdict: Knowing how to air down tires for off-road driving is the single cheapest performance upgrade for your 4x4. Dropping from 35 PSI to 15-20 PSI increases your tire's contact patch by 30-50%, giving you more grip on sand, rocks, and mud. The process takes 5-10 minutes with...

Quick Verdict: After five years of overlanding trips, the Front Runner Expander Chair ($80) earns our top pick for its unmatched fold-down size and steel-frame durability. For larger campers or anyone who wants a throne at camp, the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong ($78) supports 800 lbs and holds a...

Quick Verdict: After testing and researching 9 of the best traction boards on the market, the MAXTRAX MKII (~$270/pair) remains the gold standard for off-road recovery. For heavy rigs over 10,000 lbs, the American-made ActionTrax (~$290/pair) delivers a 47,000 lb load rating with replaceable metal teeth. On a budget?...

If you’ve built out your truck for overlanding, camping, or just hauling gear without the constant game of Tetris in your bed, you already know one thing: not all racks are created equal. The right setup can completely change how you use your truck, turning it from “barely enough...

Quick Verdict: After 18+ months of overlanding trips, the HEST Foamy Wide remains the most comfortable camping mattress I have tested. Its R-value of 8.8 handles freezing Sierra nights, and the zero-inflation setup takes 30 seconds. At $379, it costs more than self-inflating alternatives, but the durability and comfort...

Quick Verdict: The Breeo X Series 19 (~$499) is the best Breeo fire pit for overlanders who want a smokeless campfire with serious cooking potential. Pair it with the Outpost Grill 19 (~$150) for open-fire grilling at camp or on the trail. If you want the full cooking system,...

Quick Verdict: After years of running CB radios on overlanding trips across the Southwest, the Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB ($193) is the best CB radio for most overlanders. It delivers SSB for extended range, NOAA weather alerts, and a 7-color display, all backed by thousands of Amazon reviews at...

Last updated: March 2026 | 7 min read In This Article What Is Battle of the Branches? Six Branches, One Competition Civilian Battle Buddies The Route: Five Days, Four States A Visual Tour of the Southwest Authentic Challenge, No Manufactured Drama Military Values on Display Final Thoughts   What Is Battle of...

Quick Verdict: The ICECO APL55 is a 55-liter dual-zone portable fridge with a SECOP compressor, Bluetooth app control, and USB charging ports on both ends. At $959, the ICECO APL55 costs roughly $240 less than the Dometic CFX3 55IM and $500+ less than the ARB Elements 60L. It draws...