We Roamed The Grounds All Weekend To Find The Best New Gear & Equipment
The Overland Expo is the largest and longest running overland event in the USA. It began quietly in 2009 in Flagstaff, Arizona and since then the Overland Expo has grown from one annual event to a series of four events across the country and continues to grow every year as more and more people discover the world of overland travel and the exciting lifestyle that goes along with it.
The Overland Expo offers visitors much more than just vendors and exhibitors, they offer a wide range of interesting speakers and educational seminars throughout the weekend along with test drives from two and four wheel manufacturers, an off-road driving course and so much more. If you are at all interested in the overland space check out one of the Overland Expo events this summer and see what all the excitement is about.
The second Overland Expo event of the year takes place every year at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon in late june. The Off-Road Travel TV staff stopped by for the weekend to check it out and catch up on the all the latest gear and accessories hitting the trail this summer. Below is a selection of the most interesting and innovative products we came across.
BEAR BOLTS
Christopher Marcotte, the founder and CEO of BEAR BOLTS, he and his wife got tired of looking everywhere for a lock that would fit their favorite Yeti Cooler and also be able to meet the requirements of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) specifications for bear proofing a food container. They tried all the popular name brand locks in all the sizes they could find but none quite fit the bill so they decided to create their own.
“Many people don’t know that there are strict standards for securing all types of food containers against bears and Bear Bolts were specifically designed to meet or exceed these standards,” said Marcotte. “Our bolts are manufactured from100% aircraft aluminum for light weight and we can even match the paint to any vehicle. "
Precision machined from corrosion resistant stainless steel they slip easily through the existing holes in most name brand coolers and provide safe and secure protection of food sources when you venture out into bear prone backcountry.
Bear Bolts have been designed and engineered to withstand the raw power and determination of even the smartest bear. They have been field tested extensively and even filmed in a series of 60-minute sessions in a controlled environment where they were mauled by nearly a dozen bears and never failed once. These nifty little locks also work great on hard sided storage cases of all kinds so you can protect not just your cooler but your valuable cameras and gear as well.
Order yours today at www.bearbolts.com
ESCAPOPD TOPO 2
The popularity of small teardrop and adventure trailers has been on the rise and for good reason. They are small and easy to tow, most SUV’s and many cars can tow them just fine. They can provide a new level of comfort to the off-road and camping experience and the best part is when you get home you can just park it and your daily driver is not affected at all. In the teardrop category one of the nicest we have seen is the Escapod Topo 2.
According to Chris Hudak from Escapod this unit stands out due to its unique construction.
“This is a class leading trailer, a one-piece fiberglass shell where the fiberglass is all integral to the body,” said Hudak. “What this means is that we don’t have to build this interior structure to hold our fiberglass up this thing is all one piece, fully insulated on all four sides. And the coolest part is we tucked all the mechanicals inside the vehicle, 21 gallons of water and the hot water heater are all tucked away so you can use your camper longer every season.”
The Topo 2 has a complete galley and a full line of accessories and options that let you customize it to suit your style. Add a rooftop tent and an awning with room enclosure and it can handle a family of four in style and comfort.
Check out the entire line of Escapod trailers today at www.escapod.com
DEEP SLEEP
If you are anything like me a good nights sleep is a must when I am out off-roading and camping with the family so I was thrilled to see the brand new DEEP SLEEP sleeping pad come to market.
The unit is self-inflating and has a memory foam pad inside the mattress that adds firmness and makes it much more comfortable than a traditional air mattress. With an inflated height of 5 inches it provides a nice level of support no matter how you sleep, on your back or on your side.
It still packs down and fits into a small duffel bag for transport to your favorite campsite. It can be used right on the ground but really shines when placed on top of a standard size cot (not included).
“We have a few different sizes,” said Elizabeth King from Deep Sleep Overland.
“We have an 80x27 that is our most popular, it has an R-value of 18 so it is great for all weather camping. You just open the nozzle and it self-expands in a few minutes. It also has a comfort adjust valve so when you are laying on it you can set your own comfort level. Then it packs down to a compact size of 10x27 so it doesn’t take up much space.”
Speaking of size the Deep Sleep mattresses are all 80 inches in length and come in two widths, 24 and 27 inches so they fit right into all the popular roof top tents. Deep Sleep also make custom fitting versions for most popular SUV’s complete with pre-measured cutouts for the console and the wheel wells.
To see the complete lineup go to www.deepsleep.com
MOSKO MOTO MULE ADVENTURE ROLLER
MOSKO MOTO has long been known for the ground-breaking designs of their backpacks and bike packs. Now with the introduction of the Mosko Moto ‘Mule’ Adventure Roller luggage system the company seems poised to revolutionize the art of moto travel next. Designed from the ground up as a two-piece unit that can come apart.
“The Mule Adventure Roller just came out, pre-orders start this week.” said Ryan Turner from Mosko Moto. “The Mule is very versatile, it holds anywhere from 110 liters up to 175 liters, depending on how you set it up. The bottom holds 110 liters and the top holds 45 liters and can expand to 65 liters if needed. And you can break it into two pieces so it can be checked into the airlines and meet the maximum weight restrictions most airlines have.”
The Mule is a complete modular system and comes with a dedicated helmet bag, a boot bag and three packing cubes, one large and two small. Overall dimensions of the Mule are 35L x 17W x 17H and it weighs in at a svelte 21 lbs including all the accessory bags. The Mule, like all the Mosko Moto line, is constructed with top grade materials, Hyphalon Reinforced 100% Recycled PET 900D Polyster Ripstop on the outside and 210D Nylon for the liner.
Check it out at www.moskomoto.com
GEAR AID
Have you ever torn your favorite jacket or sleeping bag or ripped a hoe in your tent or raft?
That kind of this can really ruin a trip. But not if you outfit yourself with a supply of quality repair products from GEAR AID. Gear Aid specializes in having a wide selection of products to repair, fix, clean, protect, seal, patch and sew up just about piece of outdoor equipment you own. They have products for camping gear, hunting and fishing gear, paddling gear, surfing gear, diving gear, snowsports and even tactical gear.
The variety and selection of products they offer lets you extend the life of those high priced items you don’t want to have to replace or save the life of that special piece of equipment you never leave home without. You can put together a basic kit with just the essentials to cover most any kind of unexpected emergency repair or you can build a custom Gear Aid kit designed to be prepared and ready to repair the specific gear you carry and use the most. Think of GEAR AID as a first aid kit for all your stuff.
Before you go out again put together a Gear Aid emergency kit today, you never know when you might need it.
For more information visit www.gearaid.com
PASQ ADV1 ADVENTURE TRAILER
The PASQ ADV1 Adventure Trailer is designed to provide adventure motorcycle riders with a versatile easy towing trailer allowing them to carry additional cargo and supplies.
“We make a moto trailer for the mid and large ADV market,” said Rod Holmes the founder of PASQ. “Think of it like a roof rack for you ADV bike. It allows you to attach panniers, dry bags, coolers, Rotopax, camping equipment and more. You can even carry a bicycle!”
The single wheel PASQ ADV1 tows easily due to its use of gyroscopic force and a patent pending trapezoid hitch that provides increased stability at highway speeds. The trailer is constructed of high quality 6061-T6 aluminum and the overall quality of fit and finish is very impressive. Since it attaches to the bike through the hollow rear axle the weight of the trailer is not carried by the bikes suspension making it easier to tow on any terrain.
The PASQ ADV1 rides on a single 17” spoked wheel and a Bridgestone Battlax BT 45 tire and the adjustable suspension with an impressive 7” of travel allows for heavy loads to be carried effortlessly. The trunk area has built in USB connections to keep your electronic gadgets charged up and ready. The versatile little unit has a variety of handy rails and mounting options on the outside to accept a wide variety of accessories and let you customize the trailer to your needs.
If you are always wanting to bring just ‘a few more things’ on your adventures
the PASQ ADV1 may be just what you need.
Check it out at www.pasqadventure.com
INTREPID GEO 2.5
Everywhere you turn these days you see a pickup truck, a Jeep or an SUV with a roof-top tent, all locked into place and ready for adventure. One of the nicest units we came across at the recent Overland Expo is the new Geo 2.5 from INTREPID CAMP GEAR. The unique patented hinged roof design gives it 36% more livable space than traditional clamshell designs and allows for easy set up and tear down in 60 seconds or less.
“The patented design is the hinge in the roof that allows us to have 36% more room in the tent,” said Sloan Hiatt from Intrepid. “It gives you almost 4 feet of headroom inside the tent and essentially eliminates that corner piece of the wedge. We also have T slots on the side so if you want to mount showers, awnings, anything like that, we have two slots on the bottom shell and one on the top.”
The honeycomb aluminum frame on the Geo 2.5 is designed to be strong and durable and can support up to 300 lbs of gear on the top with the addition of an optional crossbar add-on. The roomy interior sports a 2” thick mattress, a handy overhead cargo net, three large windows, an overhead skylight and an impressive 4 feet of headroom. Three t-slots along the sides of the unit allow for easy addition of an awning, a shower or other accessories.
Coming in at 150 lbs the low profile unit measures 88”x 55”and only 7” tall when closed making it considerably less of a wind jam than most of its competitors.
Give the Intrepid Geo 2.5 a look at www.intrepidcampgear.com
SEE DEVIL LED BALLOON KITS
There is nothing more frustrating than stumbling around a dark campsite trying to set up camp or get things done, not to mention it can be dangerous. SEE DEVIL LED Balloon Light kits offer campers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds an efficient way to light up your camp area with a soft but powerful light source rather than the harsh brightness of traditional camp lighting or lanterns.
We specialize in portable lighting and power solutions,” said Jake Rivera with See Devil Lighting and Power. “Our flagship products are the balloon lights, they range from 60 watts all the way to 700 watts. What makes these lights special is the diffuser on top that will diffuse the light so when you are looking at it for long periods of time you’re not getting blinded. It diffuses the light equally making it easier on the eyes.”
The balloon lights are kept inflated by a fan built in to the diffuser on top of the balloon, the fan also serves to keep them cool and safe. Protected by a 3-year warranty these lights are designed and made to withstand years of use. These versatile light kits deliver a soft glow that can be adjusted to the appropriate level of brightness for every need or mood. They already look great around the campsite but if you want SEE DEVIL can even custom print your company or club logo right on the balloons!
Check out all the options at www.seedevil.com
URSA MINOR JEEP CAMPER
Are you a Jeep owner looking for a way to have a self-contained camper with interior access to a rooftop sleeping area? Then the URSA MINOR replacement hardtop is just the solution you are looking for.
“Our campers are pretty much a direct replacement for the existing hard top on Jeep JL and Jeep JK models, said John Gish founder of Ursa Minor. “The old one comes off and ours bolts on. We have windows in all four sides with mesh or solid wall and you can zip the windows open completely and have the whole back of the Jeep open.”
Once installed you have a built-in camper with 6 feet of standing headroom and a bed that is 7 feet long by 4 feet wide and will accommodate two people easily. Despite all the added comfort and space the top affords it adds only 10” to the overall height of the vehicle and the best part of this setup is it allows for interior access to the sleeping area and gives you plenty of room to move around when standing in the back of the Jeep with the top raised!
Seating configuration remains the same unless you decide to go all in like some Ursa Minor owners I have seen and build out a small kitchen and seating area in place of the back seats. The additional headroom makes this all possible and creates a nice cozy space for a solo or pair of travelers wanting to travel light and fast.
Check out all the details at www.ursaminorvehicles.com
AMERICAN ADVENTURE LABS
AMERICAN ADVENTURE LABS has been making cool products and accessories for Jeeps for years and since they are also serious dirt bike enthusiasts they decided to produce an adventure trailer that lets you bring your dirt bike along for the ride. The trailer was the result of looking for an easy way to display parts and accessories at events like the Overland Expo.
“We started this trailer project as a simple display unit for our Jeep Gladiator stuff,” said Britt Mansell, owner of American Adventure Labs. “As I was building out the display concept I realized that this thing was pretty close to a trailer. We put up a couple of design ideas on social media and as soon as we posted about the idea people went absolutely nuts.”
The trailer features an innovative ‘flex space’ in the front that can accommodate a dirt bike rail or a wide range of other gear and accessories. The flex space sits on the front tongue of the trailer near the trailer body to help with weight distribution. This keeps the trailer properly balanced and allows for easy loading and transport of your dirt bike to your favorite campsites.
According to Britt the trailer we saw was a prototype but production is underway now and you can either order a complete trailer from the factory or if you are handy with tools you can also order the trailer as a kit. The trailer design is still evolving based on customer feedback and American Adventure Labs will be offering a two-rail version soon because who likes to ride alone.
If this all sounds good to you then visit https://americanadventurelab.com
GUZZLE H20
The main limiting factor keeping most people from staying off-grid for weeks or months is having access to clean drinkable water. There have always been solutions like boiling the water and using a variety of purification products but now you can actually pull water right out of a creek or lake or even a muddy puddle and easily and quickly clean it to be useable and safe for any task. How you ask?
“The Stream comes with a sediment pre-filter, a carbon filter that traps chemicals and then an LED purifier that kills bacteria, protozoa and viruses,” said Tyler Bech from Guzzle H2O. “The system is also very efficient and can fill a five-gallon Jerry can in about seven minutes.”
The Guzzle H20 ‘Stream’ is a complete turn-key system and comes with everything you need to purify water from any source. The set combines a high-capacity .75 GPM pump to deliver over 50 gallons per hour with a 1-micron pre-filter to eliminate and filter out any sediment in the water. The water is then run through a Carbon Block filtration system followed up with LED UV-C purification to kill bacteria and germs and eliminate any chlorine taste or odor.
The unit is powered by a LiFePO4 battery and will produce approximately 32 gallons of filtered and purified water on one charge. The Stream is also available in an Overland Bundle that include a 30 -foot hose to help you get to those water sources that are too hard to get your rig next to.
For more info on how to have fresh clean water wherever you go visit www.guzzleh2o.com
TAILGATE N GO
One of the joys of off-road adventure travel is enjoying a great meal at the end of a long hard day on the trail. One of the best ways to ensure you have all the tools and space you need to pull off those culinary masterpieces is to use the TAILGATE-N-GO portable kitchen system. As seen on Shark Tank this well thought out and smartly designed unit features a wide range of features and accessories to help make that camp chef in you shine.
“Our boxes are 100% aircraft aluminum for light weight, we can match paint to any vehicle and we are an official NFL product so we can even customize your box with official team markings and colors if you like,” said Taylor Johnson. “The units can accommodate a wide array of attachments with our patented rail system. Along with your dry storage box you can add on grills, griddles, sinks, stoves, cutting boards and much more.”
This versatility is what sets the Talgate-N-Go apart from the competition. The options for configuring the box are practically endless letting you design the perfect travel kitchen for your needs. They even sell the rail system separately letting you create an L-shaped kitchen set up off the back or side of your vehicle with the Tallgate-N-Go as the anchor.
The large box weighs in at 75 pounds and measures 48x18x18. For those concerned about size and weight they also make a smaller ‘overlanding box’ that weighs only 65 pounds and measures 36x18x18. After 6 years and 9 prototypes the fit and finish of the Tailgate-N-Go is very impressive. Of all the portable camp kitchen solutions we have seen so far this one really sets the bar high for the rest of the competition.
Complete details can be found at www.tailgatengo.com
OTZI VANS
One of the things that constantly amazes me about the off-road and overland travel market is the amount of creative thinking and design innovation put into so many of these products. A great example of this creativity is the MVS Lifestyle System from OTZI VANS.
This innovative system utilizes a variety of panels and modules allowing it to be configured in an amazing 48 different ways! The system can be a bed, a couch, a lounge, a dining table, a desk or even an outdoor shower deck. One of the features that caught our attention was ability to set the couch up as an outward facing exterior bench on the back of the van. The bed platform can also be set up to extend out the back of the van for stargazing on cool clear nights or to get just those feet a bit closer to the campfire. In fact, every configuration of the OTZI MVS Lifestyle System can be positioned on the inside or the outside of the van giving you unlimited flexibility and comfort. The MVS Lifestyle system is lightweight and easy to handle thanks to aluminum bed panels and electroplated 304 stainless steel tubing used for the extension slides. The innovation doesn’t stop there, each of the bed panels has an integrated MOLLE pattern so any MOLLE based storage or accessory solutions can be attached anywhere on the MVS system. Then there is a mattress designed to be best in class. The unique proprietary 3-layer design provides support and comfort without being too hard or too soft like many standard van mattresses. If you are looking for a van with a state-of-the-art reconfigurable bed / couch / table / desk system be sure to give the OTZI MVS Lifestyle System a closer look.
Complete details can be found at www.otzigear.com
