Overland Journal Gear Guide 2018

INTO THE GREAT WHITE OPEN My name is Mark Oliver.The attached photo of me (above, bottom right) was taken at Jökulsárlón (Glacier Lagoon) in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. Keep up the great work. I love the magazine. Mark Oliver 2016 Honda Odyssey CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE My 18-year-old son was leaving on a 2-year mission for our church this summer. He and I love motorcycles, so I arranged to rent a BMW 1200 Adventure and Ducati Multistrada in Milan, Italy. We were all booked for a 10-day, self-guided trip to the Swiss Alps and Italian Dolomites. Two weeks before we were supposed to leave, he broke his collarbone into three pieces in a big wreck in sand dunes. I also found out I needed neck surgery after losing feeling and strength in my arm overnight.…

GARY AND MONIKA WESCOTT Gary and Monika Wescott have spent the last 45 years globetrotting around the world, from the arid desert of Turkmenistan, following the Silk Road, to the jungles of the Amazon, and across Siberia in the dead of winter. The couple’s travel adventures have been published in 10 countries and eight languages. Their in-depth knowledge of the problems and joys of overland travel in remote areas is incomparable. Gary and Monika’s meticulously prepared travel/research trucks, from their original Land Rover to the current Ford F-550, The Turtle V, have been an inspiration for many. Their experience and photography encompass what Overland Journal is all about. From the beginning, The Turtle Expedition’s motto has been, “Don’t take the trip. Let the trip take you.” COLIN EVANS Colin Evans is an unemployed…

“Mr. Collard, would you like the fillet, chicken cordon bleu, or shrimp scampi?” Gabriela asked, delivering my Jack and Coke with a friendly smile. Having a penchant for shrimp, I ordered the scampi. Dessert consisted of Swiss dark chocolate and a coffee with Baileys, after which I tapped the lay-flat setting on my seat’s control panel and tucked myself underneath a fluffy warm comforter. If I’d not known better, I would have bet the bank that I was dreaming—rather than sitting in a plane 37,000 feet over Central America. First class is in another world apart from coach. For starters, my knees are not crammed against the seat in front of me, there are copious expanses of real estate to open my laptop on the foldout desk, my elbows don’t swap…

While the Velar certainly won’t be conquering the Rubicon, it can hold its own on the trail against any offering in the segment. My biggest concern with the Velar was in technical terrain, but I was pleasantly surprised by its competence. Land Rover’s Terrain Response system combined with the automatic rear locking differential and torque-on-demand AWD made quick work of the ledges and cross-axle obstacles, and the gearing proved to be adequate for low-speed work.While it certainly won’t be conquering the Rubicon, it can hold its own on the trail against any offering in the segment. The Velar’s capabilities still fall short of those found in the Discovery, while its price tag does not, making it a more difficult sell for overlanders. If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient daily driver with Bond-car…

Sometimes you want a waterproof jacket that doesn’t look like you’re ready to conquer Everest. Gear that is at home walking the streets of New York City as it is hiking trails in the Sierras is Nau’s specialty. Along with a more fashion-forward approach to technical apparel, sustainability remains another of Nau’s core values. This fully seam-sealed, two-layer waterproof jacket is made from a blend of 53 percent organic cotton and 47 percent recycled polyester fabric. The material is further treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) that is free of harmful perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), so better for both you and the environment. Use a non-toxic laundry detergent such as Nikwax Tech Wash, which is also PFC free to prolong the life of the jacket. When you want a more sophisticated look,…

In today’s world of electronic goodies, a challenge for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors is protecting equipment from the elements. After a few close calls with my iPhone I decided to invest in a proper case, but many were too bulky to fit in my shirt pocket.The Catalyst case, at only 11.4 millimeters thin, was the solution. From a protection standpoint, it carries an IP68 waterproof rating, MIL-STD-810G for drops and falls (2 meters), and is fully dustproof. The non-slip rubber exterior is easy to grip and doesn’t feel like a slippery fish in-hand. Both front and rear are clear, and the touchpad is as sensitive as the bare phone. A rubber flap at the base allows access to the charge and audio port, and all function…