Overland Journal Spring 2021

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME Many thanks for the shirts and back issues. Here is an OJ-branded ExOfficio shirt [see photo above] which Scott [Brady] gave me years ago and is now cut down a bit; it remains one of my all-time favourite travel shirts, especially for paddling. It seems immune to wear. Chris ScottHonda Africa Twin PERSPECTIVES I started reading “The Beginning” (Summer 2020) and wondered, are they biting off more than they can chew? Or are they legitimately good to go? Can they be minimalists and live a simpler life, enjoying the adventure and love of discovery? I think when they get home, things will be completely different. Life will be awesome, no matter what they do. If [the journey] lasts the full year or longer, then it shall be grand, and…

DAVID PAGE David has always lived his life as an outdoor enthusiast. He grew up in southeast Idaho and spent his youth exploring the state’s vast backcountry before starting a family on a small ranch in the mountains—where the outdoor lifestyle isn’t just magazine gloss but a way of life. His entire career has been based on a passion for the outdoors, beginning as a fly fishing/hunting guide, then a river ranger for the Bureau of Land Management, finally settling on a career behind the camera in the off-pavement world. David is an accomplished traveler, having spent many years exploring remote Africa, as well as many other countries across the pond and south of the border. He is also an accomplished vehicle designer. AKELA WORLD We are Leander, Maria, and Lennox, a family…

There is such joy in simplicity, distilling a pursuit down to its elemental components. I have tested quite a few adventure bikes through the years, and they are nearly all technology wonders, but I never quite had that fundamental connection until I tried out a Moto Guzzi V7. Even testing it was unexpected, as I received a call from their PR team and a suggestion that “you really need to ride the bike.” I took the V7 Special on a long-term loan and started riding it daily. By the time the loan period was over, I had called up their offices and sheepishly asked how much it would cost not to return the bike and send them a check instead. Curiously, this is the only demo vehicle I have ever…

The Micro Grid hoodie from outdoor clothing manufacturer Melanzana has developed a cult following over the past decade and a half. Perhaps it’s because this synthetic hooded pullover achieves the perfect balance of comfort and technical performance or because its two-tone color combinations are constantly changing. Or maybe the reason is that it’s sewn in the highest incorporated town in the United States, Leadville, Colorado, and made entirely from US-sourced materials. Whatever the case may be, people come from near and far to purchase one of these cozy and highly coveted tops. Melanzana, which means eggplant in Italian, got its humble beginnings back in 1994 when friends and outdoor enthusiasts Fritz and Kevco moved to Leadville with the goal of producing high-quality, affordable outdoor gear. Fritz initially squatted in a tepee…

Communication is one of the cornerstones of backcountry travel. The ability to advise family and friends of our progress, call for assistance, or make an SOS during an emergency helps provide us with the confidence to travel farther afield. While the Bivy is one of the newest devices on the market, I have been testing their units for a few years, including their original V1 model that served as a tethered communicator and device charging brick. The concept was clever and robust, but it suffered from a fatal flaw: it required the phone to operate any function other than powering on/off. That meant if the phone sustained any damage or the traveler was separated from their device, the unit would no longer function. A fall at speed from a motorcycle can…

Finnish company Suunto has been in the game for over 80 years, making compasses, watches, and dive computers. I owned their Vector, the first outdoor, sports-focused wristwatch that incorporated an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer in one chunky housing. For me, a watch needs to do more than tell time if I’m going to take it along on my outdoor endeavors. That’s why Suunto’s flagship wrist-based GPS watch, the 9 Baro, has consistently been on my wrist for the last month. Weighing 2.86 ounces, the Baro feels solid without being heavy. The comfortable silicone strap is easy to swap out for a variety of other options, and it did a great job of staying in place on my arm during vigorous activities. The buttons, which are all located on the right…