Overland Journal Fall 2023

WE ARE LIVING IN A DIGITAL WORLD Please consider developing searchable digital archives. I have well over a decade of issues and often spend considerable time searching for a specific article or review. A searchable archive would be a significant enhancement to the overall value of a subscription. Stephen Russell U-TURN I have been an Overland Journal subscriber since the first issue. I actually traded Jonathan Hanson [original executive editor] some Land Rover parts, and he sent me the first issue. I was hooked. I will admit that I almost did not renew a couple of years ago. I felt the magazine took a tilt to the good-ol’-boys feel and away from the adventures, the training, the gear, and the lifestyle. I do agree with some comments I have read…

MARIANNE TODD Marianne Todd has been a professional photojournalist and writer since 1987. Her career began in newspapers and rapidly spread into national news magazines. Her work has been featured on the pages of Time, Life, National Geographic, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal, where she was nominated for Photog-rapher of the Year International. Todd became a publisher in 2009, creating titles reflecting the music, arts, and tourism industries of the South (she still sports the accent), and her work as the official photographer for Governor Haley Barbour led her to photograph everything from Hurricane Katrina to presidential visits. Since moving to New Mexico four years ago, she has left hard news coverage to travel on her trusty BMW F 750 GS, journeying the roads of America and beyond. RICHARD…

U KoalaBag has undoubtedly grown in popularity since its inception in 2013. The multi-pocketed pouch bag has become a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts because of its ability to carry a wide variety of essentials while being effortlessly strapped to the hip of its wearer. And now, with the release of Bulbag USA, the Georgia-based company is making good on its promise of being “The best little bag on the planet … that just got a little more than a little better.” Bulbag is billed as U KoalaBag’s flagship of carry-all bags and is in the company’s continual improvement focus to meet the needs of a myriad of users. U KoalaBag company owner and CEO PJ Powell says, unlike previous lines, Bulbag USA is 100 percent American-made. The move was partly…

Jeep has always been the original overlanding vehicle, producing high-quality and high-volume 4WDs since 1941. Jeep started making wagon SUVs in 1946 with the Willys Wagon and is often credited with popularizing the SUV with the Wagoneer in 1963. Luxury soon followed with the Grand Wagoneer in 1984 and the launch of the 1993 Grand Cherokee. Impressively, over 3 million Grand Cherokees have been sold worldwide. Grand Cherokees have also been longtime members of my family’s fleet, with our current count at three, including three four-generation vehicles driven by my dad, sister, and nephew. My first Grand Cherokee was a 1993 model, which I modified slightly and drove off-road with abandon. This was followed by a lower mileage and better-equipped 1996 with the straight-six upcountry suspension. My modifications were limited…

From basic pedal assist to near motorcycle-like capabilities, the e-bike field is diverse and often appeals to over-landers looking to add a secondary mode of transportation to their outfit. The Hovsco HovBeta folding step-through e-bike is a viable option, offering relevant features in a compact package. Like most direct-to-consumer e-bikes, the HovBeta requires some assembly. Working methodically with clear step-by-step instructions and an included tool kit, it took me 40 minutes to build the bike, and most of that time was spent freeing it from its many layers of packaging. The most fiddly part of the process was aligning and clamping down the folding stem and handlebars. Otherwise, everything came together quickly. The battery had a 100 percent charge, the drivetrain was perfectly tuned, and the hydraulic disc brakes fully…

The Arctic fox on the shoulder speaks volumes. When I meet a traveler and they are wearing Fjällräven, I know that the person is either Scandinavian, well-traveled, well-heeled, or all three. I am merely well-traveled and have been yearning for a Fjällräven jacket ever since I was freezing in Patagonia, and my Scandinavian companion was not. In late October 2021, I finally took receipt of a Skogsö. The problem with finally owning gear you have coveted for years is that the risk of disappointment is real. Would I be disappointed? Is the Skogsö the new Land Rover Defender? Let’s find out. The Skogsö is a hip-length, lightly padded winter jacket constructed of PFC-free, G-1000 material with a fixed, adjustable hood. G-1000 is Fjällräven’s “cornerstone material,” used in everything from backpacks…