In 2001 Jetboil released the revolutionary Personal Cooking System and redefined how people cook in the backcountry. Although the name wasn’t exactly a real zinger, the system sold well enough to become a modern classic lauded by thousands of loyal fans. Just a few years ago the PCS was upgraded with better features and a zippy new superhero moniker, the Flash. As is the case with all successful designs, imitators spring forth to nibble at their share of the market. One such challenger was the MSR Reactor which launched in 2007. The Reactor’s 1.7 liter pot may have resulted in its sluggish sales as many felt it was too big and too heavy for personal use.

The Pinzgauer, or Pinz, series of trucks has without a doubt been one of the most popular ex-military vehicles in the civilian market. Just the fact that these Austrian trucks are still sought after and used over forty years since their release in 1971, serves as a testament to their bulletproof build quality and brilliant design characteristics. Reasonable prices and trucks ability to traverse harsh terrain while carrying passengers and a large payload has made the Pinz desirable to many overland travelers. Its superb combination of off-road ability and cargo capacity is the reason that this truck was appropriately named Pinzgauer, after the Austrian horse breed which served as the backbone of the trade routes through the Alps.

via West County Explorers Club: In case you haven't already spotted it, Jonathan Hanson, a co-founder of the Overland Journal and now co-director of Overland Expo, writes an excellent blog called Overland Tech & Travel.

He recently posted an in-depth article on airing down, in which he explains the ins and outs, as well as reviews the most well-known tools to help with the job. He covers, among others, the ARB E-Z Deflator (a valve core removal tool coupled with a pressure gauge), a set of second generation Staun deflators, and the Mil-Spec deflator from CB Developments.

With every wave that crashed over the bow, our small boat took on more water. The panic on our young captain’s face shattered any hope that we would make it out of this tropical depression without a miracle, and my brain wouldn’t stop humming the theme from Gilligan’s Island. I wonder how the brain can have a sense of humor when it knows that this will surely be the end. I knew it in my bones, the woman sloshing around in the saltwater at our feet knew it, and the two sobbing girls clinging to their belongings next to us knew it. But my brain kept humming along.

Brad and Sheena are driving around the world in "Nacho", their Volkswagen Vanagon.  Read their stories and follow their adventure at Drive Nacho Drive [link]

There's no doubt that BMW's new water-cooled R1200GS is a capable adventure touring motorcycle. With 125hp, spoked-wheels, dynamic suspension, cruise control and an assortment of other options, the new GS is everything we expected it to be, and then some. But there's always some room for improvement. Luggage and protection items are an easy upgrade and will transform the R1200GS from adequate to extraordinary.  Touratech's Zega Pro pannier systems provides safe and secure storage, both on and off the bike, while crash bars and an Expedition skid plate protect the most important part of any motorcycle, the power-plant. Additional accessories, such as a stainless steel headlight guard and radiator guards will keep road debris from damaging important parts, while a larger sidestand foot will keep the R1200GS upright in everything from soft sand to loose gravel. 

Although not as illustrious as the idolized and cherished Camel Trophy, the Land Rover G4 Challenge was an impressive and difficult competition for drivers from around the world to prove their driving prowess. The challenge was founded with the launch of the 2003 event, which covered a trek across the United States, South Africa, and Australia in the span of just 28 days. In total, sixteen nations took part by going head to head for this first ever G4 title. For many this was an opportunity to finally compete in the Camel Trophy, or at least a modern version of it, but their dreams weren't to last. Unfortunately, due to the "global financial situation" in 2008, Land Rover decided to cancel the event scheduled for 2009 simultaneously ending the challenge series altogether. If you were hoping for your own piece of competition adventure don't worry because all is not lost. This 2004 G4 Edition Discovery may just put you in the driver's seat you've always dreamed of.

Quite frankly, it’s hard to find something that the Jeep Grand Cherokee can’t do. The same SUV that’s equally comfortable living its entire life shuttling kids back and forth to school is available as a 470-horsepower, fire-breathing track monster, and a true 4WD capable of tackling some of the most advanced trails. Its breadth of capability is simply unlike anything I’ve seen from Jeep in the past—and we haven't even started talking about the Trailhawk.