Best Gear of Overland Expo East 2026

Alucab – ModCap Drive-Off Base

Alucab is well known for its ModCap modular truck bed camper system for mid-size pickup trucks that provides a wide array of options and accessories to customize it to your unique overland needs. The recently-released Drive-Off base allows the system to easily be mounted and removed from the bed, restoring traditional truck bed functionality when needed. The new base is compatible with any ModCAP canopy, ModCAP Canopy Camper, ModCAP Family Camper, or Alu-Cab Canopy Camper and can be mated to OK4WD’s new plate system for easy stowage. Access ports around the base provide easy access to the tie-down points. A hard rubber mat helps keep the unit from shifting in the bed as well as protecting the bed surface. Inside, you’ll find ample storage, two canvas-lined drop slots for slim storage options, as well as a slotted floor to anchor equipment inside. The base comes in at $1,900 and weighs in at about 200 pounds.

Blue Ridge Overland Gear – Starlink Mini Bag

Starlink has become a ubiquitous bit of kit over the past year or so, supplying inexpensive and portable data to overlanders the world over. Despite its popularity, there have been few storage solutions on the market until now. Blue Ridge Overland Gear debuted their new Starlink Mini Bag this weekend, which provides a rugged solution for traveling with the device and protecting it at the same time without all the bulk of a rigid case.

The bag is built from 1000D Cordura nylon and has mil-spec zippers, hardware, and a reinforced webbing carry handle. The Starlink Mini is protected by a 3/16-inch layer of foam padding, and the interior is finished with Veltex, providing a surface that accepts standard hook-backed pouches for organizing cables and other accessories. Like many of Blue Ridge Overland Gear’s bags, there is an exterior loop panel that allows easy attachment of accessories and other bags. Check out their website for a vast array of options. At only $75.99, the bag is a no-brainer for protecting your mobile data source.

Condor Tool and Knife Company – Groundbreaker Shovel

Overland Expo trainer, bushcraft expert, and perennial most interesting person in the room Joe Flowers was back at Overland Expo showing off his newly designed Groundbreaker Shovel. The tool is made by Condor Tool and Knife Company and is the product of several generations of Joe’s prototyping in some of the toughest parts of the planet. The Condor Overland Shovel

The T-style handle is designed to facilitate working under a vehicle and features both a hardened end for use as a hammer and a 1/2″ driver to turn the shovel into a breaker bar. The shovel head is welded to the handle to remove the annoying opening traditionally found at the neck socket which invariably fills with debris. A lot of thought was put into finding the ideal angle of the shovel head to provide both ideal functionality as a shovel and to allow it to mount flat against a vehicle. Astute viewers will notice a small opening at the top of the shovel blade. Dubbed “the eye of the condor”, it provides a hard mounting point at that end of the shovel. The late stage prototype should be available for purchase soon. One final tweak being contemplated is a chisel-ground edge on one edge of the shovel blade, complementing the serrated edge on the opposite side. Stay tuned for more information as it is released.

Easy Wind Outfitters – Rib Knit Merino Wool Beanie Hat

On a cold winter day, few things are as important as a warm hat. Easy Wind Outfitters has been bringing their excellent line of merino wool socks to Overland Expo for years, and now they’ve debuted their rib knit merino wool beanie that promises to keep the chill off your scalp for many seasons to come. Made of 100% merino wool the hat is made from a continuous piece of material resulting in zero seams. The combination of the breathable and temperature-regulating material makes it one of the most comfortable beanies we’ve had the pleasure of trying out. Available in three colors and priced at just $40.00, this is one of those must-have bits of kit every overlander should have.

Genesis Offroad – Juicebox 100

With the ever-expanding power needs for all our devices and the increasingly power-hungry vehicles that take us out on our adventures, there is always a need for auxiliary power as well as a means of jump-starting a dead vehicle battery. Most of us are not interested in custom wiring and mounting a DIY dual-battery solution. Genesis Offroad’s Juicebox 100 provides a premium and self-contained dual-battery solution that installs simply with its included heavy-duty mounting brackets.

Inside the box is a Dakota lithium battery providing 100 AH hours of power from the Group 24 battery. The system is managed by a Redarc smart shunt and provides Bluetooth monitoring. Three external 12-volt outlets are prewired, and a set of three wire grommets provides easy access for expansion to the easily accessible power and ground bus bars. For those looking for a high-quality, one-stop solution to their power needs, this may be the ticket. The Juicebox 100 retails for $1,314 without a battery, and Genesis Offroad offers both the 100 AH lithium battery and a 100 Ah LiFePO4 option, as well as a host of wire harnesses to further simplify installation.

KEEPa – Magnetic Clips

One of our favorite pieces of gear we found this weekend was also one of the simplest and least expensive, and went home with quite a few Overland Expo staffers. The KEEPa is a durable, rubberized clip with a strong magnet at each end. A textured surface at each end, in combination with the magnets, provides an easy way to temporarily hold a wide variety of objects to a metal surface. The non-marring material provides a great way to hang wet towels out to dry, hang a trash bag from a vehicle fender or simply loop two bag handles together. We love the ease of mounting and de-mounting the magnetic clip, but it does have a mounting hole for those looking for a more permanent mounting point. We expect to see more and more of these out in the wild as people brainstorm creative uses for the KEEPa. Check out their website for the two available sizes as well as some ideas for putting them to use.

Louis Expedition Company – Expedition Coffee

While petrol and diesel go in the tank, we all know that coffee is what really fuels our adventures. Lewis Expedition Company brings a love for coffee, the Camel Trophy, and sustainable design together for a group of high-quality, organic, single-origin coffee beans in one of the coolest packages we’ve seen. The Peruvian, Kenyan, and Honduran offerings each come in a reusable and plastic-free tin with Camel Trophy-inspired graphics and a breadth of flavor profiles. We’ve tried all three and think you can’t go wrong with any of them. 12 oz. tins are available for $26.00 each, with a pair available for $49.00.

Kevin Estella – Beyond the Field Book

We were fortunate to run into Overland Expo Instructor Kevin Estella and check out both of his books – Beyond the Field: Taking Wilderness Skills to the Next Level, as well as his first release, 101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Wilderness. A lifelong outdoorsman, bushcraft and survival expert, as well as a prolific writer and educator, Kevin brings decades of experience to these two books. Beyond the Field packs over 200 topics covering a wide variety of essential wilderness skills, from developing a resilient mindset to fishing and hunting skills, from vehicle recovery and marksmanship to navigating winter camping. Both books are available from Amazon as well as Kevin’s website, where you can also find signed copies.

Midland – MXT295 Pro

We got the chance to get our hands on Midland’s new MXT295 Pro, the first of their mobile radios to feature a wireless Bluetooth handset. The new unit allows you to take your handset up to 100 feet from the vehicle, freeing you from having to grab a handheld at camp and during recovery operations. The base unit is a svelte “hideaway” device that offers 15 watts of power and up to 15 miles of unobstructed range. It is IP67 dust- and water-resistant and installs easily with the included slide-in mount. With its ability to connect to other Bluetooth accessories, including Midland’s soon-to-be-released push-to-talk wireless button, this is a game-changer for GMRS radios.

Sunheist – Sunglasses

Though a critical part of everyday carry, sunglasses don’t get the love they deserve in the overland market. Sunheist aims to change that and had a wide range of affordable, high-quality options on display at the event. Sunheist’s frames are made from a resilient nylon material that stands up to the kind of abuse sunglasses tend to take out on expeditions. Paired with high-quality lenses in an impressive breadth of polarized and photochromic options, as well as a prescription option, there is sure to be a pair that will fit almost anyone’s needs. Despite the quality and price point, the most notable thing about Sunheist’s sunglasses is not the glasses themselves but their commitment to the environment. They plant a tree for every pair of glasses sold through the One Tree Planted non-profit. Over the past 10 years, One Tree Planted has planted over 135 million trees across 82 countries and 6 continents.

Urban X Campers – Armolite and Ranger Trailers

Australian trailer manufacturer Urban Caravans has finally brought its highly regarded trailers to the American market in partnership with XGRiD Campers. Marketed in the US under the Urban X Campers brand, the Armolite and Ranger trailers made their domestic debut at Overland Expo East this weekend. The wood-free composite build is lightweight and ready for extreme terrain. It can comfortably sleep four, and the interior goes well beyond the bare minimum for backcountry comfort. With full solar integration, the onboard battery system provides power for all of your accessories even on extended trips. It features essential comforts, including a queen-size bed, an internal toilet and shower, air conditioning, and a fully equipped external slide-out kitchen.

The Armolite model on display this weekend had 1200 watts of solar, 1000 AH of battery, and three 30-gallon tanks as part of the model’s base package. Like all of their offerings the trailer was fully handmade in Australia. Sharing a similar full-featured layout, the hardtop Ranger trailer had a 1,750-watt solar setup as part of its base package. Both the Armolite and the Ranger feature a full Victron Energy system. Urban X Campers offer a significant range of customization options for the trailers and will be a compelling competitor in the overland trailer market.