Attending an Overland Expo provides the opportunity to see the latest and greatest gear from across the overlanding spectrum. With 339 exhibitors showing off thousands of products, you’d be hard pressed to see everything over the course of the three-day event. Fortunately, we spent the weekend scouring the vendor area looking for standout products. Here’s a short list of some of our favorite gear from Overland Expo Mountain West 2024.
National Luna — Legacy Smart QC Fridge/Freezer
We reviewed the previous model of National Luna’s fridge/freezer line a few years back and were extremely impressed with its durability, efficiency, and performance. While those qualities put it in the top tier of overland fridges/freezers, we identified a couple of annoyances with the aging control panel, including a lack of smart connectivity and a user interface that only displayed Celsius. Fast forward to Overland Expo Mountain West 2024, and Equipt had National Luna’s new Legacy Smart QC line on display. The new models kept everything we loved about the last design and thoroughly modernized the controls. Want smart connectivity? Check. An easier-to-use interface? Check. The choice of Celsius or Fahrenheit? Check. A repositionable control panel to adapt to your setup? Check. USB charging outlets? Check. Point for point, the new model ticked off our wish list for improvements. Look for our review of the upgraded Legacy Smart QC fridge/freezer soon.
Rhino Rack — Reconn Roof Rack
Rhino Rack makes some of our favorite roof racks. Their low-profile design are durable, lightweight, quiet, and supported by an expansive ecosystem of mounting accessories. This year Rhino Rack unveiled their new Reconn Platform for the 2024 Toyota Landcruiser 250, 2010-2024 4Runner, 2005-2023 Tacoma, and the 2024 Lexus GX550.
The all-new design departs from their signature north-south support planks, with an east-west configuration using their new Reconn Deck Bars. The new powder-coated aluminum crossmembers feature Zwifloc compatible channels on all four sides of the bars, providing maximum flexibility for mounting. The roof racks look great in person and offer impressive weight to strength.
PAKMULE — Stablelok
Small by mighty sums up the PAKMULE Stablelok. Most of the time, it’s nearly completely hidden in your hitch receiver, but that’s where it does its magic. The device now available as a stand-alone product, keeps your trailer hitch firmly located in the receiver. With constant pressure on the hitch, it’s no longer able to slide back and forth as forces change direction in a dynamic towing environment. Say goodbye to the clunk and the additional wear and tear on your hitch receiver. Look for a review coming soon.
READ MORE: Miles of Adventure with the 2024 Overland Expo Ultimate Overland Vehicle
Intrepid Camp Gear — GEO Solo
How can something be small and spacious at the same time? The Intrepid GEO Solo Rooftop Tent caught our eye, taking up only half a roof rack with it’s small and lightweight design. For the solo traveler, the tent offers the best of both worlds – comfortable sleep and room left on the roof rack for other essentials. The magic comes when you open the tent revealing a hinged top design that provides a surprising amount of vertical space for what would otherwise be a wedge-type hardshell. For one person traveling with their rig, this may be the ultimate sleeping option.
Tufport — Overlander Camper
Among the new products revealed at Overland Expo Mountain West this year was a standout truck camper from Tufport, appropriately named the Overlander. Designed for full-size and mid-size trucks, the slide-in boasts an extraordinary light weight of approximately 900 lbs., a low profile, and next-gen aerodynamics resulting in a minor fuel efficiency hit compared to the original vehicle’s performance. The Tufport also features an impressive insulation value of R-22, multiple sleeping locations, and a nicely appointed interior that matches its attractive exterior appearance.
Mosko Moto – Alpine 30
A trip by Mosko Moto’s booth gave us a little hands on time with their new soft pannier, the Alpine 30. Weighing in at just 4.1 lbs. per panier, the lightweight Alpine provides a durable, waterproof option for riders looking for a minimalist and affordable option for adventure motorcycle outings. The bags especially lend themselves to adventures in more technical terrain. The universal mounting system works with most pannier racks, and the removable interior tote system makes getting your gear off the bike a simple task without demounting the bag.
Tmat — Cargo Management System
We aren’t ashamed to admit that we like to geek out when it comes to storage. We were excited to see another innovative approach to storing and securing gear in the Tmat Cargo Management System. The assembly uses a grid of cross-type recesses to securely accept a host of accessories available to secure a wide variety of gear from lumber to toolboxes to RotopaX containers and many more. Plus, the system is made in the USA. If you are looking for a highly customizable gear solution, the Tmat ecosystem is worth checking out.
Medical Points Abroad — “Bad Day” (Blowout) Kit, Splinting Kit, and Critter First Aid Kits
First aid kits are probably something too many of us spend too little time thinking about. As a central safety component to overlanding, we are glad to have folks like the team at Medical Points Abroad around to take a lot of the guesswork out of properly outfitting our first aid gear. From small, individual first aid kits to full trauma kits, they offer a full line of medical gear put together by experienced experts. In particular, we appreciated their line of waterproof kits oriented to a particular type of medical need. This puts everything you need for a given emergency event together, in one place, saving you or someone in your group from having to dig through a sometimes haphazard first aid kit. These time and potentially life-saving collections are also available to come to the aid of our furry friends who increasingly join us on our adventures. With a decidedly serious subject, we enjoyed their sense of humor in the naming conventions and with the accompanying text on the bags (see the Critter First Aid Kit in the photos above for a good chuckle).
Benchmade — 203 Dacian
It seems like an awful lot of us have a healthy collection of outdoor knives, but it always seems like there is room for another. We were able to get our hands on Benchmade’s new 203 Dacian. The CPM-MagnaCut Stainless steel spearpoint fixed blade feels great in the hand and promises to last many years with its Cerakote finish. There are a variety of handle options, but our favorite was the brown canvas micarta option on the display knife in the photos above. The companion deep carry sheath offers a secure fit and will be a comfortable carry for most people. We think this knife may just end up in a lot of people’s collections and, more importantly, on their belts.
Roaming Home Tents — Nomad and Drifter Tents
In a sea of rooftop tents, the Roaming Home Tents Drifter (two-person) and Nomad (four-person) hot tents are a refreshing return to traditional camp shelters. Their designs provide a lightweight and easy-to-set-up take on the traditional hunting tent, providing a spacious, heated basecamp for your adventuring. The larger Nomad tent provides a 15′-0″ x 10′-6″ footprint with a 10′-6″ peak that packs down into two bags weighing in at only 55 lbs. and 60 lbs. – perfect for horseback when adventure calls you to points too remote for two or four wheels. Despite their attractive price tags, the material selection and fit and finish on the American-made tents are exceptional. Next time your fellow travelers are crammed into their tiny tents, invite them to come over, stretch their legs, and warm up in yours.
