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Overland Recovery Gear for those that venture deep into the wilderness. https://overland.reviews/recovery-gear/ Thu, 17 Jun 2021 14:46:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://overland.reviews/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-overland.reviews-200-32x32.png Overland Recovery Gear for those that venture deep into the wilderness. https://overland.reviews/recovery-gear/ 32 32 The Best Soft Shackle for Recovery https://overland.reviews/gear/soft-shackle/ Wed, 02 Jun 2021 17:56:07 +0000 https://overland.reviews/?post_type=gear&p=905 Any adventurers who might need to pull a vehicle out of a ditch or up a hill in mud or snow should’ve one or two soft shackles to go along with their recovery gear. You know how dangerous steel hooks and shackles can be if you’ve ever seen them. Though soft shackles are often not as

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Any adventurers who might need to pull a vehicle out of a ditch or up a hill in mud or snow should’ve one or two soft shackles to go along with their recovery gear. You know how dangerous steel hooks and shackles can be if you’ve ever seen them. Though soft shackles are often not as strong as metal shackles, they’re much lighter, easy to use, safer, and if the worst-case happens, the rope snaps or slips off; they are less of a projectile. Soft shackles are becoming quite curiosities, becoming more common every day. Though picking the best soft shackle to add to our recovery gear still isn’t as straightforward a process as we’d probably like it to be. That’s why we review the best budget friendly-recovery gear for Overlanding, and outdoor adventurers, including premium soft shackles, overland winch, winch ropes, and overland gear storage.

Some of the Advantages of Soft Shackles:

  • Lightweight: Soft shackles are ten times lighter than a metal shackle, and they can float on water
  • Strong: Built from top-grade materials with an equivalent breaking strength of steel shackle and highly resistant to corrosion to ensure the most extended lifespan.
  • Safer: They are no steel objects or projectiles that can inflict injury or damage to people or vehicles like metal shackles.
  • They’re pleasant to use and store. The shackles can go in your bag, pocket, under your seat, or around your roll cage.
  • Wraps over almost anything convenient without damaging other gear it is connected to
  • They have a quick release pull string that quickly releases the eye tension to remove from the knot after a recovery or pull.

We also considered the following feature:

Breaking Stress: A good starting point is to determine what weight rating the soft shackle for recovery need based on the weight of your truck. This amount can range from just 2,700 lbs. to 20,000 lbs. to as much as 125,000 lbs.

Protective Sleeves: About every piece of soft shackles, we review comes with a protective sleeve to increase the durability of the shackle.

Size: Soft shackles should have a small footprint, and their diameters range between 3/16 to 2 inches, so you should have lots of options.

Cost: Soft shackles come with a wide range of price ranges. A synthetic rope shackle will cost as little as $20 or as much as a few hundred dollars! However, our reviewed soft shackles come with high-end features that make them well worth the price.

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The Best Overland Winch for All Your Recovery Needs https://overland.reviews/gear/overland-winch/ Thu, 27 May 2021 17:00:25 +0000 https://overland.reviews/?post_type=gear&p=871 If you’re planning to step up your off-roading game and tackling more strenuous trails, a winch is a must-have. Vehicles can quickly end up in a moat, get stuck in the snow, or a deep mud hole. The list of situations where overlanders get stranded is endless. A winch is a favorite recovery gear that

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If you’re planning to step up your off-roading game and tackling more strenuous trails, a winch is a must-have. Vehicles can quickly end up in a moat, get stuck in the snow, or a deep mud hole. The list of situations where overlanders get stranded is endless. A winch is a favorite recovery gear that offers many advantages to users with professional or travel needs. However, winches can be costly.

Significantly, the best overland winches from top brands come with a high price tag, and you might probably never go to use them when. But, like much other equipment, it will be there when you need it and want it to work and work well. We thoroughly research the market to find the best five off road winches that are affordable yet high-quality. So below are some essential factors to consider in choosing the right Overland Winch.

How to Choose an Overland Winch

Selecting a Winch for Truck or SUV

Multiply the gross vehicle weight rating by 1.5. For example, if you own a Jeep Wrangler, visit their site. The vehicle’s GVWR is about 4,332 lbs. Multiplying this number by 1.5. and you’ll get your minimum capacity of 6498 lbs. A 7,000 lb capacity is a decent place to start, but you can go up to a 10,000-pound capacity if you need more power.

Types of Winches

Electric and hydraulic winch are the common type of winch and the main difference between them is the power source. An electric winch connects to the vehicle battery and electrical system, While Hydraulic Winch is coupled to the power steering line.

The most popular and commonly used Winch is the electric Winch. They’re excellent and less costly than hydraulic winches, but they can overheat if used for an extensive period. If you use the Winch all day, your vehicle’s electrical system might experience a problem. Choose a hydraulic winch in this case; otherwise, an electric winch is the best choice.

Winch Rope Options

There are two types of winch rope available: steel cable and synthetic rope.

Horsepower:

When it comes to winches, power is always the second question to ask, but we’ll cover it first. If you’re a casual traveler, you’re probably carrying a winch solely as a safety precaution in case you get stuck or get into an unexpected situation. The Winch’s power should depend on our frequency you intend to use it and the type of work you’re expecting to do. In my view, using a winch with more horsepower is beneficial. However, they seem to be on the expensive side. However, they allow you to handle any tricky situation if necessary.

If you look at these winches, the Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S has a 12 Volt DC series wound motor. The Smittybilt X20 Comp, and the Smittybilt XRC feature a 6.6 hp motor, while the Champion 3000-lb. Winch Kit features a tough 1.3-horsepower (12-volt) DC motor, and Rugged Ridge 15100.25 Trekker Winch has a 5.6 hp motor.

Steel Rope:

Steel rope types are more is affordable, long-lasting, and simple to maintain. However, one disadvantage is that it could be too bulky for the front of your rig. They’re suitable for use in abrasive environments. Steel rope is a wise option if you often travel through rocks, sand, or mud. We suggest wearing heavy gloves to secure your hands when holding the steel rope.

Synthetic Rope:

Compared to steel wire, this is safer, more durable, smoother, and simpler to handle without gloves. They are ideal for trial and recovery winches. The problem is that they are susceptible to chemicals, UV, sun, and abrasion. This kind of rope also needs regular care and maintenance.

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Best Shovel to Carry While Overlanding https://overland.reviews/gear/overland-shovel/ Sat, 01 May 2021 17:43:48 +0000 http://54.190.163.220/?page_id=278 Shovel: sounds familiar, right? If you are a frequent overlander & love to travel to off-road places, you can’t deny the importance of an overland shovel. When you go off track, it’s always good to have the right equipment for the job, isn’t it? A durable shovel is a valuable item to have when driving

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Shovel: sounds familiar, right? If you are a frequent overlander & love to travel to off-road places, you can’t deny the importance of an overland shovel.

When you go off track, it’s always good to have the right equipment for the job, isn’t it? A durable shovel is a valuable item to have when driving over dirt, sand, or snow. You have to dig sometimes.

Finding a premium shovel is not that easy as you think. Our research team picks 5 premium and best overland shovels for the overlanders & camping lovers. We gonna represent the key features and analyze these shovels, why those could be the perfect fit for you.

Why Overland Shovel?

A shovel is a tool that looks like a spade but has a long blade and usually upturned sides and is used to move coal, dirt, snow, or other material.

A shovel will be your new best buddy if you want to get into overlanding. Off-road shovels are flexible and cheap, and they are essential for vehicle self-recovery and more efficient than us a recovery board ‘shovel’. Starting a new hobby is exciting, and half of the excitement is all the latest gear you get to purchase.

To be frank, some of the headaches of a new hobby are true all the equipment you may believe you need to purchase. Fortunately, I have excellent news for you! Not only can Overlanding be inexpensive, but the equipment used to go can also be inexpensive.

There could have been a dramatic sinkhole or a granite rock too giant for you to ascend anywhere, leaving us high and dry. You have to own some equipment to get back on the trail if your tire begins to spin.

I like putting myself in these positions because it is a learning experience for me. The more often you get lost or assist those in need of assistance, the more you can understand.

How To Select The Best Overland Shovels? | Factors To Consider Before Buying

Choose Premium Brand

It would help if you had a model that will serve you well around your campsite or on a survivalist mission. A premium brand is a bit expensive but can be more flexible and give quality performance than ordinary brand shovels.

Consider The Build Quality

If you are going to get a new shovel for your next trip, you have to make sure you’re purchasing the right tool. Although the applications of a survival shovel vary, you’ll need a product that performs on its efficiency promises.

When choosing your dream model, look for one with a carbon steel shovelhead. This material is solid and long-lasting, resulting in a blade that retains its tip.

The last thing you want is for the cutting or sawing tip to get rusty after just a few uses. In a survival condition, such a let-down could cost you dearly.

Ensure The Durability

Some versions have a nylon blade that does not need to be sharpened, but it can break or be damaged more quickly than a carbon steel shovelhead.

Look for models with a lifetime warranty on the blade and craftsmanship. Those producers that can risk their integrity can deliver high-quality tools.

Pick The Compact & Lightweight Shovels

A big shovel is not something you want to be carrying around a hiking path or through a risky forest.

In a survival scenario, calories are all, and if you have to spend them pulling heavy machinery around, you’re going to get into trouble quickly.

Since most off-road shovels are made of carbon steel, they are most probably a lightweight product. The handle, on the other side, is where manufactures save weight. The shovel’s polymer handles are the most significant reason for weight reduction. In a word, choose a lightweight and compact product to gain the maximum benefits.

Easy Digging & Sharp Blades

Make sure your overland shovel’s blade is sharp enough to cut enough dirt and snow. A curve-bladed, long-handled shovel is ideal for digging up shrubs and chopping roots, breaking up soil, or raising or scooping loose material like gravel. Sharp edges and saw-like toothed shovel sides are designed for root cutting.

Choose Proper Handle

Longer-handled shovels usually lack a grip but are also padded for comfort. A shovel’s longer handle helps in leveraging the lifting used in digging up bushes. Shorter-handled spades sometimes have a D, T, or round grip to aid in driving the blade through sod or a mound of dirt or gravel.

The handles made of wood are light but solid. They frequently last for years, but you will need to tighten the screws from time to time because wood expands and contracts with temperature changes.

Where to store a shovel

Depending on the size of your rig, gear storage, roof rack, and the number of overlanders with you, you may opt for a smaller or collapsable shovel, compared to a full-length shovel. There are a number of external mounting options which can place your shovel out of the way and in a safe place. We recommend plan out your options and pick the one that matches your needs.

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Best Recovery Strap for Overlanding https://overland.reviews/gear/best-recovery-strap-for-overlanding/ Sat, 01 May 2021 09:19:16 +0000 http://54.190.163.220/?page_id=198 People who are keen of off-roading and overlanding must have all the necessary equipments so they can get help from these tools. While enthusiast who do not consider the need of essential tools during the trip can face issues. A recovery strap is one of the vital thing for Overlanders. Because while you are off-roading,

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People who are keen of off-roading and overlanding must have all the necessary equipments so they can get help from these tools. While enthusiast who do not consider the need of essential tools during the trip can face issues. A recovery strap is one of the vital thing for Overlanders. Because while you are off-roading, anytime your vehicle can be stuck in somewhere either it was mud, rain or anything else. In such critical situations, the best recovery strap for overlanding can help you. Therefore, we give much importance to its need.

In this recovery strap, you have to know very well that you cannot use a tow strap in any way where you will need to use a recovery strap and vice-versa. Yes, it is so true that both of these are not the same products as many people think of.

Overloading or for off-roading, anytime your vehicle can get stuck. In those situations, a recovery strap can be your savior. Therefore, Overlanders and off-roaders must have the best recovery strap for truck with them. Here in this article we will share all the ins and outs of different types of best recovery strap for Overlanding

Difference Between Tow Strap  And Recovery Strap

Most of the people do not the difference between a tow strap and a recovery strap. The main reasons behind it that they are almost same in their look. Therefore, we tell the difference in their features that tow strap has metal hooks at both ends while recovery strap do not have these hooks. The very first metaphorical huge obstacle to those who are new to the process of Overlanding is the recovery strap. It is a vital equipment and easy to use. It will be very beneficial in taking out the vehicle from obstruction and capable of moving it again.

There is also a confusion between the small tool kit and the small recovery kit. While it is true that there is obvious overlap between the kits as well, for this brief introduction we will focus on those high-quality items that are much more specific to moving the vehicle away from the obstacle. We will also assume that the big or small vehicle is stuck in mud or something else somehow due to much loss of traction to any of many more causes. Thus, for Overlanders and off-roaders, the best vehicle recovery strap is the necessary thing to carry.

Along with that, we also review some of the best ones you can buy right now for your off-roading. Therefore, after reading this article, you would be very much familiar with some of the top recovery straps and would be able to select the best option for you.

Things to Consider When You Buy the Best Recovery Strap for Overlanding

Capacity

The first thing that you have to consider is capacity. You must have also noticed that all of the best tow strap for overlanding that we have reviewed comes with a good break strength. This is the very less minimum force that you would need to apply to the break-in in any situation.

You should have the best recovery strap for overlanding that has a good break strength of about 3 times the load of your heavy vehicle that you would need to recover in such a situation.

Theoretically, we can say that for a 4×4 vehicle, a good recovery strap with 30,000 pounds of break strength would prefer.

Strap Length and Width

One of the main differences between straps is the width and length. When selecting a recovery strap consider the terrain you will be covering. Longer straps will be better for more open spaces, while short straps may be better in a wooded area. The width should really be dictated by the weight of your vehicle or the vehicle you may be recovering. If you don’t know, go with one with at least 3 inches of width.

You should also know that the recovery straps would lose elasticity with the increase of the more width as they will become much more rigid.

Therefore, you have to get a strap that has the best balance between the lengths of the strap, its width, its elasticity, and break strength as well for your circumstance.

Stitching

The good high-quality stitching pattern on your best recovery tow straps is also a significant factor. Because with the higher increase of the stitching, the strap gets weaker and weaker.

So, it is always better to go with a good recovery strap that comes with very little stitching. Also, you have to make sure that you are getting a strap that has many high protective sleeves at both good ends. Those will also make the strap very stronger than the heavy stitching on the contact points.

Ease of Installation and Use

One of the most important factors that everyone should consider is easiness. You should buy a recovery strap that is easy to work within every situation. In the sudden case of recovering a stuck vehicle, the best accessories like D-ring shackles can be a very great addition to a good recovery strap.

Also, you have to keep in mind that the best recovery strap needs time to recoil and to return to its original natural shape and original size after a good recovery session. Make sure that you are not using the strap over and over again in the span of a short period. Therefore, a backup recovery strap proves beneficial in such situations.

Visibility

Visibility is an important factor. You do not know whether in sudden happening you will need to use your good recovery strap at night or in a very severe weather condition. Now To tackle this serious issue, a lot of brands also have started to offer high reflective materials on their best recovery straps.

As a result of this, those recovery straps shine much brightly even under very low light conditions, which makes it so easy to work with them in any severe weather condition. So, make sure, that you are going with the best recovery strap that has a much bright color or at the very best reflector materials being used.

Contact Point Strengthening

Another thing is the contact points of the recovery strap that are one of the most important yet we can say overlooked features of a recovery strap. Thus, to make these awesome spots strong enough, many good brands are also using protective sleeves and also high-quality padding. And, if you seriously want to get the best recovery strap for Overlanding your heavy vehicle, you should opt for such great options with great protective padding and protective sleeves.

Besides this, you should also make sure that the best protective materials are also made of high-quality and heavy-duty straps.

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Best Traction Boards for Overlanding https://overland.reviews/gear/best-traction-boards-for-overlanding/ Sat, 01 May 2021 05:48:07 +0000 https://overland.reviews/?page_id=372 Imagine that you are off-roading through deep snow, and suddenly the vehicle is stuck. There is nothing worse situation than this, except perhaps if alone. Fortunately, there are a few products available on the market that helps you to get your stuck vehicle out. Outside of a winch, or  a high lift jack, traction boards

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Imagine that you are off-roading through deep snow, and suddenly the vehicle is stuck. There is nothing worse situation than this, except perhaps if alone.

Fortunately, there are a few products available on the market that helps you to get your stuck vehicle out. Outside of a winch, or  a high lift jack, traction boards are probably the most cost-effective recovery safety measure you should be carrying. For the budget overlander, they are a must carry.

These recovery traction boards are affordable and easily stored in a trunk or bolted to a cargo rack, but best of course the best feature is they can get you unstuck from a variety of situations.

The off-road traction boards flotation to stop the car from sinking into the soft ground like snow, sand, or mud. It provides you a better grip to raise the tires and entire vehicle to get over obstacles. You can use the traction boards while riding through sand, mud, snow, rocks, and ruts.

There are many traction board manufacturers on the market. The price of a traction board can be between $100 to $300. Finding the best one can be a tricky task for you. Therefore, we have picked up some best traction boards for you. We have also included a buying guide to make your purchase easy.

Do you want to make your off-road riding safe and convenient?

Then continue reading…

What to Look in Best Off-road Traction Boards – Buying Guide

As you know there are different types of traction boards on the market. You have to choose one that can fulfill your requirements according to your budget. We are going to sprinkle out some features through this buying guide. It will help you to choose the best one in your budget.

Read on to learn more…

Types of Recovery Traction Boards

The recovery traction boards come in three different types. Those types are aluminum non-pliable, plastic semi-pliable, and ladder or roll type traction boards. Let’s dig deep into the types of recovery traction boards.

Aluminum Non-pliable Traction Boards

Aluminum non-pliable traction boards are made of a simple design that allows the tires to grip better. These types of traction boards are useful when you are driving on a road with ditches and big holes.

Your vehicles cannot clear these types of roads without the aluminum non-pliable traction boards. The aluminum non-pliable traction board comes with a more rigid structure to properly support the vehicle.

However, the aluminum non-pliable traction boards are not much popular as plastic traction boards. The aluminum non-pliable boards are also heavier than other types. It is hard to carry them because of their weight, size, and less flexibility.

But, they are excellent to use in sand, snow, mud, and water. The aluminum non-pliable traction boards are helpful to clear rut holes and ditches. Also, they are a bit more expensive than other traction boards.

Plastic Semi-pliable Traction Boards

The plastic semi-pliable traction boards are the most popular types of traction boards. These types of traction boards are lighter in weight than aluminum traction boards. Also, they are cheap traction boards.

The plastic semi-pliable traction boards come with large protruding cleats for extra grip. You can also use plastic semi-pliable traction boards to shovel sand. It also allows the board to get as close as possible to the tire.

However, the plastic semi-pliable traction boards are not helpful for clearing ruts and ditches. Most plastic semi-pliable traction boards are designed with slots to clean off mud and water from the tire. But, these traction boards are easy to store than the other type of traction boards.

Ladder or Roll Traction Boards

The ladder or roll traction boards are made of individual plastic and rubber section. Because of its unique design, this type of traction board can be packed tightly and easy to handle. However, the ladder traction boards are not useful in many situations.

The ladder or roll traction boards cannot provide any support and help you to free the vehicle from ruts or ditches. However, they are much useful while driving through sand and snow. It is also known as a sand and snow recovery tool.

The ladder traction boards are also affordable than the aluminum non-pliable traction boards. There are only two disadvantages of this traction board. You cannot use it as a bridge. Because they are not grippy as other options, you cannot use them for mud or water.

These are the three types of off-road traction boards. You see all types have their advantages and disadvantages. You have to choose the best one according to your needs. If you want a traction board for driving in sand, snow, or mud, then the plastic semi-pliable and aluminum non-pliable boards are the best options for you.

Size of Traction Boards

After the type of traction boards, the second necessary thing is the size that you should consider while buying the traction boards. You should check the dimensions of the traction boards before purchasing.

If you are going to store traction boards in your car, then make sure that there is enough space in your car to store them. If there is no space in your car, then there are some foldable traction boards also available in the market.

You can purchase those foldable traction boards if there is not enough space. If you want to buy a full-size traction board, then make sure to consider space.

Durability

The traction boards you purchase should be durable. Because a heavy vehicle being driven over them. Most traction boards are made of two materials plastic and aluminum. The aluminum traction boards are sturdy.

However, they are expensive and heavy. Also, aluminum traction boards provide less grip than plastic traction boards. But, the plastic traction boards are not durable compared to the aluminum. Especially, if you purchase a cheap traction board, then it will not last for a long time.

Make sure to check the quality of material before purchasing traction boards. If you buy a plastic traction board, then plastic should be sturdy and durable.

Grip

The purpose of the off-road traction roads is to provide your wheels grip and help you get the vehicle out. When it comes to grip, the plastic semi-pliable traction boards are the best choice. However, it depends on the road as well.

The aluminum traction board also provides a comfortable grip to get the vehicle out. If you are driving on a road with holes and ditches, then you should purchase aluminum off-road traction boards.

Easy to Clean

The traction boards can get dirty, wet, or muddy after a recovery. You have to clean them if you want to store them in the car. Make sure that the traction board you purchase is easy to clean. Keep this thing in mind while buying the best traction boards.

Handles and Straps

Well, the handles and straps are also necessary features for traction boards. Some traction boards come with straps. The straps allow you to connect two traction boards for storage purposes.

Some off-road traction boards also come with handles on the sides. The handles make the boards more convenient to carry, even if they are long.

Built-in Shovel

Some traction boards are angled on one or two edges. You can use these types of traction boards as a shovel as well. It helps you to clear away snow or sand before trying to get your wheel out. You can also use the angled edge as an ice-scraper. Mostly plastic semi-pliable traction boards have angled edges.

Best Brands of Traction Boards

There are many popular brands of traction boards on the market. But, here are the two brands that are considered the best for traction boards. The two brands are maxtrax and tread.

Maxtrax

The maxtrax is one of the best brands of traction boards in the world. It was founded in 2001. The maxtrax is popular for its lightweight, durable, and easy-to-use products for recovering a vehicle.

Its new maxtrax MKII was the winner of two global media awards for the best new product at the 2010 SEMA show in Las Vegas. The maxtrax products are available in 30 countries. If a maxtrax traction board fits in your budget and need then you should purchase that board rather than other brands.

TRED

According to thedrive.com, the tread is a well-known brand for recovery traction boards. It is an Australian-owned and operated traction board brand. The tred pro is the most advanced, highly engineered, and all-in-one off-road vehicle recovery board.

The engineering and material selection process makes the product highly durable. It offers superior traction. It is also one of the best traction board brands in the world. Its material selection and engineering process make TRED unique from other brands. Also, they are not expensive traction boards.

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