Overlanding is an adventure. Having the right sustainable, durable and high-performing tools can make the adventure even more satisfying. Read our latest post on minimizing your impact while overlanding, and check out this list of unique and immanently useful tools for your next exploration. We vouch for each of these tools, they are all a part of our kit.

The Barebones Hori Hori Knife ($69.99)

My wife bought this for me as a gift after seeing this in person for the first time at Barebones' headquarters in Salt Lake City. I can honestly say I was not initially impressed. It looked like a gardening tool to me. But it was beautiful, clearly very well made and has a catchy name (it means "dig, dig" BTW). I threw it in the back of my Land Cruiser and forgot about it. That is until I needed it and then the light bulb turned on for me. While not designed as an overlanding or camp tool, the Hori Hori has become the tool I use when nothing else seems to do the job. It's a big knife, a capable saw, one hell of a spade and serves as my go-to campfire poker. Seriously, this tool could replace 3 tools in my truck, including as the most capable poop hole digger on the planet. At under $70, it's also a value.

Grab one, throw it in your rig and just wait…when nothing else seems to work, the Hori Hori will come to the rescue.

Smelly Proof Reusable 2 Gallon Bags ($12.49)

Trash is a part of our modern lives, smelly trash doesn't have to be. Reusable bags are becoming much more common, but most are quart size or smaller and have limited use in an overlanding or camping environment. The Smelly Proof 2 gallon bag, however, is huge and can fit all of the nasty bits leftover from the grill, tuna salad for the whole family, or even dirty clothes. Best thing about these bags, is you can store them inside your rig when external trash storage is limited. You won't smell a thing. Also, they're Made in the USA!

Coalatree Kachula Blanket ($89.00)

We have written love letters about this blanket. Where others on the market provide coziness and warmth, the Kachula adds utility, purpose and durable materials. It's multi use as a blanket, poncho complete with hoodie, pillow and a surface for working on the ground under your rig when you-know-what goes wrong (ask us how we know). This blanket does not leave our rig, period. Soft brushed nylon flannel provides the comfort, durable ripstop nylon provides the solid foundation and both are made from 100% recycled materials. Grab two, give one to a friend.

Sherpa Renzing Hat ($30)

I lost this beanie after a camping trip in the Wyoming range. I lost sleep thinking about where this hat could possibly be. I looked everywhere, everyday, for weeks until I finally accepted that my favorite beanie, the one that keeps my head warmest at night and most comfortable during the day, was gone forever. This is the effect this hat will have on your life. It's more than a beanie. It is hand knitted by small cooperatives of women in the ancient city of Bhaktapur right outside Kathmandu. It is made from super soft lambs wool and lined with Polar fleece. If that sounds amazing, it's because it is.

I finally found my Sherpa beanie, BTW. I had used it as a post cover on one of the lithium batteries in my offroad trailer while working on the solar electrical system and forgot about it once winter hit. It's home now, on my head.

Bogs Arcata Urban Leather Mid ($165)

The first thing that caught my eye when I saw these boots in the REI member's garage in Salt Lake was how darn handsome they are. I find myself frustrated by the newest design trend of outdoor boots that look like sneakers. These are not those. They are rugged, handsome and look the part of an overlander through and through. They also are rated for -30°F/-34°C comfort. I had to double check that, but it's true. These relatively compact boots can get your toes through an arctic blizzard. After wearing them this winter, I can tell you they are the warmest boots I own that don't look like I strapped a polar bear to my feet. They are 100% waterproof, great in the snow and ice, and are made from partly recycled leather and a unique bloom eco-friendly, algae-based EVA footbed.

Also, thanks to the guy with 10.5 sized feet who, for reasons I will never understand, took back these boots to REI who then made them available to me at a sweet used price.