— Field testing
Gear Tested on Real Rugged Excursions
We 'field test' overlanding and adventure gear. Father-and-son explorers JB and Mike take your product where it was built to go, photograph it in real use, and tell you honestly how it held up.
— How a field test works
Your Product, Out in the Field
We help outdoor brands market their gear by taking it out for a field test on our Rugged Excursions. During testing we photograph your product in real time, during actual use, in the right outdoor setting. When we are done, you get honest feedback and the content to show for it.
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Photos taken in real time, during actual use, in the right outdoor setting
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Honest feedback on your product: the good, the bad and the ugly
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Photos and video for your social media campaigns and Amazon reviews
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Your field test shared on our Facebook and Instagram feeds
— Rugged reviews
Recent Field Tests
The good, the bad and the ugly, straight from the trail.
Rugged Road Outdoors
Rugged Road 45 Cooler
We floated it several miles upstream behind our canoe to see if it really floats upright. It does.
The good: lightweight, easy to carry, and the reversible top doubles as a cutting board.
The bad: ice lasted 60 to 72 hours for us, short of the claim.
The ugly: no top gasket, so icy water can slosh out in your rig on rough roads.
Ben's
Ben's Insect Repellent
This one was special to us: it was Mike's first paid gig. We tested the spray pump bottle and the wipes.
The good: it works, both are portable, and the bottle doesn't leak like others we've used.
The bad: it contains DEET, which some people avoid. It's also why it works so well.
The ugly: nothing. It keeps the ticks away, and we highly recommend it.
Celestron
StarSense Explorer DX Telescope
We took it to Nevada's Valley of Fire, the park famous for standing in for Mars on film.
The good: easy to assemble, a sturdy tripod, and fun to use with the Celestron app and a phone.
The bad: the included lenses are entry level, fine for us but maybe not for experienced astronomers.
The ugly: it takes patience to fine-tune and keep your target in view.
— In print
As Featured In
Cover story
Overland Adventures Magazine
Summer/Fall 2022. We made the front and back covers, with a feature article inside.
Feature article
View On Magazine
May/June 2023. The Rugged Outdoorsmen: camping and freelance hiking on public lands.
Interview
The Progress
February 2022. The Moapa Valley Progress ran "The Rugged Outdoorsmen of Mesquite Hit the Trail."
Want Us to Field Test Your Gear?
Send us a message. If it belongs in the backcountry, we'll take it there and tell you how it did.