Practical guides for autonomy in a van, on foot and on the trail — onboard solar energy, water filtration and satellite safety.
Pre-departure diagnostic across 4 axes: onboard energy, fresh water, safety & communication, boat-crew-route fit. What the purchase score never says about the boat's actual state.
Read the article100 to 180 Ah/day underway, dominated by the autopilot. Solar-hydrogenerator-alternator mix, tanks, watermaker and rain catchment: the orders of magnitude.
Read the articleOn a bike, every autonomy solution is paid for in weight and paid for again on every climb. Four axes to arbitrate mass carried against production underway.
Read the articleGas or induction, the real Ah cost of a compressor fridge, dry stores off the cold chain: the fourth pillar of autonomy, treated as the electrical item it is.
Read the articleThe Azimut Nomad guide hub: the master equation, the 4 pillars (power, water, food, safety), and a route-by-route assessment method. Plan with zero blind spots.
Read the articleA structured pre-purchase diagnostic across 4 axes: onboard power, water, safety, and route fit. Typically saves you €5,000–€12,000 in unplanned retrofits.
Read the articleA pre-departure diagnostic across 4 axes (onboard power, water, safety, route fit) for a long-haul moto expedition. Typically saves you €1,000–€3,000 in last-minute fixes.
Read the articleReading the two critical chains (alternator + auxiliary battery / water capacity + filtration) for a moto expedition far from any fuel stop. Margins, mapped risks, and sizing.
Read the articleA pre-departure diagnostic across 4 axes (portable power, water, safety, route fit) before a GR or a long trek. It pins down what experience forgets under stress.
Read the articleReading the two chains (water: sources, filtration, capacity / food: calorie density, resupply windows) with a 5-step planning method.
Read the articleA 400 Wp / 200Ah LiFePO4 system costs €1,580. Exact formulas, flexible vs. rigid panel comparison, Victron MPPT, cable gauges, and 7 mistakes to avoid.
Read the articleWhich satellite communicator should you choose? Network coverage, COSPAS-SARSAT-certified SOS, subscriptions, and total cost over 3 years. A cold, clear-eyed analysis for van lifers and hikers.
Read the articleFrom 9 to 30 L/person/day depending on your style. A tank-sizing formula, 3-stage filtration, 5,200 fill points across France, and an anti-legionella maintenance protocol.
Read the articleInsulation (Armaflex, XPS, wood wool), diesel heating (Webasto vs Espar vs cheap clones), winter solar output, and freeze protection for the water system.
Read the articleHighway code vs wild camping, local bylaws, fines (€35 to €1,500), Crit'Air ZFE zones, and the 10 golden rules of the low-profile van lifer.
Read the articleHub dynamo (SON 28) vs foldable solar, Sawyer Squeeze filtration (55 g), offline Komoot navigation, and high-calorie-density food.
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