Depending on who’s slinging the term, “overlanding” has taken on a variety of different meanings in recent years. Not to be confused with car camping, four-wheeling, or #vanlife, overlanding is self-sufficient vehicle travel where the journey itself is the goal.
As a long-time explorer of National Forest fire roads, I’m old enough to remember when the only way to find a 4×4 trail was to check out a DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer, call up a ranger station and ask for advice, get some beta from one of the locals while getting supplies, or simply finding a cool looking road and exploring. Somehow, I managed to find some pretty incredible and untouched places to get into the backcountry without the use of electronics.
We’ve covered how to Overland in a Two-Wheel Drive Vehicle and What to Bring Overlanding, but what exactly is an overlanding vehicle? In the simplest of terms, an overlanding vehicle is the main tool that you use to find adventure and make memories along the way. It carries you throughout your journey and gets you to your destination.
No matter the knife that you choose to carry, it’s important to keep it sharp. Not only will it perform well when you need it most, but a sharp knife is significantly safer than a dull one.
Not surprisingly, staying warm is the name of the game when it comes to overlanding during winter. As a person who overlands and camps year-round, I’ve come to rely on a handful of habits and pieces of gear to ensure that I remain comfortable (i.e. warm) during my winter excursions
While most social media and print ads in the overland market have convinced you that you need a 12V fridge/freezer for successful vehicle-powered adventures, it is simply not the case.
Packing for any trip can be nerve-racking, but when you’re responsible for assembling everything you will need to venture into the backcountry, the list can quickly get out of control.
The Baja Peninsula is an overlanding paradise in and of itself. There’s nothing better than this epicenter of adventure through desert, beaches, and dirt roads.
You’ve succumbed to calls of overland adventure and purchasing a shiny new dual-sport motorcycle. Before you set out into the wilderness on said new moto, it’s important to know how to do it, as well as what to pack.
Overlanding has many faces. Typically, the image comes to mind of a well set-up rig like a 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser, a Unimog, or a luxury-built Sprinter van. Certainly, however, there is also room for motorcycles in the community of overlanders.
“Where should I go overlanding?” As you might expect, this is always a difficult question to answer. I don’t often know what vehicle the person drives, how comfortable they are with being uncomfortable, whether they know how to drive responsibly in the backcountry, and how much experience (or lack of) they have. That said, there’s a ton of adventure to be had for all skill levels, so jump in and get moving!
Staff writer and accomplished two-wheel-drive traveler (Camry driver and motorcycle rider), Azure O’Neil, discusses how to overland with a two-wheel-drive vehicle.
Based on her experiences overlanding through 31 counties on four continents, by both two and four wheels, Overland Expo’s Azure O’Neil answers the question: “Is overlanding dangerous?”
If you missed Overland Expo Virtual Spring in May, then you missed a ton of learning opportunities and some great prize giveaways…but no worries, you can still see the videos on YouTube! 7P Overland hosted a great virtual class on overland recovery kits and why they chose certain items in their kit.
Its a dog’s life! My wife Astrid and I travel everywhere with our 10-year-old rescue Jack
We’re not going anywhere right now, due to the necessary ‘stay home, stay safe’ lockdowns. So, this is a perfect time to learn how to prepare nutritious foo that is just as good at home as it is
Photo by Brett Willhelm