Overland Expo team member Mike Cantrell is the focus of our latest Community Spotlight. Mike calls Plano, Texas, home, but he’s rarely one to sit still for long. Whether he’s exploring on two wheels or four, Mike is always looking for the next adventure, with interests ranging from cycling, bikepacking, backpacking, and overlanding to adventure motorcycling, kayaking, fishing, sailing, and even flying. He’s also spent years behind the camera as a volunteer photographer for animal rescue organizations, the City of Plano Fire Rescue and Police Department, and the Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Along the way, he’s collected more than a few memorable stories, including owning an ultralight aircraft, flying at H. Ross Perot’s Texas ranch, and an encounter with the FAA that deserves a story all its own. We’re happy to call Mike a member of the Overland Expo team, and it’s always a pleasure to see him at events. Read on to learn more about Mike, his adventures, and the many ways he finds to get outside and explore.
OE: How did you initially become involved in Overland Expo?
MC: I started by signing up for the very first adventure motorcycle class after the pandemic of 2020! I decided to volunteer the rest of my time for the show while I was there. It was an absolute dream! I was hooked. The people were fantastic and super friendly. It was like I was part of a family. After volunteering, I joined the team as part of the regular staff and toured all of the shows.
OE: And now you’re stuck with us, right? Obviously, we all have at least a bit of a gearhead mentality here at Overland Expo. Tell us about your overlanding vehicle(s)!
MC: My adventure/overlanding vehicles include a 2019 BMW R1250 GS Adventure (the one that got me started with Overland Expo), a 2022 Honda CRF300L Adventure, a 2023 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4×4 with RTT, and lastly a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness that I’m starting to build out thanks to all the input and builds that I’ve experienced from attending Overland Expo.
OE: Over the years, what’s your favorite thing you’ve seen at Overland Expo?
MC: The builds and number of new products that have exploded over the years! If you love to glamp, there are compact hot showers, a/c units, heating units, rescue equipment, portable lighting, portable power, portable cooking- the list goes on and on! If I had to choose only one-“ish”, I’d say it’s compact refrigeration and solar power! I can stay out in the wilderness for days on end and still have all the communications and entertainment I need for roughing it in the wild
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OE: Mike, you’ve certainly had a wide range of adventures and plenty of nights in the backcountry under your belt. If you had one piece of advice for someone getting started, what would it be?
MC: I tell friends I’ve slept in snow with a hammock at -9 degrees and wind chills in the negative teens, or camped along a beautiful river with trees in a magical display of fall colors. I’ve photographed Grizzly bears with cubs, eagles, owls, landscapes, wildflowers, cactus, the Milky Way, etc. They hear my stories and “think” they want to do it as well. The next thing they say is WOW I’d like to do that! How do I get started? My best advice is, and always will be, camp in your backyard first! If that’s not fun for you, being out in the middle of nowhere won’t be any different! Except for the fact that you can just go back inside if you don’t like it! They laugh and say, “Sure.” I then pull out my phone and show them a picture of me doing the very same thing I preached- sleeping in my backyard, in a hammock, in the snow, with -9 degree temps and wind chills in the negative teens.
