Photography by Leander Nardin/Akela World Am I the only one who has willed my eyes to stop blinking when confronted by a vibrant sunset at the beach? I can’t bear to miss a moment. Salt particles suspended in the air cause shorter wavelengths of light, like violet and blue, to scatter. As a result, showy…
2025 Off-Road Expo with Expedition Portal and Hankook Dynapro Tire
The southern California coast in October is just about perfect. Temperatures are pleasant throughout the day, and the crowds of vacationers are relatively light. The Expedition Portal team visited Costa Mesa to attend the 2025 Off-Road Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds and explore the area from the beach up into the mountains. The event…
The Last Drive: Twenty-one years of Landcruising Adventure
Photography by Coen Wubbels It’s pitch dark when we wake up. For minutes, complete silence surrounds us—until the coffee maker starts gurgling. I pour two mugs of steaming hot liquid to warm us up and fill the thermos for the road. Our 26-year-old Toyota Starlet is ready to go, loaded with a hundred of our…
Overland News of the Week
Adventure Ready Norden 901 Expedition Motorcycle The Norden 901 Expedition is a long-distance, off-road motorcycle powered by an 889 cc parallel-twin engine paired with a six-speed gearbox and a power-assist slipper clutch, all housed on a chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame. What sets it apart from the standard Norden 901 is the various factory-installed technical upgrades…
Adventures in Namibia and Insights from Richard Giordano of Desk To Glory
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and Richard Giordano as they travel across the deserts of Namibia while discussing Richard’s journey from a small town in British Columbia to becoming an experienced overlander and professional in the industry. Discover the trials and triumphs of long-term travel, managing work-life balance on the road, and the…
We Tested Six Overland Truck Campers. Here’s What We Found.
Early memories are so formative, often defining and informing the path of our lives. My dad taught me the importance of doing what you love with the people you love, and truck campers have been synonymous with that aim since their commercial debut in the early 1950s. I still remember a cold morning camping in…
Overland News of the Week
Toyota Launches New Generation Australian HiLux The latest generation HilLux has landed in Australia, promising improved driveability, enhanced interior technology and comfort, and an exterior design spearheaded by Toyota Design Australia. The 2026 Hilux is available in cab-chassis and pickup configurations, with 4×4 or 4×2 drivelines, and in single-, extra-, and double-cab body styles. Upgrades…
Land Rover Classic Defender V8 Now Available with Defender Octa Color and Trim Options
A few months ago, a wealthy individual with a head full of champagne bubbles—and possibly not much else—decided that $430,000 was a perfectly reasonable sum to pay for a nuts-and-bolts rebuild of a 1980s Santana Land Rover. The irresistible Spanish-built Land Rover (arguably the least desirable flavor) even came with a cute little camper trailer…
For the Minimalist Who Fancies Luxury :: Gift Guide
I’ll preface this guide by reminding one and all that the greatest gifts cannot be bought. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. So, during this festive season, check in with loved ones and make time away from your devices to be present. With that out of the way, who’s going to buy me…
The All-New, All-Electric 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is Fast and Capable
Subaru posted an outstanding performance in 2024, with US sales approaching 700,000 units. The brand recorded its strongest results in Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, followed by Connecticut, Colorado, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, Washington State, and Massachusetts. In these regions, Subaru’s all-wheel-drive, outdoors-oriented models consistently lead demand, a trend that is hard to miss for anyone…
Featherweight Gifts for Your Over-GVWR Champion
Groaning springs, nose in the air, the struggle to the top of the next hill, always bringing up the rear, thirsty at the pump—we all know that traveler in our lives who could use some gear that lightens the load. Whether on two wheels or four, reducing avoirdupois reaps many benefits, not least safety. As a vehicle’s mass…
Jeep Introduces Wrangler Whitecap as the Second Model in Its Twelve 4 Twelve 85th-Anniversary Series
The Jeep brand has unveiled the Wrangler Whitecap, the second limited-run model in its yearlong Twelve 4 Twelve program, marking 85 years of continuous off-road production. Presented as a limited-run model, the vehicle is offered exclusively as an upgrade package for the Sahara and Rubicon Wrangler trims. Revealed in December from Auburn Hills, Michigan, the…
Are Modern or Older Vehicles Best for Overland Travel?
The age-old question of which vehicle is best for overland travel is a hot topic. Some prefer a brand-new vehicle with low mileage, modern tech, and ultimate comfort; others swear by their tried-and-true (hopefully) trusty vehicle they’ve owned for a long time, one they know how to service and repair, and one that, typically (but…
10 Holiday Gifts for the Overlander Who Has it All
Photo by Richard Giordano We often assume that someone who “has it all” owns every desirable item—whether toys, vehicles, accessories, or other overland gear and gadgets. But as the holiday season approaches, it may be worth widening that definition. Some overlanders have everything they need and want nothing more; others “have it all” simply because…
CompoCloset Cuddy Lite Composting Toilet :: Field Tested
Photography by Richard Giordano It was during a European road trip that Richard Peter and his partner, Erica Pugh, realized their composting toilet could be so much better. Peter sketched out various designs, prioritizing a longer drop zone, more effective solids and liquids separation, increased portability, and a unit that was easier to clean. In…
First Drive :: 2026 Subaru Outback
Near the summit of 7,800-foot Mingus Mountain in central Arizona is one of the country’s most well-known paragliding launch pads. From a dizzying precipice near a stand of communications towers, pilots from the Arizona Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (AZHPA) run for a few very meaningful steps down a grassy slope before launching themselves into…
Field Tested :: Hipcamp and The Dyrt
Times have certainly changed. When many of us first began overlanding, there were few tools to help locate a suitable campsite, and long driving days often ended early so we could scout the surrounding area for a safe place to spend the night. The arrival of iOverlander eased much of that burden—and, some would argue,…
The EarthRoamer Journey: Past, Present, and Future with CEO Scot Allen
Join host Matt Scott in a captivating episode of the Overland Journal Podcast as he chats with EarthRoamer CEO Scot Allen. Recorded at EarthRoamer HQ in Denver, this episode delves deep into the company’s evolution, including the innovative changes Scot has spearheaded since joining in 2021. Explore the fascinating history of EarthRoamer, the cutting-edge technology…
Epicore M Sports Activity Vehicle: Is this the Ultimate Basecamp?
My friend Steve is a maniac—in the best possible way. When he isn’t saving the world, he’s climbing mountains, skiing remote Alaskan slopes, tearing across dirt trails on a bike, or doing cartwheels in the desert. Then there are my friends Leah and Steph, equally unhinged in their pursuit of adrenaline, happily hauling half a…
2025 Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion
Presented by Hankook Dynapro Tire One of the largest Jeep events in the USA isn’t held in California, it is a gathering each summer in the charming town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The statistics are impressive, with over 50,000 attendees, 20,000 Jeeps, 300 vendors, and one of the coolest street cruises I have ever seen….