Have you ever wondered why planning for and embarking on a modern, maiden, extended overland journey is so stressful? Well, prolific overland travelers (myself included) are partly to blame as we tend to focus more on the adventure than ease of travel, which creates a false impression. Let me explain. I, and many of the…
Road to Lofoten
“The Arctic Circle during wintertime…hah…you know there’s a reason why they call them a MOTfalia*. I wouldn’t drive that to the shops, let alone to Lofoten in January.” – a fellow Vanagon owner on Facebook, offering words of encouragement. *MOT in the UK stands for “Ministry of Transport” and is a compulsory annual inspection to…
Forest Road
Photography by Michelle Francine Weiss and Roy Rudnick Mirny is a city as isolated in the middle of the Russian expanse as many others in the far east of the country. But it has a strong reason to exist in that place: 25 percent of the diamonds which circulate the world come from its…
Humanity :: Pay It Forward
My family has been on the road for a long time now, almost a quarter of our adult lives and the majority of our children’s lives, through thick and thin. There has been an abundance of spectacular thick and inexplicably regular suffering of thin. You soon realize as you travel to foreign continents far, far…
10 Years, 10 Routes, 10,000+ Miles—A Decade Anniversary for Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR)
Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) are one of the best ways to adventure-road trip around the U.S. And what better way to celebrate Motorcycle Awareness month and National Road Trip day (May 28) than with the 10-year anniversary of BDR—an organization that literally defined the phrase “adventure riding.” What is BDR? Using double-track, forest service, and…
Canvassing the Colorado Plateau in the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX
Words By Chris O’Neill, Photography by Greg Fitzgerald Here’s the thing about being in your favorite place in the world when it’s 5:00 a.m., 20°F, and there are 8 inches of snow on the ground—it’s still your favorite place in the world. For me, that place is the Colorado Plateau, and I was there with…
Sonya and Necota Staples: Overlanding and Creating Inclusive Communities
Sonya and Necota Staples have been traveling together since the early days of their relationship. Their first adventure outside of the US was an escape from routine, a chance to relax—what most people might envision as a vacation. But an unfortunate interaction led them outside the walls of the all-inclusive resorts. And it was then…
How to Sustain the Overlander’s Lifestyle
Not as a complete definition, but as an often-overlooked component, I’ve started describing overlanding as “intentional self-deprivation.” This is the part you rarely see on Instagram. Those who use the activity to escape the city and trials of work-life could probably care less. Even when the weather doesn’t cooperate, disappointing for sure, it’s all part…
ARB Experiences, The Adventures of Scott Brady
Established in 1975, by Anthony Ronald Brown, ARB 4×4 Accessories has a warranted reputation for manufacturing quality products designed for the harshest conditions. The company is now Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4×4 accessories, has offices in the US, and an export network that extends through more than 80 countries around the world. Nevertheless,…
10 Solutions for Carrying Extra Fuel on Motorcycles and Off-road Vehicles
Updated April 28, 2021. Many overlanders have a conundrum—how to carry extra fuel for those far-from-it-all excursions we all dream about. Carrying gas or diesel safely is even more of an issue: gone are the good old days of filling up plastic Coke bottles and strapping them to your overland rig or ADV ride. Even…
Why I Shoot Adventures in Film
I bought my first 35mm film camera from a charity shop on the outskirts of London for £20, a Canon AE-1, along with a note from the previous owner: ‘Take good care of me, I’ve been on many adventures, and hope to see many more’. It came into my life at a time when I…
36-Hours of Adventure :: In Search of Terra Incognita
This 36-Hours of Adventure is presented by Nimbl Vehicles. Nimbl also provided a loan of their Evolution camper, which we used for this journey. Curiously, one of the last significant unexplored regions of North America was the Sierra Pinacate, a vast desert of lava and sand stretching from Southern Arizona to the Sea of Cortez….
BDR Announces Plans for the Wyoming Backcountry Discovery Route
Anytime Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) announces another project, I can’t wait to get on my F 800 GS and go there. So far, I’ve ridden four of the BDR’s 10 routes and hope to add more, including Wyoming, which the BDR team has declared their next project for 2022. Highlights of the WYBDR are three…
Suzuki Samurai – The Perfect Overland Machine
Overlanding the world has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Initially, my dreams started out quite small and humble—biking through Europe. Then they morphed into motorbiking all across the USA. This dream, fed on a steady diet of Instagram feeds, blogs, and various magazines, grew to the point that…
Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication
Product Review—Garmin inReach Satellite Communication First off, a disclaimer: my husband and I used Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication during a round-the-world motorcycle trip that lasted 708 days. DeLorme inReach (bought out by Garmin in 2016) gave us two Explorer devices—one we received on loan; the other we paid for at a 50-percent discount. The company…
Arabia Makes Soldiers of Us All
Press Release (unedited) SS2: Arabia Makes Soldiers of Us All So, Which of the Racers Are Ready to Fight for Their Dreams? Words: Westx1000 Photos: Justin W. Coffey This article was written by Westx1000 on Day 3 of the 43rd Dakar Rally and is a snapshot of coverage for that day. This year (2021) marks…
Armorlite Expands its Protection for Jeep
Nothing says “Adventure Tough” better than protecting your floors. Well, Armorlite has just announced that is has expanded its flooring protection into the Jeep JL and JT platforms! A complete flooring replacement has been produced to protect the interior of your Jeep, allowing for full-floor coverage to reduce heat and cabin noise while channeling all…
OnX Goes 3D for Pre-run Planning
Like myself, many of you have enjoyed the OnX Offroad app since it launched in 2019. They have now expanded their service to include 3D mapping for unique trails and roads for planning and viewing purposes. The benefits of diving into your route before you even turn off the pavement include viewing technical features on…
Overland Expo West Postponed to September 24-26, 2021
Indianapolis, Indiana — Lodestone Events, producers of the Overland Expo event series, has postponed Overland Expo West to September 24-26, 2021. Traditionally held mid-May in Flagstaff, AZ, Overland Expo West has been postponed to ensure the health and safety of fans, exhibitors, staff, and the surrounding Flagstaff community. “Overland Expo West is our flagship and…
Discovering the Limits :: Overland Lessons From the Field
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal Magazine, and is available as a back issue here The Hemi barked to life, squatting the rear of the Wrangler, accelerating us up the face of the dune. Dave did his best to navigate the aggressive camber of the slip face and the large bush…