In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott welcome Chris Walker, professional trainer, explorer, and head of Tirion Safety. Chris has trained everyone from oil crews in Alberta to expedition drivers across Europe and Canada. The conversation delves into the real-world differences between commercial and recreational 4WD training—and what…
Rock N Road 4×4 Expedition Bonnet Bag :: Field Tested
When it comes to maximizing storage on a 4WD vehicle, we tend to think we’ve explored every option. But there’s one often-overlooked space that deserves attention—the bonnet. And this is where Brad from Rock N Road 4×4 comes in. Specializing in custom gear solutions for Special Forces, tactical units, rescue teams, and Dakar race vehicles, Brad’s products…
Women’s-Only Off-Road Class Is a Go for XOverland’s Big Thing Event
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, as the featured “Big Thing” overland weekend concludes, the XOverland Ranch is offering a women-only technical training course—a dedicated space designed to build driving confidence, refine recovery techniques, and foster genuine connection among women who share a passion for adventure. Hosted at the picturesque XOverland Ranch near Three Forks, Montana,…
The Big Thing :: An Ultimate Overland Event
As the overland community grows, it is more important than ever to provide opportunities for training, connection, and shared stories of adventure. At Expedition Portal, we could not be more excited for The Big Thing overland event coming to Bozeman, Montana, at the XOVERLAND Ranch. Now that Expedition Portal is part of the Overland Collective,…
Overland News of the Week
Horsepower Automotive Group Acquires C4 Fabrication In this week’s Overland News of the Week, Horsepower Automotive Group has acquired C4 Fabrication, a respected manufacturer of off-road armor and accessories for Toyota vehicles. This partnership aims to expand production, improve service delivery, and support continued product innovation without compromising C4’s reputation for quality and craftsmanship. C4…
Scott Brady’s Overlanding 101: Travel Simple, Travel Far
“Scott Brady has spent decades traveling the world by vehicle. Now, he’s distilled much of that experience into a compact, accessible, and deeply thoughtful reference guide: Overlanding 101. It’s not just a how-to—it’s a why-to. And it’s probably the best book on overland travel you’ll find, but then again, Scott taught me most of what’s…
Beyond the Human Context: Protecting the Invisible in Kyrgyzstan
In 2017, my girlfriend, Caroline, and I bought a 1990s ex-ambulance Mercedes-Benz 609D in Berlin. With only 40,000 kilometers on the clock, it was in great shape and ready for adventure. Despite our limited resources, we managed to convert it into our off-grid home under the sweltering southern Spain sun. Without a garage, we did…
Smart Air Vest from Dainese :: Field Tested
The Dainese Smart Air vest is their latest innovation in air bag safety systems suitable for multi-surface motorcycle riding. Worn over or under a jacket, the lightweight vest is designed to protect back and chest in the event of a crash. D-air to the Rescue The Smart Air employs the company’s race-proven D-air technology in…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
AMERICAN NORTHWEST Northwest Overland Rally When June 19-22, 2025 | Where Plain, Washington The Northwest Overland Rally caters to keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast-iron pot. Join a wine-tasting, whiskey-sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively campfire presentation and raffle. The event is intimate…
Tanner Johnson on Building and Maintaining Expedition Vehicles
In this episode, Overland Journal Podcast hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott discuss the intricacies of building and maintaining effective expedition vehicles with Tanner Johnson from Expedition Overland. Tanner shares his extensive experience in wiring, handling vehicle weight, and suspension setups to improve performance in the field. We delve into sustainable power solutions, including the…
Living Legend Kingsley Holgate: The Man, the Beard, the Cause
Photography by Kingsley Holgate Foundation Kingsley Holgate is one of my heroes, having completed 41 expeditions (and counting), all after turning 50 years old. Explorations include reaching the geographic center of Africa, which had never been done before, and circumnavigating Africa, as close to the coastline as they could, which is something that was a…
Jeep Beach 2025
Every year, tens of thousands of enthusiasts attend the Jeep Beach event in Dayton Beach, Florida. Jeep Beach 2025 proved to be the next chapter in the ongoing adventure for the East Coast Jeep community, unfolding against the backdrop of Florida. This year, over 30,000 Jeep enthusiasts from every walk of life converged on the…
Mike Pfeiffer of Last Line of Defense on Practical Readiness
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Matt Scott converses with Mike Pfeiffer from the Last Line of Defense about practical readiness and overlanding. Mike shares insights from his life as an “army brat,” his experiences traveling and living in various states, and his journey into off-roading and overlanding. The conversation highlights the…
1966 Land Rover Series 2a Marshall Ambulance :: Feature Vehicle
The namesake of British explorer Ernest Shackleton is suitably the stuff of legends. This wheeled Sir Shackleton, who we’ll call “Shack” for brevity’s sake, is a 1966 Land Rover Series 2a Marshall ambulance. But we’ve already entered a shrouded realm of mythology. Though Shack’s registration papers designate his build year as 1968, the error in…
Principles of Overlanding: Intentional Vehicle Modifications
Join hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady in this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast as they dive deep into the principles of modifying your overland vehicle with intention. Matt and Scott discuss the importance of thoughtful upgrades, the dangers of over-complication, and how to build a vehicle that meets your specific use case without…
The Best Mid-sized Trucks for Global Travel
The best overland vehicles are constantly morphing with consumer interests and regulatory pressures, but there has never been a better time to choose your next adventure machine. With the growing popularity of overlanding, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have doubled down on suitable models, and in the case of Ineos, an entirely new car company has…
From Fear to Fascination: Overlanding the United States-Mexico Border
I sat down and took a deep breath, desperately trying to clear my nerves. Our Zoom call gave a soft chime as parents and teachers logged on one by one. It’s not every day that a high school would consider supporting and helping pay for a month-long overland trip, much less an expedition consisting of…
Transglobal Car Expedition Completes Journey in New York
The Transglobal Car Expedition, the first-ever surface-based circumnavigation of the Earth via the Poles, returned to New York City on April 27, where they had begun their 16-month, 92,586-kilometer adventure in January 2024. The team recapped their incredible achievements at a press conference Monday at the Classic Car Club Manhattan, an auto enthusiast’s paradise located…
Ethiopia: Breathing the Air of our Ancestors
Of the gladest moments in human life, methinks is the departure upon a distant journey to unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many cares, and the Slavery of Home, man feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation…
Doug and Stephanie Hackney’s Inspirational Overland Adventures
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, Scott Brady hosts special guests Doug and Stephanie Hackney, who share their incredible journey from high-powered careers to full-time explorers. They dive into their motivations behind choosing travel over material comforts, the challenges and rewards of overland adventures, and the importance of adaptability. The conversation also touches…