The wait is over: Honda’s 2023 XR150L dual-sport motorcycle has hit American shores. Honda introduced the friendly, inexpensive dual-sport at a late-June press launch in Solvang, California. Expedition Portal was there to ride the XR and report on it. Honda Comes Through with the XR150L First announced back in March, this beginner-friendly bike is aimed…
Border Shock: An Overlanding Family’s Nightmare
Editor’s Note: This border crossing article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Words by Chris Simon, in collaboration with Richie and Abigail Gubler. Overland border crossings are exciting, unpredictable, and stressful. No matter where you are in the world, things can go unexpectedly wrong at official border checkpoints. This article tells the story…
onX Maps Offroad App Adds New Features
onX Maps has boosted its Offroad app with a new proprietary Route Builder feature. In recent years, the Montana-based company has made big waves in the GPS navigation world with its suite of online and offline mapping software that caters to many stripes of outdoor enthusiasts, including those of us that are drawn to the…
South Dakota’s Black Hills: A Land of History and Heartache
Editor’s Note: This South Dakota article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Small and isolated, South Dakota’s Black Hills seemed the ideal place for a self-imposed writing retreat. I’ve been working on a book for years and hadn’t so much as typed a single letter in the manuscript for over four months. I…
Overland Expo PNW—July 7-9, 2023
I’ve always considered Oregon—especially the Eastern desert regions—to be an overlooked and underrated overlanding destination. Like all Western states, Oregon contains a huge variety of landscapes, and they belie the rain- and IPA-soaked Portlandia stereotypes. Nearly 53% of the state is public land, and there are many miles of dirt to explore, from Arch Rock…
R1250 GS Ultimate Edition
Motorcycles like the BMW R 1250 GS Ultimate Edition only come around every 100 years or so. This year BMW Motorrad marks a century of building motorcycles and chose the R 1250 GS to carry the banner…in the United Kingdom. Sorry Yanks, this beauty is only for those across the pond. We do get two…
72 Hours Overlanding in the Utah Desert :: Video of the Week
This video of the week follows filmmaker Sinuhe Xavier, Rashad and Ron Frazier of Camp Yoshi, and Ben O’Meara of Huckberry through Southern Utah as they curate the perfect route for Camp Yoshi—an organization making the outdoors more inclusive through trips into the remote wilderness. Piloting the Jeep Gladiator Wayout, Xavier leads the group by…
Finding Shackleton :: Video of the Week
Dana grew up in Zambia, where she and her family spent time camping in Luangwa. Her parents drove an old Land Rover and pitched tents in the bush, providing perfect opportunity for barefoot wanders through the grass. Fond memories and time spent in Zambia’s wild places laid the groundwork for her love of overland travel….
The Polaris Xpedition May Be the Perfect Base Camp Exploration Vehicle
Polaris Off-Road has unveiled an entirely new platform for side-by-side vehicles, and boy, do we wish it was street-legal. The 2024 Polaris Xpedition includes the Xpedition XP and ADV models and has, according to the press release, “introduced a unique category of ‘adventure side-by-sides,’ thereby amalgamating traditional off-road capabilities with the comfort and cargo features…
Five Things to Know About Overlanding the UK
The UK is an absolute riot to drive through. Twisty, narrow roads bordered by mossy stone walls lead to lush glens filled with bluebells, quaint towns whispering of a captivating past, and seaside coves that stretch for miles. Charmingly, it’s impossible to escape the bahs of baby sheep in the spring. Whether you’re passionate about…
Feature Vehicle :: 1985 Toyota FJ62 Land Cruiser Fit for the Saudi Arabian Desert
Editor’s Note: This Toyota FJ62 article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Photography by Richard Giordano Few can say they’ve purchased a vehicle from the Saudi royal family; even fewer own a Land Cruiser as meticulously spotless as off-road and automotive shop owner Luai Alsheheli’s. “This 60-Series Land Cruiser was one of many that…
Mammoth Overland Unveils ELE Off-Road Trailer, Designed for Ultimate Survival in Extreme Conditions
Are you a prepper with an unshakable conviction that the end is nigh but still want to get out there and enjoy nature while the Four Horsemen streak across the sky? Are you a danger tourist looking to explore war-torn territories or spend a season living among the grizzlies, or do you live in and…
Video of the Week :: Bored With Your Nine-to-Five? Try a Microadventure.
Photo by Alastair Humphreys British author and adventurer Alastair Humphreys cycled around the world for four years, raced a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean, completed an unsupported crossing of Iceland by foot and packraft, and walked 1,000 miles across the Empty Quarter desert in the southern Arabian Peninsula. But not all of us are cut…
The All New 2024 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor
Ford has announced an all-new lineup of Rangers. The new 2024 Ford Ranger isn’t just offering new color options and random accessories. Ford did its work and talked with current Ranger owners and consumer groups around the world to ask and learn what they wanted to see in the next evolution of the model. I’ve…
Ignik Grows Product Line, Launches Tank Accessories
We love practical, multi-purpose gear which is well-designed and constructed to survive harsh environments and heavy use. Ignik, the outdoor brand headquartered on Bainbridge Island, Washington, is set to expand its product offerings with the introduction of propane tank accessories; the company has unveiled the 20-pound Tank Case/Seat and 20-pound Tank Tote, designed to facilitate…
Video of the Week :: Sonoran Rovers and Artisan Arjuna Steen Create a Defender Masterpiece
If you are a fan of surgical carpentry and workmanship, the Classic Land Rover Defender, and impeccable filmmaking, then this is the video for you. Titled “Exquisite Land Rover Defender Camper Build – Start to Finish – Crafted in Southern Arizona,” the film highlights a joint effort between Sonoran Rovers and skilled artisan Arjuna Steen….
Overland Expo West Returns to Flagstaff, May 19-21
Like the proverbial swallows to Capistrano, overlanders will be returning to Flagstaff, Arizona, for the 2023 edition of Overland Expo West, May 19-21. Ticket prices range from $490 for the full, weekend-long Overland Experience pass to just $20 for a one-day pass on Sunday. Held again at the sprawling Fort Tuthill County Park, you can…
Field Tested :: Men’s Danner Mountain 600 Boots
There are two types of people in this world; I like to call them the Bright Oranges and The Dark Blues. I am a Dark Blue. The Bright Oranges are social, outgoing, and eager for interaction. The Dark Blues are quiet, understated, and dream of a winter cabin alone. Your clothing reflects who you are,…
Featured Vehicle :: Jerry the Defender 110
Camping on our favorite isolated Mexican beach, we heard the distant clunky rumble of a Tdi Land Rover, a unique sound pleasing to an enthusiast’s ear. Eventually, a white, right-hand drive Defender trundled into view, effortlessly rolling over the deep, white beach sand and loose, round stones. The young, mustachioed driver returned a friendly wave…
Video :: Preserving and Exploring the East Mojave Heritage Trail
Long-time denizens of Expedition Portal certainly will know our old friend and frequent contributor, Chris Cordes. Now with onX Maps, Chris has turned his passion for off-road exploration into a career helping others find their own way to unknown places. One such place is the American Southwest’s Mojave Desert. A sprawling patchwork of diverse landscapes,…