The 2024 overland show season keeps churning, and the most recent stop for its marquee event, Overland Expo, was in Loveland, Colorado. Every Overland Expo has its own character, and the show owner, Emerald Expositions, is trying hard to lean into those differences: Expo West is where the travelers gather, Pacific Northwest feels the “crunchiest,”…
Own a Bond Edition Triumph, Save Lives at Sea
Daniel Craig, Agent 007 in the past five James Bond films, is a huge supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). So much so that he donated two personal ‘007’ Bond Edition Triumphs to support their cause of saving lives at sea. Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles will auction the unique motorcycles, and many others, to the…
The Overlanding Code to Happiness
Lead photograph by Joanie Pépin Despite becoming more materially affluent over the past four decades, those living in developed countries have not experienced the happiness boost expected from modern materialism. Since the 1940s, we’ve upgraded significantly, installing showers and bathtubs, microwaves, dishwashers, and big-screen color televisions—purchasing twice as many vehicles per person, and adding boats and…
Peak Design Phone Case, Mount, and Tripod :: Field Tested
In my midlife, I am a new motorcyclist. That means I am exceptionally careful in how, when, and where I ride. I have an acute sense of my own mortality, and on a bike, distractions are deadly. Here, of course, are a few products designed to add distraction to the riding experience—but only if we…
2025 Royal Enfield Himalayan Pricing
“Royal Enfield calling Honda. We thought you should know that we’ve just released U.S. pricing for the 2025 Himalayan 450. Our new ABS-equipped single will retail for $5799, $700 less than your CRF300L Rally with ABS. How do you feel about that?” “Hello, Enfield. Honda here. Sure, our 286cc single doesn’t have the horsepower or…
Oregon’s Alvord Desert | Overland Routes
The silence of the Alvord Desert is all-consuming. The column of quiet that descends on the dry lakebed in the evenings reaches through you. Sounds that would be swallowed by the regular cacophony of a workaday wilderness are amplified, like they’ve been plugged into a Marshall stack—the rumble of a pickup truck on the county…
Rust To Glory – The Ultimate Overland Movie – Is Now Streaming
Rust To Glory redefines the overland adventure documentary genre by capturing the trials and tribulations of three unique teams and their unlikely vehicles as they tackle the world’s largest amateur rally, the Budapest-Bamako. “We wanted to show what it’s like to compete in this grueling overland rally in three junkyard rescues,” said Andrew G. Szabo,…
Feralosophy: A Ladies-Only Overlanding Experience is Coming This October
(feral-os-o-phy) (noun): In a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication. Belief or doctrine. The Ozarks regularly appear on Expedition Portal and in Overland Journal for good reason. Overlanders frequent the forested mountains that stretch across five states, taking in springs, rushing waterfalls, lakes, caverns, and other karstic landforms. Add some off-pavement trails,…
Ducati DesertX Discovery Adventure Tourer
With the debut of the DesertX Discovery, Ducati acknowledges the difference between adventure riding and adventure touring. The former being a hurried transit through natural surroundings, the latter a measured journey to explore and enjoy nature. Though the heart of the original DesertX beats beneath its red and black livery, the Discovery provides creature comforts,…
Eco-Hack! | Video of the Week
Armed with lasers, terrestrial rovers, drones, and 3D-printed fake tortoises, conservation biologist Tim Shields looks like he belongs on a science fiction film set in the Mojave Desert. Really, though, his target is specific and aligns more with Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. Shields is on a mission to save desert tortoises from going extinct by…
BMW GS Trophy 2024 Goes to Namibia
The eighth running of the BMW International GS Trophy event takes place in Namibia this fall, with the riders aboard special R 1300 GS machines. BMW Motorrad is adding a host of extras to their R 1300 Style GS Trophy model, starting with the optional Enduro Package. The competitors will enjoy handguard extensions, handlebar risers,…
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie: The ABCs of Overland Convoy Etiquette
Photography by Richard Giordano, Eglė Gerulaitytė, and Lila Shaw There’s a kid driving a Corolla at 120 kph, waving a note at me with the words “I love you” scrawled across the paper. Normally, I would be flattered at this declaration of affection, but the teen’s foot is jammed to the floor, sending his beat-up…
California-North BDR Film Goes Public
The CABDR-North (aka NorCal) BDR film, now available on YouTube, provides an end-to-end overview of the 13th BDR route created by Backcountry Discovery Routes. Like previous BDR films, this one gets down and dirty while also highlighting amazing scenery and seductive backroads. It also delves into the history and struggles of early settlers and shows…
Minimalist Wallets :: Best of Breed
Good times—at least of the sort we’re after—come with a downside. The hard truth behind adventure is that you can’t safely peace out beyond the confines of cell service with nothing but a sandwich in one hand and your car keys in the other. For those of us desperate for even a brief escape from…
The Realities of Solo Motorcycle Travel with Chasing Crystal :: Overland Journal Podcast
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 195 Crystal Fong is currently traveling on her 1990 Honda Dominator NX250 through Europe and beyond. In this podcast from the field, Crystal and host Ashley Giordano touch on the ups and downs of solo travel, how Crystal has created a sense of community by playing badminton around the globe, and…
NEMO Dagger Osmo Lightweight 3P Tent :: Field Tested
After an undulating 14-kilometer hike with 35 pounds on my back, I opened the NEMO Dagger Osmo three-person tent for the very first time under the looming shadow of Mount Assiniboine—motivated by a relentless cloud of thirsty mosquitoes. Perhaps this wasn’t the smartest plan in the world, but it made for a perfect opportunity to…
Field Tested :: Dainese Riding Gear and AGV AX9 Helmet
Dainese has a well-deserved reputation for quality motorcycle apparel for all types of riding. I’ve seen the results of a friend sliding down the freeway at 60 mph in a Dainese jacket. Though shredded, the jacket didn’t wear through and the rider was unscathed. This review examines three Dainese garments and an AGV helmet (AGV…
New AdventureTracker Class to Race in Sturgis
There’s a new race in town. The AdventureTracker class from American Flat Track (AFT) debuts at the inaugural Sturgis TT on August 11, 2024. AMA Pro Racing recently announced the governing rules for Adventure machines. Production-based bikes with minimal modifications will be screaming through Sturgis in this first of its kind race. Will Your Bike…
Flextail Tiny Repel :: Field Tested
Photography by Jason Spafford Outdoor endeavors should be about embracing nature, not battling mosquitoes. Enter the Tiny Repel. Designed by the Shenzhen-based company Flextail—increasingly known for their multifunctional outdoor gear since 2015—this compact device serves as a mosquito repellent, light, and power bank. Using DualRepel technology quickly creates a 30-foot mosquito-free zone (including horseflies), with…
Overland Expo West 2024 :: More Gear
There are some subtle shifts happening at Overland Expo. With new owners since the middle of last year (Emerald Expositions, purveyors of huge industry events like Outdoor Retailer), the purpose and scope of the four yearly Expos are slowly moving. This was inevitable, given the sheer scale of Overland Expo now (especially the Flagstaff event)….