Yes, you read that right, another list of New Year’s resolutions. But wait! This is Expedition Portal. I promise—no tedious and oppressive regimes for “self-improvement,” no gym memberships (ugh), and no giving up chocolate (yeah, right). I think making new commitments for the new year should be gratifying and fun, tasks you should look forward to completing. You’ll be more likely to do them anyway and feel more accomplished than spending 45 minutes on a stairclimber to nowhere in some fetid, windowless box.
I won’t pretend that some of these New Year’s resolutions for overlanders won’t take some effort or struggle, and others may challenge you in ways you don’t expect, but the rewards will make it more than worthwhile. Make 2024 the year for taking your adventure travel to the next level, whether close to home or far away. And no free weights, I promise.
Make a Plan
The ancient Roman god of beginings was Janus (hence, January); he of the two faces, one looking back to the old year, the other forward to the new one. He was also associated with gateways and passages to the great mystery of the future, presiding over all beginnings.
One would invoke Janus to bless a new plan or undertaking and support its success. You can take a cue from the ancient Romans for 2024 by planning an overland adventure and sticking to it. For my part, I use a handful of strategies to get Janus on my side when I put together my travel plans.
Maps and caffeine, the perfect combination.
First, is to get yourself a paper map of your destination. They are inexpensive and often have helpful ancillary information along with the cartography itself. National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps are excellent for this, as are Fun Treks Off-Road Guides. While the latest generation of GPS mapping software is truly impressive, only a paper map allows you to see scale and detail simultaneously. I often stick my maps up to a blank wall in my home in the weeks or months before a big trip so I can stare at them and daydream, imprinting the landscapes in my mind. When you finally hit the trail, the world around you will feel familiar, and you won’t have your eyes constantly glued to the screens in your vehicle, wondering where you’re headed.
Second, rough out a quick budget—fuel, food, access and camping fees, and gear take the top spots, but don’t neglect vehicle maintenance and consumables (do you need new tires this year?). Set aside an empty credit card for emergencies, and add half to whatever number you arrive at. If you happen to come home on or under budget, congratulations (I rarely do). You’ve got a little nest egg set aside for the next journey.
Third, like Janus’ other face, look backward to your previous trips. Are there things you wish you had done or wish you hadn’t? Gear you forgot or stuff that never saw the light of day you hauled around needlessly? What made your experience extra special or extra painful? Make notes of what you want to repeat and what you want to avoid for the future.
Forget the Plan
I readily confess to being a planner (I really earned that Quartermaster patch in the Boy Scouts). I almost like the logistics and mapping out process for any trip as much as the actual travel itself. However, many of my most memorable adventures have been entirely spontaneous and utterly unplanned. I drove over 7,000 kilometers from Ethiopia to Botswana in an old Land Rover I bought from strangers on the internet and never once made a single campsite or lodge reservation. It can be done on a large scale or a small one.
A last second trip to Yellowstone in early spring yielded zero crowds and tons of wildlife.
Resolve this year when you have some unexpected time or opportunity to hop on the bike or in the truck and hit the road. Go light and simple; unburden yourself of superfluous gear and allow the experience to unfold before you as it happens.
Clean Out Your Gear and Shop Thoughtfully
Speaking of burdens, if we’re all truly honest with ourselves, we can often feel overwhelmed by all of our gear. It seems to pile up around us, much of it collecting dust. I am as guilty of this acquisitiveness as anyone, especially when Overland Expo West rolls around in May, and all the shiny new baubles and contraptions hit the market (not to mention the rigs).
January is the perfect time to take a hard look at your load-out. Eliminating items you rarely or never use reduces your payload and boosts fuel economy, and it also simplifies your campsite, making the things you commonly need fall readily to hand. Apply the KonMari principles—tidy up your gear, discard items you no longer need, sort the remainder by category, keep to that order, and always ask yourself: does this object bring me joy?
An object that brings me joy.
A fantastic upside to lightening your load is selling unused stuff and making a little bit of money to purchase new gear that makes your life on the road more manageable and more fulfilling. Shop thoughtfully with brands who reduce their environmental impacts, and spend money on items you know will last a long time. Alternatively, you can donate that gear to organizations that will put it to good use (see below).
First Aid First
Resolve in 2024 to have a thoroughly stocked first aid kit and the knowledge to use it. When you clean out your gear supply, closely inspect your first aid kit. It’s likely many of the items within have expired and need to be replaced, and if you find something in there that makes you say, “Huh, I wonder what that’s for?” that’s an indication that you need some education.
Carefully sort through your first aid kit and discard any expired items, including bandages.
On a basic level, learning baseline wound care, CPR, and how to remove an airway obstruction are the foundations of first aid training, and your local Red Cross will offer classes in these areas. But if you’re traveling in remote areas, far from professional medical assistance, it’s worth boosting your knowledge. Taking a three-day wilderness first aid course only costs a few hundred dollars and could save a life (even your own).
Learn a New Skill
Whether it’s adding to your repertoire of first-aid skills, polishing your winching technique, or improving your bike handling, look for ways to build your overland skill set this year. After years of hemming and hawing over it, in 2023, I learned to ride a motorcycle, and it is one of the most rewarding and exciting things I have done in years.
At the Ride with Us motorcycle course at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona.
If you want to travel abroad, take time to learn some of the languages and read up on local culture and history. Commit to learning more about the ins and outs of your adventure vehicle. From something as simple as managing tire pressures to a full engine rebuild, you can never add enough to your mechanical knowledge base. If you have skills and experience to share, consider giving back by teaching a course at Overland Expo or one of the Overland Adventure Rallies.
Give Back
There are many ways to contribute to our wider overland community. This resolution is a no-brainer and will be enriching and beneficial for both you and others. Whether it’s time, money, or expertise, you can find a cause for 2024 to get behind.
Strengthen your local off-route network by helping Tread Lightly! spread the word about responsible off-road travel, or chip in on one of their many trail projects. Team Truck Melanoma is fighting skin cancer one scan at a time, and the Overland Expo Foundation is advancing the overland community by supporting both veterans and the next generation of explorers.
Do you have other overland causes that deserve our attention? Drop them in the comments below, or tag us on Instagram. From all of us at Overland Journal and Expedition Portal—we are sending you all the best for a happy, safe, and adventurous New Year.
Read more: Behind the Scenes With Alu-Cab
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