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Elspeth Beard: One of the First British Women to Motorcycle Around the World

Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with adventure motorcyclist, author, and traveler Elspeth Beard, who was one of the first women to ride around the world by motorcycle. Elspeth dives into the details of her two-year round-the-world trip, from 1982 to 1984 on a 1974 BMW R60 bike, and how…

Overland Conservation: Deserts

Photography by Akela World Conditioned from childhood to view the desert as a place where rain doesn’t fall, things don’t grow, and life can’t thrive, we can be surprised by what we encounter when we go. Camped off a remote trail system in the region outside Phoenix, Arizona, just before the first day of spring,…

Overland News of the Week

Midland Releases the MAV60 Magnetic Mount Holder A handheld radio mount should be low-profile, strong, and easily accessible. Compatible with Midland FRS and GMRS walkie-talkies and the MicroMobile MXT115, MXT275, and MXT575, Midland’s latest offering features the world’s strongest magnet thanks to stainless steel N50 neodymium construction. The MAV60 mount base is affixed with 3M…

Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System :: Field Tested

As a full-time overlander, I love to cook outside. But when preparing coffee in the morning or an afternoon cup of tea, I don’t always want to set up the propane stove just to boil water. Instead of a kettle, I’ve been using the newly updated Jetboil Flash. The Flash boils water fast (approximately two…

Sea To Summit’s Detour Collection :: Field Tested

Two years ago, I was on the hunt for a cookset that would work well in our Overland Explorer Vehicles pop-up camper. Finding something lightweight, not too bulky, and compatible with induction cooktops was a non-starter. In 2022, I could only find pots and pans designed for home use. Fast forward to today, and we…

Tune Outdoor Expands Pop-Up Truck Camper Lineup with New M1Lite

For many overlanders, less truly is more—especially when a vehicle is used primarily to explore remote trails and carry essential outdoor gear. Yet for too long, the industry has prioritized comfort and luxury to the point where many now expect a camper to cost nearly as much as the truck carrying it, if not more….

Honda Unveils Base Station Prototype, a Compact and Lightweight Travel Trailer

Honda has unveiled the Base Station Prototype, a compact and lightweight travel trailer developed by the company’s US-based research and development teams in California and Ohio. Conceived as a new entry point into camping and outdoor travel, the prototype reflects Honda’s long-standing emphasis on efficient packaging, modular design, and accessibility. The project was led by…

2025 Overlanders of the Year: GrizzlyNBear Reflect on Nearly a Decade of Overland Travel

Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with Leigh and Steph Dearle of GrizzlyNBear Overland as they reflect on nine years of full-time international overland travel. Leigh and Steph dive into their daily routine, how their travel style has changed over time, and how a recent overhaul of their 2010 Land Rover Defender…

Expedition Portal’s 2025 Overlanders of the Year :: Leigh and Stephanie Dearle of GrizzlyNBear Overland

The American author Annie Dillard wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” The 2025 Overlanders of the Year, Leigh and Stephanie (Steph) Dearle, live this idea fully. Since 2017, they have traveled full-time in their Land Rover Defender (“Bear”) and Four Wheel Camper (“Grizzly”), covering more than 242,000…

Beauty and the Beast: Facing the Sublime in the Italian Alps

Photography by Richard Giordano In A Philosophical Inquiry Into the Origins of Our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful (1757), Edmund Burke identified the sublime as the overwhelming sensation we feel in response to intense natural phenomena. Burke believed that sharp cracks of lightning, dizzying heights, hurricanes, storms, and waterfalls instilled a sense of…

Overland Conservation: Beaches and Oceans

Photography by Leander Nardin/Akela World Am I the only one who has willed my eyes to stop blinking when confronted by a vibrant sunset at the beach? I can’t bear to miss a moment. Salt particles suspended in the air cause shorter wavelengths of light, like violet and blue, to scatter. As a result, showy…

Step 22 Soft Cases :: Field Tested

On our first overland trip 12 years ago, we packed our belongings in used Rubbermaid containers and assorted soft bags we found around the house. In a constant state of disarray, a baseline level of stress was involved when searching for parts, tools, cords, or other essentials. It took almost a decade to realize that…

We Tested Six Overland Truck Campers. Here’s What We Found.

Early memories are so formative, often defining and informing the path of our lives. My dad taught me the importance of doing what you love with the people you love, and truck campers have been synonymous with that aim since their commercial debut in the early 1950s. I still remember a cold morning camping in…

Overland News of the Week

Toyota Launches New Generation Australian HiLux The latest generation HilLux has landed in Australia, promising improved driveability, enhanced interior technology and comfort, and an exterior design spearheaded by Toyota Design Australia. The 2026 Hilux is available in cab-chassis and pickup configurations, with 4×4 or 4×2 drivelines, and in single-, extra-, and double-cab body styles. Upgrades…

Christmas Gift Guide

For the Minimalist Who Fancies Luxury :: Gift Guide

I’ll preface this guide by reminding one and all that the greatest gifts cannot be bought. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. So, during this festive season, check in with loved ones and make time away from your devices to be present. With that out of the way, who’s going to buy me…

Featherweight Gifts for Your Over-GVWR Champion

Groaning springs, nose in the air, the struggle to the top of the next hill, always bringing up the rear, thirsty at the pump—we all know that traveler in our lives who could use some gear that lightens the load. Whether on two wheels or four, reducing avoirdupois reaps many benefits, not least safety. As a vehicle’s mass…

10 Holiday Gifts for the Overlander Who Has it All

Photo by Richard Giordano We often assume that someone who “has it all” owns every desirable item—whether toys, vehicles, accessories, or other overland gear and gadgets. But as the holiday season approaches, it may be worth widening that definition. Some overlanders have everything they need and want nothing more; others “have it all” simply because…

Do It for the Kids Gift Guide

Every year, non-overlander children open their presents under the tree to find gifts that are, for the most part, useless for the rest of the year. Overlander kids are different—they live lives of exploration and deserve gifts that help fill a year with fun and adventure. I don’t remember 99 percent of the gifts I…

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