Patriot Campers has introduced the Gen 3 X1 off-road camper trailer, positioning it as a return to the company’s roots: a trailer built for exploration with fewer “unnecessary necessities.” The new model combines structural aluminum construction, revised suspension, and an integrated tent, with a listed tare weight of 895 kilograms (1,973 pounds). For overland travelers,…
Category Archives: Outdoor
Magic Girl of the Pamirs
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2019 issue, this article is part of that celebration. It was another spectacular warm and sunny day in the mountains of Tajikistan, as warm as it gets…
Shopping With Purpose: Practical Tips for Finding Meaningful Travel Mementos
Photos by Richard Giordano All I wanted was a pack of Japanese sheet masks. A seemingly simple task, but as I entered Don Quijote’s brightly lit shopfront, welcomed by the store’s familiar jingle, I was met by the crush of people akin to the nearby Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Shoulder to shoulder with my fellow shoppers,…
EP325 | Principles of Overlanding: App Navigation with Chris Cordes
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady discusses the core principles of overlanding navigation with Chris Cordes, highlighting primary, secondary, contingency, and emergency backups. They compare three main app categories: turn-by-turn tools like Google Maps, reference/layer apps like iOverlander and Tracks4Africa, and hybrid discipline-specific platforms such as onX and Gaia. While Google excels at everyday routing…
Gear Callout: Laundry at Camp
I haven’t owned a washing machine since 2018, when we sold our first house on wheels, a 40-foot diesel motorhome. Through the intervening years, as my family’s movable homes have shrunk in size, my appreciation for modern appliances has deepened. Some days at camp, when I’m playing catch-up, I relate to Mary Lois Walker Morris,…
Deep Breaths at 10,000 Feet
There’s a corner of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that, until recently, I had only known in winter, except for a few summer trips to ski glaciers and couloirs when the snow had gone soft and gray, and little rivers of meltwater ran beneath your skis. I had passed through Cooke City plenty of times, but…
Ford Bronco Basecamp Combines Extended-range Electric Drive with Integrated Camping Features for Australasia
In a sign of what may be heading to the US market, Ford has confirmed that the Bronco Basecamp will reach Australia and New Zealand from mid-2027, combining an extended-range electric powertrain with integrated sleeping accommodations, a tailgate table, and power for campsite appliances. The five-seat, all-wheel-drive SUV expands the Bronco family with a vehicle…
Defender Wolf Series II Debuts as Reports Point to a US-built Defender Pickup
I recently spent a weekend surrounded by—and driving—the “new” Defender. While I appreciate the luster and luxury of these vehicles, I’m most drawn to their form and function. My own old Defender is beaten and bruised, carrying the scars of countless adventures while continuing to support my dreams. Wouldn’t a basic, rough-and-ready Defender be exactly…
EP324 | Get Out Go: Bridging Cultures Through Overland Adventures
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady speaks with Christoff and Vanessa Ailert of Get Out Go! about overlanding across Southern Africa and the US. They compare community culture, gear needs, and why items like rooftop tents or extra fuel are less essential in North America. Sharing insights from full-time vehicle travel, they emphasize weight management,…
Classic Kit: The Pith Helmet
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2010 issue, this article is part of that celebration. Home, they say, is where you hang your hat. If that hat happened to be the legendary pith…
EP323 | Rugged Destinations: A Family’s Journey
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady chats with Amanda and Patrick from Rugged Destinations. They share highlights from pre-running the Back 400 and skills course at XOverland Ranch in their newly built Mitsubishi Canter JDM firetruck, their passion for JDM imports, and what inspired their outdoor travel. The couple discusses transitioning from traditional careers—Patrick as…
Fall is Colorado’s Best Season
The last twinkling mustard-colored leaves from a small grove of Aspen trees clung to the bone bark at a campsite perched high above Brush Creek, a few miles from Crested Butte, Colorado. It’s a treat to take a hammock nap in a grove like this, because we don’t have many aspens in Oregon, where I’m…
EP322 | Ant Austin: From Japan to AI
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Ant Austin of We Will Roam in Montana about balancing a tech career with long-term overland travel using remote work and contracting. They explore storytelling as the connection between tech, AI, and adventure, highlighting practical AI applications for creative organization while noting concerns over disclosure, scams, and Overland Collective’s…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Mongolia
Photography by Richard Giordano Summer is an exciting time in Mongolia. City dwellers flock to the countryside to enjoy the annual Naadam Festival, a celebration centered around wrestling, horse racing, and archery competitions. Nomads move to their summer gers (yurts), where green grass and warmer temperatures are enjoyed by multi-generational families and their meandering livestock….
Inside Bronco Stampede 2026 in Pigeon Forge
Bronco Stampede 2026: Pigeon Forge Goes All-in on the Bronco You know pretty quickly when the Bronco Stampede arrives in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Broncos fill hotel parking lots, stack up along the Parkway, and keep cruising through town long after the show closes. The fourth annual Smoky Mountain Bronco Stampede returned to the LeConte Center…
2027 KTM 690 Rally Brings Rally-Raid Design to a Long-distance Adventure Platform
KTM has introduced the 2027 KTM 690 Rally, a single-cylinder adventure motorcycle developed for long-distance travel and technical off-road riding. Drawing visual and functional inspiration from the company’s rally-raid competition machines, the 690 Rally combines substantial fuel capacity, adjustable suspension, off-road electronics, and narrow bodywork intended to improve rider control. However, questions remain about how…
Field Tested: Pelican ATX and Aegis Carry-On Luggage
Airline travel without checking bags is a cheat code that is well worth striving for. Free yourself from the worry of theft, damage, and lost luggage (and the wasted time associated) with either of these two premium carry-on options from Pelican. Both offer organized space for up to a week of travel between laundry cycles…
Field Tested: The Campspotter App
Michiel Pruijssers thought he had planned the perfect camping trip. The weather forecast looked good, the campspot ideal. But when a powerful storm rolled in and ruined the experience, Michiel, a longtime outdoorsperson and SAR volunteer, felt unprepared. Thus, he built Campspotter, an app with a simple mission: to make finding and planning your next…
Overland News of the Week, September 11, 2026
KC Hilites Platform One Roof Rack for Full-Size and HD Trucks KC Hilites has expanded its Platform One roof-rack system to fit full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. The low-profile platform uses proprietary aluminum extrusions and precision-formed steel components, combining a broad cargo surface with multiple mounting points for overland equipment. Its modular design lets owners…
EP321 | Jack Mac: Wanderlust by Any Wheels Necessary
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady talks with team member Jack Mac about minimalism and life on the road. Jack shares insights from over five years managing Expedition Portal’s classifieds and global travel by bicycle, backpacking, and vehicles like a 70-Series Land Cruiser Troopy. They discuss how a travel mindset lowers consumer spending, why high-end…