The human eye has over 120 million specialized cells dedicated to processing light waves. Called photoreceptors, these cells are commonly known as “rods and cones,” and the shapes determine both how we process color and how we see in dim or bright light. Translating the physical phenomena of light into electrical and chemical signals in…
Category Archives: Outdoor
MareBlu Costa Rica :: Overland Conservation
As overlanders, protecting and preserving the open spaces we visit is our obligation. Our rigs carry us to pristine mountains, deserts, and beaches, and we aspire to leave them in better condition than we found them. By nearly all measures, Costa Rica, home to over five million residents, is a tropical paradise. Over the past…
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, January 30th, 2026
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…
H-D Reveals 2026 Pan America 1250 Limited
Harley-Davidson’s Pan America 1250 Limited edition for 2026 is ready to explore the outback right from the showroom. That first ride could take you anywhere, just toss your kit into the 120-liter set of aluminum luggage and hit the road. Motation A bike this tricked out will naturally be a little heavy, even with the…
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…
We Will Roam Launches 5-part Australia Overland Series
Following the release of overland series from Bound for Nowhere, Roam Overlanding, Gon Dirtin’, and yours truly (Desk to Glory), Expedition Portal and Overland Journal’s next XOverland-produced series sees 2020 Overland Film Festival winners Ant Austin and Emma Brentnall of We Will Roam return to the wheel after a long and unexpected hiatus. Over a…
onX Offroad Opens Applications for 2026 Nationwide Trail Revival Projects
Last year, I bought my first electric chainsaw while exploring the Chippewa National Forest after the area had been battered by summer tornadoes. It felt good to do my part to help clear and maintain public lands—not only for my own use and enjoyment, but more importantly for the benefit of others. While cutting fallen…
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, December 19th, 2025
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…
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…