Photography by Akela World The Silk Road holds mythical status among historical overland routes. When today’s travelers stalk the shadow of Marco Polo, the respect they earn is not only for their accomplishment but partially because of our awe surrounding the Silk Routes’ history dating back to 130 BCE during China’s Han Dynasty. Yet this…
Category Archives: Overland Journal
Adventure Motorcyclist Heather Lea on the Unfiltered Realities of Long-Term Travel
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with adventure motorcyclist, author, and traveler Heather Lea to discuss the realities of long-term travel. Topics include navigating new relationships, complex logistics, the joys and challenges of riding as a woman, and encountering the kindness of strangers along the way. Overland Journal Podcast Episode 281…
The OutFit’s 1975 6×6 Volvo C304 :: Feature Vehicle
Photography by Chris Beight and Ange Feton There’s nothing subtle about the Volvo C304 6×6. Boxy, with clearance for days, and big, square front windows, the vehicle champions Volvo’s design philosophy of clean lines and minimalist aesthetics. Produced between 1974 and 1984, the ex-military truck sports a classic ladder frame, portal axles with leaf springs,…
Saharan Sands to a Global CEO: A leadership Discussion with Rachelle Croft
Rachelle Croft joined Scott Brady on the Overland Journal Podcast to discuss how women’s off-road rallies and international travel have helped shape her leadership and mindset. A veteran of the Rebelle Rally (including a 2019 win, 2020 second-place finish, and returning in 2025 as part of Toyota’s official 4Runner Trailhunter team), she detailed how the…
Easy on the Eyes: The Best Lighting for Every Campsite
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…
Roam Overlanding’s Adrian Abrahams on the Importance of Doing Your Overland Homework
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with South African overlander Adrian Abrahams to discuss his love of traveling in Namibia, and how nearly a decade of overlanding has shaped a new 4×4 shop endeavor in Cape Town, South Africa. Adrian also provides practical advice about visiting the country, including destination…
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,…
Kurt Williams Shares His World Expedition Travel Experiences and Lessons
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady chats with longtime friend and veteran overlander Kurt Williams. Kurt, a seasoned traveler known for his expertise with Land Cruisers and extensive global expeditions, discusses his adventures across six continents, including his latest trip through West Africa. Together, they delve into favorite travel memories,…
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…
Turning the Page: 2025’s Year End Wrap Up and Overland Highlights
Join hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott for the Overland Journal Podcast’s 2025 year-end review. They discuss a range of topics from personal adventures to industry trends, including Matt’s deep dive into classic cars, Scott’s monumental travel across Africa, and their experiences with various overland vehicles like the Grenadier and the Scout camper. They also…
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…
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…
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…
Journey of a Young Overlander: Peter Van Stralen’s Epic Adventures with XOverland
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady speaks with Peter van Stralen about their adventures together on the XOverland Apex series. They explore Peter’s background, early travels with his family, and his extensive journey through West Africa. Peter also shares insights on their creative process, the challenges of managing Type 1…
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…
The Last Drive: Twenty-one years of Landcruising Adventure
Photography by Coen Wubbels It’s pitch dark when we wake up. For minutes, complete silence surrounds us—until the coffee maker starts gurgling. I pour two mugs of steaming hot liquid to warm us up and fill the thermos for the road. Our 26-year-old Toyota Starlet is ready to go, loaded with a hundred of our…
Adventures in Namibia and Insights from Richard Giordano of Desk To Glory
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and Richard Giordano as they travel across the deserts of Namibia while discussing Richard’s journey from a small town in British Columbia to becoming an experienced overlander and professional in the industry. Discover the trials and triumphs of long-term travel, managing work-life balance on the road, and the…
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…