Above: We made every effort to test each platform thoroughly, with evaluations occurring on five continents and over thousands of miles. While technical terrain performance is the most compelling (like testing the Defender in Namibia as shown), it is but one of six categories we scored. Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2021 Issue.   There…

After traveling 8,000 miles over six weeks through Western Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan, overland adventuresses Anne Davies, Eve Sims, and Antonia Deacock found themselves in Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s drawing room, poring over a large-scale map of the Himalayas laid on a soft white carpet. The “Inner Line,” a buffer state across India and…

I bought my first 35mm film camera from a charity shop on the outskirts of London for £20, a Canon AE-1, along with a note from the previous owner: ‘Take good care of me, I’ve been on many adventures, and hope to see many more’. It came into my life at a time when I was unhappy, lonely, and struggling…

Well, look what the cat dragged in—the ‘Jack Mac’ signature look. Make no mistake, when it comes to clothing, I take my styling cues from Stig of the Dump. I appreciate fashion and style, but honestly, I’m generally too busy spending every penny I earn on my hobbies or experiences.  I make an active effort to source as much clothing…

The Hyperlite Ultamid 2 is a portable palace targeted primarily at the hiking/bikepacking community and weighs just 534 grams (just over 1 pound, weight only includes perimeter guy lines). The optional insert adds an additional 626 grams but turns the tent into a four-season shelter (there are lighter inserts available on their website, including a half-insert). I’ve done plenty of…

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2020 Issue.   The Nordic countries have been ranked among the most successful on the planet and for good reason. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark have arguably the happiest, most-satisfied, longest-living people, and a sublime natural world to escape to. And they escape to nature often—not just when the…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #35 Principles of Overlanding: Recovery Part 2 Summary: Principles of Overlanding: Vehicle Recover Part 2, where Scott Brady, Matt Scott, and Jim West continue their discussion about the critical equipment and techniques of recovery for the overland traveler. This Episode is Supported By: Danner Boots About Jim West: Jim is a retired Fire Fighter/Paramedic based…

Are you tired of the nine-to-five? Is the work printer still being uncooperative despite the latest firmware? Want to travel but mislaid the keys to the superyacht? Desperate to see the world but living on a shoestring? (I’ve told you to stop eating those, ugh). Well, amigo, it might be time to take a seat, grab yourself one of those…

The Best Overland Trailers of 2020 I began considering the utility of an overland trailer while I was still traveling full-time in my RV, and here’s why. In the RV, I was frequently debating if I should leave the pavement, the lurking fear of needing to back down an off-camber dirt road ever present in the back of my mind….

One platform I’m surprised I don’t see more of in the expedition and full-time, live-in vehicle ranks is the humble ambulance. After checking out a few of these rigs in person, I think it’s fair to say that the unassuming, boxy silhouette doesn’t convey this platform’s potential. This particular ambulance was found in Denver, Colorado, with low mileage by designer…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #34 Principles of Overlanding: Recovery Part 1 Summary: Principles of Overlanding: Vehicle Recover Part 1, where Scott Brady, Matt Scott, and Jim West discuss the critical terms and fundamentals of recovery for the overland traveler.   About Jim West: Jim is a retired Fire Fighter/Paramedic based out of Phoenix, AZ. He represented the USA…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #33 Interview with Kurt Williams, overlander, Baja Champion, and the Land Cruiser Whisperer Summary: For this interview, Scott chats with overlander Kurt Williams of Cruiser Outfitters about travel around the globe, racing Land Cruisers, building Land Cruiser, and the joys of international overland adventures.   Host Bios:  Scott Brady Scott is the publisher and…

Here is a unique expedition vehicle with an impressive amount of custom work and upgrades. It recently showed up in the Expedition Portal forum, and we immediately knew we had to give it a feature. It’s a custom pop-top Defender titled as a 1972 Series-88 diesel, but the original frame was rotted and replaced with a galvanized 100-inch Discovery frame….

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Christian M. Simon and Phoebe P. Simon      Are you planning to overland? Will you cover significant distances and camp in remote places, maybe accompanied by kids, pets, kayaks? Have you invested in a rig with still-unfamiliar anatomical parts such as recovery points, solar controllers, and onboard air? Then you are a lot…

Western Mountaineering Flash Hooded Jacket With colder temperatures settling into the Northern Hemisphere, a lightweight down jacket makes a great holiday gift that can be used day in and day out. And the Flash hooded jacket from Western Mountaineering is that jacket. This California-based company manufactures down garments and sleeping bags of the highest quality. Their dedication to sourcing humanely…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #32 Planning Your First Overland Journey Summary: For this Principles of Overlanding, Matt and Scott review the fundamentals of planning your first overlanding trip, including basic equipment, vehicle modifications, and route selection. Host Bios:  Scott Brady Scott is the publisher and co-founder of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal and is often credited with popularizing overlanding in North America….

On the back cover of her book, Road to Mekong, Jai Bharathi stands in a black motorcycle jacket, one foot propped up on the footpeg of her Bajaj Dominar 400 motorbike. Her look is casual, but Jai is anything but. This woman is a force. From the South Indian city of Hyderabad, Jai’s first experience riding a motorized vehicle was…

The well-known (and loved) Slimline II roof rack system from Front Runner Outfitters is now available with specific fitment for the new Land Rover Defender 110. “Front Runner’s addition of the Land Rover New Defender 110 Slimline II Roof Rack Kit is a nod to the heritage of overlanding and early adventurers that utilized the original Defender platform for off-road…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #31 Interview from the Field with Jon Turner: Engineer, Overland Traveler, and International Businessman Summary: From the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, Scott Brady interviews Jon Turner, accomplished expedition camper engineer, traveler, and global business leader. Guest Bio: Jon Turner Jon is the Founder and Chief Engineer of Nimbl Vehicles. A lifetime traveler with…

The first annual Panhandle Overland Rally was held this past weekend from October 2-4, 2020, in the idyllic, forested Mountain Mafia Off-Road Park, 10 miles north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and approximately the same distance from the Canadian border. About 200 overlanders descended from all over to a privately owned alpine spread covering nearly 100 acres, conveniently bisected with numerous…