This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2020 issue.  The year was 1911, and Roald Amundsen had just arrived at the South Pole. Roald was known for his pedantic nature and the extreme lengths he went to in testing equipment prior to an expedition. His stove of choice was the Primus, and it not only helped feed him…

The Overland Journal Podcast #18 Principles of Overlanding :: What is Overlanding? Summary: For this Principles of Overlanding, Scott and Matt discuss the history of the term “overland,” and how to properly define it within the context of experience, with input from a large quorum of other overland travelers. They also pose a series of questions to help provide a…

“Like most people, I have let my dreams lay dormant, finding every excuse not to take the first step, whether it be money, time, or inevitable responsibilities. In pursuing this trek, I want to prove that people have more agency than they think—that they have more power over their path than society may lead them to believe. In taking my…

Breaking a world record takes creativity, ingenuity, and—in the case of the Baikal Project—at least one Irishman with unstoppable perseverance. In February 2019, Declan McEvoy arrived at the Russian border from Estonia with his motorcycle. He had with him the necessary documents for entry: temporary vehicle import papers, passport, and visa. Friendly border patrol officers helped him through the process…

Sometimes the truck of your dreams is the one right in front of you

“What do you mean the boat is late? How late?” A combination of mechanical delays, bad weather, and agent apathy meant that our 1954 Land Rover (Series 1, 86-inch station wagon) was going to arrive a month late in the UK. This set the tone for two things that happened over and over on our trip: every time we put…

Expedition Portal Exclusive: Front Runner Outfitters Gives the New Land Rover Defender an Aftermarket Upgrade South African overland brand releases roof rack kit for the 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 The 2020 Defender has created a tremendous buzz in recent months, the anticipation building since concept models were teased nearly a decade ago. Now that the world has seen the…

Prologue: Namibia “Yeah, it’s leaking oil pretty good.” I’m yelling from underneath a well-outfitted Land Rover Defender 110, trying to overcome the clattering of an idling 300Tdi motor. Early on as a professional archaeologist, I learned just to accept the vehicle you get when you get there and get working. We were somewhere in Namibia’s Sperrgebiet, not too far north…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2019. I can still remember the smell of the horse shashlik, a tub of meat and indecipherable seasonings that we pulled from a freezer in the remote Russian village of Kosh-Agach. The only way I knew it was horse meat was from the line-art drawing of an equine on the lid,…

(Editor’s Note: Expedition Portal was fortunate to actually see the Defender in person a month ago, sit in it, and explore every corner of the finished vehicle. These are our thoughts having experienced it in the flesh.) Today is a significant moment for North American overland travelers, as Land Rover launches the new Defender to the world. In recent memory,…

Few topics that pique the adventurer’s imagination as venturing into the planet’s wild and remote locales. Throughout the epoch of time, the human spirit has drawn these rugged individuals to the far corners of the earth in an attempt to sail, hike, or drive to where others have yet to venture. This year marks the 50th anniversary of such an…

Autohome tents have been a stalwart of the overlanding community for over 60 years, and are often credit as one of the first roof tent companies to offer backcountry-suitable models. With the explosion of the popularity of roof tents in North America, Autohome needed to expand their dealer network and service to include the east coast. OK4WD is one of…

What is it about adventure that stirs our souls? What irresistible facet has managed to lure travelers away from their homes for centuries, and inspired countless expeditions to nearly every corner of the globe? Is it the freedom of escaping our daily lives, a desire to seek out something greater than ourselves, or perhaps just some ancient animal instinct driving…

Packboat is my made-up word for easily portable boats that roll into a bag but deploy in minutes, in contrast with hardshell kayaks or canoes in aluminum, plastic, or composite. I’m here to suggest that if lugging a cumbersome hardshell on your overland rig isn’t for you, then a packboat weighing from 2 to 40 pounds and never bigger than…

There has always been something about distant places that resonates deeply within the adventurer.

In the early hours of April 30, 1948, a tall man, anxious and out of place, stood next to a peculiar little car on the exhibition floor of the Amsterdam Auto Show. Only 27 years old, passersby could not have known, nor would have guessed, that he was largely responsible for its creation. Wearing an unfamiliar placard, it was unlike…

When you first start overlanding, the journey itself is the goal, but we have found that having a purpose behind your travels can enhance the experience even more. Your hobbies reflect who you are, so weaving those passions and interests into your journey will ensure that you enrich your life and take your skills to the next level. The following…

We’ve all got them, those treasured playlists we save for kicking up dust on our favorite backcountry trail, or hammering out long miles on some grand trip. They might be filled with throwback tunes from the ’70’s or a modern mashup of electric funk, but their rhythms are like a narration to our adventures, and the beats a constant companion…

As we head further into the summer season and our adventures grow in grandeur and danger, we want to make sure safety is top of mind. One crucial aspect of that is medical evacuation insurance, and thus we’re bringing Christophe’s article back to our front page. We hope you find it as informative and helpful as we did! – Chris…

When it comes to overland gear, North America has been playing catchup for the last decade. The trickle of products started with a few rooftop tents, followed by fridge/freezers, a torrent of off-road trailers, and finally a few innovative pop-top truck shells. All of this culminated into a pretty healthy menu of four-wheel drive fare, but there’s still one segment…