In 1955, six Oxford and Cambridge university graduates set out to make history by driving 19,000 miles from London to Singapore in two 86-inch Land Rover station wagons. Prior to departure, the team approached a BBC producer named David Attenborough for film reels, which were transformed into Attenborough’s Travellers’ Tales, a television series that aired after the expedition’s successful completion. I’m sure…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2022 Issue.  Whether we’re living out of our vehicle, checking into an Airbnb, staying with friends, working on assignment, or are stationed at the Overland Journal headquarters, we move around a lot, so a multi-functional toiletry kit that can do anything and everything is essential. More eloquently referred to as…

Xcalak pronounced “ish-ka-lak” is a town that sits about 40 miles south of Mahahaul beach, or a seven-hour drive from Cancun, and is thankfully mostly ignored by the hordes of tourists visiting the wild Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo in Mexico, due to the remoteness of the village. The MesoAmerican Barrier Reef is the second longest reef in the world…

The awkwardly named Specialty Equipment Market Association is holding its annual bash in Las Vegas. It is one of the largest showcases of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories on the planet, which is why we generally eschew its full title for the shorter and instantly recognizable, SEMA. However, SEMA isn’t just for the aftermarket any more. Over the last decade…

Show Notes for Podcast #116 Ferenc and Evelin of Overland Site on Rallying, the Silk Road, and Overlanding China in a 2006 Prado Summary: Hungarian overlanders Ferenc and Evelin traveled from Budapest to Singapore for four years in their 2006 Land Cruiser Prado. In this podcast from the field, senior editor Ashley Giordano learns about multi-country rallies, tips for traveling…

Special Edition Beast28 Helium Ultralight Frame Pack I remember backpacking with my first frame pack 30 years ago. It weighed almost more than the sum of its contents, was extremely cumbersome, and I would almost topple over when hoisting it onto my back. Granted, I may have packed too much stuff, but the Beast28 Helium ultralight frame pack, which weighs…

Photography by Richard Giordano, Nicole Dreon, Regine Trias, and Tim Sutton There is a special time just before the Rebelle Rally begins, before more than 50 teams take off from the start line, arrive at the first base camp, and prior to the highly anticipated finale in California’s Imperial sand dunes. Competitors gradually trickle into the technical inspection site—some after…

Show notes for podcast #115 Amanda Zito on Embracing a Life of Adventure and Facing Anxiety Along the Way Summary: Scott Brady interviews the inspiring Amanda Zito, solo adventure motorcycle traveler that has embraced the road less traveled. Amanda shares her process of facing anxiety and the challenges of finding her way through the wilderness of life.   Guest Bio:…

GMC debuted its all-electric 2024 GMC Sierra Denali EV today with a claimed 400 miles of range, 754 horsepower, 787 pound-feet of torque, and 800V DC fast charging at up to 350 kilowatts. Starting at an MSRP of $107,000, the all-new Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will be available for pre-order at 5:00 pm EDT on October 20, 2022. Deliveries…

The jungle has evolved with one purpose alone—consumption and renewal. Of all the terrain on earth, it is the tropical jungle that is most determined to devour you as it devours every living thing in the pursuit of its survival and prosperity. It helps to think of the jungle as an enormous, beautiful predator, an ecosystem that feeds on the…

  Show notes for podcast #114 Emily Miller discusses Morocco, Navigation, and Rebelle Rally Summary:  Emily Miller sits down with Ashley Giordano and discusses travel through Morocco, understanding land navigation and opens up about the Rebelle Rally.     Guest Bio: Emily Miller was the first woman to drive the Vegas to Reno race solo. She also clinched part of…

iKamper’s Second Annual Sky Camp will take place from October 21 to 23, 2022 at SongDog Ranch, just north of Santa Barbara, California. It’s an opportunity for the iKamper community to get together and enjoy the company of like-minded people. “Nestled in SoCal’s Ballinger Canyon, the event offers 80 miles of off-road trails, live music, food cooked by the iKamper…

Ladies, if you want to fall in love and be loved back, head to Klim for Artemis gear and wrap yourselves in luxury and safety as you ride. I was already impressed upon unpacking the jacket and pant set in peyote/potter’s clay, the beautiful desert colors of where I live. The look at feel of the materials is undoubtedly constructed…

An Argentine beauty once sold me a fan bearing which I was forced to change under the hot Bolivian sun at 12,000 feet. I almost did not achieve the repair because I lacked two tools: the other half of the two-part fan unique tool and a No. 12 Allen key. Now, I know you want to know all about the…

The backcountry is a necessity for me. It offers salvation, quiet stillness, and a childlike wonder when all of life’s chaos gets too loud. But even here, out amongst the evergreens and birch trees, the granite cliffs and red clays, peaceful serenity isn’t guaranteed. The air can be punctured by internal-combustion motors. When that happens, my quiet vanishes, and I…

 In 2021, Ashley Giordano documented the impressive build specifications of “Badass Brunette,” aka Cristin Whetten’s 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. This purposeful rig incorporates the essentials and little else and is designed specifically to facilitate Cristin’s epic adventures. Ashley explains, “Whether she’s skydiving, jumping out of helicopters in a giraffe onesie, or riding her Yamaha TT-R230, at the end of…

Show notes for podcast #112 Andrew and Courtney of Tsavo Touring on Overlanding with a Toddler and Learning From Multiple Vehicle Platforms Summary: Andrew, Courtney, and John are a US-based overlanding family whose sights are set on the Pan-Am Highway. In this podcast from the field, senior editor Ashley Giordano talks with Andrew and Courtney about their experiences with various…

Heike, a German national who considers herself a global citizen, has been traveling solo around the world for the past nine years, first on her bicycle and then, more recently, walking with a pushcart and her adopted Mexican dog, Butch.  Heike first found herself cycling from Germany to Australia in 2013 after leaving her job as a camera operator for…

As travelers prepare to return to international travel, many will likely forget to pack their over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Many more will forget to check the international rules and regulations for common medicines easily obtained in their home countries—but possibly not allowed overseas.  Trip-takers consistently list “forgetting to pack prescription and over-the-counter medicine” as one of the top 10 travel…

Rivian Introduces New Camp Mode Feature Rivian’s latest R1T and R1S software update introduces Camp mode, which offers users additional options for exploring the outdoors. The new features include vehicle leveling using the vehicle’s air suspension, flood lights (located on each side view mirror), and a camp courtesy setting, which turns off exterior lights, vehicle sounds, proximity lock/unlock, and the…