Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2023 Issue.  Camped beside a road in Ivory Coast, I filtered soupy rainwater from an old plastic barrel. I trusted my system but had to wonder—was the hard-working filter up to the task of removing chemicals, bacteria, and viruses? Was I hydrating my family with contaminated water despite my best…

Touratech-USA Announces a New Sterling Noren Film Grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and enjoy the ride. Sterling Noren is about to take you to Canada as no one else has. The noted filmmaker and adventure traveler has teamed with Touratech-USA on another off-pavement motorcycle travel film. Riding Solo AZ to BC follows the 2020 release of Noren’s Riding Solo, a…

Show notes for podcast #135 Principles of Overlanding: Exploring the African Continent Summary: Scott Brady, Graeme Bell, and Stephan Edwards discuss the joys of traveling the African continent, including a comprehensive discussion about the classic western and eastern routes. Additional details regarding documentation, vehicles, and cultural considerations are also covered, the group reflecting on the immense ecological and cultural beauty…

As both a consumer and a creator, I want to preface this article by stating that the content produced by Expedition Overland (XOverland) is truly outstanding. I can’t remember the last time I watched something on YouTube that inspired me on so many levels. The production value is genuinely astonishing, the storytelling keeps you hooked throughout, and the journey and…

Do you remember the Landwind X7 (you know, the Land Rover Evoque rip-off?). After a few years of litigation, a Beijing court, surprisingly, ruled that Landwind had copied five unique design elements of the Evoque and ordered a cease of production and sales as well as financial compensation to Jaguar Land Rover.  Now, Chinese SUV brand Jetour has released official…

Show notes for podcast #134 Interviewing the Unbreakable Vasilisa Komarova Summary:  In a special guest interview, Bruce Dorn spends time in Tulum, Mexico with Vasilisa Komarova – an adventure motorcyclist, physical therapist, and spiritual guide. They discuss Vasilisa’s early life in Russia, her emigration to the UK, and her decision to eschew convention to spend her life chasing adventure and…

Let’s face it, if a vehicle has a Toyota, Isuzu, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, or, indeed, a Nissan badge, there’s a good chance it’s just going to work. Japanese car manufacturing has become a byword for class-leading build quality and reliability. That’s not to say the vehicles produced by these companies are void of issues, but generally speaking, they’re very well…

Overland event season is slowly unfolding for 2023, and those lucky enough to live in the sunkissed land of Southern California get the benefit of some of the earliest meetups. Still snowbound in Montana, I can’t help but feel a little wistful for some warm breezes and gentle ocean currents this time of year. Super Pacific campers and Rhino Adventure…

I’ve shared a selection of rigs for under $10,000 recently, so it was about time I featured something 34 times more expensive. Cue today’s low-mileage (30,900 miles) $340,000 2018 EarthCruiser EXP #44, which is available directly from the company as part of their Certified Pre-Owned service. Sure, for most of us, that’s an incredible amount of money for a vehicle,…

Show notes for podcast #133 Ray and Marianne Hyland on Overlanding from London to Singapore in a 1954 Land Rover Summary:  If you’ve been to the Northwest, BC, or Rocky Mountain Overland Rallies, you’re likely familiar with owners Ray and Marianne Hyland and their three boys. In this podcast from the field, Senior Editor Ashley Giordano learns more about the…

Endak Hudson’s Range Rover Classic is one wonderful element of a broader, beautiful story. Dak (as he is known to his friends) and his sister were adopted by an Australian family nearly twenty years ago and relocated from Ethiopia to a new world of love and opportunity in a picturesque town called Lane Cove, a few miles northwest of Sydney,…

Riding a motorcycle around the world is thrilling, challenging, and liberating, and you are guaranteed an adventure full of opportunities to venture off the beaten track. Add a partner and three dogs to the mix, and you are guaranteed a journey overflowing with unique experiences. Australian couple Stu and Janell have been riding around the world on their BMW 650…

Show notes for podcast #132 Principles: The Classic Defender for Overlanding Travel Summary: Graeme Bell, Scott Brady, Stephan Edwards, and Matt Scott discuss the principles of selecting and modifying a classic Land Rover Defender for Overland Travel. We deep dive on drivetrain choices, model configurations and best practices for modifications learned while traveling in defenders on five continents.  Guest Bio:…

Photography by Richard Giordano Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2023 Issue.  When Chief Three Eagles, leader of the Salish peoples, first encountered the Lewis and Clark Expedition party in the wide valley of Ross’ Hole, Montana, in 1805, he was baffled. The men weren’t wearing any blankets. Had they been robbed? “Bring the best buffalo…

Show Notes for Podcast #131 Bruce Dorn on Saying Yes to Life and Adventure Summary: Matt Scott and Scott Brady interview longtime pal and fellow adventurer Bruce Dorn. Bruce shares his incredible story of saying yes to the serendipity and the meanderings of life. Bruce has documented adventures around the world as a still photographer and cinematographer. His career in…

Show Notes for Podcast #130 Walt Wagner on Building Toyotas for Extreme Overlanding Summary: Scott Brady interviews Walt Wagner of Tactical Application Vehicles, one of the premier overland builders in the United States. Walt’s history in government operations and passion for capability translates into some of the most impressive Toyotas, Rams, and UTV in the market. Guest Bio: Walt Wagner…

A new online auction marketplace, Overland Exchange, is set to revolutionize the overland vehicle market by providing a secure, user-friendly platform for buying and selling off-road vehicles. Founders Mitch Davis and Luke Motta created Overland Exchange after facing difficulties selling their off-road vehicles. Tired of being undersold by dealerships, spammed with irrelevant offers, and needing help to connect with the…

The sailboat heels hard to starboard, the wind gusting to gale force and prompting a further reduction in sail area. Despite the robust cockpit enclosure, several adjustments require clipping into the lifelines and maneuvering the foredeck. I move slowly toward the mast, the rain sheeting off my jacket, the hood guarding my face against the stinging torrent. We were crossing…

Show Notes for Podcast #129 2022 In Review: Vehicles, Gear, and Industry Updates Summary: Matt Scott and Scott Brady share their experiences from 2022, including project wrapups, new vehicles, the state of new overland models and EVs, and significant changes in the overland industry. They also chat about their favorite kit and some of their travel and vehicle plans for…

Lead photograph courtesy of Tucker Sno-Cat Archives. Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.  After decades of deliberation, I bought a snowcat a couple of years ago—a Kristi, manufactured in Denver about 1963. Powered by a 36-horsepower VW air-cooled motor, it had sat idle outdoors for over a decade. Perhaps the idea was seeded in boyhood…