Overlanding has become a very popular segment for a few years now, but as we know, many companies have been offering car camping options for longer than most of us have been around. Looking back at history, it looks like Henry Ford may have actually started the craze in 1917 by offering his first truck with a 1-ton capacity! (Source: …

Necessity is the mother of invention, and quite often, the best-selling products offer solutions to everyday problems. I’d not heard of Rumpl Blankets before writing this piece, but within 10 minutes, I was sold. Rumpl began their journey “in the back of a van,” where on a surf/ski trip through California, the founders awoke to freezing temperatures and a van…

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…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #39 Interview with Justin and Kyra of Westx1000 on living remote, exploring Japan, and doing more with less Summary: We interview Justin Coffey and Kyra Sacdalan of Westx1000 about living remotely, exploring the lost villages of Japan, riding motorcycles, and the joys of adventuring with less. Justin and Kyra have spent years facilitating a…

There have been a lot of highlights in my life since I started this crazy journey with Expedition Portal and Overland Journal. But to this day, one of the most memorable and fun experiences I can remember has been the opportunity to test drive an AEV Jeep with a Hemi conversion and manual transmission. I drove it on a day-long…

Words By Lisa Morris, photography by Jason Spafford.   Before setting off on your next getaway, road trip, or vacation of a lifetime, you may be in a quandary as to which camera to invest in. Do you really need to spend $5,000 on a professional camera with an array of lenses, a complete set of ND filters, a tripod,…

Food, water, and coffee. The triumvirate of life. I wouldn’t say I was addicted to coffee, only that without my morning espresso, I’m completely unable to function—often not sure who I am, where I belong, or what day it is. On my bicycle tour from John O’Groats to Lands End, I packed a heavy stove-top espresso maker—enough said. Anyway, whilst…

Show notes for episode 38 Principles of Overlanding: Tires and Wheels Summary: Matt and Scott review the different considerations for tire selection, including tread pattern, compound, and size. For wheels, they review the critical attribute of backspacing, along with the pros and cons of steel vs aluminum. This episode sponsored in part by: https://beyondclothing.com/​ https://iconlifesaver.com/ Show notes:  Fundamentals: Wheel construction…

Based in Oroville, California, West Coast Adventure Vehicles believes that their campervan conversions “have the power to save our favorite, wild spaces.” It’s a bold statement, but when you consider the impact that even just a few small groups can have on a campsite, trampling vegetation underfoot or under tents, you can start to see the point West Coast is…

This 36-Hours of Adventure is presented by Nimbl Vehicles. Nimbl also provided a loan of their Evolution camper, which we used for this journey. Curiously, one of the last significant unexplored regions of North America was the Sierra Pinacate, a vast desert of lava and sand stretching from Southern Arizona to the Sea of Cortez. That map was not filled…

Show notes for episode 38 Winter Vehicle Test Update (TRX, Ducati, Frontier, and Royal Enfield) Summary: Matt and Scott discuss their recent vehicle tests, including the new Ram TRX, the Ducati Multistrada V4S, and the Royal Enfield 650 INT. They also give insights on the exciting new Nissan Frontier, and getting started with Matt’s Ram 2500 AEV project vehicle. This…

When you think of Harley Davison motorcycles, do you imagine mud, sand, and mountain roads? Do you think of straight-lining up a sandy slope, or drifting a dirt corner? No? Well, you should because Harley Davidson just added Adventure Touring to their website, where you’ll find the newly revealed Pan America 1250. If you are now trying to picture a…

No one foresaw becoming a shutterbug stuck at home. As we bide our time through a strange, new “normal,” we must make the most of what we’ve got—in the comfort of our home and on our doorstep. In such unprecedented times, more than ever, we need a creative outlet for ourselves. In the UK, while Boris curbs our boundaries and…

Photo: Christina Tkacs   It’s been a long day. The sun is sinking low, and camp is still 30 miles away. One rider drags behind, struggling to keep pace. Fortunately, the ride leader is counting heads at every turn, but tension mounts as darkness approaches.  If you ride off road, chances are you’ve been “that guy” at least once. Will…

There are very few vehicle accessory companies with such a long-standing reputation for quality as KC Hilites. Moreover, the designs and performance of their latest products have overlanders like me transfixed, jaw agape, breathless like a deer in Flex Era 4 spots! I remember purchasing my VW Syncro and immediately (childishly) investing in four cheap spotlights to make it look…

Africa, the Mother Continent, home to the largest variety of people, languages, wildlife, flora and fauna on our sublime planet. The African continent from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn is not one large, moist and humid jungle. Most of northern Africa is desert as is much of the south, but to a much lesser extent. Casablanca…

Show notes for episode 36 Summary: Join Matt and Scott as they discuss the overland industry challenges and opportunities of 2020, along with their favorite overlanding equipment, 4WDs, and motorcycles. 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. His travels by 4WD…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #36 Summary:  Matt and Scott discuss the overland industry challenges and opportunities of 2020, along with our favorite overlanding equipment, 4wds, and motorcycles. Show Notes: Matt   1. Your favorite truck of 2020 – RAM TRX 2. Your favorite SUV… – Land Rover Defender Camper or Trailer OTY – Earthroamer 3. Favorite ADV moto……

Giampiero’s Defender, on the desolate tracks of Xinjiang near Hami.   It was early September. After months of organizing, preparation, group calls, and visa applications, it was still an arresting moment to exit Mongolia and drive through the barriers at the Chinese border. To drive from Europe to China still seemed inconceivable, even though we were right in the middle…

Overlanding the world has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Initially, my dreams started out quite small and humble—biking through Europe. Then they morphed into motorbiking all across the USA. This dream, fed on a steady diet of Instagram feeds, blogs, and various magazines, grew to the point that I imagined my wife and…