Overlander Life

The overland life is all about community. It's the people that drive the passion. But don't get us wrong - we love our gear and our vehicles, too. We get that warm fuzzy feeling when we see the killer rigs you folks are building with products and support from Overlander.

As Overland Expo kicks off this week, it has me dreaming about all the possible upgrades and enhancements I can make to my new overland rig. Undoubtedly, there will be a whole slew of shiny new products clogging the vendor expo promising to simplify, or - depending on how you look at it - complicate your overland life. The overland industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years, and though it's been experiencing some growing pains lately, the innovation and creative thinking we've seen in the space has been close to mind-boggling. It's your love of adventure travel that's driven so much of that innovation, as manufacturers strive to offer lighter, tougher, and more environmentally conscious products for every kind of overlander out there, from the van crowd to the moto-heads. Overall, it's a win for everyone.

Particularly when it comes to power management and electronics our rigs have become mobile power stations that allow us to live off the grid for weeks at a time. Robust suspension systems, killer tire technology, and recovery devices, like Warn winches, get us to those back of beyond places nearly unheard of in decades past (as always, with Tread Lightly! principles in mind). Lighter, stronger, faster, as the saying goes in the engineering world. 

Of course, there is still room for the old standbys. The basic design of the soft-sided roof top tent hasn't changed in nearly a century - a testament to its usefulness and stability. You still need containers to carry fuel and water, and almost nothing works as well as the tried and true "NATO-style" jerry can, like those from Wavian. The portable 12 volt fridge has seen some excellent upgrades in recent years, like bluetooth connectivity,and hyper-efficient compressors, but the principle remains the same. Nothing like a cold beverage at the end of a long day on the trail thanks to your trusty fridge. 

So, what gear and products from Overlander have inspired you to build out the rig of your dreams?

Share the love, and show us what you've been working on! Drop a comment below with a link to a photo archive, a website, Instagram page, or other media and inspire the rest of us. We'll feature a few of your builds in future blog posts.