Overland Journal Gear Guide 2024

ON THE ROAD AGAIN My family attempted the Pan-Am in 2020, and once Covid-19 shut us down, we started to build Legos to pass the time. I built this set right when [Scott Brady’s] sailing episode of the podcast came out. Now that we’re packing up to have another go at traveling south, I thought it might be a fun way to pass an hour or two. I hope you enjoy it. I’ve been following [Scott] since the Expeditions West days, and it’s been awesome to see all [he’s] done. My family is a huge fan of the podcast, and we’ve learned so much and been inspired by all of the amazing guests. I hope to see you at the Overland Expo in a couple of years when we get…

DAN GREC Dan Grec is an adventurer, photographer, and videographer. Growing up in Australia, family camping trips gave Dan a passion for wilderness exploration in remote destinations. After studying and working as an engineer, Dan left it all behind in search of a more vibrant life, setting out to turn his dreams of grand adventure into reality. Over a decade and a half Dan has driven his vehicles to the wild and remote corners of 56 countries across five continents, documenting what he sees and learns as he sinks into local cultures. With no end in sight, Dan is now outfitting a vehicle for four-season travel to colder regions of the planet. @theroadchoseme WILL RITCHIE Will Ritchie is a freelance writer with a “day job” in the bicycle industry. As…

The Grenadier is starting to arrive in consumers’ hands in several markets worldwide, including Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Southern Africa (among others). Along with that comes rapid innovation of aftermarket accessories to complement this much-anticipated overland platform. Front Runner was one of the first to bring products to market, including their Slimline II full and 3/4 racks with a long list of accessories. We have been fortunate to get access to a Grenadier for a Trans-Africa adventure and needed to add a few items to prepare it for the task. Primarily, we needed a 3/4 rack that would allow full use of the safari windows for game drives and serve as a platform to mount MaxTrax, 40 liters of fuel, and a camp table. Given that the…

EXPED MEGA PILLOW | $55 I’ve tried all sorts of camp pillows—down, foam, inflatables—and the Mega pillow was the first not to leave me with a good-morning crick in the neck. It provides ample support without being too firm, thanks to its adjustability. The padded aircore pillow with near-vertical sidewalls is quick to inflate and covered with soft tricot nylon, insulated with polyester fleece padding in the air core. At 6.5 ounces, it packs down small (5.1 x 3.9 inches) and inflates to 20.9 x 12.6 x 4.7 inches. Fabric eyelets allow you to attach it to a mat, though I prefer to move my pillow throughout the night, adapting the height as I go with the deflation pin on the inflate valve. It also has a removable, washable cover…

way-far-er /'wāferər/ noun a traveler, especially on foot Portable water filters are common kit among backpackers and other travelers of the remote backcountry. Rugged, reliable, and usually field serviceable, they take the guesswork out of securing a clean water supply. The most highly effective among carbon ceramics filters eliminate up to 99.9999 percent of harmful bacteria, not to mention protozoa, parasites, and other larger waterborne nasties. However, as LifeSaver will tell you, there is a big difference between a water filter and a water purifier. A purifier takes the level of filtration one step further—eliminating smaller health threats like viruses and cysts. The LifeSaver Wayfarer, launched in early 2023, falls into the latter category. This compact and lightweight (just 11.4 ounces) hollow-fiber-membrane purifier is made from BPA-free plastic and costs…

Since our overland vehicle is also a daily driver, packing and preparing for spontaneous trips has been cumbersome. My family is forced to choose between comfort, preparedness, and the simple ease of minimalism. In the last decade, a new class of capable overland camp trailers has mitigated this trade-off. We now store all of our overland and backcountry gear in our trailer, meaning last-minute, unplanned departures are as simple as hitching the trailer and heading out. Our trailer keeps the whole family comfortable and gives us some of the benefits of a dedicated overland vehicle but with less depreciation and maintenance. And when we leave camp to explore, we appreciate being able to detach from the trailer for excursions even farther into the wilderness. With lightweight materials, high clearance, and…