Overlanding seems to be the hot new topic in the camping and off-roading world, but what does this term really mean?
This concept has actually been around since the early 1900's but in the past few years vehicle based explorations has blossomed and the whole off grid life style has gained a strong following.
Wikipedia actually answers this question quite well:
"Overlanding is self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principal goal. Typically, but not exclusively, it is accomplished with mechanized off-road-capable transport (from bicycles to trucks) where the principal form of lodging is camping, often lasting for extended lengths of time (months to years) and spanning international boundaries."
The terms Overlanding and Off-roading tend to overlap and have a lot of similarities but unlike off-roading, overlanding usually involves long distance travel to remote or semi-remote locations. A weekend trip spent roasting marshmallows over a campfire, tackling obstacles, and conquering trails, as adventurous as it sounds, does not quite qualify as overlanding. The real-deal requires allowing yourself to go off-grid and venture into the truly unknown for days, weeks, months, and even years at a time, depending on the journey.
These types of trips can take weeks, months, even years to plan to make sure you are doing so in safe manor. You always want to leave a detailed travel plan with someone you trust and check in periodically that way those times that you are truly off the grid, someone knows where you can be found.
As this community grows there are a vast amount of group that document their journeys on YouTube and other social media platforms and there is an ever growing world of manufactures that supply products for any adventure you may want to go on.
