February 7, 2024

"Overlanding" defined

Here you go. The following is a full and somewhat elaborate definition from "Overland Journal".
Overlanding describes self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal. Typically, but not exclusively, accommodated by mechanized off-highway 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 often spanning international boundaries.

While expedition is defined as a journey with a purpose, overlanding sees the journey as the purpose.

Overlanding is about exploration, rather than conquering obstacles. While the roads and trails we travel might be rough or technically challenging, they are the means to an end, not the goal itself. The goal is to see and learn about our world, whether on a weekend trip 100 miles from home or a 10,000-mile expedition across another continent. The vehicle and equipment can be simple or extravagant - they, too, are simply means to an end.

Outside Magazine defines overlanding as "backpacking out of a vehicle".

Another short definition is "any type of self-reliant travel with the primary goal of going to remote destinations." This definition would include backpacking, and perhaps it should.

I personally find all of these definitions useful and I don't fuss much over exactly what overlanding is or isn't. If someone wants to camp on one definition and tell me and/or others that they are not really overlanding -- well who cares really?

How is overlanding different from "car camping"? Well sometimes car camping is overlanding. Sometimes it ain't. If you are driving paved roads in a sedan between developed campsites and pulling gear out of your trunk, I would be hard pressed to call that overlanding. However -- if the purpose of the trip is exploration, the spirit of overlanding is there!

How is overlanding different from "wheelin'"? A lot of people go on day trips with 4x4 vehicles and they very well may be exploring. Is camping really required to call it "overlanding"? I would be reluctant to call it overlanding if the main goal is the actual "wheeling" rather than exploring, and the absence of self contained camping sort of hammers the nail.

What is probably true is that use of the term is in flux, definitions are being formed and reformed. Overlanding is a "hot thing" right now (in 2024) and many people are eager to jump on board and claim the label.

Money

Can you buy your way into the overlanding game? It might seem so, especially if overlanding is all about owning a suitably equiped vehicle. My own cynicism kicks into high gear when I start looking at it in this way. Overlanding is cool and outfits see that they can market their services and products as a path to overlanding. Buy a certain vehicle and equip it with a roof top tent, aftermarket bumper, lots of extra lights and you will at least look like an overlander. This is true of any hobby where gear is involved.

The heart of the issue

The heart lies in heart of the person. Do you want to do stuff? In particular, do you want to explore out of the way places? Is all that equipment the end itself or a means to an end?

I bought my 1973 Scout back in 1974 and I was "overlanding" before I ever knew what it was. I never did much to customize the vehicle, I just did stuff. We once did a trip roaming Arizona, Nevada, and eastern California with our goal being to travel as much as possible on dirt roads and not on major highways. We were not out to challenge ourselves with 4x4 situations. We just wanted to be off the beaten path and dealt with various situations that arose. We were self contained, camping the whole time, and a big part of the trip was visiting mining areas we had never been to and exploring abandoned mines. The old Scout served us well, and was a means to and end, and having "cred" with other people was the furthest thing from our minds.

Gatekeeping

My son brought up this word in relation to the current talk about what overlanding is. Gatekeeping is one group trying to enforce their ideas about who is entitled to use a certain word. In particular, they try to enforce who is allowed to claim membership in some group. You aren't a "real birder" or "real climber" or "real fan" unless you do certains things. Well this is just part of human nature, albeit a rather ugly part.
You can find a multitude of definitions online, here is one:
Gatekeeping is when someone uses a hobby or interest as a means of elevating themselves above others to give oneself a sense of being superior, transforming their passion or knowledge about a particular subject into an ugly tool of self-inflation.

Freedom

I enjoy camping. For as long as I remember I have tried to find my own places to camp. Having a 4x4 vehicle opens up lots of options. Having good navigational skills opens up even more options. I won't tell you all my tricks. In general, you can rely on the general laziness of most humans. They aren't willing to do homework, learn new skills, carry a pack with overnight gear, or drive bad roads. And the ones who do these things are in general people I am glad to run into when I do encounter them.
Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's Auto repair pages / tom@mmto.org