Definition of Overlanding

[Chill]

So...I’m new here and if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread. But I wanted to get some thoughts on how other people define overlanding. My buddies and I recently had a disagreement on what we felt it was and I’ve come to realize that it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined to just one single thing. So what’s overlanding look like for you? Thanks!!

 

[trail_runn4r]

So...I’m new here and if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread. But I wanted to get some thoughts on how other people define overlanding. My buddies and I recently had a disagreement on what we felt it was and I’ve come to realize that it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined to just one single thing. So what’s overlanding look like for you? Thanks!!

Why don't you start telling us what is your and your friends definition?

 

[Billiebob]

if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread

someone please do it lol
better yet, use the search function

which might bring up this.....

Overlanding is: "Vehicle Dependent Travel". Nothing else. We will not further define "overlanding".

Overland Bound, founding principles, item number one. Pretty straight forward, and clearly of good intent. For the record I don't think "Overlanding" CAN be defined beyond that. Now here we are today. the hobby having enjoyed exponential growth over the last few years, this forum being...

www.overlandbound.com

altho one could debate the need for a vehicle

 

[Anak]

Bring out the dead horse!!


Overlanding is the $64 word for camping.

 

[Correus]

Bring out the dead horse!!


Overlanding is the $64 word for camping.

Uhm... didn't you mean the $64,000 question?

 

[Chill]

So...I’m new here and if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread. But I wanted to get some thoughts on how other people define overlanding. My buddies and I recently had a disagreement on what we felt it was and I’ve come to realize that it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined to just one single thing. So what’s overlanding look like for you? Thanks!!

Why don't you start telling us what is your and your friends definition?

I realize now that probably no one will answer my question straight out, and that’s okay. It’s a tough thing to define and the whole thing has been commercialized to death that it’s tough to even use the word anymore. I agree that it can be simplified to “vehicle dependent transportation” and I also believe there should be a strong emphasis on transportation or travel over land. The rub between me and one of my buddies came when he began to define it as...drive to a campsite and set up “base camp” for the weekend. I love the outdoors and that can certainly be fun but I don’t feel like I’m “overlanding” if I could drive a Prius to that same spot and just camp for a few days and then drive home. That’s car camping to me. I could be way off here and that’s why I’m asking. Hoping that this community cares enough to contribute meaningful dialogue with a new guy. If not...then I’ll be quiet or move along.

 

[Chill]

if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread

someone please do it lol
better yet, use the search function

which might bring up this.....

Overlanding is: "Vehicle Dependent Travel". Nothing else. We will not further define "overlanding".

Overland Bound, founding principles, item number one. Pretty straight forward, and clearly of good intent. For the record I don't think "Overlanding" CAN be defined beyond that. Now here we are today. the hobby having enjoyed exponential growth over the last few years, this forum being...

www.overlandbound.com

altho one could debate the need for a vehicle

Very interesting thread. Thanks!

 

[Correus]

My definition of 'overlanding' isn't the most popular. The following sums up what I think defines 'overlanding'.

When looking at all of these keep in mind that these people did not have, or use, all the fancy gear and gadgets many seem to 'need' today.

Books - look them up:

First Overland: London-Singapore by Land Rover ~ Tim Slessor

12,000 Miles by Land Rover: From Brazil to Canada ~ Mary Orr

Cape to Cairo: The Record of a Historic Motor Journey ~ Stella Court Treatt

Crossing the Congo: Over Land and Water in a Hard Place ~ Charlie Hatch-Barnwell

Sahara Handbook ~ Simon and Jan Glen

The Sahara is Yours: a Handbook for Desert Travellers ~ Jon Stevens

The Hyland family - I think he is one of the founding members here. Article and video below.

London to Singapore: Epic Family Road Trip in an Old Land Rover

London to Singapore: Epic Family Road Trip in an Old Land Rover

Could you survive a nine-month road trip with your family? The Hyland family of five drove from London to Singapore in a 1954 Land Rover. They took the family road trip to all new heights!

gearjunkie.com

 

[Correus]

I realize now that probably no one will answer my question straight out, and that’s okay. It’s a tough thing to define and the whole thing has been commercialized to death that it’s tough to even use the word anymore. I agree that it can be simplified to “vehicle dependent transportation” and I also believe there should be a strong emphasis on transportation or travel over land. The rub between me and one of my buddies came when he began to define it as...drive to a campsite and set up “base camp” for the weekend. I love the outdoors and that can certainly be fun but I don’t feel like I’m “overlanding” if I could drive a Prius to that same spot and just camp for a few days and then drive home. That’s car camping to me. I could be way off here and that’s why I’m asking. Hoping that this community cares enough to contribute meaningful dialogue with a new guy. If not...then I’ll be quiet or move along.

You and I think a lot alike it seems.

 

[grubworm]

. Hoping that this community cares enough to contribute meaningful dialogue with a new guy. If not...then I’ll be quiet or move along.

Don't take it the wrong way, Chill. There have been a few somewhat "heated" discussions about the definition of "overlanding" and if you ask 10 different people, you will get 11 different answers. Hopefully you will get involved and share your views and opinions with us and I'm sure down the road someone else will ask the same question and by then you'll see that there really isn't a straight answer.
Nothing to do with you or anyone being new. Hell, we are all new to something on here. Just jump in and share your thoughts....

 

[bgenlvtex]

SNIP*****it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined *******SNIP

winner winner chicken dinner

Welcome

 

[M Rose]

So...I’m new here and if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread. But I wanted to get some thoughts on how other people define overlanding. My buddies and I recently had a disagreement on what we felt it was and I’ve come to realize that it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined to just one single thing. So what’s overlanding look like for you? Thanks!!

Overland Bound Founding Principles

Welcome! I'm Michael and I accidentally created Overland Bound. I'm a backwoods country bumpkin from a town of 360 people. Seriously, my grade school was 70 kids TOTAL. My mom was the school nurse. We walked to the country store a mile away, and bought groceries "on the tab". The store owner...

www.overlandbound.com

 

[Chill]

SNIP*****it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined *******SNIP

winner winner chicken dinner

Welcome

Ha! I answered my own question early on it seems. I’ll delete the entire thread now! Haha! Thanks!

 

[bgenlvtex]

Ha! I answered my own question early on it seems. I’ll delete the entire thread now! Haha! Thanks!

It's like looking everywhere for something only to find it in your pocket the whole time:)

 

[Chill]

My definition of 'overlanding' isn't the most popular. The following sums up what I think defines 'overlanding'.

When looking at all of these keep in mind that these people did not have, or use, all the fancy gear and gadgets many seem to 'need' today.

Books - look them up:

First Overland: London-Singapore by Land Rover ~ Tim Slessor

12,000 Miles by Land Rover: From Brazil to Canada ~ Mary Orr

Cape to Cairo: The Record of a Historic Motor Journey ~ Stella Court Treatt

Crossing the Congo: Over Land and Water in a Hard Place ~ Charlie Hatch-Barnwell

Sahara Handbook ~ Simon and Jan Glen

The Sahara is Yours: a Handbook for Desert Travellers ~ Jon Stevens

The Hyland family - I think he is one of the founding members here. Article and video below.

London to Singapore: Epic Family Road Trip in an Old Land Rover

London to Singapore: Epic Family Road Trip in an Old Land Rover

Could you survive a nine-month road trip with your family? The Hyland family of five drove from London to Singapore in a 1954 Land Rover. They took the family road trip to all new heights!

gearjunkie.com

Wow! Great video. And I’ll check out some of those books too! Thanks.

 

[Billiebob]

My definition of 'overlanding' isn't the most popular. The following sums up what I think defines 'overlanding'.

When looking at all of these keep in mind that these people did not have, or use, all the fancy gear and gadgets many seem to 'need' today.

Books - look them up:

First Overland: London-Singapore by Land Rover ~ Tim Slessor

12,000 Miles by Land Rover: From Brazil to Canada ~ Mary Orr

Cape to Cairo: The Record of a Historic Motor Journey ~ Stella Court Treatt

Crossing the Congo: Over Land and Water in a Hard Place ~ Charlie Hatch-Barnwell

Sahara Handbook ~ Simon and Jan Glen

The Sahara is Yours: a Handbook for Desert Travellers ~ Jon Stevens

The Hyland family - I think he is one of the founding members here. Article and video below.

London to Singapore: Epic Family Road Trip in an Old Land Rover

London to Singapore: Epic Family Road Trip in an Old Land Rover

Could you survive a nine-month road trip with your family? The Hyland family of five drove from London to Singapore in a 1954 Land Rover. They took the family road trip to all new heights!

gearjunkie.com

you nailed it !!
overlanding is about leaving home and experiencing new cultures.
otherwise we are just camping.



maybe the lightest overlander ever

 

[Chill]

So...I’m new here and if this has already been discussed please directly me to the thread. But I wanted to get some thoughts on how other people define overlanding. My buddies and I recently had a disagreement on what we felt it was and I’ve come to realize that it’s a spectrum and can’t be defined to just one single thing. So what’s overlanding look like for you? Thanks!!

Overland Bound Founding Principles

Welcome! I'm Michael and I accidentally created Overland Bound. I'm a backwoods country bumpkin from a town of 360 people. Seriously, my grade school was 70 kids TOTAL. My mom was the school nurse. We walked to the country store a mile away, and bought groceries "on the tab". The store owner...

www.overlandbound.com

I know Michael’s definition and he said that he won’t define it any further. I guess I was just looking for a consensus that “overlanding” is at minimum defined as “traveling over land at a rate that would be difficult to be confused with car camping or just plain camping, period.” If I’m out of line I’ll be glad to shut up. I’m excited to join this “overland” community but the fact that I even have to put it in quotes means there’s not a community of like minded individuals that are able to agree on the very word that defines their group. This has been really good so far. Thank you everyone who contributed to my uneducated question.

 

[Billiebob]

Nothing to do with speed or camping, overlanding is a cultural experience, as opposed to a MOAB Expedition. Overlanding is about the antithisis of "like Minded people". Overlanding is about finding those "not like minded people".. Othrwise you are just going to a remote convention of people you already understand.

 

[Sparksalot]

Vehicle dependent travel.


done

 

[Sparksalot]

I realize now that probably no one will answer my question straight out, and that’s okay. It’s a tough thing to define and the whole thing has been commercialized to death that it’s tough to even use the word anymore. I agree that it can be simplified to “vehicle dependent transportation” and I also believe there should be a strong emphasis on transportation or travel over land. The rub between me and one of my buddies came when he began to define it as...drive to a campsite and set up “base camp” for the weekend. I love the outdoors and that can certainly be fun but I don’t feel like I’m “overlanding” if I could drive a Prius to that same spot and just camp for a few days and then drive home. That’s car camping to me. I could be way off here and that’s why I’m asking. Hoping that this community cares enough to contribute meaningful dialogue with a new guy. If not...then I’ll be quiet or move along.

It’s run what you bring. also Being able to use your vehicle to it’s potential. Like taking a Prius to a spot where the Jeep drivers are scratching their heads wondering how you got there.