Undertaking an overland expedition is an exciting experience that will immerse you in stunning scenery and exciting encounters. Having the appropriate equipment is crucial for a successful and enjoyable journey.
We’ll look at the best overland travel essentials that should be on every adventurer’s list of things to bring.
Let’s dive in and learn about the essential gear that will raise the bar for your overland travel experience.
We have everything you need, from simple tools for new users to advanced tools for experienced explorers. Prepare to discover the secrets of a seasoned overland traveler and arm yourself with the resources necessary to master the outside world.
Introduction
I was raised with or was indoctrinated with a straightforward idea at a young age. Anywhere you drop your ruck is home. While I truly appreciate all the material possessions we have today, I consider myself fortunate to recognize that most of the unforgettable experiences can and will be created with people, not stuff.
As a result, I believe the adage „the more you know, the less you carry“ to be fairly appropriate. Which brings me to my second point, which is your skill set, before I go into my list of travel essentials. Even now, when marketing and sales are doing well, I occasionally find myself tempted to just buy some flashy device and call it fine. Just keep in mind that you will fall back to your level of training, when under stress.
Let’s move on from the philosophical pontificating and discuss how to spend your hard-earned money sensibly or what gifts to get from your loved ones when your birthday is approaching.
Let’s start with the fundamentals:
The Best Overland Travel Essentials for Beginners
For those just getting started on their overlanding adventures, a few basic pieces of gear from the best travel essentials are needed. Here are a few suggestions:
Booboo Kit
I’ll defy convention and suggest a simple set of ailments rather than a fashionable trauma-kit. While practically every nation I’ve visited had at least one incidence of me ingesting preformed toxins similar to a classic case of food poisoning. So prepare for dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea. Be prepared for a range of pain. You name it: head, back, tooth, etc.
Put it where you can access it at all times and make it as water-resistant as you can.(See my recommendation below.) Have it last until you can access your remaining luggage (if you’re taking a plane) or until you can restock in some other way.
Nite Ize RunOFF Waterproof Wallet
- IP67, submersible to 1m
- Slim and durable design
- Patented TRU Zip waterproof zipper
Passport/Document pocket
Since you already know about this, please accept my compliments. This should surely be common sense. The possibility of identity theft, „card-not-present“ frauds, and even RFID card scraping exists. Water damage or simple mistreatment are more likely causes of damage. By securing items with ties or pockets that have zippers or at the very least velcro flaps, physical theft can be reduced.
Sea To Summit Accessory Case S
- Watertight roll-top closure
- A touch-screen device will work inside the case
- IPX8 being waterproof at 10 meters for 1 hour
RFID Credit Card Protector
- Add RFID protection to your existing wallet
Update
As great as the Sea To Summit Case is, it is a pain in the butt to get things in and out of it. Its fiddly and the time it takes may make some officers uncomfortable during checkpoints. As it happens to be I have found a Nite Ize RunOff Watertight pouch similar to the one I have been using for years as a BooBoo Kit (see recommendation above). So here is the product I will be upgrading to for my next travels:
Nite Ize RunOff Watertight Zip Pouch
- Waterproof Zipper
- Easy Access To Travel Essentials
- Touchscreen Friendly
- Slim & Low Profile Design
Sunglasses
This is a difficult question, in my opinion. Unfortunately, most practical items may lack aesthetic appeal. Since I took what was available at the time and have been using this configuration for more than 5 years, I haven’t altered a thing. It simply works. Would you want to travel with several pairs of sunglasses? I don’t mind having two, just to constantly carry a backup. However, in general, I require the glasses to serve the following functions:
- Clear safety glasses for shooting and medical applications that meet those specific requirements.
- Photochromic lenses enable you to enter and exit buildings and shadows without removing your glasses.
- Are easy to wear when wearing hearing protection.
- There are options for replacement lenses and frames
I discovered all of that in Oakley’s M-Frame line. Since photochromic lenses don’t function in vehicles or cockpits, I have a second pair of glasses that I prefer to be polarized for driving in order to reduce glare effects. I can easily see myself adding another M-Frame lens to the package because huge clunky shades are currently back in style.
Oakley Ballistic M-Frame 3.0
- exceeds ballistic fragmentation impact standards
- exceeds high mass and high velocity impact requirements
- filters out all of UVA / UVB & harmful blue light
Oakley M-Frame Soft Vault Case
- Semi-rigid nylon case sealed with zip closure
- holds 2 extra accessory lenses
- High-density foam protects lens frame assemblies.
Utensils: Knife and Spork
The most undervalued eco-friendly action you can take that will also save you money is using travel utensils. Simply head to the grocery shop rather than placing a takeout order. It is beneficial to limit hand-food contact (see next point!) and gives you time to learn what to look for when picking street vendors to avoid stomach issues (see my point above! ), particularly if you are new to the country and your stomach hasn’t acclimated yet. Additionally, you are able to consume a healthier diet this manner.
Snow Peak Titanium Spork
My Snow Peak titanium spork has been useful to me for well over ten years and has paid for itself just by substituting canned tuna and/or baked beans for restaurant meals. 5-Star Chef on the rise.
Snow Peak Titanium Spork
- Ultralight at only 0.6 oz (16 g)
- Durable, lightweight, and versatile
Custom Swiss Army Pocket Knife
A Swiss Army pocket knife is my preferred type of folder since it generally has a less intimidating appearance. It is definitely more of a tool than a weapon.
Of course, different norms and legislation must be taken into account depending on how and where you travel. That is one of the reasons I purposely designed my Swiss Army knife to be consistent with German rules for everyday carry.
If I could only pick one from the shelf, it would probably be this one:
Victorinox Ranger 174 Handyman
- Includes needle-nose pliers and a nylon pouch
- 17 functions
How and why I have build my own Swiss Army Knife warrants its own post. Please let me know in the comments down below, if you would be interested.
Hand Sanitizer
I’ll save you the lecture on this one and just clarify that I don’t use it as frequently as I should even though I virtually always have it with me, either at work or in my bag. Because it is simply not easily available currently, and I am looking for an alternate solution. I’m not sure exactly where I’ll attach it to the outside of the pack, as I hate seeing things dangle from my ruck.
Generally, choose one with a pleasant scent and hand-nourishing qualities. Purchase larger sizes to replenish. I carry between 150 and 250ml with the rest of my stuff and roughly 50ml in my bag.
ASEPTOMAN® FORTE/ VIRAL
- Virucidal in 30 seconds
- Surgical hand disinfection in 1.5 minutes
- especially skin-caring
Practical Gear for Experienced Travelers
The list continues with the best overland travel essentials for experienced adventurers.
Water Bottle
Keep yourself hydrated. It seems really simple, but it’s still important. Of course, bottled water is offered in practically every country around the world. Nalgene bottles are extremely versatile, in my opinion. They are stronger and can handle hot water better overall, so I use them as hot water bottles to warm up my sleeping system or to relieve muscle tension. Additionally, I use it as a kind of black roll to stimulate blood flow to tense muscles.
It is simpler to fill due to the broad mouth opening, either from flowing water (such as in the highlands) or with snow to melt it. It also aids in cleaning.
I’ve added a one-handed Nalgene Cap that makes sipping while driving on bumpy roads a lot easier.
Water Filter
Depending on the country I’m staying in or the scope of my journey, I carry a Lifestraw Peak Squeeze bottle to generate safe-to-drink water. This helps to save a significant amount of money that would have been spent on bottled water. Consequently, it also benefits the environment.
The total volume of the 1L bottle (and the 0,7L bottle, respectively) is actually less because of how much space is filled by the filter element.
It folds up and takes up a lot less room when not in use than a solid bottle, allowing me to adjust the amount of water I carry in my daypack in accordance to my needs.
LifeStraw® Peak Squeeze Bottle 1L
- Protects against almost all of bacteria (including E.coli, Salmonella), parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness
- Ultra-compact
- Rip, tear, and puncture-resistant
Additionally, I don’t need to invest in a water filtering system in the 100 Series Land Cruiser. This keeps the plumbing much simpler and reduces weight and space. Read more about the important systems when building your own 4×4 camper van HERE:
Headlamp
The use of a headlamp is essential in all low-light situations, whether it’s for hands-free illumination at camp, inspecting your expedition truck, or administering emergency medical care.
I want my headlamp to have various brightness levels so you may change the brightness according to your individual requirements and save battery power when necessary. On top of that, I prefer to have a red lighting option for nighttime eye-friendly jobs such as navigation and orientation, as well as any other non-critical job to conserve batteries too.
In relation to batteries, I put priority on a headlamp that can be used with both commonly available disposable and rechargeable batteries, providing versatility and convenience in outlying areas where power supplies may be limited. (More on batteries in the following section.)
Additionally, I want a headlamp that can be mounted to my helmet or any other hard surface with the aid of an adapter, and I also prefer one with a comfortable, quickly adjustable headband to provide a snug fit on my head, even when wearing a beanie or cap.
To keep extra batteries on hand in case the lights go out, I like to tape a spare set to the headband. I wear the headlamp around my neck as the sun sets or when I anticipate needing some extra light shortly.
The lantern add-on for the Headlamp
The lantern bag is more of a gimmick than a necessity. It diffuses the light and just takes away the spotty beam when inside a small, confined space like a tent, for example. Think of it as more of an ultralight mini stuff sack with a dual purpose.
The current and also the previous model of the Petzl Tactikka has been with me for over a decade now and both of them are an absolute favorite of this list of our best overland travel essentials.
Must Haves For World Explorers
The further you go, the more remote you will find yourself. It’s important you will be able to call for help, wherever you go and or be skilled to manage most situations alone or within your group. You must also comfort yourself and be able to enjoy the journey. A caveat to the final chapter of my list of the best overland travel essentials: I prefer to travel by vehicle and some things may sound odd, when you prefer to fly, bike or walk.
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