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What are the must-have overlanding gears?
- Rooftop tent
- Sleeping mattress
- Portable stove
- Cooler
- Safety Gear
Overview
- This article highlights five essential overlanding gear items to streamline your outdoor adventures.
- This list includes a rooftop tent and mattress for shelter, a portable stove and cooler for food & drink, and safety gear.
- Prioritizing these essentials enhances the overlanding experience, ensuring both comfort and safety throughout your journey.
Going overlanding is an exhilarating experience. Who isn’t looking forward to exploring unfamiliar terrain, immersing yourself in nature, and taking in the sights? But we also know that the packing stage of any trip can be a stressful task in and of itself. That panicked backtracking for left-behind gear is a hassle we all can do without.
To prevent that dreaded packing panic, here are 5 overlanding gear must-haves that can make your outing to the great outdoors a breeze.
Rooftop Tent
Rooftop tents are versatile – they’re set up above ground and at times on the roof of your car, making them ideal for different kinds of terrain. They also offer a secure and elevated sleeping space – you can now enjoy your destination’s views as you wake up in the mornings and as you tuck yourself in for the night.
Pitching a tent is the first step of any overlanding trip. While the usual ground tents are industry staples for a reason, it has several disadvantages especially if you’re set up in a rougher area.
An advantage of rooftop tents is that they are easy to pack and assemble, leaving you more time to either set up the rest of your space or set out to explore. Or have your “I’m the king of the world!” moment. If you prefer something similar to a traditional camp setup or if you’d like to have a bigger space, you can add an annex to your rooftop tent.
Sleeping Mattress
Sleeping arrangements can make or break a trip, and while sleeping under the stars can be a very enjoyable experience, there’s no need to sacrifice our comfort over it. Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds?
Next on our overlanding gear must-haves is the often overlooked sleeping mattress. The amount of sleep you get is sometimes overlooked when overlanding – who needs sleep when there’s so much to do? But not getting enough sleep, either by tossing and turning at all hours due to an uncomfortable mattress or being woken up in the middle of the night because something punctured your inflatable pad, can put a damper on your overall experience.
Some tents come with their pads and mats and sleeping mattresses can come in all types and sizes. What you choose will ultimately be down to your preference.
Portable Stove
Hiking, swimming, driving, or simply setting up your area can build up your appetite. Next on your essential list should be what you’ll use to prepare and cook your meal. While bonfires are great for making smores and BBQs, it’s not always a reliable way of cooking – not to mention, you’ll only be able to cook a select number of meals. Nature can be unpredictable and it’s best to be prepared, especially when you’re in a remote location.
Portable stoves don’t have to be bulky contraptions that can eat up your storage – you can find compact, easy-to-store products. We have a lot of options available for you here at Overland Kings! Shop our cooking camping gear on our website today.
Cooler
Speaking of storage, a cooler is another must-have gear. Whether it’s for campfire smores, a nice cold beer, or everything in between, a cooler is a must-have on every Overlander’s list. No one wants to arrive at their destination and find their drinks and other perishables warm.
Coolers when prepped right can keep your drinks and food cold for hours. For overlanding trips to hotter climes, coolers serve not only to keep your snacks and liquors chilled, they also to keep the sweltering heat out of their contents. Now you can count on having a refreshing drink after a day of adventuring and exploring.
Safety Gear
Prioritize safety by following camping rules and maintaining both yourself and your vehicle. While gear varies by destination, these three essentials are crucial for any trip.
- A well-stocked First Aid Kit for emergencies.
- Mechanic and Recovery Kits for your car and terrain needs.
- The Elements Starter Pack: Water and water filtration, fire starter and extinguisher, flashlight or lamps, and your GPS or compass.
While it can be tempting to just skimp on these and focus on flashier tools and accessories, safety should never be far from our minds.
Key Takeaway
With a bit of planning here and a pinch of double-checking there, picking and packing the right tools for your overlanding trip does not need to be hard. While it is easy to be distracted by the variety of options out there, having an established set of overlanding gear must-haves helps ensure a smoother, secure, and more comfortable overlanding experience.
How’s your list? You can check out Overlanding Kings to find your missing essentials. See you in the trails!
