Some of the best from the Overlanding Expo Mountain West, featuring modified vehicles based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes Sprinter, and others.
Overlanding, the passion for making self-reliant expeditions far into the lonely places of the world, has never been more popular. As a recreational pursuit it understandably exploded when pandemic rules meant people needed to avoid the crowds, and since then the social media feeds showing videos and photos of an idealized nomadic life have just stoked the flames. At the Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado, thousands thronged to see lifted off-road exploration machines and all the latest gear for getting out there.
There are four Overland Expos held through the year, and last year's Mountain West event drew nearly 20,000 visitors. It's a great way to rub shoulders with other overlanding enthusiasts, see examples of customized builds, and even practice your off-road skills. This year's event featured off-road instruction in Ram pickups, backcountry navigation classes, and even a storytelling pavilion with lessons on how to capture all that in-nature content.
And, of course, there were demonstrations of all the high-tech, ultra-rugged gear that you can bolt onto, into, or on top of your dream off-road rig. Here's a look at some of the best new overlanding kit out there.
Goose Gear Toyota Land Cruiser
Goose Gear is a well-respected name in the overlanding community, known for its well-constructed storage solutions. Sliding racks, drawers, and modules let you organize all your gear to make the most of available storage space. Need to get a piece of little-used equipment out without unpacking your whole trunk? Just slide out the lower drawer, and it's all there.
Rear-seat delete and other storage expansion offerings already existed for the Toyota Tacoma, a popular overlanding base rig, but at Mountain West, Goose Gear debuted its solution packages for the Land Cruiser 250. With an onboard camp kitchen, sliding fridge, or even a stowaway cutting board, Toyota's latest 4x4 model will be a better adventure companion than ever.
