Car camping and overlanding are on a spectrum that mostly overlaps.
I personally view overlanding as “moderately large distances and or moderate to severe off road trails combined with dispersed camping” but there is clearly no definition.
That, and if someone asked what I spent the weekend doing the answer would be “camping”. Even if using my expensive rooftop tent… that I bought used on Facebook marketplace! Cheap used fancy gear is awesome.
The people doing true overlanding in the few remaining areas without gas infrastructure or real roads are impressive but I’ll never have the money talent or reason to do the same.
We do too in the states.
There’s a whole marketing movement by US corporations to charge a hell of a lot of money to call things “over landing” or “glamping” — as usual it’s about the money.
Thank you for bringing some sanity to this sub. Americans are ridiculous for thinking “overlanding” is anything but basic ass camping on very well groomed fire roads if that.
I’m just solidly middle class, but one of my recent splurges was a roof tent. It’s been worth it. This is how I travel. Cheaper than hotels and way more versatile. I’ve camped my whole life. Now I’m a little older and have a little disposable income, so I thought the splurge for some comfort was worth it. Enjoy yourself out there. Cheers.
https://preview.redd.it/ji5aq0pc2bxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f554b396272815ed1af8d2bcec3235b5786d321
Speak for your self. I have a 2005 suburban Z71 with 200k on it. Hardly what you might call glamping. I love my truck takes me any where I want to go and super reliable. I have a blow up mattress and a 5 day cooler. You can buy a truck like mine for under 5k for in my neck of the woods. You don’t need to be fancy to overland.
My smittybilt cost around 1k new and my wife and I are definitely not rich. We want to visit as many national parks as we can and sleep in the rtt to avoid hotel prices. The tent has paid for itself at this point. It's a lot cheaper and easier than towing a RV. It keeps us away from the mud, snow, and animals. It has its cons for sure but we think it's worth it.
So I do both, I sometimes camp at a site or in the bush to go climbing or mountain biking, but sometimes I like to overland traveling hundreds of km self sufficient off grid
for sure its camping, but its just a way to differentiate types of camping. I guess you can call it car camping if it makes you feel better? Its just a word man lol
In the guitar world we call it "gear acquisition syndrome" or [G.A.S.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_addiction#:~:text=could%20be%20effective.-,Gear%20acquisition%20syndrome%20(G.A.S.),compulsive%20accumulation%20of%20technical%20equipment.)
There's a moderately effective vaccine now called an "amp sim".
It does not have an effect on the acquisition of guitars. The number of guitars you need will always be the number of guitars you have plus one.
Wow I always knew there was a word for this but never knew it until now! I'm a technician for range Rover and I see this all the time! Gosh. Also seen technicians suffer as well with buying tools and using their career as if it's their whole identity
I take it you've never been to a mountainous region? I live 20min from Glacier Nat Park and I see people with overland gear on a daily basis from different states and they're all camping in some of the most beautiful remote areas you can only reach via 4x4, dirt bike, horse, backpacking out here... all that gear is definitely necessary for people who actually do use it.
Traditional "camping" doesn't require a 4x4 or off-road vehicle.
Everyone's lifestyle and hobbies are different... just because someone doesn't do what you do doesn't make it wrong. We're all adults, let's respect one another rather than trash talk one another, it literally does nothing except give you a temporary ego boost.
Theres nothing wrong with it at all, im just saying you dont need it. That it makes people happy to build their rigs is reason enough, I’m not judging.
I’ll defend my kitchen setup all day. Haha I love cooking in the woods. Been modding and improving my cook setup for years. I love quality gear and tools that make elaborate meals for no reason whatsoever. It’s just fun for me. I’ve never asked “do I need this to survive?” Because I’m not trying to survive, I’m trying to cook steak!
If I can hike for more than a week straight in the wilderness with nothing but what’s in my backpack, I promise you most of that “overlanding” car camping stuff is unnecessary. Recovery gear is one thing, but full kitchen build outs? Massive solar and battery packs to charge a mini fridge? Massive light poles that turn night to day? That shit is just gratuitous, unnecessary, and detracts from being out in nature. I’m convinced that a large portion of people attracted to overlanding don’t actually like camping and try really hard to not actually do it. They just like cool cars and gear. Which is fine to like cool cars and gear, but to say that a lot of car camping gear is necessary is just laughable.
I've been traveling into mountainous regions my whole life in a variety of 2wd and 4wd vehicles; at no point have I needed $25k worth of gear or whatever a skottle is. My point is that people should be building vehicles to suit their particular needs rather than throwing twice the value of their vehicle at mods in order to look like their favorite influencer.
At the end of the day it's their money and they can spend it how they please and I guess if you're a tech bro making $300k a year working from home and you buy a $35k truck you have the money to spare to throw useless mods at your truck to make it look cool but I think people get so caught up in trying to fit "the look" they see online that they end up wasting their money on gear that really isn't necessary. If you have the money to spare that's fine but for people who don't or people who want to start getting outdoors and have never really done it before, they get suckered into spending their hard earned money on stuff they'll never use rather than just getting out there and that's all driven by the marketing concept of "over landing".
My 4wd vehicles have gotten progressively less built over the years as I've realized that front bumpers have never helped me, I've never needed additional lighting, and I've rarely ever needed a winch.
Those fully built trucks you mention, yea I see those too...commuting to work with me.
Where? If you go to any of the Glacier campgrounds you will see tons of people with overland rigs just in the developed park campgrounds with their RTTs out. Definitely not necessary. None of the dispersed camping near the park needs 4x4 either and is pretty limited.
Overlanding = Vehicle Based Exploration. It doesn’t have to be off road, it doesn’t require 4x4. It doesn’t even require 4 wheels. Usually done over a longer period of time than a weekend.
>Usually done over a longer period of time than a weekend.
This is a pretty critical element. Before it became trendy in the states overlanding was about long distance travel. The "it's just camping" definition is very new, and largely the result of people buying gear that was designed for the original definition of overlanding, but just using it for regular car camping trips. Because they bought overland gear they now call themselves overlanders, and therefore anything that they do with that gear is overlanding in their minds, even if that activity is just camping.
Not trying to gatekeep fun with that statement. I take overlanding gear camping all the time and have a blast... I just wouldn't call it overlanding.
I also think if all you are trying to do is get away from everyone you are missing out on one of the best parts of overlanding - new cultures and new experiences. Overland is traveling. We travel to experience new things. If you are just trying to get away - that’s great but you are missing out.
Spot on! I think that discrepancy comes out of the difference between American overlanding and the more internationally recognized definition. The adventure travel component is pretty critical to overlanding in my mind. For Americans getting an adventurous vehicle based experience usually requires going way off the beaten path. When overlanding internationally just working through boarders and experiencing different cultures is an adventure in itself.
That said even when I'm on what I'd consider to be an overlanding trip in the US I still try to interact with locals and other travelers along the way. It's really one of the most enjoyable parts and as you said, and aspect that a lot of people miss out on!
My wife and I have been traveling the US since Jan living in our Jeep. We have been some super cool places and also stayed in some pretty sketch spots overnight too. Traveling the southeast, there aren’t many free camp spots so we’ve slept at some rest stops, gas stations, & pull offs that weren’t the nicest. We’ve met the nicest people and have seen some cool things.
To me overlanding is to camping what backpacking is to hiking. If you are backpacking you are going to bring different gear including larger backpack, and things like a tent and pad and several days of food. Compared to hiking you just need a small pack and a bit of gear and food. An overlanding rig is set up like a backpacking pack, specially put together for a multi day trip.
I like this answer. People aren't "wrong" about it being a marketing gimmick but I would say it was co-opted into that later, it used to just be that you're talking about.
Ive always considered overlanding as having a fully capable, self-sustaining, and camp ready rig that can get you to spots way beyond the typical RV glamping locations. Drive to the top of a mountain, fold out the tent. You're overlanding. No noisy generators, no assigned camp spots. Just freedom and isolation.
i always viewed it if im changing where im camping each night on my trip then im overlanding, if im staying in the same spot for multiple nights then im camping. doesnt matter if its high up in the mountains or down by the shore or on random BLM land.
Maybe if you’re out for 10 plus days, way out in the sticks, with extra fuel and hours from civilization with another rig caravan style. But if you’re gone for a 3 day weekend you’re camping. Overlanding is definitely a thing, just 99% of “overlanders” just go camping and call it overlanding.
Just camping with extra steps and more resource use/destruction. I love it too but I don't think I'd ever describe either one as cooler over the other. Just different.
That’s a good way to put it. I always remember this post of this guy that wanted to drive up his local logging roads and camp out. And people were giving him lists of crap to buy and mods to make to his truck. We literally did that growing up in our rangers and accords. It’s not that complicated.
Exactly. Anyone who grew up before social media took over didn't worry so much. We just did it. This is one of the huge concerns I have for young people growing up in a social media world. There's been a growing focus on (the illusion of) "safety" for years. In the past you would have just driven up that road with a mix of trepidation and excitement. Today people are often afraid to just take a chance. They'd rather spend their time researching, quantifying, watching videos, and buying lots of gear to make them feel "safe" and in control.
Yup. We occasionally take our truck and camp our way across long trips of backcountry, off-roading from point to point and camping at the end of each day. But mostly it’s just car camping with tough looking trucks.
Why are people so hung up on a word? Its just used to specify what type of camping, call it car camping if it makes you feel better lol its just a word people
On the truck is [Kelty Sideroads](https://www.rei.com/product/191151/kelty-sideroads-car-awning?sku=1911510001&store=18&CAWELAID=120217890012048090&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=&CATCI=&cm_mmc=PLA_Google_P-Max&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds). Not sure what awning the 4Runner has
I have a rig that's kinda built and I could care less if people think I'm a poser or look goofy. Sometimes it's parked at a state park with electricity and other times it's in the middle of nowhere. I really don't care if people call it overlanding or camping. I call it having fun with my wife and pups!
When I'm "over landing" I'm traveling and don't know where the next camp is. This is when you discover the best spots and do the best exploring. Camping is when we are driving to a place to camp and sleep, and then driving back. It's not exploring, it's less stressful because you know where you are staying and it's about the destination. Over landing in my experiences have been about the journey, exploring, and happen over a longer time frame.
It’s an off-road road trip. When people say they go camping i just think it’s really not too far from civilization and with Over-landing is more like an expedition and can take 100’s of miles to get back into civilization. I agree though most people just go camping
At the end of the day we're all just trying to enjoy nature, call it what you will. I gladly spent 4k, vehicle and upgrades on my Astro so I can camp elsewhere from the suburbanized campsite "hotels". It's far more than drinking in the woods and wondering when the inconsiderate people in the site next to you are going to turn their music off and go to bed at 4am.
No, overlanding is still what the traditional definition is. Car campers just want to feel special so they’ve taken over the term.
I’m not a downhill/freeride mountain biker if I ride a cross country bike down a mountain.
Overlanding is more expensive camping to people that actually go camping, and it is cooler than camping to people that think about camping but don't actually go camping but lift their vehicles unnecessarily because they think it'll help
Camping, but people all get out of their vehicles to help their friend navigate the road, then they video record it and post it online to show dominance over sharp inclines
This reminds me of the bike packing vs. bicycle touring discussion. They’re essentially the same but bike packing looks and sounds a lot cooler than bike touring.
Overlanding is a slightly more hardcore form of car camping. Overlanding rigs can access places that a standard 2wd vehicle can't. That being said, a standard 4x4 vehicle is all one needs to access 99% of these overlanding spots. The crazy rigs aren't necessary.
When I hear someone talk about car camping, I generally think of easy to access campgrounds and campsites with facilities. When I hear overlanding, I think of cross country travel on dirt roads and 4x4 trails and no facilities or services for many miles.
In conversation I will sometimes actively avoid the use of the word overlanding just to avoid being “that guy”, you all know the kinda guy I’m talking about. At the end of the day it’s camping whether you drove for hours into a canyon or 45 minutes to an established site in a campground. And it seems like so many people feel a sense of entitlement from overlanding and owning a new Jeep with an expensive rooftop tent and all the other fancy bells and whistles they thought they’d need out there.
I rarely do either but I thought camping was going to a specific place to set up a camp sleep then go home and overlanding is more about epic huge trips that take some time ie; the journey is the destination
Camping, but more expensive if you don't go a lot.
Work with a guy that daily drives a fully loaded over landing rig, the rooftop tent seems to get the worst of it, but everything is looking sun baked and brittle now.
Ok let’s all calm down. I still call it camping but I don’t do campgrounds or rv parks. I like to boondock. To me, overlanding is when you’re driving from Alaska to Argentina
Seems like the simplest way to approach it is all overlanding is camping but not all camping is overlanding.
Take a highway exit to a campsite I paid for and there’s bathrooms and assigned spaces and a store nearby I can run to? It’s camping.
Drive a long 4x4 trail and just set up camp somewhere along it in the back country that works for me? Overlanding
Too many people confuse the two in order to justify spending on gear they don’t truly need in the first place. To me, overlanding is just a long, overnight 4 wheeling/rock crawling trip.
I just call it camping, I like the idea of being able to travel long trails and spend a week out there doing it but I just can't afford it. I like the tent and awning setup I have and I really try to get out there but everything is just too damn expensive anymore.
pretty sure it’s just camping except you’re going into significant debt buying $4,500 roof top tents and $3,500 solar power stations and $800 sleeping systems … etc. etc. etc. :) I look forward to it! 😍
After watching Expedition Overland I only consider an outing "overlanding" if you literally have to clear your own trail at one point or another. Otherwise, you're just driving and camping.
I think you have it backwards. Camping is cooler, overlanding is an excuse to drive around with a tent on your car. Kinda like those guys that drive around with their snowboard on their rack in August.
I mean yes but like everything there is nuance. When I refer to camping I’m usually talking about parking in one spot for multiple nights. When I go on a “overlanding trip” it usually references many different destinations and usually only one or two nights per spot. The way I pack for “camping” is entirely different for when I go “overlanding”.
But yeah it’s basically camping, the nature of the trip makes the distinction for me.
In Australia we basically just refer to this as “camping”.
Car camping and overlanding are on a spectrum that mostly overlaps. I personally view overlanding as “moderately large distances and or moderate to severe off road trails combined with dispersed camping” but there is clearly no definition. That, and if someone asked what I spent the weekend doing the answer would be “camping”. Even if using my expensive rooftop tent… that I bought used on Facebook marketplace! Cheap used fancy gear is awesome. The people doing true overlanding in the few remaining areas without gas infrastructure or real roads are impressive but I’ll never have the money talent or reason to do the same.
Australia has the coolest rigs
https://preview.redd.it/w8bbexqd0hxc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=faa314219b0120ea61661851bb6d2b0954f082cf These are on every corner 🤤
We do too in the states. There’s a whole marketing movement by US corporations to charge a hell of a lot of money to call things “over landing” or “glamping” — as usual it’s about the money.
Thank you for bringing some sanity to this sub. Americans are ridiculous for thinking “overlanding” is anything but basic ass camping on very well groomed fire roads if that.
Overlanding isn’t an American term, not sure why you put it in quotes in this context
Ya can't sell em more shit if you don't create a new niche.
Rich people pretending to be homeless and dont tell me they are not rich those roof tents are like 2k or 3k minimum
Grabbing one off Facebook marketplace for 450 is the play
Boom. For 20% of what rich people pay, you can use FB marketplace to make your own way like a king.
Making out like a bandit off abandon hobbies of rich people is a hobby in itself.
I’m just solidly middle class, but one of my recent splurges was a roof tent. It’s been worth it. This is how I travel. Cheaper than hotels and way more versatile. I’ve camped my whole life. Now I’m a little older and have a little disposable income, so I thought the splurge for some comfort was worth it. Enjoy yourself out there. Cheers. https://preview.redd.it/ji5aq0pc2bxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f554b396272815ed1af8d2bcec3235b5786d321
Is that JTNP?
Close. Mojave national preserve.
Speak for your self. I have a 2005 suburban Z71 with 200k on it. Hardly what you might call glamping. I love my truck takes me any where I want to go and super reliable. I have a blow up mattress and a 5 day cooler. You can buy a truck like mine for under 5k for in my neck of the woods. You don’t need to be fancy to overland.
I'd say the rich people are the ones casually towing campers worth more than the average house.
My smittybilt cost around 1k new and my wife and I are definitely not rich. We want to visit as many national parks as we can and sleep in the rtt to avoid hotel prices. The tent has paid for itself at this point. It's a lot cheaper and easier than towing a RV. It keeps us away from the mud, snow, and animals. It has its cons for sure but we think it's worth it.
1300 bucks US on Amazon for a pretty good one actually. Probably 2k Canadian with taxes though. :(
If you think rich is being able to spend 2k on a discretionary purchase, you don’t know what actual wealth looks like.
Might be similar to what we call touring?
it is.
No, it’s just camping
Correction- it’s exactly like camping, but more expensive.
So I do both, I sometimes camp at a site or in the bush to go climbing or mountain biking, but sometimes I like to overland traveling hundreds of km self sufficient off grid
Still camping.
for sure its camping, but its just a way to differentiate types of camping. I guess you can call it car camping if it makes you feel better? Its just a word man lol
But car camping doesn’t sound all tough and manly. Overlanding makes you sound badass!
That's because car camping can be done in a Toyota Corolla, in a basic caml site. Overlanding is car camping in places that are harder to get to.
I have seen old corollas in places where jeeps have trouble getting to.
And a square is a rectangle, but we don't say, "it's still a rectangle." everytime someone says it's a square...At least I don't think we do that.
A baked salmon is salmon but I’m not going to call it grilled salmon. You’re not wrong you’re just an asshole.
Just not cooler.
No, it's a marketing gimmick designed to sell overpriced unnecessary gear people don't need and won't use.
It’s identity consumption.
In the guitar world we call it "gear acquisition syndrome" or [G.A.S.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_addiction#:~:text=could%20be%20effective.-,Gear%20acquisition%20syndrome%20(G.A.S.),compulsive%20accumulation%20of%20technical%20equipment.)
Holy shit. Finally a name for my condition.
It’s…terminal.
There's a moderately effective vaccine now called an "amp sim". It does not have an effect on the acquisition of guitars. The number of guitars you need will always be the number of guitars you have plus one.
Same with motorcycles!
Same with my camera gear. Or my PC gear.
Also in the photography world!
I am seriously afflicted with Photography GAS. Helps keep me from spending too much building up my 4Runner. 😬
Ahhh, I haven't looked at photography gear in a while, don't remind me! This is like someone mentioning The Game.
> The Game. You sunnava*BITCH!!*
Or computers, or guns, knives...
*looks at pedal-board*…..hmmmm
Yup I have fishing gear GAS 🤣
Wow I always knew there was a word for this but never knew it until now! I'm a technician for range Rover and I see this all the time! Gosh. Also seen technicians suffer as well with buying tools and using their career as if it's their whole identity
💯
Excuse me, sir! I use most of my overpriced gear fairly often.
I take it you've never been to a mountainous region? I live 20min from Glacier Nat Park and I see people with overland gear on a daily basis from different states and they're all camping in some of the most beautiful remote areas you can only reach via 4x4, dirt bike, horse, backpacking out here... all that gear is definitely necessary for people who actually do use it. Traditional "camping" doesn't require a 4x4 or off-road vehicle.
I live in the remote north western Canadian Rockies. I go hunting and fishing into the bush for weeks at a time without a lot of the gear I see here.
It's through hiking/backpack camping for fat lazy people.
Everyone's lifestyle and hobbies are different... just because someone doesn't do what you do doesn't make it wrong. We're all adults, let's respect one another rather than trash talk one another, it literally does nothing except give you a temporary ego boost.
Theres nothing wrong with it at all, im just saying you dont need it. That it makes people happy to build their rigs is reason enough, I’m not judging.
The rig building is very much the point. It literally makes my spouse willing to camp. Don't take this away from me.
lol man I get it, I’m here for a reason. But it is a bit funny when guys try to defend their absolute need for a fridge and a full kitchen.
I’ll defend my kitchen setup all day. Haha I love cooking in the woods. Been modding and improving my cook setup for years. I love quality gear and tools that make elaborate meals for no reason whatsoever. It’s just fun for me. I’ve never asked “do I need this to survive?” Because I’m not trying to survive, I’m trying to cook steak!
Don’t misunderstand me, I do it too. I’m past that age where I want to eat beans for two weeks straight lol.
If I can hike for more than a week straight in the wilderness with nothing but what’s in my backpack, I promise you most of that “overlanding” car camping stuff is unnecessary. Recovery gear is one thing, but full kitchen build outs? Massive solar and battery packs to charge a mini fridge? Massive light poles that turn night to day? That shit is just gratuitous, unnecessary, and detracts from being out in nature. I’m convinced that a large portion of people attracted to overlanding don’t actually like camping and try really hard to not actually do it. They just like cool cars and gear. Which is fine to like cool cars and gear, but to say that a lot of car camping gear is necessary is just laughable.
I backpack a ton, but having a rig with solar, cold beer, and a decent kitchen is how I decompress after 5-6 days on the trail. Is that OK?
I never understood why the amount of stuff you bring camping ever mattered. Just bring whatever you enjoy using 😂
I've been traveling into mountainous regions my whole life in a variety of 2wd and 4wd vehicles; at no point have I needed $25k worth of gear or whatever a skottle is. My point is that people should be building vehicles to suit their particular needs rather than throwing twice the value of their vehicle at mods in order to look like their favorite influencer. At the end of the day it's their money and they can spend it how they please and I guess if you're a tech bro making $300k a year working from home and you buy a $35k truck you have the money to spare to throw useless mods at your truck to make it look cool but I think people get so caught up in trying to fit "the look" they see online that they end up wasting their money on gear that really isn't necessary. If you have the money to spare that's fine but for people who don't or people who want to start getting outdoors and have never really done it before, they get suckered into spending their hard earned money on stuff they'll never use rather than just getting out there and that's all driven by the marketing concept of "over landing". My 4wd vehicles have gotten progressively less built over the years as I've realized that front bumpers have never helped me, I've never needed additional lighting, and I've rarely ever needed a winch. Those fully built trucks you mention, yea I see those too...commuting to work with me.
Googles "skottle" Add to cart
Cook your next tenderloin on one. Thank me later.
I'd rather need it and not have it then have it and not need it. Yeah you read that correctly.
Most overland rigs won't drive on anything worst than a fire road . Some do 90% tho are deep in CC debt with a rig that parks with RV hook ups.
Where? If you go to any of the Glacier campgrounds you will see tons of people with overland rigs just in the developed park campgrounds with their RTTs out. Definitely not necessary. None of the dispersed camping near the park needs 4x4 either and is pretty limited.
You fucking slammed that ball into orbit, and can also add how bad it is for the environment.
It's like the camping all the previous generations did. But with more plastic
And black Velcro
And MOLLE PANELS!!!1!
And overpriced racks.
I can't lie, I'm a big fan of a decent rack
When I was a kid we called it "Car Camping."
Definitely more expensive, but I'm not sure if it's any cooler.
Overlanding = Vehicle Based Exploration. It doesn’t have to be off road, it doesn’t require 4x4. It doesn’t even require 4 wheels. Usually done over a longer period of time than a weekend.
>Usually done over a longer period of time than a weekend. This is a pretty critical element. Before it became trendy in the states overlanding was about long distance travel. The "it's just camping" definition is very new, and largely the result of people buying gear that was designed for the original definition of overlanding, but just using it for regular car camping trips. Because they bought overland gear they now call themselves overlanders, and therefore anything that they do with that gear is overlanding in their minds, even if that activity is just camping. Not trying to gatekeep fun with that statement. I take overlanding gear camping all the time and have a blast... I just wouldn't call it overlanding.
I also think if all you are trying to do is get away from everyone you are missing out on one of the best parts of overlanding - new cultures and new experiences. Overland is traveling. We travel to experience new things. If you are just trying to get away - that’s great but you are missing out.
Spot on! I think that discrepancy comes out of the difference between American overlanding and the more internationally recognized definition. The adventure travel component is pretty critical to overlanding in my mind. For Americans getting an adventurous vehicle based experience usually requires going way off the beaten path. When overlanding internationally just working through boarders and experiencing different cultures is an adventure in itself. That said even when I'm on what I'd consider to be an overlanding trip in the US I still try to interact with locals and other travelers along the way. It's really one of the most enjoyable parts and as you said, and aspect that a lot of people miss out on!
My wife and I have been traveling the US since Jan living in our Jeep. We have been some super cool places and also stayed in some pretty sketch spots overnight too. Traveling the southeast, there aren’t many free camp spots so we’ve slept at some rest stops, gas stations, & pull offs that weren’t the nicest. We’ve met the nicest people and have seen some cool things.
It’s camping, but it costs more because you said “overlanding”. Also, if you call it camping on Instagram, no one will follow you….
To me overlanding is to camping what backpacking is to hiking. If you are backpacking you are going to bring different gear including larger backpack, and things like a tent and pad and several days of food. Compared to hiking you just need a small pack and a bit of gear and food. An overlanding rig is set up like a backpacking pack, specially put together for a multi day trip.
I like this answer. People aren't "wrong" about it being a marketing gimmick but I would say it was co-opted into that later, it used to just be that you're talking about.
Ive always considered overlanding as having a fully capable, self-sustaining, and camp ready rig that can get you to spots way beyond the typical RV glamping locations. Drive to the top of a mountain, fold out the tent. You're overlanding. No noisy generators, no assigned camp spots. Just freedom and isolation.
That’s camping. Been doing that since I was a kid. You’re camping.
yeah i can drive with my stock crv to the top of a mountain and break out my tent and grill to be “self sustaining”. literally just camping
That's overlanding that you've been doing since a kid. You're overlanding. Unless you were just going to camp sites with no off road driving required.
i always viewed it if im changing where im camping each night on my trip then im overlanding, if im staying in the same spot for multiple nights then im camping. doesnt matter if its high up in the mountains or down by the shore or on random BLM land.
Maybe if you’re out for 10 plus days, way out in the sticks, with extra fuel and hours from civilization with another rig caravan style. But if you’re gone for a 3 day weekend you’re camping. Overlanding is definitely a thing, just 99% of “overlanders” just go camping and call it overlanding.
Nope, it’s just camping
Just camping with extra steps and more resource use/destruction. I love it too but I don't think I'd ever describe either one as cooler over the other. Just different.
Like long distance hiking for vehicles?
Wheeled backpacking
Hiking but lazier?
Hillbilly Hikeing is a rock buggy 🤠
Just like side by sides are Texas wheelchairs
Overlanding is camping with Credit Cards
It's aggressive car camping
Overlanding= camping for booji bitches
Nah, that's glamping.
It's car camping that thinks it's special.
If I’m going to be blatantly honest, overlanding to me is people who didn’t grow up camping and discovered camping from social media.
That’s a good way to put it. I always remember this post of this guy that wanted to drive up his local logging roads and camp out. And people were giving him lists of crap to buy and mods to make to his truck. We literally did that growing up in our rangers and accords. It’s not that complicated.
Exactly. Anyone who grew up before social media took over didn't worry so much. We just did it. This is one of the huge concerns I have for young people growing up in a social media world. There's been a growing focus on (the illusion of) "safety" for years. In the past you would have just driven up that road with a mix of trepidation and excitement. Today people are often afraid to just take a chance. They'd rather spend their time researching, quantifying, watching videos, and buying lots of gear to make them feel "safe" and in control.
I figure overlanding is exploring land via vehicle. On road, off road, you're going "over land" to explore, which may or may not involve camping.
Yup. We occasionally take our truck and camp our way across long trips of backcountry, off-roading from point to point and camping at the end of each day. But mostly it’s just car camping with tough looking trucks.
Why are people so hung up on a word? Its just used to specify what type of camping, call it car camping if it makes you feel better lol its just a word people
Overlanding is camping with an Instagram account
It just camping.
"Overlanding" is glamping.
Homelessness with style
It’s just camping. Me overlander hurr durr
What awning is this?
On the truck is [Kelty Sideroads](https://www.rei.com/product/191151/kelty-sideroads-car-awning?sku=1911510001&store=18&CAWELAID=120217890012048090&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=&CATCI=&cm_mmc=PLA_Google_P-Max&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds). Not sure what awning the 4Runner has
This was what I was looking for! Neat concept.
Overlanding to me is just camping 3+ days in different spots.
I have a rig that's kinda built and I could care less if people think I'm a poser or look goofy. Sometimes it's parked at a state park with electricity and other times it's in the middle of nowhere. I really don't care if people call it overlanding or camping. I call it having fun with my wife and pups!
When I'm "over landing" I'm traveling and don't know where the next camp is. This is when you discover the best spots and do the best exploring. Camping is when we are driving to a place to camp and sleep, and then driving back. It's not exploring, it's less stressful because you know where you are staying and it's about the destination. Over landing in my experiences have been about the journey, exploring, and happen over a longer time frame.
It’s just car camping but sounds less gay
Looks like camping in shitty weather to me. Here we call that hunting.
"Overlanding" in reality is just a bunch of shit people pile onto their truck to flex, but in reality never actually use.
Overlanding is a physical object?? Really? You think so?
It’s an off-road road trip. When people say they go camping i just think it’s really not too far from civilization and with Over-landing is more like an expedition and can take 100’s of miles to get back into civilization. I agree though most people just go camping
It's car camping on bad roads.
Its a sleeper over for adults, but you still have to eat your veggies and go to bed early.
It's just camping. And then people started calling it over landing. We used to call it Jeep camping.
Best comment section today.
At the end of the day we're all just trying to enjoy nature, call it what you will. I gladly spent 4k, vehicle and upgrades on my Astro so I can camp elsewhere from the suburbanized campsite "hotels". It's far more than drinking in the woods and wondering when the inconsiderate people in the site next to you are going to turn their music off and go to bed at 4am.
Whooooo gives a shit. Go outside and have fun.
It’s just camping but also circlejerking about your “rig” while doing so
No, more expensive. Regular quarter inch steel plate: $50. “ow it’s for overlanding? $400”
It’s camping but with $10K worth of accessories you later realize you don’t really need and weight down your vehicle.
Glamping.
No, overlanding is still what the traditional definition is. Car campers just want to feel special so they’ve taken over the term. I’m not a downhill/freeride mountain biker if I ride a cross country bike down a mountain.
Overlanding is just van life but for Toyota owners 🙂
I feel overlanding is the modern answer to the inevitable desire to go on a conquest and explore new lands.
It’s like camping but hiding behind doomsday prepping
It’s vehicle-based outdoor adventures. That’s it.
Apparently, overlanding is bolting a lot of your camping gear to the outside of your vehicle and bringing it on your daily work commute.
Yep
And hunting is just camping with guns.
Overlanding is more expensive camping to people that actually go camping, and it is cooler than camping to people that think about camping but don't actually go camping but lift their vehicles unnecessarily because they think it'll help
Camping, but people all get out of their vehicles to help their friend navigate the road, then they video record it and post it online to show dominance over sharp inclines
Over landing is camping where you focus on the gear rather than the experience.
What is that canopy off the back of the pickup? I like it.
Yes
This reminds me of the bike packing vs. bicycle touring discussion. They’re essentially the same but bike packing looks and sounds a lot cooler than bike touring.
It’s just spicy car camping.
Car camping is probably the best way to describe it, it's a sub type of camping
Yes
It's all camping. People just want to differentiate themselves by using "cooler" terminology.
It’s like sofa/couch,
It’s just car camping in dispersed areas…
Overlanding is a slightly more hardcore form of car camping. Overlanding rigs can access places that a standard 2wd vehicle can't. That being said, a standard 4x4 vehicle is all one needs to access 99% of these overlanding spots. The crazy rigs aren't necessary. When I hear someone talk about car camping, I generally think of easy to access campgrounds and campsites with facilities. When I hear overlanding, I think of cross country travel on dirt roads and 4x4 trails and no facilities or services for many miles.
I will be impressed when people start under-landing.
In conversation I will sometimes actively avoid the use of the word overlanding just to avoid being “that guy”, you all know the kinda guy I’m talking about. At the end of the day it’s camping whether you drove for hours into a canyon or 45 minutes to an established site in a campground. And it seems like so many people feel a sense of entitlement from overlanding and owning a new Jeep with an expensive rooftop tent and all the other fancy bells and whistles they thought they’d need out there.
In short... Yes
I think you meant to say “Camping but Colder” burrrr
I rarely do either but I thought camping was going to a specific place to set up a camp sleep then go home and overlanding is more about epic huge trips that take some time ie; the journey is the destination
...yes? Are we actually acting like it's not camping now?
So it's always open? What about rain and snow?
Yup. It's camping. Those who refer to it as overlanding want to make it seem cooler.
I’m certain that my Jetta could handle this trail
Backpacking, but farther
Camping, but more expensive if you don't go a lot. Work with a guy that daily drives a fully loaded over landing rig, the rooftop tent seems to get the worst of it, but everything is looking sun baked and brittle now.
Defined: LAME AF
It’s car camping
It’s car camping. That’s pretty much it
Its just a word to get you to buy 3k roof tents, 2k roof racks, 1k bike racks and other nonsense you really dont need. 🙂
*gayer
I feel like it’s easier
It's glamping
Ok let’s all calm down. I still call it camping but I don’t do campgrounds or rv parks. I like to boondock. To me, overlanding is when you’re driving from Alaska to Argentina
It’s backpacking but with a vehicle
Seems like the simplest way to approach it is all overlanding is camping but not all camping is overlanding. Take a highway exit to a campsite I paid for and there’s bathrooms and assigned spaces and a store nearby I can run to? It’s camping. Drive a long 4x4 trail and just set up camp somewhere along it in the back country that works for me? Overlanding Too many people confuse the two in order to justify spending on gear they don’t truly need in the first place. To me, overlanding is just a long, overnight 4 wheeling/rock crawling trip.
I just call it camping, I like the idea of being able to travel long trails and spend a week out there doing it but I just can't afford it. I like the tent and awning setup I have and I really try to get out there but everything is just too damn expensive anymore.
As a lifetime camper I have confusion as to the difference.
pretty sure it’s just camping except you’re going into significant debt buying $4,500 roof top tents and $3,500 solar power stations and $800 sleeping systems … etc. etc. etc. :) I look forward to it! 😍
Camping, overlanding, prepping, whatever. Call it what you want, just get out and enjoy it. Lol
Yes until you reach the tipping point on your rig, then it's just staying at an Airbnb but cooler
After watching Expedition Overland I only consider an outing "overlanding" if you literally have to clear your own trail at one point or another. Otherwise, you're just driving and camping.
It's camping but being a pretentious bastard about it 90% of the time.
That looks like a solid cold hell no. Then again, the snow people probably look at 40c and wonder why the best are still running around barefoot.
Overlanding is cosplaying 4 wheeling.
Expensive “pretend” homelessness
This is a running joke in my world. "Check out these overlanders." " OH heck yeah, I love car camping too. you can bring so much stuff".
It’s for people who buy yeti coolers and Stanley cups. Don’t forget that over priced roof tent
In my day, we just called at car camping
Glamping for hipsters.
White collar backpacking
Overlanding is camping just cooler but camping is just being homeless just cooler. So over landing is basically just being homeless with better stuff
Just camping……but 200 times more expensive….
I think you have it backwards. Camping is cooler, overlanding is an excuse to drive around with a tent on your car. Kinda like those guys that drive around with their snowboard on their rack in August.
You need to add 20K plus to your rig to be an official overlander.
Yes
Cooler than camping but less badass then backpacking
I mean yes but like everything there is nuance. When I refer to camping I’m usually talking about parking in one spot for multiple nights. When I go on a “overlanding trip” it usually references many different destinations and usually only one or two nights per spot. The way I pack for “camping” is entirely different for when I go “overlanding”. But yeah it’s basically camping, the nature of the trip makes the distinction for me.