Blake and Chelsea here! Along with our two basset hounds, Charlie and Blue we live life on the road in our fully outfitted Jeep TJ. Gear in our rig is always changing.
Here are some items we found we do and don’t need on our Overland Trips.
Chelsea and Blake, Overland Bound Ambassadors
What we bring Overlanding
Power Bank
Being out on the trail all day we use a variety of devices including our tablet to run Overland Bound One app for navigation. We are always conscious of power usage and what might be draining our battery. Having a charged power bank allows for us to stay charged and connected, without relying on the Jeep battery as a single source of power.
TIP: Traveling alone and carrying a power bank that also has a jump starter was another safety consideration for us. The iONBoost V10 by Wagan Tech handles both. The Overland Gear Store carries the full line up.
Storage Solutions
No matter the terrain, having hard structured storage keeps our items safe from the outdoor environment. Using a case that is sealed, weather proof, and rugged has kept our gear in great condition, organized and accessible.
Roof top storage allows for easy access.
A Well-Stocked First Aid Kit
Taking long journeys through remote destinations, we had to prepare for unforeseen incidents, minor and life-threatening. A well-stocked first aid kit
can be invaluable for insect bites, scratches, and minor to major emergencies.
Our first-aid kit contains some of the following items:
● Tourniquet
● Gauze roll
● Medical tape
● Scissors
● Different sizes of adhesive bandages
● Antiseptic ointment/cream
● Cotton balls
● Sterile wipes
● Antibiotic ointment
● Allergy medicines, Benadryl/Epi-pen ● Duct tape
● Sunscreen
● ORS Oral Rehydration Solutions
Layers of Clothing
During our overland adventures we need to be ready for changes in temperature. Despite learning weather patterns and staying up to date on the forecast, we could never guarantee Mother Nature moods.
Traveling thru the desert has huge temperature swings, it would be beautiful and sunny during the day, and as soon as the sun went down behind the mountains it would be blistering cold. Layering with Vertx clothing that is sweat resistant helped us prepare for moments like this out on the trail.
TIP: Having drenched feet is never fun! Changing our socks was a huge morale booster. And look for moisture wicking fabrics.
Crisp morning air, layered with Vertx clothing and Overland Bound Outfit & Explore Fleeced Lined Beanie
Head Lamps
We are always getting to camp after dark! Using head lamps allows us to use our hands while setting up camp, prepping dinner, etc. Using a red light helped keep the bugs away.
What we don’t bring Overlanding
Large Lighting
Although having our camp site look like daytime at night seemed beneficial, we found having a huge white light attracted unwanted guests. Bugs attracted other members of the food chain, and we became “bait” out in the middle of nowhere. Using head lamps, flashlights and red lights helped our eyes to adjust to the night light.
Electronics
Overlanding is an adventure that changes you, surrounding ourselves with nature allowed us to embrace our surroundings. Bringing electronics, such as a speaker, took away from the entire reason we were out there. There is no better sound than sitting next to the crackling fire, wind rustling the trees with coyotes howling in the distance.
Enjoying the warmth of the fire.
Perfumed Items
By embracing the wild we didn’t pack any strong perfume or odor that would attract bears or other wildlife to camp. Peppermint essential oil is a great alternative to keep the creepy crawlers away and stay smelling fresh.
A Ton of Food
While making sure that there is enough food for the entire trip, overpacking perishable food items can be detrimental, especially when we used a cooler. No one wants soggy lunch meat, or over tenderized meat. We found meal planning, prepping food in proper storage containers, and organization helped minimize food waste.
TIP: Non-perishable packed camping food is a great option for long days on the trail or other emergencies.
Enjoying a Mountain House after a long travel day.
Extra Blankets
We found that packing extra blankets took up too much space and weight. They would get dirty, wet, and ruined easily making them unusable. As mentioned above by packing extra layers of clothing, socks and proper sleeping gear kept us dry and warm.
Ounces makes pounds, by keeping a minimalist packing list it allows us to create new memories, share laughs, and enjoy trail.
There’s one brilliant phrase that, for me, clarifies and crystalizes (and inspires) my overland mindset and trip planning in my ’06 TJ — it originated from you in an Instagram reply.
A phrase that applies exceptionally to TJ owners (and their severe space limitations!) and – at once – to all overland vehicles and their owners:
“TJs are a game of Tetris”.
So true.
Understatement: a TJ = a worst-case storage scenario — you perfect a TJ, you’re officially qualified to teach a master class in clever storage utilization of every nook and cranny in an overland vehicle — dogs and all.
So perhaps the title that follows your name should be: “The Overland Professor”?
Love the blog, guys — and following your adventures. Keep it up!