Originally an Australian term for herding livestock long distances on foot,

 Originally an Australian term for herding livestock long distances on foot,

 overlanding has evolved into a highly mechanized mode of adventure travel—one that takes its adherents into remote destinations, typically by 4x4 or motorcycle, where camping is the main form of lodging and the journey is the principal goal. In recent years, it’s become an industry, a lifestyle, a sort of quasi-libertarian offshoot of the #vanlife movement. 

The modern phenomenon has its roots in the military; the first overlanding vehicles, domestically, were surplus Jeeps made for World War Two later made available to the public. Today it’s the domain of every Outdoor Bro you know with an off-road pickup brimming with gear. tabswire

Founded in 2009 as a small trade show and instructional gathering with 900 attendants, the Overland Expo West has exploded over the past decade. This year the expo attracted over 30,000 attendees, its largest turnout to date. Many of the biggest automakers had booths; Toyota unveiled its new 2024 Tacoma there. On Instagram, #vanlife still reigns supreme, with 15.3 million tagged posts, but overlanding is creeping up, with a combined 7.4 million posts tagged #overland or #overlanding.