What does it really take to be a good overlander? In this episode of the podcast, I break down the key personality traits, life experiences, and mindset that help make overlanding more enjoyable and sustainable—not just the gear checklist.I talk about the importance of patience, adaptability, curiosity, and problem-solving when you're out on the road or deep in the backcountry. I’ll also touch on how past experiences—from camping as a kid to wrenching on your first car—can shape how you approach vehicle-based travel.Yes, we’ll cover gear too. I’ll walk through the essential tools and setups I think every overlander should have, but also why gear shouldn’t be the starting point.Most importantly, I’ll challenge you to ask yourself why you want to overland in the first place. Whether it’s escape, exploration, community, or something else—knowing your “why” can guide everything from what you drive to how you travel.If you’re new to overlanding or just thinking about getting into it, this is a good place to start. If you’ve been doing it a while, I’d love to hear what you think makes someone a good overlander—drop your thoughts in the comments!

A huge thanks to my partners:

Top Oak (amazing roof top tents and awnings for budget prices):  https://topoakoverland.com/?sscid=51k9_mt1ba&

Nitto (my Terra Grappler G3 tires are great for midwestern winters, wet weather, and all terrain use):  https://bit.ly/41EJhbQ

ICECO Fridges (the best fridges for the money, hands down-Use code ALLTHINGSOVERLANDING for 12% off your order):  https://icecofreezer.com/ALLTHINGSOVERLANDING

Moon Fab Awning (super flexible, non-permanently mounted awnings for all kinds of applications. This link will take you to more info on how I have it set up on my 3rd gen Frontier):  https://moonfab.com/pages/experts/jason-fletcher

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For a full list of my gear, check out this page for quick reference links:  https://allthingsoverlanding.com/gear/

Looking for budget light bars, rock lights, and LED strips for your rig? Check out Nilight and use code ATO for 5% off! https://bit.ly/3vuhN8F

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