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The 21 Essential Pieces of Gear You Need for Overland Adventures

Buying that awesome off-roader is your first step towards a dream overlanding vacation. Here’s the gear you need to stay comfortable and safe.

overlanding essentials Roofnest

By Tyler Duffy and Mary Singler

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Sure, you can buy a purpose-built off-road beast like the Jeep Gladiator or the Toyota 4Runner to go overlanding, but the vehicle is only the first step toward your dream adventure.

If you plan to leave the pavement and the grid behind, you’re going to need the best overlanding gear. Whether it’s basic camping supplies, an awesome rooftop tent to keep you high and dry or vital and durable safety equipment, the proper equipment can make all the difference in the world.

Products in the Guide

How We Tested

Many of the essential tools for overlanding expeditions are equally useful in everyday life for tamer affairs like ordinary vehicle maintenance and family trips. Our testers deployed their outdoors and motoring expertise testing several items in varied conditions, consulting with industry experts and curating top products from outside sources and other Gear Patrol buying guides.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

The Overlanding Gear You Need:

For maximum traction while traversing rocks or sand, you will want to air down your tires a bit. Although it may seem like a hassle, a few minutes of deflating is much easier (and cheaper) than changing a blown tire out on the trails. This ARB unit removes the valve core from the tire in order to get the job done quickly.

If you’re serious about overlanding and you’re not hitting trails that will have you worried about tipping due to extra weight up high, they can be excellent — especially the Roofnest Falcon 2, which is one of our favorite rooftop tents.

The Falcon 2 is a high-end model with a low profile yet surprisingly roomy. Sometimes when you are on the road, you don’t know what the campsite will look like at the next stop, having a rooftop tent makes the comfort of your sleeping situation a lot more predictable.

The main perk of this specific hard-top tent is how quickly you can set it up. Even if you have to pull into the campsite after dark, popping this tent up and knocking out on the memory foam mattress doesn’t get any easier.

Read our full review of the Roofnest Falcon.

It should go without saying, but once you get back onto the main road, you’ll need to reinflate your tires. This lightweight, compact compressor from ARB can be installed under the hood of your truck or SUV.

Although having onboard air is a nice luxury, ARB also produces a portable version that does not need to be mounted under the hood and can just be in the back seat, ready whenever you need it.

Yes, you can probably use your car’s floor mats to get you out of snow and ice. But more harrowing terrain may require special equipment. The Max Trax gets positioned under your wheels if you encounter any mud or sand that becomes a bit more than you bargained for. Once your tires grip the teeth of the recovery boards, you will be back in business and well on your way.

Communication is important when you leave your base camp. This Midland two-way radio has up to a 50-mile range and can scan NOAA weather channels to alert you about severe weather. Easily mounted to your dash, this radio is especially useful when traveling with a group as you can communicate with your buddies in other cars following behind you.

KC HiLites are proven performers when it comes to lighting the way. Your headlights are going to need a bit of support while out on the trails and while you can go bigger with a full-length LED light bar, these will start you off on the right foot. The KCs are versatile in placement, and you can get amber light covers to switch out when you are faced with inclement weather.

Your winch isn’t very useful if you don’t have the right accessories, however. This kit comes with a snatch block with a grease port, tree trunk protector, recovery straps and 3/4 inch D-shackles, giving you everything you need to fully utilize the power behind your Warn.

This fire suppressant can come in handy on any camping trip and its non-toxic, biodegradable formula is ideal for outdoor use. When in remote locations, this becomes a safety essential. Small enough to tuck into any emergency bag, you will forget it is there until you are ready to use it.

This Gerber survival shovel with a serrated edge is lightweight, compact, robust — and there when you need it. When setting up recovery boards, you might need to clear some debris to slide the Max Trax into place. A shovel is also always an essential tool to have on hand when you roll into camp as you can dig a quick fire pit or level the ground for your tent.

This RotopaX gas can hold two gallons of fuel for extra range, meets CARB and EPA requirements and has a design that makes packing easy. It can be easily mounted on your vehicle and stacked with more RotopaX if you feel you need more than a couple of gallons, as they are very modular. The design also allows for easy venting when there are significant pressure changes with temperature or altitude.

The Hi-Lift Jack is durable, reliable and can be a legitimate jack-of-all-trades to help your vehicle out of trouble. When the inevitable day comes and you need to use your spare tire, this jack will make the job as quick and painless as possible. With a 7000-pound capacity, this power-coated jack will be ready to be put into action on the next heavy-duty adventure.

Warn winches have been a mainstay in the off-roading community for decades. The 103255 VR EVO is a perfect fit for an off-road rig, as it has a 12,000-pound capacity. With a one-time install, your winch will run off your car battery and might just be the saving grace that pulls you up and out of whatever situation you are stuck in. These are wildly tough and reliable and you won’t be disappointed with how much power it packs.

There are tons of awesome awnings out there to mount to your rig, but this removable one has won us over. Our tester found the shade to be extremely easy to set up, only taking a few minutes. We liked how we did not have to permanently mount the shade to our vehicle, allowing us more freedom for mounting our other gear, and we can use it with any of our vehicles (even the smaller ones) when we aren’t overlanding. You can either use their magnetic mounting system or suction cups to hold down the fort.

Apple Maps won’t be too incredibly useful when your data goes out, especially on unmarked roads and trails. The onX app allows you to pre-download the maps for trails you will be traversing so you easily navigate without cell service, and if you want it on the big screen, it is compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. This is also a great tool when planning a trip as there are many trails that are not easy to find online but well marked through the app and traveled by other like-minded people.

Additionally, the brand has added its Route Builder feature which has made planning out your trails even easier.

Read our full review of onX Offroad.

As any Gary Paulsen reader knows, a hatchet is essential in the wilderness, whether you’re clearing trail obstacles or starting a fire. A composite handle is advantageous in the elements, as there won’t be any issues with the handle deteriorating from moisture or temperature fluctuation.

Not only is it one of our favorite camping air mattresses, but Brad and Regena Kowitz are big fans as well. They say, “These can be expensive, but you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep. Being well rested is key to being in a great mood and mentally and physically ready for whatever your adventure throws at you.”

As one of the most popular power stations on the market, this Jackery comes with foldable solar panels. Having an additional power source can keep you on the trail longer, while also giving you access to more modern amenities. You can use the unit as a charger or a way to power a fridge or even an electric grill.

Read our full review of the Jackery Solar Generator 1000.

If you are hoping for a bit more technology when you are out of cell service, this satellite communicator might be an ideal pick for you. It is especially great when you are really in the thick of it and need some reliable communication over a longer trip. Our tester found it to be the best satellite communicator for remote travel.

You can’t use any of your other gear at night if you can’t see, so you definitely need a solid light source. This BioLite lamp is a really convenient way to light up your campsite. Our tester found this lantern to pack a lot of punch for its size. We also found that its multiple light settings can really set a relaxing mood for the evening as well. The rechargeable battery makes it great for longer trips, as you don’t have to remember to pack a bunch of double-As while out on the trail. There is a hook on the top to make it easy to hang, but it also gives off a solid 500 lumens and even doubles as a phone charger.

While we are on the topic of lighting, here is our favorite headlamp that I can guarantee it will come in handy when you need to climb down from your rooftop tent during the night. Our tester found that this lamp, in particular, was super versatile with its many different lighting modes while still being notably comfortable. We also liked how it is rechargeable, so knowing you don’t have to spare any light during a trip is super comforting.

A perfect example of multiuse gear that Kowitz suggested is this propane heater that doubles as a stove. You only need to pack this item and get the most out our your vehicle’s storage space, while still arriving prepared. This would be especially nice to have in the case of wood burn bans at campsites in dry environments.

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