Published September 11, 2026 10:03AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Overlanding can feel like tackling the outdoors with superpowers. Hard to reach places open up to you, your optimized rig, and however many two- or four-legged companions you can haul with you. You can shrug off the kind of weather that would bounce hikers or bikers back to a trail-town motel, and many comforts of home lie within arm\u2019s reach\u2014whether you\u2019re basking by a glacier view or prepping in a big-box parking lot.<\/p>\n
But for first-timers, the barrier to entry can feel high. Beyond your own physical fitness and core gear, you\u2019ll need to familiarize yourself with your vehicle, sleeping setup, water, fuel, cooking, power, recovery gear, accessories, and beyond. The good news is that the modular approach is deeply customizable to your particular needs and desires\u2014and an entire community exists to welcome and help you.<\/p>\n
Overland Expo draws nearly 100,000 enthusiasts each year to five events across the country, where beginners and pros alike fawn over the latest gear, builds, skills, and tips. Each event hosts hundreds of exhibitors who are excited to suit attendees up with the tech, gear, and accessories essential for fun beyond the pavement.<\/p>\n Hankook Tire was among them at Overland Expo Mtn West<\/a>, displaying its legendary Dynapro off-road lineup<\/a>. That\u2019s also where we caught up with Phoenix-based overlanding vehicle designer and builder Nick Scherr<\/a> to pick his brain about show discoveries, top tips for newbies, fall favorites, test-piece tires<\/a>, and why the overlanding community keeps him inspired and connected.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re clambering over technical terrain or trying to save fuel on the highway, every ounce counts in overlanding. That\u2019s why Scherr was particularly taken with the range of inflatable gear offered by FLATED<\/a>: truck bed covers, storage containers, even couches for extreme lounging.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rooftop storage is especially nice because it\u2019s lighter than a rooftop box, but it\u2019s easier to take off the car, so you don\u2019t really have to commit to putting a rooftop box on,\u201d Scherr says. \u201cAnd then you can just deflate it and stick it in your garage. That\u2019s been something I\u2019ve been really having fun using because it\u2019s just extremely convenient.\u201d<\/p>\n For overlanders, your vehicle shapes your sleeping quarters. Vans frequently feature built-in bedrooms, while truck drivers often choose between trailers and wedge or pop-up campers. Rooftop tents typically work best for cars or SUVs. Scherr chooses rooftop tents from Napier<\/a> for his Nissan XTerra builds for their ease of use, quality, and durability.<\/p>\n \u201cI love a rooftop tent\u2014I like that I can transfer it from vehicle to vehicle and then still have the ability to take whatever vehicle I want to the trailhead,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say tires are the most important piece of any overlanding vehicle. They can make or break your adventure like no other piece of gear, and finding a set that offers protection, traction, puncture resistance, and performance on mud, dirt, rocks, snow, ice, and slush is mission critical.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you are going off-road, it all starts with your tires,\u201d Scherr says. \u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s really hitting the road, getting you to where you\u2019re going\u2014not the car.\u201d<\/p>\nDiscover the Latest Gear and More at Overland Expo<\/h2>\n
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