Feeling overwhelmed by all the gear options for car camping and overlanding? Self-proclaimed “professional car camper” Jason Specht from Mountain State Overland is here to help. Jason joins us on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast this week to sort through the gear you actually need versus the gear you just want. From rooftop tents to camp cookware, Jason gives his best advice for building out the overlanding vehicle of your dreams. Plus, get his super easy, go-to dinner recipe for camp cooking and his mess-free hack for the best s’mores.
Tag:
overlanding
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Don’t let your weekend plans go up in smoke. Gaia GPS’s robust collection of weather maps can help you avoid current wildfires and find smoke-free skies. Learn how to use these (free!) wildfire, smoke, and air quality maps to find out if it’s safe to hike, bike, or camp at your next destination.
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With high desert mesas, alpine forests, and Moab’s copper-colored canyons, the Rimrocker trail makes a perfect weekend getaway for anyone looking to get into car camping and overlanding. Tune in to the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast with John Lumia, co-owner of Trails Offroad, for a complete report on this classic 160-mile route. John recently mapped the Rimrocker and he’s here to give us a rundown with all the trail’s fine details.
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Take your adventures off-road with the best maps for overlanding. This list includes favorites like USFS Roads and Trails and Motor Vehicle Use Maps, plus a few bonus maps you might not know about. Discover new trails, go further off the grid, and be prepared for what’s ahead with these key map sources.
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Knowing how to read a topographic map is the foundation to any backcountry adventure. Through the use of contour lines, topo maps bring a 3-dimensional element to a 2-dimensional paper map. Visualize the rise and fall of the land, and “see” the depths of canyons, the location of boggy meadows, and the height and shape of a mountain. Learn how to read topo maps like a pro.
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Overlanding has taken the outdoor industry by storm, and for good reason — the goal is to get as far off the beaten path as possible. Get started by learning what an overlanding route looks like, the type of vehicle and equipment you’ll need, and tips for planning your first trip.
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If you’re considering an overlanding or off-roading trip, you’ll need a quiver of off-road driving skills like how to handle sand, mud, river crossings, and steeps climbs. Four 4×4 experts weigh in on the the key overlanding skills to master for a successful journey on the backroads. Learn about the best overlanding maps, tire pressure, and how to develop “trail vision.”
Android Auto is here! Gaia GPS now connects with Android Auto, bringing all your favorite trail maps directly to your vehicle’s navigation screen. Pull up the MVUMs, satellite imagery, National Geographic Trails Illustrated, and more, all on the big screen on the dash. View waypoints and follow turn-by-turn directions with any saved route on backcountry dirt roads and front-country pavement — worldwide. No cell service needed.
Hike, hunt, and offroad with confidence using the Public Land (US) and Private Land (US) maps. Both maps provide coverage for every state in the US so you can quickly and easily decipher public and private land, no matter where you are. Plus, we’ve added 1.5 million acres to the Public Land map to bring you the most comprehensive coverage available.
Public tracks are now visible in the app! Gaia GPS users have amassed almost two million recorded routes all over the world, and now you can access them in the field using your iOS or Android devices. Discover new routes and plan trips with information from people who made the journey before you, and save public tracks directly to your account so you can follow them offline.