Let’s be honest. The romance of the trail is a lie. A story we sell ourselves in the gear shop to justify the price tags. We fetishize the struggle... The reality, five miles in with forty pounds digging into your shoulders, is that you’re not a spiritual wanderer. You’re a beast of burden.

It’s about control. It's the difference between "scorched" and "seared." Lay down a big Coleman or Blackstone griddle and you’re not just making breakfast; you’re holding court. It's the centerpiece of a car camping kitchen setup that's a greasy, beautiful, temporary temple of sizzling pork fat.

The road teethes at your tires and the air smells like hot sage and bad decisions. But which rig belongs on that road: fuel, hybrid, or full electric? This is a real-world guide to the pros, cons, and practical trail tactics for the modern overlander, helping you pick the right hammer for the nail, whether your destination has a plug or a pump.

The lie is that with enough preparation and a good enough plan, you can somehow tame the wild. We learned the truth of this with sweat stinging our eyes and a map turning to pulp, deep in the relentless jungles of Laos. Our 'legitimate track' had vanished, leaving our fully-kitted Toyota Hilux utterly useless. This is the story of what you do when the plan dies, and the real adventure begins.

For us, weekend adventures aren’t about cramming more in — they’re about finding more space. Space in the rig, space in the schedule, space to just be together. That’s what Side Quest Overland is all about.

“The gut check is simple. Don’t let the search for the “perfect” build keep you in the driveway. Gear is a tool, not a ticket. Whether your rig rolled out of a catalog or a Facebook Marketplace ad, the only thing that matters is whether it gets you to the places you want to be.”

At Side Quest Overland, we talk a lot about gear. Whether it's upgrading suspension for a trail rig, dialing in tire pressure before a bikepacking trip, or packing the perfect camp stove, we know that preparation is everything. But there's one piece of gear that gets overlooked far too often: your body.

Imagine you're deep in the backcountry — out of reach, off-grid, low on supplies — and a drone buzzes overhead with exactly what you need: a fresh oxygen canister, a med kit, or just the extra fuel you forgot to pack.

That’s not science fiction anymore. On Mount Everest, drones are already saving lives.

And while most of us aren't climbing to 8,848 meters, this breakthrough has big implications for overlanders, bikepackers, and everyday explorers who push into the wild.

Let’s take a look at how drone-delivered oxygen is changing Everest — and how it might change the way we all adventure.

The plan was simple enough. Pack light, grab a rod, toss a few sandwiches in the bag, and ride out with my son for one night under the stars. It sounded good on paper. But by the time Friday showed up, life was already off balance — work wasn’t done, gear wasn’t packed, dinner hadn’t been figured out.

The sensible thing would’ve been to stay home. Catch up. Try again next weekend.

But there he was, helmet in hand, standing by his bike with that look — the kind that says he’s already halfway gone. So we went. No ceremony, no second guesses. Just a father, a son, and a quiet promise that some things matter more than being caught up.

Most kids today can swipe before they can walk a trail. They know how to scroll, but not how to read clouds. They recognize app icons better than animal tracks. Something’s gone missing, and it’s not in a lost-and-found box. It’s out there. In the mud. In the woods. In the questions that come when there’s nothing else competing for your attention. This is why we go outside. And why we keep going back.

Are they always climbing, collecting, and asking questions about every bird, bug, or rock they encounter? If your child’s idea of fun involves muddy boots, forest trails, and wide-open skies, then you're raising a young adventurer — and that’s a gift worth celebrating.

But what do you give a child who already loves the great outdoors? If they’ve got dirt under their fingernails and a heart full of curiosity, these top outdoor gifts for kids will fuel their imagination, deepen their connection with nature, and inspire a lifetime of exploration.

Whether you're rolling out solo on a quick overnighter or packing up the kids for a weekend in the wild, bikepacking is one of the most freeing, flexible ways to explore the outdoors. The beauty? There’s no one right way to do it — only the setup that works for you.

Overlanding has exploded in popularity, and for good reason! It combines road-tripping, off-roading, and self-sufficient camping into one epic adventure. But getting started can feel overwhelming. Do you need a decked-out 4x4? Thousands of dollars in gear? Not at all. This guide breaks down the absolute basics, so you can hit the trails today without overcomplicating it.

The Garmin Instinct series has always been about rugged reliability, and with the Instinct 2X Solar, Garmin took things up a notch. Bigger screen, better battery, added features like a built-in flashlight, and a solar panel that actually makes a difference—on paper, it looks like an adventurer’s dream. But does it hold up in real-world use?

Learn how to build a personalized first-aid kit for overlanding, hiking, and family adventures. From bee stings on the trail to emergency preparedness in remote locations, this practical guide covers essential supplies, organization tips, and training resources—plus a free downloadable checklist.

Explore how global tariffs and shifting supply chains are driving up the price of your favorite outdoor gear—and what that means for sustainability in the adventure industry. From ultralight tents to bikepacking essentials, discover the hidden economic and environmental impacts shaping your next trip. This in-depth guide breaks down how tariffs affect materials like Dyneema, aluminum, and recycled fabrics, and whether U.S. manufacturing can close the gap. Learn how to shop smarter, support ethical brands, and avoid greenwashing in a changing gear economy.

If you are planning an adventure, make sure you tell someone where you are going, how long you expect to be out, and plan for hydration and fuel.

Every journey has a lesson, and when I’m not in the thick of adventure, I turn to others for inspiration, knowledge, and motivation. Our niche community of like-minded adventure seekers who each bring a unique flavor to their sport or activity.

Adventure isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you get there. I’ve spent years piecing together overland rigs, finding beauty in the imperfect, the beat-up, the budget-built.

It was the most wildlife-rich campsite of our trek—everywhere we turned, something was moving, grazing, or watching us from a distance.