Overland Expo West 2021

For what feels like forever, Overland Expo West has been part of the calendar, like a holiday or some event that is just always in May.  It’s just always assumed that it’s going to be there, it’s just a question of which weekend in May.

Then things changed, and May came and went twice without Overland Expo West.  Meanwhile, the folks at Lodestone Events persevered, and thankfully they were able to lock in dates for September 2021 to get the original and longest running Overland Expo back on the calendar.  Coming in hot on the heels of the new Overland Expo Mountain West in Colorado, things were looking good. Mountain West was a great event, and you can check out our coverage of that event HERE.  Yet Mountain West was the first of it’s kind, and West was coming off of a long pause, so the question remained:  How would the OG Expo in Arizona return to form after this long hiatus?

The answer is: Almost like it never left. Folks are clearly ready to get outside, and back into outdoor activities and big events like this.  Overland Expo West is this awesome mixture of so many things that make it enjoyable for so many reasons.  There are the exhibitors, both new and old who bring all kinds of new gear and ideas from all over the world to share with attendees.  There are classes on just about everything from knot tying, to how to get published in this industry.  The camping areas are filled with the vehicles of folks who are actually doing the thing and using their vehicles for travel – and a trip through the campground at any Overland Expo is a great use of your time.  And of course there are the people – which has honestly become my favorite part, because you never know who you’re talking to, and there are some truly awesome folks that come to these events.  It’s good to have Overland Expo West back.

We spent the weekend walking all over the show to find cool new gear and rigs to share with you – here are some of our favorites, in no particular order.

Antigravity Batteries: I have been using Antigravity Batteries for years in motorcycle applications and they’ve proven to be great batteries, so it was exciting to see their product offerings expand into new categories at Overland Expo. Keep an eye out for new power stations, new jump start batteries, and new automotive applications in the coming months.

Deadman Off-Road: The Deadman Earth Anchor has been updated for better functionality and ease of use. These things are incredibly versatile pieces of kit – they can be used as tree savers, buried everything from sand or snow to create a recovery point, and as a work surface if you need to crawl under your truck in the mud.

Antishanty: I originally saw these trailers at SEMA 2019, and I have to say that I was impressed. These are well made all aluminum box trailers that can haul all of the toys and serve as a fully-featured camp trailer.

Garmin: Garmin is continuing to expand their offering of cool gadgets with a wireless switch controller that can be controlled with a Garmin Overlander Device. No running cabling through your firewall? Yes please!

ICON Vehicle Dynamics: This one is big – IVD launched their new IIC and CDEV system at Overland Expo. This is essentially a smart suspension system, that uses a brain called the IIC to measure data from sensors 1000 times a second to determine what the vehicle is doing. It can then send signals to CDEV shocks that can adjust damping in as little as 40 milliseconds. Not only will this system turn your truck into a magic carpet off-road, but if you need to do something like make an evasive move on the highway, this system can spike the damping on each side of the vehicle as needed to help keep the vehicle in control. Fitment currently exists for 2.5 shocks for Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, and Jeep JL/JT.

OVRLND Campers: Built in Flagstaff, AZ, OVRLND Campers are awesome campers that come with even better stickers. A few of the guys at OVRLND live out of their campers, and with years of experience on the clock supporting their design, these are well thought out units that don’t cost a second mortgage.

ALP Generators: These propane powered generators were a big hit at the show. No gasoline fumes or fuss, and everyone has propane for camping, so why not have a generator that runs off it as well? Solar only works when the sun is out afterall.

Dometic: This is a company that is continuing to make waves, and their new Dometic GO line of camp kit looks great. Standout products include their new HYD-J11 water jug, matching HYD-WF water faucet, and their super packable electric blankets – the CMP-H1 and CMP-B2. They also had a center console cooler installed on a truck parked in their booth.

iKamper:  Bringing some innovation to the skottle / discada game is iKamper’s Disco. You can hang the disco, use the disco in skottle mode, or pull the burner out and have a propane / isobutane burner to work with.

On X Off-Road: This navigation app is continually getting updated with new features. Two of the latest updates include active wildfires and the much requested addition of folders so you can stay organized and quickly access specific info on the fly.

MAXTRAX: Spotted at the show was MAXTRAX’s new line of recovery kit which features shackles, and kinetic ropes of varying lengths. Of note here is their new fuse shackle, which is a way to plan a known point of failure into a recovery rigging system. You can get all their latest gear through Adventure Imports here in the US

NISMO: Nissan is getting into the performance parts game through NISMO with a line of off-road accessory parts for their XTerra and Frontier platforms. OEM engineering, fit, finish, and compatibility (so things like airbags and crush zones still work.) is always a win in our book.

ARB: Bronco parts are incoming! Expect to see the full ARB treatment including armor, Old Man Emu suspension and a number of other Bronco-specific goodies in the coming months. ARB is also getting into the rack game with more base racks being produced for other applications beyond their current lineup.

Step 22: If you ever have a need for a bag or for some help organizing your gear, Step 22 needs to be on your radar. From their new kitchen kit to organizing toiletries, tools, personal items, recovery gear, clothes, and tech/camera equipment, Step 22 makes bags that are over-built and exceedingly well thought out. And they’re easily the BEST LOOKING storage ecosystem on the market, bar none.

Force Protector Gear: FPG makes some really nice shade systems and other quality gear. Check out our review of their company’s outstanding Shade System HERE. Their booth was popular under the blazing sun, as their shade systems make things considerably cooler than other offerings by actually blocking the radiant heat that most tarps and awnings fail to mitigate.

Pelican: More boxes, in more shapes, and Overland specific styles are the latest from Pelican Cases. New boxes are designed to be left up on a vehicles’ roof or out in the elements, and I really like the custom laser topo work done on a few of these cases for the show.

QuietKat: There were a number of e-bike vendors at Overland Expo this year. Quietkat is the company that partnered with Jeep to create the Jeep e-bike. Their line of bikes runs from hardtails to full suspension setups with trailers for hauling even more kit afield.

Gear Repair: I was stoked to see a booth for gear repair at the show. So often the things that take a piece of outerwear or a favorite bag out of commission are things that can be fixed, and this crew out of Utah was working for tips, which is an awesome price to pay for getting a second lease on life for a loved piece of gear. I hope this continues to be a thing at Overland Expos in the future.

Highroad Adventure Gear: These guys partnered up with the Last US Bag Company to bring some innovative new gear to the show. Their Woodgaiter is a great way to pack and transport firewood, and their Treadpack bag is great for gotreads or recovery gear, and it can be used as a line damper when using a winch.

HD Pan America: I’ll just say that this bike has proven a lot of people wrong with how good it is. This engine cut away was pretty well done too, and eagle-eyed readers will notice some really impressive tech in this mill. We love seeing American companies like Harley-Davidson evolve!

Mosko Moto: Many moons ago, Mosko Moto was just a couple of guys with one product and a few hay bales to make a booth at a long past Overland Expo. Today, they’ve grown into a powerhouse in the motorcycle industry. They make killer luggage and bags, and their foray into riding apparel is looking like a great success. All of their gear is well thought out, and I love their open design process that incorporates rider feedback at every step of the way.

Forest Tool Company: This thing was pretty cool – a true multi tool with a Pulaski, shovel, pick, axe, Mc Cloud and more. The best part about their design is that the harder you swing the more secure the joint gets, which is more than I can say for other attempts at forest multi tools I’ve seen in the past.

Wagan Tech: Is a family owned company that has been selling jump starters, inverters, solar power kit, and other safety products for the last 35 years.  They just launched a line of solar generators / power stations called lithium cubes, and we’ve got one on the way to do a full review on, so stay tuned for that.  Wagan supports the Rebelle Rally, and they happen to be really nice folks too.

Rigd Supply: If you’re in the market for a hitch mounted swing out, check out Rigd Supply. These things are well made, rock solid and silent. They also come packed with useful features and options.

Leitner Designs: Leitner continues to expand their offerings for their Active Cargo Systems with their new 4.8 gallon Shower Pod, and their new medical kits designed to work within the Leitner Gear Pod ecosystem. The new first aid kits are ready to go and come pre-stocked with brightly labeled, top shelf medical supplies from MyMedic. We’ll talk more about this Leitner Designs/MyMedic collab in a future article.

Shiftpod: Spotted here in the wild at the event… the new Shiftpod III features improved ventilation and an integrated carbon fiber frame & hub system making it significantly lighter than the previous iteration. It still has that signature  “Burning Man” look with a true 4-season fabric system that is both heat reflective and insulated with mildew protection and hydrophobic coatings to protect against the elements.

Loki Basecamp Falcon 8: For roughly $135,000 you can have this crazy camper to drop in your full size truck with an 8 foot bed. It’s VERY nice, and it’s also estimated to weigh in around 3,000 pounds, so I’ll let the comment section expand on that.

Equipt Expedition Outfitters: If you know, then you know. If you don’t know, then know that these guys import top shelf stuff from all over the world, and they happen to be outstanding humans too. One of the treats to Overland Expo is always the Equipt party on Saturday night, and this year was awesome as always. On the new gear front, Eezi-Awn now has a 2nd and 3rd gen taco cab rack, and National Luna has some great DC to DC chargers that you can install as a standalone kit, or in one of their awesome battery boxes.

Kokopelli Packraft: I am continually impressed by the way folks use these things to link adventures together. From stringing together obscure routes in the Grand Canyon to big safaris through some of the best canyon country has to offer, these little boats are tough as nails and a real force multiplier on any trip. This new 2 person version is awesome, and can be seen here in “packed up” form leaning against the bow of the fully inflated boat.

Canyon Coolers: Their coolers are killer, and their new drinkware designs are a refreshing serving of something new in a world of powerdercoated clones. Canyon’s new ice sacks are also a great way to keep melted ice out of your food.

Truckhouse: Where do I begin with this one… The truckhouse is a single piece composite camper that’s inspired by the TRD Pro Tacoma, which also happens to be platform it’s riding on. There’s apparently an extensive list of modifications that are done to a TRD Pro Tacoma prior to installing this camper, like stretching the frame and completely replacing the rear axle. I’m willing to bet that this thing is more than 3,000 pounds over the GVWR of a stock 2022 TRD Pro Tacoma, which is 5,600 pounds for reference. The guys that build this thing said they enjoy flipping the bird to the auto industry so it will be interesting to see how this goes to say the least. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Super Pacific: The growing wedge camper game gets yet another new entry, this time from the Pacific Northwest. Competition is good for the consumer, and Super Pacific is bringing some cool functionality to the game with unique features and design choices. Sleeping platforms are cut for Molle, and they can be hung vertically when not in use. The Super Pacific Campers are made in what they call “aircraft style” using a fully riveted design which is incredibly strong. This allows for plenty of internal space to route wiring too.

Ford Bronco: This thing is the business, and I’m going to enjoy watching a few Jeep owners I know over the next few years to see if they get on the blue oval train. Hey Toyota, if you’re reading this, where are you?!

Classes: Overland Expo is so much more than a place to just come oogle the latest shiny widgets, and kick the tires on the latest and greatest vehicles. It’s a great place to learn, and there is an extensive schedule of classes on all kinds of topics from knot tying to MAXTRAX usage, and a million other things. Even when it’s pouring rain there are classes.

Random Overland Expo Stuff: Overland Expo is so many things, and it’s attended by so many different folks from just as many different walks of life. So sometimes you just see stuff that’s photo worthy:

In closing, it’s good to have Overland Expo West back. Whether you are an accomplished around the world traveler, or someone who is just testing the waters with this whole Overland thing, Overland Expo West is always a great time. There’s just a lot of awesome that gathers together for this show, and while there’s always a few things that make you scratch your head at any large show like this, on the whole it’s an awesome event attended by great people. As best as I can tell, the outdoor industry shows no signs of slowing down, so it will be exciting to see what the coming years bring for the Overland Expo event series and the Overland industry as a whole.

Colorado or Bust: Overland Expo Mountain West 2021

Overland Expo Mountain West almost didn’t happen. For most of us, the last year+ was like a dystopian B movie on many levels, complete with terrible casting and an even worse plot line. Because of all that, there was an uncomfortable feeling right up until the day I drove away from Florida for Colorado that this event would somehow get derailed too. I know the event organizers likely aged a few years with worry and lost sleep over the what if’s that were spawned in our minds as a result of 2020.

Spoiler Alert: The pandemic and shutdowns of 2020 conspired to put Overland Expo out of business, but Lodestone and this community are RALLYING in 2021. My hat is off to all those at Lodestone from the very top all the way down to the volunteers on the ground that made this happen in Colorado. This event was a huge success!

Colorado or Bust

We’ve covered almost every Overland Expo event to date ( see here and here and here and here ) so being able to physically attend this inaugural event in Colorado was a big deal for us, especially after being Virtual in 2020. With all systems go on my end, and a last minute confirmation from my contacts inside the puzzle palace at Lodestone, I headed west. Now the fun began, with three back-to-back 10 hour days across six states and nearly 1,500 miles “overland” to get to this event and cover it. A three hour nap in a “picnic area” off I-20 in August heat in East Texas reinforced my need for a fan in my Quick Pitch roof top tent, and a full night’s sleep and hot shower in camp in New Mexico made all the difference when I finally rolled into “The Ranch” on Thursday for work.

Linking up on site with fellow Adventurist and Founding Member Tim Bleau, check in was made easy by the Expo staff and we quickly established our forward operating base for the long weekend at Overland Expo Mountain West in Colorado. Reinforcements soon arrived when John Tate and Adam Wright joined us on site as well. With tens of thousands of attendees on the way, and hundreds of vendors, this was an extremely busy weekend and I could not have done it without the boots on ground presence of these fine Americans. Hand salute!

Once we were set up, we watched the fields and surrounding facilities at The Ranch Events Center in Loveland fill up as more and more vendors and companies rolled in by the hour. Like usual, we saw representation from around the globe. Having attended Overland Expo since it was a modest once a year gathering down in Amado, Arizona, it’s truly mind boggling to see how this once “niche” overland community of ours has grown and become truly global. Overlanding is clearly MAINSTREAM now with companies like Winnebago, Thule, Yakima and even GMC jumping onboard today.

I spent the next three days walking the expansive grounds here, talking to people and vendors, and sniffing out innovation and things I thought would be of interest to you and the overland and outdoor segment at large. Our on the ground “live” coverage from the event included 55 InstaGram and Facebook posts and four “live” sessions on InstaGram. It took me a few days just to wrap my head around the hundreds of photos I walked away with and the sheer magnitude of what was gathered there in one place.

It wouldn’t be an Overland Expo without extreme weather. Thursday night was a real treat as the Ghosts of Expo’s Past roared through the Ranch bringing dust storms and 65 mph wind gusts. This was a great opportunity for one of my favorite Expo pastimes, E-Z Up Kite Watching. Several of them took flight that evening and once their parachutes were expended, they quickly lost altitude like angry metal spiders, thrashing other booths. Thankfully, the remainder of the weekend was beautiful with no more angry wind gusts. Pro tip: stake down your booth before you go to the hotel!

Below, you’ll see that the 4WD, Overland, and Outdoor industry did not take a vacation during 2020, they were burning the midnight oil in garages and shops and factories across the globe to create new things to show off at Overland Expo Mountain West in 2021!

Camping at Overland Expo Mountain West

Before we cover all the mercantile stuff, let’s take a walk through what I call “Gen Pop” camping, or general population. People travel from all across North America to attend this show, and rather than stay in hotels, they’re using their gear and actually living the overland lifestyle on site. We’ve always done the same at our booth, and camping here is a great way to meet some interesting people. This is where you’ll find some of the best ideas and examples of what really works when people are living “out there” on unsupported trips in the backcountry. Many of these people are full time overlanders, so I like to make it a point to lurk here, looking for unique solutions and rare vehicles among the campsites and other parking areas. Here’s a few of the best of those, and some other cool rigs and “Feature Vehicles” that caught my eye.

UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät anyone?

Toyota TownAce 4WD

Swag City!

Expedition Prius?

Onward to the Main Event!

Walking around the event on the business side of town was a lot of fun too. Like SEMA, companies come out in force at Overland Expo and it’s cool to see OEM vehicle manufacturers like GMC bringing their latest and greatest offerings out to be seen in public.

Guaranteed Mountain Climbers

GMC’s new Hummer EV drew lots of attention and features new tech like the “crabwalk” feature that lets it drive diagonally (the rear wheels turn 10 degrees), underbody cameras, and “extract mode” which raises the vehicle six inches through it’s active air suspension system.

We wanted to crabwalk all over it ourselves but they were quick to let us know this one was an early “hand build” and as such, we couldn’t touch it or get any closer up than what you see here even with media credentials. As a gearhead I love my combustion engines, but I have to admit that as this EV technology matures, vehicles like this will change the overland game forever. Just give me a 500 mile range and a money tree and I’m all in.

GMC also debuted the new Canyon AT4 OvrlandX concept at Overland Expo Mountain West. This is a serious entry featuring factory front and rear lockers, OEM winch, and 10 inches of ground clearance. I wonder when Toyota will wake up and notice they’re no longer leading this lucrative segment?

Hill People Gear

Not everything at Overland Expo is about trucks. Some of our best adventures happen out on foot, far away from the comforts of camp and the safety of our vehicles. Many top shelf outdoor gear manufacturers attend these events, and we took advantage of the opportunity to get some good deals on some important kit. The need for sturdy clothing and gear in the backcountry cannot be overstated.

When your life depends on it, when you need the absolute best, choose American made, choose Hill People Gear!

67 Designs

We have one of their mounts in our Jeep that’s several years old now and still going strong. Simply the best way to secure devices in a vehicle, and 67 Designs is made in USA.

ARB

The Australian powerhouse known as ARB is still developing new products, and they had their loaner Bronco test mule on display with new bumpers, Old Man Emu suspension, ARB Solis lighting and some other bits. Competition is good for everyone and we’re excited to see what what Ford does with this new 4WD platform.

AluCab

AluCab‘s newest RTT offering is impressive, and very well thought out right down to the box. But, I have no clue how they get that tent into, or out of, this box!

Redtail Overland

Redtail Overland has a killer build and more importantly, an airy, carbon fiber hard sided rooftop tent that made me stop and stare for a few minutes. So many features, so many high level options, so much innovation.

Redtail Overland Roof Top Tent
Redtail Overland Roof Top Tent
Redtail Overland Roof Top Tent

Ryder Offroad

The guys from Rig.Talk made the long trip out from California for this event and brought their new line of wheels from Ryder Offroad.

Adventure Motos

This segment at the show continues to grow every year, and the big splash this year was Harley-Davidson and their all-new Pan America. I’ll be the first to tell you that Harley is not playing games here, they went all-in on this bike from thr ground up and mere photos do not do this bike justice. The buzz was truly warranted and my overall impression is that Harley nailed it with this long awaited entry into the ADV space, it will only get better once the aftermarket swoops in to fill any small gaps.

There were tons of other ADV bikes out and about with strong showings from both BMW and Yamaha, with the riding courses and clinics remaining ever popular at Overland Expo.

Dometic

Dometic went all in this year, and showed up with a slew of new products that they’ve been developing. Aside from their strong presence in the 12v fridge/electric cooler segment, Dometic is launching an entirely new line of lifestyle enhancing products ranging from camp furniture to storage, traditional coolers, scene lighting, and on-demand drinking water delivery.

They even have heated seating pads for those chilly nights in camp when the backside is 180 degrees from the campfire. And no, their camp furniture is not white labeled Snow Peak, it’s all from Dometic, and it’s all legit. They remain in our top 10 companies to watch, and we looking forward to what they do in the overland market in 2022.

Leitner Designs

Another great company that sets the bar very high when it comes to quality and innovation is Leitner Designs. Their entire ecosystem is not only beautiful to look at, it’s extremely well thought out and over-engineered. Their new Shower Pod caught my eye along with the rest of their burly rack accessories. The only limit with their system is your imagination!

Recovery Gear

Overland Expo continues to be a mecca for the latest and greatest innovations in recovery gear and techniques. We spent some time talking to companies we trust like Warn, Factor 55 and our friends at Deadman Offroad. We’ve also seen some snake oil salesmen show up in recent years peddling some questionable widgets to newbies so this is one area we recommend a good deal of research, and some hands on training from a reputable source like the I4WDTA, before spending your hard earned cash on the latest shiny bauble.

Step 22 Gear

Speaking of innovation, meet Adam Wood, the brains behind Step 22 Gear. This guy takes attention to detail to a whole new level through his design cues, unique features, and uncompromising choice of materials. If you need to maximize limited storage space on the road, and avoid yard sales in camp when you need something quick, check out Step 22 Gear and change the game.

Step 22 Gear’s Pangolin Tool Roll is simply without equal in this genre.

Step 22 Gear Tortoise gathers everything you need in a very small footprint.

Equipt Expedition Outfitters

It simply would not be an Overland Expo if “OG” Paul May and Equipt Expedition Outfitters didn’t show up. Back again this year with more of the very best gear from around the globe, a visit to this booth is like a pilgrimage each year for those of us who have been around since this event began. Sadly, there were no parties this year due to the venue’s concession rules but it was still great to see Equipt there doing their thing in Colorado.

MAXTRAX – Accept no substitute!

Hatchet Overland

I had not seen this top for the Jeep Wrangler before, and I liked how you could step up and stand inside the rear cargo area for ingress and egress to the sleeping area as well as changing clothes. Great idea and I can’t wait to see what Hatchet Overland does next with this minimalist concept.

Vanlife

This is another segment that continues to grow rapidly, and it was nice to get to see so many van companies there taking the #vanlife to the next level. We see a van in our not too distant future, and we spent quite a bit of time looking at Field Van as well as for upgrades. With the amount of coast-to-coast overland travel I’ve done these last few years, I can hardly imagine the comfort and ease of travel in one of these. I think this option is the bees knees so long as you stray no further than BLM or USFS fire roads etc. You could probably reach 85% of the spots we love in a van

Kokopelli Packraft

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could bring a boat or kayak with you on every trip, without the hit on MPG and aerodynamics? We were intrigued by Kokopelli Packraft and on closer inspection it was quickly evident that these things are not your kid’s pool toy. The materials remind us of the tough Zodiac boats we used in the military, and their ease of transport and deployment is a game changer when that perfect campsite (and priceless solitude) require some paddling to get to.

Off The Grid Surplus

Companies like Off The Grid Surplus are ensuring that we have better options for outdoor clothing beyond what’s available in a boring big box store. Because believe it or not, you don’t have to dress like a zookeeper or safari movie extra to get out and enjoy overlanding. We actually checked on Linked In and there’s no need for more lion tamers out there. Not even one.

RAM Trucks

RAM was there in a big way with a killer Rebel on display and an obstacle course where you could drive a new Power Wagon. The new split tailgate system and outfitting they did with Dometic on this new Rebel was way over the top. A serious fisherman’s camp on wheels!

Yes, that tailgate folds down too!

In Closing

The inaugural Overland Expo Mountain West was a smashing success, drawing 17,000+ attendees from all over the world, with 270 registered exhibitors, 87 presenters/instructors, and industry VIP’s.

Additionally, this event had TONS to do in the form of 300+ classes, seminars, demos, activities, slideshows, and films; totaling 365+ session hours of instruction. With so much going on all at once, it was simply impossible for me to cover it all with one camera. The place was literally covered in shiny stuff, squirrels, and Patagucci.

I could go on forever here…

…But I won’t. I have a deadline to make and we’re going to see most of you at Overland Expo West or Overland Expo East in 2021 anyway. I’ll dump more photos over HERE on our Forum where you can head over there to see everything else I forgot to talk about or poke fun at in this article. Until next time!

FULL DISCLOSURE: This is not a sponsored article. None of the companies mentioned here paid for reviews or event coverage by American Adventurist. #IndependentMedia