Must-Have Overlanding Gear (And Fun Toys)

Last updated on May 24, 2021

A list of the essential overlanding gear (and some fun stuff, too!)

Looking for the best overlanding gear to have more fun on the trail?

Whether you’re looking for the bare-minimum essential overland gear to get you out on the trail or you want to turn camping into glamping with things like battery-powered fridges and string lights, we’ve compiled all the coolest overlanding gear in one spot!

Here we go:

Table of Contents

Must-Have Overlanding Gear Essentials

Look — we all love having fun toys. It’s one of the best parts of camping! But no matter what your budget is, you can hit the road with just a few essential items. These are the must-haves if you’re going on an off-roading adventure:

1. Food and Water

Wherever you’re going, you gotta eat and drink! Obviously you need food and water – what I’m referring to here is the containers to put them in… and something to filter water should you find yourself stranded longer than expected.

Of course, you’ll also want a pot, pan, coffee maker, utensils, plates, etc… all the normal camp kitchen accessories you would bring camping.

2. Recovery Gear and First Aid

After your survival needs are met, the next most important thing to bring with you on any overlanding adventure is recovery gear and first aid items. The last thing you want is to get stuck or have a major injury miles from pavement with nothing to fix it!

First Aid Kit (Here’s a cheap one just so you have something at least)
Recovery Boards
Recovery Strap + Soft Shackles (it doesn’t hurt to keep extra straps of varying lengths)
Hitch-Mount Recovery Receiver (If you don’t have D-rings on your bumper already)
Hi-Lift Jack (Make sure you know how to use it before you need to figure it out on the trail!)
Off-Road Shovel
Tire Repair Kit
Storage Case (to store your recovery gear — I mounted a Pelican gun case on my roof rack)
Winch (OK maybe not essential but extremely helpful)
Snatch Blocks (See “What is a Snatch Block?” for more info)

Also, while not specific to recovery equipment or first aid, these items are good to have in the field as well and didn’t warrant their own category:

ARB Tire Deflator
Portable Off-Roading Air Compressor
Fire Extinguisher (Preferably an H3R Extinguisher which is rated for electrical fires as well)

3. Communications Devices or Boosters

One of the worst things that could happen while overlanding or just off-roading is having an emergency and not being able to contact anyone because you’re out of cell service. That’s why it’s important to take safety precautions with either a cell booster, satellite comms, or both.

WeBoost Drive Reach with OTR Antenna (Cell Signal Booster)
Garmin inReach Sattelite Communicator

Check out XOverland’s guide to communications for more options, like HAM and CB radios.

4. Camp Essentials

Once you’ve set up camp, you’ll need some campsite equipment to ensure a comfortable camping experience! These are the basics that I wouldn’t go camping without:

Flashlight
Headlamp
Lantern
Sleeping Bag + Sleeping Pad or Air Mattress
Tent (Or, preferably, a rooftop tent!)
A Good Knife
Fire Starter
Lighter or Torch
Compass (for navigation in case you get lost — just make sure you know how to use it!)

Boujee Overland Gear You’ll Want to Have

Enough of the essentials — let’s get to the fun stuff! Shopping for any adventure and you’ll want some of these cool gadgets to turn your off-road camping experience into a glamping experience!

1. Cool Stuff For Your Rig

Let’s start with the most important part of your trip… your vehicle!

Off-Road Gas Cans such as the Wavian NATO Jerry Fuel Can OR RotopaX (I prefer the jerry can as RotopaX has been known to have leaks and plastic particulate… but they do look cool!)
Prinsu Roof Rack (I LOVE this thing)
A good set of all-terrain or mud-terrain tires (like the BFGoodrich KO2s, my personal choice – see our guide to the best 37 inch tires for more info)
Diamondback Truck Bed Cover
LED Light Bars and Ditch Lights from Cali Raised LED or Heretic Studio
iKamper Rooftop Tent
A nice camp chair with a canopy
A camp sink

Check out bumpers and other accessories from Overlander.

2. Tools You’ll Probably Want

You never know when you might encounter a tree in your way that requires a chainsaw, or maybe you need to chop wood for a fire or fix a part on your vehicle. Whatever the need, these tools will make your outdoor adventure easier!

Gerber Hatchet OR Fiskars Hatchet (or get one of these cool viking carved hatchets from Etsy like I have)
Gerber Folding Shovel
Greenworks Battery-Powered Chainsaw

3. Camping Power & Electronics

The ultimate glamping overland experience isn’t complete without electricity! Here are our favorite electronics and the generator to power them:

Check out our overland solar power guide to learn more about our setup and how you can create your own!

Conclusion

That’s all we have for overland gear and vehicle equipment to make your next excursion into nature an absolute blast!

Do you have any overland essentials we missed on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Related: What is Overlanding?

Bill Widmer

Bill is an overlanding and outdoor enthusiast, currently rocking a 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Cavalry Blue. If he's not offroading or camping, you'll find him playing with his DJI Maveric Pro 2 drone or traveling the country.