If you like being out in your 4×4 off-road or on a trip, you often meet like-minded people. That leads to great chats around the campfire and often to new friendships too. In the off-road and travel scene, many communities, clubs and associations, small and large, have formed and they are very active. We think that is brilliant, and so in our Scene & Clubs series we keep introducing interesting clubs and communities from the off-road and travel scene. Today we tell you about a very international community of the off-road travel scene: Overland Bound.
“Outfit and Explore!” That is the motto of Overland Bound, founded on the premise that adventure is essential for everyone. That is exactly what this is about. Getting well prepared and then exploring the world. Whether on your own doorstep or on a far-off trip. With a car and a ground tent or a luxurious 4×4 expedition vehicle. A day trip or a full-time traveller. It does not matter at all, the main thing is that you get out and do something great!
How Overland Bound was born
On a snowy winter’s day, Michael was visiting his home town with his children. He was going through a very hard time in his life, and on top of that it happened. The sporty convertible got stuck in a snowdrift. There was no way forward and no way back. The engine ran to keep the heater alive. Michael watched the fuel gauge creep towards the empty mark. He quickly wondered how he was going to keep the children warm once the fuel ran out. Luckily the three of them were rescued by the California Highway Patrol before anything worse could happen.
He bought a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ80, threw in some gear and drove into the California Sierras
He was badly prepared, really badly, but he relied on what he had learned as a child. The result of that trip was absolute freedom. And to this day Michael takes one such solo trip a year to ground himself. Much better prepared than back then with the convertible, of course. Because that too is a core principle of Overland Bound: travel, but safely and properly prepared!
After this experience, Michael wanted to share what he had been through and bring the solitude of the open wild closer to others. He began writing about overlanding and sharing his experiences. Overland Bound was born. You can listen to the whole story here as a podcast.
The core principles of the community
These events were some years ago now, and today Overland Bound is an international community of the travel scene with over 28,500 members worldwide, united by one thing: the joy of vehicle-based travel. Because that is all overlanding is: vehicle-based travel! And it does not matter what vehicle you drive. The only requirement of a travel vehicle is that it does the job asked of it, and does it safely.
No one is excluded here! This, and much more, Overland Bound has written into its principles, which every member acknowledges and lives by.
The principle of excluding no one leads to incredible diversity among the members. People meet here from all over the world, from the most varied cultures, walks of life and the most varied beliefs and ways of living. The connecting element: seeing the world! In this way Overland Bound encourages an open mind and diversity.
This shows in the Overland Bound forum too
The forum now has around 65,000 members and offers, across more than half a million posts, a wealth of well-structured information on overlanding and everything that goes with it. From tips for newcomers, through descriptions and the planning of interesting destinations, travel reports, to gear advice and tips on first aid in travel emergencies, and much more, you really will find everything here. And that is exactly the point here: to support people who like to get out and do something in what they set out to do. Overland Bound wants as many people as possible to experience nature this way and wants to make that experience accessible and reachable for everyone.
The community is happy to help. Even when, thanks to its global reach, members are far apart. That is typical of people who live in large, spread-out countries. 500 kilometres for a coffee and a good chat is no distance there. And if there is nobody nearby, there are plenty of good tips on the Overland Bound YouTube channel and the Q&A forum too.
Overland Bound: a wealth of shared events and meet-ups too
It is similar with events. Meet-ups, training and events are organised through the website too, with the so-called Rally Points helping along. Here every member who has an idea for a great event can and should organise something and offer it.
These Rally Points also help when someone needs a hand. As was the case for many long-term travellers, for example, when places to park up and safe places to stay had to be found amid the pandemic restrictions. The “Global Support” campaign was launched, and many long-term travellers on the road could be helped easily:
Community and diversity are front and centre at Overland Bound meet-ups too. In 2019, for example, some members from various countries set off on a Europe trip to the Matterhorn. Along the route, members joined in from time to time and accompanied the convoy for a stretch.
Smaller shared trips over interesting back roads, visits to trade shows or visits to members in neighbouring countries are regularly on the agenda too.
All these activities take place in harmony with nature and the environment
That is one of the community’s core principles. “Leave it better than you found it” is written into the values. The Tread Lightly® approach is applied here. This is an initiative that has set itself the goal of bringing people’s need for outdoor activities and the preservation of the environment and nature into harmony.
Late last year, for example, over 100 members fanned out into the Mojave Desert in the western USA. There, in a large-scale effort, they collected fifteen tonnes of rubbish that had built up over decades and disposed of it. In the end two 40-foot containers were filled to the brim. There is a video of this great effort too:
The next such event in the Mojave Desert is planned for this year. Overland Bound is also working with Death Valley National Park to set up a similar project there.
Plenty of ideas for future events
Many events are in the pipeline for Europe too. This is of course heavily limited at the moment. But Overland Bound would not be Overland Bound if members did not come up with new ideas and adapt to the situation. So a virtual campfire was created. Members from all over Europe gather around this virtual fire every fortnight to talk about travel, but also everyday things, and to make new plans together. There are plenty of other ideas for trips too, as soon as it is possible again. Green-laning tours in the Netherlands and France, for example, as well as joint visits to trade shows and a first-aid course tailored specifically to the needs of travellers with vehicles, are all to happen soon. Those taking part can look forward to many wonderful experiences in a great community of the travel scene.
What else Overland Bound offers its members
Overland Bound is not an association or club, but a kind of interest community, a platform. The possibilities this platform offers are funded partly through members’ contributions.
Alongside the forum, events and information on social media, Overland Bound offers interesting features like a member map with POIs, interesting routes, destinations, workshops and much more. There is also the option to contact members nearby, for example when recovery help is needed. Users can contribute here and add new information, and many more new features are planned (navigation, track recording and sharing, 3D maps). There is also expert knowledge, member discounts on gear and much more. There is even a dedicated app! The OB One app. The offering is constantly being expanded and built out.
The number of members grows steadily. The size of the interest community and its worldwide reach quickly called for an organisational structure, similar to a company. So in every region there are so-called Regional Directors and Member Representatives, who are there for members with all questions around Overland Bound and carry the spirit of the community. Every member receives a personal emblem.
Getting involved with Overland Bound
The community thrives on taking part. New faces who identify with the core principles are welcome any time! If you are interested, have a look around on the website, the Facebook page, on Instagram, or take a look at the Overland Bound One app (download on Google Play or in the App Store). Or meet the members and representatives of Overland Bound in person at one event or another. Numerous events are planned here for Europe in future too.
Text: Robert Keim and Björn Eldracher
© Photos: Overland Bound, Berry J. Holmes, @NotGumby