Overlanding Tech

This section will give you a brief look at some of the most interesting and useful techologies for overlanding.

  • Gaia GPS
    Offering a plethora of useful layers and features on top of the traditional GPS navigator functions, Gaia GPS is a great companion for everything offroad/overland.
  • onX Offroad
    onX Offroad is one of the premium offroad mapping applications that offer extended features from your regular off-grid navigation software such as Trip Sharing and CarPlay Sync.
  • Avenza Maps
    Avenza Maps is a mobile mapping app that allows you to download maps for offline use on your iOS and Android smartphone or tablet.
  • Trails Offroad
    Trails Offroad's primary function is to allow users to discover trails near them and provide accurate maps for these trails.
  • Maps 3D
    Maps 3D turns your phone into a functional GPS device with 3D maps for you to see accurate elevation changes and more.
  • FunTreks
    FunTreks allows you to discover trail maps from people who have been there before.
  • Maps.me
    Maps.me boasts itself as a travel companion capable of providing offline maps, traffic monitoring, and even hotel booking.
  • ViewRanger/Outdoor Active
    Formerly known as ViewRanger, Outdoor Active is a digital guide to the outdoors with downloadable route guides, outdoor maps, and powerful GPS navigation features.
  • AllTrails
    AllTrails helps you find your next trail and guides you through it with downloadable maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and route notifications.
  • CoPilot GPS
    Primarily used for trucks and caravans, CoPilot offers the same functionality as other GPS maps but it takes your vehicle size into consideration by providing info on road width and allowable height.
  • CalTopo
    CalTopo is a web app that lets you access maps of recreational areas around the United States.
  • Locus Map
    Locus Map is an all-in-one navigation app for all things outdoor that allows users to navigate, record, and plan their routes and trips.
  • BackCountry Navigator XE: Outdoor GPS Topo App
    BCN is an app that provides navigation and offline maps with different overlays.
  • 4X4TrailMaps.com
    4X4TrailMaps.com is a website that allows you to pull trail maps for offline use.
  • All-In-One Offline Maps
    All-In-One Offline Maps gives you free access to online and offline maps of your favorite trails.
  • Rever
    Primarily a motorcycle trip planner, Rever can also be used in your Overland adventures to access many offroad maps.
  • Pocket Earth Pro
    Designed for backpacking and hiking, Pocket Earth Pro gives you access to a ton of downloadable offline maps.
  • Fat Map
    Fat Map is an app designed to aid skiers and snowboarders and gives a great deal of useful geometric and climactic information along with 2D and 3D maps.
  • Spyglass
    The spyglass is an advanced compass with a bunch of nifty features such as location saving and tracking, gyrocompass, and access to 2D maps.
  • Commander Compass
    Commander Compass is similar to Spyglass with added waypoint tracking, gyro-horizon, coordinate converter, sun, moon, and star tracker features.
  • Overland Bound One
    The Overland Bound community offers a wealth of knowledge in all things overlanding, including maps and navigation tools.
  • Theodolite
    Theodolite is a compass, a two-axis inclinometer, a rangefinder, a GPS navigator, a map viewer, a navigation calculator, and a geo-overlay tool all in one iOS app.
  • Garmin Overlander
    A very nifty GPS navigation device, Garmin Overlander provides you directions, lay of the land, and connection to your buddies, all in your vehicle dashboard/console.
  • Hema HX-1 Navigator
    Another excellent choice for an offroad navigation device, the Hema HX-1 Navigator offers support for a wide range of map formats with several other awesome features.
  • Lowrance Elite-7 TI2 Offroad GPS
    Primarily known for their fishing navigation devices, Lowrance is also capable of producing awesome offroad navigation devices such as the Elite-7 TI2 Offroad GPS.
  • Magellan TRX7 CS offroad And Trail GPS
    The TRX7 CS comes preloaded with over 160,000 designated OHV routes from forest and public lands and includes Magellan's award-winning street navigation to get you from your starting point to the trail.
  • Garmin Zumo XT
    Garmin Zumo XT is a motorcycle navigation system for offroad adventures that works just as well in any vehicle.
  • Trail Tech Voyager Pro GPS
    The Voyager Pro is an amazing GPS navigation system for vehicle consoles with a unique Buddy Tracking feature.
  • Yamaha Adventure Pro
    Adventure Pro is an advanced adventure tool that allows Yamaha owners to explore further with even more capability and confidence.
  • Magellan TR5 Trail and Street Navigator
    Another amazing GPS navigation device from Magellan, the TR5 can be an on-street and offroad navigator.
  • Bad Elf 2200 GPS Pro
    Bad Elf 2200 GPS Pro is a handheld GPS navigator primarily designed for mountain biking but can also assist you in your Overlanding adventures.
  • Garmin Oregon Offroading GPS
    The Oregon series are handheld navigation devices designed by Garmin capable of real-time geocaching and live tracking.
  • Magellan Explorist
    The Explorist, on the other hand, is very similar to the Garmin Oregon but with slightly lower camera specifications.
  • Garmin eTrex Series
    The eTrex Series by Garmin is a more simplistic handheld navigator with a heavy focus on functionality.

Discovery

  • iOverlander
    iOverlander allows you to discover beautiful and accessible campsites near and far from you.
  • The Dyrt
    Imagine a crowdsourced review website like Yelp but dedicated to campsites and you got The Dyrt.
  • Campendium
    Campendium's webpage helps you discover new campsites, RV parks, National Parks, and State Parks for your next adventure.
  • FreeCampsites.net
    This website uses your phone's GPS to find campsites near you.
  • Recreation.gov
    Recreation.gov app and website help you find and reserve campsites, review location details for your trip, and quickly access information on past and upcoming reservations.
  • Harvest Hosts
    Harvest Hosts is a membership program that provides access to a network of wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and other unique attractions that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay overnight.
  • Hipcamp
    Hipcamp allows you to find and reserve campsites, RV camps, cabins, and even treehouses.
  • TripAdvisor
    One of the most well-known trip-planning apps, TripAdvisor allows you to find, book, and review restaurants, hotels, rentals and gives general tips to your destination.
  • Boondocking
    Boondocking.org is a web app that allows you to enter a GPS coordinate and find free campsites near your location.
  • FreeRoam
    A very nifty web app, FreeRoam helps you find campsites, RV parks, and national parks with your preferred price, campsite type, signal, weather, elevation, etc.
  • Reserve America
    Reserve America helps you find and reserve private campgrounds within the United States.

Weather

  • Windy.app
    Windy.app is one of the most accurate weather forecasting applications out there that also provides access to wind maps, temperature data, and precipitation forecasts.
  • Clime
    Clime is an app that provides real-time weather forecasts and access to radar images and hurricane tracking.
  • Windy
    The Windy website provides real-time updates on wind speed, lightning, storms, tides, and very accurate weather forecasts.
  • NOAA
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration webpage also provides a plethora of weather and climactic data along with reliable forecasts.
  • Accuweather
    Another go-to webpage for weather forecasts, Accuweather gives reliable location-based climactic data and radar images.
  • RadarScope
    RadarScope is a software designed to assist you in both recreation and business when it comes to your weather forecast concerns.
  • Weather on the Way
    Weather on the way is an app designed for phones and tablets which provides weather forecasts, wind maps, and radar readings along a selected GPS route.

Communication and Safety (Devices)

  • Cairn
    Aside from its real-time location tracking feature, Cairn maps out all the spots near you with access to cellular service and also has a check-in feature that notifies trusted third parties if you fail to check in within the ETA.
  • FindMeSAR
    FindMeSAR is a web app that finds and gives you your coordinates for Offroad Recovery or Search-and-Rescue purposes.
  • iNaturalist
    iNaturalist contains a ton of information about flora and fauna and allows you to use image search should you be curious about what you found out in the wild.
  • First Aid by American Red Cross
    The First Aid app gives a short step-by-step video tutorial on proper first aid techniques.
  • Life360
    Life 360 is a location sharing app that would let you share your location to trusted devices, so your friends and family know where you are at all times.
  • Safe-Xtract Vehicle Recovery
    Safe-Xtract calculates the total resistance or load input in different offroad recovery scenarios by inputting some data such as GVW.
  • 4x4Indistress
    4x4Indistress is a platform for overlanders and offroaders to find help whenever they need one.
  • Iridium Go App
    Iridium Go is a communication app that allows you to pair multiple devices for SMS, email, and calls.
  • Zello
    Zello turns your phone into a push-to-talk walkie-talkie!
  • Elo GPS
    Elo GPS provides real-time location sharing and monitoring with 24/7 Access to SAR and SOS groups.
  • TripWhistle
    This app contains several emergency numbers in 196 countries to get you in touch with the local SOS authority in case of fire or medical emergency.
  • offroad Recovery Portal
    This web app allows you to request offroad recoveries which are sent to volunteers all over the United States.

Communication and Safety (Software/Apps)

  • Bivystick Satellite Communicator
    The Bivystick Satellite Communicator is a very portable yet sturdy two-way satellite communicator with access to SOS services in just a hit of a button.
  • SPOT trace
    SPOT Trace is a GPS tracker that you can attach to your belongings for safe monitoring.
  • Garmin InReach Explorer+
    This device is a two-way satellite communicator that also supports a wide range of downloadable map formats.
  • Garmin GPSMap Series
    The GPSMap is another handheld satellite communicator capable of location sharing.
  • Garmin Group Ride Radio
    Garmin Group Ride Radio is a vehicle radio that can be paired with a Garmin navigator for location sharing and group communication.
  • Weboost Drive 4G-X
    This device boosts 4G LTE and 3G services for voice messages, text messages, and data use.
  • Iridium Go
    Iridium Go is a WiFi hotspot that allows your phone to connect to the Internet wherever you can get a satellite signal.
  • Spot X Series
    The Spot X Series are two-way satellite communicator devices with an SOS button.
  • Garmin Rinos
    Garmin Rinos is a two-way radio with an extended range capable of voice communication and unit-to-unit text messaging.
  • Zoleo Satellite Communicator
    Zoleo Satellite Communicator has the typical functionality of a satellite communicator with the added feature of phone connectivity.
  • Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1
    The Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 is a personal locator beacon that allows one-way satellite communication.
  • Somewear Satellite Communicator
    Somewear Satellite Communicator is a wearable satellite communicator that can be connected to your device.
  • Inmarsat IsatPhone 2
    The Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 is a satellite phone capable of satellite messaging and satellite voice calls.
  • Suunto Ambit3 Peak
    This device is a wearable route navigator with sensors that can alert you if a storm is coming and if you need to take shelter.

Offgrid Power

  • Jackery Explorer 1000
    Jackery Explorer 1000 is a portable power source capable of supporting your necessary electronics out in the wild.
  • Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
    Goal Zero Yeti 1500X is a bigger and more powerful power supply.
  • Bluetti AC100
    Bluetti AC100 is a 1000 Wh power station with two high-speed ports.
  • Anker Powerhouse II 800
    The Anker Powerhouse II 800 is a 778Wh power station purposefully designed for camping.
  • Goal Zero Solar Chargers
    The Goal Zero Solar Charger is a portable solar panel charger that you can attach to your vehicle and even your bag when hiking.

Security