There’s nothing like waking up to just enough of a chill that you’re tempted to stay in that warm and snug place, but Overland Expo is not the place to snooze. Thankfully, as an Expo camper, I’m already close to the action. With a full day ahead of me, I unzip my sleeping bag, hop out of my tent, get a quick cup of coffee going, and start packing my swag bag with the daily essentials. I’ll need to wear a packable jacket since the day can be bookended with some cool weather, sunscreen is a must, the event map is essential, a notebook is handy for classes, and my camera, because I’ll undoubtedly see some builds that I’ll want to remember. As the sun slides between the scattered pines in the campground, I notice my neighbors working on breakfast and overhear them discuss some vendors they want to check out. Once my coffee is ready, I pour it into my tumbler and head out. I know I’ll need another cup to keep my energy up, but I’ll stop by one of the coffee trucks later for a mid-morning boost.
Filing through the gates with other attendees, I check the Overland Expo mobile app and made a note of a couple of exhibitors’ booths that are close to the show entrance and on my “must-see” list. Exhibitors offer some great discounts at Overland Expo and I’m hoping to score a great deal on some new gear. The biggest challenge in making my way towards the booths I wanted to see is not getting distracted by all of the other cool stuff. Companies I’ve never heard of are everywhere, plus I can’t walk 50 feet without seeing an awesome rig that’s worth checking out. With plenty of browsing, I finally make my way to the booths I wanted to see; now it’s time to turn my attention to my plans for the rest of the morning.
After much deliberation before arriving to the expo, I finally decided on the classes and discussions I want to prioritize. Now it’s time to learn from the experts and pick their brains on a wide array of overlanding topics. I’m planning to dive into some next-level GMRS classes, a couple of destination-specific talks, and round tables, and I’ll round out my day at a session on solar panels and onboard power systems. This seems like a lot, but there are hundreds of course hours to choose from and it was tough to narrow down what I wanted to attend. Thankfully, several of the courses repeat throughout the weekend, so I have some options.
READ MORE: 9 Reasons to Camp at Overland Expo West
Between educational sessions, I swing by the Oasis and grab that second coffee. I chat with some folks in line and they suggest one of the food trucks for lunch. I swing through another section of the exhibitor area to check out some tires that I’m considering for my next set. It’s great to see things like this in person. Comparing them side by side is so much better than trying to decide online.
After my last class of the day, I head back to camp to drop off my swag bag, which is now loaded with patches, stickers, chapstick, brochures, and more. I also need to grab my raffle tickets before heading back to the Oasis for dinner and to get ready for the Overland Expo Foundation Raffle. Everyone I’ve talked to has said it’s one of the best parts of the weekend. There are hundreds of prizes up for grabs, including some extremely nice recovery gear that I’ve been eyeing. Maybe I’ll get lucky. It’s already been a full day, but there’s still much more to do and see. After the raffle, I’ll head back to camp, chat with the neighbors, and then tuck in for the night so that I can rest up for even more classes, cool gear, and the community that I’ve come to expect at Overland Expo.
