Overland Expo PNW 2022

We were fortunate enough to attend the Overland Expo PNW 2022 inaugural event. It had been on the books for previous years, but the COVID Wars delayed its initial debut. We spent all three days at the show under a trifecta — as exhibitors hucking medical kits, as presenters teaching medical classes, and as media covering the event for AllOutdoor.

Being the first time we’d covered this event, we went light with only one writer and a different photog on two of the days. It was a large event with over 350 vendors, and there was a lot to see.

If you are not aware, Overland Expo is one of the largest Overlanding events, pulling in vendors from all over the US (including several imported product brands). There are currently four events per year, with the first one, “West,” kicking off in late May in Flagstaff, AZ. The second event (and the newest location), “PNW,” was held in Redmond, OR, from July 8th to the 10th. The third and upcoming event will be in Loveland, CO, from August 26th through the 28th, and the final event, “East,” is in Arrington, VA, from October 7th to the 9th.

At the Expo, there is plenty to do. You can attend educational sessions on everything from cooking to trip planning to roundtable discussions. There are driving courses so you can learn how to handle various types of terrain and learn recovery skills. There are vendors demoing equipment and gear, and you have the ability to get hands-on with products before committing thousands of dollars.

Attendees and vendors showcase their rigs so you can see how different people have solved different problems or configured things in interesting ways.

Everything is centered around off-road, Overlanding, and motorcycles, and there are vendors in all of these areas. Some vendors are selling at the show, and some are there to take orders (if you weren’t aware, there is this small supply chain issue going on, and off-road/Overlanding equipment has ALWAYS been slow to source and acquire).

All vendors were exceptionally friendly and happy to talk about their products. Some vendors even will direct you to a competitor’s product if they are a better fit or to see a comparison.

The overall atmosphere is friendly and open. Dogs and kids abound, and many vendors had water bowls, treats for the pups, and candy for the kids.  If you have the opportunity to attend an Overland Expo, even if just for a day, I highly recommend it–if nothing else than to be around people that enjoy getting out and enjoying the outdoors (though not as primitive as some people like).

Following are some stills of the event. All media was taken by Samuel Pyke of Hill Shadow Pictures.

Be on the lookout for some short posts of some specific vendors following over the next couple of weeks.

Doc Rader

Tom is a former Navy Corpsman that spent some time bumbling around the deserts of Iraq with a Marine Recon unit, kicking in tent flaps and harassing sheep. Before that, he was a paramedic somewhere in DFW, also doing some Executive Protection work between shifts. Now that those exciting days are behind him, he has embraced his inner “Warrior Hippie,” and assaults 14er in his sandals, and engages in rucking adventure challenges while consuming copious water. To fund these adventures, he writes all manner of content (having also held editor positions at several publications) and teaches wilderness medicine and off-road skills. He hopes that his posts will help you find the gear that will survive whatever you can throw at it (and the training to use it). Learn from his mistakes--he is known (in certain circles) for his curse...ahem, ability...to find the breaking point of anything. You can follow him at https://linktr.ee/docrader.