Blue Ridge Bonfire

Upgrade your camping game with these must-haves! Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or a long-term overlanding adventure, the right gear can make all the difference. In this episode, we’re sharing game-changing upgrades to enhance your outdoor experience. We’ll talk about: 🔥 Why a refrigerator is a next-level addition for your setup ☕ How to upgrade your coffee game for the perfect...

If you’re diving into a new overland rig or upgrading your current one, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Maybe you’re not sure where to begin, or you already have a list of epic upgrades in mind. In this episode, we share 5 essential tips to help you set up your rig perfectly. These tips cover everything from the early stages of your build to fine-tuning organization for your adventures. We hope our...

This week on the Blue Ridge Bonfire Podcast we’re chatting with Eric and Rachel from Mountain State Overland. In 2024 they took on the challenge of building their own Toyota Tundra overland rig—right in their driveway! No fancy garage, just a lot of determination and a little bit of space. They walk us through some of the ups and downs of the project and explain how they landed on the Tundra as th...

Obviously, we here at Blue Ridge Overland have a personal interest in American-made products... they’re how we pay the bills. But beyond that, there are plenty of reasons we choose to shop American-made when possible. In this episode, we discuss the reasons we love using American-made products and where to find them. The conversation covers some of our favorite brands and even tips on where to fin...

As we approach the end of the fall event season we are asking ourselves, "What makes a great overlanding event?" Is it the people? The gear? The activities? The camping? Our first OAR was just a couple weeks back and it felt to us like a big win, but we we would love to hear from you all, what would you like to see next year. What makes you get excited about an event? Make sure to leave some comme...

Join us in this episode as we dive into the latest happenings at Blue Ridge Overland Gear! We’ll explore exciting new product releases and notable events from the past few months, highlighting some of the products we are personally most excited about. From new gear to updates on community events, there's plenty to discuss. Plus, we’ll look ahead to what’s on the horizon between now and the end of...

This week we have Chad from drawersystems.com with us. He builds some of the slickest drawer systems we’ve seen and we were excited to sit down and hear about how he got started. He also shares some great tips for anyone who is looking to DIY a set of drawers themselves. Make sure to check out his work at www.drawersystems.com

There are so many ways to stay on track during your adventures! From classic physical maps to modern GPS applications like Gaia GPS and OnX GPS, this episode covers some of our favorite navigation methods and the reasons for using each in different situations. While we all prefer slightly different methods of navigation, it’s valuable to explore how we can expand our toolkit. Let us know your favo...

In this episode of The Overland Bonfire Podcast , we have Matt Wilson from Ray Allen Manufacturing joining us in the studio. If you’re not familiar with Ray Allen, they specialize in high-quality equipment for working dogs. With Matt here, we thought it would be the perfect chance to discuss traveling with our canine friends. We’ll cover topics such as crating dogs on the road, the importance of d...

This week we discuss some of the best overlanding trips we have taken, and then we dream about the trips still on our bucket list. (Matt needs at least a month)

It’s time for the final installment of our three-part series on overlanding organization. This time, we’ll tackle how to organize all of the little things you want to have handy—your Truck EDC. While we have some overlapping items (such as a backup multitool), it turns out this can vary quite a bit from person to person. After listening, we hope you’ll take some time to consider what you might add...

Welcome to part two of our three-part series on overlanding organization. This time we tackle how to organize gear for emergency situations. This involves everything from medical supplies to recovery gear. An emergency is not the time that you want to be scrambling to find what you need. Hopefully you can learn from our insights, along with our mistakes and be prepared the next time you run into a...

Welcome to our three-part series on overlanding organization. In this episode, we discuss how to keep tools organized in your overlanding rig. Whether you use a tool bag, toolbox, or tool roll, having a system to keep things organized is essential. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just getting started, having the right tools at your fingertips can make or break your adventure. Let us know...

Summer is upon us. For those of us in the Southeast, that means oppressive heat and humidity are here to ruin your outdoor adventures. Fortunately, we have learned from our experiences and have some tips that we hope will make your summer more enjoyable. Blue Ridge Overland Gear - Reclaim Your JourneySHOP NOW: https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2TInbIN...

This week, Matt and Rick discuss what they see in store for the future of overlanding. They delve into truck manufacturers' updated factory offerings, overlap with other hobbies, and more. As usual, you will also hear some unrelated anecdotes — some unfortunate events occurred involving a Toyota Pro Ace in Norway, and the guys are finally ready to talk about it.

The guys are still in Norway, and they have more thoughts about their time there. The conversation, as usual, touches on many topics, but the highlight is clear. Rick tastes some unusual Norwegian foods, including potted meat with questionable branding and dried fish flakes. He may never be the same again. Matt doesn't join the taste test, but he has plenty of thoughts about the aromas. www.bl...

This week's podcast finds our intrepid hosts adrift in Norway. The episode is short but mighty - with discussions of boats, food, and the Norwegian love of tunnels. Don't tell anyone, but there also might be a sneak-peak at a new piece of gear that we have in the works. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blue R...

Time for the next installment of Overland Bonfire From the Road. On the drive home the guys debrief about their time at Moore. Blue Ridge Overland Gear - Reclaim Your Journey SHOP NOW:⁠ https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/⁠ Youtube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2TI... Instagram:⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/blueridgeoverlandgear/reels/ Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/blueridgeoverlandg...

Come along for the ride! In this episode Rick and Matt head to Moore Overlanding and Off-Roading Expo. With plenty of time to kill they decide fired up the GoPro, and give us all a glimpse of what a roadtrip is really like for them. Blue Ridge Overland Gear - Reclaim Your Journey SHOP NOW:⁠ https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/⁠ Youtube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2TI... Instagram:⁠ ⁠ htt...

In this episode we tell some stories and talk about how we deal with camping in the rain... or at least that was the idea. Let's just say we got off topic a few times, but would you expect anything else from us? SHOP NOW:⁠ https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/⁠Youtube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2TInbINexaZME_0mhW_bnw⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/blueridgeoverlandgear/⁠ Face...

Join us this week as we talk about why exactly we do what we do. That's right, Rick decided to go a little deep this week. We dive into why Matt builds things, why Logan makes videos, and why Rick loves obscure vintage backpacks. Yep, this episode has a little something for everyone... assuming that everyone is just a little bit of a nerd. Blue Ridge Overland Gear - Reclaim Your Journey SHOP N...

In this episode, we discuss what it takes to get started overlanding. While we all agree that you don't need to have a ton of gear, there are some categories that are helpful to consider before setting out. Things like food, sleeping arrangements, shelter, and navigation can make your experience smoother and more enjoyable—or less so. Let us know in the comments what your first overlanding set...

In this episode we debate the pros and cons of Full-Sized and Mid-Sized rigs. Matt starts out with a strong preference for full Size, but Rick's Mid-Size has served him well in some tight spots. In the end Matt surprises us with his Mid-Size picks. Let us know in the comments what you prefer and why. SHOP NOW: https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2T...

We've all been on trips where things went a little sideways. In this episode, the guys recall some times that they got a little too close to the black robe and sickle. The stories range from a sled-dog debacle to a childhood encounter with a tornado at a music festival. And of course there are some tangents. That's what we do. If you've had some close calls, aka Type 3 fun, but sure to...

You might remember that CT departed BROG a couple of months ago, and now we're welcoming Logan to the team. He'll be handling lots of video and photography duties, jumping into the podcast, and wherever else the winds of working on a small team lead us. In this episode of the Overland Bonfire Podcast, we learn a little bit about Logan, some of past (mis)adventures, and, of course, we explo...