While in Montana, attending a demonstration with Warn Industries’ Justin Walker, he asked what the most important piece of equipment for winching was. Although his answer was a pair of gloves, someone chimed in with, “Your mind.” I can’t argue with having a good set of work gloves on hand, but I also believe the participant was spot-on.
This miraculous lump of gray matter amounts to about 2% of our body weight, but its millions of electrochemical spark plugs firing simultaneously are responsible for our taste buds savoring a bite of apple pie and reminding our cardiac muscle to contract and keep the blood flowing.
It also fires the neurons that cause us to pine for a paddle on our favorite lake, slip a backpack over our shoulders and head for the hills, or feel the adrenaline rush of stepping off a bridge with a 200-foot rubber band wrapped around our ankles.
Without it, well, the other 98% would be a rather uninspiring pile of flesh with the persona of a fungi. The mind, yep, this without question is our most crucial bit of gear.
XOverland’s The Big Thing
I was in Big Sky Country for a new, 4-day adventure extravaganza deemed The Big Thing (TBT). One could say this was an overland event. But I found it to be more than that, rather brain nourishment for the outdoor-minded soul.
Set on a 500-acre spread northwest of Bozeman known as XOverland Ranch, TBT was promoted by Clay and Rachel Croft, founders of Expedition Overland. If one desired inspiration to get off the couch and do something with their life, we can look no further than this dynamic duo.
I met them in 2012 while I was the editor of Overland Journal. They had recently departed their “real” jobs and scraped together enough cash for a few video cameras, camping equipment, and fuel to get to Alaska … and back.
The subsequent video series they produced was the epitome of heartfelt storytelling. It also launched their stratospheric trajectory as a powerhouse in the adventure-media genre.
What’s the Big Deal?
So, what was so big about The Big Thing?
On Thursday, more than 700 like-minded folks from across the country started rolling in, setting up ground and roof tents, firing up the braai grill, practicing their mixology skills, and welcoming passersby for a coldy.
The following morning, fly-casting lessons were taking place on Turtle Pond while kayakers and paddleboarders plied the waters of Chuck Norris Lake on the south 40.
A welding class was throwing sparks in The Shop — a handy skill for the vehicle-based traveler — while a backcountry cooking seminar took place in the culinary pavilion.
Emily Miller, founder of the Rebelle Rally, taught an excellent class on map-and-compass navigation (yes, sans a GPS), and Farfetched Adventures provided insights into doggy first-aid in the field.
The lineup of nomadic presenters was nothing short of inspirational. Global vagabond Dan Grec (The Road Chose Me) discussed traveling with his wife and young daughter, overlanding royalty Patty Upton (Back of Beyond Adventures) shared she and her husband Loren’s 1980s record-setting round-the-world trek in a Jeep CJ-5 (in the Guinness Book of Records), and Ellie and David (Yak Overland) took us on a journey through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Yours truly provided a workshop on documentary photography, sharing my approach to visual storytelling from ends-of-the-earth locales like Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Antarctica.
While each presentation generated a humbling bit of fanfare, the reality is that we are all just normal people. Our common thread, however, is that at some time in our past, neurons shot through our gray matter, prompting us to get off our butts and see the world. The hippocampus and neocortex, which hold the hard drive memory archives of our lives, allow us to pluck random files and share these experiences with others.
Hands-On Training & Gear
Of course, there was no shortage of vehicle-related workshops and swag. Throughout the weekend, participants lined up to try their hand at, or be guided through, several technical off-road courses.
Didn’t bring a rig? Not a problem. Toyota was on hand with a fleet of loaner 4WD Tundras.
Industrial training expert Chris Walker (Lantra) helped folks sort out their vehicle recovery kit, while Justin Walker (Warn) demonstrated how to safely use it.
It seems that the machismo factor often puts us hairy-legged dudes behind the wheel, but not at TBT. Emily Miller, Nena Barlow (Barlow Adventures), and the Rebelle U team led a female-only driving session for ladies who are ready to give us the boot and take the helm.
Regarding tangible, hold-in-your-hand gear, there was no shortage. Dozens of manufacturers filled the vendor area, displaying everything from custom campers and interior storage options to handcrafted American-made knives and duffel bags.
Another unique Big Thing feature was the various firearms training courses, presented by Defenders USA founder Adam Winch, a highly credentialed U.S. Army veteran and police officer. Students received hands-on instruction on handgun and rifle operation and safety.
Equally important was Winch’s brass tacks ideology regarding self-defense for you and your family. This was one of the most structured and professional firearms courses I’ve experienced.
Overall, it was simply a chill 4-day weekend. And, if you attempted to partake in all activities, your dance card would have little room for potty breaks.
The Big Thing 2025: Wrap-Up
I’ve attended dozens of overland events over the years, each with a different vibe. What I loved about XOverland‘s The Big Thing was the prevailing sense of community. It was like joining 700 of my closest friends for a chinwag around the fire — sans an excessive amount of chest beating and peacock posturing. Those with nary a blank page remaining on their passport offered insight and inspiration for newbies with a dream.
An entire wall in Inspiration Hub, the central gathering place, was dedicated to these dreams, where attendees jotted down their “next big thing.” Some reached for lofty marks, others were more modest. But what mattered was that everyone left with a goal, a reason to get out of bed each morning and hit the ground with purpose. This exercise offered a welcome reset for me.
And now back to our most vital piece of gear, the mind. Don’t leave home without it.
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