If you are still considering the option of sponsorship for a big trip I got some points down for the do's and don't and the benefits and why-not-to-consider sponsorship for trips.

It is a lengthy article but might help make a better decision.

https://www.pikipikioverland.com/spo...land-junction/

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Pretty neat article, actually I already didn't want any sponsors, as I want to be free of all restraints and results, but I know a few people who could use this article...
Thanks for sharing!

depends if you can afford it without it, doesn't it?

Sorry mate, I aren't paying for your holiday and my customers know if I gave you free stuff you'll say its wonderful because its in our contract. Either like it or don't , but I can't be seen to influence anything or it all becomes pointless.

Andy

I do wonder what a brand would actually get out of it.

If you're already someone with a big following in the relevant target audience, then sure, giving you free stuff to test on your trip might make sense - the own-cost of a piece of kit could certainly be lower than the cost of a month's worth of banner ads on a specialist website. But this assumes that you are already doing a lot of documentation and presentation of your trip. If you enjoy doing that anyway, great! If you don't, spending so much of your time on the road setting up various tripod shots, processing photo and video, etc., could be a detriment to the experience.

Unless you happen to live within spitting distance of Touratech Corporate Headquarters, the likely sponsorships available to you will be local companies - the local KTM dealer and the local outdoor goods store, rather than the bike manufacturer and the kit manufacturer. For the local retailer, what's the advantage of having their logo on a bike traveling through places where they don't have an audience?

The only kind of sponsorship that makes sense to me is prototype testing. There's a guy here in Estonia who is making panniers out of HDPE, combining the advantages of soft and hard luggage, and there is an Estonian couple going around the world right now with his prototype cases. That makes all kinds of sense. They give him product feedback, and they tell other adventurers on the road where to order a set like that.

I met a couple on a RTW who bragged about being sponsored by several well known brands.. I asked if the goods were free, but apparently their definition of sponsorship was a 10% discount on a clothing suit. ?!?

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This is not really sponsoring. This is involving the community. Or even building a community. This really helps as people feel involved and will be more happy with the product.

You could argue that KTM or possibly Touratech got the best value for money from Long Way Round?

They also had a perfect cost-risk-effect balance. If you spend enough on personal recommendations you will eventually find the next O J Simpson or Gary Glitter. An established promoter for a limited campaign is less risk. Decide after you've seen the "Welding in Russia/Camera man on a Minsk" footage before you do the photoshoot.

Andy