Motorcycle Camping List

By: Steven Peltier

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After my last trip across AZ, I couldn't help but notice that I'm slowly getting better at this art of motorcycle camping. True, on that trip I got plenty of practice setting-up and tearing down, hitting 5 different camp sites (of multiple types and degree of accommodations) over 6 days. What pleased me was the feeling that I've finally achieved a reasonable balance between gear, organization, and an efficient system - the net result was an experience where I felt completely prepared, extremely comfortable, and unencumbered to the point that I could truly enjoy the freedom and flexibility that is inherent to being on the bike. I never had that nagging feeling that I forgot something crucial, nor did I feel like I was dragging a preposterous amount of stuff on the road that inevitably just takes up space, adds weight, and never makes it out of the side bags. So I thought I'd pass on my camping list with the hope of making your lives easier. Mind you, this list does not attempt to be exhaustive - quite the opposite. It really only contains what I take on the road now. At the end, I include a list of common things that I've removed from the list due to a lack of use, practicality, or need. I also make no claims as to affordability of the items on my list. I'm a firm believer in the tenant that "You get what you pay for." I tend to splurge for gear that is purposefully designed to work WELL under demanding conditions, save space and weight, and add comfort and convenience. That being said, I have also learned a few tricks along the way that meet these criteria for little to no money. So here goes, hope you enjoy the list, and I hope it stimulates you to get out on the bike and enjoy the outdoors.

Note: I placed my iPhone in all of the pictures to serve as a size reference.

My Camping Essentials:

Motofizz Camping Seat Bag (LARGE): You have to store your stuff somewhere. These bags (available at Riderwearhouse/Aerostich) are one of the most thoughtfully designed bags for storing your gear and mounting to the bike. They offer full access from both sides (which is perfect for getting at things quickly), smart compartments for toiletries and other small items, and a great system of straps and bungies to mount the bag, secure other items, hold suit liners, etc. Read my full review here.

Aerostich Waterproof Side Zip Bag (LARGE): I'm a big fan of modularity. Rather than stuff everything into my Motofizz, I isolate my tent, tent poles, tent spikes, Thermarest pad, hammer, and sandals in a nice waterproof zip bag. I then strap this bag for ready access to the back of the Motofizz. That way when I get to camp, I can quickly unstrap the things I'd like to set-up first. This is great when you are setting up camp a good distance from your bike. Having my sandals handy also makes the whole set-up process more comfortable. This particular bag is fairly inexpensive but well constructed and perfectly sized for how I use it (also available from Riderwearhouse/Aerostich).

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Small Tank Bag: I'm not a fan of the large tank bags. I use a small bag that is easy to remove (magnetic) and can hold just a few items that I might want quick access to on the road (e.g., my wallet, a hat/beanie, my camera and portable tripod, and my cell phone). I think the idea is to keep small uncomfortable items off of your body. All other gear should go into one of the other large bags or in your side cases (if you have them).

REI Quarterdome UL Tent: Tents are pretty subjective. I like this 1-2 man tent because it is lightweight, really easy to set-up, and it has 2 large doors on each side for easy access. The rain fly also clips in easily and ties down to create 2 large vestibules, one outside each door, allowing you to protect some of your gear from the elements without compromising floor space in the tent. That being said, there are many other good options out there. A nice feature to look for is the ability to clip on a matching footprint (Quarterdome allows this). Many will tell you to save money and just use a tarp under your tent. I say no. Having a footprint that you can attach (and leave attached) to the tent makes set-up simpler as you'll have one less thing to struggle with if it is windy. I also ditch the manufacturer's carry bag. Instead, I stuff the tent, fly and footprint into a compression sack. That way I can get it squeezed down to about 1/3 the size it would normally occupy. I also ditch the manufacturer's tent stakes. Buy quality pegs or heavy duty aluminum stakes. The flimsy wire stakes that come with most tents are just a recipe for frustration.

Hammer: Small, inexpensive hickory handled "finish" hammer. Good for pounding in and removing tent spikes. I can't tell you how many times I've let folks borrow my hammer as I watch them struggle and bend their tent spikes hitting them with rocks.

Therm-a-rest Lite-Core 1.5 Self Inflating Sleeping Pad: Nothing special here. Just a quality pad that rolls down to a really small package. Splurge for the fitted stuff sack to keep things tidy. To the extent possible, you should let the pad self-inflate to keep moisture (from your breath) from getting in the pad. It will insulate more effectively and keep you warmer. I also got my pad from REI.

Sleeping bag: I use a common, inexpensive 3 season mummy bag (poly not down). Like my tent, I ditch the manufacturer's storage bag and use a compression sack. I can typically squeeze my tent down to about 1/2 its normal size.

Luxurylite Ultralite Cot: My favorite piece of gear - bar none. This simple cot is engineered to pack extremely small (about the same size as my compact Therm-a-rest). It only takes a couple of minutes to assemble (even less to disassemble), but man is it a game changer. It keeps you about 6 inches off the ground, providing a level, supported sleeping surface. The clever design also allows you to customize where you position the supports (e.g., for more lumbar or shoulder support). Use it by itself to stay cool in hot conditions, or place your Therm-a-rest and sleeping bag on top during colder conditions. I use it in conjunction with the Therm-a-rest all the time purely for comfort. It helps to provide a great night sleep, without a significant penalty in additional bulk and weight. Not cheap at over $200, but worth it in my opinion. Read about it here.

Kermit Touring Chair: Having a good chair in camp is essential. This is a favorite amongst riders and for good reason. It packs down very small, is made of quality materials, and it's much more comfortable than the popular folding or "quad" chairs. Read my full review of this chair here.

JetBoil Stove: This is another example of an innovative product that is perfect for motorcycle camping. The JetBoil does two things really well. One, it boils 2 cups of water extremely fast. Two, when it's not in use, it packs into itself taking up very little space. I now use this exclusively to boil water for eating dehydrated meals (described next) and to make hot drinks (coffee, tea, etc.). Since I only use it to boil water, it essentially requires no clean up. Perfect. Read my full review of the JetBoil here.

Mountain House (or other) Dehydrated Meals: Yum...hot meals in a bag. I know it doesn't sound too appealing, but these dehydrated meals have come along way from old military style MREs. There is now a huge selection of meals to choose from that cover breakfast, dinner, and even dessert, and most are quite good. I love the convenience of simply adding 2 cups of boiling water (JetBoil), waiting a couple of minutes, and then enjoying a hot meal right out of the bag (with no cleanup afterwards). Since these meals are a bit pricey (between $6-$12/piece) I tend to scour the outlet websites for REI and other outfitters. You can usually find your favorites at a pretty reasonable discount. I like Mountain House because of their large selection. For more extravagant meals, I tend to eat on the road or make friends with other campers who've decided to bring their whole kitchen on the road (mooch basically).

Minimalistic Kitchen Supplies: Keeping with my minimalist theme for cooking, I tend to keep my kitchen utensil list small. A couple of key items including a long plastic spoon (for reaching down to the bottom of the dehydrated food bags), a bottle opener, a plastic mug (that I use for hot drinks, brushing my teeth, whatever), my flask (I'm a scotch drinker), my cigar cutter, a quality torch lighter, and a roll of dog poop pick-up bags. The pick-up bags work great as small trash bags. They don't cost anything and pack small. I tend to put all of this stuff in a soft sided, insulated lunch box. The lunch box will work as a water tight bowl or 6 pack cooler if I need one in a pinch, but most of all it helps to keep my kitchen items organized.

Toiletries: The Motofizz bag has a small detachable toiletries bag that is really handy. I bring the obvious collection of miniature travel items. Some of the most important items include a small container of instant hand sanitizer, some insect repellant, and a box of baby wipes (really cheap at Costco). The baby wipes are key as I use them at the end of the day to do a "poor-mans" shower. I find I get a better nights sleep if I just clean-up a bit before I crawl into the sleeping bag.

REI MultiTowel Lite: When I get the opportunity to score a camp shower, or if I decide to take dip in a lake, stream, etc., it's nice to have a good towel handy. REI sells a chamois-like towel that packs extremely small, holds a tremendous amount of water and dries quickly. I carry a couple of different sizes, and I keep them all folded nicely into a mesh carrying bag with my pillow (described below).

Inflatable Pillow and Plush Pillowcase: I am one of those people who is pretty particular about my pillows. I can't get by with a folded jacket or a bag stuffed with dirty t-shirts. Instead I have a nice small Therm-a-rest plush pillow case and an inflatable pillow. They pack small (in with my travel towels), and further increase my chances of getting a good night's sleep.

Clothing: Clothing used to be a big deal for me. I never new what to bring, how much, etc. I've since discovered the wonderful world of merino wool performance clothing. There are a couple of good manufacturers of this stuff (Icebreaker, SmartWool). Basically, performance wool is designed to be worn multiple times between washings. It doesn't hold odor. It dries so effectively (and fast) that it prevents bacteria from taking roost. It also holds it's shape which is ideal for re-use. It also retains warmth when wet, but is not overly hot. I really love this clothing. I tend to bring 2 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts, 2 pairs of socks, and a full pant (that I use like a pajama bottom). I pair these items with a couple of pairs of shorts to wear under my riding gear. And that's about it. Sometimes I'll pack a pair of jeans and a nice shirt to wear out at a restaurant or something, but usually if I get colder than what can be handled with the performance gear, I'll just slip into my riding gear liners. Why pack warm clothes when you likely already have motorcycle riding gear? Once I have my clothing list defined, I place paired "outfits" into separate 2.5 gallon Ziplock bags. I just roll the air out of these bags to compress the clothes for neatly stacking into my Motofizz. These Ziplocks will keep your clothes cleaner over the extent of your trip and dry if it rains. They'll also allow you to separate dry clothes from wet clothes if you go swimming, etc. Having your clothes separated like this also makes it easier to pack and find just what you need without having to hunt though what will become a "ball" of clothes by the end of your trip.

Hiking Sandels: I now only bring shoes if I know I'll be visiting a nice restaurant along the way. Otherwise I just pack hiking sandals that work well on a hike, in a stream, or in a camp shower.

Beanie: A simple thing to include and pack that will make it easier to sleep on really cold nights. Also helps to hide "helmet hair."

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Tools: I keep a bag of essential tools with me at all times. Every bike will require something different. Use your discretion here. A couple of things I've added to my pack include a large sharp folding knife (haven't you seen Bear Grylls cut down trees with these things?), small jumper cables with a wired quick connect pig-tail, electrical tape, and a bunch of zip ties. Basically everything MacGyver would need to create cold fusion. I keep everything in a small mesh zip bag. I also pack a quart of oil on every trip. It never hurts to top off now and then.

Tire Puncture Repair Kit: I carry one of the small, tubeless tire repair kits from Aerostich with the CO2 cartridges (Aerostich Expedition Pocket Plugger Tubeless Tire Repair Kit). I've never had to use it, but it does provide some piece of mind. This particular kit requires you to have a pair of pliers handy (that are not included), so don't just buy it and throw it in your bag.

First Aid Kit: Don't waste your money on a pre-made kit. Get a mesh zip bag and then buy exactly what you want to put into it. You'll spend less money, get more of what you need and have more control over the size of the kit.

Grab-bag: I keep another mesh bag filled with handy items that I frequently use around camp. Typically this includes several feet of rope, bungee cords, a tarp or emergency blanket for making shade, and a small steel cable with a lock if I ever need to leave gear at camp and want to secure it.

Lights: I'm a big fan of flashlights. I have a ton of them and usually bring more than I use. At a minimum I like to have a nice bright handheld light. I prefer Surefire Tactical Lights. They are small, blinding, and engineered for the military, police, and special forces. Enough said. I also like to have a headlamp, because there are many times when you really want to have your hands free (bathroom, working on the bike, etc.). I also bring a small lantern type light that I use in the tent (I like to read at night).

Batteries: As we become more reliant on electronics, it is always nice to have a few extra batteries on hand. For me, I'm usually feeding the camera.

Motorcycle Cover: You never know when weather will lash out at you. I bring a quality motorcycle cover to keep the bike somewhat protected from the elements. It was a lifesaver recently in Monument Valley when I was stuck in an 8 hour sandstorm.

Rainsuit/Poncho: Again, it never hurts to be prepared. My riding gear performs well in rain, so I tend to leave more extreme/dedicated rain gear at home. The poncho is worn around camp as needed.

Surveyors Tape, Brush/Dustpan, Cotton Balls: Just a couple of tricks I've picked up from other forums, etc.. Surveyors tape is great for marking potential camp sites. It is brightly colored and you can write on it. A compact broom and dustpan are always handy for cleaning out the tent. In the aforementioned dust storm, I was left with about a pound of fine dirt in my tent. This combo really saved me from a long night of "gritty" sleep. The cotton balls are handy as a cheap alternative to commercial fire starters. They light really easily and when coated in Vasoline (petroleum jelly) they will burn for several minutes. This can be handy if you are trying to ignite stubborn or green wood.

Camera and Compact Tripod: When you are on the road alone, it's nice to have a tripod handy to capture pictures with yourself in them. I found a great little tripod (Ultrapod II) that I got from REI. It is very compact (fits in my tank bag) and it comes with a Velcro strap that also allows you to secure it to tree branches, poles, etc.

Cell Phone/Charger: I've wired my bike to accept my cell phone car-charger. It's just nice to know that I have a fully charged phone, even when I deliberately try not to use it. I bought the wiring harness from (cyclechargeall.com). It is a universal design that includes a quick disconnect pigtail that also works with my current trickle charger and jumper cables.

GPS: Of course I would never leave home without my trusty GPS. I use a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx. I rarely use the routes feature. Instead, I find a track of where I want to go (at SundayMorningRides.com of course) and then upload it to my device via Mapsource. Different Garmin devices have unique tricks for uploading large tracks using Mapsource. There are many resources online that can help you if you find this process to be difficult. Once my track is uploaded, I just zoom into the map and follow the track line. It's much less distracting than having a GPS bark "calculated" directions at you (that are sometimes wrong and usually route to major roads that you'd rather avoid). When you deviate from the track line, you simply know you've gone off course. Pretty easy.

My Non-Essential (Comfort and Convenience) Items:

I'm a strong believer in bringing some comfort items that smooth the rough edges. Here are my favorites. What are yours?

Kindle: I love to read, and my Kindle allows me to bring all of my books in one small package. It will even hold a charge for over a week. Perfect.

Flask: Single Malt Scotch, my poison of choice.

Cigars: An indulgence I tend to enjoy while on the road. I put my cigars in a ziplock bag. Into that same bag I place a smaller ziplock (snackpack) that contains a piece of damp sponge (moistened with distilled water). I leave this smaller bag unzipped. This usually is all that is needed to keep my cigars in good condition for an extended trip.

Common Items I've Removed from My List:

1. Toilet paper: I rarely find campgrounds that aren't stocked with TP. For the rare occasions when that happens, I still have my baby wipes. One less thing to take up space.

2. Pots, pans, plates, and bowls: As I mentioned earlier, I'm now a firm believer in the art of boiling water and eating without the hassle of cleanup.

3. Rugged Shoes: Again, these tend to be bulky and are usually left in my bag as I tend to always reach for a more versatile pair of hiking sandals.

4. Heavy clothing/jackets: I get double duty out of my riding liners.

5. Hatchet: I used to carry a hatchet to chop wood, but I now mostly get by with foraging for loose wood or, in the worst case, I buy a bundle of pre-cut wood from the camp host for a few dollars.

Other Tips:

1. Ride in the morning. I'm a firm believer in waking up early (5AM at the latest), tearing down camp and getting on the road on or before 6AM. In the morning hours, traffic is light, wind is usually calm, and weather in general is usually more predictable. I used to make a production out of breakfast in camp - goes back to my childhood where my dad used to lavish us with an incredible camp breakfast. I now settle for a quick cup of coffee and a granola bar. I get out early and I have an excuse to seek out interesting places to stop for a morning bite. Another benefit of getting an early start is that you'll tend to arrive at your target destination a little earlier in the day. This is often crucial for securing a camp site at the busier locations.

2. Prepare the night before to simplify the next morning. With the list above, I can set-up or tear down camp in about 30 minutes or less. To make tear down easy, I tend to prep the night before. I pack up my Kermit chair, get my clothes for the next day organized, and i think about the order in which I'll break things down in the morning. When I wake up, I have a plan of attack and can usually get packed, have a cup of coffee, and be on the road without waking up my neighbors.

3. Don't be a hero/fool. Take advantage of opportunities to increase your comfort on the road. Sometimes when you put a lot of effort into planning you can almost overly commit yourself to your gear. Just remember that the longer you are comfortable on the road, the more likely you are to enjoy the trip. So if it is raining cats and dogs, the wind is howling, or if you just plain stink to high heaven, don't be afraid to treat yourself to the shelter of a roadside motel and a shower. It's fairly easy to find convenient places to stop that will give you a room for the night for close to $30.

4. Keep your license plate info handy. When you roll into many campgrounds, you typically can ride through, find a spot, and park your bike. Keep your license plate number written down and on your person (e.g., in a wallet/handbag). This is usually required when you fill out the paperwork to secure the spot, and if you don't have it memorized you might find yourself walking back and forth between the site and host/kiosk. I've made this mistake a few times.

5. Use soft bags. If you didn't notice, I keep all of my gear organized in several modular soft bags (usually mesh zippered bags). I tend to choose different colors, so that I don't have to guess what is in each bag. The soft bags also pack easier and tend to be lighter weight than hard cases.

6. Carry your water with you. I always carry one days supply of water with me on the bike. For me I can get by comfortably with 80 ounces. So, typically at the first morning gas stop, I'll buy 4x 20 ounce bottles of water and just stuff them into my Motofizz. You may require more or less. Since I know know I'll need to stop for gas, I take that opportunity to keep my water supplies stocked. I also keep a stainless water bottle close by and filled (the Motofizz has a water bottle holder on the side for easy access) for use on the road. Again, I prefer to not have any weight on my body while I ride, so I shy away from Camelbacks or other hydration packs.

7. Carry cash. I tend to carry enough cash to cover approximately $30 per day on the road. I usually save this for campgounds and places where cash is most convenient. For gas and food, I tend to use my credit card for convenience.

8. Don't over stuff your bags. All of the items on my list fill about 70% of the capacity of my bags (including my side bags). When you don't have to force stuff into place, it is much easier to keep things organized out on the road. Some people recommend the shuffle and stir method of packing (where you purposefully keep things loose so as to not over stuff). I prefer to keep things neat and orderly, but agree with the general concept.

9. Make a realistic plan. I tend to ride between 250 and 400 miles per day. Any longer and my mind switches from "casual ride" to "endurance ride" mode. Be realistic about your own distance limits.

10. Last but not least, ENJOY THE RIDE, not just the destinations. There will always be a tendency to go from point A to point B. While sometimes a direct route is necessary from a logistical standpoint, I recommend making frequent stops and exploring a bit. When you see a sign that intrigues you, take a minute and go explore that road. I can't tell you how many times I've driven by something, thought about stopping, kept going, only to find out later that I missed a great road or an incredible vista. I also really enjoy the many conversations I tend to have at gas stations, restaurants, etc. People seem to be fascinated by road trips, I've met many really cool people who simply stopped me to ask "Where you going?" "Where you been?" It also never hurts to get off the bike now and then just to stretch your legs.

Published: Jun 3, 2010

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