With Memorial Day weekend in the bag, many of us are now looking forward to our summer camping vacations. Whether you're planning that short trip to Laguna Seca or that long tour of the CONUS, if you're like me, you're already shoring up your packing lists. Since there are already many resources online that exhaustively detail the things you should (or should not) pack on your next bike trip, I'll spend the next several articles reviewing a few gems that I now consider standard camping equipment. While you may recognize or have already considered many of the items, I'll do my best to give you in-depth views into the features of importance, exposing the things that are normally lost in the catalog tear sheets and in low resolution marketing photos. My first review will break down the Motofizz Camping Seat Bag (Large).

Upon first inspection, the Motofizz is by all measure a serious piece of luggage. The seams are well stitched and the nylon material that makes up the structure of the bag is thick and sturdy. The bottom surface includes a soft rubbery friction patch right in the middle to help keep the bag from shifting around on your seat. I chose the large size, thinking, of course, that I could surely use all the capacity I could get (small and medium bags are also available). This bag is cavernous, measuring 14"x14"x27" in its collapsed/base form. Upon unzipping its side extensions the bag expands to a whopping 14"x14"x34". For those of you with hard side cases, this size works well strapped across the top of the bags and your seat. Once you've gotten past the size, you'll immediately notice an abundance of straps, bungees, buckles, d-rings, all designed to give you plenty of options for securing gear, clothing, what have you. It's almost overwhelming, but all very purposeful. If we take a closer look, you'll immediately begin to appreciate all that this wonderful bag has to offer:

	View of the bag in its collapsed form (27" wide).
	View of the bag in its expanded form (34" wide). Zippers on each end allow for the expansion, and an adjustable strap running the length of the bag helps to bolster the entire structure.
	View from the rear, showing a convenient handle, and buckles that secure the large top flap/hatch.
	On the front of the bag there is a handy water bottle holder well within reach.
	On each end there are also small compartments. One of which (shown) can be detached and used as a convenience case, toiletry bag, etc. I typically keep the shoulders strap, and/or the rain shield in one of these side cases.
	At the top of the bag, under the top flap/hatch, but separate from the main inner compartment, there is a very large and handy drawstring pouch/stuff-sack. This is a perfect place to store soft gear or clothing (hats, jacket liners, rain slicks, etc.) that you may want to grab in a hurry.
	The bag really begins to shine when you see it opened all the way up. The first great feature is the fact that it can be fully opened from the top hatch or from either end. The end ports are great as they allow you grab items when the bag is secured to the bike, without needing to dig through the top. You can also see the abundance of straps within the main compartment. These can be connected front to rear to keep the bag from deforming/flattening when loaded up. They are also great for organizing your clothes vs. your gear and for securing and/or evenly distributing heavy items that may shift.
	The shoulder strap is fairly standard fair. The instructions that come with the bag also suggest it can be used to help secure the bag to the seat (as a supplement to the 4 point mounting system), although I haven't found this to be necessary.
	The 4 point mounting system is excellent in its simplicity. It is basically a set of 4 straps with a simple loop at one end allowing you to capture any grab bars or similar structural elements on your bike. The buckles then simply snap into the four binding points at the corners of the bag, and you tension the straps to adjust its position. You may need to adjust the attachment point on the bike to get the bag to seat exactly where you want it, but overall this attachment system is quite solid and secure. There are also plenty of D-rings on the bag to capture if you prefer even more security (not a bad idea). The bag also includes a small 4 point strap that will buckle to the mounting straps, keeping them organized when you remove the bag at your destination.
	View of the bag secured on the bike.
	Wide shot, where you can appreciate the expanded size relative to the bike.
	Another wide view.
	The straps on the rear of the bag make securing rolled items (like sleeping pads) a cinch. Although you'd be wise to supplement these straps for larger items.
	The weakest element of the package. The rain shield is a simple design with a drawstring to secure it over the bag. Besides the poor fit, the material is extremely thin and tear prone. There still is no substitute to simply wrapping your electronics and some critical clothing in plastic ziplock bags. If you demand a waterproof system, this is surely not the best package, but overall not a deal breaker. I simply "protect" the bag with a water repellent spray and make sure to ziplock any necessities.

So there you have it. In summary, I can only say this system is nothing short of fantastic. There may be more waterproof and simple seat bags out there, but I tend to gravitate to solutions that offer flexibility, and the Motofizz delivers configuration options and flexibility in bunches. At ~$160 it's not the cheapest system out there, but, considering it's quality and features, I think it is well worth the cost. I purchased my Motofizz from the terrific folks at RiderWearhouse/Aerostich. Check out their description of the Motofizz (here)