By J.D. Dooley

I have been both backpacking and motorcycling for more than 30 years. But it wasn’t until recently that I, like many others, decided to combine the two with motorcycle camping. Also, I have worked for an outdoor outfitter for 11 years so I have had the ability to test many combinations of gear and brands.

While motorcycle camping is somewhat akin to car camping – in that you don’t actually have to physically carry all of your gear – it is also similar to backpacking in that the size and weight of your gear matters on several fronts.

First, you can’t carry a huge cabin style tent and a cot on you bike. Instead, you need the type of gear that a backpacker carries ­­– light, small high-quality items that will stand up to the road and trail while keeping you comfortable in all types of weather. You will notice that “high-quality” is in bold. I can’t stress the importance of that enough, especially if you are traveling to the more remote mountainous regions where it may not only be a matter of comfort but survival. In Alaska, and even along the Blue Ridge, night can drop into 30s without warning. If your gear is wet, you are in trouble.

While there are many reliable brands on the market I will give specifics that are high quality and reasonably priced.

First lets look at the basics, tent or hammock and tarp, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Tent

Choosing a tent is not complicated but there are a few things to consider such as weather protection and temperature range versus ventilation. The ideal tent for Florida may not be the ideal ten for Alaska however, most modern tents have a body comprised largely of screen and a rain fly that extends nearly to the ground. This combination is good for most spring, summer and fall motorcycling. The North Face Rock 23 is an example of a three season tent that would fill the bill for nearly all moto camping needs. It retails for $188.99.

Hammock

I would be remiss here if I didn’t mention the camping hammock. On a trip I was on earlier this month three out of ten guys slept in an Eagle’s Nest Outfitters (ENO) camping hammock ($54.99). And two of them were over the age of 40. Hammocks are cheap, light and pack very small. You do have to find two appropriate trees (usually not a problem) and you will probably want a tarp. You get a basic tarp from any discount store or ENO has one for $79.99. Although I’ve never slept in one I am yet to meet a user who doesn’t like it.

Sleeping Bag

The world of sleeping bags can get real confusing real quick. Let’s break it down to the two basic considerations; the filler material and how warm it will keep you at certain temperatures.

Sleeping bags are either filled with down or synthetic fibers. Both will keep you warm but down is lighter will pack much smaller. Down, however, is slow to dry and loses its insulation properties when wet. Synthetics are bulkier but are typically less expensive and retail insulation properties when wet.

The temperature rating of a sleeping bag is the best guess by a manufacturer as to what temperature the average person will feel comfortable in the bag on a pad. You should buy a bag based on the temperature that you will be using it. In the summer a 50 degree bag may fill the bill. I have one and use it rarely outside during the summer but find it perfect for bunkhouses, lodges, hostels and camping cabins.

If you are a “hot” sleeper you may want to buy the bag based on the actual temperature rating. If you are a “cold” sleeper you may want to purchase a bag rated for a lower temperature than you expect to encounter. In other words, if you are fairly certain that the temperatures are going to be in the 30s or 40s, buy a twenty degree bag. You always vent it to be cooler but you can’t generate more warmth.

Is there one that does it all? Sadly, no. If there was I’d have one. Instead, I have a twenty degree bag that I use in the 20s, 30s and low 40s and the fifty degree bag that I use from the high 40s up. I also have a fleece sleeping bag line that will add warmth to either bag or suffice as a stand alone bag if the temps are greater than 65 degrees.

Also, I carry only down bags but I am very careful not to get them wet (more on that to come). A good summer bag is the Mountain Hardwear Sunrise 50 for $169.99

Sleeping Pad

You are going to want a sleeping pad. Firstly, it’s certainly more comfortable that the hard ground. But, perhaps more importantly, a good pad provides a layer of insulation between you and the cold ground.

I have carried the tried and true Therma Rest Trail Lite ($59.99) for more than 10 years but the good folks there have just release an newer, better pad that retains more insulation, has a higher loft and packs smaller called the Neoair. It’s a little pricier at $139.99 but if I didn’t already have a pad I think I’d spend the extra money for the comfort.

Cooking

I’ve eaten lots of trail food while on the trail but personally, I like to eat at restaurants while motorcycling. Nonetheless there are times when that is not convenient.

Camping stove come in two basic flavors; liquid, or “white” gas (a variety of gasoline) and isobutane/propane blended fuel.

The isobutane/propane blended fuel is stored under pressure in a canister. The fuel is easy to use, creates no mess and ignites and burns easily in temperatures above freezing. The drawback is that it is difficult to tell how much fuel is remaining in the canister so you always end up toting around an extra one. It is difficult to properly dispose on the empty canister on the road but most retailers will take them back for recycling. Also, they perform very poorly in temperatures below 32 degrees Farenheit and at high altitude (above 10,000 ft).

Recently a cook system that has gained immense popularity is the Jetboil, an all-in-one stove, pot, bowl combo. The stove is powered by an isobutane/propane canister which, along with the burner, nests in the pot.

I prefer a gas stove such as the MSR WhisperLite International since it runs off something  which you are more likely to have access … gasoline. It is especially useful for remote regions and traveling abroad, especially south of the border where blended fuel canisters may not be available. It runs best off of white gas such as MSR’s own fuel or Coleman fuel but in a pinch you can run it just fine from regular gasoline which is more plentiful in Central or South America. Pots are also available for nesting the WhisperLite such as the MSR Alpine cookset at $49.99

Packing it all

Chances are, regardless of the bike’s maker, your panniers will not accommodate all of your camping gear. Many use a large waterproof duffle bag or SealLine dry bags. The reason being, I can store the tent, and sleeping pad in one. Then, if need be I can open it in the rain to set up the tent while my sleeping bag, pillow, towel and dry clothes remain sealed in the other bag until after the tent is successfully erected. I have used these bags on canoe and kayak trips for years and they are completely waterproof under all conditions. I use a clear one for the tent so I can easily identify it. I use a colored one for everything else because it’s tidier to look at than all my clothes and such crammed in a transparent bag. But that’s just me.

That about covers the basics so now here are a few extras that will make camp life a bit more enjoyable:

Quick-dry clothing. Wear 100% synthetic quick dry clothing. Once wet, cotton clothing stays wet. That includes tee-shirts and jeans. Synthetic hiking clothes will dry overnight hanging in a tent or on you while you ride if you got soaked before you had a chance to don your rain gear. Check out the Columbia Omni-Dri pant, the Mountain Hardwear Wicked Lite Tee and the Ex Oficio Give N Go Boxer.

Dry set of clothes that you never, ever allow to get wet. I’ve had trips that lasted five days when the rains never stopped. At the end of the day it’s nice to have that one set of dry clothes (socks, pants, shirt, undies and maybe even a fleece top) even if it means putting wet clothes back on the next morning. Fortunately, most campgrounds have a laundry but primitive sites and many national forest sites do not.

Headlamp. Long ago the hands-free LED headlamp replaced the flashlight. I have one on the bike at all time as well as in the glove box of every vehicle I own. My favorite is the Petzl Tikka Plus 2. It has a red light to use for night vision that also flashes and can be used as a safety flasher in emergencies.

Fire starter. Handy if you plan on building campfires. Little fire starter bricks are available at most major grocery stores or you may slice a fire starter log into several chunks and store them in zip lock bags for future use.

Book, 12 hours in a tent in the rain can get old.

Laundry bag. I use a kitchen size garbage bag and roll it closed. After I get home it can be repurposed for its originally intended use.

Camp shoes. After a long day in boots flip-flops or Crocs feel pretty good around camp.

Camp towel. Backpacker for years have carried a towel similar to the Sham-Whatzit. If you have to set up your tent in the rain these fast drying, super-absorbent towels make quick work of interior puddles and even wet bike seats in the morning.

First aid kit. Really, you should have one on the bike already. The Adventure Medical Kit is small and light and has the essentials.

Toilette paper. You’ll only forget it once.

Well, like on any good camping trip I’ve probably forgotten something but this should be enough to get you started. If you have any questions feel free to shoot me an Email. See you around the fire.

Click photo to enlarge.