The Moto Camping Thread
Just came off a 3 day, 800mi ride with Jeff Hubbard, first camping ride of the season. Look for the presentation on moto camping that Stephen Barnes did, in the Files section, where I’m sure most of this is covered. But gear is in the washer, GnT in hand, so this is my after action, mostly because it seems like every year it takes me one night of camping to remember how I do things 
Perspective:
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Been moto-camping since the early 90’s
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Former Marine so, for me, pain is measured in ounces and I have low expectations with regards to where and what I’m fine with being “dirty,” and “food quality.”
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I prefer simple, cheap, and multi-functional gear.
This is how I apply this perspective:
Luggage – IMO, this is the starting point. I prefer simple, light weight, inexpensive and relatively small capacity luggage. Why? Because the ADV Rider hates a vacuum and if you give him / her empty space, he / she will inevitably fill it with shit they don’t “need.” So if you begin by limiting space, you’ll be forced to carefully consider everything you bring.
I bought my 990 Back in the Dizay, before good rackless systems. At that time Wolfman made a simple pannier rack for the bike, so I have that, and simple rolltop Wolfman panniers bags that I bought used for $100. They are probably 35L each, but before I got these I used an older 25L system that worked perfectly fine. I don’t come close to using all 35L but it comes in handy for admin runs to/from camp. More later.
I also have a large WM water proof duffel that’s about 15yrs old and patched in several places.
Everything I take camping will also fit in the 40L Tusk rackless system that I bought for Kandi’s bike, but I just use these pannier bags because I have the racks on there already. Anyway…
Food:
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Calorie dense, lightweight, no cooking. I bring beef jerky, trail mix, Kirkland protein bars (I budget 2/day), Starbucks instant coffee (2 packs/day) and Starbucks dark hot chocolate mix (1x/day)
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I carry a ziplock of trail mix and beef jerky, and 2x protein bars for the day, in the left side pocket of my Apecat. Left is my “comfort” side: food, sunscreen, chapstick, etc.
Cooking:
I don’t. Coffee is a non negotiable so my “kitchen” is a 25yo JetBoil, tall Yeti mug (one of my two luxury items), lighter, spork, and a very small Bluetooth speaker. All of this goes in a small mesh travel bag. Breakfast is 2x Tall Strauss Mochas (Via + hot cocoa mix) + protein bar + jerky + trail mix. This and snacking out of my left pocket will last me all day, no need for lunch. Dinner I’ll cover below.
Camping:
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Tent: Kandi scored an REI 2 man dome plus (whatever plus means…) for less than $100. 2x doors, 2x vestibules. I like having the extra space, need this size when Kandi and I camp together, and it was cheap. I don’t see a need to buy a smaller, lighter tent yet but I have my eye on some. I’d estimate that the tent, fly, poles, ground sheet, and stakes weighs about…7-8lb or so?
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Sleeping system: Big Agnes Ranger (?)40f that’s about 15yrs old. Kandi bought a nicer 20f (I think) Big Agnes bag, used, that I’ll steal when she’s not looking. I supplement this with a sleeping bag liner, blow up pillow, and a Big Agnes blow up pad, also purchased used. The pad, pillow, bag liner, and a small solar powered inflatable lantern all goes in a small mesh bag.
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Chair (my 2nd luxury item): used Helinox, bought for about $30 I think
Clothes and armor:
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This weekend I rode in my dirt bike vs ADV setup, so Leate body armor and elbow pads.
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These days I’m about multi-functional. So rather than $$$$ moto pants, this year I bought $99 hiking pants, with stretchy material in seat, reinforced knees, cargo pockets, zippered leg vents. I ride in these, with knee braces on the outside and Sidi Crossfire boots. When it’s time to camp, I just take the boots and braces off, change underwear, running socks, sandals, and I’m good.
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I ride in a short sleeve running shirt + this awesome fishing hoody that Kandi found at Goodwill. It includes a neck gaiter thingy and hood. I augment this with an old Klim lightweight goretex jacket, about 15yrs old, before Klim got super complicated and $$$. Jacket is strapped to Apecat at the start of the weekend. But it goes on for the first chili morning ride, and is then stashed under cargo net for easy access if it rains, and used as my camping jacket.
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1 pair running socks, 1 pair riding socks, 1 pair underwear, 1 pair shorts, 1 cotton shirt, all in small waterproof bag.
Packing:
Left Pannier = my admin side, as it’s the side of the bike I’m most often on, packed as below, from the bottom up:
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First aid kit
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My “kitchen,” in the event we want to stop and make coffee
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Clothes, in small waterproof bag. Also includes my hygiene bag, which is toothbrush, toothpaste, skin lotion, travel size baby wipes, and hotel shampoo bottle for washing face, hands, and clothes in the random gas station sink. Or use their soap.
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“Pantry:” trail mix and jerky
Right pannier = workshop, packed as below from bottom to top.
Goal is to never have to go into this pannier…
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21" tube and long lever
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Flat repair kit and compressor
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Green Chili tow strap and Z-drag recovery rope system
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Jumper battery
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Tool roll – note: in the right pocket of my Apecat I carry a small Husky zippered bag with my sockets, mini ratchet, extension, and bits (hex and torx), and Leatherman multitool. So if I need quick access to these items, they’re right there vs having to dig into my tool roll.
Rear Duffle = all things camping
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Tent packed in an old Giant Loop waterproof tent bag + poles + stakes
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Sleep system – pad, bag liner, pillow, inflatable lantern, all in a small mesh bag. Idea is that after I set up my tent, I toss this bag and my sleeping bag in the tent, done.
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Sleeping bag: rather than packing the bag in it’s own bag, I stuff it into all of the empty space remaining in the duffle, and squeeze the air out of the duffle as I roll the top down.
Strapped to outside of duffle:
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Camp chair and sandals: these are the last items to get packed, so I can change into moto kit while sitting comfortably. I also have easy access to the chair, if needed, during the day.
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Mesh cargo net secured to outside of duffle: can use to quickly stash my jacket, layers I’ve removed, dry wet laundry while I’m riding, stash extra gloves, etc. I have a couple carabiners in the mesh, to secure items (gloves, hat, etc)
Rear seat: empty 1.5 gal MSR water bladder, read to be filled at last stop before camp. Secured with mini Rokstraps. Because the 990 gets such poor MPG, to power the Awesome, Giant Loop fuel bladder is also secured here, ready to be filled when needed.
Apecat:
Left = comfort, food, neck gaiter
Right = quick tools, phone.
Left pants cargo pocket: cash and micro fiber
Right pants cargo pocket: earplugs and misc stuff
Rear Apecat pocket = extra water, charging cables, reading glasses…just misc stuff really since this pocket is hard to get to without taking the whole pack off
Molle admin pouch: headlamp (with red lens, to preserve night vision), overflow layers, etc.
“Last stop” routine, in last town before camp:
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Top off bike, buy a 1.5 gallons of water to fill MSR bladder and top off Apecat bladder.
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Firewood, strapped to rear seat, under MSR bladder.
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Sandwich or other, purchased to go.
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40oz Camp Beer
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Sandwich / dinner + beer + any snacks goes into a cheap molle admin pouch I’ve added to the back of the Apecat. Otherwise this bag is usually empty during the day. Weighs nothing.
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Find camp, hopefully near stream
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Insert Camp Beer into stream and setup tent.
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Toss bag and sleeping system into tent, to be setup later before bed
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Setup camp chair, change out of armor, boots, braces, put on clean underwear and comfortable shirt, socks, sandals.
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Light fire: insert gas station napkins into full gas tank. Use this + lighter to light fire
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Retrieve sammich and beer. Enjoy
Again, I focus on simple, lightweight, cheap, and multi-purpose. And I don’t cook in camp, and as long as I’m able to wash hands and face at gas stations, and the naughty bits at night with babywipes, that’s as clean as I “need” to be when camping. Socks may get rinsed in a stream and dry on the fly in the cargo net.
With our moto camp weekend coming up next month, I just wanted to share these thoughts with you, hopefully giving you some ideas for your own setup.
Please share your own setup, approach to camping, and packing tricks. Thanks!
