Picture this: a majestic R1200GS with a full set of hard cases and over 100 liters of luggage space.
Now picture this: a humble SV650 with soft bags that would be lucky to squeak out a mere 40 liters of capacity.
If I told you I could pack my SV with enough gear for three nights and four days of comfortable camping and still have enough room for a bottle of Spanish wine, would you believe me? You should, and in this post I’ll tell you how.
Fast and Light Is the Name of the Game
I’m a follower of the “fast and light” school of packing out of necessity: the SV650 will never, ever compete with an R1200GS or a Goldwing in terms of storage capacity, so I have to be selective when deciding what to bring along. My packing style is straight out of my days spent backpacking, and if you’ve ever trucked a full load on your back more than a quarter mile you know that every ounce counts.
Of course, you could take “fast and light” to the extreme, trimming off the end of your toothbrush and leaving all creature comforts at home. Such asceticism may work for some, but I like a little comfort in my camping. To me, fast and light means making some sacrifices in order to take more goodies.
Here’s some of the gear I took on a recent trip:
I keep my packing list on a post-it note. Here it is:
Yes, the packing post-it note really exists!
Here’s a more detailed list of my typical gear payload:
Stuff For the Motorcycle
This list does not include the obvious things like your riding gear, helmet, tie-down straps, luggage, etc.
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| earplugs | bring extras! | |
| spare key | even better: carry a third key on a lanyard around your neck | |
| jacket and pants liners | ||
| visor cleaning kit | a microfiber cloth and some water works just fine | |
| spare gloves | I bring my summer and winter gloves | |
| neck warmer | Bikers Comfort in Action Wind Tube | |
| rain gear | ||
| tool kit |
My philosophy about tool kits: Tools are heavy. They’re also useless if you don’t know how to use them. My wrenching skills are very limited, and so is my tool roll: just a T-handle and a few bits and sockets that fit fasteners that aren’t covered by the SV’s tool kit. I also carry a few spare fuses. That’s it. Remember, I’m not riding in Afghanistan. My cell phone and a credit card will do just fine, and if I’m somewhere remote like Southern Oregon, I have enough gear and food to spend a night or two.
I do plan on carrying a tubeless tire plug kit and pump, once I learn how to plug tires properly. Some other items you might consider carrying are a siphon tube and a lightweight jumper cable.
Personal Hygiene
I store my toiletry items in a small Granite Gear Air Bag. It’s the translucent white stuff sack in the photo.
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| toilet paper | don’t leave home without it | |
| mirror | camping mirror made out of polished metal | |
| toothbrush and toothpaste | travel size | |
| contact lens case and solution | a 2oz Nalgene dropper bottle holds enough solution for almost a week | |
| spare contact lenses | spare glasses, too! | |
| washcloth | PackTowel face towel dries quickly and packs small | |
| shampoo and hand lotion | stolen from a hotel somewhere | |
| hydrocortisone creme | I hate mosquitoes | |
| medication | Advil, Immodium, etc in a small pill bottle to supplement the first aid kit | |
| baby wipes | in a travel size package |
Repair Kit
These items fit in a small heavy duty ziplock style bag. It’s the one directly above the cooking pot in the photo.
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| duct tape | mini roll available at backpacking shops | |
| pencil and paper | ||
| dental floss | wound around a piece of card to save space | |
| needles | thread? see dental floss above | |
| spare zipper pulls | found at backpacking shops | |
| zipties | ||
| air mattress repair kit | ||
| matches |
Camping
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| tent | REI Half Dome 2 HC | |
| sleeping bag | 20° F down bag | |
| compression sack | a Granite Gear round rock sack compresses my sleeping bag into compact ball | |
| air mattress | I recommend the Big Agnes Air Core pad: comfortable and packs tiny |
Cooking
My stove, fuel canister, matches, soap, and scrubbie sponge fit inside my MSR Titan kettle.
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| stove | Snow Peak Giga Power stove: the mighty mini! | |
| stove fuel | a single small Snow Peak canister lasts several days | |
| matches | ||
| biodegradable soap | in a 2oz Nalgene dropper bottle | |
| scrubbie sponge | cut the end off a dishwashing sponge | |
| cooking pot | MSR Titan kettle is all you need | |
| utensils | splurge on a full utensil set, or carry a spork! | |
| cup and bowl | I particularly like this squishy cup and bowl set for its space saving properties |
And then… you’ll have to pack food for the trip. Food is bulky, even if the freeze dried stuff is relatively lightweight. I try to buy food as I go — it’s one of the big advantages of motorcycle camping over backpacking!
Clothing
Clothing is a packing trap. It takes up a lot of space and it’s surprisingly heavy. A little moderation here will go a long way.
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| t-shirts (2) | ||
| shorts (1 pair) | ||
| convertible (zip-off) pants (1 pair) | ||
| underwear (1 pair per day) | or, buy “travel” undies that can be washed and dried overnight — hey, it works for Rick Steves! | |
| socks (1 pair per day) | as a concession to comfort, I like having a clean pair of socks every day | |
| fleece pullover | ||
| wicking long sleeve shirt | cool in the heat and warm in the cold | |
| wicking long underwear | keeps legs from feeling sweaty on hot days | |
| sleep clothes | ||
| shoes | ||
| hat | Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero keeps the sun and rain off |
Miscellaneous
| Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| towel | XL PackTowl, perfect for campground showers | |
| sunglasses | and eyeglass lens cleaning kit | |
| headlamp | no hands required | |
| first aid kit | for minor injuries, not enough for anything major | |
| knife or multitool | I dig the Leatherman Skeletool | |
| bandanna | ||
| camp chair | I recommend the Alite Monarch Camp Chair | |
| camera | ||
| laptop and charger | Asus eeePC netbook | |
| cellphone and charger | ||
| reading material | book or magazines | |
| deck of cards | ||
| 6 cup espresso pot | yes, I’m serious — this is how you make friends at rallies! |
If you haven’t noticed, I’m a big gearhead, and experimenting with different pieces of gear and different packing setups is part of the fun I get out of camping. While this list works for me, it’s certainly not the be-all-end-all of packing lists. Use it as a rough guide, then add or remove gear to fit your own travel style.
Happy camping!
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HA! You pack an espresso maker! I’d be your life long friend for a cup. I always bring the french press. That said, I think I’ll take your advice and skip the camping for this first trip. For the tool kit, I suggest that people try to use the factory one to do typical maintenance. Most don’t open it until they are stuck on the side of the road and by actually working with it, not only are you familiar with what’s in it but also what shortcomings there are. Then only pack what additional tools you need to get the job done.
Thank you for posting the lists. I tend to be a last minute packer and end up buying stuff along the way that I forgot…
@LifeOn2Whls: Good advice on giving the stock tool kit a test-drive. With my limited wrenching skills, an oil change is about the most difficult thing I’d be willing to tackle while on a long trip. Is the wrench in the kit up to par? Better to know now than find out later.
@RichardM: You too?? I’m glad I’m not the only one! Perhaps I forgot the most important thing: money!
I loved your two camping posts. Thanks for taking the time to really walk through all of that so thoroughly. I know what amounts to about zero regarding camping gear so that alone was great. But, packing in to a small space is near and dear to my heart. Its amazing what you realize you DON’T need after traveling on a bike with minimal real estate.
Really enjoy your blog – Thanks for keeping at it~
Take care out there!
very informative, a true minimalist!