The Ultimate Motorcycle Camping Gear Checklist
Welcome to our Motorcycle Camping Gear Checklist for bike travellers. We use the majority of these items on our round-the-world motorcycle ride and have thrown in a few extras and non-essentials just in case you want a splash of luxury. Here’s everything you might need on a long-term motorcycle camping trip.
- May 10, 2020
SLEEPING
Your sleeping gear will be the bulkiest items in your motorcycle luggage. A tent, sleeping bag and roll matt take up enough space without throwing extras in like pillows, and so it’s worth spending a little extra for high quality stuff. The aim is to get low-volume and lightweight kit that you can compress to make as small as possible. Here are three essentials for minimalist motorcycle travellers and four things that add a little extra comfort.
Essentials
Tent
The MSR Hubba Hubba tent is one of the lightest on the market. We use this tent because it's freestanding, meaning you don't need to peg it into the ground to erect it. That comes in very handy in the desert! You can also use it without the fly cover, which makes it perfect for hot countries and star gazine.
Sleeping Bag
With sleeping bags, if you spend a little you get a lot. But not in a good way. Cheap bags are huge and usually rubbish. It's worth going for a premium bag that packs away as small as possible. Consider where you're travelling, what temperatures you need it to work in and don't get caught out with an unsuitable bag.
Roll Mat
The best roll mats for long-term camping are quick inflating air mattresses. They pump up in about 10 breaths and roll away tightly. Foam roll ups are fine for short trips but too big, bulky and uncomfortable. Go for a mattress with a low volume but decent thickness so the cold from the ground doesn't transfer through.
Non-Essentials
Pillow
If you have the space, go for an inflatable but comfortable pillow. If you want a minimal kit then you could use your bag, bike jacket or a pile of clothes instead.
Foil Blanket
Very handy in emergencies or if caught out on a freezing night. We're glad we packed ours. They're super cheap, very handy and smaller than a pack of cards.
Neck Scarf
Most riders use a neck scarf on their travels. They also double up as hats when camping in cold conditions. Makes more sense than carrying a woolly hat.
Jag Bag
I've had my Jag Bag for six years and love it. It's a tough and light silk liner that keeps sleeping bags clean and can be used in questionable hotels too.
COOKING
What cooking equipment you carry (if any) completely depends on how often you camp, how long your trip is and how much you like cooking. Long-term motorcycle travellers usually need to cook on a regular basis, and so it’s worth carrying extra kit to make life easier and the food taste better. Here are the essentials and a bunch of extras for road chefs.
Essentials
Stove
The MSR Dragonfly stove has been with me for six years and 60,000 miles. Gas canisters make no-sense for bike travellers. This runs on petrol, was developed for mountaineering, is easy to maintain, doubles up as a Jerry can and you can control the flame.
Cooking Equipment
We use the MSR Quick 2 Cooking set, but for solo riders there's the MSR Trail Lite system. I used to use a single mess tin on previous trips where I didn't cook that often. Now, because we cook so much we use a larger set that cleverly slides into itself to maintain space.
Cutlery
Durable and tough plastic cutlery (not the flimsy rubbish ones) is the way to go. Metal is fine but weighs more and scratches non-stick pans if used to stir food or scrape out pasta. If you're cooking regularly and make more than rice and beans, it's worth having a set.
Non-Essentials
Foldable Washbowl
There's not always going to be access to running water, especially if you're wild camping. A washbowl saves wasting H2O. It's worth carrying a small sponge, tea towel and washing liquid too.
Mini Chopping Board
Cutting garlic and onions on your lap is a pain in the arse. Go for a mini chopping board (or cut your one in half) and you'll be dicing those carrots like Gordon Ramsey in no time.
Mora Knife
We use a Swedesih 'Mora kniv' on a daily basis. Life would be hard without it. All food chopping and preparations are made with this knife, its well-made, will last forever and costs around £10.
Hand Sanitiser
Food hygiene is important, especially if handling raw meat and eggs. A little bottle of sanitiser means not wasting your water on washing hands if wild camping and away from water sources.
COMFORT
By definition, ‘comfort’ items are non-essential. They’re there to make your camping life that little bit easier, so if you’re a minimalist bike traveller, or on a short trip, or don’t camp that often then you can do without these items. We’re limited by what we can carry and how much space we have when motorcycle travelling. So it’s a balance of what you need, what you want and what’s worth making space for.
Tarpaulin
A sheet of tarpaulin is extremely versatile when motorcycle camping. You can use it for an additional shelter to cook under if it's raining (with the fire just outside it of course). It can also be used as a large ground mat, a ground sheet when working on your bike or as a motorcycle cover.
Camping Chairs
We started our trip with chairs and sent them home after the first month because we didn't use them. We regretted that decision for the next eight months. Especially when we saw other travellers relaxing in theirs. Once you try one, you won't go back to sitting on the floor with an achy back.
Ground Mat
If you don't want to carry a large tarp sheet, then a simple, roll-up and lightweight camping mat is a great option. It stops ground dust flicking up into your cooking. A ground mat also stops your feet and all your equipment from getting dirty and provides a place to rest outside of your tent.
EXTRAS
Everyone has their own extras that they take on a motorcycle camping trip. Here are a bunch of extras that you might need. We use six of these items but have at some point travelled with and camped with all of them. Like with the comfort items, it’s your luggage and your balance. Take whatever you need and have space for. And if it doesn’t work out, send it home.
Head Torch
This is the most important extra of the bunch. Far handier than a hand held torch because it makes cooking, walking and going for a pee in the middle of the night a doddle.
Lamp
A small but strong lamp makes life so much easier when camping. It lights up your site and can also hang inside your tent when it's time to get into your sleeping bag.
Para Cord
Most bike travellers carry paracord because it comes in so useful. It probably has a million uses but we mainly use ours as a washing line and to fix the the tarpaulin to a tree.
Shower Bag
Shower bags come are used when there's no water source or it's too tricky to get into the water. Fill up the bag, hang it from a tree, turn the nozzle and wash away the day's ride.
Foldable Grill
This type of grill is very light and packs away flat. If you like the occasional BBQ and don't want to make your own grill every evening then these are brilliant.
Wet Wipes
Sometimes you can't waste your drinking water on something silly like washing your smelly arm pits! The wet wipe sorts your showering needs.
Soap
A bar of eco-friendly soap can be used to wash both your body and the dishes if you want to reduce your kit and do away with proper washing up liquid.
Tupperware
Tupperware that folds into itself comes in surprisingly useful when camping. Store leftovers and stop your food from getting contaminated by the petrol stove.
Fire Starters
We can all get by with a lighter or matches. But be honest, starting a fire with one of these just looks cooler. Seriously though, if your matches get wet then you'll be grateful you have this.
Can Opener
We've met plenty of people who carry can openers and multi-tools. Why? Nearly every pen knife has a can opener. It makes more sense to get a decent multi-tool like a Leatherman.
Hatchet
Depends on how Ray Mears you are with your camping. If camping in wooded areas and want to chop firewood, then go for a quality, wood handle hatchet. We recommend Gransfors Bruks.
Water Bladder
Foldable water containers pack away small and can be stashed in your bag when you don't need them. You can then top them up before you head to the campsite and saves carrying bottles.
ps. We’re not sponsored by any companies, these are just the products we use on our travels. Purchasing a product after clicking on any of the links on this page (or using this link to Sportsbikeshop or this link
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9 thoughts on “The Ultimate Motorcycle Camping Gear Checklist”
I was introduced my my (Aussie) cousin to hammocks. Got my own now, takes up so much less space and far more comfortable, and can sling it anywhere there’s a 3-6 metre gap between a pair of suitable tethering points!
Hi Mal! Yes! We’ve seen a few travellers with hammocks, they look like a fantastic option, especially with the protective mesh and waterproof covering options. They must save on a ton of space as well. We did consider one, but there have been so, so, so many times where there would have been nothing to tie it to – especially in deserts and baron places. Glad it works for you though. Cheers Mal and happy camping mate!
Hi, what do you guys think about good tents for motorcycle trips? Do you have any advice on what type of tent I should pick eg 2 man or tunnel etc? Any advice would be helpful thank you
Hey Jet! Thanks for your comment, we have an article literally called the 10 Best Tents for Motorcycle Camping here https://www.madornomad.com/the-10-best-motorcycle-camping-tents/
That guide also lists loads of important criteria for picking a tent for bike trips, which should help.
But to directly answer your question – it’s tricky because everyone’s trips and needs are unique. Personally, we prefer freestanding tents because they can be erected on any terrain (desert, snow, rocky hard ground), two-person so you have extra space for gear, removable covers for hot nights (and so the cover can be used as a quick shelter) and importantly – low volume and under 2.5kg. Hope this helps! If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask anytime in a comment, shoot us an email or ask in the Forum! Cheers
Thank you guys that has helped a lot. I took a look at the tent article and also saw that you use the MSR. I think i’m going to give it a go. Thanks again
Great checklist, clearly laid out and everything you’d need. This has just saved the day! Only thing i can think of to add is insect repellent and sun cream… but that’s just because i get bitten all the time and go red raw in the sun ha!
Hey Michael, thanks for your comment and glad you liked the article! Yeah, you’re 100% right, sun cream and insect repellent are super important in most countries (especially insect repellent as I always get bitten like crazy)! Cheers for the additions mate 🙂
A great tip I learned is to find a stove that uses Gasoline as fuel. It serves 2 purposes as it will have a small fuel bottle that can also double as a fuel reserve for your motorcycle. In addition, you will never run out of cooking fuel as long as you have gas in your bike!
Hi Jim, yes! We agree completely. The MSR stove we listed above in the cooking section is a petrol stove and we’ve ended up using it as emergency fuel for the bike one too many times. And like you say, it’s far easier to find petrol in the middle of nowhere compared to gas canisters. I’ve had that MSR stove for nearly seven years now and it’s been around the world, no way would I change it!