Camping gear for newbies

Alberto

Alberto

Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
422
Age
49
Location
Georgia
Bike
ST1100
I decided to start to prepare my camping gear for next year. Never did motorcycle camping before. And I'm definitely determined to do this no matter what.
Is this list of camping gear enough for beginner?
And the next stupid question, is that theoretically possible to pack everything to standard ST1100 panniers and big hondaline topbox (i suppose 38 liters)? ))

Camping gear
Sleeping bag ( up to 0 C degrees)
2person tent
Tarp for tent
Inflated sleeping pad
Inflated pillow
Foldable knife
Small axe
Rechargeable flashlight/collapsible battery-powered lantern
Forehead flashlight
Mosquito repellent
Small bluetooth music speaker
Necesser (soap, tooth brush+paste, ets)
Powerbank
Packable chair
Nylon cord
first aid kit
Disposable gloves
Compact water filter
Towel
Toilet paper
paper towels
hat

Kitchenery
Gas stove
Extra gas
Compact open air stove
Silicone mag/cup
Can opener
Table tarp
Lighter + matches
Dry food supply (2-3 days)
Towel
Spoon + fork
Collapsible water jug (1 gallon /3-4 liters)
Couple of cans of beer
Hot pads
Trash bags
dish soap.
Salt, pepper.
Olive oil
Collapsible basin for washing cookware
 
Last edited:
Only you can decide what's "enough" gear. BUT, based on my own experience with car camping, bicycle camping, and a LIMITED amount of motorcycle camping, plus what I have read from numerous others, the tendency is to bring way too much stuff, not too little. (Ironically, I *just* completed a preliminary inventory of what I plan to take when I go car camping next weekend. I have a different list when on the motorcycle, and a different list yet again for the bicycle.)

Hot pads are a nice thing but folded up paper towels will do in a pinch, and they have other uses too, like drying your cookware.

If you're carrying a smart phone (and who doesn't, these days) earbuds could take the place of your bluetooth speaker.

A whisk broom is a handy thing to keep around. Not essential, but handy.

Consider a small / collapsible battery-powered lantern in place of a flashlight. Lanterns are much handier for general illumination. You could perhaps then eliminate the head-mounted light too. Powering any battery-operated device with rechargeable batteries is a good thing.

A hat.
Sunscreen.
Coffee and the means to prepare it. And a cup to drink from.
Trash bags (can be re-used grocery bags, as ideally you will not generate large volumes of waste).
Dish soap.
Salt, pepper.
Olive oil (optional).
Collapsible basin for washing cookware (and yourself, if circumstances require it).
Collapsible water jug (again depending on circumstances).

I've seen where @Mellow cooks eggs by scrambling them in a plastic (ziplock-type) bag and then boiling them in the bag. The hot water can still be used for other purposes and there's not much to clean up from the eggs- wash the bag out and use it again. One pot does it all.
 
ibike2havefun said:
Only you can decide what's "enough" gear
Click to expand...
Thank you for update and advises) sure, everyone decide for himself, but this works through experience, sometimes unsuccessful and painful) that's why better to ask ones who know how to do it, and can share their knowledge )

Added mentioned items to the list, thanks)
 
Last edited:
ibike2havefun said:
I've seen where @Mellow cooks eggs by scrambling them in a plastic (ziplock-type) bag and then boiling them in the bag. The hot water can still be used for other purposes and there's not much to clean up from the eggs- wash the bag out and use it again. One pot does it all.
Click to expand...

Those eggs came out better than the ones I've made at home... lol

The cooking stuff and food are the last thing I pack because, being on a bike, you can just ride to breakfast/lunch/dinner and bring back anything you need. It's a pain to keep food and make sure it's out of the way of wildlife. I'll bring some granola or protein bars or mixed nuts as a snack as that's easy. If I do bring the jetboil I'll bring some ramen noodles just to have something if I don't want to ride into the nearest town.

Careful w/cans of beer, they are a lot thinner than in the past and you don't want one getting punctured in your gear...

IMG_20160422_082712.jpg
 
I guess there's two types of motorcycle camping:

1. you setup camp and stay for a few days,
2. you spend the night at a campground instead of a hotel/motel and leave the next morning.

From your list I suspect you're intending to do #1. Sounds like a lot of stuff to haul around on a bike, but I fall into the #2 category, so I'm used to packing light.

Agree with Joe that cooking your own food adds a lot to the list, so if you can't fit everything in that would be the first stuff to go.
 
Unfortunately, someone else's experience isn't usually transferable. What works for me might/probably won't work for you. With only one exception, (a minimalist friend of mine), the unvarnished answers to your questions are. No, its not enough, and its impossible to pack everything into the bike's panniers and top case. Every biker I've seen going for more than a night or two usually has a duffel bag strapped to the bike. Throw a couple of large plastic garbage bags folded up on the bottom of your panniers. They will come in handy to pack a wet tent/ground cloth, etc. if it rains. I've found a good headlamp replaces all my flashlights, and I hate rechargeable batteries that are a part of the flashlight. It's much faster to simply pull out the dead ones and put in new AA or AAA batteries than it is to wait to charge up the unit. This is what I mean by someone else's habits are not transferable. (Sure, ibiketohavefun's rechargeable batteries are a good thing, but you might not agree how good they are when you are setting up your tent in the dark because the light is dead.)

Think of the cowboys. They had a couple of leather saddlebags and a rolled up blanket. That was it for them, so you need not take anything else. (Unless you want to lead a couple of pack mules behind your bike.)
 
Last edited:
SMSW said:
Think of the cowboys. They had a couple of leather saddlebags and a rolled up blanket.
Click to expand...

In movies, yes. Have you ever noticed that they often seem to have a coffee pot over the fire, even though it's patently impossible to fit such an item in their saddlebags?

In cattle drives they also had a chuck wagon and, perhaps, other support "vehicles" to carry other items.

NOTE: I'm not an actual cowboy and have never played one on television or in the movies, either. :)
 
Last edited:
answer to question 1 too much.. Try a quick overnight camp somewhere get an idea of what fits, what your comfortable with and what you need for sure.
Question 2. all that will not fit in a ST1100. Top case and side cases can only hold about 20 lbs. Tail supports have been known to crack.
motorcycle camping has it's limitations which is part of the adventure.
 
Al st1100 said:
answer to question 1 too much.. Try a quick overnight camp somewhere get an idea of what fits, what your comfortable with and what you need for sure.
Click to expand...
That somewhere could just be your backyard... it was for me when I got back into tent camping 30 years after boy scouts. My wife thought it was funny that I actually spent the night in our back yard. ;)
 
paulcb said:
That somewhere could just be your backyard... it was for me when I got back into tent camping 30 years after boy scouts. My wife thought it was funny that I actually spent the night in our back yard. ;)
Click to expand...

You sure she didn't tell you to sleep in a tent in the back yard?
 
To the original list I might include a pot/pan; but, that's up to you of course... :)
 
I did my first camping trip last year with a couple of buddies who were experienced bike-campers. It was a fantastic trip and I'm now hooked on camping. For that first trip, like you, I solicited advice and then put together a list of things I thought I would need. As it turned out, even with what I thought was good preparation, my list was about 60% correct. I had over-packed on some items and found that I had overlooked other items I should have taken. What made the experience so good was learning from the 2 guys I was with. Each of them had different setups (i.e. tents, bedding, cooking equipment, clothing, tools) that worked for them individually. My takeaway from that trip was noting from them what would work for me and making adjustments to my list for my next trip. After that trip I did 2 extended solo rides and found that my packing was about 95% correct. And beyond the packing list, I think that you will find that doing a ride or 2 with experienced campers will help you with biking logistics (i.e. campsite reservations/scheduling, site setup, luggage tie-down techniques, ride pacing).
 
ibike2havefun said:
In movies, yes. Have you ever noticed that they often seen to have a coffee pot over the fire, even though it's patently impossible to fit such an item in their saddlebags?

In cattle drives they also had a chuck wagon and, perhaps, other support "vehicles" to carry other items.

NOTE: I'm not an actual cowboy and have never played one on television or in the movies, either. :)
Click to expand...
Forget the coffee pot. I want to know where they get the long oiled cotton coat that they all wear when it rains. And the change of clothing after the rain stops.
 
Alberto said:
I decided to start to prepare my camping gear for next year. Never did motorcycle camping before. And I'm definitely determined to do this no matter what.
Is this list of camping gear enough for beginner?
And the next stupid question, is that theoretically possible to pack everything to standard ST1100 panniers and big hondaline topbox (i suppose 38 liters)? )
Click to expand...
I still rely on the experiences I had from backpacking and mountain climbing. Everything had to be carried on your back. And you could live for a week with what you carried.

Whatever you decide to carry, pack it up a day or two before leaving. Then when you find it won't fit on the ST1100...start breaking it down from what you "think" you need and what you "really" need. ;) I guarantee you won't use many of the items on your list. But!!!...you'll get to figure out how to pack it all up each time you break camp.

I'd ditch the axe. What are you going to chop? You live in Russia, so the situation might be different than here. At our campgrounds, they tell you that you can't forage for firewood...primarily because there isn't anything that hasn't been picked up already. So you end up buying wood. A collapsible lantern is another nice to have, and totally feasible if you're driving a car to the campsite. A headlamp with multiple brightness settings will work just as well and if you need both hands free to do something, you have your hands free. And when it gets dark...it is time for bed.

Look at your food, and ditch the dishwashing soap. Plan ahead and you'll have very little to clean...and very little to throw away. I still eat for breakfast when camping, two packages of Instant Oatmeal, some instant milk in a small package, and something like a "Toast'em". A simple gas stove off eBay will heat the water for coffee. Eat all the oatmeal and you have very little to clean up, and it can all be cleaned up with just cold water.

I'd start looking through every item you're bringing. If the item only serves one purpose, maybe you can bring something else that'll work instead. I've used a washcloth for hot pads, for instance. It'll also work for brushing out the inside of your tent...especially if you take your boots off outside the tent. When you're done, rinse it out and hang it up to dry.

Skip the table tarp. You're camping. :D On my first Boy Scout camping trip, my pancakes were crusty on the outside from blowing sand, and gooey on the inside where they were still uncooked. If it fell on the ground, we picked it up, brushed off anything obvious...especially if it moved...and ate it. :D

Do you really need a chair? Or would a wooden stump work? Do you really need a Bluetooth speaker? For who? If there's others around, are you going to play what you like so they can hear it? Even if they don't like it? If you make yourself dependent on having the electrical toys you're used to having, your traveling will be ruled by where you can find power. You'll miss the great outdoors you're traveling through with a single-minded focus on finding a place to plug in and recharge.

Lastly, when you pack, consider how you'll pack things. On one hand, you want to carry heavier items down low. On the other hand, you want things like your tent and ground cloth readily available. There's nothing like finding your tent is buried under everything and you'll have to unpack everything first...when it is raining.

Good luck. It's fun to plan ahead like you're doing.

Chris
 
SMSW said:
I want to know where they get the long oiled cotton coat that they all wear when it rains.
Click to expand...

I got mine here:

www.outbacktrading.com

Stockman Duster | Duster Coats by Outback Trading Company

Our extra long Stockman Duster helps keep you dry and warm in all weather due to the many features and premium materials in this unique oilskin slicker.
www.outbacktrading.com www.outbacktrading.com

And it is AWESOME. I get a LOT of comments on it.

SMSW said:
No dutch oven for cobbler
Click to expand...

Or biscuits, if Motomac is around somewhere...

On a more serious note @Daboo makes very good points, well worth considering. Especially the one about things that do double-duty replacing single-purpose items. Cuts down on bulk, which is critical if you really are limiting to what you can put in panniers and top box.
 
thank everyone for advises, really appreciate it)

dwalby said:
2. you spend the night at a campground instead of a hotel/motel and leave the next morning.
Click to expand...
I suppose i'm closer to the second option... thinking of my routine as following: wake up in the morning, cook some breakfast, make coffee, travel, explore something, visit town or something, buy food for the next night, find campsite, put a tent, cook something for dinner. Maybe, stay somewhere for couple of days. Stay in the hotel once in three or four days to get refreshed.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom