Packing tips

splashback

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I am taking my first long ride in 2 weeks- Chicago to the South Carolina coast and back. I am camping there and back.
How do you pack for a long trip? I will have typical camping and riding gear and will be eating on the road so don't need to pack food or cooking equipment.
I'll have a bag strapped to the rear seat- the bike has a Givi top box.
Just looking for some suggestions from some more seasoned NT owners.
 
Yep, Chris is our resident expert.

I pack all my camping stuff (tent mattress sleeping bag pillow) in a dry duffel and all my clothes in a second dry duffel. Side cases get heated gear, extra sweatshirt, shoes, water, maps, tools, etc. No top box.

Your system may be different.
 
I've got big lids and a Givi trunk. On the Epic ride I used Bags Connection Dry Bags (35 and 28 liter bags IIRC). After riding to Alaska with Jim I would probably choose his arrangement if I had it to do over.
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After 54 years camping on bikes, I like the 2 dry bag system and big lids. Then there is the ELO, every thing left over bag. One bag camping stuff, one bag clothes. And a checklist. (Old system with duffles and trash can liners.) dont forget the pretty girl.
 

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The gear you have might make a big difference. On my first motorcycle camping trip, I simply took too much stuff. I was also trying to use this huge luxury thermarest camping pad that would only roll up, so even rolled up it was still wide and bulky. Because of the thermarest I used a 60 liter dry bag with camping pad, tent, and sleeping bag. The huge dry bag was strapped to pillion seat.

Mellow has a post and video here about camping. It is worth watching if you need help.

After watching it I saw how small the exped sleeping pad packed down. I bought it and have been using it since 2013. I also find it more comfortable than the big thermarest. This one change was huge and since then I have used this formula on 4 different bikes:
One Pannier is dedicated to sleeping bag, pad and small camping stuff that will fit. One pannier is mostly riding gear like gloves, liners, rain gear, and water. I usually put clothes and stuff like sunglasses in the top case. I have a much smaller dry bag that holds the tent and camp chair and gets strapped to pilion with rok straps.

Just got back from Spearfish using the above on the new bike. worked out great. In fact I still brought too many clothes, and still had a bit of room in one of the panniers.
 
I've found the pannier pass-thru is a handy place to stuff a tool roll.
 
artemedes said:
The gear you have might make a big difference. On my first motorcycle camping trip, I simply took too much stuff. I was also trying to use this huge luxury thermarest camping pad that would only roll up, so even rolled up it was still wide and bulky. Because of the thermarest I used a 60 liter dry bag with camping pad, tent, and sleeping bag. The huge dry bag was strapped to pillion seat.

Mellow has a post and video here about camping. It is worth watching if you need help.

After watching it I saw how small the exped sleeping pad packed down. I bought it and have been using it since 2013. I also find it more comfortable than the big thermarest. This one change was huge and since then I have used this formula on 4 different bikes:
One Pannier is dedicated to sleeping bag, pad and small camping stuff that will fit. One pannier is mostly riding gear like gloves, liners, rain gear, and water. I usually put clothes and stuff like sunglasses in the top case. I have a much smaller dry bag that holds the tent and camp chair and gets strapped to pilion with rok straps.

Just got back from Spearfish using the above on the new bike. worked out great. In fact I still brought too many clothes, and still had a bit of room in one of the panniers.
Click to expand...
Like everyone, I use the pass through for a tool roll.
I have no idea who on earth finds a thermarest comfortable. It is bulky and thin.

IMHO, there are two things that are gonna make for a good nights sleep. A good air mattress/bed and a good sleeping bag. I like Mellow's air mattress and will look into it but currently I use a Nemo Cosmo 30 XL insulated mattress
https://www.backcountrygear.com/cos...4bSwARDqD9E6FW3AAfm7oJNcDMg1jWeRoCNAgQAvD_BwE
This thing is 30 inches wide and 80 inches long and 3 inches of loft. Did I mention it is INSULATED. ? It packs small. I used it on the Spearfish trip where it got down to 28 degrees one morning and 40 another. It works.
I cant sleep in a mummy bag, so I found a modified mummy called the Kelty Coromell 25 degree bag, long. It is duck down and it works. I also have a Coromell 0 long. They pack small. One trick I do is if It is gonna be very cold, like in the Big Horns, I put my bike cover over the bag to retain heat. It works.
I am still getting rid of excess junk but I am pretty happy with my system using the 35 liter dry bags.
 
Coyote Chris said:
I like Mellow's air mattress
Click to expand...
Here's a good review on the one I have which is discontinued.

I think the Megamat lite 12 lxw is what replaced it, backcountry and moosejaw sites typically have the best prices for mats in my experience but I'd still search around.

Exped MegaMat Lite 12 Sleeping Pad - Moosejaw

The Exped MegaMat Lite 12 Sleeping Pad is a thick air mattress for backpacking, bikepacking and even paddling adventures. Free shipping on orders over $49, and earn up to 10% back in Moosejaw Reward Dollars on every order.
www.moosejaw.com www.moosejaw.com

The mat, being almost 5 inches thick makes it very comfortable and the R rating is well within what you'd need while touring on a bike. Not cheap but comfort usually isn't and a good night's sleep is priceless.
 
Thanks for the post Joe. I heard about your new sleeping pad and wanted to see your "show-and-tell", but this post is good. I've been happy with my old Exped but this new one looks much better. Yes, expensive, but only about the cost of two motel stays. How long will it be till the come out with one that has a built-in bug repeller, mobile maid service, and a sponge bath system for camping where there are no showers.

Maybe I should get the new one and pack my old one for a back-up like Chris does.
 
The best thing about packing is you get a nice soft backrest for the ride. Since I never take a passenger, I pack on the seat, which is the reason I always over bring clothes it seems. Cases get stuff but the water proof bag I carry seems to be my go to when I travel. I don't tent camp, too much metal in my back for tents.
 
Mellow said:
Here's a good review on the one I have which is discontinued.

I think the Megamat lite 12 lxw is what replaced it, backcountry and moosejaw sites typically have the best prices for mats in my experience but I'd still search around.

Exped MegaMat Lite 12 Sleeping Pad - Moosejaw

The Exped MegaMat Lite 12 Sleeping Pad is a thick air mattress for backpacking, bikepacking and even paddling adventures. Free shipping on orders over $49, and earn up to 10% back in Moosejaw Reward Dollars on every order.
www.moosejaw.com www.moosejaw.com

The mat, being almost 5 inches thick makes it very comfortable and the R rating is well within what you'd need while touring on a bike. Not cheap but comfort usually isn't and a good night's sleep is priceless.
Click to expand...
I just ordered one through REI. I had $80 credit and I get $25 more with it. R is about 5 which is fine. While it doesnt have the pillow pump mine has, it still folds up to the same cubic inches. For car camping I will still use my wal mart version but this Exped is light and packs a bit smaller. I will do a comparo of my three pads in the future. A good tip I was telling people is that if you go to wally world and buy a glue gun stick, 5 for a buck, you can light the end with a bic lighter and then blow it out and smash it into a small hole in an air mattress and it will instantly seal the hole. I have done this. I will still use my lith ion battery pump to pump up the mattresses but the bag filler is interesting.

I have never regretted spending money for quality or something I really enjoyed.
 
Coyote Chris said:
I have never regretted spending money for quality or something I really enjoyed.
Click to expand...

I agree with that. First of all the high quality products work much better than the Chinese junk from WalMart, and they don't fail as soon or often, and if there is a problem with a high quality product it is much easier to get it resolved or repaired. The best air mattress I've ever had was in the Army. It was a bit heavy (imagine that) but I carried it every day and used it every night for 6 months and it never failed. We didn't use ground cloths either. It was pretty robust and it kept me off the soggy rein forest ground. But I don't ever want to see it again.

Now the pressure is on - I'll have to buy one to keep up with the rest of you "Jones'". And then next I need to consider a new tent. My Mountain Hardware tent has served me well for at least 6 years but it is showing signs of wear. Replacing a tent BEFORE it fails is a good idea so you're not faced with trying to replace a tent while on a trip. I have not looked at the new tents yet, but a new tent and sleeping pad will probably happen before next summer.
 
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junglejim said:
I agree with that. First of all the high quality products work much better than the Chinese junk from WalMart, and they don't fail as soon or often, and if there is a problem with a high quality product it is much easier to get it resolved or repaired. The best air mattress I've ever had was in the Army. It was a bit heavy (imagine that) but I carried it every day and used it every night for 6 months and it never failed. We didn't use ground cloths either. It was pretty robust and it kept me off the soggy rein forest ground. But I don't ever want to see it again.

Now the pressure is on - I'll have to buy one to keep up with the rest of you "Jones'". And then next I need to consider a new tent. My Mountain Hardware tent has served me well for at least 6 years but it is showing signs of wear. Replacing a tent BEFORE it fails is a good idea so you're not faced with trying to replace a tent while on a trip. I have not looked at the new tents yet, but a new tent and sleeping pad will probably happen before next summer.
Click to expand...
ref air mattresses, I have to say the 7 inch deep cheep Walmart version ($16 on sale) has lasted me years, proably cause I carry a spare when car camping. It has the velve143611435514356143571435814359143601436114362143631436414365t and is very comfortable. But it is hard to pack cold and is of course heavy if not bulky. I am happy with my Cosmo but will certainly try the Exped.

I agree about tents. I still have 10 but Frosty has turned me on to quality tents and they certainly are better, and I now have three of them. They are much better ventilated, for instance, than the Walmart tents. I am looking for a better than Walmart 8x10 now for extended camping, for instance at Quigley and Oshkosh and Reno, but the Kelty Grand Mesa four and especially the Eureka Midori 3 and 4 are the cats meow for bike camping, IMHO. I am just as sure that other manufactures make good tents but I just like the features these have, like easy assembly and ventilation.
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Bought a new tent today! A Kelty Trail ridge 6. Gonna use it a Reno, Oshkosh and Quigley. My old big tent got to 118 degrees inside at Quigley this year. The new tent has ventilation!
 
This is a "small" item - but perhaps worth consideration.

I take my least favorite underwear, socks and T-shirts......and just throw it away after I have worn it. If I need more to complete the trip....I stop and buy new and hope I like it better than the stuff I threw away.
 
I am too cheap to toss stuff away. T-shirts make great rags when they get old. As for underwear, at my age maybe Depends, that I can toss and don't need to stop every hour for a break.
 
Underwear: wear it frontwards, inside-in; frontwards inside-out; backwards, inside-in; backwards, inside-out; throw it away.
 
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