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When Spurg and I made a campin’ video this summer, we covered the basics with advice that will work for most people most of the time. But there are times when I make some unconventional choices about what gear to take or leave at home.
See the video for the basics, and then take a look at these tips that are probably different from what you'll find in most motorcycle camping articles.
Three things to bring
A ground cloth. The best way to make sure your tent leaks over time is to walk and lie in it right against rocks and roots and sticks. A ground cloth prevents that. A simple cheap blue tarp is good enough and painters’ drop cloths are a good option for those who prize light weight over longevity.
Good stakes. I know, motorcycle campers are going for light weight, but for me, these are a splurge item. I use beefy 12-inch steel stakes to hold my ground cloth down. Aluminum tent stakes are a joke. They’re made to be light, but they bend and pull and generally suck.
Phone-charging setup. One day, when I get rich, I’ll switch over to a MicroStart, but for now I just install an SAE lead on all my battery-equipped motorcycles and pack an SAE-to-USB converter and a small USB hub, so all of us can charge our phones at once in camp. I'm bringing along a big gas-powered generator and a battery anyway, so why not use it?
Five things to leave at home
Sleeping pad. I expect I’ll be called out on this in the comments, but the reality is that a sleeping pad, for many, is a luxury, not a necessity. I have a bedroll I made years ago by attaching snaps to a very old moving blanket. It’s comfy to lie on and if I get caught in a cold snap, I can simply sneak in for more warmth. Maybe I'll feel differently when I'm old. Check back with me in 30 years.
Camping pillow. Bring a sweatshirt instead. You’ll want the extra layer in case it gets chilly while you’re riding, and you won’t need it in your sleeping bag (if you want your sleeping bag to do its job).
A tent (sometimes). A tent is mandatory when Mrs. Lem is riding pillion, but I call it optional for solo camping. A bivouac packs smaller and I can use my ground cloth as a rain fly. If I’m really hauling the mail to make time somewhere, I skimp on everything. I’ll ride deep into the night, pull over at a truck stop and crash in the grass or on the pavement next to my bike. Is it rough? Yeah. But it gets the job done and gets me back on the road in a flash.
Cookstove. To me, stoves are not worth their size, and they always seem to be breaking down. Hell, we’re camping! I’m stubborn and tough. And lazy. Backcountry breakfasts cold out of the can or munching on summer sausage and granola isn’t too unpalatable; I feel like at that point I’m taking a stove just for coffee. And if you’re riding through frontcountry, the option of eating road food for every meal opens up. Bottom line: I’m not carrying a stove just for coffee.
Handlebar mount for your phone. I know, everyone's using one these days (and RevZilla will sell you a nice one, if you want it). But I suggest you stash that phone in your pocket and hook it up to a comm device. (RevZilla will sell you one of those, too.) All that vibration is not good for the eleventy-jillion soldered connections on your expensive phone.
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