Packing the bike thread

[wncbmw]

While watching MikeCam assist COH packing up on Sunday AM of the Hungry Mother Rain Ride, I realized two things. One - While Mike's knowledge and mine came from two different avenues, they closely matched up. Second - we are never too old to learn something.

I say that because, I realized Mike utilizies compression stuff sacks to a better advantage than me. So I have altered my packing system slightly and have been inspired to start a bike packing thread to perhaps share the knowledge or learn some more.

I will start off by showing my system. Two points, first off - I solo ride now and am a fanatic about keeping a tight load without a lot of loose stuff lashed down. (From my years of long distance backpacking)

First, the load unpacked:



The Thermarest will be put in around the outside for shaping the Helen Two Wheels bag. The sleeping bag is in a (new) dry bag, compression stuff sack, as is the tent. All my tent and sleeping bag stuff sacks were old, had lost their waterproofness and needed replacing. Thanks to Mike's inspiration, I went shopping. The new ones allow the wet tent to go in with the sleeping bag and everything that should be dry, stays dry. And tightly compressed!

The chair is a new addition but after only one trip, I plan to bring it all the time. It was nice to sit with a chair back! The tent poles and stake bag go in seperately also.

Bag packed:



Everything on the bike:



Another view with the also new Rok Straps:



So now, my tent, tent poles/stakes, sleeping bag and pad are securely on the bike, in one bag and the saddlebags are empty.

So, anyone else want to post some pictures and/or suggestions? This could help some of the people new to motorcycle camping but as I found out, even old farts with experience can learn some things!

[chibbert]

I have a little bit of a side question. When it comes to stuff-sacks or compression bags, do you ever risk reducing the ultimate loft of your sleeping bags if you stuff them in too tight? Does it possibly depend on what the fill-material is in your bags?

Thanks,

Chris

[Sit]

Great Idea for a thread and great pictures! Thank you. You have inspired me to take on the quest of a camping trip next year. I did my first 2 up over night trip this year, but did the hotel thing. Going on another hotel trip next month that will be over 1800 miles. Next summer though; I can already smell the camp fire. I would love to hear about or see any other MC camping advice as I am sure others would.

[Biff's R]

Don't borrow a tent. It usually is not waterproof, and that means it will rain.

I was debating about putting my tent, and ground tarp into one of the saddlebags, and use the compression sack for clothes.

[RForestR]

Hey,

Great idea for a thread, I'm always inerested in the best/easiest/most accesible way to pack for trips on the bike. For starters, the last trip we made was a 2 week camping trip through Vermont, New Hampshire and New York (the great ride east in the great rides section) As I posted there the pack 'job' looked like this for that trip





The yellow bag is a 'seal line' bag you can get at any marine or camping specialty shop for around $25 CDN. In it, I use the thermarest pad to form the bag as wncbmw suggests. I then literally stuff the bag with sleeping bag, tempur pillow, an extra blanket (for those cold nights!) and I also slip an extra sweater on top for easy road access.
The other couple of bags you see are the tent with poles etc in the packaging from the store, and a chair bag which has the fold down chair with backrest, not the full sized type but the small chair, with a utility tarp wrapped around the chair and rope stuffed on top. The square bag on back is a collapsable camp cooler.

The saddle bags contained all clothes needed for a week of varying temperatures and a pair of sandals in the right bag, all in a waterpoof bag of course, and the left bag contained cook supplies, micro stove, a couple of novels and other odds and ends that come in handy on the road for a couple weeks.

It's truly amazing what you can take with you. Of course, we are thinking of doing the motel camping thing next summer just to shake things up. Less gear to bring of course and no site to set up every evening and break down every morning should mean more road time, but we'll see... Going west for us means 7 or 8000 miles in 2 or 3 weeks so camping is likely out of the question. Who knows, might get a proper trunk for the bike and use it for the incidentals next time 'round.
Of course, it helps when you are riding solo, and your wife is riding solo as well, so she can take the things you cannot, like food (we brought enough non-perishable food for the entire trip on her bike) and other incidentals.
All in all, the system works, but as with anyone, I am definitely interested in going 'smaller, lighter,meaner' so it should be interesting to see where this thread goes.

Cheers,
Chris

[munchmeister]

I use one of these for clothes, which works very well. They are like a giant zip lock, except they have several one way valves, so after you close the zip lock, you start to compress and air goes out, does not come back in. (What looks like some kind of Italian food in this picture is actually clothing!)


The larger ones, when compressed and folded over, fit well in a BMW side case, the inner part of the case, and you could put another one, or other bagged stuff in the lid. That's what I did in this photo for a recent trip to Canadian Rockies.



In the picture, the top case holds a digital SLR camera and all my rain gear, since the top case is the easiest to access and close back up when finished. Also holds wallet, passport, maps (my tank bag is very small, and holds only my sunglasses, earphones and earplugs).

[MikeCam]

I have a little bit of a side question. When it comes to stuff-sacks or compression bags, do you ever risk reducing the ultimate loft of your sleeping bags if you stuff them in too tight? Does it possibly depend on what the fill-material is in your bags?

Thanks,

Chris

Yes. Down especially but also hollowfill will lose loft and will bunch/pill/whatever if left in a C sack. But for a trip, comprfess away and then get it out and fluff it as soon as you arrive.

I left a down bag packed for a month. Very bad loft and bunching resulted. Dryer, low heat, 2 old tennis shoes and voila! refluffed.

[wncbmw]

do you ever risk reducing the ultimate loft of your sleeping bags if you stuff them in too tight?

I see Mike answered the question but to echo what he said, compressing is for traveling only! It won't hurt them a bit for a day or three. But for long term storage, I use a large mesh bag in the closet so neither my down bag or synthetic stay compressed for long periods.

And RForestR's (Run, Forest, Run?) post reminded my - my small pillow is in the stuff sack with my sleeping bag!

And like munchmeister - I use those zip lock, vacuum bag things to great advantage in the saddle bags. One complete change of clothes per bag and the dirty laundry in another! Makes a great deal of extra space in the saddlebags!

Without the chair, I could get most of my clothes for a weekend in the rolltop with the other gear! But the chair stays!

[Valueman]

I know that some are not fans of them, but I love the liners for the system cases. They allow me to pack much more efficiently, and they are very convenient upon arrival.

I am leaving Friday for a ten day trip out to Denver (from Nashville), and eveything I am taking will be packed into liners in two system cases (OK - I'm taking the FJR so they are not really system cases).

VM

[NorseMan9]

Thanks for the great thread! I have only gone camping once and it went fine but I couldn't take everything I wanted (like a chair; I couldn't figure how to do that). this is great.

[MikeCam]

I'll add this:

Don't be rigid. I pack somewhat differently every trip. I learned from Machew01 many of my current techniques (mutual passing along the compliments time!).

1. With the right tent/pole/bag combination you can fit your sleeping system into a single side case. Even a PROLITE Thermorest if you go that route.

2. The 2nd side case for clothes and items not needed during the ride.

3. Top case and/or tank bag and /or seat bag for things you use on the road or things you MIGHT need to access along the way--- tools, tire repair kit, first aid kit, coffee stove and press, camera, cell phone, etc etc etc.

4. A chair, long tent poles, full size sleeping pad, other bulky stuff across the seat.

5. For two up, I am at a loss so far....some of you already have that figured pretty well.

M

[Beemeridian]

567

[machew01]

Two-up camping:

This is easy. The passenger can take whatever will fit into the larger system case - no more.
This might be the only part of a trip over which the passenger has complete and total control. Don't try to revoke their authority over "their" system case. It has more meaning to them than you might imagine.


mac

[machew01]

I've been thinking about a camping weekend where I take nothing that won't fit into my pockets or tank bag. Would anyone care to join me?

mac

[sjbmw]

For 2 up riding, I picked up a Jos Upack. I got the Medium long. Works well.

http://www.josupac.com/faq.html

3 man tent, 2 mattresses, 2 sleeping bags, some clothes and other odds and ends. And a pocket seat for your passenger.

[Boxer]

I've been thinking about a camping weekend where I take nothing that won't fit into my pockets or tank bag. Would anyone care to join me?

Mac you're on. I'm working out the details of sealing the inside of my tankbag to hold 4 beers with ice. The rest of my stuff goes in my back pocket. Oh did I mention I bought some very large and baggy pants for this contest. Pictures to follow.

[wncbmw]

Hey Michael - my credit card fits in my pcoket! Can you say motel?

And also pertaining to the passenger getting a system case - that is exactly what I told my wife years ago on our first trip together. What fits can go, what doesn't can't. When I was struggling to fit all my stuff plus some bulky camping stuff in mine and she said she had room left over, I knew the relationship had potential!

What MikeCam said is true. On my old BMW with the Krauser type bags, I went many a solo weekend camping trip with nothing but the saddlebags and tankbag. The tent, sleeping bag and everthing fit in the bag. Bag too small and poles too long for that now.

[Lost Rider]

Excellent thread!
For my 2up camping packing I have gone by the the H2W's packing instructions for the stuff sacks and that system seems to work great.
Soft dry stuff, ( prolite 4 pads, sleeping bags, fleece, etc.) in the stuff sacks. No bags inside of bags.
My tail-bag has all of our cooking/cleaning/camping/food related items in it. I also keep my 2 LED lanterns and headlamps in there. I like to park my bike close enough to work out of the kitchen (tail-bag) so I don't need to unpack everything. I also have made a point not to pack my tent on top of the tail so I can have easy access to it. As you can see, I keep my water-shoes strapped to the back, freeing up more space in the cases.
My passenger gets most of the right side-case, and I keep my extra clothing and our rain gear in the left. This sure will be nicer once I get my full size case on the left. (thanks dj)
We all know what's in my tank-bag already so I will skip this part.
On the front of my bike I have 2 camp chairs strapped to the forks with some heavy-duty rubber straps you can get at Bass Pro Shop. This works great, is very secure, and a great use of space IMO. Under my headlamp is my tent. I know this mounting location is, um different. If I thought it was dangerous, or would damage my bike I wouldn't have mounted it there. I want to look into having Helen2wheels make a bag made to go there for the tent, maybe curved like the headlamp like a 1/4 moon. This is a work in progress, but I want to keep the tent in front. The tent poles ride under the right side stuff-sack in back.

One part of my job when I'm on tour is to oversee the packing and unpacking of lots of gear on a daily basis, so packing my bike is second nature. Everything needs a case or sack, on a bike it's just much smaller. You have to have a system that is slightly flexible, but a consistent pack. The way I pack doesn't change at all, but can expand slightly when needed. Everything has a place, and is strapped down real tight. I use 4 H2W's straps on the 2 stuff-sacks, and ROK-straps for the tent.
Here's the link to Helen's packing instructions:

http://www.helen2wheels.com/instructions/index.html

[MikeCam]

Innovative use of the forks and front sections! Big thumbs up.

[munchmeister]

Hey Michael - my credit card fits in my pocket! Can you say motel?

Either a motel or you have to put your bike up on the center stand, stretch your legs out over the bars and use a tail bag for a pillow... oh, and don't forget not to roll over. Then just pull a blankie over you and snooze away

Or, you could use a big tank bag like Flash does.