How little do you need?

[Beam me up]

Depends what I'm doing but I can survive (comfortably) for a 3 or 4 day camping trip with just my giant loop coyote with my tent strapped across the back.

I've only just started doing this sort of thing and filtered a lot of advice from here and elsewhere. I like to be entirely self contained so take a minimal supply of food and the means to cook it and brew up. I agree with Tramp re. liking my sleep and as yet haven't perfected this - mainly in the pillow department I think. Things I find bulky and need to find a better answer to are shoes or sandals (have to get out of my bike boots at the end of the day) and warm clothes that would be too much to wear whilst riding.

I notice others carry a great deal more than me, usually in a dry sac (40 litres) but as yet haven't found out what is taking up so much space!

[waynecoluk]

I always have the panniers so I just fill them. Suicide pants and socks and even t shirts are a must for me and then if camping then big roll bag with all the camping gear in that. I only take a very basic tool kit and that's it.

[Beam me up]

So how much do you actually take or need for cheap digs tours...

Panniers and a top box or just as you stand plus a toothbrush...maybe a brew kit for english tea ...after all thin clothes dry overnight...

To answer your original question: If it's just me,I use an old tank bag (perhaps 20l and reasonably waterproof) strapped to the rack and a smaller tank bag for valuables, map, gps etc. although I can never get my socks dry overnight! I tie them to the rack and change them at lunchtime.

[Tramp]

Ive a pair of hitec walking sandals with enclosed toes..very comfy and pack small ideal for camp showers too and night visits to the loo..gooutdoors sell them...

As for pillow..ive found a cheap 500 tog down jacket doubles as big undwr jacket, wear ar night morning when chilly and inside a drybag with some clothes makes a comfy pillow...soft but not too high...tried a camp pillow but i dribbled all ovee it lol.....

[stevedo]

I've created a comprehensive list of stuff we have for a multi-year, multi-climate including camping trip. After almost 14 months on the road I'm amazed how little the list changed. We've met solo riders carrying much more than we are! We've camped in -6 degrees C in Yellowstone NP and experienced 38/39 degrees C with high humidity in Belize. Never needed anything more or less than on the list. It's amazing how little you actually need.

list here.
http://www.tiger800rtw.com/?page_id=62
Steve

[AndyB]

I just select the luggage I'm using then fill it. Two weeks touring using hotels needs a top box and tank bag. If I'm camping & cooking every night then a pair of 40l panniers get added and I've got room to spare for a small food shop along the way every day.

I was able to get everything for a 2 week climbing trip to the Alps in a 60l rucksack when I used to catch the BMC bus to Chamonix every summer so packing for bike trips is easy (thumbs)

[Dutchgit]

We just take the bikes and the gear we wear.


















For the rest we have the van :laugh:

[steve_h80]

I've bought the tin boxes so I'm going to fill them is my approach. Top box is used for alternative riding kit (hood jeans & mesh jacket).
If I'm camping the tent goes on the back seat.
The bikes got a bloddy big engine, it doesn't mind a few extra kilos.
Sad I know, but I like my luxuries
But the weight reduces every day as I abandon old, foul and used duds and socks at every campsite or hotel.
Thinking about that means I'm most likey leaving a trail of traumatized chamber maids in my wake....

[SteveR]

This forum has shown me I take far to much, for a 3 day trip I managed to fill 2 panniers, top box and tank bag and most was taken for that just in case moment that never happened.

Pete

Lightweight!! :whistle:

[Tyrant68]

Take a cafetiere mug, great invention

Yup

11796296_893507510696413_2046586824508681483_n.jpg (109.59 KiB) Viewed 2190 times

, can recommend that too.