Best Motorcycle Camping Gear and Essentials to Carry

Out of all the outdoor activities, motorcycle camping is the most fun and thrilling. If this is your first time, moto camping may intimidate you. If you are not prepared for unexpected situations and risks, you will not be able to enjoy the camping safely.

To ensure you experience it to the fullest, you must carry the best motorcycle camping gear and essentials we will be covering in this article.

Motorcycle camping is far different from motorcycle road travel and cross-country rides. You will have to experience the wilderness and survive conditions that you may never have.

Not many riders prefer staying in an expensive or luxury hotel while on their moto travel. They prefer camping on their motorcycle trip, not just to save money but to experience the best.

If you are one of the moto camping lovers, this article provides a detailed motorcycle camping gear list. Continue reading this article to find out the best motorcycle camping gear and how to pack a motorcycle for camping.

A motorcycle camping tent is the most essential must-have camping gear that should be on the top of your checklist. Without a tent, you cannot camp on your motorcycle trip.

It offers shelter to you and your ride partner. You can sleep or rest inside the tent at night and start traveling when the sun is all set in the day.

Without a camping tent, it would be unsafe for motorcycle camping riders who want to sleep peacefully and safely during the night. It is also a safe space for your riding gear and luggage.

Motorcycle camping tents come in different sizes, forms, and features. The most premium and best motorcycle camping tent has a sleeping room for two people and can easily store your luggage and gear for safety. If you mostly ride solo and have a limited budget, there are motorcycle camping tents for single people as well.

Some of the best motorcycle camping tents also have a separate shelter space for your motorcycle as well. With these tents, you can also store your motorcycle inside a safe space. It offers not only shelter but safety from theft as well.

However, while purchasing the best motorcycle camping tent, you must consider its weight and price. It has to fall under your budget. Also, most riders are very considerate about the weight they can carry on their bikes without negatively impacting the handling and stability.

Depending on the size, space, quality, accommodation, and features, a motorcycle camping tent’s cost can range between $110 to $800.

The second on your motorcycle camping list must be the sleeping bag or pad. There are many reasons why you need a sleeping bag for motorcycle camping.

Some motorcyclists may think that if they are already carrying a tent, then why do they need a sleeping bag or pad? Sleeping bags/pads are very comfortable, cozy, and safe for a peaceful sleep at night while camping.

They are also quite lightweight and compact when inflated. You can easily carry the sleeping bag/pad in a small bag.

Sleeping bags are among the best motorcycle camping gear if you are moto camping in winter. They can keep you warm and cozy in the cold, as the tent alone cannot stop you from getting frozen from the cold.

Depending on your budget, you can choose between a motorcycle camping sleeping pad or a sleeping bag. As the name suggests, a sleeping bag covers you completely and is best for cold nights. You don’t need to carry extra layers of fleece or blanket to cover yourself.

However, with the sleeping pad, you will need to carry something to cover yourself to avoid getting cold. Sleeping pads are only good for moto camping in summer.

Camping sleeping bags also saves riders from bugs and insects. A sleeping bag can make you as cozy as you are sleeping in a bedroom. Some of them also come with a built-in pillow.

Depending on the quality, comfort, features, and technology, a sleeping bag or pad can cost you around $70 to $500.

For someone who is not used to going on motorcycle camping trips, a ground mat or tarpaulin may sound like extras. However, they can come in very handy.

You may not want to pull out your tent everywhere you want to stay or take a brake. You may also want to just sit on the ground for multiple things while camping without getting your clothes dirty.

You may also not want to sit on wet grass. For these reasons, a ground mat or a tarpaulin is among the best camping gear for motorcycle trips.

A ground mat is good if you don’t want to carry a large sheet in your luggage. It is small, lightweight, and easy to carry. You can just lay the mat on the ground and eat on it, read a book, and do other things.

The tarpaulin sheet is not ideally used as a ground mat. It is used as a cover for different situations. It can be used to cover your bike as a bike cover while moto camping.

The Tarpaulin sheet can also be used as a rain cover to protect your luggage and yourself from rain while camping. It is bigger than the ground mat and can cover a lot of space.

The tarpaulin sheet is thin compared to the ground mat. However, it can be used as a ground mat.

One of the best adventure motorcycle camping gear, if you want to have the best out of your trip, is the hammock. Even though a camping tent is a more comfortable option if you want to rest or sleep, there are many adventure enthusiasts out there who prefer taking a nap and reading a book on a hammock.

If you want to take a break from the ride and rest for a while, a hammock can make it easy for you. All you need is two trees to hang a hammock.

If this is your first time going on a motorcycle camping trip, tying a hammock can be difficult for you. Make sure you know how to tie a hammock properly before you go on a moto camping trip.

The best motorcycle camping hammock gear is the one with a mosquito net. It is good to have protection from flies and bugs. Other than that, you can also buy a rain fly that covers the hammock from the top and provides rain protection.

In remote wilderness areas, you cannot be sure about the weather. It can rain anytime. So, it is better to be prepared at all times and pack smartly for the motorcycle camping trip.

No matter where you are, food is the basic necessity to survive. Motorcycle camping is more fun for those who love cooking. If you can cook and can carry the kitchen and cooking gear on your camping trip, you can throw yourself a party even in the woods.

Opting to go camping rather than residing in a luxury hotel means you should carry the cooking essentials. The best moto camping cooking and kitchen gear includes:

The first and foremost kitchen gear you must be carrying is a lightweight and portable camping isobutane stove. Carrying a gas container is not recommended on a motorcycle as they can be big, heavy, and dangerous too.

There are certain moto camping stoves made particularly for camping and for easily carrying on motorcycles. A perfect example of such a light isobutane cooking stove is the Jetboil Flash stove system.

Cooking on the campsites has been made easy thanks to such portable cooking systems.

Everything is packed inside the mug-shaped container that is also used as a cooking pot. All you need to do is to assemble the parts according to the instructions.

• Place the holder in a flat place. It acts as a stand for the whole system.
• Now, mount the small fuel canister on this stand.
• It is time to attach the stove to the fuel canister while ensuring the gas isn’t turned on yet.
• Now, place the cooking pot on top of the stove.
• You can put inside whatever you want to cook inside the pot.
• Cover the pot using the lid so the food is cooked early and less fuel is consumed.
• Now, turn on the gas and press the igniter button to start the cooking process.

On average, this portable cooking system can boil a full pot of water in only 2.5 seconds.

Considering the small fuel canister capacity, it can only be used for light cooking or making hot drinks.

However, this is the best you can cook on a motorcycle camping trip.

You will also need some utensils, a plate, a drinking cup/mug, and cutlery items. If you are looking for the best advice, there are certain lightweight, durable, compact, and collapsible options you can find in the market.

Just make sure to look for the specific kitchenware designed for moto camping. These kitchenware are made of heat-resistant silicone for safe use.

If you are a pro moto camper and have a good experience of surviving days on camping motorcycle trips, you know how to cook proper food. You will be required to fire a few wood sticks and prepare your food.

You can cook almost everything on a motorcycle camping trip if you have the supplies and know how to fire a few sticks safely while camping. You will need to carry food items that can survive for a few days.

The food items you carry in your motorcycle luggage for camping can ruin all the other stuff in your bags. It is better to keep them separate and intact.

The major problem with the food items is their odor. If you don’t want all your clothes packed inside your luggage to smell bad, use odor-proof bags to store the food items.

These odorproof bags may not completely guarantee no smell, but they still do their jobs a good deal. It can also help keep animals and insects away from reaching your food items and creating a mess.

A drinking water bottle/container/bladder has to be on your motorcycle camping checklist. Water comes first, before the food, and it is important to keep yourself hydrated during the ride.

Especially when you are on a motorcycle camping trip, you may not find a drinking water supply. Therefore, you must bring adequate drinking water with you.

Most motorcycle luggage bags, including the sissy bar bags and backpacks, have separate pockets for keeping water bottles intact.

There are also foldable water bladders available that can be easily packed inside your luggage after use.

There are certain brands offering water containers and bladders with long straws so you can drink water and keep yourself hydrated even during the ride.

If you want to keep the water hot or cold, you can also opt for thermal water bottles that can keep the water hot or cold for hours.

Camping chairs are the lightest gear that you can comfortably carry on a motorcycle. It is not considered an essential camping gear. However, if a rider doesn’t find sitting on the mat comfortable for their back, a camping chair is the perfect solution.

It is good for your back while camping. Also, you deserve to sit on a chair, especially after riding on a motorcycle continuously for hours.

For many motorcyclists, a head torch is more useful than a hand-held torch. It is mainly because you have a free hand to do other chores while camping.

For example, a head torch can help you cook with both your hands. It can also help you walk safely while camping at night.

Going for a midnight pee can be an issue if you have to hold the torch in one hand. A head torch proves to be very handy in such a situation as well.

A multitool can also come in handy on a motorcycle camping trip. At first, you may think of it as an unnecessary item, but in case of an emergency, it turns out to be very useful.

At some point during the camping trip, you will need a multitool. It is far better than carrying so many tools with you. It packs almost everything that you may require on a camping trip.

Whether preparing for food, tying a hammock, or even making small adjustments with your motorcycle, a multitool is a must-have camping gear you should be carrying in your pocket.

Most motorcyclists think having a torch light will be enough for the whole trip. However, you cannot rely on a battery-operated torch for a multiday motorcycle camping trip.

To avoid surviving in the dark while camping, it is better to carry a lamp that can be easily hung inside the tent. It is better to carry a rechargeable lamp that you can easily plug in for charging using a power bank.

There are also solar-operated light sources/lamps that you can find in the market today for motorcycle camping.

Whether you want to cook at night or read a book, you will require a reliable lighting source for these. Also, a reliable lighting device ensures safety.

You don’t have sockets to charge your mobile phones and rechargeable lights while camping, but you can have a power bank. Nowadays, considering you always have to carry a mobile phone and the battery shouldn’t be dead for your safety, a power bank is a necessity, particularly for motorcycle camping trips.

Also, what if your motorcycle battery drains and your bike isn’t starting? There is a possibility that you may find someone who can help you jumpstart your bike.

However, if you don’t have any help while camping in the woods, it is safe to have a portable jumpstarter. It can help you charge your motorcycle’s dead battery.

The same jump starter is used to charge your mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.

Another very useful and one of the best motorcycle camping gear to carry is dry bags and sacks. The best advantage these dry bags offer is that they are soft and can be easily folded to cover minimum space.

You can easily pack them inside your motorcycle luggage. These dry bags/sacks can be used for various camping purposes. You can use them to store your motorcycle camping gear and keep them dry. You can also use it to store and wash your laundry while camping.

If you are new to motorcycle camping and unsure what to do about your dirty laundry while camping, read the attached article:

Along with the dry bags to store your motorcycle camping gear, you also require some of the most common luggage bag options. Viking Bags, a leading name in the motorcycle luggage bags and aftermarket parts industry, offers a variety of options.

In the motorcycle luggage category, you can find tailor-made luggage bags for your specific make and model. We have top-quality, neatly designed saddlebags, backpacks, sissy bar bags, tank bags, tool/fork bags, trunk bags, and much more.

Viking Bags also makes touring-oriented motorcycle parts to make your bike more capable of covering long distances. These include sissy bars, crash bars, fairings, backrests, and handlebars.

Camping on a motorcycle is the most fun outdoor activity you can ever experience. To ensure you don’t face any issues and it goes smoothly, you must pack your bike smartly for moto camping.

Remember! It is very different from a road trip or a multi-day cross-country ride. A moto camping is like surviving in a jungle where you have no modern-day facilities in most cases. You are only supposed to rely on the limited supplies you are carrying on your motorcycle camping trip.

While ensuring you are carrying every essential item, it has to be ultralight motorcycle camping gear. You can’t just stuff your bags with everything and compromise on your safety.

Packing too much can cause issues with the motorcycle’s handling and stability during the ride. There has to be a balance between keeping the ride smooth and packing your motorcycle for camping.

This article covers almost everything that you will require on a motorcycle camping trip. It lists down the best motorcycle camping gear and essentials that you should carry to make your trip more enjoyable and fun.

To enjoy the moto camping to the fullest, take your buddy or partner with you on the trip.