By: Victor Espand
Any motorcycle camping trip is one of the most exciting ways to explore the country and to become one with the great outdoors. However, make no mistake in differentiating between motorcycle camping trips and a regular road trip, because there is a different type of gear that you will need.
On a motorcycle camping trip, you actually pitch a tent and spend the night in the lap of nature as compared to a regular road trip where you pull over and check into an inn or motel to spend the night.
If you are an adventurer and would rather spend the night under the open sky, then get yourself a motorcycle, if you do not already have one, and plan a camping trip that you will never forget. However, before you set out in haste on a motorcycle camping trip, you will do yourself good to do a bit of research on the activity you are about to undertake, especially if you are a newbie to the sport of motorcycle camping.
You will want to start by checking out your camping gear and double checking it to ensure you have the right gear and no unwanted stuff you do not actually need for the trip. If you feel you need to make a camping kit from scratch or just simply add a few things to your already existing kit, then you will find no dearth of motorcycle camping items in your local sports shop or general market. In fact, you may choose a variety of items, but be sure to choose the items wisely and buy only the ones that will fit comfortably on your motorcycle.
Available on the market today is a large selection of hard bags to choose from. The beauty of these hard bags is that they can fit snugly on your bike without the fear of falling off or having to stop frequently to adjust them, and they can be painted so that they suit your motorcycle better. However, unlike the soft bags that are easy to fold and store away, these hard bags are required to be stored on a frame and are more expensive than their soft counterparts and so are by-passed most of the time for the softer variety.
Some of the other essential items that must make it to your camping kit include; a tent, some waterproofing material such as plastic or canvas, a sleeping bag, compact cooking gear such as a collapsible stove, eating and cooking utensils, adequate clothing, motorcycle tools, and a puncture repair kit.
This seems like a lot to put onto one motorcycle, but if you choose the items for your motorcycle camping kit wisely, then it will help you when you are packing and unpacking during your trip. Get yourself a strong waterproof tent for your camping kit and be sure to include a waterproof matting such as a plastic or canvas sheet to place under the tent to prevent water seepage if it happened to rain during your trip.
However, if you are more of the open-air types and would rather sleep under the open sky, you will not need a tent, because just the canvas will do for a base to place the sleeping bag on. It is highly recommended though, that you keep a tent with you as it may come handy should Mother Nature decide to pour down on you any time during your trip.
Also be sure to get a sturdy and comfortable sleeping bag as well, but you may want to choose a lightweight bag made of down and polyester due to the fact that they are strong, warm, and can be folded up into a very small package that takes up very little space.
