4000 miles this summer and need gear. help me make decisions!

Hey everyone,

So i posted this topic before about my trip from California to Vancouver, I have made a few changes and I am trying to take in all the great advice i have received so far.

http://www.vfrdiscus...o-vancouver-bc/

Now that I have a pretty good idea of what i will be doing, i need to start getting the appropriate gear for the trip as i dont exactly have everything i need, in fact, i am lacking almost everything. So i need you advice and opinions of what i need to prioritize and put at the top of my list. I would like to stay within a budget of about $1000ish for the items necessary for the trip. I have searched around a bit and have read some good threads on stuff like this, but i am more looking for your opinions on the most important stuff, what i NEED to have, and what i can live without.

So far here are the things I have:

- Factory Hardbags

- Cortech Tank bag and Tail bag

- Garmin Nuvi 1490 (not waterproof)

- Mostly waterproof gear (planning on buying a rain suit)

- A craving for adventure and as much time as i need.

I am planning on staying in a hostel when i am in Vancouver, but besides that i will be camping the entire time and im pretty sure i will be in the middle of nowhere a lot. I am planning on doing the trip in 2-3 weeks and dont want to do more than 300-400 in a day. i am planning on taking my time, stoping a LOT, and taking tons of pictures.

Things i need/think i need/want:

- Camping tent

- Sleeping bag

- Small camping stove/burner

- Dehydrated food (for when Im not near any towns and im camping in the forest)

- SPOT II GPS locator (I need it to keep my parents happy and not freaking out about me while im gone)

- Ram mount

- Aquabox/waterproof case for GPS

- Frogg Toggs or rev-it rain suit

- some sort of overgloves to put over my "water proof" gloves

- Sargent seat/Seat pad like Airhawk? (This is where one of the big expenses comes in. as you all know the stock seat isnt exactly like sitting on a cloud, but i have heard the Sargent seat is better but still not fantastic. is it worth getting or should i just get a seat pad like an Airhawks seat or a sheep hair one.)

- New helmet (At the moment i have an AGV K3 helmet. i like it but it fits a little loose, and is quite loud. I feel like having a quiet, good fitting helmet will have a lot to do with reducing fatigue while riding. but i couldnt afford both the helmet and the seat, so which is more important? a new seat, or a new helmet? thinking probably a Shoei Quest.)

I read a lot of other stuff about biking shorts and nut powder and stuff, so ill keep all of that in mind, but these are the main things im worried about at the moment. any suggestions?

This is my somewhat revised route, although it is subject to change.

http://maps.google.c...9,20,21&t=m&z=7

I can tell you that my Rev'It rainsuit has never leaked a drop in countless downpours.
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I have a set of alpinestars drystar gloves I bought for $19 at cycle gear work great for cold/wet weather.

[image: View Post]tc339, on 21 March 2012 - 01:41 AM, said:

so which is more important? a new seat, or a new helmet? thinking probably a Shoei Quest.)
I would go with a new helmet and maybe a sheepskin for the seat. But you'll get used to the seat after a couple of days.

Looks like a great trip :fing02:

[image: View Post]tc339, on 21 March 2012 - 01:41 AM, said:

Things i need/think i need/want:

- Camping tent

- Sleeping bag

- Small camping stove/burner

- Dehydrated food (for when Im not near any towns and im camping in the forest)

I really like backpacking gear for motorcycle camping:  you can often find good gear that pack down really small.  The downside is that it tends to cost more.

I have a Eureka Backcountry 2 two-man tent that I like for solo motorcycle camping: there's room inside for me & my riding gear (& tank bag), and I can leave most of the rest of my gear out on the bike locked in the hard luggage.  It packs down really small, too: 15 in x 6 in.  Campmor still lists this tent here.

No specific recommendations for sleeping bags, but the same thing applies - good gear will pack down small, but you get what you pay for.

And I use a small, one-burner backpacking stove that can run either camping stove gas or unleaded gasoline.  However, I cannot find that available anywhere right now.

Sounds like fun!  Have a great time!

Ron

I've done a fair amount of camping with my motorcycle and have some recommendations for you. While I've always been a fan of white gas stoves, I recently (on a trip to Vancouver btw) had to borrow hot water for my morning coffee from a couple of hikers. They had a JetBoil butane stove and prepared the boiling water in less than one minute. I have since bought one and I love it. The other think I have found very useful is a French Press coffee mug. To maximize my time on the road, I do not cook breakfast. I use the stove to boil water, pour it into my cup filled with ground coffee and in less than five minutes I have great tasting, strong coffee. Then I'm on my way. I have overcome my reluctance to use a disposable cannister for fuel; this stove is so much more reliable. And the cannisters can be recycled.
Have a great trip and ride safe.

[image: View Post]MaxSwell, on 21 March 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

I've done a fair amount of camping with my motorcycle and have some recommendations for you. While I've always been a fan of white gas stoves, I recently (on a trip to Vancouver btw) had to borrow hot water for my morning coffee from a couple of hikers. They had a JetBoil butane stove and prepared the boiling water in less than one minute. I have since bought one and I love it. The other think I have found very useful is a French Press coffee mug. To maximize my time on the road, I do not cook breakfast. I use the stove to boil water, pour it into my cup filled with ground coffee and in less than five minutes I have great tasting, strong coffee. Then I'm on my way. I have overcome my reluctance to use a disposable cannister for fuel; this stove is so much more reliable. And the cannisters can be recycled.
Have a great trip and ride safe.

Awesome, those jetboils look very nice. I don't think I'll have to worry about the French press thing, I'm going to try to stay away from coffee while riding because it has a very strong laxative effect on me and I'd rather not have to take poop stops every 3 hours... Lol. Did you camp while in Vancouver? Any tips?

get a ThermaRest self inflating mattress. Bought one 30 years ago, still works sleeps a treat  No need for a full length if you have a good sleepingbag, but long enough to support the pressure points from hip to shoulder.



For dependable, fool proof burner, Coleman.  I got the bi fuel gasoline, petroleum.
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and while on the road, you can always pick up a throw away BBQ kit and grill some burgers....

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A mosquitto hat and shirt (should they be "in season" during your trip)

Try Amazon.com   for the small dual fuel (unleaed gas or naptha/white gas) mini camp stove  its the Coleman Sportster 2 533 series. Best price anywhere when I got mine $45.54 ... Shipping was minimal.Fits in the palm or inside a smallish cookpot and thus will be easy to pack.

Do your weather homework on The Weather Network and look at multi year trends for hi/lo temps and precipition .... for the months you plan to travel ... gives you a ballpark idea on what to expect and what to pack for clothing. I am doing the same thing now for a trip to Alaska in late June.... uhh yup Bug Season up there ....
ds

I would love the get the high tech cot from aerostich. I've heard great things about it. If I have some money left over I'll probably to for it.

http://www.aerostich...h-tech-cot.html

I was in Vancouver for one night in a hotel, walked around a little and tried to ride around the city. With gear and my riding suit, it was difficult to leave the bike even for a few minutes. I decided big cities were not very conducive to exploring on a bike, especially if the city is unfamiliar.

Then I headed north to circumnavigate the Whistler mastiff, north on the west side south on the east. Hwy 99 north to Lillooet then hwy 12 south and hwy 1 Trans Canada hwy. It was a two day trip.

I made the trip in Aug. after the Olympics. Whistler was an impassable mob of tourists. I could not get near the ski area and the Whistler Park campground was full. I continued north, through Pemberton, and stayed over night in a provincial park. I think it was Jaffre Lakes P.P. It looks like just a parking lot; camping is allowed anywhere in provincial parks. Some people just put their tents in the gravel parking area. I went about fifty feet into the woods and through my tent on a flat spot amid the ferns. Mosquitoes were even more fierce than any I've encountered, and northern Minnesota has some of the worst.

They next day I rode north / east / then south to the border. Anywhere but near Whistler, the roads were fabulous as was the scenery. In the 4500 mile round trip from Minneapolis and back, these were by far the best roads and scenery. I highly recommend this route if you'd like to see British Columbia mountain roads and scenery.        

Wonderful. Thank you! I'm going to be staying in a hostel for a few days do hopefully I'll be able to leave most my gear there during the day and not have to worry about it. I'm not planning on going up to whistler except for maybe the Duffy loop which I think passes through. But good to know I can camp anywhere in the parks. I'm really looking forward to the trip and the awesome roads!

Sounds like an amazing trip. I'm looking at a 2 week trip from CA to NY and back to CA in the summer. I'll keep your threads bookmarked for future reference. :tour:

On the topic of gear, I'm sure you have the smaller items covered, but I figured I'd chime in anyway.

On my long rides, in addition to the larger equipment, the two most important things I pack are ear plugs and a helmet skirt. *shrug*

Just my two cents.

Have a great trip!

I haven't done any two wheeled camping, but lots of climbing and backpacking - you can get reviews on gear on at least 2 websites - REI and Backcountry.com.   When you find a tent, etc that you like, you can read the user reviews and also look it up on Amazon.com to see what users have said about its performance, weight, bang for the buck, etc.   I have an MSR backpacking stove, and it can run on gasoline (which could double as reserve fuel for the bike), but gas fouls the burner more quickly than the Naptha based fuel.

Also, your planned route takes you down I-5 through Seattle.  Having lived both in Seattle and the Kitsap Peninsula for years, here is a suggested detour around the sometimes awful traffic (not to mention nothing but urban sprawl) on I-5 through the Seattle area:

http://g.co/maps/xskhn

You would get off I-5 well north of Everett near Burlington,and take a run down Whidbey Island to Fort Casey (very scenic and on the Straight of Juan de Fuca) and catch the ferry across to Port Townsend (the ferry can be a lot of fun).  Port Townsend is a cool little town with lots of little local restaurants and pubs - it would be a great place for a meal.   There is camping around Port Townsend at Fort Worden and Fort Flagler.  I used to ride to Port Townsend for day rides, have lunch at pub, then ride over to Fort Worden to hang out and look around.  Fort Worden dates back over 100 years as an Army base and is fun just to ride around and look at the architecture of the old buildings.  It's right on the water.

http://ptguide.com/r...ivities/camping
https://en.wikipedia...iki/Fort_Worden
http://www.parks.wa....en/camping.aspx

From there you can head south on Hwy 101 along the Hood Canal, which is a beautiful ride - I've done it numerous times.  You could also camp along the water . . .

http://www.exploreho...state-park.html

Finally you would go through the small logging town of Shelton (not much to see there) and then hook back up to your planned route at McCleary, WA - completely bypassing all the major urban areas and freeways.  The run from Everett to Olympia can be agonizingly slow traffic, especially around the Joint Base Fort Lewis McChord area.  On the freeway you would go past Boeing Field and maybe see some odd looking planes on the ramp and catch a great view of Mt Rainier, but then again if it were overcast you might see nothing except tons of traffic.   Having done both more times than I can count, the alternate would be a clear choice if I'm on a multi week trip on my bike.   It would be way more scenic than the grind of I-5 and you would also work in a ride on the ferry.  

If you do stick with I-5 through Everett / Seattle, you can stop along the way and take the tour of the Boeing plant where 747, 767 and 787's are assembled.  It's free and an interesting tour.   Whichever you do, have a great time.

http://www.boeing.co...ours/index.html

ps - might as well toss everything in I can think of - one other detour you could take would be from Beaver, OR on the coast to McMinnville to the Evergreen Air Museum - they have the Spruce Goose there (but also a lot more).   It would be about 100 miles RT out of your way . . . I have some photos in my gallery taken there.

http://g.co/maps/uvek9
http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/

Thanks for the write up Cogswell! the reason i was planning on picking up I-5 and going through Seattle is because i have some friends there i was going to stop and say hi to, but if that doesnt work out i will definitely be going the route you suggested, looks much nicer. also, what do you think the average weather is like in summer for oregon and washington? Im assuming im going to be hitting some rain in WA but im not sure about OR.

The best weather window for continuous dry weather is generally mid July through late August.  Both June and September are more variable but can still produce nice weather.  While the odds of a long stretch of rain free weather are lower in June and Sept., it's also not common then to see a continuous week of rain - maybe just a couple of days at a time.

Try and hit the Chief Joseph Highway and Going to the Sun Road in Montana - views and fun roads to ride.
In BC, the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is one of my faves - you'll love it.
The #12 through Mount St. Helens and Mt Rainier are worth a detour, as is the North Cascades Highway.
I'd avoid the #1/Trans-Canada unless you're trying to make time. Go back through by Nelson if you have time - some of the best roads in BC (#3/3A) and quite scenic above the lake.
Looks like a great trip and it'll be a busy one. That trip normally takes me about 16-19 days but you'll see some awesome scenery along the way.

Let me know when you're in the Banff/Jasper area and I'd be happy to come out and ride with you. If you get stuck or need a place to crash here in Alberta send me a PM.

Post a ride report when you've completed your trip. I'd love to see the details.

Don't forget about the little things.  A small first aid kit (couple of band-aids, etc.), tylenol/ibuprofin, Tums, pepto, immodium, you know, the basics.  Oh, and a good flashlight.  Never be without a good flashlight.  This seems like an awesome trip.  Good luck.

I carry a lot of stuff/crap (ugh) on my camping tours to include a chair.

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I would get your camping gear first and then try a pack up test.  Adding cooking gear adds another layer of junk to the list.  Even with a buddy splitting the load kitchen crap piles up.  My favorite camp food is a roasted chicken/beer at a local supermarket.  Walmart has freeze dried food just like REI.  If you have that pitiful look about you somebody will invite you over for coffee etc especially if you walk around with a BIG CUP!.

I use a Big Agnes inflatable insulated pad now ............packs to nothing and more comfortable than my Thermarests. Kids pillow from Walmart.

I am done with small two man backpack tents................just toooooooooooo small for me now.  I just orderd a 4 man.  We shall see????  Hatchet for stakes/firewood.

I have a Down bag...........packs to nothing...............don't let it get wet!!!

If you have to cook:
I use a Coleman white gas stove (have for 20 years)..............emergency gas for bike too but a newer dual fuel unit would be better for me as I still use a Coleman gas stove for car/base camping too.

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I pack heated and cooling vests!

SPOT is a must for me now!

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on 15 April 2012 - 07:06 PM, said:

Try and hit the Chief Joseph Highway and Going to the Sun Road in Montana - views and fun roads to ride.
In BC, the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is one of my faves - you'll love it.
The #12 through Mount St. Helens and Mt Rainier are worth a detour, as is the North Cascades Highway.
I'd avoid the #1/Trans-Canada unless you're trying to make time. Go back through by Nelson if you have time - some of the best roads in BC (#3/3A) and quite scenic above the lake.
Looks like a great trip and it'll be a busy one. That trip normally takes me about 16-19 days but you'll see some awesome scenery along the way.

Let me know when you're in the Banff/Jasper area and I'd be happy to come out and ride with you. If you get stuck or need a place to crash here in Alberta send me a PM.

Post a ride report when you've completed your trip. I'd love to see the details.

Awesome thanks! I was planning on taking #1 because it brings be up a little closer to Jasper, so I can head up there then head back down towards Banff. would you recommend taking #3 across to #93 then heading up to jasper and back down? and yeah Im planning on hitting going to the sun and then heading down and hitting Beartooth and Chief Joseph. they look amazing. Ill definitely send you a PM when i get closer to your area.

I hope you enjoy using Google Translate or any other tool....


As put together by a dutch bike mag that is associated with the ANWB, the equivalent of the AAA...


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Post up any words you cannot translate and we will give it a try.


:tour:

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zox Helmet that I have used cross-country very successfully the last couple of years. Well made and fog proof, great sun protection and shades click up out of the way when it gets dim or dark .  $159.00

Frankly I would put your money into the seat. That will be your fatigue point.

Have a great trip and check my ride reports and look for post #21 for my list of what worked and did not:http://www.vfrdiscus...e__hl__virginia

You will have a memorable trip no matter what. Best wishes.

I was actually able to pick up a used sargent seat for $200. what a difference! so that is one less major thing that i have to worry about. and i can get 20% off shoei helmets so im probably going to pick up a Quest. Not a huge fan of modulars. but ill definitely take a look at your ride report. thanks!

Yes, avoid the #1 at all costs - nothing to see. The #3/3A will take you to Nelson - great little town. If you cut across below the lakes to Cranbrook and on the 93 through Invermere it will come out just west of Banff. You can stop in Banff or just keep going north through the Icefields Parkway to Jasper (great views).
If you head south through Alberta on the way home you should also add highway #40 through Kananaskis to your list - great mountain pass and scenic plus you'll miss the hoopla of Calgary on the way.
Look forward to hearing from you.
mike

[image: View Post]tc339, on 16 April 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Awesome thanks! I was planning on taking #1 because it brings be up a little closer to Jasper, so I can head up there then head back down towards Banff. would you recommend taking #3 across to #93 then heading up to jasper and back down? and yeah Im planning on hitting going to the sun and then heading down and hitting Beartooth and Chief Joseph. they look amazing. Ill definitely send you a PM when i get closer to your area.

Camping off the bike...

Stove - Jetboil, used various backpacking stoves over the years including dual fuel and and home made alcohol stoves. The jet boil beats them all for me. Since getting it I have not used anything else. Burner and fuel canister fit inside the pot/mug for easy storage and packing. Heats water incredibly quick and the travel mug style lid combined with the neopreane handle sleeve means I do not have to carry a seperate pot and cup setup.

Bag - Big Agnes with the integrated sleeping pad sleeve. Best bad I have found so far. Not having to try and keep yourself on a seperate sleeping pad if you tend to toss and turn a bit just makes for a better night of sleep for me. They make a ton of sizes and temp ranges to fit just about anyone and the costs are pretty reasonable when compared with other mid to high end bags. Get one rated a bit colder than the lowest temps you plan on camping in.

Tent - I am a big fan of Kelty products. I bougth a 2 man Kellty Quatro 2 in the early 90's that I used fairly often right up until last year. Never leaked, never tore, never gave me any problems. It was generous on room for one person. I replaced it with another Kelty (Trail Ridge 2)only because the newer tent packs smaller, has clip pole attachements instead of sleeves, and had a vestibule for gear that the Quatro lacked.

Rain Gear - I have Frogg Toggs and they have served me well for a number of years. Some folks have claimed problems with zippers but mine have been solid and dry. I rode into a major storm cell two years ago that was popping up tornadoes left and right I did not see a dry mile in more than 8 hours of riding and I stayed warm and dry in the Frogg Toggs. They are almost alwasy on the bike with me.

Get at least one if not two head lamp style lights. Hands free light is almost essential if you get stuck setting up camp after dark and it just makes life easier around the camp. Don't forget to stash a spare set of batteries for it somewhere on the bike and get a small but bright LED flashlight to stash in your gear as a back up.

Pack a couple knives. I carry a simple pocket knife on me at all times but I also have at least two other utility camp knives on the bike somewhere as well. They come in handy more often than you think. I keep one with the cook gear and one in the tool kit most of the time. A simple 2" to 3" fixed blade knife is perfect for the campsite.

Speaking of tool kits get yours out and go through it, reorganize and do some maintanence on the bike using only it. Remove the fairing to change the oil, adjust the chain tension, and pull the front and rear wheel with the tool kit to make sure you have everything you need to do the job on the side of the road if you have to. Pack a small tire kit as well with a few plugs and tools. They are not ideal but they can get you to a decent bike shop for a proper repair or replacement if you are in the middle of no where. Make sure you have spare fuses, a bit of electrical tape, and maybe even a spare bulb or two for brake and turn signals. I also like to keep a few nitrile gloves, a length of wire spooled up, and a bit of duct tape.

Someone mentioned a basic kit of often overlooked items. First Aid and basic meds to handle minior illness. Don't forget these items, they can really save a trip or at least help solve some of the minor issues that always come up on a long trip.

Thank you that was all really helpful. I have been trying to decide whether to invest in a jetboil or just get a cheap stove top thing. But its probably worth it. Definitely didn't think about the knife thing either. And I'll have to get together all the emergency stuff

I had another question for you all that I just thought about.

What do you guys do about water?

I have a camelback that ill keep in my tank bag, and Ill bring a waterbottle or two, but do you just stop and fill them up at random places along the way? Or does anyone use a water purifier and get it from nearby lakes/creeks while camping?

what are your thoughts.

[image: View Post]MidTNJasonF, on 16 May 2012 - 10:44 AM, said:

Bag - Big Agnes with the integrated sleeping pad sleeve. Best bad I have found so far. Not having to try and keep yourself on a seperate sleeping pad if you tend to toss and turn a bit just makes for a better night of sleep for me. They make a ton of sizes and temp ranges to fit just about anyone and the costs are pretty reasonable when compared with other mid to high end bags. Get one rated a bit colder than the lowest temps you plan on camping in.

Tent - I am a big fan of Kelty products. I bougth a 2 man Kellty Quatro 2 in the early 90's that I used fairly often right up until last year. Never leaked, never tore, never gave me any problems. It was generous on room for one person. I replaced it with another Kelty (Trail Ridge 2)only because the newer tent packs smaller, has clip pole attachements instead of sleeves, and had a vestibule for gear that the Quatro lacked.

Get at least one if not two head lamp style lights. Hands free light is almost essential if you get stuck setting up camp after dark and it just makes life easier around the camp. Don't forget to stash a spare set of batteries for it somewhere on the bike and get a small but bright LED flashlight to stash in your gear as a back up.
:+1:

Really like the Big Agnes and my Kelty 2 person tent. The headlamp is much handier than a flashlight too.

[image: View Post]tc339, on 22 May 2012 - 09:10 PM, said:

I had another question for you all that I just thought about.

What do you guys do about water?

I have a camelback that ill keep in my tank bag, and Ill bring a waterbottle or two, but do you just stop and fill them up at random places along the way? Or does anyone use a water purifier and get it from nearby lakes/creeks while camping?

what are your thoughts.

I do the camelback and water bottle, fill up along the way. I've seen demo's on the purifiers and they're fine if you have the time and are in the middle of nowhere but moto camping, especially at camp sites, you should have plenty of access to clean water.

I use the MSR backpacking stove. You do need to plan for and bring along the canisters but they're also available almost anywhere you're going to travel. http://www.rei.com/p...ckpacking-stove

I haven't done any motocamping either (although I'm bitin at the bit to change that), but the two things I am very thankful I brought was lotsa Advil and a 3 D cell Maglite.  The advil I used alot, and thankfully I only had to use the Maglite for light.