Camping Gear Packing for 11 Day European Trip

[@markc1967]

Another great, informative video. We returned from 12 days camping in France and Germany yesterday. I have similar kit to yours, and always say I’m going to take less next time. The campsites over there are so much better set up than in our country 👍

[@thecampingbiker791]

Nice one..hope you enjoyed your trip… I’m definitely cutting back, but not the chair 😆

[@youngeroldie5089]

I have not done moto or any other camping for 23 years, but at the ripe old age of 65 I want to give it another go. Wife wont go as she only does B & B but I don't mind going solo. It will be a lot harder to get off the floor than get down onto it but hey ho. Really enjoyed the content gave me some good ideas. I have a Kawasaki GTR 1400 so loads of room to carry stuff so will have a larger tent I can stand up in to get dressed and a good strong chair.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yep, I’m 63 this October and can feel it in my bones 😆…seriously I can! Give it a try, pick somewhere not too far from home, hopefully nice location and don’t overdo buying lots of stuff… plenty of good second hand tents about (certainly in UK) and good mat, sleeping bag and pillow will keep you right! Definitely got the bike for it 👍🏻

[@katywilliams3748]

Whoops sorry Andrew didn’t realised you have done a review and also fitting it to the bike .👍

[@twowheeledadventuresuk2739]

Oh my word, that is a lot of kit! I'm a big fan of sleeping bag liners, always use one, I don't like using them but they are far easier to clean than a down sleeping bag, and washing eventually kills down. I'm convinced now for longer trips petrol stoves are the way ahead, you always have petrol and a spare bit of petrol on the bike may save you a long walk one day. Totally recommend the Soto Muka stove. I weighed my load the other day, everything, including bags (I have an altrider hemisphere which looks similar to yours) but except camera kit, food and water came in just under 11kg. I'd be so interested to know what your kit weighed in total. I think you have to be comfortable but also I like my bike to be nimble, my trips will include off-road section tho. I've been practicing one pot meals lately and you can knock up some tasty dinners in one pot. I always have a fully sealable flask mug with me, like to take a brew with me, but you can use that to make Smash in whilst you use the pot to cook up something else and then add the mash at the end. I so love these kit videos, you always learn something or it helps confirm a certain way of thinking, so thanks for this, another great video!

[@thecampingbiker791]

So sorry, forgot to get back to you having read it at the time!! I also love to see and hear other people’s kit and experiences…thanks for yours. I couldn’t say exactly the weight but when previously weighed with similar packing it was about 12kg. I’ve subsequently bought (2nd hand) a smaller Giant Loop bag with the intent of traveling lighter and with less stuff…question is, how light can we go 😆

[@fecc4000]

I hope you had a good time. It was a really useful video. Thank you!

[@thecampingbiker791]

Had a great time, thanks 🙏 I’m posting 10 films of the journey, each covering a days ride and camp set up, these will be published on Sunday evenings 6pm UK time, and the first is already out….glad you liked this as people had asked for it 👍🏻 Episode 1 of 10 | Motorcycle Camping Trip | France Belgium Germany kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXPUpZSjf515ipo

[@jcleare3571]

Thanks for more motorcycling camping tips. Agree a chair essential, and if you decide to take one of these small fold up tables, they also become another campsite essential. On my bike packs away discreetly beneath the sissy bar🍺

[@thecampingbiker791]

Appreciate you watching and commenting, also have a couple of tables, one is quite small pack size but found for this type of trip don’t really need it, and didn’t take it, but if camping somewhere in UK where I’m cooking then it sort of becomes more essential…also quite like the table for winter camping.. and in addition also thinking of using my lightweight camping bed/cot next winter, haven’t used for a few years but might just go back to it for the winter season 🥶

[@lekkarides]

Really like the tank bag Andy, so very handy. Will have to see if I can get them here in South Africa 🇿🇦. Thanks for the great review 👍🏻

[@thecampingbiker791]

The tank bag has been ultra reliable completely waterproof and used year round in all conditions…excellent excellent purchase 👍🏻

[@marksheppard3732]

Really informative, thank you. Keep the vlogs coming 👍.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thanks Mark, nice to know these are useful…sometimes it’s a lonely solo activity making videos but great when found helpful or of use 👍🏻

[@christianweller4288]

Very interesting. Having done the touring cycling thing for a few years I turned in to a bit of a gramme counter. Obviously this can be very annoying for everyone else. As I’m headed back toward motorcycle touring in the next few years, I’m still reeling at the duplication of equipment and carrying spare food and foot ware .. the sheer luxury. Any way a great breakdown of what and why. Thanks.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thanks Christian, goes without saying that cycle touring does demand a bit of weight counting and motorcycles could carry substantial gear without issue…I’ve done that in the past and very comfortable luxury it was, travel beds, carpets etc 😆 I’ve gradually cut back over last few years and with travelling day by day I just find it easier to have less stuff to pack so think I need to watch some KZbin cycling kit layouts….other than my chair which is essential 😂

[@antonoat]

Got to love a tank bag, vital for cameras and other things we need nearby! Surely a tank bag is a male handbag, lol. Thanks for sharing, given me some ideas for my future purchase of a CB500x!

[@thecampingbiker791]

Ha, a ‘Man Bag’ for sure…. would be lost without it 😂 Pleased the video was useful, I always like to see how others pack 👍🏻

[@potskifilms]

Interesting video; always interesting seeing what others take and how they pack too. Yes, a chair for us more "mature" riders; wouldn't go anywhere without my Mayfly Alite. and something to "P" in ;-) Atb Wayne

[@thecampingbiker791]

Ha, men of a certain age 😂

[@josephleister9198]

Nice load out, thanks

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thanks, I’m always interested in how others pack

[@douglasalexander4348]

Great review. Things I wish I bought years ago…I got a lightweight chair but with a back. Luxury after a days riding. Also a stuff pillow (luxury pillow millets) I found air pillows a bit meh.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thank you, pillows are one of the most difficult things to get right…best I’ve ever had was a standard pillow cut in half and re stitched…just a bit bulkier though 😂

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@thecampingbiker791 That’s a great idea! Air pillows are great for half a night, then they magically turn into concrete 😂At the end of the day, I’m over space saving and weight. I’m not walking with it, and it’s a lot less bulk and weight than a pillion which bikes take with ease.

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@douglasalexander4348 I’m still in the mode of space saving, particularly so for a future long trip, but really doing that so I can take a few ‘luxuries’ which might just include that half pillow 😊

[@taffdavies35]

You could change out your mugs for a sea to summit collapsable cook set and mug.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Coincidentally, I have bought some Sea to Summit flatpack gear but haven’t had chance to use yet

[@taffdavies35]

@@thecampingbiker791 looking forward to seeing what you think of the flat pack gear.

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@taffdavies35 yes, me too.. just need to get camping 😂

[@MrDazza64]

Nice one, just ordered the pee bottle & clothesline. 😎👍 Regards, Dazza. 🇬🇧

[@thecampingbiker791]

Nice one Dazza, that clothesline is amazing and I never travel without it!

[@MrDazza64]

@@thecampingbiker791- further to my initial comment above matey… I’m afraid I’ve had to send the pee bottle back! On opening the box and trying the extending bellows on the bottle, I found the bellows tougher to extend than I first thought. So pulled a little firmer and inadvertently hyperextended the bellows which resulted in several of the ridges fracturing! I filled the bottle half full of tap water to check and it was leaking all over the place from several tiny splits in the bellows! So I’d say keep an eye on it mate, the integrity of the plastic bellows is all too easily compromised! 😢

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@MrDazza64 my goodness, good job you tried water

[@MrDazza64]

@@thecampingbiker791- Ain’t it just! 😂

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@MrDazza64 I could think of a few choice swear words that would have come out..

[@adkomst]

Really useful, thanks - especially to see what you used and didnt use. And as you say all trips are different but good to know what the basic kit is that you can build on. May I ask where you got the sleeping bag? Lots of stuff that is harder (and more expensive) to get here in Norway.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yes, quite interesting…on a similar trip in warm weather conditions and moving day by day I’d take the bare minimum! I might do a video at some point of how little that could be 😆 The sleeping bag is a Naturehike, bought on Amazon, and it worked amazingly well for this trip, although mixed weather it was warm! However in colder weather, and most UK weather can get cold through night, even in summer…not so good! (probably similar for Norway?) Here’s a link below for it but I would recommend you look at a UK company called Snugpak as they’re bags are very good, some to military standards, and I own a couple, both reviewed on the channel Naturehike CW280 Ultralight Sleeping bag Naturehike CW280 Ultralight Sleeping Bag - First Look kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3q7h4aPeZt-e7s

[@adkomst]

@@thecampingbiker791 Thank you so much for the link and info. Yes, its certainly colder here. Am riding to a place called Geilo next week. Its only 7 degrees at night there now! But Norway is a great place for bikers. You probably watch "Off She Goes" on KZbin? Runa finds great roads to travel and lovely camping spots here in Norway. Thanks again - enjoy your channel. David

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@adkomst thanks David, I’ll take a look at her videos as would like to travel there at some point 👍🏻

[@adrianstone2605]

Wow, such a lot of stuff, 3 cookers? Did you list out the stuff you didn't use? I think you could have saved a lot of space, but then I guess we're all different. I know I always manage to eturn with stuff unused!

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yep, I’ve cut back a lot 😂

[@adrianstone2605]

@@thecampingbiker791 But it's all fun and good to try different stuff, the videos are appreciated 👍

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@adrianstone2605 if you think that’s bad, I’m getting addicted to new knives.. just bought 5 to try out…watch this space 😂

[@katywilliams3748]

Great video as always Andrew , are you doing a review on the horse shoe shaped bag Brothers Rogal ? It looks ideal for my 500 X . Regards Niall

[@thecampingbiker791]

Hi Niall, earlier review on it but I’ve seen you’ve picked up on that in further comment 👍🏻 has worked well for me over couple of years in all weather summer and winter, stayed completely dry over some harsh conditions!

[@kee7678]

Great video! Good stuff. Maybe add a little .380 or 9mm. and "no wild camping" ?? wow tha'ts a sad state isn't it? Anyway...well done.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Cheers, appreciate you watching.. maybe a nice 9mm would be a useful when I ship the bike over to US for extended tour? Here in UK handguns are banned and shotguns very tightly controlled so I’ll travel the Americas with no gun but us Brits are stoic people😆 In UK wild camping is allowed in Scotland and on the mountains in England, but other than that you can stealth camp in wilderness places…just moving on if told to! Europe is a mixed bag, where I travelled this time not allowed but again like UK in wilder places just don’t get caught.. Some countries, like Norway and Sweden, do allow it, actually encourage it, and most of the Eastern European (old Soviet influenced countries) allow also. Thanks again and keep safe 👍🏻

[@kee7678]

LOL. Hows that going for ya? People arrested there now for memes mocking the wrong politcal party...so there's that.... Govt OVER the people, and of course no means to stand otherwise. good luck! and too bad they control who puts a tent overnite in the woods, however, America does the same thing. Here in Aussie land its much more free, or used to be.@@thecampingbiker791

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@kee7678 it’s coming to all countries, control of the people!! Fortunately at my age I can ignore most of it….what they going to do 😂

[@DDLovett]

Grand video as always. Can I ask, what's with the Lambretta shirt? Is there a little italian shiny toy lurking behind the camera?

[@thecampingbiker791]

Ha, was never a mod…just liked the t shirt 😂 although… never say never 😉

[@soggybawsmoto]

How did you decide on which camp site to use? I’m just back from an 8 day Euro trip and only camped twice. I had hoped to find a quiet place to wild camp. I found I was pushing to make mileage/capture footage and by the time I got to where I wanted to be, it was too late to approach a camp site for a walk in. Did you book camp sites in advance, or make a concerted effort to find a camp site at a reasonable hour?

[@thecampingbiker791]

I just made the direction of travel up when I rode off in a morning and usually while on an early coffee stop decided rough destination and then just used google maps to research a couple of sites but never booked anything, just turned up and all worked well. Might depend on time of year but I hate pre booking as like to make it up as going along… at w one point I was heading for Switzerland but half way decided to go to Germany instead 😂 Google maps search for campsite has worked everywhere for me, but couple of times I just stopped at a site and got in. I usually try to get pitched by about 5pm ish but sometimes early and sometimes later, as you can tell I just want complete flexibility. Didn’t wild camp as not so easy where I travelled on this trip but if opportunity arises I prefer it and I think Scandinavia is calling me 😃

[@katywilliams3748]

Just thought , could the bag be used with a top box in situ ? Cheers Niall

[@thecampingbiker791]

Hi Niall, sorry missed your comment but yes a box could work with bag in place… indeed I bought one for doing so but at moment I’ve changed the plan so it sits on the loft (for now) Hope you’re well

[@robertlee8042]

Wee bottle? What’s wrong with a tree, or shrub, or tall grass?

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@robertlee8042 I don’t like the rain 😂 actually, it broke eventually and not replaced

[@ivanheeks2109]

Hi

[@thecampingbiker791]

Hello Ivan

[@218colin1]

Hi where did you buy the wee bottle please.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Got it from eBay, think it was from here but there are a few selling them www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155520691293?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3yayxo9irhc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=MKjvCP0rTiS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@parf2665]

A zip lock bag does the trick and packs away to nothing. Currently in Norway, and it works perfectly. Like Andy, I wash it out every morning with soap, and it's good to go.

[@paz11111]

Im sure i saw viagra in the tablet pouch?😊

[@thecampingbiker791]

I’m sure it was blue plasters 😂

[@archiemillington306]

sorry mate your getting boring now bye

[@thecampingbiker791]

Sorry 😬