You can also use the likes of an empty tube of Berocca or similar. Haven't tried it with a not empty tube yet...
Which of the ‘luxuries’ have I found work well and are worth taking?
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Another vote for a bluetooth speaker. I bring a wee JBL Clip which provides decent sound for it's size. Great for filling the room/shower with tunes or radio chat. Coupled with the likes of the VRadio app, you are spoilt for choice.
A bunch of ziploc bags. Many uses such as storing open foodstuffs, managing bits and pieces securing containers of liquids, segregatibg loose change of different currencies. I also find a few small roll top bags are handy...electronic bits into one, toiletries into another, and so on. Different coloured bags makes finding stuff way easier.
I’ve not tried that many, but wifey always buys IKEA ones - and look tough to beat.
I always take packing cubes too. Eagle Creek are my favourite. High quality socks too, cause if your feet are happy - so are you.
Smartwool are good
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I always carry a a wet microfiber cloth in a ziplock bag for cleaning my visor, it can look like a butcher’s window in no time during the summer
A lot on here relying on their phone, which is fine but you need a GPS backup if you lose or break it.
i disagree with the bluetooth speakers. Great for you, but annoy the shit out of everyone else, i could go on but wont give personal examples
I once took my Nikon camera and extra lenses with me on a 2 week trip, think i used it once!
It was too much hassle to get out, raining hard or didn't have it on me at the time i needed it, just quicker to get my phone out.
never again.
they show exactly where you went, which is sometimes surprising, I had gone round in a big circle in Germany and didn't even know!
to be fair i think i followed a diversion and then improvised badly.
I take a laptop with me which i used for video editing, route planning and watching films etc
i dont take the official charger as its too bulky i used THIS 100W USB C Charger.
It charges my laptop through USB and also charges my phone super fast. its 100w but it senses the device you plug in so it will charge my phone at 45w from dead to full in about 35 mins.
I also have a powerbank that gives 140w too that can charge my laptop and phones if there is no electric at camp that night.
it gets recharged on the bike during the day.
Agree with the babywipes comments, useful for a number of things, getting bugs off your visor and headlight, wiping hands and face (and other bits) after wild camping etc (non scented
)
Garmin inReach
Although i don't have one, i would definitely purchase one or similar if going off the beaten track, it could quite literally save your life.
A thermal mug
Leaving camp in the morning, i make a coffee in my thermal mug which i can stop and sip at for my ride duration.
I do have a Camelbak pack with water but i nice hot brew in colder conditions is a real boost.
Heated gear.
if going somewhere cold it's a blessing, but a little bulky if you need to remove it so pack wisely.
Crocs
Yes i know some people hate them, but at camp there is nothing better than getting your big daft boots off and wearing something cooler (heat not looks). They don't get wet and are easy to clean and are very light.
Headtorch
Less of a luxury and more of a necessity to be honest, I have the one built into a beanie hat
Audiobooks
If travelling alone, listening to the autobiography of someone you like is great while on the move makes a journey feel shorter.
You can play them from your phone either to your Sena/Cardo or in your tent at night with earbuds.
Airbed pump
blowing up an airbed everyday gets tedious, these pumps are tiny and get your bed up in seconds MINE
Down Jacket
For wearing off the bike, light and pack really small.
Wireless charger
on the bike for the phone, so much easier and you always have a charged phone.
i also have USB chargers in my topbox for powerbanks etc
i disagree with the bluetooth speakers. Great for you, but annoy the shit out of everyone else, i could go on but wont give personal examples
I once took my Nikon camera and extra lenses with me on a 2 week trip, think i used it once!
It was too much hassle to get out, raining hard or didn't have it on me at the time i needed it, just quicker to get my phone out.
never again.
Use the GPS logs, they record even if your not following a route, you can download the log to your PC for ever.
they show exactly where you went, which is sometimes surprising, I had gone round in a big circle in Germany and didn't even know!
to be fair i think i followed a diversion and then improvised badly.I take a laptop with me which i used for video editing, route planning and watching films etc
i dont take the official charger as its too bulky i used THIS 100W USB C Charger.
It charges my laptop through USB and also charges my phone super fast. its 100w but it senses the device you plug in so it will charge my phone at 45w from dead to full in about 35 mins.
I also have a powerbank that gives 140w too that can charge my laptop and phones if there is no electric at camp that night.
it gets recharged on the bike during the day.
Agree with the babywipes comments, useful for a number of things, getting bugs off your visor and headlight, wiping hands and face (and other bits) after wild camping etc (non scented
)Garmin inReach
Although i don't have one, i would definitely purchase one or similar if going off the beaten track, it could quite literally save your life.
A thermal mug
Leaving camp in the morning, i make a coffee in my thermal mug which i can stop and sip at for my ride duration.
I do have a Camelbak pack with water but i nice hot brew in colder conditions is a real boost.
Heated gear.
if going somewhere cold it's a blessing, but a little bulky if you need to remove it so pack wisely.
Crocs
Yes i know some people hate them, but at camp there is nothing better than getting your big daft boots off and wearing something cooler (heat not looks
). They don't get wet and are easy to clean and are very light.Headtorch
Less of a luxury and more of a necessity to be honest, I have the one built into a beanie hat
Audiobooks
If travelling alone, listening to the autobiography of someone you like is great while on the move makes a journey feel shorter.
You can play them from your phone either to your Sena/Cardo or in your tent at night with earbuds.
Airbed pump
blowing up an airbed everyday gets tedious, these pumps are tiny and get your bed up in seconds MINE
Down Jacket
For wearing off the bike, light and pack really small.
Wireless charger
on the bike for the phone, so much easier and you always have a charged phone.
i also have USB chargers in my topbox for powerbanks etc
Wireless charger...
on the bike for the phone, so much easier and you always have a charged phone.
i also have USB chargers in my topbox for powerbanks etc
I don't own a wireless charger phone....
on the bike for the phone, so much easier and you always have a charged phone.
i also have USB chargers in my topbox for powerbanks etc
I don't own a wireless charger phone....
Reading glasses.
Absolutely not, you don't need any kind of satnav, but some seem reluctant to travel far without one.
That was my method circa 2003 though a bit neater with a map with the route marked in yellow highlighter on the right of the map pocket. Then I bought a Garmin 2610. Big advantage of using Sat Nav's is easily seeking minor roads and avoiding towns. When I used the method above it was easier to navigate from town to town. I now bring two methods of GPS navigation with me (three if you include the maps I still take for planning purposes). But as they say whatever floats your boat.
If it's a camping trip I sometimes take a tent I can stand up in (usually when in the same location for several days). This is only applicable if said bike is compatible with carrying the bulk. Out of my three bangers, one is no problem, one is debatable and the other is beyond practicality.
After a lifetime of crawling into small tents it's such a luxury having space to put my gear and not flailing around on the deck when getting dressed.
After a lifetime of crawling into small tents it's such a luxury having space to put my gear and not flailing around on the deck when getting dressed.
As well as a visor cleaning kit, on big trips I also carry a damp microfibre cloth and a small scrubbing brush in a small dry/wet bag. The cloth is for wiping mirrors, instruments etc. on a damp morning. The scrubbing brush has multiple uses - cleaning shoes/boots etc. etc. - and can even be used a clothes brush if needed.
I use small wet/dry bags rather than zip-locks. Other than on smooth roads and/or shorter trips, I find the vibration eventually splits them and you end up with all sorts of stuff in the bottom of your panniers...
My two luxuries:
A small flask/Chilly's bottle in my tank bag. On cold mornings, with a long way to go across the middle of nowhere, a little flask of hot tea or coffee is a real treat.
A small wet/dry bag of nuts and dried fruit. Means you're never without a protein-laden snack in the boonies. When riding with a group, I'm always amazed by the interest in my nut sack...
A small flask/Chilly's bottle in my tank bag. On cold mornings, with a long way to go across the middle of nowhere, a little flask of hot tea or coffee is a real treat.
A small wet/dry bag of nuts and dried fruit. Means you're never without a protein-laden snack in the boonies. When riding with a group, I'm always amazed by the interest in my nut sack...
Those figure 8 leads are often quite bulky. I used to carry a shortened one needed for a camera charger. These days as everything is some form of USB or Lightning connector, I just carry a U-Green charger (two x USB-C plus one USB-A) and the appropriate adaptor(s) for where ever I'm travelling.
I use an old video cam bag with small Chinese style pouches for anything electrical, cables, USB plugs, adaptors, power bank etc. Works for me.
