Motorcycle Camping Gear: Why Ordinary Camping Gear Isn’t Enough
About this episode
Motorcycle camping gear isn’t about copying someone else’s checklist—it’s about starting with the right questions and choosing a setup that matches your trip style. The hosts break camping into “camp to ride” (Spartan) versus “ride to camp” (gourmet), then zoom in on sleep systems, tent livability, and dependable, repairable gear. They also cover practical packing and organization, from packing cubes and weight distribution to tire inflators, SOS devices, and waterproofing/condensation control.
How to Choose the Best Camping Setup for the Way You Ride
Before you start comparing motorcycle tents, sleeping pads, stoves, chairs, pack sizes, and weights, there is an important question to answer. In this episode, Ben Williams from Moto Camp Nerd talks about a simple way to think through your motorcycle camping setup before you start buying gear, so your choices are based on the way you actually ride and travel, not just someone else’s packing list.
Michnus and Elsebie Olivier of PikiPiki Overland and Turkana Gear also share lessons learned from years of motorcycle travel, including what they've overpacked, what they've replaced, and what has earned a permanent place in their kit. It's a practical conversation about choosing gear with purpose, not just following the latest trends.
🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.
🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
We release new episodes of ARR every week on Thursday and of RAW on the 21st of every month—full of inspiring stories, expert advice, and insight from the world of adventure motorcycling. Hit subscribe so you never miss out!
💡 Got an Idea?
Have a guest suggestion or topic you’d love us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email through our website.
⭐️ Leave a Review:
Enjoying the show? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app goes a long way in helping others discover the show.
📱 Follow Us:
Join our growing community on Facebook and Instagram. Let’s stay connected!
🙌 Support the Show:
Love what we do? Help keep the adventure alive by supporting us. Your contribution allows us to keep bringing you great content week after week.
📤 Share the Show:
Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! Word of mouth helps us grow and reach more riders around the world.
📬 Join Our Newsletter:
Be the first to hear about new episodes, bonus content, and more! Sign up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio.
🙏 Thanks for Listening!
We truly appreciate you being part of our adventure community. Until next time—ride safe and keep exploring!
hugger
"and it's called the hugger if you camp off your motorcycle then you already know the problem"
A hugger is an add-on piece that covers part of the rear wheel area. It helps stop water, dirt, and mud from getting thrown up onto you and your stuff.
A motorcycle hugger is a fender extension that sits close to the rear wheel to reduce spray and debris thrown up by the tire. It’s especially relevant for riders who camp or ride in wet/muddy conditions because it helps keep you and your gear cleaner.
moto camp nerd
"that's where moto camp nerd comes in moto camp nerd is the motorcycle camping store ben and mary williams are riders themselves ...so instead of guessing your way through tents and sleeping bags and pads and all ...you can deal with people who actually understand motorcycle camping"
Moto Camp Nerd is a shop that sells camping gear specifically for motorcycle riders. The idea is that the gear is easier to pack and works better when you’re traveling on a bike.
Moto Camp Nerd is a motorcycle-focused camping gear store. The hosts describe it as building its inventory around gear that fits motorcycle travel constraints—like packing small and staying usable in real-world conditions.
smart mods
"you know some mods are flashy we like to look at them others make your bike work better they're smart mods ims products are one of those smart mods"
“Smart mods” is the hosts’ term for aftermarket upgrades chosen for functional benefits—like improved control, ergonomics, or usability—rather than just looks. The segment contrasts these with “flashy” modifications that may not make the bike work better.
ims products
"ims products are one of those smart mods better platform better connection better control and they do it without making your feet feel awkward around the controls that's engineering it's one of those changes that you feel the first time you stand up on those new ims products foot pegs imsproducts.com anytime you deal with them"
IMS Products makes aftermarket parts for motorcycles. In this segment, they’re talking about foot pegs that are designed to improve how the bike feels and how your feet sit on the controls.
IMS Products is a brand that makes motorcycle aftermarket parts, specifically mentioned here for “foot pegs.” The hosts frame IMS products as “smart mods” that improve control and platform feel without making the rider’s feet feel awkward.
foot pegs
"it's one of those changes that you feel the first time you stand up on those new ims products foot pegs imsproducts.com anytime you deal with them"
Foot pegs are where your boots rest on the motorcycle. Better foot pegs can make it easier and more comfortable to stand up and control the bike.
Foot pegs are the rider’s contact points for standing and shifting weight. In this segment, the hosts highlight aftermarket foot pegs as a control-focused upgrade that improves “platform” feel and reduces awkwardness around the controls.
multifuel
"then they can't find it or they take a multifuel but they don't always realize that you might not be able to get all the multifuel and you might be might be forced to use fuel out of your motorcycle and use your bike setup for that and use your multifuel stove setup for that"
A “multifuel” stove can use different kinds of fuel instead of just one. That’s useful on long trips because you might not find the exact fuel you planned to use.
“Multifuel” refers to a stove designed to burn more than one type of fuel (often different liquid fuels) rather than only a single canister fuel. In motorcycle camping, that matters because you may not always be able to find the exact fuel your stove was designed for, so you need a setup that can adapt to what’s available.
LED light
"I would still still buy it because if you buy something let's say you buy a really good led light I know there's a million of them out there and everybody says you know whatever yeah"
An LED light is a camping lamp that uses a modern, efficient bulb. The important part for camping is whether it lasts a long time and whether you can recharge or replace the batteries.
LED lights are battery-powered lamps that use light-emitting diodes, which are typically efficient and long-lasting compared with older bulb types. In camping gear discussions, the key point is battery life and whether the batteries are replaceable or rechargeable, since that determines how reliably the light works over repeated trips.
usb
"and you can replace the batteries and it's charged by usb and all this kind of stuff I rather spend I rather pay a little bit of a premium now for a really good brand"
USB charging means you can recharge the device using a common USB cable. That’s handy on trips because you can often charge it from a power bank or the bike’s charging setup.
USB charging means the light (or other gear) can be powered or recharged using a USB connection, typically from a power bank, USB adapter, or a vehicle/motorcycle charging setup. For riders, USB compatibility is valuable because it standardizes charging across many devices and reduces the need for specialized chargers.
Dodge Charger
"...one down you didn't realize that I mean it's on a charger thing it doesn't work yes I think a lot of people..."
The Dodge Charger is a car made by Dodge. It’s known for being a powerful, sporty sedan, and people may mention it in everyday talk because the name “Charger” is also used in other contexts. If someone says it “doesn’t work” or is “on a charger,” they’re usually talking about a specific situation with a car or device, not the car’s basic purpose.
The Dodge Charger is a full-size American muscle car/sedan known for strong performance and a long-running history in Dodge’s lineup. It often comes up in conversations about power, street presence, and how different generations of the Charger have been used for everything from daily driving to more spirited driving. In a podcast, it may be mentioned in a casual way when discussing vehicles that “don’t work” or are “on a charger,” since the name is also commonly used in everyday slang and references.
camping stove
"as well and the same in South Africa unfortunately we do get a lot of power out so our camping stove has worked a couple of times for us as a backup"
A camping stove is a small portable cooker you bring on trips. The point is that it can also work as a backup way to cook if you lose power.
A camping stove is a portable cooking device used outdoors, usually fueled by small liquid or canister fuels. The discussion here highlights that a stove can be used as backup cooking capability when power is limited, so reliability matters beyond just cooking at the campsite.
tarp
"if I really want to go lightweight I'd rather use a small um those more of those compact type of um super lightweight tarps but the ones that you that they cut that's a form they cost they cost the arm and a leg"
A tarp is a lightweight sheet of waterproof or water-resistant material used as a flexible shelter. In motorcycle camping, it can be pitched quickly as a rain cover or as an overhead “roof” to protect the tent and create a drier setup area.
tent fly
"yeah no but but also be there was a really good point though you're making like you've already got the tent fly so if you really needed it you could use the tent fly as a quick cover"
A tent fly is the extra waterproof cover that goes on top of your tent. It helps keep rain off the tent so you stay drier inside.
A tent fly is the separate outer waterproof layer that goes over the main tent body. It’s designed to shed rain and reduce condensation, while the tent body stays more protected inside.
footprint
"what we did was we took the one big top and made a roof over the tent to keep it and to give us a bigger footprint yeah and the bigger footprint dry so the tent is dry and the ground around us"
A footprint is a protective sheet that goes under your tent. It helps keep the tent floor cleaner and can make more of the ground around you stay dry.
In camping, a footprint is the protective ground cover placed under a tent. It increases the effective covered area (“bigger footprint”), helps keep the tent floor cleaner, and can improve comfort by keeping more of the surrounding ground dry.
multi tool
"so it's more that but it's become one of our things that if we start packing up where's our spoon we must just not leave our spoon because we use it so often anything else well the multi tool that we've got so mechniz and i shopped"
A multi tool is a small pocket tool that has several different functions in one. Instead of bringing lots of separate gadgets, you carry one thing that can do many small jobs.
A multi tool is a compact handheld tool that combines multiple functions—like blades, scissors, tweezers, and bottle/cork openers—into one unit. For motorcycle camping, it’s useful because you can handle small tasks without packing separate tools for every job.
Leatherman
"what's the brand of multi tool you found this one is the leatherman yeah the one with the bottle opener is the leatherman model it is well it's a wine cork opener"
Leatherman is a company that makes multi tools—small pocket tools with multiple features. The hosts mention it as the brand of the multi tool they carry.
Leatherman is a well-known brand of multi tools, especially popular for their folding blades and practical built-in accessories. In this segment, it’s referenced as the specific multi tool used by the hosts for camping and motorcycle-related tasks.
Opinel
"mechanic but there's another brand opinel is a french brand it's it's old it's it's cheap it's a wooden handle with either a stainless steel plate or a carbon blade i know that's good that that thing"
Opinel (likely Opinel/Opinel brand) is a French knife brand known for simple designs, typically with a wooden handle and a stainless blade. The hosts mention it as an inexpensive, comfortable option—especially for camping-style use.
flat water pack pouches
"but it's the flat water pack pouches we've got so yeah so you get to you i think tweretic also makes them um how many liters are three liters so we carry two of those so when when we don't use them and we pack them in our space that we don't use often it's a bit of annoyance because the the lid of it is a little bit high"
These are water bags that can flatten down when you’re not using them, so they take up less space on a trip. They expand when filled, and here they’re used as part of the camping setup.
Flat water pack pouches are collapsible hydration/water storage bags designed to pack down when empty and expand when filled. The hosts discuss using them as part of motorcycle camping kit, including capacity (three liters) and practical downsides like lid height.
tweretic
"it's the flat water pack pouches we've got so yeah so you get to you i think tweretic also makes them um how many liters"
Tweretic is mentioned as another company that makes similar water storage pouches. The hosts are basically saying “other brands make these too.”
Tweretic is mentioned as another brand that makes similar flat water pack pouches. The segment uses it as a comparison point for what other manufacturers offer in the same category.
centralized
"…keep it low keep your areas weight low keep it centralized um and avoid tail…"
“Centralized” means putting your gear closer to the middle of the bike. That helps the motorcycle feel more balanced and easier to control when you’re carrying camping stuff.
“Centralized” packing means placing luggage and gear closer to the motorcycle’s center of mass rather than spreading it far out or far back. This helps keep the bike’s balance more predictable when turning, braking, and maneuvering with a load.
tail
"…keep it centralized um and avoid tail… tail every bike so avoid getting stuff right at the back of the bike…"
Here “tail” means the back end of the motorcycle. The advice is to avoid loading too much stuff at the very back so the bike handles better and you can reach what you need more easily.
In motorcycle packing advice, “tail” refers to the rear portion of the bike. Avoiding gear right at the tail helps prevent shifting weight rearward, which can affect handling and make quick access harder.
quick access
"…every day yeah or quick access like first aid kits must be accessible without opening a bag…"
Quick access means keeping important stuff where you can grab it fast. On a motorcycle trip, that prevents you from having to unpack all your luggage just to get something simple.
“Quick access” is a packing strategy where frequently needed items are stored so they can be reached immediately without unpacking everything. For motorcycle camping, this reduces time and hassle when you stop for daily tasks or minor roadside needs.
first aid kits
"…quick access like first aid kits must be accessible without opening a bag…"
A first aid kit is a small bag of medical supplies for injuries. The advice is to keep it easy to reach so you don’t have to dig through bags in an emergency.
A first aid kit is a dedicated medical supplies pack intended for treating minor injuries. The key point here is “quick access”—keeping it reachable without opening luggage so you can respond immediately.
saddlebags
"…you get the like tools pack it in the bottom of the of the bag or your saddlebags or your panties because you don't need this stuff every day…"
Saddlebags are bags that mount on the sides of a motorcycle. Riders use them to carry gear like tools or camping items without having to load everything into a backpack.
Saddlebags are motorcycle side storage bags mounted to the bike, typically on either side of the seat. They’re commonly used for camping gear and tools because they’re accessible without removing the entire luggage setup.
pannier
"…you can use for example a small little pouch just to carry your your leatherman or a screwdriver… you don't have to keep that in the in the bottom of a pannier…"
A pannier is a side storage case or bag that attaches to a motorcycle. People use them for heavier gear because they’re mounted securely and help keep the bike balanced.
A pannier is a hard- or semi-rigid side luggage box/bag that mounts to a motorcycle, usually on a rack or frame points. Because panniers sit low and outboard, they’re often used to carry heavier items while keeping the bike’s weight more stable.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.