ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Size packed: 6” x 17”
- Price: $104.73
Available from ALPS Mountaineering
While camping doesn’t absolutely require that one carries a tent with them—some riders are perfectly happy sleeping under the stars—a little shelter does add a bit of comfort to the whole moto camping experience. That's when single-person, lightweight tents get a chance to shine.
Tents like the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx are convenient to carry with you on a bike because they’re compact and lightweight. This particular model is freestanding and installation is straightforward with your run-of-the-mill two-pole support system. It also features a weatherpoof cover in case the going gets wet and even has a little vestibule to stack up your gear.
Tracker 5 Short 0 Degree Ultralight Mummy Sleeping Bag
- Weight: 3.75 pounds
- Size packed: 8" x 14"
- Price: $59.99
Available from TETON Sports
A sleeping bag is possibly the single most important piece of camping gear you’ll travel with. You only have to unroll it anywhere you wish to stay for the night and get a decent night of sleep. To some, gear like tents, mattresses, and chairs are superfluous—all they need is a comfy pouch to marsupial their way through the night.
Mummy sleeping bags in particular are great because if the temperatures dip, you are protected from head to toes and kept warm without having to wear a hat and a scarf to sleep. This TETON Tracker 5 packs easily and keeps you warm in temperatures as low at 5 degrees.
Thermarest ProLite Sleeping Pad
- Weight: 1 pound
- Size packed: 5.8" x 11"
- Price: $94.95
Available from Thermarest
If the thought of sleeping with rocks and twigs poking in your back is enough to deter you from camping altogether, fear not—sleeping pads are coming to the rescue. Models like this Thermarest ProLite is inflatable which means once you’re ready to pack up and go, it easily rolls into a compact cylinder slightly bigger than a bottle of water.
In addition, this model can be patched up if you somehow manage to poke a hole in it and the one-way valve makes inflation of the mattress even with your mouth, an easy business.
Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle
- Weight: 150 grams
- Size packed: 1.5”
- Price: $25.00
Available from Hydaway
One crucial step of self-care while traveling includes staying hydrated, especially if you’re traveling in desertic conditions or in the middle of the summer. Access to water can sometimes be restricted so carrying a water bottle in your luggage definitely has its advantages.
When space is limited, however, bottles can be bulky. That’s where collapsible bottles come in handy. Bottles like this Hydaway model allows you to carry a standard 17 ounces of liquid with you and folds into a compact 1.5-inch disc once it’s empty.
Biolite Rechargeable Headlamp
- Weight: 69 grams
- Size packed: -
- Price: $59.95
Available from BioLite Energy
If you’ve ever hung out outside at night, you understand how useful a headlamp can be. Whether it’s to get up to find the bathroom—or whatever bush will be your natural restroom—or to dig something out of your poorly lit tent, bag, or sidecases, having a readily available lamp you don’t have to hold with your hands is certainly a must.
We opted for this Biolite model because it’s rechargeable so you won’t have to buy new batteries along the way, and because it offers several settings—including a red flood light to avoid blinding everyone if you have to use it in the middle of the night.
