Motopacking Essentials - a List

Thanks to the exploits of Charlie and Euan, and Austin and Lyndon and projects like the TET and ACT, lightweight adventure motorcycling or motopacking has seen a phenomenal growth in popularity.

  Along with this growth has come a bewildering range of products aimed at the would-be adventure rider.

Such is the choice that the newcomer can end up totally overwhelmed.

What is essential? What is just overpriced snake oil? 

Baffled and confused, enthusiasm and excitement is all too often replaced by exasperation and frustration - with the result that the rider either succumbs to every slick salesman, catalogue or magazine review, ending up with an empty wallet and a cupboard full of kit they never use, or they just throw up their hands and retreat to what they know, missing out on the fun that could have been had exploring new horizons from the seat of a trailbike.

John doesn't make any claims to be the all-knowing expert of lightweight adventure riding but he's motopacked across Europe and Africa for three decades.

He's wild-camped, navigated and fixed bikes in the bush, learning through trial and error what kit works best for him and meets that delicate balance of cost vs value.

We've asked him to share that motopacking equipment and packing list here.

We've tried to include links to the products where we can find them - some of which will generate us a small percentage commission if you follow through with a purchase while not costing you a bean more to buy.

In addition, we've also managed to wangle some discounts for riders and pass those on to you.

If you have a better alternative to the motopacking kit listed here, we'd love to hear from you. Afterall, there's no right answer, just what works best for us here and now.