Performance Touring: How to pack light
The ultimate checklist for those who want to cover distance without being weighed down
Going motorcycle touring? This is all you need.
Packing. Contrary to what previous girlfriends have told me; it doesn't need to be done three-weeks in advance and nor do I need to try and cram 90% of all my belongings into a variety of luggage. When it comes to going away on the bike, less is without doubt best.
The kit above is exactly what I took with me on my 7-day 3,200 mile round trip from London to Morocco. I'm not saying it's the minimum you need to take, as that's bound to provoke a response from a reader who's been around the world on two wheels with just a pair of Y-fronts and a toothpick but this is a tried and tested formula that worked for me.
Some might call this Performance Touring; it's the kit you need when you're going places fast and want to travel light.
Let's start with what's not laid out here, the kit I wore on the bike: obviously, pants, socks, followed by thermal top and bottoms, a t-shirt and neck tube. Two-piece zip-together Gore-Tex leathers, waterproof summer boots and Gore-Tex leather waterproof gloves. A helmet and a dark visor.
And here's what's in my rucksack.
Performance Touring Checklist:
- Passport
- Earplugs
- LED cycle torch (really handy for all sorts of scenarios)
- Driving licence and bike's V5
- Soap bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, a few aspirin, paracetamol and a couple of berroca)
- Puncture repair kit
- Cable lock (good for locking your bike to something, handy if you want to leave your lid)
- Chain lube
- Clear visor
- Samsung Galaxy S2 (Phone, 8MP camera, GPS, proper Sat Nav, phrasebooks)
- Undercrackers
- Jeans (thin material, much lighter)
- Cable ties (a million possibilities)
- Thick all-season gloves (great when the temp drops near freezing)
- T-shirts (3 really is overkill but that's what I took)
- USB phone charging cable (ask hotel receptionist if you can plug it into her computer)
- Lightweight gloves (great for when it's warm, also good if your other pairs get soaked)
- Flip-flops (because shoes are bulky and you want a rest from wearing your boots)
- Wallet (containing cash, cards, EU breakdown, health insurance card)
- Socks
As you can see, there's still plenty of room for a copy of Private Eye to keep you going in the evenings. If you want to take a proper camera, get a map as backup, lob a fleece in there, pad it out with more pants, smuggle some proper tea-bags, you can... but just remember; less is best.
