I've written a few motorcycle camping articles in my day but this year is a whole different bag. With a pandemic in play, moto-camping is one of the few remaining combination activities we can easily reach for as a getaway. With in-depth articles popping up everywhere, this one aims to keep you both safe and sane while you're off the beaten path. Not all camping trips are created equal! There's planning, packing and two mindsets to keep track of: on the bike, and off the bike. Coordinating both can be a challenge for even seasoned riders.

As far as social distancing is concerned, let's just agree that it's a planned default with this kind of trip. Now, our route and motorcycle camping gear are only as useful as our tolerance for the unexpected. Planning and testing are the closest thing to pre-ride certainty we'll ever see. With that, let's get right to it: routing, gear selection and packing for the Covid-19-dodging motorcycle camper.

A Route Planner For Secluded Motorcycle Camping

The most fun (and sometimes most stressful) question you might ask yourself is: "where might I go?" Whatever the answer, finding the time to do it comes first. If you have a surplus, you might extend your trip to include other remote, but accessible, points. I do a lot of route planning using RideWithGPS.com. Whenever I tell fellow riders about it, they usually reply with some other obscure service that I immediately forget. We all have our favorites but mine is best…best I say! RideWithGPS allows me to type in a starting address as a launch point. Where new users might then sloppily click all over the map using the "follow roads" feature, I prefer typing in another specific address as a waypoint. Next, the "add/remove control point" setting makes for easy, well-anchored alterations.

Hopefully the above video minimizes any intimidation you might feel about RideWithGPS. Their newly updated interface is really simple and easy to use once you get to know it. The end product, namely your route, can be downloaded for use with other software/hardware including stand-alone GPS units. Sign up for their subscription service to get turn-by-turn directions on just about any smartphone. For group tours, I like to combine both with physical maps. It's an approach that's proven infallible.

Motorcycle Camping Gear: Safe, Simple & Small

Next up, it's time to perfect our rigging. Smaller is usually better, but balancing comfort with functionality is just as important. Whatever luxuries you demand, there's probably a camping version of it that'll make you grin. Once all of your personal requirements are addressed, be ready to abandon a few in favor of actually riding the bike. For shelter, there are tents, hammocks, bivi bags and more. If your preferred architecture doesn't get you off the ground, consider a top-shelf collapsible cot. At the very least, be elitist about your choice in sleeping bag, pad and pillow (the rewards outweigh their cost). For food, simple eats that don't require fire make a great fail safe. That said, to actually make and maintain fire you'll want to have a fire starting kit and perhaps some accelerant. An empty water bottle with a small bit of gasoline in it doesn't hurt. Cooking and eating is just a matter of having the right utensils for pre and post-meal use.

One excellent bonus to look for is any motorcycle camping gear that can store other items while you're riding. The scrubba laundry bag, for example can either fold down to sub-atomic small or carry an organized array of things that belong together. Air space is sacred in our motorcycle luggage, so fitting items within items without loss of easy access is something we'll look at next.

Packing a motorcycle for camping

If you don't remember this next bit, you might find yourself placing the heavy stuff down low, or just packing as you think of things. This is a fine strategy if all we're doing is riding. After a long day, however, you're going to want ease of access. A recline-ready stash that's simple and intuitive is the way to go. Set up camp somewhere local before the launch date and once finished, try packing everything away as you tear down so that it unpacks in reverse.

You'll also find that weight-balancing items between your bike's luggage makes for smoother riding, so take note of which side carries what and maybe make a list. The goal is to enjoy the ride, arrive, set up without stress, rest, wake up, clean and reverse-pack everything systematically with minimal effort. With a bit of practice before your trip, you'll get more efficient while learning that a few of your pre-tour purchases are maybe not coming with you. Scaling back what we bring, without omitting what's smart to have, is a maze all riders must find their own way through. If you even glance at that three-speed mixer, you might want to try camping without the bike first.

Initiating The Plan

You're likely going to be riding all day and exhausted by the end, so have a practiced system in place. Tell people where you're going to be and when. Then, ask yourself the following:

• How many miles am I comfortable riding on any given day?
• What energy reserves will I need to change mindsets and set up camp?
• Is all of my equipment packed in a manner that keeps it orderly and undamaged?

Also, never set up after dark; it's harder to screen your site for hazards beyond whatever light you're able to access and is just a hassle overall. But, most of all -- Enjoy! Introverts, workaholics, and touring riders alike are made for this kind of vacation. Throw a leg over, get your thrill on, and relax outdoors in peace. If you see another rider doing the same, give 'em the wave but keep your distance, stay healthy, and be safe!