The Best Motorcycle Camping Gear For Off-Grid Exploration

Due to their limited storage space, motorcycles aren’t necessarily the best vehicles for camping. If armed with the right gear, however, these vehicles can actually be fairly conducive to extended stays off grid. With so many available options currently on the market, it can be difficult even knowing where to begin looking when shopping. Well aware of this reality, we’ve scoured the space to deliver this created guide to the best motorcycle camping gear. 

Because so many different types of items can be used for motorcycle camping, there isn’t one set or attributes or traits one should consider that apply across the board, however, there are characteristics that generally hold true when discoing moto camping kit — the most important of which we’ll be touching on directly below. 

Materials: The materials used to craft a product will pretty much always play a monumental role in said product’s overall quality and durability — with pieces of motorcycle camping gear being far from an exception. As a result, you’ll want to pay very close attention to the primary construction of any item that you’re considering, along with supplementary materials and hardware (if applicable). 

IP Rating: Because these items are all intended for outdoor, off-grid use, you’re going to want to opt for pieces of gear that can stand up to dirt, dust, the elements, and extreme temperatures. This is often denoted through an item’s Ingress protection (or IP) rating, such as IP68 or IPX8. 

Build Quality: In addition to the materials used to create a piece of gear, you’ll also want to consider the manner in which those materials have been pieced together, as an item’s construction technique will also play a massive role in its overall durability.  

Size & Weight: Even with a full suite of luggage, motorcycles are still extremely limited when it comes to storage space. As a result, it’s imperative to consider the size and weight of any item that you’re considering as this will hugely impact how easy it is to bring along on your two-wheeled travels. And, while size of an item will play a role in how much gear you can fit and carry in your loadout, overall weight will also have an impact on how a motorcycle performs. 

Multi-Functional Use: One fantastic way of saving space when packing for a moto camping trip is to opt for pieces of gear that serve more than one purpose or function, as it ultimately allows you to take fewer items with you, minimizing your loadout. This includes everything from multi-tools to power banks with built-in flashlights or solar panels. 

Mount & Packability: One of the biggest factors that affects an item’s conduciveness to motorcycle camping isn’t only its size and weight, but also it’s ability to be packed — whether we’re talking items that break down or fold up into a more compact form, or pieces of kit that are designed to be lashed or mounted to the exterior of the bike. This may not sound wildly important, but this one area will have a huge impact on how well or poorly a given item lends itself to motorcycle camping use. 

From purpose-built pieces of motorcycle camping gear to regular pieces of kit that just happen to lend thsemvles to two-wheeled camping use, there’s absolutely no shortage of available items to choose from when buying moto camping kit. As such, it really helps to view these items through a particular lens, focusing on utilitarian equipment that’s rugged and well-built enough to withstand the rigors of camping and off-grid use, while still being small, compact, and lightweight enough to easily be carried on a bike. Additionally, we also kept an eye out for pieces of gear that are multi-functional and capable of serving more than one purpose — a trait that massively bolsters utility while cutting-edge on the number of items needed. 

Using this criteria, we then generated a list of all of the most crucial must-have essentials for motorcycle camping, such as a moto camping tent, a cook system, and saddle bags. We then proceeded to seek out the best of the best from each of the segments from our list, initially selecting a trio of picks for each sector before narrowing down those three to one final best-of selection that made the final cut for this list. 

KiWAV Motorcycle Kickstand Plate

Best Kickstand Plate: Regular motorcycle kickstands will often sink into dirt and other softer terrains, which is why a kickstand pad or plate is always recommended when moto camping. Weighing 2.3oz, this kickstand plate measures  3″ W x 5″ L and is crafted from ABS plastic. The item simply attaches to a stock motorcycle kickstand via a single screw, with a universal size that should fit the vast majority of bikes on the market. 

Cartman Bungee Cord Assortment

Best Bungee Set: Anyone that’s experienced in motorcycle travel will no doubt be well aware of just how crucial a bungee set can be when it comes to mounting gear to the bike. Comprised of 28 different cords, this UV-resistant set features five different lengths, all of which are color-coded. This set also offers pretty stellar bang for your buck considering the overall quality on display and the number of included items. 

Snow Peak Titanium Fork and Spoon Set

Best Camp Cutlery: The Snow Peak Titanium Fork and Spoon Set is a two-piece camp cutlery set that made from durable yet lightweight titanium. Clocking in at just 1.4oz, this simple fork and spoon set also comes sold inside a rugged canvas storage bag with a classic Snow Peak logo patch. Spanning 6.5” in length, this two-piece set also comes backed by a lifetime warranty. 

BioLite HeadLamp 200

Best Headlamp: With a weight of 1.7oz, 200 lumens on tap, an IPX4 rating, a brightness memory setting, a tiny footprint, and a 700mAh Lithium-ion battery that affords up to 40 hours of burn time, you really would be hard pressed to find a better headlight for motorcycle camping than the BioLite HeadLamp 200. Unlike BioLite’s larger headLamp models, the 200 Series is also devoid of a separate battery pack, with its entire LED emitter and battery pack being stored inside the same compact housing — which is also offered in four color choices. 

MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove

Best Camp Stove: The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove is a super compact camp stove that’s typically aimed at hike-in campers and backpackers, though due it its svelte weight and tiny footprint, is also extremely conducive to motorcycle camping. Tipping the scales at only 2oz, this camp stove offers a 60-minute burn time, a boil time of just 3.5 minutes, and a built-in piezo igniter, proving that its small size hasn’t come at the cost of features or performance. 

Rumpl NanoLoft Fire Resistant Puffy Blanket

Best Camp Blanket: Rumpl has long made some of our favorite camp and field blankets, though the company has managed to deliver an even more enticing offering with its NanoLoft Fire Resistant Puffy Blanket. The blanket features a fire-resistant modacrylic and cotton blend on its face and 100% post-consumer recycled proprietary NanoLoft insulation stuffed under its recycled ripstop polyester liner. Additionally, because it rolls up and can be stuffed into an included carrying sack that’s roughly the size of a Nalgene bottle, the Rumpl NanoLoft Fire Resistant Puffy Blanket is an excellent choice for campers who are limited on space. 

REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair

Best Camp Chair: With a weight of only one pound and a load capacity of 250lbs, the REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair is a great choice for motorcycle camping. Breaking down to a 4.5” x 15” form when packed, the chair features a four-leg aluminum chassis design paired with a bluesign-approved ripstop nylon construction with a DWR coating. This size of this camp chair when folded up and inserted into its carrying case also make it super easy to mount it to the exterior of a motorcycle when traveling. 

Helinox Table One

Best Camp Table: Representing what’s almost certainly the most reputable and popular folding camp table on the market, the Helinox Table One is constructed around collapsible frame composed of DAC’s proprietary aluminum alloy. Equipped with a 110-pound capacity, this field and camp table is draped in a rugged textile fabric and it includes a pair of integrated mesh cupholders. What’s more, the entire chair also fits inside a cylindrically-shaped carrying case measuring just 16” in length – making it ideal for mounting to the side or tail of a bike. 

Goal Zero Venture 35 + Nomad 10 Kit

Best Solar Kit: Combining two incredibly useful items into a single bundled package, the Goal Zero Venture 35 + Nomad 10 Kit features an IP67-rated mobile power bank with a Lithium-ion 9,600mAh LG cell, a USB-C delivery port with 18-watt charging speeds, and an integrated 50-lumen LED flashlight. Offering the ability to charge the Venture 35 power bank is this kit’s included Nomad 10 solar charger, making this compact and lightweight bundle perfect for keeping your mobile devices charged up while motorcycle camping. This entire kit weighs in at only 12lbs, too — furthering its conduciveness to moto camping. 

VSSL JAVA Coffee Grinder

Best Coffee Grinder: Backed by a lifetime warranty, the VSSL JAVA Coffee Grinder allows you to enjoy a freshly-brewed cup of joe even when motorcycle camping. Coming in a 6.2-inch-tall cylinder that’s 2.0” in diameter and only weighs 12.7oz, the JAVA Coffee Grinder boasts an aircraft-grade aluminum construction with a knurled aluminum push-top release and a magnetized hand grip knob. Inside the grinder has a high-carbon stainless steel conical grinding burr setup and dual-axle bearings. The entire unit is also sold in a carrying pouch and with a cleaning brush. 

Touratech Destino Adventure Boots

Best Boots: Pieced together around a set of waxed full-grain leather and CORDURA uppers, the Touratech Destino Adventure Boots are a premium pair of off-road riding boots that come loaded with steel toe caps, an antibacterial footbed, plastic shin guards, an OutDry membrane, and a robust triple buckle fastening system. What makes these off-road riding boots so perfect for camping, however, is the fact that their interior includes a removable set of more comfortable inner boots made specifically for use around camp. Add in Touratech’s usual top-notch build quality and you’ve legitimately got some of the best adventure boots that money can buy. It also doesn’t hurt that the Destino ADV Boots are currently be offered at a pretty steep discount. 

Montana Knife Company MagnaCut Speedgoat Knife

Best Knife: Meticulously made by hand in Montana, the Montana Knife Company MagnaCut Speedgoat Knife is an ultra-rugged and ultra-premium boutique-made fixed blade that offers an incredible amount of performance and utility relative to its size. Tipping the scales at only 1.7oz, the knife features a full-tang blade that’s composed of CPM MagnaCut and wrapped in a 550 Paracord handle. In addition to an included click-in Kydex sheath, this Amiercan-made fixed-blade model also comes with MKC’s free “Generations” program which will clean, sharpen, and repair, and (if needed reshape), the blade of this knife for life — literally guaranteeing a lifetime of use. 

Kriega Overlander-S OS-32 Drypack

Best Luggage: Equipped with a 32 liters of waterproof storage space, the Kriega Overlander-S OS-32 Drypack is an ultra-rugged, overbuilt semi-rigid riding pannier that’s crafted around a super hardwearing 1,000-denier CORDURA shell that’s been outfitted with a taped-seam waterproof liner and a roll-top closure. Made by one of the most reputable brands in the off-road and adventure space, this moto drypack also sports Hypalon straps and accents, and compatibility with numerous racks and mounting systems. Backed by a decade-long warranty, the bag also features Kriega’s signature top-shelf construction and build quality. 

Aclim8 COMBAR FoldaXe Pro

Best Axe: A streamlined take on the company’s original more expensive Red Dot Design Award-winning multi-tool, the  Aclim8 COMBAR FoldaXe Pro is a compact all-in-one survival and camp tool that’s constructed around an ultra-hardwearing glass-reinforced polymer hollow handle that’s equipped with a 5” x 2.5” hardened 420J2 stainless steel blade axe head with the ability to pivot, enabling it to serve as a hammer or splitter. Inside, the handle houses a magazine-style storage compartment with a rail-guided sliding cover, a folding saw, and a fixed-blade knife.

Wingman of the Road Goose Tent

Best Tent: Weighing only 22lbs, the Wingman of the Road Goose Tent is an ultra-minimalistic, all-in-one mobile moto dwelling that’s comprised of an integrated high-density foam mattress, a built-in sleeping bag, and a hardwearing 14.8oz ripstop canvas canopy that wraps around a set of aluminum poles before extending out to cover the user’s motorcycle — which also creates a covered space between the tent and bike for storing riding gear. 

The Best Tents for Motorcycle Camping

If you’re interested in motorcycle camping gear, then you should definitely cruise over to our guide to the best motorcycle camping tents for today’s best options for keeping you and your bike sheltered while off-grid.