[For Beginners] Explaining the Appeal of Motorcycle Camping and Essential Camping Gear

Motorcycle camping is a luxurious camping style that lets you enjoy two activities at once: touring during the day and camping at night.

If you’re thinking about trying motorcycle camping, you’re probably wondering which camping gear you should bring.

In this article, we’ll introduce the essential gear for motorcycle camping, key selection tips, and recommended products. If you want to enjoy motorcycle camping in comfort, please use this as a guide.

What is the Appeal of Motorcycle Camping?

Motorcycle camping involves touring freely in search of beautiful scenery and setting up camp wherever you end up. Its appeal lies in the freedom that car camping simply can’t offer.

Motorcycle camping allows you to let go of the moderate tension of touring and fully relax in nature. Relaxing while gazing at a campfire will surely soothe the fatigue of the day.

Additionally, many campsites offer motorcycle or solo rates, making it a cost-effective way to stay overnight—another major benefit of motorcycle camping.

Essential Gear for Motorcycle Camping

Since motorcycle camping has limited carrying capacity, the camping gear you can bring is restricted. When selecting camping gear, it’s essential to check the weight and storage size of each item.

Below, we introduce the essential gear for motorcycle camping. Keep these selection tips in mind to choose products that are suitable for your adventures.

Tents & Tarps

Your tent serves as your living space. Having a tarp to use as a living area will also protect you from rain and sunlight, ensuring a comfortable stay.

In motorcycle camping, whether you’re solo or in a group, the basic rule is for everyone to have their own tent. Choose a tent that one person can set up alone. Single-pole tents are easy to set up and highly recommended.

Since luggage space is limited in motorcycle camping, you need to choose tents and tarps that are lightweight and have a compact pack size. Touring tents are lightweight and pack down small, making them easy to load onto a motorcycle.

Mattress & Sleeping Bag

You’ll need a mat and a sleeping bag when it’s time to sleep.

Mat

A mat eliminates the feeling of the ground beneath you while sleeping, allowing you to sleep comfortably even on hard ground or rocky terrain.

Camping mats include:

• Air
• inflatable mats
• Closed-cell
• silver

.

For motorcycle camping, the "air-filled type," which packs down to a compact size, is the most popular choice. However, if an air-filled mat gets a hole, it may become unusable.

Although they are slightly larger when packed, choosing a "closed-cell mat" made of foam material offers greater peace of mind.

For closed-cell mats, we recommend products that are at least 2 cm thick, as they are less likely to make you feel the ground.

Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags are used to keep you warm while sleeping.

Sleeping bags are mainly divided into "mummy-style" and "envelope-style" types. The advantage of the mummy-style is that it provides a snug fit, resulting in superior insulation. Since there is no excess fabric, its compact pack size makes it particularly useful for motorcycle camping.

On the other hand, the rectangular envelope-style is characterized by a looser fit.

Each sleeping bag has a specified “comfort temperature.” The comfort temperature is the lowest temperature at which you can sleep warmly and comfortably.

If a sleeping bag has a comfort temperature of 5°C, you can sleep warmly and comfortably as long as the minimum temperature is 5°C or higher. Choose a sleeping bag with an appropriate comfort temperature based on the expected minimum temperature during the camping season.

Chairs

A chair makes mealtimes and relaxation time much more comfortable. Outdoor chairs are divided into "folding" and "assembly-type" models depending on how they are assembled.

Folding chairs remain fully connected even when stored. While they are easy to set up and store, they have a large packed size and are heavy, making them unsuitable for motorcycle camping.

Assembly-style chairs, which consist of separate parts that you put together, are lightweight and pack down compactly, making them ideal for motorcycle camping.

Table

Even a small table makes cooking and eating much more comfortable.

Outdoor tables are also mainly classified into "folding" and "assembly" types.

Folding tables, where the parts remain connected even when stored, can be easily set up by simply unfolding them. However, since they take up a lot of space when stored, they are not suitable for motorcycle camping.

In contrast, knock-down tables—which require assembling separate parts—come in styles such as those with roll-up tabletops or ones that store in a slim, elongated form. Because they are compact, they are highly recommended for motorcycle camping.

Lanterns & Lights

"Lanterns" and "lights" that illuminate the darkness are also essential for motorcycle camping.

Fuel-powered lanterns, such as those using gasoline or gas, require you to carry fuel with you, making them unsuitable for motorcycle camping. We recommend LED lanterns, as many are lightweight and compact, and their brightness can be adjusted.

Additionally, a headlamp that leaves both hands free is convenient for illuminating your work area or the path to the restroom at night.

Fire Pit

Having a "fire pit" for cooking allows you to fully enjoy the unique pleasures of camping. Compared to a BBQ grill, it’s a better fit for motorcycle camping.

You can usually buy firewood or charcoal at the campground, so there’s no need to bring your own from home. However, at campsites without staff, you might not be able to purchase them... Just to be safe, check the campground’s official website to see if firewood or charcoal is available for purchase.

If you plan to build a campfire, be sure to bring campfire essentials like a fire mat, fire tongs, and gloves.

Cookware

Cooking utensils for camping, such as pots and pans, are called "cookware." Choose cookware that can be nested inside each other or has removable handles for compact storage.

Stove

It takes time for a campfire to get going. That’s why a single-burner stove is handy as a backup.

Gas burners are divided into those designed for "OD canisters," which maintain their heat output even in harsh outdoor conditions, and those for "CB canisters," which are readily available at convenience stores. Choose the type that suits your preferences, taking into account the season you’ll be camping in and cost.

Tips for Loading Gear onto a Motorcycle

When loading gear onto a motorcycle, there are a few key tips to keep in mind. Follow these three tips to ensure safe riding.

Tip 1: Choose gear that packs down compactly

When selecting camping gear, you need to choose products that can be packed compactly.

When loading gear for motorcycle camping

• Side Cases
• panniers
• seat bags

and other motorcycle accessories.

When using these accessories, be sure to check their storage dimensions.

Tip 2: Know Your Motorcycle’s Load Capacity

Cargo limits for motorcycles are determined by engine displacement. The weight limit is 30 kg for mopeds (50cc) and 60 kg for motorcycles with 50cc or larger engines.

There are also regulations regarding how much luggage can protrude from the bike. Luggage may protrude up to 15 cm to the left and right, and 30 cm to the rear of the bike (seat and footrests).

Please be especially careful when choosing camping gear with longer storage dimensions, such as tents or tarps, to transport on a motorcycle.

There are also specific limits on how much motorcycle equipment can protrude. Just like the vehicle body, equipment may protrude up to 15 cm on each side and 30 cm at the rear.

Tip 3: Plan Your Packing Order

A "seat bag" is attached to the rear seat. A large seat bag can hold almost all of your camping gear.

When packing gear into a seat bag, you need to be strategic about the order in which you pack items. If you just stuff things in without thinking, it will be hard to retrieve items, and the bike’s balance will be thrown off, making it difficult to ride.

First, place flat or long items at the very bottom to act as a base. This helps keep the bag’s shape from collapsing.

Place heavy items toward the bottom as well. If heavy items are on top, the bike’s center of gravity will rise, which could affect handling.

Finally, fill any gaps with light items or small accessories to prevent the contents from shifting around inside.

TOKYO CRAFTS Products Recommended for Motorcycle Camping

Here are some camping gear recommendations for motorcycle camping.

Diamond Fort Light

The "Diafort" is a solo tent featuring a distinctive diamond-shaped design. Since the living area and sleeping area are integrated, you can enjoy camping without a tarp.

With windows on both the front and rear sides, it ensures excellent ventilation. Additionally, the skirt at the bottom prevents cold air and insects from entering, allowing you to enjoy comfortable camping all year round.

Macraite Series

The "MacLight Series" is TOKYO CRAFTS’ signature fire pit. Despite its large size—which allows you to feed logs directly into it—it’s lightweight and packs down to a compact size.

In addition to the traditional stainless steel models, a titanium version has been newly added. It is even lighter and more durable.

The Makulite Series comes with a grate that can be adjusted to two different heights. This makes it easy to control the heat, allowing you to enjoy a variety of campfire cooking.

Zika Table

A stylish mini table featuring a perforated tabletop. The legs are made of resin, achieving a weight of under 500g. The tabletop is made of aluminum, allowing you to place hot pots directly on it.

The legs are compatible with the Zika Manita, allowing you to swap the tabletop for a cutting board. Since only one set of legs is needed, it’s recommended for motorcycle camping trips where you want to minimize your load.

Delta Talon

The "Delta Talon" camping knife is versatile enough for a variety of uses, from preparing food and making feather sticks for kindling to splitting firewood with the batoning technique.

Its distinctive design stems from a focus on the handle position. By placing the handle higher than on a standard knife, the cutting board won’t hit your hand while cooking, allowing for comfortable work. With a 3.5mm-thick blade and a full-tang construction, it handles batoning with ease.

Sierra Cup

The Sierra Cup can be used not only as tableware but also as a cooking utensil over an open flame. Its versatility, including the ability to reheat beverages, is a major appeal.

The Sierra Cup series offers a wide variety of options. In addition to the standard stainless steel models, the lineup includes titanium and brass versions.

The stainless steel models come in a wide range of colors, including black, antique, and gold. You can choose from two types—shallow and deep—allowing you to select the perfect one to match your usage and the vibe of your campsite.

Shokki Series Chopsticks

These chopsticks from the "Shokki Series" feature a unique design where the two chopsticks connect into a single unit when stored.

The thin tips, designed for easy gripping of food, feature a non-slip finish; the handles have a knurled texture for a secure grip; and part of the design is octagonal to prevent rolling. These thoughtful details make them exceptionally easy to use.

Enjoy motorcycle camping with just the essentials!

Motorcycle camping lets you enjoy both touring and camping. It’s a camping style we highly recommend motorcycle enthusiasts try.

Gather the essential camping gear introduced here, and enjoy a comfortable, carefree, and unburdened camping tour.