Prompted by many kind words and PMs, and Josephau particularly, I thought I might share with you my thoughts of packing and traveling light - especially with all the should-I-shouldn't-I-get-panniers consideration recently... I'm not suggesting this style of packing is for everyone, only that I've found a system that works for me - giving me everything I need, together with maximum flexibility for the style of riding I like to undertake.

Essentially I've always wanted an off-road capable set-up - that is, the minimum amount of weight, or perhaps more importantly, bulk.

While it would seem most straightforward just to get a rack and hard pannier set (especially for bikes like the Tenere) - and I admit I am increasingly being swayed by their advantages - that is ease of attach/detachment, and additional security when leaving the loaded bike unattended... I am also conscious of a number of drawbacks, mainly long-term robustness (I'm talking a high proportion of off-road riding), weight, and general bulk - never mind the potential for leg injury when dabbing off-road/in sand etc.

An alternative is soft panniers - although I've never really been tempted as a) they are susceptible to heat damage (although this is not an issue on the Tenere, thanks to the clever plastic exhaust shrouds), and b) they look like a sack of spuds, and I've never trusted their various fixing methods over really rough ground...

Regardless of the material used, I've always considered panniers a bit of a liability - whether filtering in traffic (which I like to do) or when in a narrow situation off-road... however, I would concede that perhaps they (hard cases at least) make a bike easier to pick up, as it tends not to fall right over 90� to the ground? Anyway...


Keeping it Narrow...
Last year when I started traveling for more than a few days at a time, I endeavoured to pack as light as possible, and started out with an expanding tail-pack on a rack behind the seat. This held tools, spares, maps and camping cooker/food. I then used a 35 litre roll-top dry-bag on the rear seat behind me for my tent, air-bed and sleeping bag. Everything else (ie. clothes and toiletries) went in a 25 litre rucksack on my back.

This meant the bike was no wider that standard, still offered a reasonably roomy cockpit area (no tank bag for example) and in reality, hardly more top heavy - it worked well at all speeds in all terrain. However, the rucksack tended to get heavy after a long day... it was also not particularly waterproof, which was a pain when it was my clothes in there!

Eventually I replaced the tail-pack with an aluminium Touratech 'Top' box, for additional security, together with easy removal once I got to my destination. I also bought an OGIO waistpack for my tools/puncture stuff, which I could wear when serious off-roading without luggage, or attach round the top-box (above the dry-bag) when touring.

This system worked well, and I basically used it again in Europe this year (see TBM issues 159-161... ahem). However, I took less clothing to Europe which then fitted in my top box (waterproof!), and used a Camelbak Blowfish backpack which offers 3 litres of water and expanding stowage up from 8-15 litres for maps and snacks, plus would hold a fleece or lightweight jacket if the weather was variable.

However, this time and now I'm on the Tenere, I feel I have refined it even further - by being deciplined enough to leave stuff behind that I didn't use on previous trips. Obviously you still need to take bodge-it spares, puncture kit and tools, even if you (hopefully) don't end up using them. But you'd be surprised just how little else you need on a day to day basis when traveling by bike - especially if you don't intend to go out nightclubbing or to fancy restaurants etc. Staying in a motel (or couch surfing) means you can also eject the camping equipment too, but I'll include that as there is little to beat rocking up in the perfect spot, and saying "I want to wake up here tomorrow too!"


Modular Kit
I've tried to keep everything modular, as not only does this help with packing and unpacking (only using the bag you need, and also helping to remember what was in it!) but it means you can leave certain items if just going for a day ride from a hotel for example. This is what I use currently:

Bag 1: 35 litre roll-top dry-bag, which contains my tent - a cheap two-pole 2-man dome tent, which will self support on hard ground. It is slightly larger (and a lot cheaper) than the ultralight backpacking type, and gives plenty of room to stow your riding kit inside with you. Thermarest Trail Comfort air-mattress - not the smallest, but I appreciate the extra thickness on hard lumpy ground. It is worth spending the money on a pukka Thermarest, although I'm sure the alternatives are good too. A Karrimor 3-season sleeping bag (mid priced) - perfectly adequate for the countries I'm visiting. I can also just squeeze in my Jetboil cooker and a Naglan bottle full of fresh coffee. There are smaller and lighter cookers available, but they will need a separate fuel canister, and pan/s too of course. The convenience of one-pot cooking is ideal - afterall, all you really need is a warm meal (Wayfairer are my favorite) and a cuppa? I also use a Spork combined spoon/fork, plus my pocket knife for any cutting required.

The beauty of keeping you whole 'camp' in one bag, is that should you decide to motel it, you can just leave the camping bag at home. You also don't need to open the bag at all if you are spending the night in a hotel.

cont.

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"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com