Hi - De - Hi Campers!!

Aluminium Panniers and a top box for me. Every other luggage combination is less secure. No tank bag either as I don’t want to carry it around when leaving the bike. Vango tent, 4 season sleeping bag, air mattress, MSR pocket rocket stove, Aeropress coffee maker. That’s about it really. I use a pannier to sit on.

 

Sorry Ms V but it's a roof over my head, a comfy bed and an ensuite everytime for me but if camping floats your boat carry on. I did try it in 1994 when me and a mate went to the spanish GP to see Mick Doohan amongst others but we both decided it was too much of a faff and too uncomfortable after a days ride to bother with again.

 

I'm not a camper (as you know by now, @Mrs Visor!). But I'm with you on Rok Straps. They're useful for many things--even for us non-campers! Fun poll. And, for the time being, I'm actually in the majority with my vote. I suspect that won't hold, though.

 

Well, again rok straps and aeropress are essentials. One other that has not been mentioned is a bike cover.
Luggage, usually a 52l top box and a 45l roll side strapped on the rear seat in front of the box. Not roll top you will note, it is so much easier to find and retrive the one thing you want. Sometimes a tank bag, sometimes not. The main downside of this is that it is quite top heavy and you have to adjust from your normal riding.
Tents - have to be 3 man tent or a very large 2 man, there's not enough room to stash your gear out of the weather otherwise i find. I have 3 tents but only use 2 and the choice becomes a matter of type of trip. I have a large stand up tent with a porch that you can park the bike in if necessary (Nordkap Avesta), not that i do. This is the tent for trips at an event or going to one main place and day trips out. I then use a cheapo decathlon £39.99 Quechua MH100 dome tent that works an absolute treat and is very weatherproof and very quick to put up. I gave up on my superlightweight vango banshee 300 as you cannot sit upright in it. This tent is used for a tour like trip with daily moves of venue.
Camp sites are usually of the extreme minimalist type, often found listed as "wild camping" sites, sometimes with showers, sometimes not. This obviously depends on availability at the planned stop and the length of stop planned at any location. That is not to say there hasnt also been the use of hostels or an emergency premier inn when a severe bout of bad weather is on the horizon.
Bike fully loaded with large tent on a stop off at Triumph visitor centre on the way the the Peak District.........

 

Another vote for a comfy b'n'b with ensuite, then the only luggage needed is my Oxford tailbag to carry a change of clothes, toiletries and a puncture repair kit!

 

Definitely a proper bed for me. We did loads of camping when we were were young and daft, but too many drenchings, poor night's sleep and sore hips totally ruined the appeal.
The first time the now Mrs D came to a race meeting (the first ever WSB round at Donnington) we camped. We had only been together a couple of weeks. It was beautiful warm sunshine during the day but below freezing at night. Frost on the tent and frozen boots in the morning Nowhere to wash properly and the toilets were just large low level tanks with wooden partitions to separate everyone. The whole mess below totally visible
I must have done something right as she's still with me

 

Used to camp all the time when touring and at bike rallies etc.
But these days, when booking anything bike trip related, it has to have solid walls, a restaurant and bar and secure parking.
Oh, and I might rough it in a mobile home on the odd occasion, as long as it's somewhere in the South of France.

 

Rufty tufty bikers? What a bunch of chickenshits....
Still got my old Vango Tempest, upgraded to that 3 man monster l posted recently, great for keeping all my gear in and big enough for the occasional disco. Also got a Naturehike 2 man for summer use with the wife as it has two doors, such a boon at our bladder blighted age
Got a Vango synthetic bag but treated myself to a Rab 700 for the colder nights. Obvs, got a jetboil, also a little trekking pole tent l hoped to do some longer trails with, but other things have got in the way somehow. Cosi e la vita & all that

 

I stopped camping when the Queen stopped paying me to camp...

I'd probably do it if I was travelling solo and had no intention of coming home any time soon, but as I'm getting old (physically anyway) and am quite content in my domestic arrangements I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

Well, beings you asked

My 1st camping trip was with my parents to the forest of dean one easter as a trial run before we went to Spain later that year. The frame tent they bought was a pain to put up due to some stupid design of the porch area, it was freezing cold, it rained and we were camped on a slope so not a good start. The trip to Spain was via the ferry to Caen in France then what felt like weeks travelling down through France and Spain to the costa del something putting the tent up each night after being on the road all day. I was the eldest of 4 and we were in a cortina estate with the back seats folded down and we basically sat on top of the camping gear . The next year we went to the south of France, same M O. The following year I'd had enough and stayed at home alone. They'd got a vw camper van by then and sold the tent, but it wasn't enough to tempt me to go. Scarred for life I was

 

I went camping once, when I did the NW200. Never ever, ever again.

 

I do enjoy camping. Even think if Tracy ever kicks me out i will take my tent to the woods and make it my home. Love the fact everyone you meet at a camp site are so friendly. Just got a small two man tent these days and in the process of upgrading my sleeping bag and mattress. But as its cold there's no great rush. I do enjoy it more than bed and breakfast with snotty people looking down at me.

 

Went camping on the bike for the first time in decades last year, 5 day trip to France,

the left hand pannier held all my camping stuff, sleeping bag, tent, mat, chair, Trangia stove and water bottle. Right hand one had tools, pump, cover, chain and padlock, a bit of food.

weather was pretty shit so was a bit nervous about the waterproofness of the tent but it turned out great, I bought a Night Cat 2 man tent mainly for the fact that it was an easy clip on affair as apposed to trying to slide poles through a tight sleeve, I could sit inside on that chair, the perspective is a bit off!
stayed dry through some really heavy prolonged storms! lying down I took up about half of it so plenty of room for gear.
Really enjoyed it and will go again, probably with less clothes!

 

I used to love camping when I was younger. Even did it without a tent when I was young, stupid and carefree! But now that I am old my accommodation MUST have a bed and en-suite.

 

I forgot to add, like Mrs Visor i love my snugpak sleeping bag (ive had mine for near on 50 years!)

 

Incidentally, if any of you are in the Peak District anytime, look up Mountain Outfitters in Alfreton. Sort of a Rab factory shop. Pot luck but often have good stuff at good prices. All the skiers pile in for their down coats. Worth a look if you want decent outdoor gear.