Deconstruct my on tour gear (10/31/23 Tue)
I've learned to pack the side cases a certain way. Like backpacking you need to know where you gear is, so you can find it when it's needed (without a full search). Also like backpacking you want the weight distributed evenly left to right. You also want heavier items low, forward and toward the bike side of the side cases.
Once I have a good packing order, I use the heck out of it. Everything goes back into the cases in the exact same spot. I leave the cases pack most of the riding season. The gear really doesn't chnage much between trips and even locations. Maybe taking a different riding jacket and pants if I know there will be only hot weather.
When I used clamshell (hinged at the bottom and open like suitcases) cases, I found the right side would get wetter. Because the left side stand leans the bike to the left, so an open box on the right opens more to the sky. The left side clamshell case provides a bit of cover for itself, and wants to fall out onto the ground more.
Using top loading boxes, this no longer matters, but I have retained the prior wet & dry side. Keeping "wet" items in my right side box. So cooking, tent, chair, tarp, chain maintenance...
Leaving the left side to hold "dry" items: clothing, sleeping gear, electronics. In the past I was also able to take the "dry" side into a motel and leave the "wet" side on the bike. These cases are harder to take off, so I now I use a bag and carry in only a few items from the dry side.
Because the dry side used to go into a motel, I also store my shaving kit and towel on the dry side (which makes more sense as a wet side item). Since dirty clothing is also on the dry side, the laundry detergent also finds an unexpected home at the bottom of the dry case.
Right/Wet side case
- octain boost
- chain lube
- napkins / paper towels to clean chain
- gloves for chain work
- extra latex gloves
- leather work gloves
- bag of paracoard
- tarp tent stakes
- cooking skewers
- zip ties
- spare back
- wheel nut wrench
- citronella candle
- spare plastic bags
- Siera Designs Highside 2 tent
- folding chair
- Wise Owl hammock and bug net
- 3x3 meter (9.5x9.5 foot) tarp
- thermarest seat pad
- ESEE Gibson Axe
- spare stove
- fire starters
- bic lighter
- paracord
- Cold Steel Code 4 knife
- Skin so soft (bug repellant)
- ferro rod
- zippo butain lighter
- flashlight
- cup-a-soup
- instant oatmeal
- 1.2L pot
- iso butain fuel
- screw on iso buttain stove
- bic lighter
- tin foil for stove wind block
- lid for pot
- spoon fork combo
- colapsible silicone mug
- two trimmed to fit cutting boards
- coat hanger bent to enable the pot to hang over a fire
- scrap of pot holder
- misc tea, coffee, sugar and drink mix
- burr coffee grinder
- cinnamon sticks
- cutting board scrap (mug cover)
- extra combo fork/spoon
- extra colapsible silicone mug
- dish towel
- assorted tea/coffee/sugar
- assorted drink mix
- cup-a-soup
- instant oatmeal
- snacks(jerky, pistacchios)
- bandana
- spices(camp mix, old bay, mccormick mapple bbq)
- Gerber spatual, fork, spoon, opener, pealer, tong combo
- ESEE Isula II knife on paracord loop (1 armspan)
- clothes line clips
- tissues
- coffee
- sugar
- coffee filters (#2 Malita)
- extra plastic bags
Left/Dry side case
- Nemo fillo inflatable pillow
- baby pillow case
- cotton sleeping bag liner from walmat
- Pyria 0C down quilt
- extra resizing tips for matrice inflator
- tissues
- pyria matrice band clips
- mylar space blanket
- baby powder in plastic bag
- sea to summit telecompression bag
- ExPed 3R inflatable matrice
- FlexTail matrice inflator/light/battery pack
- exped inflation sack
- exped storage bag
- exped patch kit
- dirty clothing bag
- 3x zip off nylon pants
- 3x tee shirts (nylon or moisture wicking)
- 3x medium weight socks
- 3x moisture wicking underwear
- camping bath towel
- dish towel
- sea to summit event waterproof clean clothes teleecompressor bag
- darn good heavy hicking socks
- long underwear top & bottom
- heavy winter socks
- bathing suit
- extra tee shirt
- extra underwear
- extra bag
- extra long sleeve shirt
- extra sheild cleaning cloth
- extra baby pillow case
- 2x extra bandanas (2 purchased on this trip)
- Coffe Bean Corral (intended purchase, but gifted)
- 4x bags of green coffee beens
- 2x pins
- Cotton shipping bag
- shaving kit
- change for showers
- comb
- nail clippers
- body/hair/shaving soap Nivia Active 3
- antiperspirant
- pain cream rub
- small bar soap from motel
- swallowable mouthwash tablets
- tooth paste and brush
- flossers
- eye drops
- hydro cortazone
- razor
- small micro fiber cloth for soaping
- bag for laundry pods (all used)
- extra stretch cord
- extra bag
- broken pant belt
- laundry card with $5 left
- kindle
- zip ties
- left over ferry boarding ticket from Newfoundland
- extra usb cords
- extra sae to usb power
- extra ac usb power
- extra folding eyeglasses
- BT mouse & usb-c to HDMI cable
- tire balancing weights
- multi-meter
- tent repair tape
- soldering iron and solder
- utility knife
- duck tape
- extra side rack mounting bolt
- 3m velcro
- extra case to rack mounting bolts
- gopro attachments
- extra bic lighter
- locktite
- 2x spoke nipple for wheels
- 3x spare AA batteries
- extra wire
- wire connectors
- misc fuses