I'm seriously considering these...
http://www.kuryakyn.com/Products/694...ver-Saddlebags
According to the hype from Kuryakyn.. no mounting hardware necessary.

For the seat behind me, I have an old "bikers friend" bag that's been sitting on a shelf in my garage for nearly 10 years... planning on digging it out soon.

 

Totally understandable. Not to take the thread off topic, but I wasn't talking about getting hotels. I'm hiking/camping in tennessee just because I like to hike up some of the tallest mountains along the Appalachian...since I'll probably never have the time to hike the whole trail like I'd like to. No hotel stays here. Hell, we've even parked and slept in the cage at rest areas as opposed to getting a hotel, when in route to a particular destination. Last year we hiked up Mount Mitchell (tallest in the Apps) in North Carolina when it was 29 degrees and stayed up top on my wifes birthday...sleet rain and all (wife hated that part...lol) This year's a trip to Tenn and we waited a few extra weeks so the weather will be warmer. I camp regularly around where I live in Ohio as well. On some of the easy breezy camp site stays you can take your HD, and it's a good time at a nice campground. But more times than not for me, it's probably not a good idea. To do some serious hiking/camping, you'd never really be able to take a bike. There in lies the beauty of a cage designed for going off the beaten path and being left behind. Then again, we're probably talking about two different kinds of camping. One that's possible with a bike. And one you'd never take a bike on. I like them both.

And I agree with what fiend138 said...a Therm-a-rest mattress is a great purchase.. We have a couple of different ones we use, depending on the trips needs. Lightweight, easy to pack, small amount of padding to sleep on that can double as a chair...that works even better as an insulation from the cold ground in off weather. Had I not had one on top of Mount Mitchell during the cold weather last year, it would have turned into a pretty dangerous hike.

Here's a link to their mattresses:
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-re...esses/category

Side note: The pic I use in my Avatar is a pic of me on top of Mount Stawamus in Squamish, British Columbia when the wife and I hiked up it a couple years ago. Beautiful indian reservation in Canada. Strongly recommend it for anyone who likes that kind of thing and enjoys a unique climb with a hell of a view on top. Here's a link about the hill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stawamus_Chief

Sorry. I look forard to camping/hiking season just as much as I do riding season. I get a little excited just talking about it and start getting all long winded...lol. We now return to our regular scheduled program. Cheers!

 

You are simply taking way too much stuff dude....

 

Who was that directed to?

 

Here's my set up. Enough stuff packed in there for a week, no food though. I turn the bag around, makes a nice backrest.

 

Yeah the OP just has too much stuff.

I have a Gregory Baltoro 65 pack that I put all of my gear inside.
I can live up to two weeks, longer if I work with the gear a little bit.

For camping for two, the gear load can be distributed down to the essentials for each.

Tent, clothing for climate (i generally bring 3 changes of clothes 2 for layering and 1 to be washed), camp shoes (sandals), camp stove, fuel, food (generally rice and packaged fish or meat), water bottle, water purification tablets, pot, spork, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, 2 flashlights, climbing rope, harness, beiners, a couple anchors, helmet, toiletries, compass, and camera.

What else could you need?

On occasion that I am camping in bear country I carry about 10 rounds, a shotgun and a bear bag for my food.

I always have room to spare, enough for another person if need be. I'd imagine if I was doing a long ride a sissy bar and some bungee cord would be the way to go.

 

Do you wear that pack or strap it to something?

 

Good question!

How about:

Knife, cell phone, GPS & maps, spare eye wear, rain gear, ground cloth, towel, toilet kit + TP, bike cover, 1st-aid kit w/ insect repellent; bike tool/repair kit w/ spare bulbs, fuses, etc...?

Besides a flashlight, I like the miner-style LED headlamp.

A shotgun? On your bike? Really?

 

The only thing that strikes me about this set up (without saddle bags) is the high COG (center of gravity)... which could be troublesome at low speed I think.

 

Been there, and it is!