How do you pack for Sturgis?
6th Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: full time rv'er
packing
Agree with MNPGRider. I tent camp with six other riders. Our annual trip takes roughly 2 weeks. We average around 3200 miles each trip. This year will be around 4400 miles from the Bay area to Vancouver Island, Ca to mainland Canada and drop down through the Dakotas to Sturgis. My wife packs 14 days worth of clothes for me as follows; 14 Zip lock bags each with a small bar of soap, 1/2 of an old towel, wash cloth, small hotel size shampoo, underware, long t-shirt, socks. Each morning I toss the towel, soap, wash cloth, underware and sometimes shampoo. This stuff fits in the saddlebags. The dirty clothes are put back in the Zip lock and returned to the saddlebag upside down so as not to confuse them with clean ones. Inside the tour pack are my shaving kit, 3/8 drive socket set, extra pair of Levis, sweat shirt, gloves, long underware, scarf, fabric face mask, air mattress, beanie, hats, flashlights and some other tools. Outside are the sleeping bag, tent, chair, bike cover, 1 fire log (mandatory), and really handy to get at, the rainsuit!. The pods and windshield pouches have tele charger, sun screen, bug spray, extra sun glasses, windshield wash, kleenex, camera with extra batteries and charger. Gees!! I am Walmart!!
Enzo
Enzo
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,808
Likes: 285
From: Green Country Oklahoma
If you staying in hotels all you need is toiletry and 3 days change of clothes, that's what I'm packing for my Sturgis trip no extra jeans but comfortable shoes and do laundry at the hotel.Depending on weather forecast may be some warm clothes but no doubt must pack rain gear, have it don't need it lot better then not having it. As for tools I only carry the tool kit came with the bike, but I always carry a very compact air compressor and can of fix flat in my saddlebag.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Bella Vista Ar.
I have roll plastic bags I got from spacebag.com, they have a one way valve that lets the air out as you roll the up. They are less than half the size rolled up. I have synthetic underwear that washes out in the sink and dries in 2 hours. I have a jacket/boots that are waterproof. I only need waterproof pants for rain storms. I get everything in my saddlebags (street glide), I have a toolkit and tire plug kit and still have plenty of room.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 9
From: Queen Creek, AZ
Jeans get better and more comfortable the more you wear them....I yell at my wife every time she washes them. Lol
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
I use the same stuff for backpacking as I do for a MC Trip. I pack two days worth of clothes and I use backpacking cloths because they are very comfortable, wash easy and dry fast. The real secret is that less is more. The less you have to pack and unpack the more fun you'll have.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 3
From: Plano, TX
Ship the camping gear ahead of time, then there is plenty of room for personal items and clothes.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
All ideas mentioned here have good merits. Synthetic underwear does not work with me, I will chafe. That just me everyone is different. I would pay attention to the weather along your route and find out what it is doing. Right know in the midwest it is roasting outside. High 90's for a temp and humidity in the high 70's or 80's, that brings in the heat index to around 110 to 115 degrees. That combo also means instant thunderstorms can spring up anywhere they want to. You also will need lip balm and sun screen, this sun is brutal right now. What you forget to pack buy along the way. Pack light, pack prepared and enjoy the trip.
