What

What exactly do you pack when you intend to travel overland for more than a few weeks or months? I guess no matter how many times you do this, something you need is left behind and something you don’t is in your pocket.

We made a pack list, looked at the pack lists of others, added some gear that looked nice in the shop and hoped it would all cram into our bags. If nothing else, in the coming months, we’ll get a laugh out of the junk we’ve carefully packed, repacked and never used.

Of course, since we leave in 2 weeks, we have at least checked that this will fit into our luggage. What do you take us for? Idiots? Of course we have.. yes, of course.. honest.

Camping Gear

Tent
Groundsheet
Basha (to give us some covered space outside the tent, click here to see it)
Camp chairs
Sleeping mats
Sleeping bags
Sleeping bag liners (can use as a thin sleeping bag when it’s hot)
Camp light
Head torches
Tent fan
Washing line
Laundry soap
Laundry bag
Mosquito burning coils
Mosquito head nets
Leatherman multitool
Carrier bags (handy for rubbish, etc.)
Pacsafes (might keep the gear safe, might just be extra weight )
Sleeping mat repair kit
Spare ten guy line & runners
Mosquito net & bed bug covers (for hotel, hostel, hovel stops)

Kitchen Stuff

Multi-fuel stove
Stove fuel bottle
Stove maintenance kit
Survival fire lighter
Water filter
Water purification tablets
Pans
Plates
Mugs
Cutlery
Chopping board
Utensils (spatula, strainer, etc)
Serrated knife
Knife sharpener
Cooking oil
Salt, pepper & spices
Tea & coffee
Fold-up bowl (also good for clothes washing)
Pan scrubbers
Washing-up liquid

Bathroom

Wash bag
Face cloth
Travel towels
Soap
Shampoo
Deoderant
Razors
Hair brush
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Cotton wool
Tissues
Toilet paper
Tweezers
Wet wipes
Moisturiser
Universal sink plug (for hotel, hostel, hovel stays)

Clothing

Helmets
Goggles
Riding boots
Riding gloves (few different pairs)
Riding jackets
Riding trousers
Buffs (a face mask/neck tube thing, handy for cool weather or dust)
Fleeces
Kidney belt (for long days over the rough stuff)
Knee guards
Trousers/Shorts
Long sleeved shirts/tops
T-Shirts
Socks
Undies
Thermal underwear/base layer
Water proof over jacket
Water proof over trousers
Sunglasses
Swimwear
Flip flops
Belt
Compression bags for fleeces
Spare lenses for goggles

Fun & Games

Books
Travel games & deck of cards
Hacky sacks/juggling balls
Binoculars
MP3 player (also for digital picture storage)
Radio
Digital cameras
Spare memory cards
Camera tripod
Mobile phones
Rechargeable batteries
Battery chargers

Bike spares

Fuses
Air filter
Air filter oil
Front brake lever
Clutch lever
Inner tubes
Rim tapes
Spokes
Chain links & split links
Chain lube
Engine oil – 1 litre for top ups
Oil drain plug/bolt & washers
Oil filters
Spark plugs
Gasket set
Petrol pipe
Throttle & clutch cables
Speedo cable
Wheel bearings
Brake pads
Bulbs
Bike keys & lock keys
Various nuts, bolts, washers, split pins, etc.

Tools

Ratchets & sockets/spanners
Various bits – flat head, phillips/cross head, allen/hex
Spark plug spanner
Chain splitter
Mole grips (Vise grips)
G Clamp
Mini hacksaw & blades
Feeler guages
Multimeter
Tyre levers
Tyre valve tool
Pump
CO2 cannisters & inflater
Spoke key
Tyre pressure gauge

Bike fixing stuff

Araldite (epoxy resin)
Plastic metal
Gasket sealant
Bars Stop Leak (fixes leaky radiators)
Loctite (thread lock)
WD-40
Grease
Cable ties
Gaffer tape (duck/duct tape)
Electrical insulation tape
Jubilee clips
Rags
Rubber bands
Rubber gloves
Small funnel
Puncture repair kit
Wire (for electrical bodge/fix jobs)

Paperwork & red tape…

Passports
Driving licences
International Driving Permit
Vaccination certificates
Carnet de passage en douane (Like a passport for your bike)
Bike registration docs
International Certificate of Motor Vehicles (A multi-lingual registration doc)
Bike manual
Credit cards
Travel insurance
Journal
Address book
Notepad
Pens, markers, etc.
Photocopies of all documentation
(Copies of all documentation scanned and left with friends & family)

Pills, powders, potions & first aid

Anti-malarial drugs
Insect repellant
Sunblock
Lip balm
Pain killers
Antibiotics
Rehydration salts
Antiseptic cream & lotion
Calamine cream
Athletes foot powder
Clove oil & temporary filling (Hey, I’m a dentist!)
Iodine
Sterile kit (syringes, needles, IV kit)
Bandages
Plasters
Dressings
Thermometer
Drugs for bowel control (to stop and start it!)

Miscellaneous

2 x 3 litre Camelbak
Collapsible water carriers (upto 18 litres in total)
Luggage straps
Bungee straps
Rope
Carabiners
Tiedown straps
Map case
Document wallets (for all the bloody paperwork)
Day pack
Bike locks
2 x 5 litre jerry can
Money belts
SAS Survival book
Sewing kit
Plastic ziplock bags
Ear plugs

When we have packed all this onto the bikes, I will take a picture and post it here.. and we can all laugh heartily.

Dan (you can never have too many lists)