Note: anything that was sponsored says so
Motorcycle boots I got sponsored with these boots. The pros: they were nice boots, I always felt really safe in them, and they were reasonably comfortable. Cons: God they were so loud, I once went to a border and in broken English the guard told me I could “never be a spy.” They also have a lip on the inside of the boot that more than once got caught on my foot peg, making me almost fall over. Other than that and not being waterproof, they were great. A cheaper option is O'NEAL Element Boots
Motorcycle pants I love these pants so much, they are incredibly comfortable. I think they look cool, or at least not like a billboard and they're very nicely ventilated. I ended up getting rid of my normal pants except for one pair and just wearing these. For most of my trip I had two pairs of pants, these were one of them. With that being said, I was sponsored with these and they are expensive.
Motorcycle Jersey This is a great jersey; it has tougher material on the shoulders and arms which were definitely useful the times I took a spill with it. It's a new product for Mosko so they're still working out some kinks but if you have the money I can recommend it. I was sponsored.
One piece motorcycle suit This is really great for casual commuting or anywhere that it's cold. It has pockets galore and is easy to get in and out of, but I wouldn't recommend it for an RTW. I ended up sending it home while I was in South America. It was really waterproof and I did really like it. I was sponsored.
Motorcycle jacket This is a great jacket and has as many pockets as you could possibly want. It's also very waterproof. I had the light version without armor and it was fantastic. It's a little stiff at first but once you break it in, it's great. Sponsored.
Luggage This is a really great system and you can throw it over pretty much any bike. I chose this one because I didn't have any luggage racks and couldn't be asked to make any. I never had a problem with it and this company is really good at solving problems you didn't even know you had. That said, it is expensive and I did get sponsored. Cons: I had two buckles break while I was traveling. You’re supposed to take the side dry bags in and out of the system easily, but fully-packed, they are not easy to remove, so more often I ended up taking the whole luggage system on and off, which is a pain. However, if I took the trip again, I would still use that system. Even though it can be a pain, it sits closely to the bike, I can moderate the size the way I want, it’s less likely to get caught on things and break off, you don’t have the added weight of a rack, it fits my minimalistic style and suited me for the trip.
Tank bag This tank bag is the s***, I can't recommend it enough. It's super easy to open. I don't think there is anything else like it on the market. This tank bag was the reason I initially reached out to Mosko for sponsorship because after buying it for myself, I loved it.
backpack Great little backpack, also has a 3L water bladder, not a lot of space for anything other than tools but if you're riding all day you don't want that much weight on your back. Other than general wear and tear I never really had any problems with it. 10 out of 10, sponsored
Two socks Before you run away screaming, trust me. There's a reason most motorcyclists know swamp feet are a problem and to have something in between your toes really, really helps. I know it's not normal but I really like these and would recommend them just to try; they won't bite
Under layers These were fantastic. I had the top and bottom and used them all the time. The bottoms are especially nice as you don't have to take your boots off to take them off. I recommend having some sort of light under layer on under your motorcycle gear; if you can get away with merino wool, go for it.
Sleeping bag This bag was recommended to me by a friend and although I spent a lot of money on it, I never regretted it. I always believed in spending as much money as you need to on your sleeping arrangements. Sleep is really important and if there's one place to splurge, it's here.
Sleeping pad You can find these pads for cheaper if you look around and my God they are solid. I've had this one for three years and have used it very heavily and it's just now kicked the bucket, and I really abused it.
inflatable camping pillow It's a good pillow, I used it!
Tent I can't recommend this tent enough. My brother took it to South America on his motorcycle trip, I took it around the world and at least three other people I know who are motorcyclists have it. It's just solid: it's simple, it works.
Helmet I had a few on the trip but I started with this one. The others I got sponsored with and though they were carbon fiber they always seemed to develop problems. This one is simple, it's not too heavy and if you're on a budget, it's perfect. I stand by the modular helmet.
Body armor I got this secondhand and I made it work but it didn't fit. They make better stuff though.
cycle pump I only have experience with this one. I never had any problems with it. It’s a bit big and I'm sure they make smaller ones.
Gloves I love these gloves. I had them pretty much the whole trip and though I wouldn't recommend them for high-speed highway use (there are heavier-duty options), they're great for normal roads or trail rides, super comfy.
MSR WhisperLite Solid stove but it's bulky and is great for remote areas and by remote areas I mean literally only Mongolia; if you're just camping around you don't need this.I recommend any variation of this, the cartridges last a pretty long time and almost every country we went to had them in a major city and they were a lot easier to use and didn't burn everything in your pot!!!
Cooking pots This is pretty much exactly what I had. I would suggest some sort of nesting pot system, you don't need much more than two pots though I would have liked it to be a little wider. The nesting ones are nice because you can put other things inside them.
Utensils The one there is mostly a joke but you could totally use it! I'm sorry to break it to you but you do not need a titanium spoon… the literal weight of a pebble you are saving with it will not affect the suspension of your motorcycle at all, and to be honest, most of us adventure types will probably lose it anyway. You can save the $20 you would spend on it for gas or food or anything else. The only thing you should be spending on utensils is the time it takes you to walk to your silverware drawer and pick up a spoon. With that said, it is very nice to have utensils with long handles, it makes life easier… rant over. Thanks for coming.
LEATHERMAN, Skeletool I recommend a good multi-tool. This is the one I've had and I absolutely love it and pretty much use it everyday, whether that’s on or off the motorcycle. I've managed never to buy one, getting them for Christmas or from friends. If you don't know what Christmas is and you don't have any friends, you can get them used normally for around $40
Camping stool I camped and traveled for years without a camping stool so it isn't essential, but God is it nice. It's one of the few luxury items I took with me and I will never go camping again without one. This is a pretty good example of the one that I took.
Water filter There are plenty of water filters out there, I would only recommend this one if you were doing long-term camping and you know you'll be very remote or you’re going to a country where you can’t drink the tap water; water is pretty easy to find otherwise.
Camping mug The one I had looked like this one but because it wasn't a folding handle the handle did eventually break off. I would recommend having a mug if you're camping long-term as a luxury item, it's just nice having a cup of any kind.
Tire patch kit I can't recommend this one in particular but it seems to have everything that you would need. I recommend having at least a basic one. Most of the time it even fits under the seat of your motorcycle.
Extra gasoline I had this for almost the entire trip and I loved it. You have to be careful when it gets hot because the bag does expand but when you're not using it, which is most of the time, it folds up really neatly. I had the two gallon bag but the one gallon bag would work fine. There are definitely other fuel bags but Giant Loop makes a really good one. I also used the 1L metal MSR bottles but they took up a lot of space when I wasn't using them.
Medkit I never had to use it for anything major but I always recommend having one even if it's pretty small.
Tire spoons I inherited these to avoid the bill, but if you can find a pair used they're really nice, especially for breaking the bead. I always recommend having at least three tire spoons, it'll make your life a lot easier; I had these two and then one very plain one.
Hammock Not exactly a necessity but I did have one that I inherited and I brought on the whole trip, mostly because it could be used as a tarp and a bag, especially at a hostel, I could hang it up and put all of my stuff in it. The times when I would use it for its intended purpose, it would normally be very high up in a tree out of the way, so it does have its place in the sleeping repertoire as well.
Tarp Very useful, I wish I had one from the beginning. Mainly I used it to cover my motorcycle when staying at hostels or as a shelter when camping or for shade in the desert. It's very versatile, light, and squishable.
Tool roll I couldn't find the one that I have now, but this seems like a good one. I recommend building your own tool roll—you know your bike, so you know what you need. That also allows you to only carry the size sprockets and wrenches that you need for your bike.
Congratulations, if you made it this far you're either very thorough, very bored, or it was an accident. All the notes above are my honest opinions. I like all of my sponsors, that's why I asked them to sponsor me, but they're not paying me to say nice things. It just happened to work out that they were nice things, so I say them for free.
Motorcycle boots I got sponsored with these boots. The pros: they were nice boots, I always felt really safe in them, and they were reasonably comfortable. Cons: God they were so loud, I once went to a border and in broken English the guard told me I could “never be a spy.” They also have a lip on the inside of the boot that more than once got caught on my foot peg, making me almost fall over. Other than that and not being waterproof, they were great. A cheaper option is O'NEAL Element Boots
Motorcycle pants I love these pants so much, they are incredibly comfortable. I think they look cool, or at least not like a billboard and they're very nicely ventilated. I ended up getting rid of my normal pants except for one pair and just wearing these. For most of my trip I had two pairs of pants, these were one of them. With that being said, I was sponsored with these and they are expensive.
Motorcycle Jersey This is a great jersey; it has tougher material on the shoulders and arms which were definitely useful the times I took a spill with it. It's a new product for Mosko so they're still working out some kinks but if you have the money I can recommend it. I was sponsored.
One piece motorcycle suit This is really great for casual commuting or anywhere that it's cold. It has pockets galore and is easy to get in and out of, but I wouldn't recommend it for an RTW. I ended up sending it home while I was in South America. It was really waterproof and I did really like it. I was sponsored.
Motorcycle jacket This is a great jacket and has as many pockets as you could possibly want. It's also very waterproof. I had the light version without armor and it was fantastic. It's a little stiff at first but once you break it in, it's great. Sponsored.
Luggage This is a really great system and you can throw it over pretty much any bike. I chose this one because I didn't have any luggage racks and couldn't be asked to make any. I never had a problem with it and this company is really good at solving problems you didn't even know you had. That said, it is expensive and I did get sponsored. Cons: I had two buckles break while I was traveling. You’re supposed to take the side dry bags in and out of the system easily, but fully-packed, they are not easy to remove, so more often I ended up taking the whole luggage system on and off, which is a pain. However, if I took the trip again, I would still use that system. Even though it can be a pain, it sits closely to the bike, I can moderate the size the way I want, it’s less likely to get caught on things and break off, you don’t have the added weight of a rack, it fits my minimalistic style and suited me for the trip.
Tank bag This tank bag is the s***, I can't recommend it enough. It's super easy to open. I don't think there is anything else like it on the market. This tank bag was the reason I initially reached out to Mosko for sponsorship because after buying it for myself, I loved it.
backpack Great little backpack, also has a 3L water bladder, not a lot of space for anything other than tools but if you're riding all day you don't want that much weight on your back. Other than general wear and tear I never really had any problems with it. 10 out of 10, sponsored
Two socks Before you run away screaming, trust me. There's a reason most motorcyclists know swamp feet are a problem and to have something in between your toes really, really helps. I know it's not normal but I really like these and would recommend them just to try; they won't bite
Under layers These were fantastic. I had the top and bottom and used them all the time. The bottoms are especially nice as you don't have to take your boots off to take them off. I recommend having some sort of light under layer on under your motorcycle gear; if you can get away with merino wool, go for it.
Sleeping bag This bag was recommended to me by a friend and although I spent a lot of money on it, I never regretted it. I always believed in spending as much money as you need to on your sleeping arrangements. Sleep is really important and if there's one place to splurge, it's here.
Sleeping pad You can find these pads for cheaper if you look around and my God they are solid. I've had this one for three years and have used it very heavily and it's just now kicked the bucket, and I really abused it.
inflatable camping pillow It's a good pillow, I used it!
Tent I can't recommend this tent enough. My brother took it to South America on his motorcycle trip, I took it around the world and at least three other people I know who are motorcyclists have it. It's just solid: it's simple, it works.
Helmet I had a few on the trip but I started with this one. The others I got sponsored with and though they were carbon fiber they always seemed to develop problems. This one is simple, it's not too heavy and if you're on a budget, it's perfect. I stand by the modular helmet.
Body armor I got this secondhand and I made it work but it didn't fit. They make better stuff though.
cycle pump I only have experience with this one. I never had any problems with it. It’s a bit big and I'm sure they make smaller ones.
Gloves I love these gloves. I had them pretty much the whole trip and though I wouldn't recommend them for high-speed highway use (there are heavier-duty options), they're great for normal roads or trail rides, super comfy.
MSR WhisperLite Solid stove but it's bulky and is great for remote areas and by remote areas I mean literally only Mongolia; if you're just camping around you don't need this.I recommend any variation of this, the cartridges last a pretty long time and almost every country we went to had them in a major city and they were a lot easier to use and didn't burn everything in your pot!!!
Cooking pots This is pretty much exactly what I had. I would suggest some sort of nesting pot system, you don't need much more than two pots though I would have liked it to be a little wider. The nesting ones are nice because you can put other things inside them.
Utensils The one there is mostly a joke but you could totally use it! I'm sorry to break it to you but you do not need a titanium spoon… the literal weight of a pebble you are saving with it will not affect the suspension of your motorcycle at all, and to be honest, most of us adventure types will probably lose it anyway. You can save the $20 you would spend on it for gas or food or anything else. The only thing you should be spending on utensils is the time it takes you to walk to your silverware drawer and pick up a spoon. With that said, it is very nice to have utensils with long handles, it makes life easier… rant over. Thanks for coming.
LEATHERMAN, Skeletool I recommend a good multi-tool. This is the one I've had and I absolutely love it and pretty much use it everyday, whether that’s on or off the motorcycle. I've managed never to buy one, getting them for Christmas or from friends. If you don't know what Christmas is and you don't have any friends, you can get them used normally for around $40
Camping stool I camped and traveled for years without a camping stool so it isn't essential, but God is it nice. It's one of the few luxury items I took with me and I will never go camping again without one. This is a pretty good example of the one that I took.
Water filter There are plenty of water filters out there, I would only recommend this one if you were doing long-term camping and you know you'll be very remote or you’re going to a country where you can’t drink the tap water; water is pretty easy to find otherwise.
Camping mug The one I had looked like this one but because it wasn't a folding handle the handle did eventually break off. I would recommend having a mug if you're camping long-term as a luxury item, it's just nice having a cup of any kind.
Tire patch kit I can't recommend this one in particular but it seems to have everything that you would need. I recommend having at least a basic one. Most of the time it even fits under the seat of your motorcycle.
Extra gasoline I had this for almost the entire trip and I loved it. You have to be careful when it gets hot because the bag does expand but when you're not using it, which is most of the time, it folds up really neatly. I had the two gallon bag but the one gallon bag would work fine. There are definitely other fuel bags but Giant Loop makes a really good one. I also used the 1L metal MSR bottles but they took up a lot of space when I wasn't using them.
Medkit I never had to use it for anything major but I always recommend having one even if it's pretty small.
Tire spoons I inherited these to avoid the bill, but if you can find a pair used they're really nice, especially for breaking the bead. I always recommend having at least three tire spoons, it'll make your life a lot easier; I had these two and then one very plain one.
Hammock Not exactly a necessity but I did have one that I inherited and I brought on the whole trip, mostly because it could be used as a tarp and a bag, especially at a hostel, I could hang it up and put all of my stuff in it. The times when I would use it for its intended purpose, it would normally be very high up in a tree out of the way, so it does have its place in the sleeping repertoire as well.
Tarp Very useful, I wish I had one from the beginning. Mainly I used it to cover my motorcycle when staying at hostels or as a shelter when camping or for shade in the desert. It's very versatile, light, and squishable.
Tool roll I couldn't find the one that I have now, but this seems like a good one. I recommend building your own tool roll—you know your bike, so you know what you need. That also allows you to only carry the size sprockets and wrenches that you need for your bike.
Congratulations, if you made it this far you're either very thorough, very bored, or it was an accident. All the notes above are my honest opinions. I like all of my sponsors, that's why I asked them to sponsor me, but they're not paying me to say nice things. It just happened to work out that they were nice things, so I say them for free.
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