How to pack for a trip around the world

Austin and his buddies were the first to conquer Siberia’s Road of Bones on Mondo Enduro in ’95, the Zilov Gap in ‘01 and Mauritania on Mondo Sahara in 2013. Austin now runs the world’s only Adventure Travel Film Festival. Here’s Austin’s words of wisdom on packing for your own big trip...

Less is more. Repeat it a thousand times and if you’re anything like me, you’ll still need to take note. Unless you are highly unusual, quitting work, borrowing a few grand and hitting the road for six months should be the most exciting and rewarding thing that ever happens to you.

Search the blogs and forums high and low, you won’t find a soul who reports that they regretted it and wished they’d stayed in the office for that half-year! Yup, it will change your life. So what can we learn from the people who have big trips behind them? You guessed it, less is more. The best part of jacking it all in and riding off into the sunset is leaving all the clutter behind. Can you see where this is going? In our work-aday lives there’s no need to ‘get off the grid’ and downscale. However when you’re on a long bike trip, and this much I know, the intoxicating exhilaration of freedom comes in part from not being weighed down by possessions.

We’re so desperate to own ‘stuff’ that the stuff just ends up owning us. So be brave and find it in you to leave it all behind. I beg you, don’t make a list of all the things you might need and then buy enough luggage to carry it all. This way madness lies. Instead, a great mantra is to try to imagine what gear you’ll need every day, and then go ahead, definitely take that with you. Bike, pen-knife, sleeping gear, wash-bag, tarp, Motion Pro Trail tool should about cover it. I’ve never done this but my target is as follows: To leave with only the aforementioned and then only actually buy something extra if I needed it twice within any seven-day period. Less is more. 

Austin and seven of the world’s most influential motorcycle explorers will be appearing at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show on February 12-14. From Sportsbike Adventurer Sjaak Lucassen to the Harley hardtail- riding Gareth Jones, the seasoned adventurers will be interviewed on stage, sharing stories, displaying their trusty steeds and giving out advice to budding travellers. To find out more about the show and to book your ticket, click here.