I was asked for a list of equipment I took on the trip to Alaska. Here’s a list of the more important items.

Protective Clothing

Good outer wear is important for keeping you warm and dry. The safety factor goes down dramatically the colder and wetter you are.

• Full-Face or Modular helmet – These styles will keep you warm and dry. Partial helmets are not enough.
• Waterproof boots – You must keep your feet warm
• Gortex rain gloves
• Gortex rain jacket
• Gortex rain pants
• Gaiters
• Evaporative cooling vest – For hot, dry days on the way to the border

Rain gear has to be the highest quality. Gortex breathes so you can wear it after it stops raining and not feel sweaty or hot. Gaiters can be worn when traveling over gravel to keep the mud off your boots.

• Kevlar blue jeans with knee pads – protect your legs in a spill. Can be worn on warmer days.
• Aerostich Darien pants  – These are all-weather Gortex lined ballistic over pants. You can ride in them all day rain or shine. If you have these you don’t need separate rain pants.
• Summer-weight gloves – for warmer days.
• Olympia mesh jacket with windproof and warm liners.
• Gerbing heated jacket with controller.

 

For The Bike

• Air Hawk seat cushion
• Dynojet Tire pump – I found the pressure in my front tire dropped 3-4 lbs every few days. Also, I used it to reinflate my rear tire after deflating it for the Dalton Highway.
• Harley Air Pump for the rear shocks.
• Half cover – The half cover kept the seat and controls dry overnight and made packing up easier.
• Reda 1-gallon gas can – fits the Harley saddlebag. Available in various sizes for other bikes.
• Oil filters and funnel – I bought oil locally and changed it myself. I bought an oil pan at Autozone.
• Tools – Sockets, Allen wrenches, screwdriver, wrench, pliers, torx bits, fuses, wire cutters, etc.
• Spare security fob and battery, spare keys.
• Rapid Transit tank bag

 

Camping

• Tent (including foot print, poles, stakes, fly, and storage bag)
• Air mattress
• Down sleeping bag
• Compressible pillow
• Small LED lantern
• Small LED flashlight
• Jetboil – Isobutane burner and pot
• Rain fly and poles (did not use)
• 55L and 20L Seal bags – Waterproof bags for camping equipment
• Bungee net and bungee cords for securing Seal bags
• Mosquito repellant

 

Electronics

• 4 – USB outlets on the bike for charging electronics and batteries
• Garmin GPS
• InReach Satellite tracking device
• Smartphone
• Laptop
• Camera
• Cord and power supplies for all electronics
• Triple socket for hotels that have only one outlet available

 

Personal Clothing

Leave all cotton shirts and underwear at home. Synthetic performance wear packs smaller and disperses moisture better than cotton, which retains moisture.

• Long sleeve shirts
• Short sleeve shirts
• Under shorts
• Socks
• 1 – Casual wash pants
• 1 – Casual shirt
• Sneakers
• Pajamas
• Flip Flops
• Toiletries

It’s essential to pack light and take only what is needed. Don’t pack things high on the bike as that creates a sail to catch the wind. If riding 2-up, it’s probably best to pull a trailer.

Do as much routine maintenance on the bike before leaving and start with fresh tires.