Hiking and motorcycle travel hacks

Astonishingly, many of the lessons we’ve picked up while hiking translate perfectly to motorbike travel—and vice versa! To help you on your journey, we’re happy to share some of the insights we’ve gathered along the way. Do you have your own road-tested tips or stories that are still missing here? We’d love to hear them!

Merino wool

When travelling for longer periods of time, merino wool is a life saver! I’m not just talking about those cosy leggings to keep you warm or those long-sleeved winter tops, although they make the world a much better place. I’m just as much talking about merino underwear and those snug merino woolen socks. Why do these simple pieces of clothing make such a difference? Let’s start with a quick rundown of merino wool’s key benefits:

  • Temperature management: Merino wool will keep you warm during those colder days, but will just as much keep you cool during hot weather. As such, it is perfectly usable throughout many different climat conditions.
  • Moisture-Wicking: It effectively moves moisture away from your skin, keeping you as dry as it can, even during those rainy or sweaty days. To make it even more perfect, it keeps on insulating when not completely soaked.
  • Quick drying: With quick, I mean properly fast! You wash it and, depending on the fabric thickness and the general air dampness, it will be dry in a few hours time.
  • Less stinky: Merino wool has natural antimicrobial properties, which prevent the buildup of those less savory smells that may appear after a few days/weeks of being on the road. The consequence? You can wear merino clothing for longer periods without people smelling your arrival.
  • Soft and comfy: An aspect that can’t be underestimated when travelling in different climate conditions! Traditional wool tends to have a prickly effect on the skin, but merino wool is much finer, making it nice and cosy instead of itchy. It’s cosy, soft and comfortable, even when worn directly on the skin.
  • Lightweight and packable: Despite its warm, soft and less stinky properties, merino wool is lightweight and easy to fit in your luggage.

Now, on to why I love my merino woolen clothing so much! Don’t expect any professionalism here, but just the truth behind my merino devotion.

  • I simply love that I am able to wash my merino woolen strings in the evening, hang them in our tent and have fresh underwear by morning. That way I never run out of clean underwear! Honestly, I can no longer count the number of times that Jonas has been incredibly jealous of me!
  • The socks! Don’t get me started! If there is something in life I can no longer live without, apart from my beautiful husband of course, are my cuddly merino woolen socks. They keep my feet dry, toasty and blister free. For years I’ve worn my merino woolen socks, be it during weeks of hiking across the soggy Scottish Highlands, cold winter motorcycle rides or sweaty Greek summer days. They’ve always done exactly what I needed, all the time, every time. To make life even better, you can wear them days on end and they will only start to mildly stink. What more can you ask for in life?
  • Goodbye stinky armpits! When you have to pack 4-seasons of clothing onto one tiny Honda CRF250L or carry your clothing for a multi-week hike, there isn’t much you can take along. Luckily, with these merino woolen tops, you dont need that many either. A merino woolen t-shirt here and a long-sleeved top there get you all the way! You will need to wash it once in a while, but because it dries so quickly, that doesn’t pose much of an issue. Even in the misty Scottish weather conditions or the Patagonian rain, I have always managed to somehow dry my clothing. Something that isn’t as obvious for normal cotton clothing.
  • The downside to all this love? You need to be a millionair to dress yourself in merino woolen clothing from top to bottom. So, choose your pieces wisely! My top tip: wait for sales, forage through the second hand stores in New-Zealand and buy the less important pieces in the Decathlon. For critical items like long-sleeved tops, warm socks and leggings, high-quality brands like SmartWool or Icebreaker are more than worth the investment (when in sale), but the budget options are perfect for less essential items like t-shirts and underwear. Keep in mind that these pieces will serve you for years on end.

Plastic Bag Washing Machine

When you’re on the road for a long time, you won’t have the luxury of packing a lot of clothes. Being able to wash them yourself not only saves money, but also ensures you always have clean underwear and aren’t, well, announcing your arrival by smell. We’ve tried all kinds of clothes-washing methods, from using sinks, rinsed-out trash cans, to big salad bowls, but the most efficient solution by far has been… a big uncoloured plastic bag. Why uncoloured? Well, sadly we had to learn the hard way that otherwise the colours might wash onto your deeply loved pieces of clothing.

Here’s how it works. With just a few simple steps, a plastic bag can be used as a basic washing machine:

  • Step 1 – Rinse the dirt out: Place your dirty clothes in a large plastic bag and add warm water. Swish the clothes around or do a little dance with the bag to loosen the dirt. Once that’s done, pour out the water into a sink, shower, or bathtub.
  • Step 2 – Add Detergent: Add some washing powder to the bag, preferably with a nice scent. The latter is not essential, but when you’re outdoors for days on end, you’ll appreciate it later. Toss your clothes back in with fresh warm water, tie the bag shut, and let them soak for a few hours, or even overnight. For better results, give the bag a shake every now and then, mimicking the tumbling action of a washing machine
  • Step 3 – Rinse thoroughly: Empty the soapy water and rinse the clothes by either repeating the first step or rinsing each piece individually until the soap is completely gone.

Once you’re done, hang everything up to dry. With just a plastic bag, you’ll have fresh, clean, and great-smelling clothes. Just one note: if you soak your clothes overnight, make sure not to forget about them for days on end! You don’t want to stumble on a bag of moldy clothes a few days later!

Wet Wipes

Ahhh, the sacred wet wipe! Never underestimate the simple joy of having wet wipes on hand. Whether you’re caught in the rain in Patagonia, enduring a cold winter camping trip in the Netherlands, or muddied from a stumble in the Scottish Highlands, wet wipes are your go-to for feeling human again.

Whether you would like to wash your determined lady parts, your strong-willed manly area, your armpits or just to whipe the sweat and dirt from your face, wet wipes will have your back. Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing how much better they make you feel after a long, dusty day on the road.

All you need to do is toss a pack into your bag and keep them handy in your tent with your sleeping gear. They’re perfect for a quick wash before bed. Just remember: wet wipes are not biodegradable. Be responsible and carry them with you until you find a proper bin. It’s up to all of us to take care of the natural beauty that remains.