Originally Posted by Rowan

I spent three months or so on the road, doing a significant amount of free-camping five years ago. I used a Trangia system to cook, and the two pots were stainless or stainless-lined.

I didn't have a basin to wash up, but got by well using fascial tissues to wipe out the pots. The important thing is to eat the meal from the bowl. Scrape the last bits out with with fork/spoon.

Then I would use a dash of water, for stuff that stuck, I used finger and thumbnails to scrape it off, and then I would use whatever number of tissues was needed to clean out the pot and polish it. The tissues, which compact right down to a small volume, went into a Ziploc plastic bag for later disposal in a garbage tin.

I didn't fry very often because it does present some issues with fats and oils.

Hygiene can be overrated. You are going to get dirt under your fingernails, indeed all over your hands. And you are going to be cooking/eating in places that aren't squeaky clean. Once you accept that there will be days when you won't wash or shower, you'll be happier. You might help that happiness, however, but including a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

By the way, I wonder about shampoo. I used to use it, but I still lost a fair percentage of my hair, so I just use body soap anyway. I haven't lost any more hair as a result. So, save some volume, and just take the soap. I am presuming you are going to use that to shave with, too.

Valygrl has a very pertinent point about the clothing. Wool and polypro, for me, are the ideal fabrics for keeping warm and dry-ish. Heed her advice on substantial cutlery. I have a small set of stainless steel knife, fork and spoon. Don't underestimate the disappointment of breaking a succession of plastic supermarket forks and knives in one sitting of a meal. You won't use them again...

If you think pyjamas are nice to sleep in, then why not? But most people I know sleep in A T-shirt of synthetic material, and their jocks, or... shock-horror, nothing at all!! Remember, if it gets really cold, you will be wearing just about everything in your kit.

One thing that Machka really likes on tour is a sarong, and while I haven't gone so far as to wear one myself I have worn a kilt,though), they obviously suit other guys I have seen, and impress me as being practical -- lightweight, easy to wear, allow air circulation to the crotch, and are a great talking point. It might offend your manliness, although there are millions of Asian guys who think otherwise.

Finally, the big issue for me is not so much weight, but volume. Choosing lightweight fabrics such as microfibre reduced not only weight, but also volume. The balancing act is in things like soap -- those tiny tablets from the motels really are useless, and you are better going to the bigger volume of a bar.

I try to get my touring kit down to two large panniers on the rear, the tent on top of the rear rack, and a handlebar bag. I've done two European tours and various other shorter ones with it. It includes three changes of riding clothes, casual gear, cooking gear, bedding, toiletries and repair stuff.