What is Reddit's opinion of Tender Ben's 0006-7081 100% DEET Mosquito, Tick and Insect Repellent, 3.4 Ounce Pump?

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Definitely agree. I've traveled everywhere with this, including staying in remote areas of the Amazon and it's been a great lifesaver.

SO! I've done I guess 5 total months over a few trips with this gear, and I'm pretty happy with it all. Here's how I pack.

REI's stuff has served me well for a few months on the road at a time. In particular, their Polar Pod sleeping bag has been cozy in shorts and t-shirt to the 40s. I don't think they sell it anymore, but whatever replaced it should be fine. I sprung for the name-brand Thermarest ProLite, and it works great. Just wide enough, just long enough, and packs down well. I sleep in an ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 tent. It's big enough for two people and their gear, so if you're willing to double up with a buddy.

I pack the sleeping bag and a week's worth of clothes into (separate) Sea-To-Summit eVent compression dry bags (medium). They're absolutely bulletproof and I love them.

All of this (including the tent, in its original bag) packs down into the main compartment of a North Face Base Camp duffel bag (large) that gets cam-buckle strapped (two straps!) to the top of my V-Strom. The bag isn't properly waterproof, but I've ridden it through a day of steady rain that culminated in literally blinding rain, and finally forced us off the road. The bag only let a few drops of water in through the zipper. There's room to spare, so I also carry a hatchet, shock cord, bottle of whisky, fire starters, a ziplock of laundry pods, etc. etc. in the spaces between. Also an extra pair of shoes at the end, for going into town etc. Also flipflops for showers.

This leaves room in the Wolfman Expedition side bags for a Jetboil Sumo, the rest of the camp kitchen, about a week of food, and some assorted other stuff — like an REI Flexlite camp chair, which has been really invaluable. Rocks and logs are hard and offer no back support, and that matters a lot around day 3-5. Also chain lube and cleaner.

I have an older design of the Wolfman Rainier tank bag that carries all the stuff I might through various stops — the first aid kit (I put my own together), a Luci solar powered inflatable lamp (seriously, buy this), some no-shit 100 DEET Bug Spray (even works on Maritime Canada levels of bugs!), a bag of 80 disposable ear plugs (seriously cuts fatigue, and there's enough of them that you can use a new pair every day), wet wipes, sunscreen, ibuprofen, and a super cheap battery pack for the cell phone that I got from Target.

I keep thinking that I want to carry my Osprey Stratos 34 with 3 liters of water in it. With the exception of one day, when the heat index was 125F and constant hydration was essential, I keep being wrong about this. It's just too damn bulky and awkward. I keep stuffing it in the duffel. (Yes, with all the other stuff. It's a good bag.) Maybe get a camelbak or similar though, because I always miss the constant hydration (just not the back pain).

Here's a photo. And here's how it all looks on the bike.

This is all pretty heavy if you're going to be doing anything more intense than fire roads, but anything up to that and I've been fine. Just throttle up and keep your momentum going and it's fine. You can cut weight largely in the pans and the food, if you can stop every 2-3 days for food instead of once a week.

EDIT: Camp towel. I forget which brand I have, but this one should work okay. The medium is fine. Also I have a Petzl headlamp that lives in the Rainier bag.