Space is the one thing you don't have much of on a long trip, so anything you pack needs to genuinely earn its place. Recovery gear is no exception — it's easy to overpack for a "just in case" version of your trip that never actually happens. Here's what we'd prioritise if we were doing the big lap ourselves.

The non-negotiable: something for cold therapy

A portable ice bath is the easiest recovery win to pack, because it asks so little in return. The Optimal Pod weighs 3.8kg, packs flat, and needs nothing but cold water and a bag of ice to work — no power, no chiller, no permanent setup. If you only pack one piece of recovery gear for the trip, this is the one that works everywhere, powered site or not.

The upgrade: heat therapy for the powered legs of the trip

If your route has regular powered stops — caravan parks, cabins, cabins with mates along the way — the Optimal Steam Room earns its space too. It's the tool for the deep, physical tightness that builds after long tow days, in a way a quick cold plunge doesn't fully address. Because it needs a 240V point, it's more of a "when we're powered" addition rather than an everywhere tool, which is worth factoring into how much of the trip you'll realistically get to use it.

How they work together

Most people on long trips end up using cold therapy as the everyday tool — quick, low-commitment, works anywhere — and heat therapy as the deeper reset on the days they're plugged in. Neither replaces the other; they're solving different problems, and packing both covers you whether you're free camping or parked up at a powered site for a few nights.

The honest take

If budget or space means picking one, start with the ice bath — it's the lower-commitment, works-anywhere option. Add the steam room later if you find you're regularly at powered sites and want the deeper recovery on top.