Hotels are expensive here, typically around $130. I'm thinking about getting a light tent and sleeping bag, maybe an inflatable matress - roughing it some nights to stretch the budget. Priorities are price, weight, comfort - in that order.
Tell me about your experiences and mention good online shops, please [thumbsup]
For a sleeping bag: go to your nearest sports shop and pick up a Haglofs bag like this one:
ZLUMBER PERFORMANCE 5
(http://www.haglofs.se/resurs/ImgWriter.asp?BildTyp=PRDM&ID=2326&BildStrl=250)
Light, packs small, and is good for all temps (except winter). I prefer sythetic insulation over down because it still insulates when wet. I purchased the older verson of this bag when I lived in Copenhagen, and have used it for the past 9 years with NO issues at all.
Some great mail order companies for camping equipement that I use regularly are:
Campmor (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Home_)
Sierra Trading Post (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Outdoor-Gear-and-Outerwear.html)
EMS (http://www.ems.com/) (Eastern Mountain Sports)
Mountain Equipement Co-op (http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp;jsessionid=1ZLJJybRh0xJV5t5Jr1V1GFtJM1QRzfNy95GKGDKWQ5y3Yj4hcTr!-303982842?bmForm=splash&bmFormID=1232214801187&bmSubmit=english&bmUID=1232214801187)
All of the companys except the last are based in the US, MEC is a Canadian company. I know LL Bean ships overseas, but not sure about the others. It maybe cheaper to ship to a US address and then have it posted to you as a "gift" to avoid any sort of duty.
REI (http://www.rei.com/)
Aerostich (http://www.aerostich.com/) as well
Make sure you invest in a Dry compression sack.....can be had for under $30. Pack your clothes, sleeping bag, and tent. They have waterproof and water resistant which is all you need(tested 500mi in a down pour personally). The water resistant bags will compress your gear down to 30% of its original size. I also strap a blow up sleeping pad...hatchet and tent poles to the rear grab handles. I have a pic that I will post. I have done 2,500 mi with this setup...and 500 of that with a passenger. Worked like a champ.
Bungees are your friend...go high quality nylon covered not all rubber. Again quality is important!
That and pack a camp stove like this for under $100:
(http://www.snowpeak.com/images/back_products/stoves/GST-100.jpg)
.....cook ware like this....
(http://www.snowpeak.com/images/back_products/cooking%20gear/trek900.jpg)
.....it all packs down to 6in high x 6in in dia....
(http://www.snowpeak.com/images/back_products/cooking%20gear/trekbag.jpg)
....and nothing will limit how far/long you can go except your weather tolerances 8)
Thank you all for helping [thumbsup]
I think I found the right tent, intended for bicycles. It has 15" pole parts, weighs in at 5 lbs. My heavy and bulky rain combo takes up most of my tank bag - it's going to be replaced anyhow. With that new space I'll be able to fit the tent in my tail bag. The sleeping pad was what troubled me the most, but of course - it fits fine on the left side. Maybe I'll put that and the sleeping bag in a dry pack and strap it to the grab bar and/or passenger foot peg hanger?
Ooooh - I look forward to this already. So far my rides have been daytrips. I see myself doing 3-400 miles from home now - doubles my range [moto]
Quote from: stopintime on January 17, 2009, 05:39:06 AM
Hotels are expensive here, typically around $130. I'm thinking about getting a light tent and sleeping bag, maybe an inflatable matress - roughing it some nights to stretch the budget. Priorities are price, weight, comfort - in that order.
Tell me about your experiences and mention good online shops, please [thumbsup]
My 2 favorites..
www.sierratradingpost.com/ (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/)
www.campmor.com (http://www.campmor.com)
I'm lucky enough to live right down the road from the L.L. Bean (http://www.llbean.com/) flagship store. While many of their offerings are somewhat overpriced, their house-branded gear is usually top-notch and a great bargain.
When I went to Nova Scotia, I took a very small tent (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=53422&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr) and a stuff-sacked sleeping bag (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=48807&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&feat=48813-ppxs&dds=y) and some clothes in one of their backpacks. (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=60398&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr)
1700 miles in 4 days. Never had a problem with any of their gear.
Here is a pic with the monster loaded to the hilt after a quick stop at the store to buy groceries for the campsite....
(http://images2c.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp53659%3Enu%3D3386%3E5%3B9%3E668%3EWSNRCG%3D3239%3A5659%3A84%3Anu0mrj)
....if you look closely you can see the sausages i mean [bacon]
Thots naught ah knife..... thes isa Knife! 8)
(http://images2c.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp53658%3Enu%3D3386%3E5%3B9%3E668%3EWSNRCG%3D3239%3A5659%3A83%3Bnu0mrj)
You might go lurk on ADVrider, or even set up an account and ask those guys/gals. They should have some good thoughts on what's good gear for motorcycle packin.
Quote from: yuu on January 19, 2009, 07:39:53 AM
You might go lurk on ADVrider, or even set up an account and ask those guys/gals. They should have some good thoughts on what's good gear for motorcycle packin.
+1
They've also got some pretty good stories.
Little late to this thread, but I camp on the motorcycle when I travel.
I have a cheap tent from Target. It is nice at motorcycle events, where it might get tripped over, spilled on, etc, I don't worry about it.
When I camp in the woods, then I bring a more expensive tent.
mitt
Quote from: somegirl on January 17, 2009, 07:36:48 PM
REI (http://www.rei.com/)
+1 on REI.com. I bought all my backpacking gears from REI and they offer a large variety of different type of tents/gears for different needs. You might want to explore camping gears designed for cycling - light weight, packable, and room for 1 or 2.
Thank you all, it is great fun to check out the suggestions and read the advice [thumbsup]
At the moment these are my favourites, but if you have concerns, please comment......
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28103 (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28103)
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___24004 (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___24004)
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Category___200304169__242 (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Category___200304169__242)
My favourite sleeping pad was the 3.5 inches inflatable from REI, but today it's suddenly unavailable [bang]
Suggestions on a soft pad anyone? I would think that the usual 1 - 1.5 inches doesn't offer much comfort......
Quote from: mitt on January 20, 2009, 07:58:42 PM
Little late to this thread,
...............................
mitt
Not to worry - there is still time to contribute [laugh]
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/sn.jpg)
Comments: (Opinion based on over 500 miles of backpacking and 5,000 miles of moto camping)
Tent: Looks good. My only reservation is the fiberglass poles. I have found they break more easily than aluminum poles bend. YMMV. You could also upgrade the poles at a later date.
Sleeping bag: IMHO, this is the place not go cheap. If water happens to get in your tent, it is your only protection against the elements. I would suggest this bag (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___47786). It is good compromise between price and quality, it is also Tall (extra long) for you vertically gifted people. ;) B has the regular size of this bag, and he loves it. It packs small too.
Dry sacks: You can never have enough. Their only drawback is the lack of exterior loops to use when tying down. B and I have the Sea to Summit ones and love them. We use a garbage bag inside the sleeping bag stuff sack to keep the bag dry. It is easier than trying to stuff the sleeping bag into a dry sack.
B and I have the 3.5 inch mattress your looking for and it is great. We tried to get through REI, but couldn't. I'll do some digging, and see if I can locate where we got them from.
Hope all this helps.
Diva:
I was probably lucky, got my hands on a heavily discounted REI mattress 3.5 inches, at $35. They were out of stock this morning, but an order of 5 was cancelled today and I got one of those. So, then that's taken care of. Thanks for offering to help out [thumbsup]
The tent on my list is offered with fibre OR alu poles (more expensive). I think I decided on the fibre poles for price and the fact (?) that they are shorter in the pack. I might be wrong on the length issue though. I will think about your advice about strength and check the pack size measurements.
"Your" bag looks good too, might reconsider.....
Look like good choices all but if I might I'd like to make some suggestions since I've found that camping while on a bike is similar to backcountry camping in that space and weight are serious factors to consider (although on the bike my experience has been that every inch of space or pound saved has meant room for more beers, lol.)
For a tent, check out this Mountain Hardware 2 person / 3 season model. It's more expensive but 2 1/2 pounds lighter.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1098T_Mountain-Hardwear-Skypoint-2-Tent-2-Person-3-Season.html (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1098T_Mountain-Hardwear-Skypoint-2-Tent-2-Person-3-Season.html)
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1098R_Mountain-Hardwear-Skypoint-2-Footprint.html (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1098R_Mountain-Hardwear-Skypoint-2-Footprint.html)
for a sleeping bag I've been a fan of the NF Cat's Meow for many years. It's light (2lbs 12ozs for the long version), warm and very compact for a sleeping bag.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___47923 (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___47923)
+11ty billion on Divas comments re dry sacks. Just because your sleeping bag will still insulate you if it's wet doesn't mean its comfortable wet.
Now that we've talked gear for a few pages why don't you clue us all in to the great trips your planning in the coming year!
My plans are not very specific yet, but I will be able to go 3-400 miles from home, spend the night for free and go back the next morning. Mid summer it's never really pitch dark here (land of the midnight sun). I can ride safely until at least 10 pm and start again at 4 am.
I will report from my trips when time comes. From the capitol Oslo I'll be able to cover the south coast, beaches and beer. Or go west, mountains and twisties. Basically I'll be able to cover all of the southern half of my very long homeland in a two days/one night trip. I hope to do several such trips.
To give you a clue where 300 miles can put me, here are a few pictures from my "touring Norway" thread
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/2008012.jpg)
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/2008015.jpg)
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/2008024.jpg)
Was that 3rd pict taken near Bergen, by chance??
Looks like where I did some hiking around Bergen a few years ago.
Norway has some beautiful countryside. [thumbsup]
Quote from: DesmoDiva on January 21, 2009, 03:37:16 PM
Was that 3rd pict taken near Bergen, by chance??
Looks like where I did some hiking around Bergen a few years ago.
Norway has some beautiful countryside. [thumbsup]
The picture is from a peak, Dalsnibba, 5,500 feet south/above Geiranger - a popular stop over for cruise ships.
I would guess about a couple of fjords north of Bergen. Let's say 100+ miles.
Quote from: stopintime on January 21, 2009, 03:25:27 PM
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/2008015.jpg)
Roads like that make me pitch a tent.
Quote from: stopintime on January 21, 2009, 03:25:27 PM
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/2008024.jpg)
Gorgeous. I like the cloud hanging over the lake.....and the switchbacks beside it [moto]
Quote from: BastrdHK on January 24, 2009, 02:29:39 PM
Gorgeous. I like the cloud hanging over the lake.....and the switchbacks beside it [moto]
In fact that's the innermost part of one of our deepest fjords, it cuts somewhat 100 miles in between mountains.
The road up to the right of the cloud was amazing. I dropped my bags at a hotel and went up there three times, working on my cornering - next day the same thing on the road up to where the picture was taken.
Craigslist can be a good place to find some used gear. My tent, a Sierra Designs flashlight backpacker's tent, was had for $20, including rain fly and ground cover.
I sleep on a Thermarest Ridgerest, sort of a strong styrofoam roll-up pad. My only concern about air mattresses and cots is that they don't insulate at all underneath.
I have two sleeping bags--one from Sierra Trading Post rated down to only 35 degrees, the other, new, from REI. The REI bag is something else: it's women's-specific in extra-long. When the salesman told me they make "boy" and "girl" sleeping bags, I raised an eyebrow and expected something pink with half the stitching for twice the money. Was I wrong--it was much more comfortable (and it's blue, with no flowers in the design anywhere).
REI online has an outlet where bargains can be found.
+11ty billion on the North Face Cat's Meow. Mine has a few hundred miles backpacking and god knows how many nights camping on it (or in it). It does run a bit more but like some have said, a good sleeping bag can make or break your trip, plus I intend to keep this one until it falls apart (whcih will be some time I'm betting). When my dad and I started looking to buy ours, we went to as many outfitter's shops as we could to "try on" different bags. You'd be amazed at how much different one brand feels compared to the next. You're on the taller side right? I'm 6'4" and the majority of the bags that I tried out weren't nearly long enough to fit in comfortably. Synthetic is definitely the way to go. Down is worthless in wet weather. Also +1 on the garbage bag inside the actual sleeping bag stuff sack. I've been through a few downpours with just that setup and it works perfectly (provided you have a decent stuff sack for your sleeping bag).
As far as tents go, have you looked into buying a bivy shelter? A buddy in college had this one
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/Jervisaurus/salathe-on-water.jpg)
and it was ridiculously nice. It doesn't have the upper screen/head bubble that i prefer, but it weighs in at about a pound and a half and as you can see, is totally waterproof. If you're not planning on camping with other people the single shelter is the way to go, especially for portability.
As far as where to buy this stuff everyone else has already listed the places I shop, so you should be set. Craigslist is a good idea, you just have to watch out for stuff people haven't taken care of (not airing out tents, improperly washing sleeping bags, etc). It took me years to pick up all the stuff I use for camping (mostly due to cost) so don't expect to just buy all at once, unless you really wanna splurge ;D.
There are several ultra-light solo tents out there that offer a lot more head room and shoulder room than a bivy sack. Plus it won't give you the claustrophobic feel of being in a cacoon. See the list of ultra-light solo tent at REI.com
http://www.rei.com/search?cat=4500001_Tents+and+Shelters&cat=4500666&hist=cat%2C4500001_Tents+and+Shelters%3ATents+and+Shelters%5Ecat%2C4500666%3ASolo+Ultralight+Tents (http://www.rei.com/search?cat=4500001_Tents+and+Shelters&cat=4500666&hist=cat%2C4500001_Tents+and+Shelters%3ATents+and+Shelters%5Ecat%2C4500666%3ASolo+Ultralight+Tents)
Quote from: stopintime on January 21, 2009, 03:51:15 PM
The picture is from a peak, Dalsnibba, 5,500 feet south/above Geiranger - a popular stop over for cruise ships.
I would guess about a couple of fjords north of Bergen. Let's say 100+ miles.
Great pics. I was in Norway 4 years ago and loved it. Can't wait to go back
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2065/50/40/1545666740/n1545666740_142631_8906.jpg)
(http://photos-d.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2065/50/40/1545666740/n1545666740_140707_6598.jpg)
Hi, I just put the items in a CampMor shopping cart to check out shipping rates to Norway, Europe. No overseas shipping [bang]
These are such great deals, no way I can find similar locally. Most products sold here are for serious winter/expedition purposes ($$$$$$$$)
Excuse me for asking (might be considered too forward) - anyone willing to act as a middleman - receiving the package, forwarding it to me?
I would pay you in advance for your trouble, shipping and other costs.
Total value about $133. Total weight 9 lb and 22oz. City Oslo, zip 0267, Norway.
PM Sent.
Guys,
thanks for helping me find AND get good equipment [thumbsup]
Yesterday I went for a ride and camped one night to test this camping thing. It was mid fourties during the night.
The North Face sleeping bag kept me warm (almost) - I put my woolen underwear back on.
Coleman tent is well vented and worked well - I expected some trouble raising it, but it went well and took only 15 minutes.
The (discontinued) 3.5" REI self inflatable mattress was a great idea - niiice.
The bag and tent was in the expanded DP rear bag. I strapped the mattress to the passenger peg and grab rail.
If I go on trips for more than one night, I have a tank bag for clothes and stuff.
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/Rjukanmot09011.jpg)
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/Rjukanmot09004.jpg)
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/Rjukanmot09003.jpg)
A pretty good alternative to a tent is a Hennessy Hammock - If you have trees to attach it to. They are very comfortable, very light, waterproof and very versatile.
Sweet! [thumbsup]
Glad everything worked out.