Where to buy light camping gear online? Tent, sleeping bag, anything else...

[stopintime]

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

[DesmoDiva]

For a sleeping bag: go to your nearest sports shop and pick up a Haglofs bag like this one:

ZLUMBER PERFORMANCE 5


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
Sierra Trading Post
EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports)
Mountain Equipement Co-op

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. 

[somegirl]

REI

[DucHead]

Aerostich as well

[BastrdHK]

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:

.....cook ware like this....

.....it all packs down to 6in high x 6in in dia....


....and nothing will limit how far/long you can go except your weather tolerances

[stopintime]

Thank you all for helping

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]

[COWBOY]

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

My 2 favorites..

www.sierratradingpost.com/

www.campmor.com

[Buckethead]

I'm lucky enough to live right down the road from the L.L. Bean 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 and a stuff-sacked sleeping bag and some clothes in one of their backpacks.

1700 miles in 4 days. Never had a problem with any of their gear.

[BastrdHK]

Here is a pic with the monster loaded to the hilt after a quick stop at the store to buy groceries for the campsite....



....if you look closely you can see the sausages i mean 

Thots naught ah knife..... thes isa Knife! 

[Slide Panda]

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.

[Buckethead]

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.

[mitt]

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

[Goat_Herder]

REI

+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. 

[stopintime]

Thank you all, it is great fun to check out the suggestions and read the advice

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___24004
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
Suggestions on a soft pad anyone? I would think that the usual 1 - 1.5 inches doesn't offer much comfort......

Little late to this thread,

...............................

mitt

Not to worry - there is still time to contribute   

[DesmoDiva]

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.  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.