Camping Gear

[Ezekiel]

What kind of camping gear do you pack on the bike for those long trips?

I've got a SMALL tent, which works good enough. I also have a mummy sleeping bag which packs down nice, problem is I HATE having my feet feel trapped like that. I'd like recommendations on a traditional square-bottom sleeping bag, that packs down small and doesn't cost a lot. Should I ask for the world on a silver platter while I'm at it?

Just wondering what the typical packing list includes.

[GAMBLER]

Hey dude, I have a Wenzel Starlite tent, weighs about 3 lbs and packs to 18" by about 6". no rain fly needed. about that square bottom bag, they won't pack down that small. we are stuck with mummys. Back packing gear is the smallest and lightest. I will post pics of my stuff later, its really small and light. my rain gear is bigger.

[pashnit]

This may sound a bit odd, but never carried a tent before. Just sleeping bag, foam pad, and poncho. Wrap up the sleeping bag in the poncho- human burrito!

http://www.pashnit.com/8days/8pics/12-sleep.jpg

The white stuff on the seat & sleeping bag is frost!

[GAMBLER]

Hey Tim, I wasn't planning on taking my tent on my Death Valley trip, then I had a conversation with GaryM. He is a Herpologist(sp),(snake Dr.) and he was telling me when he was down in DV doing research they would just lay out their bags at night and go to sleep, and in the am they would see tracks where the snakes had gone over their bags in the night. Decided to bring the tent. Thanks GaryM:teeth

[WickedWahine]

Originally posted by GAMBLER
Hey dude, I have a Wenzel Starlite tent, weighs about 3 lbs and packs to 18" by about 6". no rain fly needed. about that square bottom bag, they won't pack down that small. we are stuck with mummys. Back packing gear is the smallest and lightest. I will post pics of my stuff later, its really small and light. my rain gear is bigger.

Hey GAMBLER, where did you get your tent? I've been looking for one that small.

[GAMBLER]

Originally posted by WickedWahine
Hey GAMBLER, where did you get your tent? I've been looking for one that small.

Sportmart in Milpitas. less than 35.00.

[WickedWahine]

Thanks!! ;)

[lefty]

Pashnit-
"Frost"..............sure, I believe you.
ha ha ha.
I'm a real avid backpacker, but I've never combined the two. Usually when I get off my bike I want to relax in a hotel. I may have to try it though.
Pashnt- That's a really cool picture. It reminds me of some scene from a horror movie.

[Nelson]

I have an Eureka XT tent that packs really small. This is not a cheap tent, it is like 159$. But I bought it for 89$ on sale at Sport-Mart. The good thing about it is that I can also squeeze a tarp in the bag to put the tent on.

On the pic below you can see how small the tent is (in blue) compared to my sleeping bag. I need to find a good cold weather sleeping bag that packs smaller than this. On cold trips, I need to take a fleece liner for the sleeping bag and it takes all the room in my tailpack for other things.

Another item I carry is a small Coleman inflatable mattress. Riding is tiring, so I think a good night sleep is neccessary. The problem with this and the air pump for it is that it take the most room on my tailpack. I have been thinking about a self inflatable thermarest pad which is what hardcore hikers use. It should pack better and isolates the cold floor from you. Anybody has one?

As for cooking; I use to carry a stove and skewers so I could buy some sausage and grill it, but it became very expensive. The last time I camped in the middle of nowhere (Manchester, Hwy 1 south of Mendocino) there was nothing to eat. So I had to buy firewood (to cold to collect wood), lighter fluid and some wieners. Ispent like 18$. Definately not worth it.

[Nelson]

Such a long post I forgot the pics,

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/050/006/732185-p1010005.jpg

[Nelson]

It packs very well.....

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/050/006/732186-1napa-hwy_1_trip1_034.jpg

[lefty]

Nelson-
Where were those pictures taken? That looks like a VERY nice spot.
Also, you should have had a 'rainfly' with that tent. It comes complete with a mesh body with a Rainfly that you can use for the winter. If I were you, either contact SportsMart, or order one directly from Eureka.

[Nelson]

Actually the yellow part is the rain fly, I was starting to dissasemble the tent so it just looks like it's part of it. The actual tent is the white part below. It rained a little one night and th ething works great.

That pic was somewhere on Hwy 1 between the Hwy 1- Hwy 128 intersection and Manchester Beach. There are some more pics of that area below. It was really foggy that day so I think this pic did not make my site. I did have a good shot of my sleeping bag though.

http://home.comcast.net/~nsalas02/NorCalTrip.html

http://home.comcast.net/~nsalas02/NAPA-Hwy1.html

[GAMBLER]

I love my therma-rest pad. self inflates and all.

[Bronto]

On the Bike camp, one thing didn't think was neccessary was a Lantern. Thought flashlights would be enough. Well their not, put lantern on the list :D
Sterno stove, does Coffee and alike real well. It's very compact to store. Cheaper to run then Propane ones. Ahh Spam on the Sterno, all American :D

[Nelson]

Originally posted by GAMBLER
I love my therma-rest pad. self inflates and all.

It's like three inches thick right? How comfortable is it?

[GAMBLER]

Originally posted by Nelson
It's like three inches thick right? How comfortable is it?

no not 3 inches thick, but good enough for me. its a foam that fills with air when you open the valves. its better than the ground, but not as good as my pillow top.:teeth

[Ezekiel]

In place of a lantern I pack a flashlight that has a beam anywhere from floodlight (for a lantern) to a beam like a normal flashlight. It's small and works well enough.

As far as food and stoves, I usually buy snacks before I stop for the night, donut holes, cookies, chips, something hearty and healthy like that. I just make sure I eat it all or go throw it away before I go to bed since I always seem to be camping in bear country. I make up for it with a good breakfast or lunch the next day.

[Bronto]

Seen flashlights like that, that would work.
The Stove is for Hot drinks(Coffee, Tea) mainly. Pick up Chocolate milk before getting to camp.
Can do meals(Soups, Stews), but as you've said. Just eat out a town not faraway on a bike.