camping gear

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Mike
I need some advice about kind of tent and sleeping
bags would be sufficient.

You may not need a sleeping bag. I use a Slumberjack sleeping bag that I like. You cannot go wrong with them.

For a tent, Eureka! and Kelty are very good brands. Eureka! is more affordable. I use the Eureka! Tetragon 5 and find it sufficient. Here's a link for it:

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=26041771&prmenbr=226

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm going to go biking/camping with my son. It'll be a 2 day 1 night tour. We'll ride our bikes to
a campsite, sleep overnight, then ride back home. I need some advice about kind of tent and
sleeping bags would be sufficient. We in the NJ area so it's pretty warm this time of year and
hopefully it'll stop rain soon!

Thanks in advance, Mike

Light weight! Those among us that tour strive for a ten under 4 lbs. A two-person tent is rarely
large enough for two people and gear.

Here is what I have been looking at recently: (mind the wrap)
rei.comProductDisplayOpen ↗
40000008000&langId=-1

Even though listed as a 2-person tent, I intend it only for solo use.

For sleeping bags, you might consider the Kelty Lightyear:
rei.comProductDisplayOpen ↗
&productId=12117476

Another essential is a sleeping pad. I am partial to the Therm-A-Rest:
rei.comProductDisplayOpen ↗
&productId=9130173

Here you need to make a compromise between size, weight, and comfort. Larger R-values are
important even in the summer. So is thickness. I would recommend a heavier(thicker) pad over a
lightweight model

The benefits of touring as two, are distributing the load of the tent and cooking gear.

Again the touring mailing list can provide a wealth of information.

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

...you might also consider the Kelty Light Top sleeping bag:
rei.comProductDisplayOpen ↗
00&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1

It is perfect for Florida weather. should work in a Jersey summer! Campmor ( campmor.comcampmor.comOpen ↗
) may have them cheaper.

I like the REI Half Dome tent. As written here already, it will be crowded for two people.

Gene Tampa, FL RANS V-Rex

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Mike said:

I need some advice about kind of tent and sleeping bags would be sufficient.

You may not need a sleeping bag. I use a Slumberjack sleeping bag that I like. You cannot go wrong
with them.

For a tent, Eureka! and Kelty are very good brands. Eureka! is more affordable. I use the Eureka!
Tetragon 5 and find it sufficient. Here's a link for it:

campmor.comProductDisplayOpen ↗ 6041771&prmenbr=226

I for one will never carry another 5+ lb tent on a tour again. This one weighs over 6.5 lbs.

I would not want to start a trip with more than about 40 lbs. of gear. It does not take much to
reach that 40 lb. gear limit.

Here is a packing list I made a few years back: My panniers weighed 12.5 each and I had no cooking
gear on the trip. clee.orgdefault.cfmOpen ↗

Check the weight of the Tent and sleeping bag in the right column.

This is what it lookied like loaded. (mind the wrap)
clee.orgimage.cfmOpen ↗
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

I'm in NJ too. I'm going on a three day bike tour in Quebec with my Wicks Trimuter Trike. I strongly
advise a trip to Campmor in Paramus. This is the "Home Depot" of camping stores. They have a tent
department (with full size set up floor samples), a sleeping bag dept, a bike dept, a climbing dept,
and an outdoor wear dept. Their website is www.campmor.com

Each dept has its experts who can help you with your selection. They also have returns and markdowns
of the tents and sleeping bags. I was able to purchase a Northface Canyonlands for $109 and a Kelty
Le Tour sleeping bag for $20 (slightly dirty, but I'll wash it). It folds to 7 x 15".

Cletus Lee <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Mike said:

I need some advice about kind of tent and sleeping bags would be sufficient.

You may not need a sleeping bag. I use a Slumberjack sleeping bag that I like. You cannot go
wrong with them.

For a tent, Eureka! and Kelty are very good brands. Eureka! is more affordable. I use the
Eureka! Tetragon 5 and find it sufficient. Here's a link for it:

campmor.comProductDisplayOpen ↗ 6041771&prmenbr=226

I for one will never carry another 5+ lb tent on a tour again. This one weighs over 6.5 lbs.

I would not want to start a trip with more than about 40 lbs. of gear. It does not take much to
reach that 40 lb. gear limit.

Here is a packing list I made a few years back: My panniers weighed 12.5 each and I had no cooking
gear on the trip. clee.orgdefault.cfmOpen ↗

Check the weight of the Tent and sleeping bag in the right column.

This is what it lookied like loaded. (mind the wrap)
clee.orgimage.cfmOpen ↗

That's why I use a trailer. YMMV.

Guys, thanks for all the good information.

If I can pick your brains one more time, is there a preference for a trailer (such as b.o.b.) or are
panniers better?

Thanks again, Mike

Ask Mikael about bent trailers, he got this nifty trailer made by Radikal...sp? (Netherlands) that
resembles a big duffle bag with 2 wheels. Think pics are on his homepage....he'll direct you to the
pics. I personally use a BikeBox from www.bikebox.ca at 24 gallon capacity, waterproof, it floats,
locking lid and the sucker only weighs 12 lbs. (tis lower priced than a similar looking trailer from
the USA) and the guy who designed the trailer is bent...hmmm that sounds wrong...lets try the guy
who designed the trailer used to drive a Windcheetah.
------------------------------
"Mike" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Guys, thanks for all the good information.

If I can pick your brains one more time, is there a preference for a trailer (such as b.o.b.) or
are panniers better?

Thanks again, Mike

(Mike) said:

If I can pick your brains one more time, is there a preference for a trailer (such as b.o.b.) or
are panniers better?

Many here are much more experienced bike campers than I, but I'd say choice of trailer or panniers
depends on what you absolutely, positively, "gotta" take along and how far you're going.

For two to three day outings, you might take minimalist approach: PowerBar breaskfast-lunch-dinner
%^P, small tent or tarp, thin sleeping pad, etc... Or you might take a lap of luxury approach,
stove, ice chest, cot, etc... On short trips you can get by pretty much either way.

For longer treks, you'll probably settle on something in between, but tending more towards carrying
the *least* you can. "Splurging" on things such as a slightly larger tent or a slightly thicker
sleeping pad may be *well worth* the weight in terms of comfort, though.

A few years ago, Bike camping with my then 10-year-old, I pulled a BOB trailer,-- but then I was
carrying gear for both of us. And I was carrying quite a bit of water as we were not sure of water
availability along the way or where we planned to camp.

I liked the handling of the BOB trailer, even on rough trails. It tracked well and fit though the
narrow "vehicle excluder" openings on the rail trail. Patchs of deep sand require care. Two-wheeled
trailers may have some advatages, in terms of load balancing. In loading the BOB, keep weight low,
centered, and forward.

When bike camping with a group, having a trailer that could be moved from bike to bike might not be
a bad idea... Economies of scale come into play for group camping (common cooking gear, etc.)

But, if you can manage to fit what you need in to panniers and onto a rack, then you'll probably be
happier in the long run.

However, if you decide you want to go with a BOB trailer, I would consider selling my BOB YAK
trailer. %^)

I purchased it in '98 or '99 and used it for several "overnight" bike camping trips and for local
shopping trips. Total miles on it are probably less than 500. It has the older-style fork/mounting
clips,and does not include the waterproof storage bag ( I used a plastic storage box that fit
instead). The new/current fork is available from www.bobtrailers.com as an upgrade.

Let me know if you are interested. It has hung unused in my garage for a couple of years. Contact by
email by reassembling:

"jonmein AT verizon DOT net".

Jon Meinecke

"Joshua Goldberg" skrev...

Quoted message said:

Ask Mikael about bent trailers, he got this nifty trailer made by Radikal...sp? (Netherlands) that
resembles a big duffle bag with 2 wheels. Think pics are on his homepage....he'll direct you to
the pics.

Well yes, I do have a Radical Cyclone trailer. But I haven't had time to try it on the bike yet.
Company homepage: radicaldesign.nlcyclone trailers.htmlOpen ↗ Since I'm using it on my
carbon Velokraft a two-wheeled trailer seemed more prudent. It puts less weight and stress on the
rearstay (I hope). It also had to clear my tailfairing and work with a quickrelease and attach to a
rearstay thats not shaped like on traditional DF's. So I'm not an expert on trailers or anything.
The Cyclone just fit the bill.

Cheers Mikael

Just to clarify. My Velokraft Racer has very limited space for luggage. A small homemade compartment
in the tailfaring provides just enough space for a cablelock, pump, tools and a thin Tenson
turtleneck. Fine for daytrips or excercise.

I would however like to bring it to events/races further away. Since I don't own a car I have to
travel by bike or bike & train. The trailer provides me with a tourer without compromising the
weight of the bike (with trailer off) like a tailbox would.

Thats the theory anyway. Will test when I have some spare time.

Mikael

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If I can pick your brains one more time, is there a preference for a trailer (such as b.o.b.) or
are panniers better?

The great advantage of panniers; you won't be tempted to carry overmuch! On my Baron I can only take
two panniers, and a small underseat bag; so I can't take more than fits in those panniers (the seat
bag is for cookies, maps, sun oil and the like). This has actually proved to be plenty for 2-3 weeks
camping, with food for 2 days. In warm weather I can even bring a 2-man tent. It helps if you've
been camping a couple of times, so you know what stuff you can leave home.

I'm still thinking about buying a trailer, but only for short distances. The Radical Cyclone is on
my shortlist (Could use it as a handcart too, with an extra handle, and take it on the train
together with the Brompton for multi-modal camping!). I'm not so sure about the plastic wheels
though. Or perhaps a Vitelli Camping: 20" wheels and very strong. In case you want a single wheel
trailer, there's also the Weber Monoporter: 20" wheel, suspension, truly waterproof bag, totally
collapsible, but a somewhat more elaborate hitch. A single wheel trailer is NOT recommended behind a
bike with rear suspension BTW: bad for the suspension pivot.

Mark van Gorkom.

I just finished a one week tour (GOBA) that involved camping out in tents with sleeping bags. I used
an interesting new sleeping bag from "Big Agnes" It is about half the weight of any other bag
because it only has the top with a nylon sleeve for a Thermarest on the bottom. Advantage: light
weight and very comfortable. The thing packs down into a soccer ball sized stuff sack and is very
roomy and well made. The pad stays under you, too. OTOH, if you're lying on your back, you can't
raise your knees because the pad prevents that. Hightly recommended. (Do a google on "Big Agnes"
Sorry I don't have the address.)

BentJay

[email hidden] (BentJay) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I just finished a one week tour (GOBA) that involved camping out in tents with sleeping bags. I
used an interesting new sleeping bag from "Big Agnes" It is about half the weight of any other bag
because it only has the top with a nylon sleeve for a Thermarest on the bottom. Advantage: light
weight and very comfortable. The thing packs down into a soccer ball sized stuff sack and is very
roomy and well made. The pad stays under you, too. OTOH, if you're lying on your back, you can't
raise your knees because the pad prevents that. Hightly recommended. (Do a google on "Big Agnes"
Sorry I don't have the address.)

BentJay

Jay,

On this year's B.R.A.G. I used a fleece sleeping bag on top of a Thermarest (25"x77"😉 with a 50"x80"
piece of soft polyester fabric. The fabric was $2.50 at Wal-Mart and was used as a top sheet. The
fleece bag went between me and the Thermarest for extra padding, since I didn't need the warmth. I
was happy with this rig.

Louis

Jon, I might be interested. How much are you asking for it and which state do you live in.

Mike

Jon Meinecke <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

However, if you decide you want to go with a BOB trailer, I would consider selling my BOB YAK
trailer. %^)

I purchased it in '98 or '99 and used it for several "overnight" bike camping trips and for local
shopping trips. Total miles on it are probably less than 500. It has the older-style fork/mounting
clips,and does not include the waterproof storage bag ( I used a plastic storage box that fit
instead). The new/current fork is available from www.bobtrailers.com as an upgrade.

Let me know if you are interested. It has hung unused in my garage for a couple of years. Contact
by email by reassembling:

"jonmein AT verizon DOT net".

Jon Meinecke