Tents, pads and bags

[steve_g]

I buy 99% of my gear from Sierra Trading Post. Sign up for their 'Deal Flyer' and they will email you a coupon for 30% off and free shipping if > $100.

 

[Pterodactyl]

 

[SacramentoMike]

Should have thought of this before. Since you're planning on doing some camping, you'll have everything you'd need already to take advantage of the cabins in places like KOA. Most all the comforts, cheaper than motels. All you need is a sleeping bag (I recommend you take a pillow too--both for this and tent camping too.)

Doesn't take the place of camping, but good when you need to get out of nasty weather, take a shower, too late to pitch a tent in the dark, etc.

 

[Intech]

I enjoy camping and the threat of weather has not stopped me either. Unlike HRZ, I have camped many times and experienced heavy rain. Since I started using this tent that hasn't been a problem at all. Yeah, it is probably one of the most expensive tents you can buy, but worth every penny. I did get it for a lot cheaper than the listed price, though. The large vestibule has been enjoyed by many friends in rainy conditions. It is large, yet packs small and is very easy to set up. (10-15 mins).

 

[RJAMT]

I keep thinking about getting one of those but keep balking at both the price and apparent setup pain.

I do love the ability to put the bike under cover or enjoy lots of rain free space so maybe someday....

 

[Intech]

I keep thinking about getting one of those but keep balking at both the price and apparent setup pain. I do love the ability to put the bike under cover or enjoy lots of rain free space so maybe someday....

It is really simple to set up. The first time I took my time to just get the feel for it and that was about a half hour. Now no more than 15 minutes.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Despite my earlier post, Spousal Unit and I camp fairly often... far more than I would care to do. After 25 years of running around and sleeping in the rocks like a lizard I am no longer drawn to camping, but I lose the debate more often than not. I try (normally unsuccessfully) to impose some simple guidelines: I will happily camp unless it is cold, hot, windy, raining or there are bugs.

 

[Intech]

Despite my earlier post, Spousal Unit and I camp fairly often... far more than I would care to do. After 25 years of running around and sleeping in the rocks like a lizard I am no longer drawn to camping, but I lose the debate more often than not. I try (normally unsuccessfully) to impose some simple guidelines: I will happily camp unless it is cold, hot, windy, raining or there are bugs.

Spanky and I both like camping, so I bought the trailer and can carry all the comforts like a full size air mattress. She likes it better than the bed at home!

 

[hppants]

It's cheaper to camp, period.

You can buy good quality everything (down to the sugar packets for morning coffee) for no more than $500.00, and very likely much cheaper. On a 3 week trip, if you camp 7 nights (1 out of 3), you will break even on everything. The next trip and any thereafter is gravy.

That said, don't do it for the savings. It's your vacation - you want to be comfortable. Do what works for you.

I like the woods, campfire, trail walking, cooking, adult beverages without a need to ride back to the hotel, etc.

Camping for me takes away a lot of the stress associated with planning. Since I've got the house and kitchen with me, I can always stop and sleep wherever I want to. If you are in a part of the country that has relatively few motel choices, and no reservations, that can be a real valid concern without camping gear.

If the trip is more than 4 nights, I usually mix in the camping with motels. After 3 or 4 nights in the tent, I'm usually ready for a proper mattress.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Cost is a huge factor, particularly if you are on the road 30-40 days. For example, in 2013 we paid $20 CDN for a camping spot in the Prince George area and then paid $220 CDN for a motel the next night in Jasper. This was when the US and CDN dollar were roughly equal. Right now with a US dollar worth $1.40 CDN Canada is fairly inexpensive.

 

[Brodie]

One thing about REI, it is a membership Co-Op. If you end up purchasing a lot of gear from them it pays to join, you will get money back at the end of the year on all the non sale items you purchase. The stores that I have visited were pretty well stocked and satisfied a good portion of my gear needs. And the knowledgable store employees are also a bonus!

They also have a 3 1/2 inch thick self inflating air mattress (foam filled) that rolls up pretty tight. The roll is as wide as the bike - saddle bag face to saddle bag face. As soon as the tent is up I release both air valves and let it deploy itself inside the tent. When I go to use it I let some of the air out for comfort sake, it's thick enough that my hips still don't touch bottom.

Brodie

 

[SacramentoMike]

I like what Pants said on camping vs. motelling--so much so that I'll repeat something I said in another post years back, and that was a quote from another camper. He said, and I agree, that every campsite he'd ever stayed in stands out in his--and my--memory, but the various motel rooms pretty much all run together. It's really true. Helps make that trip an adventure.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Especially if it is raining........ or, snowing, or windy, or hot and humid, or real cold

, or lots of no-seeums, or skeeters, or it's smokey.... oh, the humanity!!!!

 

[hppants]

Camping in bad weather is not fun. No way, no how. I got a nice tarp that I can put over everything and stay out of the rain, but we usually don't ride much in that crap so after a short while, just sitting around under the trap..... err..... TARP (appropriate typo, there) gets pretty boring.

 

[Bungie]

The upfront cost for good camping gear is relatively high. All of my camping gear was sold when the family sold our cottage including contents, so I had to replace everything I accumulated over the years.

I think my final total was around $600. But that was buying some reasonable quality stuff. One of the biggest costs was down lined Ex-Ped air mattress with a built-in pump. Spendy, but worth it for it's packing size and performance.

So for the cost of about 8 nights of hotel stays I'm geared up, and, the stuff lives in 'bug out' bag should the need ever arise.

 

[erixun]

My two cents is not to get cheap crap, you will end up spending more down the road to replace it. I purchased a cheap tent, figuring it would be good enough. (And was good enough for trips with good weather.) Then I went to Yellowstone last year, and the skies opened up enough on me on that trip that I was looking for wood to build an ark. Wet = miserable. I vowed never again.

I also went the two person pup tent route once. It sucked to not be able to sit up, or get all your gear inside. I went through several tents before I had enough and just upgraded. The tent should have a full rain fly, going all the way to the ground, with vestibules for your gear/boots. It should also be +1 in size. Meaning if you ever might have two people in it, it should at least be a three man. You won't regret the extra room.

I also dont think you have to go ultra light in gear. If you place your bag of gear on the passenger seat, and it weighs less than a passenger, arent you ahead of the game? That is unless you are taking a passenger and your gear, then you have to go small, ultra light to get it to fit.

The tent I finally went with is a four person 'Warthog' by Cabelas that I use now, even when by myself. Love it, and have oodles of room. I also do not like to be cold while sleeping and got a very spendy air mattress, but it has been worth its weight in gold. It is a down filled insulated air mattress with an internal hand pump. An Exped. (Mentioned in the above post) This allowed me to use a lighter weight sleeping bag, having less bulk and not costing as much.

Bottom line is this, we all have different opinions on which is best, my best may not be your best. Borrow or rent gear (if you can) to see if you even like this sort of thing. Then buy the best gear you can afford.

 

[s.ga.rider]

Thanks for the input. Most of the research says to get a 2 person for extra room and gear.. The gf will never camp with me. so far I know I need to get a tent, pad, sleeping bag, camping chair and a small burner and pot for coffee.

What do you do about clothing and amounts. It impossible to pack for 3 weeks.

Also planning on a new set of 4 season pants, jacket, water proof boots and gloves.

 

[hppants]

I bring three extra t-shirts, underwear, and socks. So including he set I'm wearing, I've got four days of clothes. Every four or five days I run a load of clothes. Easy as pie.

I bring one pair of zip off pants which work good for either shorts or pants. I bring a set of long handles and I use my jacket liner as a lightweight jacket for around the campground

Remember the other thread I started - less is better than more

 

[HotRodZilla]

Wear wool shirts. They wear great and don't stink like cotton. You can take a few and wash them when you hotel it.

 

[RJAMT]

I like a camp chair but it's really only needed if you primitive camp. Every pay campground I've been to had a picnic table. I have a helinox chair and it is wonderful, but not required.

For clothes I carry 3-4 synthetic wicking shirts that don't wrinkle or smell easily, 2 pair of durable pants and about 4 each socks and briefs. When they are dirty I'm either at a hotel or stop by a laundry mat and clean everything in a couple of hours.

If I'm traveling in the east I know pretty much everywhere will have trees so I bring my hammock instead of the tent. Hard to beat a night's sleep in a hammock! The southwest and prairie generally calls for a tent depending on exact location. Entire states on the prairie are virtually without trees!

I've also discovered that the more densely populated east has grocery stores everywhere so no need to carry much food. The sparsely populated southwest (mostly) means better bring more food just in case. Groceries can be hard to find right pants?