Camping setups while sport touring?

[Shizoku]

I'm looking for a bit of advice on camping setups.
What I'm most looking for is info on tents and sleeping accoutrements that do not take up a lot of room, but at the same time, are funtional, easy to set up/break down, and comfortable.  

Dave in Valencia
 

[sleazy rider]

All you care to know and more.  

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,69229.0.html

[Shizoku]

All you care to know and more.  

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,69229.0.html

Great info on the tents...thanks for the link.
But how about sleeping bags, pads, etc?

Dave in Valencia

[sleazy rider]

Basically, think what you'd use on an extended backpacking trip.  Ultralight, compressible, name brand and you get what you pay for.  I have several different weight sleeping bags and pack according to weather forecast.  I've gone minimalist and just toss the bag on the floor of the tent, but i do take a Coleman camp pillow.  For cooking, I pack a Jet Boil with the cookpot.  Toss in a good quality spork with my military mess kit and pick up food on the way to the campsite at the end of the day.  Lounging around the campfire, a Monarch Butterfly chair gets the nod.  

Skip the cheap knockoff crap.  You'll regret is when you're in the middle of nowhere and it fails, guaranteed.  DAMHIK.  

[bubba zanetti]

Tent pole length is important to me. Many are just too long to fit in a hardbag. After years of discomfort with my sleeping pads ( I am a side sleeper ) I am very happy with my Neo Air. Really comfortable and packs really small.

A good down bag that I prefer to use like a duvet and a decent compressible pillow.

[Shizoku]

Basically, think what you'd use on an extended backpacking trip.  Ultralight, compressible, name brand and you get what you pay for.  I have several different weight sleeping bags and pack according to weather forecast.  I've gone minimalist and just toss the bag on the floor of the tent, but i do take a Coleman camp pillow.  For cooking, I pack a Jet Boil with the cookpot.  Toss in a good quality spork with my military mess kit and pick up food on the way to the campsite at the end of the day.  Lounging around the campfire, a Monarch Butterfly chair gets the nod.  

Skip the cheap knockoff crap.  You'll regret is when you're in the middle of nowhere and it fails, guaranteed.  DAMHIK.  

Thanks for the advice.  I think I found a couple decent tents...
http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/alps/products/tents/backpacking-tents/chaos
http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/alps/products/tents/backpacking-tents/hybrid-ce
Now trying to research bags and pads.  Trying to find a medium between comfort and space savings might be difficult...I haven't seen any good reviews on compression bags yet.

Dave

[Shizoku]

Tent pole length is important to me. Many are just too long to fit in a hardbag. After years of discomfort with my sleeping pads ( I am a side sleeper ) I am very happy with my Neo Air. Really comfortable and packs really small.

A good down bag that I prefer to use like a duvet and a decent compressible pillow.

I was wondering about the tent pole size issue.  I will be using hardbags as well.


Dave

[sleazy rider]

I have the Alps predecessor to the Hybrid-CE and the poles fit easily in my Givis.  IIRC, they're about 15" long when broken down.  Lots of room in the tent for gear too.  Get the footprint, as the floor is somewhat succeptible to wear from rocks and twigs.

[bluepoof]

Re pads:  I use a Exped 9 down pad with pump.

http://www.rei.com/product/780365/exped-downmat-9-sleeping-pad-with-pump

I've tried many others and this one rocks.  No need to use space for a separate pump or trash my asthmatic lungs.  I can easily sleep on my side or back and it's comfortable even after my disc injury.  

It folds up to 6"x9" but I use the Helen 2 Wheels method of packing (http://cdn.racerpartswholesale.com/downloads/HelenTwowheels.pdf), so I never fold it back up.  

Edited to add that the Helen 2 Wheels way of packing camping gear is awesome, so I'll copy and paste from their PDF.  I've been moto-camping using the following method for about 4 years and it works really well.  There are pictures on the above linked PDF.

1. Get the air out of your thermarest, close the valve, leave it rolled up. put it in the bag first.
2. Once the thermarest is in the bag unwind it. and let it unroll to the perimeter of the bag. In the hole in the center of the bag you are going to stuff the sleeping bag.
3. The ROLL TOP SACK is a compression bag, it is water- proof. Don't waste your time and energy folding and rolling the sleeping bag; don't put it in its own stuff bag. You always use these two items together; they are always dry. Save your- self precious riding time and aggravation. Just put them in.
4. You will probably have room for more stuff like a pillow. It's also a good idea to put a warm layer, like a polar fleece pull-over, in last. It will be easily acces- sible without unstrapping the bag while you are riding if the temperature drops.
5. Now you are ready to compress the ROLL TOP SACK. Start by holding the edges of the opening together firmly.
6. Punch it down. As the air escapes between your hands the flexible walls of the bag collapse on themselves and form a valve. Repeat this process to reduce the volume.
7. Once it is compressed as much as it will, roll the edges down tightly against the gear in the bag. You must roll it at least three times to create a waterproof seal, but more times are okay.
8. After rolling, bring the clips around and ... snap! your bag is packed, sealed and ready to go!

[Bravo12]

If you're touring alone, don't worry about fitting it all into your hardbags. My buddy and I have been using this bag - the MotoPak GT-Roll - across our passenger seats for a few years now, and our bags still look like new. The bags hold all of our camping gear. When I get home, I clean everything up and pack it all back in this bag. When I am heading out on a trip where I know I'll be camping, I can just grab the bag and throw it on the seat. This also lets me stay consistent with how I pack my saddlebags, whether I'm camping or not.

[tomek]

Big Agnes insulated air mattress is the shit . Comfortable because , well , it is filled with air .  
 It is insulated so you won`t freeze your ass  .

Packs to almost nothing and weights nothing also . About 100 bucks . Worth every penny , company stands behind their product .
Mine developed undetectable ( I shit you not )  leak , they just send me new one after they also failed  trying to find the puncture .lol.
Mine is 25X78 , 2.5 inches thick . Perhaps too comfortable , can`t get up in the morning .

https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Pad/InsulatedAirCore

Eureka 2 people backpacking aluminum framed tent with couple vestibules , I don`t remember the model . Good quality and value a.k.a. not ridiculously expensive . About 200 bucks .  

I have old school down Sierra Design sleeping bag , served me well , more then 10 years old but some of high end synthetic ones are very nice now . I`m guessing they better  deal with the moisture .
       

[Bravo12]

My "low-end" XPG tent from Cabela's has served me well on two long trips over the past two years. Back in 2010, we did 4 weeks on the road, camping about 7 or 8 nights. Last month, we did almost 2 weeks up into Quebec and camped 10 out of 12 nights. I put 2 coats of Camp Dry on the rain fly and the solid portions of the tent every spring, and haven't had any issues at all with it. I can unpack it and have it up within 3 minutes. When the Hell Creek Campground was still bumping with bass (from a radio, not the creek) at 1am and we decided to get to a hotel in order to sleep, I broke camp and had EVERYTHING packed in about 5 minutes flat.

http://www.cabelas.com/view-tents-cabelas-xpg-8482-ultralight-tent-1.shtml

It's more expensive now, but I bought mine in 2010 when it was on sale for ~$70. I actually paid $90 in the store, but double-checked the Cabela's website price when I got home and it was listed as $20 cheaper. I returned to the store with my receipt and explained the situation, and they promptly refunded the difference. Great place to shop, if you can find one near you.

[tomttt]

I am a "cold sleeper" so the right bag and pad are of the utmost importance. I use a very light and small pack size down bag with a thermarest 2.5  thick sleeping pad that is self inflating. When temps are below 30*, I add a Goretex bivi sack, stops the wind and is well worth the weight and space. Spent two nights in sub 20* and 20-30 mph winds, sleep very warm, everyone else was uncomfortable with there "special" stuff, (gas heaters in drafty tents) lol. I used my equipment for backpacking prior to this, so it is light and does the job. Words like "goretex", "high loft down", "titanium", "aircraft alum. poles" are your friends.
Just my .02

[Strog]

I was wondering about the tent pole size issue.  I will be using hardbags as well.


Dave

This was the biggest concern for me when looking for a tent. Then I looked at other features that I thought I wanted (free standing, dual entry, etc.). If it was over 20" pack length then I crossed it off the list and look for more options. I ended up with a Eureka Apex 2XT but there's a lot of other great options out there that pack short(ish). Figure out what you need to fit in your luggage and work back from there.  

[timdow]

There are so many options.  The basics are the BIG THREE... sleeping bag, tent and ground pad.  Good idea to start with the tent.   The best idea if you think you will camp a lot is a two-man basecamp tent.  It is higher weight that a backpacking tent, but will be more sturdy and cost less than a lighter weight tent.  This will be around $200.  I recommend this one:  http://www.rei.com/product/794296/rei-half-dome-2-plus-tent

The sleeping bag and ground pad depend upon when and where you will be camping.  Lenght of the package is not all that important to me... I strap the BIG THREE to my passenger seat.  If you are carrying a passenger, you will have to plan for that.

I have used everything from a zip fleece and $8 ground pad to a down bag that compresses into the side of a football and a premium Therm-o-rest pad.  I recommend a synthetic bag due to lower cost and that fact that it keeps you warm when wet, and the therm-o-rest camp rest pad.

This is also an option: http://www.aerostich.com/high-tech-cot.html

[Cablebandit]

Re pads:  I use a Exped 9 down pad.

x10000  

Many cheapskates will balk at the price, but it's one of the best small air mattress out there.  The down inside of it keeps the earth from sucking the heat out you.

Like other have said, by name brand backpacking gear.  You get what you pay for.  Compression sacks are key.  If it's just me I can get my entire camping setup in one side case.  I I have Mrs CB along I can fit aan entire setup for 2 in just my top case.

[Shizoku]

x10000  

Many cheapskates will balk at the price, but it's one of the best small air mattress out there.  The down inside of it keeps the earth from sucking the heat out you.

Like other have said, by name brand backpacking gear.  You get what you pay for.  Compression sacks are key.  If it's just me I can get my entire camping setup in one side case.  I I have Mrs CB along I can fit aan entire setup for 2 in just my top case.

"...an entire setup for 2 in just my top case"

THAT is what I'm striving for!

Dave in Valencia

[Shizoku]

Re pads:  I use a Exped 9 down pad with pump.

http://www.rei.com/product/780365/exped-downmat-9-sleeping-pad-with-pump

Poof,
How long does it take to pump it up?

Dave

[Cablebandit]

I have 2 Expeds.  One with the integrated pump and one that uses the storage sack to inflate it.  I'd say it takes me about 2 minutes to inflate either one.

[sleazy rider]

This was my accommodations for nearly 5 weeks this summer.  





The tent/poles, 40* sleeping bag and chair all fit in one 35 liter Givi bag, along with a tent light and a few other small camping items.