Myself and my dad have been camping on bikes for 10 years. I started on sport bikes for several years and on a streetglide now. I have learned it's better to get good camping gear if your going use it often. My tent packs very small and only weighs 3 pounds. A good sleeping bag will fit in a saddlebag verses a large Coleman from Walmart that's huge and takes up lot of space. I have a air mattress that came from REI that's three inches thick when inflated but packs to size of softball.

 

"I have a air mattress that came from REI that's three inches thick when inflated but packs to size of softball."

Do you by any chance have a link to this air mattress? That seems to be my biggest and heaviest camping article. Thanks

 

I'm 75 and still tent camp but usually going to rallies like Sturgis, Daytona Bike Week and Laughlin River Run. I refuse to pay motel rates during the rally This past Sturgis to celebrate the 75th anniversary and mine I got a 750 Street to ride there. Used a REI hiking backpack and managed 45 lbs of gear. Tent camping at Elkview Campgrounds was only $16/night.

Rode 75 mph down the Interstate and went over 750 miles (850) to get there in one day. Stopped at a DQ for lunch as it was their 75th also.

On my long tours I do use motels. Although I may take some camping gear and camp but never two nights in a row.

I get the cheapest 3 man tent which are about 9' by 7' in order to have an air mattress. The size of the package is not even noticeable over a 7' x 7' tent.

With an air mattress sleeping is very comfortable with one proviso. It is more important to have more covers between you and the air mattress to keep warm. They are just like a heat sink.

I go overboard with the sleeping bag. I have one that is good to 20 degrees. Usually I sleep on top of it for the previous reason and use a light microfiber blanket.

There is not much else I do except select a spot that my head will be slightly uphill and smooth ground. And if it rains runoff will go around the spot. So a slight mound is best.

 

I bought my son the REI version (only 2.5" thick) for backpacking instead of thermorest self inflating pads we use for kayaking. This one is 3"

http://www.rei.com/product/866790/ne...e-sleeping-pad

 

Anyone do any hammock camping? I was thinking this may be the way to go over a tent.

 

I have done it, but some of the problems you can run into are, not having the trees in the correct location, or where the insects are too bad.

I basically did out in the carribean where I was on a beach and palm trees were available and I nice breeze coming in from the water keeping the insects at bay.

the nice thing about a tent is if the weather gets bad, you can still have someplace dry.

I have also camped without a tent on the ground, but the insects and wildlife are the consideration with that. nothing like a snake nearby or a scorpion.

 

I can't think of very many places where I could have used a hammock but if you know where your going will work you could go that route. On a touring trip you will need a tent if you plan on camping. Tents work very well as a shelter, are easy to setup, and are very small and light so they are perfect for any kind of camping.

With a hammock your more exposed to weather and you would still need some basic tent structure to get under. In cold weather you are more exposed and will need a better sleep system to stay warm. There may be bugs and snakes that want to cuddle up with you while your sleeping.

 

My idea of camping also..