What tents and sleeping bags do you guys use or recommend .I am going on some over nite rallys and plan on camping.BTW I will be by myself so it doesnt need to be a large tent . Thanks

I use a eureka sleeping bag rated to +30 folds up very small in the stuff sack

and a two man quick set up tent from cabelas . this also folds down very small . i can fit both in 1 saddle bag and still have room left ( my bags are not big just the regular small slant bags )

some times i bring a sleeping mat depends how long I will be out for .

but this set up works real well . as i like to back light ( hate the beverly hillbillys look on the bike )

Slinger

I use a 2 person tent. it fits in my tourpak.

If you want to move around in your tent, or have room for some gear (i.e., a backpack, your clothes, etc.) then I would get a 2 person tent. Buy a high quality tent as it is imperative that it is waterproof, especially on the floor - which reminds me to tell you to get a footprint for it so it won't get holes or leak.
In addition I would highly suggest a down sleeping bag. They compress to about 1/2 the size of a synthetic bag. It is important that you keep them dry though

This is not a plug, but just personal experience. I Have a big agnes tent 2 person. It is great, super easy to set up and does not leak at all. I got it off of e-bay for about $150 new and with a footprint.
I also bought a Big Agnes sleeping bag. You need to buy a pad for this bag as it has no insulation on the bottom and uses the pad as an insulator. There is a sleeve to insert the pad under the bag so you don't slide off of it in the night.
The real nice things about the Big Agnes bags are that as a result of using all of the fill on top of the bag, they feel much more like a blanket over you on a bed and in addition they are much wider than other bags in the feet. Makes it niceto move around so you don't feel like a mummy.Last thing about the bags is that the temperature rating applies to the lowest survivable temperature in that bag. Because of that, I would suggest getting a bag rated about 20 degrees colder than the coldest temperature you will encounter. AND get a good pad. (Thermarest, Big Agnes, or the like)

Really great quality stuff makes all the difference in the world. I bring my laptop and watch the occasional flick when on the road. Makes it pretty cool to be comfy.

Again, I would highly suggest the Big Agnes stuff, it has really been great.

Get a Therm-a-Rest self-inflating pad. So long as you don't puncture them (the covering is fairly tough), they're wonderful to sleep on.

I've been thinking about finding a good way to carry a Pop-Tent (http://funzones.stores.yahoo.net/popuptefshin.html) along. The two-person ones fold up to a 28" diameter disc about an inch and a half thick. They set up instantly and tear down in about 30 seconds. Furthermore, they're proof against being blown down in a windstorm. My wife and I have a six-person version (not appropriate for the bike, as it's around 40" in dia when folded). I was napping in it one day on a camping trip when a heavy wind came up the side of the mountain. The tent wall leaned over so far that it touched the end of my nose for a second. A couple seconds later when the wind died, it popped right back up where it was. With the fly on, they're very water proof as well. We were camping one year when torrential rains hit the campground. Everyone else was soaked to the skin with leaking tents. We were warm and dry the whole time.

Check out Campmor out of Paramus, NJ. They've got some great deals on solo tents. Here's a link http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Category___45752__250

They've also got tons of different sleeping bags, too.

ORIGINAL: krub6t9

What tents and sleeping bags do you guys use or recommend .I am going on some over nite rallys and plan on camping.BTW I will be by myself so it doesnt need to be a large tent .Â*Â*Â*Â* Thanks


I have one of those small 2-3 man tents ($30), doesn't take up much room, great for one person. I have a Army surplus arctic sleeping bag good for real cold weather ($30).

Everyone has pretty much covered it.

I shop Campmor for gear taking advantage of sales.

Tent = Eureka 4 man Timberline
Sleeping pad = Therm-a-rest
Sleeping bag = Wenger (ya, the Swiss Army folks) rectangular (hate a mummy bag) 3 season with a stuff sack.

Total weight about 18 pounds for all of it.

Have home will travel.

:DBest western, & then every now and again, Marriott Court Yard.

There are a ton of quality mfg out there. Some of the best deals I've found on gear come from www.sierratradingpost.com. Craigslist is good for tents and stuff like that- a used sleeping bag might be kinda gross though. Backpacker magazine usually has an annual gear review issue- check that out if you are really interested. Otherwise, just go with a light free standing tent with a rain fly that completely covers, and a sleeping bag with synthetic fill. Down isn't warm when wet and it's more expensive. Compression stuff sacks can make your sleeping bag a little smaller than a basket ball, makes traveling easier.

I will +1 on Leadslingers setup, exact one I use. Amazed at how small the bag will compress, put it inside my T Bag along with clothes and tied the tent under the T Bag, worked great. Both bag and tent were about $120.00 total.

Eureka 2-man Alpine (about $100). Excellent quality, small enough to easily pack and set up, big enough for me and gear.
Slumberland 3-season mummy bag (about $50), Slumberland pillow (about $13). Eureka ground cover (about $14). Ground cover also serves as raincover for gear on bike.

Holiday Inn Express (about $80-120). Preferred.

In the '70's my father bought three North Face tents for me, my sister and himself. I still usemine today. Had to replace some of the bungees on it, but its still the best tent I've ever been in. You're going to pay for it tho. If I'm not mistaken he paid $100+ for each of them back then.

The only thing I could add to the excellent aforementioned suggestions would be a quart of Jack Daniel’s for nightcaps; then, any sleeping bag would be comfortable.:)

ORIGINAL: old95

:DBest western, & then every now and again, Marriott Court Yard.



Finally...someone else who shops where I do.

Check out your local Dick's Sporting Goods store. Great selection of all the stuff you're looking for and prices are a hell of a lot cheaper than Cabela's. You can also see exactly what the item will look like as far as packing size goes.

Bags and tents, they can be made of lead as long as they are small. I just bought a new bag to take on the bike, went to REI.com and found a nice one in thier clearance isle for $50.

You'll need a ground pad of some sort, foam, inflatable, whatever. Not comfort as much as insulation, you'll lose more heat to the ground than the air.

Tents, a more personal choice. I got a real nice 3-person tent for myself (three!? my ass...) and its nice, sets up nice, packs pretty small, but the rain fly is SUFFOCATING. Wish I'd noticed that before I bought it. Get the ground tarp too, keeps out water and makes the floor last longer.

Buy the lower price ranges at the expensive places, stuff works better, packs smaller, is lighter, and more durable than typical cheap crap. Like most things, buy cheap, buy twice. Find the middle.

http://shop.barnettharley.com/McItemDisplay.php?Style=HDL-10010





ITEM # : HDL-10010
DESC : TENT-DOME W/VESTIBULE
PRICE : $179.00
DETAIL :
Camping Riders Dome Tent - Definitely worthy of your next road trip, this H-D Riders Dome Tent comfortably sleeps up to four people and your motorcycle! Breathable mesh roof panels provide ventilation in warm weather. 40" x 40" front and rear doors with mesh offer insect protection and include inside zipper storm flaps. Rainfly features "clear-view" windows for extra light and visibility on cloudy days and attaches with side-release buckles for easy set-up and tension adjustment. Motorcycle vestibule is specifically designed for motorcycle storage in the campground and can be removed when not needed. Reinforced floor seams offer superior weather resistance. Socked corded fiberglass frame allows for easy set-up. Includes 14 aluminum tent stakes and carry bag. Dimensions: Tent - 8' X 7' / Center Height: 52" (H) - Vestibule: 8' 4" X 8' 7" / Center Height 66" (H) Weight: approximately 12 lbs.

Year in and year out, The North Face Cat's Meow is the bag that get's the props. A little expensive, but they are worth it. I've had mine in twenty degree weather and in eighty degree weather backpacking through the Rockies and car camping in the Sierras. Nothing like them. But they are a mummy so YMMV.

Therm-A-Rest self inflating pads. As noted, as much for insulation as comfort.

Can't recommend a tent for you. Sold my two person North Face when the kids started arriving. $400 tent that could take snowstorms to heat waves as well. Just make sure the seams are sealed, the floor is a bathtub style (no seams and the bottom fabric, which is tougher, goes up the sides a bit so water stays out). Good tents also have a "footprint" that is a custom made ground tarp/cloth to help keep tears in the floor to a minimum. Well ventilated and a solid rain fly that doesn't stick to the sides of the tent.

Sierra Trading Post, Campmor, Cabela's, and REI are good places to start.

ORIGINAL: krub6t9

What tents and sleeping bags do you guys use or recommend .I am going on some over nite rallys and plan on camping.BTW I will be by myself so it doesnt need to be a large tent . Thanks


How much do you want to spend? If you don't mind spending a little extra then here's a couple tents I've used in the past ...

1. Eureka Apex 2 -- About $80 at places like Campmor (http://www.campmor.com (http://www.campmor.com/)) and REI. It has good ventilation (something you want on those warm summer nights) and shockcord mounted pole system (easy to setup). It sleeps 2 but is really better suited for a solo with a little gear.

http://www.campmor.com/images/tents/28103.jpg

2. Eureka Solitaire -- This is an "ultralight" tent so it's good for motorcycle travel. It's really a backpacker's tent, so the weight and ease of setup is a high priority. It is also around $70, though it is a big smaller than the Apex.

http://www.campmor.com/images/tents/23888.jpg

I usually go between the Apex and Solitaire depending on how stuff I'm taking along and how much room I think I'll need at night. The Apex is a good tent for long trips (more than 5 days) since it allows me to get more stuff into the tent with me. The Solitaire is a good one for shorter trips (less than 5 days) and it also is a bit lighter weight.

If you don't want to spend $70 and up for a tent then just go to WalMart and get a Coleman 2-person tent for $40. Coleman is good equipment, for the money, and it will pack okay for a trip. But I like the smaller size of my Eurekas.

Sleeping bags ... again ... how much do you want to spend? I've got a Wal-Mart special for $14.95 that works for warm nights, but I wouldn't try it in temps cooler than 50 degrees. It's also a bit short for me (I'm just over 6'1") so I tend to buy the more expensive "extra long" bags.

Be sure to get a bed mat as well. And you'll want a tarp or ground cover for under the tent. Nothing worse than getting caught in a late night rain shower to find your tent soaked from the seapage through the floor. I use a small (twin) air mattress with a 12 volt air pump that is well worth the money. The pump fits in my left saddle bag along with the mattress.

My buddy has one of those tents. It lasted for one trip to Daytona. The wind was too much on the garage end and the rod broke in two places. Too much wind resistance and too little support in the way of anchor points. Also the rain fly goes all the way to the ground which makes for a hot night with little air circulating. I'll stick with a tent that's comfortable. JMO

Check out the SportzPac by Napier.... Got mine at campersland.com. Made for motorcycle travel.

wiggy's sleeping bag,,,,compresses very small,,,,this is a big plus. sierra design tent,,,,same thing about size and compression....and an inflatable air mattress that will roll up the size of a nalgene bottle.....polypropylene shirts are a big plus for space saving..
i can put a campsite in one saddle bag and clothes for a week in the other.....you might want a 2 cup coffee press and jet boil stove to entertain company....both are very small and packable....

Tents - get one as big as practical. I use a four man tent with a vestibule. It packs to 8" x 20" so it is not much larger on the bike than my old 5lb hi tech hiking tent. It's nice to get all your gear inside for the night, especially in a major downpour. Look at the actual footprint of the tent and the drawings of how the sleeping bags are aligned and you see that for comfort you need to divide by 2 the person rating to get the actual comfortable person rating. Also, I can't get dressed laying down anymore so I like at least 5' in height and I bring a small camp stool for sitting and dressing.

Sleeping bags - the temperature rating is the tempurature at which you won't freeze to death. Add 10 to 15 degrees to get the comfort rating.

Air mats - I use a coleman airmat. They really improved the seams and valves a few years ago. I use their 12v portable inflator which I plug into the bike from the SAE adaptor for my battery tender.

I keep my tent and sleeping bag in sealine baja bags. http://seallinegear.com/

Strap, don't bungee. Aerostich straps http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Aerostich-D-Type-Cargo-Straps-p-16202.html

Pack aslow and narrow as possible.

REI is having a sale. We just got a 2 man tent that packs small on sale plus 2 lite-core 1.5 self-inflated sleeping pads that pack 10" x 5", open size 72" x 20", also on sale.

1 man tent is like a coffin...two man tent is big enough for you and your gear, three men tent two people and gear etc...
I recommend anyone needing camping gear look at www.alpsmountaineering.com (http://www.alpsmountaineering.com)
We use their tents, packs, and sleeping bags in our Scout troop (and for anyone else in scouting, they offer scouts a hugediscount.
Their quality is as good as North Face, Kelty, or any of the other premium gear companies, at a much more reasonable cost.Believe me, we have ptu their gear through the wringer, and it holds up. It is all super lightweight also. I personally own three of their tents, and several of their sleeping bags and packs in different configurations.

I suggest a tent you can stand up in, much more comfortable than a 2 man sleeping tent. Allows you to get dressed and undressed much easier plus plenty of room to stow all your gear. I use a free standing tent that I can stake down if I want to. Seems like wherever you first pitch it there's something wrong (i.e. ground uneven, smoke coming in from the campfire, no breeze coming in, too much breeze, etc.) and it makes it easy to move to another spot. Any warm bag will do the trick with a self inflating mattress under it. Don't forget the ground cloth for the tent, helps prevent rips and tears.

1) I got this sleeping bag on sale - 1/2 off if I recall. Watch for REI sales on thier labeled goods:

REI Kilo Plus 0 degree Sleeping Bag - Regular; $289.00 [/align]
http://www.rei.com/product/731682?vcat=REI_SSHP_REI_TOC

http://media.rei.com/media/681303.jpg


+1 from Doc CJ on the tent - this is what I use:

Eureka Solitaire -- This is an "ultralight" tent so it's good for motorcycle travel. It's really a backpacker's tent, so the weight and ease of setup is a high priority. It is also around $70, though it is a big smaller than the Apex.

http://www.campmor.com/images/tents/23888.jpg


Lastly, I have a mattress pad, two actually - a full size and a 3/4 length, depending on the trip I am taking (your lower legs really don't need an/or receive any benefit from the pad so save the weight and space).

The ProLite 4 is the most compact, four-season, full-length, self-inflating mattress Therm-a-Rest® makes.

http://www.rei.com/product/708472

Get yourself some quality dry bags/stuff sacks for each of these items. The ones they come with may not do the trick.

Good luck.

+1 on the Eureka Apex. Have had one for years. Used it in MN and then in MT. Re-seal the seams once in a while and you're golden. Have been in 50 mph winds and heavy downpours without any problems. When I moved to MT, I had a set of aluminum poles made for it to reduce the weight from the fiberglass ones. Rolled up with a ground tarp, it's about 4x22.
Also +1 on the straps instead of bungees. I use rafting straps and they don't budge after tightening. You have to check them periodically because the load will compress once you're down the road a bit.
Sleeping bag is an Everest double (2 bags in one). With both bags - the light weight becomes the liner, I'm good to below 0. The outer bag is even too hot for summer by itself and I use the inner light weight most of the time. It's holofil, compresses down to about 5x12 and goes well with the thermarest mummy shaped pad that compresses to about the same size.
Total weight on the whole set up is under 10#.

What ever tent that you like can work. Space, hight, etc. Wal-mart for $29 or REI for $200 (or more), and everything between. I like dome tents. Two man works good.
But on the sleeping bag -808 holifil (sp?) is the only way to go. Woke up in a 4 in puddle one time. Was still warm, and it drained and I could sleep in it that night. Feathers (down), if wet weights in about 20 lbs per sq in (feels like it anyway) and is cold when wet.
The self inflating sleeping pads work good, some even have a pillow attached. Blue tarp will work as a grownd cloth. I've hiked all over the northwest. And winter camped in the snow. Can stuff a bag, two tarps and a pad in bottom of a pack.
Enjoy the camping

ORIGINAL: Wecroft
Check out your local Dick's Sporting Goods store. Great selection of all the stuff you're looking for and prices are a hell of a lot cheaper than Cabela's. You can also see exactly what the item will look like as far as packing size goes.


Ditto on this. I got a Eureka 2 person tent (I think it was an Apex) from Dicks and it worked out very well. I've got decent size saddle bags, but the tent took up less than half the space in there. As for the sleeping bag, I just picked up a Coleman mummy bag that suffed down to the smallest size I could find for the cold season, and picked up a smaller fleece sleeping bag for the summer months. I figured why take the space if you don't need to.

I bought one of those Thermarest pads, but it was a bit expensive so I ended up returning it after my friend said that he got his (different brand) at REI and it was less than half the price. Don't know the brand, but it might pay to shop around for self inflating mattresses.

ORIGINAL: Dragon Rider

What ever tent that you like can work. Space, hight, etc. Wal-mart for $29 or REI for $200 (or more), and everything between. I like dome tents. Two man works good.
But on the sleeping bag -808 holifil (sp?) is the only way to go. Woke up in a 4 in puddle one time. Was still warm, and it drained and I could sleep in it that night. Feathers (down), if wet weights in about 20 lbs per sq in (feels like it anyway) and is cold when wet.
The self inflating sleeping pads work good, some even have a pillow attached. Blue tarp will work as a grownd cloth. I've hiked all over the northwest. And winter camped in the snow. Can stuff a bag, two tarps and a pad in bottom of a pack.
Enjoy the camping



this is closer to how i roll too. inexpensive tent by coleman. its a roomy 3 or 4 person dome tent. i wouldnt want to carry it in a backpack up a mountain, but it packs small enough for a motorcycle, and the extra weight is no penalty.

same with the sleeping bag. hollofil is great for maintaining its warmth when wet, and while heavier than down, rolls up well enough to strap onto a bike. not sure i would want to pack it up a mountain, but for motorcycle camping, its great. i wish i would have gotten a rectangular one instead of mummy style though.

again, not the lightest gear, but that doesnt matter for riding it in. inexpensive and durable is what i look for.

that and some tequila, of course.