Ok reaching out to you more experienced guys here. I am gonna need some camping gear for my trip in July with Murph, and I have absolutely no clue what to get. I don't want to spend foolishly so was curious if anyone could offer some input on what brands are good for tent, sleeping bag, tent footprint, etc, and aside from those things what else if anything should I consider getting.

Thanks

 

I was on my way to the Hillcrest Baptist Camp and I got all my gear at H.E.B.! Wife was kinda upset cause I didnt have room for the hairdryer (or her)!!!!
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As far as sleeping bags go I have used teton bags they range in price according to the protective temperature you need I think they go as far as -18 degrees good luck and ride safe

 

I know that Carolyn and I found out the difference between a $50.00 tent and a $250.00 tent real fast one night when the rain hit while we were camping. I have always thought these are a good idea because you are off the ground. Pretty neat and they pack up real small but are still kind of long. http://www.amazon.com/Kamp-Rite-Comp...7029757&sr=1-8

 

Lol dave I learned that same lesson did I mention it was in january it sucked slept in my van the rest of the night

 

Well now.... first-off, I am no expert but have bike-camped several times. Each time you bike-camp you'll get better at it.

With that said, YOU will learn a lot during your FIRST bike-camping experience, so maybe first on your list is to have a ready-list of outfitter stores, at least a list of the closest Wally Worlds as you travel around. (So you can buy stuff as you learn).

Your first time camping in the rain will completely alter all future preparations for the next camping trip. Bottom line...... your own personal experiences are the best teacher.

I will share what works for me... starting with a pic of how I looked heading to Sturgis for a ten day trip, then a list of the big stuff that was loaded:





How I looked at camp:




- 2-person tent, 4 tent spikes (push-in rather than hammer).
- Ground tarp, cheap green one, went under tent, (or for emergency use over the tent).
- Sleeping bag, summer weight.
- Bag chair, (sometimes this stays home), but ya can't always be comfortable sitting on the ground or trust that there will be a picnic table on-site or chairs to borrow.
- I pack a small couch-pillow, a battery lantern, small flashlight, poncho, toilet paper, utility knife, cordage, plenty of bungee cords.
- I try not to over-fill my saddle bags, but usually keep a small assortment of tools, varieties of riding shirts, light and heavy jackets, and a couple of layer items such as sweat *****, glove selection, long-sleeve T-shirts, etc. Good to pack sun screen too. Stuff in the saddle bags stays on the bike, everything else gets unpacked and put in the tent.
- I have one of those new-model inflatable & foam air mattresses which roll-up pretty small and then the sleeping bag and my couch pillow make it quite comfortable.
- I have a small battery-operated (D-cell) tent fan. When it's hot all day, that fan helps cool the tent. (luxury item).
- Clothes..... another whole subject by itself, but I love Eddie's suggestion that I follow now on the trips. I pack old socks and underwear. When they come off, they get thrown out. Then you're not hauling dirty clothes. Slowly you are making room for goodies you are buying during your trip. I think most people over-pack clothes.

Ya gotta think about keeping everything dry while you're hauling this stuff. Absolutely nothing worse that trying to crawl into a wet sleeping bag and then trying to sleep (experienced this once in the boy scouts, and twice in the Navy). If you don't have appropriate nylon rain slip-ons built into you T-bag stuff, then get a hold of 3mil contractor's garbage bags. Your typical hefty bags will not last or stand up to the wind beating they will get. My sleeping bag and small couch pillow go into their own water resistant zipper bag and then get wrapped with rain slip-ons or 3-mil plastic.

Questions?.....

 

^^^^ That is a great post!

 

I forgot to mention that how your stuff gets valued is how well it fits back into the bag it comes in. How small stuff is is cool too. My bag chair is the biggest/widest item I take, the rest is more narrow.

Tents need to fold up and go back into their travel bags. You don't want a tent that goes back into a nice four-foot long carry bag. Ya gotta think two-feet long (or less). My air mattress is only about 4-5 inches in diameter once rolled-up again, and only half its width when opened.

You're better-off thinking along the lines for stuff for backpacking rather than fitting in the corner of the mini-van. LOL

 

I don't know where you are going so I can't let you know what I'd use as for a sleeping bag. But check the temp range for the bag and get one that's at least 20 degrees cooler than you are going to expect at night. In other words if the forecast is for 50 at night then get one that supposed to work down to 30 degrees. Don't sleep in your clothes, because you won't be as comfortable and you'll want to put on something warm when you get out of the bag. Use some kind of plastic or tarp under your bag or you WILL get cold.

As for a tent? This year I'm going to the mountains and won't use a tent. I'm gonna use a tarp that is beg enough for me and the bike. 10 X18 oughta do it and I'll have part of the tarp under my bag, and one end will be folded up so it will be closed. Maybe I will use the tent I allready have. I don't know. If I do take the tent I will still take an 8X10 tarpto put under me if it's cold, or over the tent and bike if it's gonna rain. If it's neither then I'll throw it over the bike to keep the dew off of it, so I can ride out when I get up. When I throw the tarp over the tent, it won'd be ON then tent but rather over a branch that is high enough for me to stand under. Don't forget the parachute cord (100' length at sporting good store) to tie it to whatever is handy. BTW, never get a one person tent, even if it's only for you. ALWAYS get a tent that will fit twice as many people as you plan on having in it.

I will not take my coleman stove because it is too big, but will take a Jetboil. Just google it and you will see. It'll make hot coffee in about 2 minutes.

Most sporting goods stores have food that doesn't need refrigeration, just heat and eat sorta like an MRE. Even if you plan on restaurants, still take some of 'em, you might get hungry. Just stick a bag on your engine and in half an hour you have a hot meal. Just remember to take a roll of aluminum foil to wrap it in first.

A small LED flashlight. if you don't take one you will be dissappointed.

A small folding chair. depends on where you camp, someplaces have a picnic table at each site some don't. If you don't mind sitting on the ground for an hour or two then forget the chair.

If the campground says they have tent pads, then my God...you better take a thermarest or som kind of inflatable matress....and either way do take an inflatable pillow, if you don't you can always use some clothes under your head to use as a pillow.

If there are lots of bugs...when you take off your boots, stretch your socks over the top of your boots to keep the bugs out. I found a scorpion in one of my boots once...
Any more Q's just ask. I'll try to help.

 

Dang, I didn't see the other replies after Dave when I started typing, then went and ate and finished typing. Oh well.
I wish I had as much room on my bike as Paul does on his...shoot, I think I'd take...no I don't think I'd take her...
ANYWAY
Put the tent back into the bag it came in?

I put my sleeping bag in the tent and then roll it up so it fits on the bike in one smal rolled up item.