Camping Gear Suggestions

[kurt]

Here's the deal. I haven't camped in years, preferring the ease of hotels and room service. In an attempt to expand my horizons I'm willing to acquire some gear and give it a go. After some research I've defined some parameters and need the collective advice from those with experience. Feels free to offer suggestions as to brands and models and fill in any of the details I've missed. I prefer to spend somewhere in the midrange to acquire quality gear. I feel most of my camping will be of the state park or KOA variety and I want it to be motorcycle capable. What do you suggest?

1. Tent. 3-4 person, aluminum poles, 3.5 season with a rain fly and vestibule. Interior height of at least 50" Price range $100-$200

2. Sleeping bag. Packs small and has a rating down to 30 degrees. Larger is better. Price range $50 and up.

3. Pad for sleeping pad. No clue.

4. Camp stove. Dual fuel (I think...) small and capable of making coffee.

[CBAT]

I like using a Thermarest pad because of the option of having a seat kit that converts the pad into comfortable chair. I have the camprest model; a little thicker and wider than the lightest weight versions. If I know I wont be needing a camp chair I use a twin size air matress from Wally World (cheap) and a 12 volt inflator. Very comfy and takes up about the same space as the Thermarest when deflated. I can't remember the brand of stove I have but it will burn Kerosene, unleaded gas, or white gas(coleman camp fuel). My tent is an older model that is not made anymore but it was one of the larger 2 man tents. It's a Kelty Vortex. The twin matress fits in this tent.

[DFW_Warrior]

3 person and smaller tents are very motorcycle friendly. 4 person tents generally fall in the "family camping" area and are usually quite a bit larger on the pack.

For just me, I just a 3 person tent. It's roomy enough for me, and all my gear to spread out and air out for the next days ride. It is a Mountain Hardware Light Wedge 3 Linky Here... (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=112&cat=23&viewAll=False) And has served me well so far.

However, it is a bit on the short side, which is something I like since my last "taller" tent collapsed in heavy winds. It's a give or take really.

Sleeping pad... don't skimp for a short and narrow one. Buy a good sized one that will fit your whole body on, and be thick enough to keep you nice and elevated off the ground. I just an REI 1.5 camp pad and love it.

[Squeaky]

Stove: I still have the MSR Whisperlite International that we used on the Four Bikers and a Monkey trip. I have only used it once or twice since then because I now use a Jetboil, but you are welcome to give it a try to see if you like it. The "international" designation means it's the multi-fuel version. Takes 5 different liquid fuel options, including unleaded gas. It stores down small inside the smaller of my two camping pots.

I'll bring it to Q tomorrow for ya.

[gocatgo]

For a backpack stove I like the JetBoil. Easy to use and pack, and light weight. It uses little propane canisters that screw on to the bottom of it.
I used to use a Svea stove, it uses Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline. Works great, but the JetBoil is my first choice now.

[gocatgo]

Hey Kurt, just an idea on sleeping bags - get a lighter weight bag that will keep you warm enough most of the time, and for the coldest times use a fleece liner with it. Adds at least 10 degrees comfort. In summer the fleece bag can be used alone.
I recently got a Coleman brand fleece bag from Campmor for around $10.

[motomac]

Kurt, check out motocampers.com.

[kurt]

Kurt, check out motocampers.com.

I've already read what's there, just seeking additional opinions from those here. It has good information and should grow a good member base. I'm registered as kurt1305.

[DFW_Warrior]

My opinions as far as stoves are to not go with a cheapo one. I have an old school Coleman Dual Fuel stove that I picked up at Walmart for $25. It's a decent little stove, but in the cold (below 30), it is a royal pain in the rear to try and light.

But I also don't like the jet boils either. They are great at boiling water, and great at.... well, that's about it. I like to cook up some eggs, pancakes, maybe some burgers for dinner, and so forth. For that, I think I'll stick to a regular stove. Oh yeah, and those regular stoves... yeah, they also boil water too... LOL go figure!!

[bushwhacker]

My favorite camping gear is at the Ritz Carlton but in a pinch you can get what you need at a Motel 6.

[Squeaky]

But I also don't like the jet boils either.

Valid points Bill. It all depends on what you plan on doing with it. My stove was great for making real food for four people - but when I'm on the road alone I have a hard time reasoning out that much packed space since the majority of what I'll eat & drink only needs... boiled water!

Which is why I still have both. ;-)

[gocatgo]

I have the attachment that allows you to cook with a pot or pan on my Jetboil. It fits inside the boiling cup for storage, a nice neat package.

[Photojojo]

I have a Jetboil, whisperlite, and a Dragonfly. If I'm by myself, and going light it's the jetboil. If I'm making meals it's the Dragonfly. If my kid wants to take one camping with scouts he gets the Whipserlite. You can't beat propane for ease of use. No priming, just turn it on an push a button. Most of them will pack fairly small as well.

I would go to REI for the tent. Most of them will have them set up so you can get in and move around. Plus some of their REI brand will fall into your price range. As far as the bag goes I would also get one that would be ok most of the time and pack a fleece liner. This way if you go in the summer you can just take the fleece. I don't really like a mummy bag for the majority of my camping, but when it gets cold (below 30) you need to be able to hold the warmth in. Other than then I like to be able to move around. Big Agnes makes a comfortable sleeping pad that deflates to a VERY small size.

[SL350]

I still like those home made wax powered buddy burners and I plan to make some over the holidays. Normally I use coffee cans but this time I will make some in tuna cans and see how that tests out.

[John Bennett]

First, spend $80 on an expensive mountain climbing stove. After a year of fiddling with it, sell it on Ebay and get some Sterno.

Sterno = $4 a can. Sterno Stove that folds to 1" thick, weighs 11 oz., and is virtually indestructible = $8.

They aren't sexy and cool like the European stoves. No one will ask to look at or play with your Sterno. But you will appreciate Sterno when you are enjoying hot soup and coffee while everyone else is freezing their butts off searching their bags for repair parts or recharge bottles.

http://www.baproducts.com/4135.jpg

http://www.baproducts.com/p62.jpg

The Zen of Simplicity

[Squeaky]

I would go to REI for the tent. Most of them will have them set up so you can get in and move around.

Whatever they don't already have set up on display they will let you pull off the shelf and set up. Same with sleeping bags, pads, pillows - they have a little platform to use so you can lay them out and test-sleep without having to get on the floor.

I don't really like a mummy bag for the majority of my camping, but when it gets cold (below 30) you need to be able to hold the warmth in.

Same here, so I went with a semi-mummy. It's more of a barrel shape that has plenty of room but isn't as big as the squared-off ones.

+1 on all the fleece bag comments as well. I got my fleece bag at WalMart and use it inside an REI 30 degree bag. The fleece doubles as a throw blanket around the campfire - open the zipper all the way, fold down diagonally, then wrap yourself up in it.

[Mellow]

Here's the deal. I haven't camped in years, preferring the ease of hotels and room service. In an attempt to expand my horizons I'm willing to acquire some gear and give it a go. After some research I've defined some parameters and need the collective advice from those with experience. Feels free to offer suggestions as to brands and models and fill in any of the details I've missed. I prefer to spend somewhere in the midrange to acquire quality gear. I feel most of my camping will be of the state park or KOA variety and I want it to be motorcycle capable. What do you suggest?

1. Tent. 3-4 person, aluminum poles, 3.5 season with a rain fly and vestibule. Interior height of at least 50" Price range $100-$200

Kurt, I just got a 4 person Eureka Tetragon 8 for $90. It's HUGE and it packs a little larger than my 2 person Eureka Apex tent which was around $100

Basically, for $100 you can get a very nice tent and coleman has some of the sundome tents for anywhere from $50-80.


2. Sleeping bag. Packs small and has a rating down to 30 degrees. Larger is better. Price range $50 and up.


I would not skimp on the sleeping bag, if pack size is important you can get a down bag but if 30 degrees is all your looking for there are many synthetic bags that will also pack down small. You can get a cheap bag at wally world for $40 if you like but I chose to spend around $150 on mine, it's down and probably a 30 degree bag.


3. Pad for sleeping pad. No clue.


Wally world sells some $9 sleeping pads from Ozark Trail, they are comfortable and will work just fine especially if you also get one of their fleece sleeping bags for $10. You can put the air mattress inside, then, sleep on top in your bag. I've done this in 30 degree weather and it's worked very well.


4. Camp stove. Dual fuel (I think...) small and capable of making coffee.

You don't NEED to bring a stove, just eat in town.. but, if you feel like giving it a try then coleman has some small ones that are dual fuel and around $40.

If you've checked motocampers then I'm just repeating some of the stuff over there but hopefully this still helps you or someone else thinking about camping.

[AusFletch]

What do you suggest?

Kurt, if you are not going to College Station this weekend Paige and I are running and camping at Enchanted Rock on Saturday. I can borrow some gear that is identical to mine for you to test out if you'd like to join us.

If not, you are welcome to borrow my whole kit anytime you'd like. Paige and We have camped with this kit on trips as long as from here to British Columbia and back and are happy with it. Everything we need/want (except camp stools and large amounts of food) for a month on the road fits on the GS with us riding 2-up.

-FLETCH

[sparkyphotog]

My opinions as far as stoves are to not go with a cheapo one. I have an old school Coleman Dual Fuel stove that I picked up at Walmart for $25. It's a decent little stove, but in the cold (below 30), it is a royal pain in the rear to try and light.

But I also don't like the jet boils either. They are great at boiling water, and great at.... well, that's about it. I like to cook up some eggs, pancakes, maybe some burgers for dinner, and so forth. For that, I think I'll stick to a regular stove. Oh yeah, and those regular stoves... yeah, they also boil water too... LOL go figure!!

Actually, you can use the Jetboil like a regular stove with a small adapter. It works about as well as an MSR. The advantage of the MSR is that you can use any fuel, whereas with the Jetboil you have to use the special propane canister.

[GregH]

...I can't remember the brand of stove I have but it will burn Kerosene, unleaded gas, or white gas(coleman camp fuel).
MSR Whisperlite Internationale. I've used them for decades and they're reliable and field maintainable.

[Gilk51]

I don't really like a mummy bag for the majority of my camping, but when it gets cold (below 30) you need to be able to hold the warmth in.

One trick from Boy Scouts is to take something to cover your head - you lose a lot of heat thru your head. That will help a lot when your sleeping bag is marginal for the temperature.

[Mike in Clear Lake]

One trick from Boy Scouts is to take something to cover your head - you lose a lot of heat thru your head. That will help a lot when your sleeping bag is marginal for the temperature.

Of course! You use a Navy issue watch cap. Didn't you guys watch Then Came Bronson? :-P

[DFW_Warrior]

Actually, you can use the Jetboil like a regular stove with a small adapter. It works about as well as an MSR. The advantage of the MSR is that you can use any fuel, whereas with the Jetboil you have to use the special propane canister.

But then you have to buy a really expensive Jet Boil, and a fairly expensive adapter, all to get to the point that a cheapo little MSR stove will do. For me, I never got that impatient on any of my trips where I HAD to have a cup of water boiling in 60 seconds. My little stove gets it up to boil in about 90 seconds, and does a whole crap load more than a jet boil could ever hope to do.;-)

Yes, I'm cheap. And I don't like uni-taskers. That's why I only travel with one skillet. It will boil water, it will cook eggs, burgers, pasta, or whatever else I need it to do. And the same with my stove. It will do whatever I need it to do without any extra pieces or tidbits.

[Tracker]

Non-gold backed 2 cents...

1. Don't skimp on the sleeping bag or pad. Get a good down or whatever the latest artificial down is. As someone else mentioned, get a fleece liner for it. Mine's a 30 degree down bag. With the fleece liner and a watchcap, I'm usually good to the low 20's. I've got the shorty and full length Thermarest. My shorty's 29 years old and still good. Make sure if it's a mummy bag, that it's wide enough at the shoulders for you, especially if you get claustrophobic.

2. My Coleman Peak 1 stove did a month long trip through the Rockies some 29 years ago and numerous trips since then on backpack trips, bicycle tours and motorcycle trips. I've used leaded & unleaded gas, white gas, & Coleman fuel in it. It still has the original leather plunger in it. I used butter once to soften it up so it would pump up. It can be a bear to start when it get's down in the low 30's or lower as Bill related, but it's always started for me. The tank on it is big enough to cook a good size meal, make coffee and then bowl water for the dishes afterwards without having to refill it.

3. My Eureka tent went funky on me a few years back and started smelling like barf when the nylon started breaking down. I replaced it with a cheap 3 man Coleman tent from Academy that so far has done just fine. I wouldn't want to backpack with it, but for the bike trips, it's been fine.

If you're not ever going to backpack, you could probably get away with some of the cheaper, heavier stuff. The other issue is volume/space.

campmor.com has some good pricing sometimes.

[Hemibee]

Sterno = $4 a can. Sterno Stove that folds to 1" thick, weighs 11 oz., and is virtually indestructible = $8.

http://www.baproducts.com/4135.jpg

http://www.baproducts.com/p62.jpg

The Zen of Simplicity


+1

Can't beat a Sterno stove for a cheap reliable camp stove when space is an issue.

[CBAT]

Hey Kurt,
Found these on CL...
http://austin.craigslist.org/spo/517997567.html

[leekellerking]

+1 on REI. The employees are usually enthusiasts and actually have some idea of what they are talking about! :clap:

I bought my last backpacking tent from http://www.rei.com/outlet/. They will ship free to any REI store and you can pick it up there.

One warning -- once you get on the mailing list it can get expensive. :doh:


Lee

[JTM]

Personally I hike, camp, and go offroading so that is what I picked my gear for.

The Walmart/Academy Coleman tents work really well, the floors hold up better than Hiking tents, and they cost a lot less. Granted I really like my Alps Mountaineering Comet 1.5. If you want a light weight tent, I would recommend checking out http://www.rei.com/outlet; yes they are last years models and special buys that are not carried in the store, but they are less expensive and the same quality as the ones in the store.

Sleeping bags I have an assortment of Coleman sleeping bags ranging 10*-70* including one of the fleece bags, I also have an Eddie Bauer and a clearanced Walmart mummy bag. They sleep really well except the clearance walmart bag it is rated to 25* but its really more like 40*. If you have a Gander Mtn. they had some really good bags that compress down small and they are synthetic so they are still warm even if they get wet.

Sleeping pads, I have a Therma Rest (old not sure of model), an REI Trekker 1.75 and one of those cheap green foam things. The REI and the Therma rest are about the same they are great, but there are still times when that green foam wins the battle.

I have used a Coleman dual fuel for years it always worked, but I have developed a hatred for pumping dual fuel equipment. I now have a Jet Boil Group system and if you would like I can show you how to make an omlet with an MSR frying pan. Yes the jet boil is good for more than boiling water, you just have to adjust the fuel so the flame is smaller. Granted I'm lazy and I like dehydrated food so it isn't a bit deal for me.

In short the Coleman and Coleman Exponent gear should suit almost all of your needs and stay with in your price plan, sleeping pads are up to you I bought the REI pad because it came with a stuff sack and a repair kit for less than the Therma Rest and a stuff sack. Avoid no name sleeping bags and bring a knit cap or some other head cover to help stay warm.

Sorry for the novel

[Texfire]

4. Camp stove. Dual fuel (I think...) small and capable of making coffee.
http://www.jetboil.com/img/prod/pcsblackf.jpg
I purchased one of the Jetboils for my last Jeep trip, with an extra cup. I did this because I wanted the ability to camp if I wanted to, but planned on eating at restaurants most of the time. The Jetboil with two cups gave me the ability to heat up water for coffee or hot chocolate as well as soup or ramen at the same time. It was not used much, but as a backup if I found myself camping somewhere and needed to cook out of my campbox. Since the burner/propane cylinder store inside the cup it is very compact when stowed.

If you are planning on mainly heating liquids and want something that is self contained and can pack down small look at the Jetboil.

[Squeaky]

I think this is the first time I've ever seen the Jetboil on sale! :sun:
http://www.rei.com/product/708890

[Texfire]

REI even sells a Jetboil that comes with a french press top for the container and nesting cup for drinking.

http://www.rei.com/product/748492

[macktruckturner]

After my last two cheap-o tents, I decided to stick to the ultralight supercompact option, though it isn't really any cheaper (unless you can "acquire" equipment from people PCSing or ETSing). Four .mil issue ponchos, a poncho liner, some 550 cord, and a few bungee cords enables you to make nicely waterproof shelter pretty much anywhere. Make a bed out of pine needles, or anything else less solid than the floor, put poncho #1 down. Poncho 2 and 3 are your walls, snapped together and folded over so water doesn't flow inside. Tie the poncho liner into poncho #4 and you've got yourself a sleeping bag.

OK, who am I kidding, camping like that garuntees that you'll be in the mood to kill when you wake up. Great for the Infantry, not so great if you're supposed to be enjoying yourself. I do pack light, and haven't yet found a tent that didn't anger me greatly. For sleeping bags, there are tons of very compact offerings, but my poncho liner (or woobie, if you're a soldier) is still my best friend. It'll increase your comfort level by a good 10-15 degrees easily. In the field, I rarely bring my full sleeping bag set. The black bag takes up entirely too much space, but the green bag is not warm by any stroke of the imagination. Wrap up in the woobie, and climb into the green bag, and even windy 28 degree desert nights aren't intolerable. That said, the woobie gets packed anytime I leave the comforts of my own bed/cot.

For cooking, I've got one of the Coleman single burner propane units. The burner that just screws on to the top of the bottle. I don't like it very much, because it takes up too much space. I prefer to just start a small fire and cook with the coals, but if that's not an option, any of the other methods mentioned here work just fine.

[CBAT]

I guess you could always make a lean to out of your bike and a 8x10 tarp. Simple. Maybe cost about 10 bucks for the tarp, some para cord, and a couple of stakes.

[prhaussies]

:trust:If they are still out there, you need the old catylitic (sp) heaters that Coleman made in the 60's. We complained that it made us sick, my Mom said, Hush, the instructions say it won't hurt you.!!! They were removed from the market some years later.:doh: We were camping at Death Valley in the winter of 71, a 67 VW Camper and tent. I had Flea Mini-Bike w/3hp Techumsha engine, no suspension, and was beat to death after 2 miles of the desert road. I survived the fumes from the stove, maybe I can use that as an excuse today. RH:lol2:

[leekellerking]

Also (I forgot to add it in my original post), I like my MSR Pocket Rocket stove. Small, light and bullet proof. (Our troop uses them, too, and they are Boy Scout proof).

As you were,

Lee

[Texfire]

Small, light and bullet proof. (Our troop uses them, too, and they are Boy Scout proof).

Boy Scout proof? I didn't know that was possible. It's like saying something is firefighter proof, just taint such a creature. ;)

You could give a firefighter three ball bearings and lock them in a totally empty room and when you let them out one bearing would be missing and another broken. :doh:

[jsb223]

My Dad had a 4 man Eureka we hunted out of for years...

Cold, wet, wind, heat...never a problem from the Eureka...

But most 4 man tents are in the 7-10 pound range...

That's a lot of weight on one bike...

Split the weight with another rider and you are back in the 3-5 pound range...acceptable

Check the weight table...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultralight_backpacking

[KenH]

Another vote for Sterno. Cheap and effective. If you want the pan hotter, use shorter rocks to set the pan on. If you want to simmer, use taller rocks.

It makes no sense to carry more than one pan if all you have is one burner.

Lightly fry and crumble bacon before you leave home, wrap in a ZipLoc, and pack in a vacum bottle (try to find one with a flip-up drinking spout) with a little ice. Add chopped bell pepper and onion if you want. A cheap plastic testtube with a rubber stopper is an easy way to pre-mix milk and/or sugar for coffee, and it fits inside the vacum bottle with the ice and bacon.

Boil water for coffee and use a portable drip coffemaker to fill the vacum bottle to keep it warm until the eggs are done, have some coffee for now, save some for later.

Toss the bacon crumbs on the pan after the coffee water is done, let them cook enough to coat the pan with grease, then crack a couple or three eggs in the pan right on top of the bacon. Stir gently.

When the eggs are almost done, remove the pan from the heat and lean a couple pieces of bread, tops touching, over the Sterno.

Smells good, doesn't it?

Eat straight from the pan and you don't have to carry a plate. Also, eating straight from the pan keeps your food warmer longer in cold weather. Turn the bread to toast the other side.

Orange juice is good for you.

No sense in carrying a fork or table knife, either, just extra weight when you can eat about anything with a spoon and a pocket knife.

Use the toast to swipe every last tasty morsel from the pan.

When you are done eating, pour a little water in the fry pan and put it back over the fire. Add a drop of dish soup and a bit of sand, wash your spoon, scrub the pan, and rinse. Put your spoon in the pan and just enough clean water to cover the spoon. Bring to a boil to sterilize, dry and stow your utensils, and you'll be ready to go since you broke camp while the water came to a boil.

Every hour or so on your ride drink a little water. Every other hour have some warm coffee from the vacum bottle and a handful of jerky or trail mix. You'll be good for a 12-hour riding day without hunger or lack of energy becoming an issue.

[PhotoBone]

I'm in need of a new small tent myself. I'm definitely an REI fan, but from the research I've done lately it seems that Eureka makes some of the best tents for the money. Look at the different models and figure out what features are more important to you. I've pretty much concluded the Apex 2XT is the one for me.

http://www.eurekatent.com/c-2-tents.aspx

[busarider1]

As others have stated, don't go cheap on your sleeping bag. I have a wal-mart special tent and it has served me well on the multiple times I've used it. I sprayed it down with some water-proofing and it works fine.

Also, don't use the coleman space heaters in your tent if you are sleepy!!! Also, when done with the heater place the whole contraption outside your tent. I know this is common knowledge for most everybody but I know two Soldiers that died from not having this info.

[Tracker]

Sorry ladies. One other essential item for the tent, especially if you're an older guy. Get yourself one of the wide mouth laundry soap bottles and remove the pour spout, but save the top to seal it. Put this in your tent--very handy on a cold winter night. :trust:

[dixonduke]

Another vote for Sterno. Cheap and effective. If you want the pan hotter, use shorter rocks to set the pan on. If you want to simmer, use taller rocks.

It makes no sense to carry more than one pan if all you have is one burner.

Lightly fry and crumble bacon before you leave home, wrap in a ZipLoc, and pack in a vacum bottle (try to find one with a flip-up drinking spout) with a little ice. Add chopped bell pepper and onion if you want. A cheap plastic testtube with a rubber stopper is an easy way to pre-mix milk and/or sugar for coffee, and it fits inside the vacum bottle with the ice and bacon.

Boil water for coffee and use a portable drip coffemaker to fill the vacum bottle to keep it warm until the eggs are done, have some coffee for now, save some for later.

Toss the bacon crumbs on the pan after the coffee water is done, let them cook enough to coat the pan with grease, then crack a couple or three eggs in the pan right on top of the bacon. Stir gently.

When the eggs are almost done, remove the pan from the heat and lean a couple pieces of bread, tops touching, over the Sterno.

Smells good, doesn't it?

Eat straight from the pan and you don't have to carry a plate. Also, eating straight from the pan keeps your food warmer longer in cold weather. Turn the bread to toast the other side.

Orange juice is good for you.

No sense in carrying a fork or table knife, either, just extra weight when you can eat about anything with a spoon and a pocket knife.

Use the toast to swipe every last tasty morsel from the pan.

When you are done eating, pour a little water in the fry pan and put it back over the fire. Add a drop of dish soup and a bit of sand, wash your spoon, scrub the pan, and rinse. Put your spoon in the pan and just enough clean water to cover the spoon. Bring to a boil to sterilize, dry and stow your utensils, and you'll be ready to go since you broke camp while the water came to a boil.

Every hour or so on your ride drink a little water. Every other hour have some warm coffee from the vacum bottle and a handful of jerky or trail mix. You'll be good for a 12-hour riding day without hunger or lack of energy becoming an issue.

Geezzz after reading this now I am very very hungery. Thanks.:lol2:

[sparkyphotog]

Sorry ladies. One other essential item for the tent, especially if you're an older guy. Get yourself one of the wide mouth laundry soap bottles and remove the pour spout, but save the top to seal it. Put this in your tent--very handy on a cold winter night. :trust:

+1 You can also use an empty Gatorade bottle.

[DFW_Warrior]

Or a gallon ziplock bag...

[Calgary-Yogi]

+1 You can also use an empty Gatorade bottle.

IMPORTANT : Only one type of Gatorade bottle in the tent at a time.

[DFW_Warrior]

IMPORTANT : Only one type of Gatorade bottle in the tent at a time.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[M38A1]

IMPORTANT : Only one type of Gatorade bottle in the tent at a time.

Yup. +1 on the Gatorade bottles.

Please tell us this is from forward-thinking and NOT first hand experience. :eek2:

[Squeaky]

Why not just take the label off the "used" bottle and leave all labels on the good ones? I do that when I re-use water bottled for plant food. Sometimes I take a sharpie and scribble on them too.

[Calgary-Yogi]

Why not just take the label off the "used" bottle and leave all labels on the good ones? I do that when I re-use water bottled for plant food. Sometimes I take a sharpie and scribble on them too.

Unless you get glow in the dark sharpies not a good idea. Remeber we are talking about the middle of the night in a tent, who wants to look for the torch.
One bottle no risk, more than one bottle TOOOOOOOOOO much risk :trust:

[Calgary-Yogi]

Yup. +1 on the Gatorade bottles.

Please tell us this is from forward-thinking and NOT first hand experience. :eek2:

First hand advise from a friend (aka urban legend my thinks)

[Squeaky]

Geez, y'all are lazy. Heck, I caught more than one of ya sneaking off to the woods 20 yards from the campsite instead of walking the whole 100 yards to the restrooms in Big Bend.

[STScott]

Or a gallon ziplock bag...


No one likes a braggart :)

[DFW_Warrior]

No one likes a braggart :)

Scott, you almost made me fall out of my chair on that one.. I never thought about it reading that way!:rofl:

[STScott]

Scott, you almost made me fall out of my chair on that one.. I never thought about it reading that way!:rofl:

I've always been a little more twisted than the rest of society :eek2: :zen:

[DaveC]

Geez, y'all are lazy. Heck, I caught more than one of ya sneaking off to the woods 20 yards from the campsite instead of walking the whole 100 yards to the restrooms in Big Bend.
Tinkle is clean in that it has no germs, kick a hole in the dirt and cover it up when done. Avoid flat rocks!:doh: 20 yds is about 15 more than I well go:lol2: .
Oh if you turn your torch on in the tent everyone can watch the shadow show :eek2: :clap: :trust:

[Tracker]

IMPORTANT : Only one type of Gatorade bottle in the tent at a time.

Thus, the laundry soap bottle versus Gatorade bottles. :oops:

[Squeaky]

Thus, the laundry soap bottle versus Gatorade bottles. :oops:

You know, the more I think about it the more that wide-mouth bottle might (awkwardly) work for women as well.... :giveup:

[Mike in Clear Lake]

So what do you campers do? Do you sleep all night there next to your urine? Ewwww! :eek2:

C'mon people! Practice some hygiene, get up and go pee! :rider:

[DFW_Warrior]

When it's 17 degrees out and you are in your sleepware of choice, YOU try to get out of that tent to go pee. Once you do that a couple times then get back with me and let me know how much fun it is.:trust:

[DFW_Warrior]

You people thought I was kidding about the ziplock baggie idea (http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/bag.jpg).... LOL

[P-Ratt]

When it's 17 degrees out...

It reminds me of a poem.

Thoughts On Getting out of A Nice Warm Bed In An Ice Cold House To Go To The Bathroom At 3'oclock In The Morning

Maybe life was better
when I used to be a wetter

Perhaps not the best solution while camping, but there it is.

[Mike in Clear Lake]

When it's 17 degrees out and you are in your sleepware of choice, YOU try to get out of that tent to go pee. Once you do that a couple times then get back with me and let me know how much fun it is.:trust:

Dude I was an Army Ranger. There is no tent. And even if it's 17 degrees, you leave the the area to go pee. You don't pee around your buddies and you don't sleep next to your pee. What's next, port-a-potty in the tent? :rider:

[DFW_Warrior]

What's next, port-a-potty in the tent? :rider:

I'm pretty sure that's what we're already talking about with the Gatorade & Laundry Soap bottles, and zip-top bags.....:trust:

[NUTT]

For sleeping bags, there are tons of very compact offerings, but my poncho liner (or woobie, if you're a soldier) is still my best friend. It'll increase your comfort level by a good 10-15 degrees easily. In the field, I rarely bring my full sleeping bag set. The black bag takes up entirely too much space, but the green bag is not warm by any stroke of the imagination. Wrap up in the woobie, and climb into the green bag, and even windy 28 degree desert nights aren't intolerable. That said, the woobie gets packed anytime I leave the comforts of my own bed/cot.

My woobie has been around the world a couple of times. I'll never part with it and I'll never camp without it.

[Mike in Clear Lake]

I'm pretty sure that's what we're already talking about with the Gatorade & Laundry Soap bottles, and zip-top bags.....:trust:

Yeah but that's for urine. By the port-a-potty quip I meant you-know-what :lol2:

Ewwww! Get up and go to the woods! :eek2:

[Hood Ornament]

Yeah but that's for urine. By the port-a-potty quip I meant you-know-what :lol2:

Ewwww! Get up and go to the woods! :eek2:

Uhhhh, I usually take care of that long before I go to bed. :-?

[Tx Rider]

I use a svea stove mainly, though I do have a folding sterno stove in the closet as well.

The svea runs great on coleman fuel/white gas, and just as well if a little sootier on gasoline from my bike too which is convenient, just a little bigger than a beer can.

No pump, just fill it, warm it up by hand or with a drop or three of fuel in the dish and your off and blazing.

Old school and reliable as a rock in even coldest weather but may be a bit dramatic for some.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Cook%20Gear/Stoves/Svea%20123R/Owner%20Review%20by%20jim%20Sabiston/image004.jpg

Review link (http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Cook%20Gear/Stoves/Svea%20123R/Owner%20Review%20by%20jim%20Sabiston/)

They make a larger version called the hiker model as well, with a larger tank and case with grill, and if your lucky and can find one they used to make a special cook kit for svea.

I just carry the little pot that fits over it, and one non stick pan.

[macktruckturner]

You don't pee around your buddies and you don't sleep next to your pee.

..and when your "buddies" do both ... do the words "front, back, GOOOOOoooooo" bring back any memories?

My woobie has been around the world a couple of times. I'll never part with it and I'll never camp without it.

word.

[wczimmerman]

Bringing this thread back up to look for some suggestions...

So, up here in the PNW you can't go wrong in ANY direction for rides, but the length of the rides easily goes 400+ miles. Because of this and the more friendly weather, I am willing to give moto-camping a go. We figure once the initial investments in gear are made we'll make that back with staying in the MANY state and national parks all over the place up here.

We're on the cusp of expanding our luggage capacity for our bikes, but we're running into a problem determining if even the extra capacity will be enough. We currently each have 45 liter topcases for each bike and we're planning on buying a pair of 21 liter cases for each, too. That would give each bike a total capacity of 87 liters.

Going into this would need to be:

1. Clothes for x # of days for 2 people (per bike)
2. 1 days worth of food/bike?
3. 2 man tent/bike (1 for the girls and one for Jen and I)
4. 4 sleeping bags
5. Fuel/stove of some sort?
6. Flashlights/latern?
7. Raingear (no question mark-this is a must up here)

We have a local REI here that we plan to visit for ideas. We really don't want to blow a bundle of money since we're already thinking of spending $700 to expand the luggage alone.

So, the question is: will all this stuff fit? What kind of suggestions would anyone have for gear/items?

Before anyone gets too concerned about "taking only what you need to survive" with 3 women-remember that all 4 of us traveled to Missouri last summer with only the top cases as storage. That's 90 liters for 4 people for a week. We're only thinking of overnight stays for these trips for now.

[Texason]

You people thought I was kidding about the ziplock baggie idea (http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/bag.jpg).... LOL

For the love of God and all that is Holy... WHY is that sitting on the bike?! :eek2:

/End Peethread

[Squeaky]

Chris, I'd say you're thinking along the right linies but the E21 cases aren't big enough. As ugly as they are, consider some of the bigger cases as side bags to fit it all. Neither of you has a back seat to fit anything extra on since the girls already take up that space.

-The sleeping bags will need to be either thin (not very warm) or very expensive to pack down small enough.
-Consider the packed size of two small tents vs. one larger tent.
-The girls might be able to roll out a sleeping bag and be comfy, but you and Jen are going to want a sleep pad under you for the night, otherwise the ride back might not be fun because you're sore. There are small/compact ones to consider.
-Pillows. Yup, even when you camp you need a pillow. Again, small/compact/compressible ones are available.
-When you go to REI, get a dehydrated meal or two and see how you all like it while still at home. If that works out, then you can get away with a much smaller stove (Jetboil?), less/no pots/pans, etc. Oatmeal for breakfast, lunch on the road, and rehydrated pouch meals at night. Tortillas pack small and can be added to any meal.

I think you're on the right track though. Over time, you'll be able to leave out what you don't really need and you'll even get better at packing it all.

[dukey33]

We have a local REI here that we plan to visit for ideas.

:eek2:
http://www.djc.com/special/design96/rei.jpg

That's like saying Texas is just another state....;-)

[Tracker]

Would a trailer be an option instead of bigger cases?

[wczimmerman]

Great suggestions from everyone. Keep 'em coming. We're continually re-evaluating our options as new information comes in.

The 21's won't be enough, huh? It's a $350 difference in luggage from the 21's (which are sold in pairs) to the 36's. Thank you, Euro...

I have to say it is a bit daunting to get this right and a little discouraging due to the rather high startup costs.

[Squeaky]

Well, there's always a test fit - find someone local that has the 21s and try to fit what you need in them, then see if you need more space before dropping the cash.

Now you know why I went with $17 ammo cases... ;-)

[Gilk51]

It's a $350 difference in luggage from the 21's (which are sold in pairs) to the 36's.

If I remember correctly, there are 2 varieties of 36es. The "deluxe" ones have a elastic strap and a paper pocket for storage. At one time these were like $165 each and the "bare bones" without the above were about $130 each.

I think I got talked into the deluxe ones but a good DIY guy could outfit the basic ones and come out a lot cheaper.

OK, I was close - Twisted Throttle has the E36N for $165 and the E36NJ for $138. Savings of about $55 for the NJ model.

[1TallTXn]

REI is a great place to get started.
The REI-branded gear is good quality for much lower then North Face and other top-line brands. Quality seems to be just as good as the top line stuff too.

ThermaRest makes mattresses that are full length and 3/4 length that fold/roll up to a 8"x4" roll. Mine is older and doesn't fold that small so its the size of a tent. These small ones are higher priced, but sometimes ya gotta pay to get the size down.

Sleeping bags are going to be expensive to compress down that small. Most likely going to have to be down-filled (more $$). My North Face synthetic-filled bag does not compress to anything small enough for the small Givi bags. It usually lives on the back seat with the tent and mattress.

Stoves are going to be the easy part. MSR makes a huge line of stoves that are mostly affordable. I have the DragonFly (don't know if they even make it anymore). I love it, but it is really noisy. Very fine control of the flame though. Packs small and burns most any semi-flammable liquid

[kurt]

The E36NJ is a great case as Chuck mentioned. I'd save highly recommend them.

[DFW_Warrior]

For the love of God and all that is Holy... WHY is that sitting on the bike?! :eek2:

/End Peethread

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Haven't you seen Wild Hog's? He was saving that for recycle.

[Hairsmith]

I use to be able to sleep on the ground and get a good nights sleep.
But that was long long ago in a far far off land.
Now I enjoy getting up off the ground, If I am going light weight I use a Hennessy Hammock (http://www.hennessyhammock.com/) Its great for quick and easy set up and tear down for solo use.
If I do go with a tent the thermarest just does not cut it alone. There are a couple of cots that pack up small enough to work on the motorcycle.
This is the one I have The UltraLite Cot (http://www.luxurylite.com/cotindex.html)
http://www.luxurylite.com/ulcinhand.jpg

[wczimmerman]

Keep the information coming! We're going to make a run to REI tomorrow for ideas...

[Texas T]

Sorry ladies. One other essential item for the tent, especially if you're an older guy. Get yourself one of the wide mouth laundry soap bottles and remove the pour spout, but save the top to seal it. Put this in your tent--very handy on a cold winter night. :trust:
Available from most any pilot shop...

http://www.sportys.com/terryc/images/6471l.jpg

[P-Ratt]

Available from most any pilot shop...

http://www.sportys.com/terryc/images/6471l.jpg

I think I'd rather use the tube that runs down your pant leg to drip out on the ground as you ride.

[SL350]

I like the Sterno that Bennett mentioned earlier in this thread. I just carry the can, no stove. Easy to find a few rocks or a BBQ pit to use it in.

Last couple of years I started using the 77c floats from Walmart for beds. It can be used as a float. Rather than fold it up when I break camp, I usually just give it to a nearby kid.

[SL350]

I have been thinking about tarps. Check out this site:

http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/tarp/TarpShel.htm

There are a lot of YouTubes on tarps. I am looking for overnight camping use in remote areas with my CT (padre fishing, big bend...). The small size of the ct and the difference between a small tent and a rope/tarp setup is huge.

If any of you do the tarp camping, how do you wash a filthy tarp?

[Hairsmith]

Good information on tarps. I would like to add one to my camp set up just for lounging room and added shelter. To many bugs in east Texas for me to consider going tarp alone.
Washing one.... well camp in the rain ! :trust:

I just got a couple of these stoves the other day. Great product and great guy to deal with. Stever Stove (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431851)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x87/stever660/stovewithpot.jpg

[CBAT]

That is very nice. Much better than the soda can.

[SL350]

What can keep a sleeping bag clean and dry while on the bike during a storm? Are there special waterproof bags for them?

[DFW_Warrior]

I put all my camping stuff into a Cabela's dry bag (duffel style). My tent goes in there in it's own separate dry bag that way if it's wet when I go to break camp, it doesn't get everything else wet along with it.

When I get to camp, I unstrap the duffel from the bike, carry it over to where my tent will live, and everything is in there so I don't have to make multiple trips back and forth to the bike. Tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow, and camp ax are all in one spot.

[Squeaky]

I use a compression stuff sack to pack my sleeping bag, then it can fit into one of my panniers and I can be sure it stays dry, out of the way, and safe from wandering eyes. I prefer to keep things off the back seat/rear rack of my bike when possible so I don't have such a hard time swinging my leg over. This only works when you pack light and/or have big enough panniers though.

If carrying it out is a must look into the dry bags (like Bill said) that are made to keeps things sealed away from moisture even when kayaking/boating.

[CBAT]

Put a heavy duty trash bag inside your stuff sack before you stuff the sleeping bag in. Squeeze all the air out and twist the top of the trash bag before you cinch the opening closed. The bag will stay dry. Be careful not to rip the trash bag liner when you are stuffing and carry a spare just in case.

[lobo10s]

Jamie and I camp using a 2 person tent from REI. It cost more, but weighs nothing and is great for the bike. I also got small sleeping bags and two thermarests. I love moto camping. here are some pictures.

http://lonestarlobos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/2009-Road-Trips/BMW-Multi-Club-Camp-ou/1009802/669978346_Nv6kk-L.jpg

http://lonestarlobos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/2008-Road-Trips/Deals-Gap-Trip-May-2008/1003806/305157010_KyHxj-L.jpg

http://lonestarlobos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/2008-Road-Trips/Deals-Gap-Trip-May-2008/1003807/305157156_ZLdFd-L.jpg

We have done 3-4 long trips (1 week or more) two up camping and it has been awesome.

[Hairsmith]

Dry bags are also available at Acadamy. There the way to go for keeping stuff dry on a bike. I found some that have D-rings and straps making them much easer to lash down on the bike. As Helen2Wheels (http://www.helen2wheels.com/) is known to say "If its not tight its not Right" Her old company has some of the best dry bags for use on the bike because there is a tie down strap all the way down the side.

[hardybaker]

I would getting the dry bags that have the opening along the side, (or lenghtwise), not on the end. These are much easier to get into.

[Hairsmith]

Hardie is correct the side opening is MUCH easer to get into and dig around in.

Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage (http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Expedition/expd_double_end_duffel.html) does have an end opening dry bag that opens at both ends. I would not remember what end the stuff I was looking for was in but YMMV. It is a need idea.