Tent/sleeping bag advice for a newbie

[Phil Bishop]

Hi Guys,

I am a reasonably seasoned cyclist but apart from one occasion have not tried cycle camping - the "one occasion" was a sponsored ride along the entire Kennet & Avon Cycle Path where we camped overnight but the gear was transported for us.

When I was a lad most tents were ridge tents and seemed relatively spacious. The tent I bought for the K&A ride was a backpacking type and although nominally 2 person I found it claustrophobic on my own!

What I'm asking advice on is can anyone recommend a lightweight spacious tent (ridge or dome - 2 person) that can be carried in panniers, etc? Likewise, any recommendations on sleeping bags? I plan to do any trips from mid spring to autumn.

For info, I use a Surly Long Haul Trucker bike with front and rear racks and Ortlieb panniers.

Any advice or tips much appreciated.

Cheers

Phil

[mercalia]

you need to say when you intend to camp - summer only or what ever and how much you want to spend.

[Phil Bishop]

Hi,

Late Spring to early Autumn and I'm more interested in getting the right kit than the cost (within reason).

Cheers

Phil

[pjclinch]

The "right kit" varies from person to person. If at all possible you should crawl around in pitched examples of tents and see what you think. Also, it's the case that you'll probably get a good idea of what you're looking for/not liking about camping with a relatively cheap tent and you can use that experience to inform whether you're happy with what you've got, camping isn't for you, or you want something more specialist.

A couple of examples to show issues of "the right kit"... On a tour where we ended up at Thurso we were camped next to a chap doing the LEJoG tour and he'd used a cheap Eurohike dome the whole way and had found it excellent. Similar to one tandem-riding friends had taken around the Western Isles for a tour. Can't remember the price, but definitely under £50. At the other extreme if you hunt around for a bit on this forum you'll come across people being very rude about the Hilleberg Akto, a very expensive and generally very well regarded tent that at least on paper is "right kit".

Sleeping bags, similarly have a test-lie if you can and make sure you don't have loads of free space or not enough. And don't rule out second hand, particularly for down which if looked after well last longer than synthetics (over time the hollow fibres in synthetics get crunched with compression and lose effectiveness).

It's not so much looking for "the right kit" as making sure you don't get the wrong kit, where "wrong" is just blatantly unsuitable, like a sleeping bag that's too short. There's a lot of good stuff out there which will enable you to have fun, and it really doesn't need over-analysing (unless you're a gear junkie, in which case over-analysing it is all part of the attraction) if you just get on with it. 3 season camping in the UK with modern gear isn't anything extreme, and a lot of what makes camping work is management skill rather than expensive kit. You get those skills by getting out and doing it.

Pete.

[foxyrider]

Lots of threads covering that stuff on here.

My suggestion, get yourself along to a decent outdoor shop where you can 'try' the tents/bags and compare weights/pack size etc. (take a pannier with you to try packing) Retailers like Ultralight Outdoor have huge ranges with good reviews and can offer pertinent advice from experienced staff. (they will also have all the other gear too)

Personally I use the Vaude/Markill tents with bags from Gelert and Sea to Summit. Find 100 cycle campers and you'll get 100 different solutions that work for them, they may not work for you. It's quite possible to get a decent sized/weight tent and bag that'll all go in one 40l pannier with space to spare without spending a fortune - I guess my current use stuff set me back @ £600 for bag and tent, can't see any need to replace either for many years. Btw, don't forget bag liners, sleeping mats, mallets etc.

Have fun finding your gear

[Heltor Chasca]

A nice route that K&A. I’ve biked and canoed along there quite a bit.

I use a Eureka Solo Plus, but when I have the kids along we use either an OEX Coyote or OEX Cougar which are Go Outdoors own brand which I bought ‘off season’ for silly money. (Low) They are good enough for what you need and the quality is impressive enough too. The Vango range of bags are good value and perfect. I do have a Thermarest quilt which is less than a year old and I’ve got to say quilts are worth thinking about.

My oldest daughter uses a Vango Banshee which is popular on here. Officially a 2 man, but best for solo use in my opinion.

[tatanab]

I'm more interested in getting the right kit than the cost (within reason).

You will only get the right kit through experience, right for you that is. For example, you want the tent to fit in a pannier, so choice will be limited by pole length. I would suggest starting with mid market items and evolving your choice over time.

I started cycle camping 25 years ago at the age of about 40. I bought a Macpac Minaret tent, Snugpack synthetic sleeping bag, Thermarest self inflating mat and a Trangia. All these items might be regarded as heavier than needed, they were certainly bulkier than I needed. Over a couple of iterations of each item I now have a Hilleberg Niak tent, Thermarest down duvet/blanket, Thermarest Neoair mat and a small gas stove with an equally small pan. All of this is a bit lighter, but more importantly for me is less bulky.

[Gattonero]

Hi Guys,

I am a reasonably seasoned cyclist but apart from one occasion have not tried cycle camping - the "one occasion" was a sponsored ride along the entire Kennet & Avon Cycle Path where we camped overnight but the gear was transported for us.

When I was a lad most tents were ridge tents and seemed relatively spacious. The tent I bought for the K&A ride was a backpacking type and although nominally 2 person I found it claustrophobic on my own!

What I'm asking advice on is can anyone recommend a lightweight spacious tent (ridge or dome - 2 person) that can be carried in panniers, etc? Likewise, any recommendations on sleeping bags? I plan to do any trips from mid spring to autumn.

For info, I use a Surly Long Haul Trucker bike with front and rear racks and Ortlieb panniers.

Any advice or tips much appreciated.

Cheers

Phil

I would advise to go in a big camping shop and starting to make up your mind.
A cheap-ish tent of decent quality from Vango, etc. can be found for less than £150 and is a good starting point (you may resell it) to see what it's ok for you.
As someone said already, you kit is a very personal choice and only comes after a few tours or overnights. Everyone has different needs, some people do really need a porch, other people are fine with a tarp only. Some people sleeps "cold" and needs proper high insulated sleeping bags, others are fine with a summer quilt. Same goes for the cooking kit.

Though you may still want to keep your first purchases, don't be afraid of selling/buying used stuff.
My advice is to not overdo with the sleeping kit, "lightweight and spacious" is something very relative, but you won't find a tent with 3sqm floor space and 120cm inner height for less than a certain weight and price, so start with an average tent and see how works for you. Also consider whether you are always going to split the tent with the partner, or you may be travelling alone
And don't skimp on the sleeping mat! Get one that has a proper insulation rating, will be priceless.

[Phil Bishop]

Thank you very much everyone for the fantastic and very useful replies. I will digest in due course.

There is a very sensible consensus on checking out stuff in stores and personal preference, etc. Totally agree, but the pointers you have given me have given me a starting point.

I live in Reading and we have a fair few decent outdoors/camping stores - however, I think the nearest Go Outdoors is in Oxford - I went through a phase of cycling my Brompton from Reading to Oxford (coming back on the train) and remember cycling past it

Thanks again

Phil

[mercalia]

you dont say how big/tall you are.

big /tall people can find sleeping bags very difficult proposition if you want to move around inside, turn over etc. Similarly if tall need to make sure the tent inner is long enough and has enough room to move around in - a tent that is ok for a small person might be confining & unenjoyable for some one larger, so take the opinions here with a pinch of salt. My tent is large as I am both tall and big so need lots of space to be able to move around in my tent. ALso being old means I aint as flexible as I used to be so again need the space as I cant bend so much

[Phil Bishop]

I'm pretty average - 5' 11" and 58 years old.

However, even when I was in my 20's I loathed those tight cocoon style sleeping bags, much preferring the rectangular type.

So, yes, a lot of personal preference and I need to check through threads here (the pictures of tents thread looks good).

Cheers

Phil

[foxyrider]

I live in Reading and we have a fair few decent outdoors/camping stores - however, I think the nearest Go Outdoors is in Oxford - I went through a

for a minute I thought you said 'decent outdoors/camping stores' then mentioned Go Outdoors

take a look here for a 'real' outdoor shop https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/

[elPedro666]

Personal preference is for a lightweight tent but with a decent porch - having that little extra space out of the rain is a must for me. Mostly I just wanted to second this though, "don't skimp on the sleeping mat! Get one that has a proper insulation rating, will be priceless.". Someone will have the accurate information, but I'm sure that you lose more heat down into the cold, cold earth than to the stars...

Also second the idea of second hand stuff, my current tent is amazing and set me back all of sixty quid if memory serves (on here). Enjoy the planning & shopping!

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[Warin61]

I'm pretty average - 5' 11" and 58 years old.

You will want a comfortable self inflating sleeping mat. And an inflatable pillow. Sleeping on the ground is for younger people.

Mats have a width - count that as part of your tent area ... then add some space for your pannier or two (I leave some panniers on the bike) and some space for clothing, cooking gear. I like to have a tent pocket off the ground for things like a torch, specks, wallet etc. One man tents are for people without equipment, 2 man tents are for one person with gear.

Go size things up in a shop. Nothing like seeing and feeling. Settle on what is best for you there. Go to another shop and consider what is best there. Then consider second hand - use the shop stuff as a guide. If your like me you will buy some stuff at the shops as you cannot find what you want second hand when you want it.

Good luck.

[Phil Bishop]

Thanks again for all the advice, it's really useful.

It's a winter project for me to get all this sorted out. Agree about camping mats, particularly if I'm going to persuade my wife to come with me

I like the idea of sizing up the floor space required and working up from there.

I do have one specific question though which you seasoned folk may be able to help me with. I'm not sure what the models are called but lightweight tents now seem to fall into two categories - low lying with more elevation at the head end and dome shape. Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions on the old traditional ridge type tents but lightweight enough for cycle camping?

Cheers

Phil