Touring - Recommend your camping equipment!

Next summer I am going on a fully supported tour from Seattle to Jersey City. Nine weeks. We will be mostly camping and staying at schools.

Here are the stipulations:
Q: What does a “vehicle supported, no frills” tour entail?
A: Vehicle support means that there will be gear trucks to transport the cyclists’ personal belongings and camping gear from one campsite to the next. Each person will have a space in a truck to store their clothing and other belongings, most likely a shelf with two laundry baskets. In addition, everyone will be allowed one large bag, i.e. hockey bag or army duffel, to store their tent, sleeping bag, camp chair, etc. Vehicle support also means that there will be SAG (support and gear) wagons along each day’s route. These vehicles will carry basic necessities as well as enable direct communication to the tour manager. The SAG wagons will also provide transportation for any cyclists who cannot continue on the daily route for any number of reasons. ‘No frills’ mainly refers to the type of accommodations; most nights the cyclists will be camping.

So what would YOU pack in this situation? I get dizzy looking at all the tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, etc. The only camping I've done is in my father in law's RV!

Depends. Are you going to use the gear again on a self-supported tour? If you're only going to tour with support in the future, then weight and size isn't as important. If you're going to use the gear again but without a support vehicle, then you might want to spend a little more for more compact and lighter weight gear.

lightweight, freestanding double wall tent with lots of mesh and a vestibule.

thermarest prolite sleeping pad.

down or synthetic? I like down bags, but synthetic is much easier to take care of.

don't forget the camp chair!

I don't foresee going on any self-supported tours in the future. All the ones that I have my eye on have baggage service. Am I still welcome on this board, or is that considered cheating? ;)

Touring is touring, and not everyone likes to work without a net, so to speak!

If you are doing a fully supported tour, then weight isn't as important. I've used the Walmart brand Ozark Trail tent, for example, their 3 person tent weighs ~12 pounds and is roomy and cheap! I used it self supported this June up in the UP and it did a nice job, especially for a sub $50 tent! I had the space to pull it because I was touring with a trailer. It's easy to set up though, even solo and as long as you seal the seams, it's watertight.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/UP2/UpperPeninsulaII090.jpg

I will be getting a lighter tent for next season though! That's a guarantee!

If you're doing all "sagged" rides, then Campmor is your friend.

I think Eureka makes the best budget tents around. Look at the Pinnacle Pass or Mountain Pass lines.

As for a thermarest type pad, if the van is carrying it, don't get a prolight, go with a luxuryrest or something else nice and extra comfortable.

Skip the sleeping bag. Again, no sense in finding the latest lightweight, ultracompact bag if you don't have to carry it. Buy a liner, like a Cocoon silk liner, and then get a quilt to use as needed or semi rectangular bag you can completely unzip to use as a blanket.

However, if you're going to end up doing self-supported tours, don't buy this stuff and wish you'd gone lighter the first time you bought!

There's my 2 cents.

http://www.bv.com.au/great-rides/ for info inc. preparation sheets/what to bring etc.

You will be able to bring some comfort, unlike the spartan outfit I bring when I have to carry it all on my bike. Get a tent large enough to stretch out in, change clothes comfortably, put your gear in along with yourself, etc. I echo what someone said about Campmor and Eureka tents. I have a 9-foot square freestanding dome that I use for car or motorcycle camping. I also agree that you should get a luxury Thermarest. It will be worth it. Or check out my new favorite sleeping "pad" - a Big Agnes air mattress. You have to blow them up (it takes me two minutes of relaxed blowing) but I find them more comfortable than a Thermarest. You can probably even bring a pillow! I think a pillow and a comfortable chair are the two luxuries I miss most when bicycle touring.

Best piece of camping gear I ever bought was my Ferrino Colibri 55F hostel type sleeping bag. I'd buy another if they were still available at the $40 or $50 or whatever it was I paid. It weighs about 1-1/4 lbs. and opens up for use as a decent picnic blanket. I can use it by itself when the lows will be in the 50's or 60's. I can use it for an overbag with my Moonstone 35F synthetic and still be comfortable at temperatures approaching 15F. I use it to crash on a friends floor and often take it along on trips where I don't plan on camping too.

Tent: I'd personally be taking a smaller, freestanding, 2-person tent that will stand up to bad weather and a 10'-ish tripod shelter which will in effect provides a 50 square foot vestibule. If space is limited, you can go without the shelter and pitch your tent in places others can't.

Pad: My "car camping" pad is 2-1/2" thick and 25" wide. Don't forget a reasonable backpacking pillow. Using clothes in a stuff sack just isn't the same.

Camp Chair: http://www.slinglight.com/index.htm. They're not cheap but they pack up tiny and only weigh as much as a couple of beers. That leaves space for other luxuries.

Tent: I'd personally be taking a smaller, freestanding, 2-person tent that will stand up to bad weather and a 10'-ish tripod shelter which will in effect provides a 50 square foot vestibule. If space is limited, you can go without the shelter and pitch your tent in places others can't.


That's a great idea! I had been wondering about getting a big tent just so I could have the bike inside out of the dew & rain . . . but the two-shelter approach would be a lot easier for one person to set up.

Most organizers will give you a packing list.

If you are SAG supported, then weight isn't an issue. But overall size is. Usually all your personal gear needs to go into one duffle bag, and a second duffle bag for tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag.

Tents: plenty to choose from. Dome tents are popular. Unless you have a partner along on the ride, you will probably want a 2 person tent. Consider headroom. You are going to want to be able to sit up and change inside it. Also, lots of mesh for ventalation. Campmor is a good source, but don't rule out Walmart and chain sporting goods stores like Dick's. REI and Eastern Mountain Sports are good also. And make sure it is simple to set up and take down. You are going to be doing this almost every night for the duration.

Sleeping pads: Young bones do fine on a closed cell pad like the Ridge Rest. Old bones perfer more padding, like a Therma-rest. In doubt? Then lay out a pad on a concrete floor or a hardwood floor and see if it's comfortable for you.

Sleeping bags: Usually go for a summer bag, rated at 35 or 40 degrees, or warmer. Synthetic is fine, cotton batting is not. Weight savings for down in summer bags is minimal in my opinion. Or, you might try just a bag liner and fleece blanket. Or start with a bag, and then swap over.

Chair: Crazy Creek type.

Next summer I am going on a fully supported tour from Seattle to Jersey City. Nine weeks. We will be mostly camping and staying at schools.

Here are the stipulations:
Q: What does a “vehicle supported, no frills” tour entail?
A: Vehicle support means that there will be gear trucks to transport the cyclists’ personal belongings and camping gear from one campsite to the next. Each person will have a space in a truck to store their clothing and other belongings, most likely a shelf with two laundry baskets. In addition, everyone will be allowed one large bag, i.e. hockey bag or army duffel, to store their tent, sleeping bag, camp chair, etc. Vehicle support also means that there will be SAG (support and gear) wagons along each day’s route. These vehicles will carry basic necessities as well as enable direct communication to the tour manager. The SAG wagons will also provide transportation for any cyclists who cannot continue on the daily route for any number of reasons. ‘No frills’ mainly refers to the type of accommodations; most nights the cyclists will be camping.

So what would YOU pack in this situation? I get dizzy looking at all the tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, etc. The only camping I've done is in my father in law's RV!

As someone else said, Campmor is your friend.

For tents look at the Eureka Timberline (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=30173074&memberId=12500226). Cheap, easy to set up, rugged, roomy and not terribly heavy. I used one for 15 years before the zipper wore out. It's not the lightest but it's not the most expensive either.

For bags a 35 F bag will be kind of cool for mountains but will probably be too hot for anywhere else. Campmor has as good a deal as anyone around.

For pads, I like the Big Agnes AirCore pads. They pack down very small but offer more cushion than a Thermorest for about the same price. Even for sagged trips, you want to keep your packed foot print as small as possible.

For other stuff, that's up to you. I'd suggest getting Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleansing pads for showers and washing. They are dry so you don't have to deal with messy soap dishes, they foam like crazy in hot or cold water and, since they are designed to remove grease from teenagers, bicycle grease whimpers at the sight of them;) I have to use 3 of them for a shower but it's worth the effort. About the best thing I've run across.

A comfortable tent can tip the sanity scales on a long tour. We like our MSR Velo

http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikeTent.html
http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikeTent.html

A comfortable sleeping pad with seat sleeve is very nice when there is no place to sit in camp.

http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikeMattress.html
http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/images/BikeMattress.JPG

+1000 on the Eureka Timberline!! for a cheap tent its the only way to go!! the two I've had over the years put up with Everything a touring Deadhead could do with a tent! these things are like that damn Eveready Rabbit...they just never quit doing what a tent is supposed to do,easy to set up,dry and sturdy!

Tent: http://www.moontrail.com/tents/hilleberg_akto.php The '06/ '07 models are even better than this '03.

"Pad": http://luxurylite.com/cotindex.html These are great! Even adjustable. I've used mine inside the camper too, more comfy than 3 inches of foam.

Bag: http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/quilt/index.htm Make it the way YOU want it.

A military bag (we called them a "Sea Bag") will leave you enough room for a week's worth of clothes & stuff.

[QUOTE=cyccommute;4996313]As someone else said, Campmor is your friend.

For tents look at the Eureka Timberline (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=30173074&memberId=12500226). Cheap, easy to set up, rugged, roomy and not terribly heavy. I used one for 15 years before the zipper wore out. It's not the lightest but it's not the most expensive either.

QUOTE]

Good advice by Cyccommute. I have used many tents over the years and still think that the Eureka Timberline is the best of them all for weight, space, protection of weather, and cost. An important feature of the Timberline is the full coverage tarp. Many of the "fashion tents" sold today have postage size tarps that are cute at best. Folks in those tents are the ones knocking on the door of the Eureka asking if you have any dry space and can they please come in during a hellish wind and rain storm.

One thing to keep an eye on is the useable space. Many tents have goofy geometry with un-useable corners. The best shape IMO is a rectangle. Rectangle tents use the least amount of poles, are the fastest to set up, and have the most use-able space.

IF you ever tour and have to carry your stuff where size and weight is important, the old-fashioned pup-tent is a forgotten chamion. They are super light-weight and are very compact. They are fast and easy to set up. Two poles, 6 to eight pegs, and you have shelter. The only problem was when you were on rocks or roots and couldn't get the pegs into the ground, but that situation is usually the exception.

One thing to keep an eye on is the useable space. Many tents have goofy geometry with un-useable corners. The best shape IMO is a rectangle. Rectangle tents use the least amount of poles, are the fastest to set up, and have the most use-able space.



That's why I like the Eureka Pinnacle Pass 2 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39196246&memberId=12500226) or 3 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39196397&memberId=12500226) and the Mountain Pass 2 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39170651&memberId=12500226) or 4 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39171046&memberId=12500226). The dome shape fives more headroom, and the domes offer vestibules if you can't keep all your gear on the truck but want to protect it. That, and they only take two poles and go up in no time.

That's why I like the Eureka Pinnacle Pass 2 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39196246&memberId=12500226) or 3 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39196397&memberId=12500226) and the Mountain Pass 2 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39170651&memberId=12500226) or 4 (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39171046&memberId=12500226). The dome shape fives more headroom, and the domes offer vestibules if you can't keep all your gear on the truck but want to protect it. That, and they only take two poles and go up in no time.


Good point, Shemp. I like the vestibules too. You can get them for the Eureka Timberline as well for about $30.00 The Vestibule adds a lot of space without much extra weight. It is the perfect place to store stinky shoes and other stuff that you don't want inside the tent, but don't want to just leave outside either.

keep looking out for deals at REI or on Craigslist. At least you have a year to look around and trust me you'll see plenty of gear on CL within that time.