Touring - Lightweight to Iceland

I decided to challenge myself this year with a ride around Iceland. Route 1 is 850 miles long and I'm taking a 3 week vacation to ride it all. So, given my addiction to all things gear related my first step was to consider the changes I'd have to make to my usual summer touring gear. Well Iceland is wet and windy, so I have beefed up rain gear and I'm taking an insulated jacket as it can get down to freezing some nights even in summer.

For those interested here is the revised gear list

Tent, Tarptent Contrail (strapped under saddle, weight 1.5lbs)

NELSON LONGFLAP SADDLEBAG (weight 14.0lbs)

Hudson River Sleeping Quilt with wings
Thermarest Neo Air, Sleeping Pad
mini Trangia Stove
Antigravity gear solo cook set
8 oz Denatured Alcohol
Ti Spork
Pot holder
BIC Lighter
50' Cord
Exofficio Convertible Long Pants
Marmot Minimalist rain pants
SmartWool Long Underwear
Andiamo padded cycling Underwear
SmartWool Mid-weight Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Smartwool Socks
Gloves
Rain Booties
Insulated Primaloft Jacket
SmartWool Balaclava
DEET
Multitool
Leatherman, Juice
2 x Kevlar Spokes
2 x inner tubes
Pump
Patch Kit
Tire boots
2x Powerlink
Brake cable
Gear cable
Misc Nuts and Bolts
4x AA batteries
Plastic Bags
Duct tape
First Aid kit
Sewing kit
Petzl headlamp

ORTLIEB HANDLEBAR BAG (weight 5lbs)
Marmot Mica Rain Jacket
Razors
Sunscreen
Butt Buttr
Lip balm
Microfiber Towel
Shampoo
Toothpaste and Brush
Dental Floss
Comb
Bike Cable Lock
Wallet
Guide book
pen
iPhone and cable
Hypermac-mini battery, and cable
Plug adapter
small FM radio and ear buds

CLOTHERS WORN, NOT INCLUDED IN WEIGHT
Padded Underpants
Smartwool Long Sleeve zip T-Shirt
Cycling Knickers
Socks
Cycling Shoes
Cycling cap
Bandana

For emergency food I carry couscous and stock cubes in my cook set and honey, quick oats and teabags in a canister in my third bottle cage. Food I buy daily is carried in the Ortlieb, or if it is bulky the flap on the saddlebag can be extended to carry loaves of bread or cans of beer.

have a great trip nun, how do you manage to pack all that gear into the smallest of bags.

Just when I think I'm getting a good start on a lightweight kit, I read something like this and realize how far I have to go.

That setup looks great. With no panniers you won't be as susceptible to cross- and headwinds. Your tent however will get pushed to its limits. Most campsites have a layer of sod, but underneath the sod it's all rock. Tarptent's stakes may break. I'd recommend some thin ti stakes that can weasel their way through the tough rock without breaking.

That setup looks great. With no panniers you won't be as susceptible to cross- and headwinds. Your tent however will get pushed to its limits. Most campsites have a layer of sod, but underneath the sod it's all rock. Tarptent's stakes may break. I'd recommend some thin ti stakes that can weasel their way through the tough rock without breaking.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll only be camping a couple of nights and using hostels, sleeping bag accommodation and a couple of hotels the rest of the time.

I'm surprised you will be able to purchase food every day, but you've scoped out the route.
I would worry about the availability of alcohol for the stove and would carry a litre but I understand the alcohol burners are very efficient.
I didn't see rain pants to wear with the rainjacket. These garments would also be effective in cold wind.
You are a lightweight packer while I am a heavyweight. I take a freestanding tent that will withstand a gale.

Sounds like a pretty exotic trip. You will really be on the road less travelled.
Enjoy

Given Iceland is surrounded by the Northern North Atlantic Ocean,
I'd say Don't skimp on the rain gear, You may be wearing it Daily for 3 weeks .
Like I did on the western Irish Coast.
+1 on picking a strong Tent, One you can Put up in a Gale, (ie 30+ knot winds)

Hoop tents , that are not freestanding which can be but together flat on the ground

Way better than one that you have to try to put the fly on separately and Last.

I'm surprised you will be able to purchase food every day, but you've scoped out the route.
I would worry about the availability of alcohol for the stove and would carry a litre but I understand the alcohol burners are very efficient.
I didn't see rain pants to wear with the rainjacket. These garments would also be effective in cold wind.
You are a lightweight packer while I am a heavyweight. I take a freestanding tent that will withstand a gale.

Sounds like a pretty exotic trip. You will really be on the road less travelled.
Enjoy

There are a couple of days where shops will be "infrequent", but there are gas stations that have small shops. I've researched the route and plan to do 50 to 60 miles a day between hostels, hotels and camp grounds.

I have full rain gear that is seam taped; Mica Jacket, Minimalist Rain pants, booties. My tent is single walled and Tarptents are often criticized for not being good in the wind. However, that's mostly because people don't pitch them right, although I am a bit concerned about pegging it down in the shallow Icelandic soil.

In Norway I often had to camp on stoney ground. I used large boulders and parachord to hold down my Hilleberg Akto.
North Atlantic storms can be fierce any time of year but are more common after mid sept. There are times I thought the Akto would blow away but it held up OK. Good luck with your tarp tent.

I would worry about the availability of alcohol for the stove and would carry a litre

Alcohol for the stove is called "Raudsprit" in Iceland, it can be bought from many gas stations. I'm spending a day in Reykjavik to buy supplies and there are some camping stores and a big home improvement superstore near the harbour where I can buy fuel for the Trangia. 8 oz will last me a week if I cook 2 meals a day, so as I'll be using the kitchens in the hostels and staying in hotels for 4 nights, 8oz should last the entire trip.

In Norway I often had to camp on stoney ground. I used large boulders and parachord to hold down my Hilleberg Akto.
North Atlantic storms can be fierce any time of year but are more common after mid sept. There are times I thought the Akto would blow away but it held up OK. Good luck with your tarp tent.

Yes it should be interesting. I'm using a thicker tent pole than the standard as I obviously can't use a treking pole and have attached some extra guy ropes. It's done well in a couple of storms in New England and this test also give me some hope that it will be sufficient

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V3gKohpfCY

You'll most likely be fine with your tarp tent. My hiking buddy used his TT Moment in some CRAZY winds when we were backpacking in the sierras once, and it held up just fine. Picking a place for the tent is important though, find a natural wind-break before setting up

You shouldn't really have any trouble with your tent around here, as long as it's waterproof... Buying food along the way is easy, along the Ring Road (Highway 1). There are towns every 100 km or so - or closer - and service stations scattered all around the place.
Just make sure your waterproofs are up to it, otherwise you will get wet, cold and miserable.

If there is anything you need to know, just drop me a line.

Magnus Thor
Iceland

You shouldn't really have any trouble with your tent around here, as long as it's waterproof... Buying food along the way is easy, along the Ring Road (Highway 1). There are towns every 100 km or so - or closer - and service stations scattered all around the place.
Just make sure your waterproofs are up to it, otherwise you will get wet, cold and miserable.

If there is anything you need to know, just drop me a line.

Magnus Thor
Iceland

Thanks Magnus,
One thing I've realize is "th" as in "Thor" is written with a letter that looks a bit like a "p".

Here is my planned route, do you see any problems?

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=201297293839191323131.00049b7b57cc07d9010e8&ll=64.960766,-19.072266&spn=6.559702,22.807617&z=6

and here's the bike. I put some 700x35c Schwalbe Duremes on it as it will mostly be tarmac, but they'll be a bit of off road too. The cannister in the third bottle cage carries instant oatmeal, honey and 16 tea bags. I've found a brand that are quite strong and as I like my tea quite weak I find I can get 4 cups out of a single bag....so that's 64 cups. I should be ok. I also have couscous and stock cubes packed inside my cookset and a couple of packets of noodle soup in a saddlebag side pocket. The Ortlieb up front is half empty so I can easily carry food I buy along the way.

190993

Picking a place for the tent is important though, find a natural wind-break before setting up

Except there aren't wind breaks in Iceland :)

After watching your Tarptent test video, Nun, it looks like you've rigged your tent well to withstand a good storm. Can't wait to read a report after your trip!

Nun, that is a very impressive and well-planned setup. You're very inspiring to some of us heavier weight packers. Thanks for posting the informative videos and the packing list/weight info. If I didn't have three tents already I would definitely consider one of the tarptents.

Anyway, enjoy your adventure and be safe out there.

Nun, I was talking with a bicyclist from Iceland who was in the shop recently picking up some road tires and I asked him about cycling the ring road. He mentioned something about people knowing the times when the truck travel is heaviest around the road?

There may be some local conventions as to when the truck travel is heaviest. You might want to ask around about this once you get there.

Have a great time, i've got some UL camping to be done outside of Paris this year if all goes according to plan.

Nun, I was talking with a bicyclist from Iceland who was in the shop recently picking up some road tires and I asked him about cycling the ring road. He mentioned something about people knowing the times when the truck travel is heaviest around the road?

There may be some local conventions as to when the truck travel is heaviest. You might want to ask around about this once you get there.

Have a great time, i've got some UL camping to be done outside of Paris this year if all goes according to plan.

Thanks, I've arranged things so I'll be riding out of Reykjavik on a Sunday morning to avoid traffic, although traffic doesn't scare me having ridden for my years in London and Boston. Once away form the SW there aren't many cars on the Ring Road, but there is a daily bus which is my emergency plan if things go terribly wrong.

Also I can't take credit for the Tarptent Contrail video, I just found it on youtube.

Thanks Magnus,
One thing I've realize is "th" as in "Thor" is written with a letter that looks a bit like a "p".

Here is my planned route, do you see any problems?

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=201297293839191323131.00049b7b57cc07d9010e8&ll=64.960766,-19.072266&spn=6.559702,22.807617&z=6

and here's the bike. I put some 700x35c Schwalbe Duremes on it as it will mostly be tarmac, but they'll be a bit of off road too. The cannister in the third bottle cage carries instant oatmeal, honey and 16 tea bags. I've found a brand that are quite strong and as I like my tea quite weak I find I can get 4 cups out of a single bag....so that's 64 cups. I should be ok. I also have couscous and stock cubes packed inside my cookset and a couple of packets of noodle soup in a saddlebag side pocket. The Ortlieb up front is half empty so I can easily carry food I buy along the way.

190993

No fenders?

If there is anything you need to know, just drop me a line.

Magnus Thor
Iceland

Magnus, Do you have any suggestions for places I must visit on the Ring Road. I don't have much time for side trips. So far I have Godafoss, the Crater in Lake Myvtn and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

The trucks on the road should be your least problem. At least I have found them to be amongst the most courteous drivers on the highway. Having said that, they tend to leave the city here in the afternoon and drive through the evening and night so there won't be heavy truck traffic when you are riding. What you have to watch out for is cars pulling camper trailers, those never seem to realize how wide those campers are.
Once you get around 100 km out of the city in any direction, the traffic dies down to almost nothing so you should have no problems.
The wind is everpresent and always seems to be in your face, strange as that may seem since there is no such thing as a straight road in Iceland...
Is there no room for fenders ?

Magnús Þór (don't know if the icelandic characters show up correctly.)
Ísland

I've toured Iceland, mixing parts of the Ring Road and the Interior (Golden Triangle and Landmannalaugar). Outside of Reykjavik, there is hardly any traffic. The Ring has no shoulder and cars do fly past you, but it's so infrequent that it shouldn't bother you. It rained almost every day, but that's nothing compared to the wind. Incredible. Now if you get a tail wind, that's a different story. You are correct, there is an occasional bus just in case. I didn't encounter any in the Interior, but since you're sticking to the Ring, it's a moot point. You'll be able to find food every day on the Ring, albeit you might be eating gas station food in the afternoons. Just based on reading this thread, you seem to have plan this trip meticulously.

191044

I'm probably a bit too meticulous, but planning a trip is all part of the fun. The wind is what worries me most, but I have some nice low gears and I'm filling my iPhone with lots of listening material as I think I'll have some long days in the saddle. One good thing is I'll have plenty of daylight.

The trucks on the road should be your least problem. At least I have found them to be amongst the most courteous drivers on the highway. Having said that, they tend to leave the city here in the afternoon and drive through the evening and night so there won't be heavy truck traffic when you are riding. What you have to watch out for is cars pulling camper trailers, those never seem to realize how wide those campers are.
Once you get around 100 km out of the city in any direction, the traffic dies down to almost nothing so you should have no problems.
The wind is everpresent and always seems to be in your face, strange as that may seem since there is no such thing as a straight road in Iceland...
Is there no room for fenders ?

Magnús Þór (don't know if the icelandic characters show up correctly.)
Ísland

The characters show up just right and I now know not to pronounce your last name "por". I like to ride early in the morning, I start around 6:30 so I can my riding done by early afternoon which looks like it will avoid the truck traffic.

I wanted to put fenders on the bike, but it's very tight with the 35mm Duremes on there. If I went down to 32mm there might be space, but I want a big tire for the off road section. Anyway my saddlebag acts a bit like a fender and I have good rain gear, but I'll see if some SKS raceblades XL will fit

http://urbanvelo.org/sks-raceblade-clip-on-fenders/

Fenders?

Well I can't fit full fenders on to the Rambouillet with the 700x35 tires that I want for the off road sections. So the compromise is to use some SKS Raceblade XL fenders. 191233191234

Looks great! Let us know how the gear setup works out for you when you get back, and good luck!

Looks great! Let us know how the gear setup works out for you when you get back, and good luck!

It looks like won't need to camp during my entire trip as I just booked sleeping bag accommodation in places I thought I'd have to camp. So as I'll be in either hostels, farm houses or hotels in the "big" towns should I leave the tent, sleeping pad and cooking equipment at home and go light and fast? Or is it best to take it all to be safe as some of the roads are quite remote?

...bring a small siltarp instead of the tent, they pack up the size of an orange.

in a pinch you can simply wrap yourself in it and grovel until it gets light again.

I'd still bring the stove.

It looks like won't need to camp during my entire trip as I just booked sleeping bag accommodation in places I thought I'd have to camp. So as I'll be in either hostels, farm houses or hotels in the "big" towns should I leave the tent, sleeping pad and cooking equipment at home and go light and fast? Or is it best to take it all to be safe as some of the roads are quite remote?

SOL Bivy (http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11212744) + a small tarp?

I'd still carry the stove and some ability to cook. Hot tea, soup, or oatmeal on a windy, cold, wet, mid morning stop would be a nice perk.

picture of SOL bivy and siltarp on UL trip.....

SOL Bivy (http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11212744) + a small tarp?

I'd still carry the stove and some ability to cook. Hot tea, soup, or oatmeal on a windy, cold, wet, mid morning stop would be a nice perk.

I have that Bivy and interior condensation is a big issue. It certainly is warm, but a night in it and my bag is pretty damp.

I have that Bivy and interior condensation is a big issue. It certainly is warm, but a night in it and my bag is pretty damp.

I think you'd only use it as insurance...

I think you'd only use it as insurance...

Yes, but if I go the bivy route I want to take something that will be as comfortable as possible so I'll look for something a bit more breathable than the emergency medical bivy. I'm tending towards taking the sleeping bag, bivy and cooking gear and leaving the tent and sleeping pad at home.

Yes, but if I go the bivy route I want to take something that will be as comfortable as possible so I'll look for something a bit more breathable than the emergency medical bivy. I'm tending towards taking the sleeping bag, bivy and cooking gear and leaving the tent and sleeping pad at home.


bivy route I want to take something that will be as comfortable as possible

and then


and leaving ... sleeping pad at home


Now I'm confused. I'm more comfortable on a sleeping pad...

;)

and then




Now I'm confused. I'm more comfortable on a sleeping pad...

;)

Yeah, I was thinking of clamminess rather than the cold hard ground, I can deal with that, but I hate a damp bag. As you say the bivy will be for insurance so I want it to keep me dry and be an effective wind barrier. I think the REI minimalist bivy looks like a nice compromise between function, weight and cost

http://www.rei.com/product/794292

how often have you slept on the cold ground? i used to, when i was a teenager. it sucks the life right out of you. you can deal with that?

hmm. and have you ever slept in a bivy like that? there is condensation inside EVERY bivy.

a laminate bivy always packs huge. that thing is going to pack up the size of your tarptent, Nun. avoid.

6x8 Siltarp, sleeping pad, sleeping quilt. you can wrap yourself in it if needed. the SOS bivys will keep you alive in a bivy situation.

getting damp in an emergency bivy situation isn't the worst.

you're only going to maybe need it.

what if its nice, beautiful, calm, and you WANT to camp out?

what if its nice, beautiful, calm, and you WANT to camp out?

+1

how often have you slept on the cold ground? i used to, when i was a teenager. it sucks the life right out of you. you can deal with that?
Same here, when I was younger



hmm. and have you ever slept in a bivy like that? there is condensation inside EVERY bivy.

a laminate bivy always packs huge. that thing is going to pack up the size of your tarptent, Nun. avoid.

I picked up the REI bivy last night as it was on sale and slept in it on the porch. It was dry, but there was a big temp difference between inside and bag and outside and I had still had no condensation. The inside air definitely got humid, but not uncomfortably so, and being able to regulate my temp by taking my feet out of my quilt helped, also I used the zips to vent the bag. The material is like that used in Marmot Precip so a bit plasticy, but for $50 I'm quite happy with it. It also packs down well. With a bit of pushing it actually fits inside the SOL emergency medical bivy bag.


you're only going to maybe need it.

what if its nice, beautiful, calm, and you WANT to camp out?

I like camping, but I prefer a room if I have one and I've already have one booked for each night. The bivy is definitely just for emergencies.

i don't know why you'd pack a bivy like that if indeed, you might only need it for an emergency.

the SOL works better as a ground cloth and can double as a warm, emergency bivy that's a fair bit lighter.

Having spent many nights in bivies in the mountains, on mountain rescue teams or just climbing, you will find a bivy is a damp place to spend the night. particularily if the weather has sent you packing into the bivy in the first place.

No matter the brand or type of laminate, laminate bivies are sog machines in typical "I needed to get into the bivy" conditions.

but to each his own, once it becomes ultralight its just parsing hairs about what needs to be taken anyway. Just hoping you make the right decisions about gear ;)

It looks like won't need to camp during my entire trip as I just booked sleeping bag accommodation in places I thought I'd have to camp. So as I'll be in either hostels, farm houses or hotels in the "big" towns should I leave the tent, sleeping pad and cooking equipment at home and go light and fast? Or is it best to take it all to be safe as some of the roads are quite remote?

Did you have to do this site-by-site, or was there a clearinghouse where you could set up multiple accommodations?

Do you have a daily itinerary, then? As in you have to be at a spot on a given night?

Just curious: Iceland would be a manageable trip for me this year, but I haven't put much thought into it yet.

Did you have to do this site-by-site, or was there a clearinghouse where you could set up multiple accommodations?

Do you have a daily itinerary, then? As in you have to be at a spot on a given night?

Just curious: Iceland would be a manageable trip for me this year, but I haven't put much thought into it yet.

I started out by booking hotels in Reykjavik and Egilsstadir (half way mark). Then I discovered that Iceland has quite a few Hostels that cost $20 or $30 a night for a bed so I booked a few of those keeping the daily distance between them around 60 miles. After that I though that I'd be camping the rest of the days, but then I discovered that the campsites I planed to stay at have "sleeping bag" accommodation where you get a bed without linen for about $30. So I decided to book those and I've ended up with a place to sleep each night. I have an itinerary, but I like having a defined goal each day and usually ride early in the morning so I arrive early afternoon.

Having to be somewhere each night is a bit confining, but gives the tour structure and if weather of injury stops me from keeping to my plan I can always take the bus.

a laminate bivy always packs huge. that thing is going to pack up the size of your tarptent, Nun. avoid.



The REI minimalist has some nice features and packs quite small

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i don't think pound is worth the volume carried, when a siltarp carried for the same purpose and serving more, varied purposes would weigh less and pack to 25 percent of that.

and why not the bivy that came in its sack? you think you only might need it, and it weighs a third of the minimalist, and will still pack smaller. i know its a bit damper, but again, its only a maybe you're going to need it.

a third of the weight of the other shelter is significant for an ultralite bikepacker.

you'll have fun regardless, just offering my input on the gear.

If you've booked accommodation every night, the bivy seems excessive. Like Bekologist suggests, a siltarp could provide emergency shelter.

In the summer, Iceland never gets dark. You can ride around the clock if needed. And since you're sticking to the Ring Road, there will always be motorists passing who could help out in a real emergency.

If you've booked accommodation every night, the bivy seems excessive. Like Bekologist suggests, a siltarp could provide emergency shelter.

In the summer, Iceland never gets dark. You can ride around the clock if needed. And since you're sticking to the Ring Road, there will always be motorists passing who could help out in a real emergency.

I like the bivy more than a siltarp for Iceland because it's bug proof. I'll be off the ring road for one day so at 1lb and a small volume the bivy is good insurance if I'm not taking the tent.

Sorry to play Devil's advocate as I know you're an experienced tourist, but I can't imagine where you'd be able to use a bivy unless at a campground, in which case it sounds like you'll have a bed. The terrain is so rocky/volcanic, trying to tuck into a bivy and sleeping bag on the side of the road sounds like torture.

Also, the only bugs you'll see are around Myvatn. The island does a great job of blowing away almost all insects. The birds, however, are a different story. You'll need eyes in the back of your head!

Sorry to play Devil's advocate as I know you're an experienced tourist, but I can't imagine where you'd be able to use a bivy unless at a campground, in which case it sounds like you'll have a bed. The terrain is so rocky/volcanic, trying to tuck into a bivy and sleeping bag on the side of the road sounds like torture.

Also, the only bugs you'll see are around Myvatn. The island does a great job of blowing away almost all insects. The birds, however, are a different story. You'll need eyes in the back of your head!

A tarp or tent would be even more difficult to use away from campsites. My take is that I'd rather get into the bivy and zip up than wrap a siltarp around me. Putting a tarp (or tent) up on volcanic lava would be difficult, but if I have to rest it will be easy to get behind a rock and zip up the bivy. Say a nasty fog comes down and I have to stop riding in the middle of nowhere, then it will be nice to wait it out in the bivy. Probably not fantastically comfortable, but it would keep the wind and wet out well. Bugs are something that I hate, so I always have DEET and knowing my luck if I had to spend a night out it would be in the middle of a lot of bugs which is another reason for the bivy.

It really is an emergency thing and at 1lb and similar volume to the Thermolite I think it's the way to go if I don't have a tent and sleeping pad.