Touring - Tents, Sleeping Bags, Sleeping Pads, Need Advice Please!

I have decided to dive into touring and will be using my mountain bike that I use for commuting. Its a sweet set up but still need some tweaks but will work on it soon.

*I apologize for all the questions. I know nothing much about touring and tend to do a lot of homework before diving in so I use this forum to learn a lot*.

I have some money to invest in touring and camping gear. I am interested in, for my first tour, a short tour that is not supported. Credit card touring is OK but we have to watch what we spend so there is not a lot of money to spend like a vacation per say. Also not interested in motels, etc at this point because of the cost.

So I wanted to see if I could do a self supported tour.

I would like opinions on tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. It will just be me in the tent but my wife expressed the interest of camping sometime so I am thinking of a four person tent. I am a big guy as well. The important thing for my wife and I when camping is the tent needs to be waterproof. And we need to feel comfratable when sleeping.

Any recomendations on tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping mat?

Or any other advice??

A 4P tent could make you miserable weight-wise. There are plenty of roomy 3P tents that are pretty light. One example that comes to mind is the Copper Spur UL3 from Big Agnes. A couple of friends of mine just crossed the country sharing one, and neither of them are little. Pricey for sure, but less than 5 lbs. packed. I have a Sierra Designs Beduoin 4P that I use for car camping and supported trips. It weighs something like 13 lbs. I would never carry that on a bike. When the GF and I tour together, I carry a 3P hybrid tent that comes in at around 6.25 lbs. That's enough for me. Solo I use an MSR Hubba Hubba. My friends mentioned above originally bought one, tried it out and brought it straight back. Simply not enough room.

After years of using a skinny ThermaRest Pro Lite 3, I recently bought a Big Agnes Air Core (the insulated version), in part because I am still getting over a broken collar bone with muscle damage and need something more cushy for Cycle Oregon in two weeks. While it's not self-infalting, it only takes about 20 breaths to fully inflate. If my 5' tall GF can do it easily, you can. It's 2.5" thick. At $90 at REI, it's also less expensive than something like the ThermaRest Neo Air, which I hear is also very good.

Choosing a sleeping bag may require lots of testing, especially if you have broad shoulders. When I needed a 20+ bag 10 years ago, I went cheeap and bought an REI-brand bag without really trying it out. I found that it's cramped in the shoulder area. Now I have a North Face Cat's Meow long. Like it a lot. If you don't foresee camping in cold weather, you might want to go with a lighter bag.

In addition to REI (in Marlton) as a source, Campmoor in Paramus carries a large selection of tents and bags that you can try out.

Your call, but no way would I carry a 4 person tent for just me. I carried a 4 person tent for three of us on the TA and cussed the weight every single day.

I like the Eureka Spitfire 1 a lot. It is a great tent and very inexpensive. Since it sounds like you want or need more space I would advise looking at the Spitfire 2.

On the sleeping bag and mat, I'd need to know your budget and the conditions you want to camp in. Then there is personal preference... That said I love my Thermarest NeoAir and Mountain Hardware Phantom 45. I have used both down to at least 18F and been comfy with one layer of pile and two pairs of socks.

Now I have a North Face Cat's Meow long. Like it a lot. If you don't foresee camping in cold weather, you might want to go with a lighter bag.
I'd second the recommend of the Cat's Meow if you want or need a 20F bag and want to go synthetic. I like mine but don't use it much because my Phantom weighs a good bit less than half as much, packs in way less than half the volume, and is good for the temperatures I tour in, at least for me. Some folks say they would freeze in the same bag; I put out heat like a furnace.

What does "short" mean? I'm asking because investing in camping gear probably costs more than a few nights at motels. If you just want to see if you like it, you could either borrow camping gear or stay in motels, and then invest if you decide you are sure you want to continue.

Apart from that - yeah, 4 person tent is too big, if you are going to do most of your touring alone but a little with the wife, you will probably want a 2 person tent for yourself alone and a 2 or 3 person tent for the both of you. Weight matters. if the wife-camping part is just car camping, you could get a separate 4-person cheap tent for that, and a nice/light 2 person tent for your bike touring. do not carry a 4 person tent with you for many days on tour because of a few nights you may or may not need that tent in the future. Penny-wise and (literally) pound-foolish.

REI-Outlet is a good source of camping gear. And see what your friends would be willing to loan you. I loan my touring and camping and bike gear pretty regularly to local friends, and have borrowed stuff too.

What does "short" mean? I'm asking because investing in camping gear probably costs more than a few nights at motels. If you just want to see if you like it, you could either borrow camping gear or stay in motels, and then invest if you decide you are sure you want to continue.

Apart from that - yeah, 4 person tent is too big, if you are going to do most of your touring alone but a little with the wife, you will probably want a 2 person tent for yourself alone and a 2 or 3 person tent for the both of you. Weight matters. if the wife-camping part is just car camping, you could get a separate 4-person cheap tent for that, and a nice/light 2 person tent for your bike touring. do not carry a 4 person tent with you for many days on tour because of a few nights you may or may not need that tent in the future. Penny-wise and (literally) pound-foolish.

REI-Outlet is a good source of camping gear. And see what your friends would be willing to loan you. I loan my touring and camping and bike gear pretty regularly to local friends, and have borrowed stuff too.

Here is a tent that is not too heavy, and should work for two.http://www.rei.com/product/827801/rei-quarter-dome-t3-plus-tent

The Spitfire 2 mentioned above is huge for a two person tent, it's inexpensive, and I believe the weight is pretty good too. It's only disadvantage that I know of is that it's not free standing. It might be helpful to go online to get the tent specs. Measure out the length and width on your bed and then lie in that space with your wife to get a rough idea of what it will be like.


I have a NeoAir Trekker sleeping pad. It's similar to the NeoAir but I believe it's a a little more durable and it's not as noisy. It's pretty comfortable once I figured out the right amount of inflation that worked for me. The thermarest compressible pillows are very comfortable. I find them much more comfortable than an air pillow but some people do fine with those.

Regarding sleeping bags. If you are big or the slightest bit claustrophobic make sure you check the specs to make sure it's going to be big enough (e.g., shoulder girth). I think I may be going with a semi-rectangular bag for this reason. Good luck with it all. You can learn a ton on these forums. Check out Crazyguyonabike too...

Here is a tent that is not too heavy, and should work for two.http://www.rei.com/product/827801/rei-quarter-dome-t3-plus-tent
A nice tent and maybe what he is looking for... I wish we had had one on the TA for the three of us. That said it is bigger and heavier than I would choose for solo use and also it is a bit pricey compared to some options. For example, the Spitfire 2 can be found for about $130 and I think it would be roomy enough. Personal preference though.

I agree with the skip the 4 person tent advice. I've thought about one, but looking at the weight dissuaded me. Be sure to get a bag that rated at 20 degrees or lower (I speak from bitter experience). We just purchased two Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleep pads. They are much more comfortable than our old Therm-a-rest pads, weigh about 19 ounces, and roll up to a size slightly larger than a water bottle.

Lots of people in this part of the world cycletour with massive tents. I would have thought they'd be really big, heavy, bulky, etc. but they seem to travel with them all right. I suspect that if 2 people are touring together, one person carries half the tent and the other person carries the other half.


That said, this is the tent Rowan and I are travelling with, and have used since we bought it in France in 2007:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/t3-ultralight-pro-id_6541067.html

It is reasonably roomy ... I wouldn't want to put 3 people in it, but the two of us have a reasonable amount of room. And it has stood up to a lot of wild weather. Take the other night for example ..... !!!

Regarding sleeping bags. If you are big or the slightest bit claustrophobic make sure you check the specs to make sure it's going to be big enough (e.g., shoulder girth). I think I may be going with a semi-rectangular bag for this reason. Good luck with it all. You can learn a ton on these forums. Check out Crazyguyonabike too...
The other option is a duvet arrangement. I would never have thought of this as a good option until we stated using our Exped mats, and taking the advice of some posters here.

Now I leave my light down bag unzipped and use it as a duvet, although I still use a silk liner. I tried sleeping with the bag zipped up the night before last, and... I was too restricted to be comfortable to the point I was starting to get sore hips.

Wow, thank you everyone for your help.

Is REI a good place to shop as far as knowledable people go? What are the typical return policy if you do not like the tent after one use? Will they show you how to put the tent up in the store?

What are some things to stay away from when buying a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad (red flags if you will)?

And what do you do with your bike when you are sleeping at night? Say you are camping at a camp grounds. Do you carry locks with you and such? Did you have paranoa the first time you left the bike outside while camping?

Wow, thank you everyone for your help.

Is REI a good place to shop as far as knowledable people go? What are the typical return policy if you do not like the tent after one use? Will they show you how to put the tent up in the store?

Most REI salespeople are quite knowledgeable. REI return policy is the best. They have 100% satisfaction guarantee. They take anything back that you're not happy with. If you are spending a good bit there it's a good idea to become a "member" ($25 for lifetime).

thoughts on free standing tents versus non free standing tents

The other option is a duvet arrangement. I would never have thought of this as a good option until we stated using our Exped mats, and taking the advice of some posters here.

Now I leave my light down bag unzipped and use it as a duvet, although I still use a silk liner. I tried sleeping with the bag zipped up the night before last, and... I was too restricted to be comfortable to the point I was starting to get sore hips.


Further to Rowan's comments about the Exped mats ...

When I first started cycletouring, I didn't use any sort of mat at all. That was on a tour of Wales in late summer 2003. I froze!! And I ended up using my cycling partner's goretex jacket as a bit of a mat. I'm glad that tour wasn't any longer than 6 days.

Then I graduated to a small bit of blue foam mat that covered me from shoulders to hips, with an emergency foil bivy spread out under it. I toured for 3 months in Australia with that, and thank goodness my cycling partner and I spent nights in hostels about every 4th or 5th night. It was much better than nothing at all, and the emergency bivy helped protect me from the cold, but I never did have a really comfortable night's sleep.

One of the first things I did when I finished that tour was to purchase a 3/4 Thermarest mattress ... and that was much better than the bit of blue foam. I did several tours with that Thermarest mattress, and I'd recommend going with at least something like that. But I still used the foil emergency bivy under it for warmth. And I still struggled with sore hips and back after sleeping on it several nights in a row. I came up with a system using my panniers and several inflatable pillows on Rowan's and my tour in France in 2007, where we spent about 20 nights in a row in the tent, to try to make things a bit more comfortable.

I was planning to use that Thermarest mattress on this tour we're on now, but then Rowan suggested the Exped mats and that's what we decided to get. I have to say, they are indeed warmer and more comfortable than the Thermarest. I think they have been a very good choice ... I haven't had to use an emergency bivy underneath, nor have I had to rig up a pillow system to make mine more comfortable.


As far as sleeping bags go. I've used very small, light sleeping bags in the past, but this time, I bought a down one from MEC which I really like. I use a sarong as a sheet over me, and then I kind of wrap the sleeping bag loosely around me, sort of like a folded duvet. In fact, on one very hot night recently, I slept on top of the sleeping bag with just the sarong over me. I think I've slept with the bag zipped up once or twice on this tour so far, on particularly cold nights, but I don't like feeling restricted.

What will make my first tour interesting is that I have no clue what I am doing! lol The only thing I know I can do is pedal and have a good time! he he he

Plus a curve ball is my CPAP so I will need to do homework on sites that I can use an extension cord for the CPAP.

Most REI salespeople are quite knowledgeable. REI return policy is the best. They have 100% satisfaction guarantee. They take anything back that you're not happy with. If you are spending a good bit there it's a good idea to become a "member" ($25 for lifetime).

If you become a member, do they give you a percentage off when you buy at the counter?

If you become a member, do they give you a percentage off when you buy at the counter?
No but you get a dividend at the end of the year.


thoughts on free standing tents versus non free standing tents
It comes down to weigh balanced against some added convenience. The pluses are:

easy to flip over to let the bottom dry
nice if you camp on a concrete surface like a picnic pavillion
easy to pick up and move


The only real minus is weight. I have gone to non-freestanding for that reason though, and have found it worth the weight reduction for me.

I only just finished a West Coast tour, and used the MSR Hubba Hubba (http://www.rei.com/product/810183/msr-hubba-hubba-2p-tent) and NeoAir Trekker (http://www.rei.com/product/810375/therm-a-rest-neoair-trekker-sleeping-pad). Chuffed to bits with both, especially the tent: it's lightweight, airy and idiot proof in setting up. My sleeping bag was a Mountain Hardwear Lamina 35 (http://www.rei.com/product/795989/mountain-hardwear-lamina-35-sleeping-bag) that more than did the job. Both tent and sleeping bag fit into a 13L waterproof bag I kept on top of my rack.

Being a big guy changes the way you look at gear. Often times weight has to take a backseat to fit. I have looked at many light items, but find they are mostly built for small or average size people. I also like to be comfortable. I am 6'5" and 285lbs with very wide shoulders. Given my size and parameters of fit, comfort and weight, right now I am using an REI Quarter Dome t2 plus tent (fairly light and great length) an Exped DreamWalker 450 sleeping bag (35 degree and very spacious, also super versatile) and an Exped downmat UL7 XL for warmth and comfort. The whole setup is about 8 lbs and fits in a pannier.
I was patient and bought each item at about 1/2 price, so it didn't hurt the wallet quite as bad as it seems.

I should ask, what are "footprints" used for? And is it recommended to have one?

I should ask, what are "footprints" used for? And is it recommended to have one?

Ground Cloth for extra protection.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Birth%20Place%20of%20Texas%20Ride/BirthPlaceofTexasRideApril2010008.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Birth%20Place%20of%20Texas%20Ride/BirthPlaceofTexasRideApril2010031.jpg

Being a big guy changes the way you look at gear. Often times weight has to take a backseat to fit. I have looked at many light items, but find they are mostly built for small or average size people. I also like to be comfortable. I am 6'5" and 285lbs with very wide shoulders. Given my size and parameters of fit, comfort and weight, right now I am using an REI Quarter Dome t2 plus tent (fairly light and great length) an Exped DreamWalker 450 sleeping bag (35 degree and very spacious, also super versatile) and an Exped downmat UL7 XL for warmth and comfort. The whole setup is about 8 lbs and fits in a pannier.
I was patient and bought each item at about 1/2 price, so it didn't hurt the wallet quite as bad as it seems.

Did you have any issue with your tent being tall? I am about your height and am curious about this. If you had to, would you buy all the stuff again?

What do you all do with your bike in the evening? Drape a tarp over it? Do you lock it up? Anything you do to prevent it from being stolen while camping?

On the sleeping bag and mat, I'd need to know your budget and the conditions you want to camp in. Then there is personal preference... That said I love my Thermarest NeoAir and Mountain Hardware Phantom 45. I have used both down to at least 18F and been comfy with one layer of pile and two pairs of socks.

Staehpj1,

How small does the MH phantom compress down to? I'm in the market for a new bag & that one looks like it could be the perfect bag.

What do you all do with your bike in the evening? Drape a tarp over it? Do you lock it up? Anything you do to prevent it from being stolen while camping?

I carry a small cable lock, works on a tree.

What do you all do with your bike in the evening? Drape a tarp over it? Do you lock it up? Anything you do to prevent it from being stolen while camping?

We lock it up to a tree or picnic table. Carried a tarp on one trip down the coast to cover bikes at night, but it really wasn't all that important as long as you can keep the contents of your panniers dry.

Staehpj1,

How small does the MH phantom compress down to? I'm in the market for a new bag & that one looks like it could be the perfect bag.

The supplied sack is 6"x10". With a compression sack it could probably compress more (maybe grapefruit sized), but I don't see it as worth it given how small it already is.

For footprint, sheet Polyethylene , is cheap , and easily replaced,
A loop of tape where the stake loops on the tent are keeps it in place
so not needing to be laid down separately..

A plastic bag over the saddle for the rain, and a long cable [a dIY hardware store project ,
got a 10 foot long light plastic coated one, for trees and picnic table attachment]

Assess risk based on existing conditions. I rarely lock my bike up because I rarely camp in places where the general public is going to have easy access, and I cannot remember worrying that that other campers might steal my bike or gear.

During my last week+ tour, we camped 7 nights. Locked the bikes together with a relatively light cable once because the camping area was very close to the sidewalk and road and our tent, etc., was pretty much visible. Didn't even bring a lock for my 3-day back in May.

Footprints are a waste of $$, IMO. A $4 synthetic tarp dioes the same job as a $40 footprint.

I should ask, what are "footprints" used for? And is it recommended to have one?
It is recommended to prolong the life of the floor of your tent. It has several functions -- as a first barrier against moisture, so that if you do accidentally puncture the floor, the risk of getting stuff inside wet is reduced.

They can help stop things like goat head spikes and other similar plant weapons, as well as sharp stones from puncturing the tent floor.

During the day with intense sun and heat, they can be used as shade, if they are made of anything other than clear plastic.

I am a firm believer in doubling, or even tripling the uses of stuff like this, so we use a tarp that is sold as an emergency blanket -- red on one side with a reflective aluminium surface on the other. So it serves as an emergency blanket, a tarp, and a tent footprint.

The other thing is that the tarp can be used with silver side down in hot weather to reflect ground heat away from the tent floor, and silver side up in cold weather to reflect our body heat back into the tent. It works well in the latter case, especially with the Exped mats.

As to bikes, as indyfabz says, assess the risk. But even then you can't be certain. Machka's favourite bike was stolen from less than 3ft away from our tent, propped up against our vehicle with my bike, one night in a sleepy little town that we were told afterwards never had anything like this happen before. We lock bikes all the time now, using two locks through frames and front wheels, and on occasions, I have tied them to the tent so if they are removed, we will know about it.

I bought some bike alarms that fit under the water bottle cages on the downtube before we left Australia, but we've found them to be pretty well a waste of money. We haven't used them, mainly because when we did, they didn't seem to want to work as they were supposed to.

Did you have any issue with your tent being tall? I am about your height and am curious about this. If you had to, would you buy all the stuff again?

The tent is actually a great fit. I can sleep in it with my wife and we fit well, and I don't hit the ends, which is great for staying dry in the rain. It is also the perfect solo tent for me. Plenty of room to move around in if you're spending extra time in it due to rain.
Yes, I would buy them all again. Being big leads to trade-offs. Big guys = big gear = more weight. Everything is a compromise between weight and fit and comfort. I really like the tent and the sleeping bag. Neither is minimalist, but they aren't on the high end of weight. For a sleeping bag, I really like the Exped for its weight and versatility, but would like a Feathered Friends Wren. Similar to my Exped Dreamwalker, but much lighter and more expensive. But again, it is cut for a smaller framed person, so I'll never own one.
For the Exped downmat ul 7, the jury is still out. It is very comfortable, fairly light for its size, and easy to fill up. I am wondering how the down will do in extended wet weather. With the total set up coming in at less than 10 lbs, I am very happy with it. Some would say it's still to heavy, but it is just right for me at the moment.

The tent is actually a great fit. I can sleep in it with my wife and we fit well, and I don't hit the ends, which is great for staying dry in the rain. It is also the perfect solo tent for me. Plenty of room to move around in if you're spending extra time in it due to rain.
Yes, I would buy them all again. Being big leads to trade-offs. Big guys = big gear = more weight. Everything is a compromise between weight and fit and comfort. I really like the tent and the sleeping bag. Neither is minimalist, but they aren't on the high end of weight. For a sleeping bag, I really like the Exped for its weight and versatility, but would like a Feathered Friends Wren. Similar to my Exped Dreamwalker, but much lighter and more expensive. But again, it is cut for a smaller framed person, so I'll never own one.
For the Exped downmat ul 7, the jury is still out. It is very comfortable, fairly light for its size, and easy to fill up. I am wondering how the down will do in extended wet weather. With the total set up coming in at less than 10 lbs, I am very happy with it. Some would say it's still to heavy, but it is just right for me at the moment.

This may be a stupid question but when you buy a sleeping bag, is the bag it fits into waterproof or is that something else that will need to be purchased?

This may be a stupid question but when you buy a sleeping bag, is the bag it fits into waterproof or is that something else that will need to be purchased?

The ones they come with are usually not waterproof. I bought some waterproof compression sacks for my bike touring and backpacking needs. They compress the sleeping bag really well and keep them dry. I also stuff a small throw pillow along with the sleeping bag.

This may be a stupid question but when you buy a sleeping bag, is the bag it fits into waterproof or is that something else that will need to be purchased?

Most sleeping bags come with non-waterproof stuff sacks. You can buy a dry bag stuffsack, or the cheap ways is to use the stuff sack it came with and put it inside a trash bag to keep it dry. Cheap and simple.

Have you considered using a hammock? I know a few bikepackers use a hammock instead of a tent for several reasons: portability, weight, the ability to sleep where a tent can't go and most importantly for you and your wife, comfort. After I tried a hammock, I haven't slept on the ground since. My $.02
Enjoy your research.


Syb

I should ask, what are "footprints" used for? And is it recommended to have one?

I used to use a sheet of plastic or tyvek, but stopped using anything. I did that to save weight, but have not missed the ground sheet. The floor is usually not where my tents fail any way. I figure that I can patch or recoat the floor if I need to and if it gets really shot, I'll start using a ground sheet at that time.

I don't use anything now, but if I did I wouldn't even consider buying a fancy footprint.

Some people are fussier or worry more about protecting their tent floor, so it is a personal choice.

Your call, but no way would I carry a 4 person tent for just me. I carried a 4 person tent for three of us on the TA and cussed the weight every single day.

I like the Eureka Spitfire 1 a lot. It is a great tent and very inexpensive. Since it sounds like you want or need more space I would advise looking at the Spitfire 2.


The Spitfire1 or 2 (if you want more room) is a good choice. There are several other models, like the Sierra Design Clip Flashlight. A little lighter... not freestanding, which would be OK as long as you are not camping on cement.

My guess is that starting with the smallest tent you could would be the best way to go. Myself, I started with an 8 pound, 3-person REI tent. It was freestanding and good quality, but the bulk as well as the weight made the Spitfire 2 a better choice for me.

I just lay mine down. Never carry a lock. Rarely, I'll run a string from the bike to my ankle if the vibes aren't quit right. If wild camping where there might be a chance of car lights hitting reflectors, I am careful where I lay the bike, and cover reflectors with whatever.

I strongly endorse the Spitfire 2 as the best bang for the buck. 38 sq ft of floor space which is huge for a 2 person. At 5'7", I can step in/out of it. No crawling. Durable.

Rarely, I'll run a string from the bike to my ankle if the vibes aren't quit right.

LOL, seriously?

I've never heard of that.

What do you all do with your bike in the evening? Drape a tarp over it? Do you lock it up? Anything you do to prevent it from being stolen while camping?
Most often I lean it against a tree or picnic table in camp. No tarp needed, its already in the weather all day. In the fairly rare case where I am trying to be stealthy I lay it down and cover any reflectors.

I carry a light cable lock and use it if I feel it makes sense. Often I do not bother locking. Sometimes where the risk is especially high (usually in a city, not in camp) I just don't let it out of sight. I have wheeled it around in a grocery store when leaving it did not seem prudent.

Prior to having my bicycle stolen from right outside my tent ... sometimes I locked it, sometimes I didn't.

Now I'm verging on paranoid with our bicycles.

You just never know. It was stolen out of a very quiet little campground in a sleepy little town ... who would have thought.

yeah, i generally lock up as well.

I just lay mine down. Never carry a lock. Rarely, I'll run a string from the bike to my ankle if the vibes aren't quit right. If wild camping where there might be a chance of car lights hitting reflectors, I am careful where I lay the bike, and cover reflectors with whatever.

I strongly endorse the Spitfire 2 as the best bang for the buck. 38 sq ft of floor space which is huge for a 2 person. At 5'7", I can step in/out of it. No crawling. Durable.
When we pulled into the tent area of the campsiite from hell in Germany a couple of weeks ago, we were met with an array of reflectors that were astounding. There seems to be a trend in some places to coat spokes with a reflective finish. Combine that with the reflective stripe on the sidewalls of Schwalbe tires, it was like Christmas decorations all over the place.

When we pulled into the tent area of the campsiite from hell in Germany a couple of weeks ago, we were met with an array of reflectors that were astounding. There seems to be a trend in some places to coat spokes with a reflective finish. Combine that with the reflective stripe on the sidewalls of Schwalbe tires, it was like Christmas decorations all over the place.

Its common in the US for commuters, especially since people get sued just for looking at others wrong.

Being a big guy changes the way you look at gear. Often times weight has to take a backseat to fit. I have looked at many light items, but find they are mostly built for small or average size people. I also like to be comfortable. I am 6'5" and 285lbs with very wide shoulders. Given my size and parameters of fit, comfort and weight, right now I am using an REI Quarter Dome t2 plus tent (fairly light and great length) an Exped DreamWalker 450 sleeping bag (35 degree and very spacious, also super versatile) and an Exped downmat UL7 XL for warmth and comfort. The whole setup is about 8 lbs and fits in a pannier.
I was patient and bought each item at about 1/2 price, so it didn't hurt the wallet quite as bad as it seems.

+1 to the above. I am tall, thin, and claustrophobic, so all of my sleep gear is bigger. I have the T2-Plus mentioned above and I love it. I don't have to sleep diagonally, I don't feel like my head is about to graze the top of the tent, and there is room for my panniers. Some people just desire a tiny tent to dive into at night and sleep but I tend to need a wind down period at night (e.g., reading, journaling...) and the tent has got to be comfortable.

Another thing to think about is the width of your sleeping mat. The standard width is 20 inches and I don't know how people do it. I got the long/wide NeoAir Trekker and at 25 inches wide it works well for me. Again, measure a 20 inch width out on your bed to see if that's something you think you can do.

Try not to pay full price at REI because their prices start rather high but they have sales year round and the dividend program mentioned above. If you live near an REI they also have really good deals on used gear. What makes REI so great is that their return policy. You will have returns as you dial your gear in and it's nice to be able to do it without hassle. Nashbar also has a great return policy.

And what do you do with your bike when you are sleeping at night? Say you are camping at a camp grounds. Do you carry locks with you and such? Did you have paranoa the first time you left the bike outside while camping?

Most tourers on the forums use light locks to save weight and to "keep honest people honest." I ended up going with a heavier cable lock for peace of mind when sleeping and grocery shopping. I also use the "Click Stand" kickstand, which comes with brake bands, which might slow a thief down a little bit. Combo locks are good so that you don't have to worry about losing keys.

I cable lock my bike and cover with garbage bags for rain protection and to make it look less desirable. Another crime deterrent is to remove the front wheel skewer, after locking the wheel.
http://www.ziligy.com/photos/posts/CampsiteBagsOnLHT.jpg