Touring - Camping gear for bicycle tours

I need three things for my future bicycle tours:

1. A very small, lightweight tent, but one that is fairly durable and warm.

2. A better mattress than the foam thing I brought with me last time ... something that is comfortable, but folds up very, very small, and is light.

3. Cooking gear including a stove. Again, it has to be extremely small, compact, and lightweight. And it would be great if the stove could heat things without fuel and flames ... perhaps something battery operated????

Any suggestions?

You asked for it :D
Stove #1 (http://www.zzstove.com/) Stove #'s 2-5 (http://www.msrcorp.com/stoves/) I personally use the MSR Whisperlite International, it will burn multiple fuels but can be a little fussy to make work properly. I also use the MSR cookware. I have one stainless cook set that is still going strong after 10 years of heavy use. I usually only carry part of it. Also use the
Outback Oven (https://secure.backpackerspantry.com/secure/category.cfm?Category=4) when I am on a wandering tour and time is on my side.

Tents: I currently use an older version of the Coleman Inyo (http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9810-816&categoryid=11070) I used to use an Eureka Timberline (http://www.eurekacamping.com/timberline.asp) Excellent tent but fairly heavy. Also check out the MSR (http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/) tents, pricey but I have never gone wrong with any of their equipment under heavy use.

Sleeping pads: Therm-a-rest (http://www.thermarest.com/) are the best :p I have one that is about 12 years old, managed to damage one corner of it, sent it back for repair and they fixed it no charge.

These are some of the items that I use and have been very happy with backpacking and camping with over the last 15-20 years.

Here is another company that has come of age in the last few years with some inovative camping cookware

GSI (http://www.gsioutdoors.com/index.html) I have thought about the handcranked Blender (http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/lexan/73365.html) nothing like a cold margarita at the end of a long day's ride :p I usually carry one of their lexan cups, the ones I have are marked for measuring.

Aaron

:)

I never got comfortable enough with the Thermarest. I'm thinking of switching over to the Big Agnes....more compact also when folded down.

Battery operated stove???

It takes around 180 kJ to heat half a litre of water to boiling point, from 15°C.
And that's at 100% efficiency!
Now, a good rechargeable AA cell holds over 2000 mAh, which is 11 kJ. So to heat the water, you'd need 17 cells. Again, assuming 100% efficiency.
With a more reasonable 30% efficiency (guessing here), you're at a whopping 57 AA cells just to bring half a litre of water to the boil. If you want to keep it boiling for ten minutes, you'd probably need double that!
A good 12 V car battery would be able to, at least theoretically, boil the water for you, and still have enough juice to keep it boiling for a while, but just one of those weighs more than many a modern bike...

If you can't get comfotable with a thermarest then try to buy a ridgerest foam pad to put under it before buying something more expensive. When you max out your thermarest then the foam pad is there to support you. Very plush.
I'm a touring wannabe and an AT thru-hiker so I would go with light weight stuff like a Henry Shires Tarptent (www.tarptent.com) and a Trangia alcohol stove (you can find the Mini at REI). Butane stoves are small and very hot but are not refilable (which is not that big of a deal as they last for a while).
Scott

Battery operated stove???

It takes around 180 kJ to heat half a litre of water to boiling point, from 15°C.
And that's at 100% efficiency!
Now, a good rechargeable AA cell holds over 2000 mAh, which is 11 kJ. So to heat the water, you'd need 17 cells. Again, assuming 100% efficiency.
With a more reasonable 30% efficiency (guessing here), you're at a whopping 57 AA cells just to bring half a litre of water to the boil. If you want to keep it boiling for ten minutes, you'd probably need double that!
A good 12 V car battery would be able to, at least theoretically, boil the water for you, and still have enough juice to keep it boiling for a while, but just one of those weighs more than many a modern bike...



OK, so maybe not battery operated.

I just do not like the idea of working with fuel and fire. A bad burn injury has left me practically petrified of anything hot enough to burn me.

Aside from going the restaurant route ... are there other cooking options?

Well if you want to forego the fire you could try Heater Meals (http://www.heatermeals.com/) I actually keep a few of these in my truck toolbox for emergencies...like being stuck on the Interstate for 6 hours because some idiots haven't learned the basics of physics :mad: Like snow and ice are slick and you lose traction at 70 mph...DUH!

During the warmer months in the south I have literally traveled from farmer's stand to farmer's stand eating fresh fruits and veggies with no cooking, nothing like eating a whole cannonball melon fresh from the vine with the juice running down your face :p You could also try and time your food stops at convience stores and use their microwaves...if you buy something they usually don't mind if you heat something else up the oven.

Aaron :)

Well, you can only eat cold foods. That will save you a lot of weight from the fuel and stove.

For a pad, I'd reccomend a thermarest Z rest or ridge rest.
Z rest:
http://www.backcountry.com/images/items/medium/CAS0086.jpg

ridge rest:
http://www.summits.co.uk/acatalog/ridgerest1.jpg

The Z rest costs about US$ 40, and the ridge rest about US$20. The Z rest folds up like an accordian as shown in the picture, is somewhat bulky, and is really lightweight. The ridge rest rolls up like in the picture, and is bulkier and slightly heavier.

For stoves, seriously there aren't any options that don't involve fire or flames. There are meals, which the military uses that use a chemical reaction to heat the food. These are horrendously expensive, have lots of packaging, and don't taste very good.

If you can't get comfotable with a thermarest then try to buy a ridgerest foam pad to put under it before buying something more expensive. When you max out your thermarest then the foam pad is there to support you. Very plush.
I'm a touring wannabe and an AT thru-hiker so I would go with light weight stuff like a Henry Shires Tarptent (www.tarptent.com) and a Trangia alcohol stove (you can find the Mini at REI). Butane stoves are small and very hot but are not refilable (which is not that big of a deal as they last for a while).
Scott

Scott,
Hi neighbor;) Those are some slick little tents...we used to just use a big piece of 6 mil builders plastic for the same basic results shades of Colin Fletcher "The man who walked thru time."

Aaron :)

These (http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/camping/52006.html) are pretty nice and lightweight, and the fuel isn't a disaster-waiting-to-happen. Getting one from an Army/Navy surplus store would probably be cheaper than ordering from Rivendell.

I just do not like the idea of working with fuel and fire. A bad burn injury has left me practically petrified of anything hot enough to burn me.


If you've never tried a Trangia stove, you should.
It's really easy to use, and you have to mess up pretty badly to burn yourself on one.

If you've never tried a Trangia stove, you should.
It's really easy to use, and you have to mess up pretty badly to burn yourself on one.
Really? I've had terrible trouble with the trangias, they seem too unstable for me.
I once tipped over my dinner cooking on a trangia, and spilled flaming alcohol everywhere. Did I mention I was in the woods, where there was plenty of dry tinder around?

I am not a big fan of alcohol stoves for two reasons one the btu output is on the low side compared to white gas or butane, and the flame is hard to see if you spill it and it starts to burn. You might also consider Sterno Stoves (http://www.baproducts.com/p62.htm) which is alcohol fuel in a jelly form but you still have the low btu issue. I would think from your description if you are willing to use a fuel stove at all one of the butane cannister stoves is going to be you best bet. The butane is contained, cannot be spilled, and is very easy to operate.

Aaron :)

What about a stove using Trioxane ? I see them frequently in cheaper than dirt. A catalog of surplus gear.Trioxane fuel comes in solid bars.It is used with a small folding stove you place the cooking pot atop it.

Let me also add that I am very accident prone. If I can knock it over, spill it, dump fuel all over the place, light the forest on fire, or injure myself ... I probably will.

If I go with a fuel and flame sort of stove ... it has to be completely and utterly idiot-proof.


Also note: I can't cook with a gas stove (like one you'd find in a house) either. The very thought of lighting the burners is terrifying.

[QUOTE=Machka]I need three things for my future bicycle tours:

1. A very small, lightweight tent, but one that is fairly durable and warm.




Hi Machka - enjoy your website!

One thing I teach our Boy Scouts about winter camping: tents keep you dry & out of the wind, but not "warm". They finally believe it when, on winter campouts, those who followed the rule of leaving the zippers slightly open to allow condensation to escape end up dryer (& warmer) than those who zipped tight & got the tent insides covered with frozen condensation-flakes!

For warmth, depend on appropriate sleeping bag system - any backpacking forum or discussion board will give you LOTS of info on the topic.

I use an old Performance 2-man tent - I think a similar one is intermittently available in their catalog. Fits in 1 pannier, pretty quick set-up, inexpensive compared to fancy ones (& seems durable enough for the couple of weeks each year I get to use it). Not free-standing, though.

J.W.
Grand Rapids, MI

Personal opinion here, not to step on anyones toes, but esbits have two bad habits. They smell like buring metal (which they probably are, they give me headaches) and put a horrible grime on your pots. It sounds like a quality butane stove might suit your needs (cheap ones use the large greeen steel propane canisters, avoid these). You can even buy them with self lighters so no matches or lighter for normal use. (you always need to bring a backup but you can get candle lighters with long flame nozels). Stoves with larger burning surfaces cook better but are slightly larger and more bulky (small detail). Camping Gaz use a unique bottle so you might want to try Coleman, MSR, Primus, etc. Something not mentioned yet is they simmer the best of any kind. I would use them but I'm an alchoholic;)
Good Luck,
scott

I've seen self heating meals at camping stores like REI. I have no experience with them but they are heavy and expensive compared to cooking options.

That said, you have a couple other options that don't require flame:

1. Tour with someone who will do the cooking. You could take care of setting up and tearing down camp in exchange for the cooking duties.

2. You don't have to cook meals in camp. Although a hot meal is nice, for days when you don't, or can't, eat in a restaurant, you can certainly get plenty of calories from ready-to-eat foods like good old PB&J, fruits, raw veggies, and snack foods like chips & salsa. Tour your local supermarket looking for foods you like that don't need refrigerated or cooked.

Well, you can only eat cold foods. That will save you a lot of weight from the fuel and stove.

For a pad, I'd reccomend a thermarest Z rest or ridge rest.
Z rest:
http://www.backcountry.com/images/items/medium/CAS0086.jpg

ridge rest:
http://www.summits.co.uk/acatalog/ridgerest1.jpg

The Z rest costs about US$ 40, and the ridge rest about US$20. The Z rest folds up like an accordian as shown in the picture, is somewhat bulky, and is really lightweight. The ridge rest rolls up like in the picture, and is bulkier and slightly heavier.

For stoves, seriously there aren't any options that don't involve fire or flames. There are meals, which the military uses that use a chemical reaction to heat the food. These are horrendously expensive, have lots of packaging, and don't taste very good.


I've seen those mats, and they look better than the foam one I brought on my last tour, but they don't pack very small.

I've seen self heating meals at camping stores like REI. I have no experience with them but they are heavy and expensive compared to cooking options.

That said, you have a couple other options that don't require flame:

1. Tour with someone who will do the cooking. You could take care of setting up and tearing down camp in exchange for the cooking duties.

2. You don't have to cook meals in camp. Although a hot meal is nice, for days when you don't, or can't, eat in a restaurant, you can certainly get plenty of calories from ready-to-eat foods like good old PB&J, fruits, raw veggies, and snack foods like chips & salsa. Tour your local supermarket looking for foods you like that don't need refrigerated or cooked.


I did Option #1. when I toured Wales and Australia, but I'd like the freedom to venture out on my own.

And Option #2 might be what I end up doing. Although I'll take a look at some of the other stove suggestions.

There aren't any REI stores closer than Atlanta so when I got to my first one in SF,CA. I kinda went a bit crazy, was like a kid let loose at Disney World.
I bought some of those packaged meals that are cooked by adding boiling water, close them up and wait sev minutes. They all tasted the same, and the salt content was too hi for me. Bought some MREs at a surplus store, expensive and the only thing I found worth a fig was the MnMs in them
I bought a JetBoil, and have adapted some one pot meals to cook in it, at least the food tastes edible, and like real food,it only weighs 15 oz and the fuel can 8 oz, so I can tote it hiking and stow it in a Pannier when biking, AND it heats FAST

The closest REI to me is in Montana. But up here in Canada we have something similar: Mountain Equipment Coop: http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp

I don't know what kind of "foam thing" you used as mattress during your last trip. The blue hard-foam mattress sold for camping is much better than a simple foam... but it still is far from perfect.

You could also look at Thermarests or look-alikes. there are 2 or 3 different thicknesses, as well as 3/4 length vs full length. Mine is the thin - full-size one. Not perfect for sleeping on rocks, but decent otherwise. Thermarests – even the thick model – also take much less room than a foam mattress, but they weigh 2-3 times more.

3. Cooking gear including a stove. Again, it has to be extremely small, compact, and lightweight. And it would be great if the stove could heat things without fuel and flames ... perhaps something battery operated????

Any suggestions?


Machka,
Wonderful website you've got there.
If we wanted a "hot meal" in boot camp, the Drill Instuctors told us to "put the food under yer arm and run around until it got hot!"

I don't know what kind of "foam thing" you used as mattress during your last trip. The blue hard-foam mattress sold for camping is much better than a simple foam... but it still is far from perfect.

You could also look at Thermarests or look-alikes. there are 2 or 3 different thicknesses, as well as 3/4 length vs full length. Mine is the thin - full-size one. Not perfect for sleeping on rocks, but decent otherwise. Thermarests – even the thick model – also take much less room than a foam mattress, but they weigh 2-3 times more.


My foam thing was like one of these:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=677965&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=335035&bmUID=1110165679162

It was better than sleeping directly on the ground (which is what I did in Wales) but still after about 3 nights my hips and shoulders were in PAIN! I'd like a bit less contact with the ground ... a bit more padding.

I need three things for my future bicycle tours:

1. A very small, lightweight tent, but one that is fairly durable and warm.

2. A better mattress than the foam thing I brought with me last time ... something that is comfortable, but folds up very, very small, and is light.

3. Cooking gear including a stove. Again, it has to be extremely small, compact, and lightweight. And it would be great if the stove could heat things without fuel and flames ... perhaps something battery operated????

Any suggestions?
Take a look at this mattress, especially made for women. I think it meets all of your criteria (not as light as a foam pad, but much, much more comfortable). I use one of the lightweight 3/4 length Thermarest pads and think it's very comfortable (and I'm over 200 pounds).
http://www.rei.com/product/47870203.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

I like these tents.
http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/Mystique.htm

I personally use this stove set up for bike touring and backpacking and really love it. It is a flame, but I think it's pretty easy to use. I have easy access to an REI store so you might have to find other sources for the gaz canisters.
http://www.rei.com/product/27975.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

Really? I've had terrible trouble with the trangias, they seem too unstable for me.
I once tipped over my dinner cooking on a trangia, and spilled flaming alcohol everywhere. Did I mention I was in the woods, where there was plenty of dry tinder around?

Are we really talking about the same thing?
The burner stand is almost a foot wide, and it doesn't fall over unless you kick it or punch it.
All other stoves I've seen are narrow bottle-type things, and even the good designs seem way more unstable.

Alcohol stoves also have the advantage of burning a (for this situation) non-toxic fuel.
If you accidentally contaminate your food with small amounts, nothing bad will happen.
Not so with all the other fuels other stoves use.
The alcohol also doesn't stain if spilled, and evaporates quickly.
Also doubles as disinfectant if you've hurt yourself.

Burning power isn't a big deal either. Does it really matter if it takes 5 minutes or 10 minutes to boil the water?

Are we really talking about the same thing?
The burner stand is almost a foot wide, and it doesn't fall over unless you kick it or punch it.
All other stoves I've seen are narrow bottle-type things, and even the good designs seem way more unstable.

Alcohol stoves also have the advantage of burning a (for this situation) non-toxic fuel.
If you accidentally contaminate your food with small amounts, nothing bad will happen.
Not so with all the other fuels other stoves use.
The alcohol also doesn't stain if spilled, and evaporates quickly.
Also doubles as disinfectant if you've hurt yourself.

Burning power isn't a big deal either. Does it really matter if it takes 5 minutes or 10 minutes to boil the water?

Does for quick-fix people who have no finesse, nor probably know little about cooking beyond boiling water. Camp meals can be interesting and not have to rely on ramen noodles. The lower heat actually is an advantage for anyone who has any idea of cooking... and it is more difficult to burn food to the bottom of pans.

I agree about the Trangia being more stable than portrayed in the earlier post. The thing that sold me on it was watching someone cook bacon and eggs on the frypan/lid one morning at a New Year camp. Then they got out their neat round diffuser and rack* and cooked up toast as well! The heat from a Trangia also can be controlled by opening or closing the little flap-cap (what, the critics say, you need to control heat from an alcohol burner?!!!)

By the way, Trangia also markets a multi-fuel burner that can go in place of the alcohol burner. Take both and you have the best of both worlds -- if alcohol is difficult to source.

Two things to watch with whatever stove. There is a routine that you should practise for lighting and extinguising. Once you have that routine down pat, you should be safe from burning yourself, upsetting the whole lot, and starting a forest fire! The grabbers come in handy for things other than just lifting pots on and off.

I also agree about the observation on spillage in panniers, on pannniers, on camping gear and on hands. In Australia, alcohol has a really nasty-tasting additive to stop people drinking it. It's not nice to get on cooking and eating utensils -- it tranfers a bitter taste to everything. But spill in something like a pannier, and it will evaporate and disinfect at the same time. Not so gasoline.

* The rack is stainless steel with a mesh diffuser and three spacer loops. It is made locally and quite expensive. And I want one.

Yeah, we have that additive as well, but it won't kill you, that's my point! :D

Let me also add that I am very accident prone. If I can knock it over, spill it, dump fuel all over the place, light the forest on fire, or injure myself ... I probably will.

If I go with a fuel and flame sort of stove ... it has to be completely and utterly idiot-proof.


Also note: I can't cook with a gas stove (like one you'd find in a house) either. The very thought of lighting the burners is terrifying.
Given your problems with fire, I think your options are limited to a combination of:
1. Eating cold. Peanut butter, cheese, tuna, bread, lunch meet, salads.
2. Buying prepared hot food from cheap restraints or other sources. In the USA you can usually get hot take-out meals in the dell section of most food stores.
3. Get a campsite with electrical hookup and use a small electric pan.

These (http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/camping/52006.html) are pretty nice and lightweight, and the fuel isn't a disaster-waiting-to-happen. Getting one from an Army/Navy surplus store would probably be cheaper than ordering from Rivendell.

Wondering--have you actually used this stove? Did it work ok? I read a review that said it didn't get stuff hot enough. I love the simplicity of the concept.

Let me also add that I am very accident prone. If I can knock it over, spill it, dump fuel all over the place, light the forest on fire, or injure myself ... I probably will.
If I go with a fuel and flame sort of stove ... it has to be completely and utterly idiot-proof.
Also note: I can't cook with a gas stove (like one you'd find in a house) either. The very thought of lighting the burners is terrifying.

Machka,
I want you to know that I understand your fear of fire and fuels, I too had a burn injury (to my face!) from white gas, so please don't take what I say as condescending..

I have been able to get past my fear, and have worked with many fuels as a fire performer and as a cycle tourer and camper. I still use my trusty white-gas fueled Svea. I consider myself somewhat of an expert on fuels, and I can tell you white gas/pressurized gas some of the most dangerous, in terms of explosiveness. The burning temp- is very high, and prone to spreading. If you don't feel comfortable with those limitations, don't use it.

Alcohol might be your best option, as it's burning temperature is very low, and easy to put out if contacted with the skin, and considering it's low burning temp, will take more time to actually burn you, about twice the time in comparison to other fuels. This allows more reaction time. Sure it cooks slower, but it sounds like a limitation you could live with for improved safety. Alcohol is not considered "explosive", meaning readily ignitable from it's fumes. Kerosene is probably the safest, totally non-explosive and needs to be surrounded by air (such as a wick) in order to ignite, so you could feasibly get some on your skin and it wouldn't become/stay lit. You might try and see if you can find a kerosene stove...

Considering your lack of confidence in dealing with fuels and stoves, I have another suggestion: you don't cook, bring someone who understands your difficulty and is willing to cook for the both of you. Allow that person to carry all the fuel and cooking gear, you carry the food, and STAY AWAY FROM THE STOVE! Being a chef as well, you would have to fight me to keep me away from the stove, any other person with a love of cooking will be much the same, I suggest you find someone like that, as I don't know of any camp stove in the world that doesn't use flame/fuel, or any reasonable way to cook food outdoors that doesn't involve lighting a match.

Good luck!

Hey Machka, I recently added a gear review section on my CrazyGuy Journal (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/?o=as&page_id=18025&v=1i) .This gear all worked for me in a rainy tour and passed the test. The Equipment List (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/?o=as&page_id=11453&v=1v) section of my journal has links to all of these products.

Hope that helps!

I use a Coleman peak 1 multifuel, I believe they call them exponents now but whatever, it was a hand me down from a friend who went cross country with it twice. As far as cookware here is what I reccomend teflon, I forget what company mine is, might be MSR but I have about a 1.5 quart teflon pot, got it on an out of package type sale for like 5 bucks. To go with it I also have the little wrench style handle and I also got the MSR folding strainer that you hold against the pot. I also carry a large bowl, soup spoon, and sierra cup. All said and done getting this stuff was cheap, it doesn't take up much room or weigh much and it is all I have ever needed for cooking. I got most of this stuff from Campmor by the way.

Take a look at this mattress, especially made for women. I think it meets all of your criteria (not as light as a foam pad, but much, much more comfortable). I use one of the lightweight 3/4 length Thermarest pads and think it's very comfortable (and I'm over 200 pounds).
http://www.rei.com/product/47870203.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

I like these tents.
http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/Mystique.htm

I personally use this stove set up for bike touring and backpacking and really love it. It is a flame, but I think it's pretty easy to use. I have easy access to an REI store so you might have to find other sources for the gaz canisters.
http://www.rei.com/product/27975.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

I got a similar thermarest to the one pictured, 3/4 length in orange. Perhaps my model is not gender specific. The one I have folds and rolls up to the size of a Nalgen bottle. Very liteweight, yet comfy.

I use an MSR Pocket Rocket model stove as my butane/isobutane stove. Small, simple-but other models are more stable to cook on (like the model above).

Tents: I have a Kelty Clark. Small, but not claustrophobic. Holds up well to high winds/rain when extra guy points are used (needs 2 stake points minimum). I don't know if this model is still in production, but its similar to current 1 1/2 person models (REI, Siera Designs etc)-probably about 3.5 pounds packed without a footprint.

I also use a Hennesy Hammock on occasion, but for extended cycle touring I don't mind the bit of extra weight of my tent. People either love them or hate them it seems, if cost is a factor.

I've also backpacked using only a tarp as a shelter. With skill, time, and larger campspace you can set up a tarp to give privacy that a tent would. Obviously they're not too great for skeeter/blackfly protection.

EDIT: Added a (fuzzy) picture of the Kelty Clark.

My foam thing was like one of these:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=677965&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=335035&bmUID=1110165679162

I'd like a bit less contact with the ground ... a bit more padding.


OK, so the 1" thick Thermarest will definitely be more comfortable than your blue mattress. It will also take about half the space, but will weight twice as much. If you really have sensitive hips, you might prefer the thicker one, but beware that it takes more room to store and is even heavier. (I'm trying to find which one I have from the MEC website and I can't find it.

As for size, there are wide and narrow, 3/4 length and full length. The one you'll prefer obviously depends on your sleep patterns. I don't really care for a thick pad – I'm ok as long as I have minimal protection – but I want my knees, ankes and wrists to be on soft material. Others might have totally different needs. Our MEC store has a display table where they can be tried, so it's very easy to try a small one (for example) and see if you have critical parts that stick outside of the mat.

Machka,
I want you to know that I understand your fear of fire and fuels, I too had a burn injury (to my face!) from white gas, so please don't take what I say as condescending..

I have been able to get past my fear, and have worked with many fuels as a fire performer and as a cycle tourer and camper. I still use my trusty white-gas fueled Svea. I consider myself somewhat of an expert on fuels, and I can tell you white gas/pressurized gas some of the most dangerous, in terms of explosiveness. The burning temp- is very high, and prone to spreading. If you don't feel comfortable with those limitations, don't use it.

Alcohol might be your best option, as it's burning temperature is very low, and easy to put out if contacted with the skin, and considering it's low burning temp, will take more time to actually burn you, about twice the time in comparison to other fuels. This allows more reaction time. Sure it cooks slower, but it sounds like a limitation you could live with for improved safety. Alcohol is not considered "explosive", meaning readily ignitable from it's fumes. Kerosene is probably the safest, totally non-explosive and needs to be surrounded by air (such as a wick) in order to ignite, so you could feasibly get some on your skin and it wouldn't become/stay lit. You might try and see if you can find a kerosene stove...

Considering your lack of confidence in dealing with fuels and stoves, I have another suggestion: you don't cook, bring someone who understands your difficulty and is willing to cook for the both of you. Allow that person to carry all the fuel and cooking gear, you carry the food, and STAY AWAY FROM THE STOVE! Being a chef as well, you would have to fight me to keep me away from the stove, any other person with a love of cooking will be much the same, I suggest you find someone like that, as I don't know of any camp stove in the world that doesn't use flame/fuel, or any reasonable way to cook food outdoors that doesn't involve lighting a match.

Good luck!

It's been 3 years since my accident, and I'm still trying to deal with it. It took me a full year before I could boil water for coffee, but I can do that now as long as it is in a very safe, enclosed kettle. Baby steps! :)

And in the past I have toured with someone who did the cooking ... in the future I plan to do the same sort of thing. That's an ideal situation for me! :) But this year it's possible I could end up doing some solo touring.

Machka: I've got all the answers right here.... if I didn't already own a ton of gear here's what I'd get right now... you should pick up the March '05 issue of Backpacker Mag. (2005 gear guide)

Stove: Jetboil (or MSR or SnowPeak Giga w/ piezo igniter) butane canister stove. All are easy, safe, reliable, affordable. There's more of a chance burning yourself w/ a lighter than the stove. You can always wear fleece gloves or handle with a bandana.
http://www.backpacker.com/gear/article/0,1023,7045,00.html

Mattress: Big Agnes Insulated Air Core and Insul Mat max-thermo
http://www.backpacker.com/gear/article/0,1023,7050,00.html

Therm-a-rests are definitely better than foam pads, but the above are: lighter, cheaper, better value, smaller, and more comfortable. Beats Therm-a-rests in every way!

Tent: Any good quality 2-man, 2-6 lbs, freestanding tent: MSR, Sierra Designs, TNF, REI, Kelty, MtHW, etc. You won't be as cramped in a 1-man, and freestanding give plenty of pitching options. I own a Kelty Tourlite2, MSR Zoid, & Tarptent. All are verygood. but the Kelty is best for bike touring.

key with all fears I suppose....educate yourself.
I performed with fire for six years and definately feel an intense awareness that keeps my fears in check. I may go off a little here, forgive me, where's my soapbox?

-know your fuel....previous posts refer to certain fuels and forms of fuel as being 'safer' or less volatile than another. True as the day is long. One could rub a burning wick soaked in lampoil all over himself and just cinge a few hairs, if one were to just tap with white gas as the fuel, the fuel would adhere to and burn the skin quite ferociously ,staying on fire untill you put it out. So in general, more volatile fuels transfer (spread) more easily and burn hotter. different fuels burn at different temperatures (i know, duh), but you want to cook your food quickly, right? You can't just camp out with a potpourri warmer.

-wet towels, are like, so fantastic. If you see a bit of something on fire that shouldn't be, a wet towel is your very best friend. Don't be afraid to spread that towel out and tackle the flame, and KEEP the cloth close to whats on fire, smothering it. How many times have I seen some some scaredy pants fanning the flames by tossing the cloth up and down like he's trying to smack the fire to death or something? I repeat, keep the cloth on the flames; if you move it do so without lifting it up so much as to feed the fire much oxygen.

-fire takes time to burn, unless your talking straight out of the stove blue flames or some other intense situation, you can often get by just fine with a few licks and even on fire for a few seconds. 've been on fire loads of times. just put it out calm and quick.

- Really sorry if that seemed insensitive as I know you've been badly hurt, obviously due to any number of circumstances, we can't Always control this stuff.

-few more meandering bullet points...these are the most important of all..

-Never wear flowing rayon skirts, or anything flowing or of a highly flammable material so much as near a candle.

-watch the fire...it's mesmerising, and it keeps from letting it start new fires behind your back.

-If you do get a burned, take care to cool it with water and aloe vera for a few days. I can't remember the exact timespan, but I think burns continue to burn for a couple of days. It may look worse on day three, but I never use neosporin untill atleast a week, as petroleum keeps in heat.

If you know this stuff, then there's nothing to be afraid of. Just think, You probably hit the pavement so hard on your first bike that your teeth rattled, but now you're out riding all over the place like a champ;)

just went back and read 'tourbike' 's post. He's totally right, White Gas is of the devil, my worst burns for sure. Alcohol has a blue flame, I've been on fire with it as well, and though it smarts, it doesn't quite act the same as WG (dunno, I'm not a chemist) , oh wait, that was everclear, I'm sure there's a difference from fuel alcohol. Kerosene stinks really stongly, it's noxious, really, and the smoke of it is black. You could keep it in its own stinky bag, I guess.

just went back and read 'tourbike' 's post. He's totally right, White Gas is of the devil, my worst burns for sure. Alcohol has a blue flame, I've been on fire with it as well, and though it smarts, it doesn't quite act the same as WG (dunno, I'm not a chemist) , oh wait, that was everclear, I'm sure there's a difference from fuel alcohol. Kerosene stinks really stongly, it's noxious, really, and the smoke of it is black. You could keep it in its own stinky bag, I guess.

Alcohol, either ethanol (drinking alcohol), methanol (wood alcohol) or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), tends to evaporate from a surface and cool it at the same time. Alcohol also has a low burning temperature. That's why it doesn't cause the same kind of tissue damage as "white gas", gasoline or diesel. Those fuels don't evaporate as fast but they have a higher burning temperature. They also tend to "stick" to the surfaces from which they are burning. The fuel heats the surrounding area much more than alcohol can. Higher carbon alcohols would act much like fuel oils like gasoline and white gas.

Kerosene, which is typically used by fire eaters, has a low burn temperature also. That's why they use it.

Stuart Black

Machka,

If you can get over the fear of lighting a burner, try a pressurized cannister stove like the MSR Superfly or one of more than a dozen options. Check them out on your next trip to the MEC store. For tours of a week or two or less, these would be a great option. VERY easy to operate, no spilling of fuel, no refilling, no mess. Easier to operate than your average gas home stove.

And there are many great tents under four pounds to get, freestanding ones that weigh a half pound more than simple tunnel tents like the kelty clark mentioned above. Kelty Crestone, REI half dome (freestanding) Sierra designs Clip flashlight, MSR Zoid, Kelty Clark (not freestanding)

Foam pads, well, anythings a good enough option, and none are lighter than 3/4 of a pound, the closed cell foams are lighter than the Thermarest Ultralight models, which pack up smallest but are heavier.

I need three things for my future bicycle tours:

1. A very small, lightweight tent, but one that is fairly durable and warm.

2. A better mattress than the foam thing I brought with me last time ... something that is comfortable, but folds up very, very small, and is light.

3. Cooking gear including a stove. Again, it has to be extremely small, compact, and lightweight. And it would be great if the stove could heat things without fuel and flames ... perhaps something battery operated????

Any suggestions?

Check out the TNF Tadpole, under 5 lbs, free standing, 3 pole tent, $150.00 USD. It's a bomber tent that can handle high winds(3 poles). As for it's warmth I dunno? I wouldn't use it in winter. It does have a lot of screen mesh. There's a nice sleeping bag/matress combo that's out there. The bag has no bottom, just a mesh sleeve that the matress slides into. If you have ever slept on the inflatable mattresses you know what a drag they are for sliding off. With the sleeve/bag combo this problem is solved. What is the name of the bag... I don't remember(lot of help, I know) but I think Big Agnes and Sierra Designs are 2 of the companies. There are others. Something to look into. As for the stove, there's one(it may have been mentioned) that uses wood. Again I don't recall the name. Backpackers use them a lot. Don't need to carry fuel. Very safe. Also the folks have mention the butane and propane canister types. Very easy to use. The Gaz does not work well in very cold temps but is nice. A friend of mine uses it all the time. Just make sure wherever you travel that the fuel supply can be obtained. If you end up with too much gear you can also get a trailer:-)

cyccommmute~~~cool, a chemist!

Here's a link for the wood stove
http://www.trailstove.com/
AND
http://www.monmouth.com/~johno/ZIP.htm

Also the Gaz as previously stated is good BUT has the tip over factor. Wenzel and others have ones called the single burner propane stove. The burner does not sit on top of the propane. There's a hose that attach the 2.

I've been browsing these forums for a while because I intend to do some weekend tours this summer - it will be my first time touring ever - and I'm getting some good info and tips from this forum. However, I've done plenty of hiking and feel qualified enough to put forth my tuppenceworth on the questions asked.

1) My one-man tent is a Mountain Hardware PCT-1. You can check the stats on their site easily enough but I find it pretty small and light whilst packed but big enough for me to sit up (only just - I'm 6ft) to change trousers and suchlike when it's up. The inner is all mesh to prevent excessive condensation and make it feel bigger inside. The porch (or vestibule if you prefer :) ) could be bigger but when hiking, all I leave in there is my boots and my stove, unless my pack is soaked, so I don't mind that. It's not overly expensive either. I'd have loved a Hilleberg Atko or Terra Nova Laserlite but I don't have the funds.
I have a two-man MEC Gothic Arch which I find to be an excellent tent but I don't think they make them anymore so I won't go into that.

2) I have a Thermarest Expedition. It's a bit thinner than the standard thermarest but I don't need a soft place to sleep and I can roll it smaller too. I made the change from foam mattresses about a year ago and haven't gone back. Mostly for bulk reduction but they are more comfortable too. That may be because I was cheap and bought crappy mats but also because you have to mount them on the outside and they can get torn up. The Thermarest can go inside my pack.

3) Stove-wise, I have a Primus Himalaya Omnifuel that I got from MEC. I burn kerosene but I don't find that ideal. Priming it is a little scary at times (flare ups - not ideal given your request) and I would never cook with it in my tent porch (as I used to with Trangias years ago). It's pretty noisy too. Other than that, I love it's small size, versatility and cooking speed.
As I said, I've used Trangias in the past too and would recommend them to anyone for basic backpacking, touring or general camping as well.

Anyway, I use the above stuff for backpacking but it's exactly what I intend to use when I try touring in the summer so I'll see how it goes. I hope that was of some use anyway.

A no-stove-hot-meal can be had using MRE's (meals ready to eat). You can get a chemical heater for these things that heat to 200*. (The heaters are not reusable). The BIG downside is that you have to carry everything from the get-go. Not very available on the road.

A no-stove-hot-meal can be had using MRE's (meals ready to eat). You can get a chemical heater for these things that heat to 200*. (The heaters are not reusable). The BIG downside is that you have to carry everything from the get-go. Not very available on the road.

I tried one of those military issue MRE's. But it didn't have an exit strategy. :p Stupid semi-political joke. Sorry.

Machka, the 3 things I would consider for a tour;

1. 'A very small, lightweight tent' would be (in the MEC - Spring and Summer 2005 Cat.) the Big Agnes Seedhouse, SL 1 and SL 2. 1.1kg/1.3kg (Page 59).

'But one that is fairly durable and warm', would be another tent that is a 3-4 season one. Those are alway with more weight. If you didn't get your Cat. yet...here is the url https://www.mec.ca/Apps/catalogue/catalogue_request.jsp?bmUID=1110858788508

2. 'A better mattress = p .71 (horrible to search for in Pdf) or order the Cat.

3. I don't know about 'without fuel and flames'? Didn't realize till I read the above posts why no flames.

However,something that burns with flames, the links below may be helpful. This is a good link for stove options, http://www.kzpg.com/Backpacking/Stove/Stove_notes.htm

And a sierra advocate site - if you decide not to pack fuel http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/skills/cookwithwood.htm

Got a Sierra Stove for Christmas - maybe a little big for bike touring. However, it requires only little sticks and stuff and uses a battery to operate a small 2-speed fan that regulates the heat. This thing works really well and I think they make a lighter titanium version now. But you don't need to buy fuel. A 2400 MAHr NIMH AA battery (one required) would probably go for a week or so assuming 2 hours per day usage. Everything you asked for: Battery operated and no fuel!

Tents, I used a bivy (Frostline kit, still got it), no pad - stayed warm with polypro long underwear and a decent 2 lb down sleeping bag.

Now I live out of a car (can carry bigger tent) at bike races.

sun