I went overboard with camping trips/ gear the last few years. I still only aspire to take my first bike tour, but I've already refined my sleep setup thoroughly.

After trying all sorts of tarps and tarptents, I now use a two person freestanding dome tent (BSI Chinook) with a mesh inner, two big doors for thorough ventilation, and a fly that almost touches the ground. I don't like relying on stakes...I'm tired when it's time to set up and it can be rocky here in the midwest. I can set up a dome tent in any flat spot, then worry about the stakes/anchors while it airs out and my sleeping bag fluffs up. Or I can crawl in and sleep without staking in calm weather.

I've had a top of the line 10° sleeping bag and all seasons inflatable mattress that were light enough to use year round, but expensive. I switched them out for a foam/ cheaper inflatable combo and a pair of homesewn quilts, one down one synthetic. The switch netted me ~$300 and in moderate temperatures I have a more comfortable setup. In winter I'm stuck with bulkier gear and it's heavier by a pound and a half...but the modularity allows me to take half my sleep gear (ridgerest and down inner quilt) and use it to sit around camp in comfort. Without that stuff I'd be lying prone for a couple hours in the evening and I hated it.