djb

this is one thing that I see is very much worth not eating out at a restaurant, or buying a beer, or whatever, to put money aside for the newer generation of campmats that are fairly light and compact, yet are thick enough to make a real diff in sleeping comfort (for me anyway, but then Im not 25 anymore).

getting a good nights sleep is so important, makes such a diff in how much energy you have the next day, especially on a longer trip where one is camping all the time or most of the time.

here anyway, you can go into a good outdoor store, like a REI equivelant, and actually see and feel and lay down on the numerous mats avail now, and compare the costs vs weights and juggle that balance that is always the same with outdoor gear.

at_hiker59

I hammock camp and get a great nights sleep.

Tourist in MSN

For canoe, kayak and backpacking trips I always used the shorty self inflating mats. But for bike touring I switched to air mattresses, they can be rolled up to be more compact to fit in a pannier and the weight is not much more for a full length air mattress than I was carrying for a shorty self inflated pad.

djb

And personally I sleep better on the air ones, I have one of those neoair ones, which I find for side sleeping is more comfortable, and as you say,, reasonably compact.

cyccommute 

Big Angus to the rescue! Their Q-Core are really nice but a bit expensive. The Air Core Insulated is relatively cheap ($71 at REI right now). It's not quite as thick as the Q-Core (3.25" vs 4.5") but it is light and rolls down into a small package. I've used one for a long time and it is quite rugged. If you pair it with the Big Agnes bags, you get a system where you can't roll off the pad and the whole system packs nicely into a 20l stuff sack. The bag and pad are in both bicycle pictures I posted to this zombie thread.

djb

a small detail re the neoair models.
Mine is one of the first editions, and the surface is kind of shiny ish, and it feels a little sticky to the skin sometimes, usually not an issue with a sleeping bag , but when its hot outside, I always made sure my sleeping bag would be on it to cover the top. I did get it many years ago, maybe 5 or more, but they seemed to have changed the fabric now.
I bought my wife a neoair model this year and the fabric has a much more pronounced "soft fabric" feel, which does feel nicer against the skin, and is less "crinkley" for sound.

I suspect all the neoair models have changed, but as I dont know the other brands similar pads like BA, at least keep this in mind of the surface feel.

again though, the inflateable mats are really rather comfortable. Just have to use common sense with them re punctures, not sitting on them on the ground where something could make a hole etc, I tend to err more on caution than have to deal with having to find a hole and patch (have the patch kit, but havent had a problem ever, touch wood).

nun

I'll put in a word for Traptents. I use the original version of the Contrail and it's worked out well for me......light, and easily packed using a stuffsack. I did replace the poles with slightly thicker ones that have 3 sections so I can dismantle them and they are short enough to fit inside my saddlebag. But it's a good tent for 3 season use and has kept me dry in numerous rain storms.

RidingMatthew

i do too. best night in the woods = every night in the woods on a hammock.

revcp 

Agreed. Warbonnet Blackbird. With no trees around, however... Much of next summer's tour will be spent in the prairies.

RidingMatthew

Blackbird for me as well. i have the whole family hanging in the trees with me

Have you ridden the C&O ? Do you think I could hang along the towpath? I did the GAP a few years back and want to complete the route.

at_hiker59

You will need verrrrryyyy long straps for the big trees on the C&O. Some campsites are difficult to hang at because of large trees or no trees. I like the campsites near Paw Paw to hang at.

Baboo

revcp 

Glad you received responses to your question. As a Midwesterner, I've not toured east yet. Maybe someday. I do circle routes (home to wherever to home), and I tend to head west or north, sometimes east into Wisconsin. This summer's tour will be MN to St Louis to Santa Fe to Yellowstone to MN. Maybe after I retire I'll do an eastern loop.

RidingMatthew

thanks @Baboo for the tips. I am hoping to do it next year. Hopefully a drier year too.
@at_hiker59 i have 12 ft straps on my blackbird would I need longer? i think i could keep riding to the next site too.
@revcp i was not sure where you had toured glad i got some feedback and helped all in involved. I have considered getting a cheap tent but it would be hard to convince the CFO that it is needed.

robow

I recently picked up a Nemo Dagger 2p at a nice discount, 3 lbs for a real 31 sq. ft. of usable area. It's very similar to a MSR Hubba Hubba NX and a lot more roomy than my Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2. It has 2 doors and 2 large vestibules for storage. I will give a report after seeing how it holds up, but it has gotten a lot of favorable reviews.

fietsbob

I had a Warmlite tent, they set up flat on the ground, the pre curved poles
going in the pole sleeves, and then went up all at once, which was ideal when it was very windy,
no chasing the rainfly when the wind rips it out of your hands..

Made in USA, with custom options of many fabric colors, and features..
here is a picture of their short footprint 2 person which comes in at less than 3#
this has awning like side opening windows.

52telecaster

Big agnes with led lights inside.


1 person with a decent vestibule and really small packing.

Carbonfiberboy 

We use a 3 person tent for 2 people and a 2 person tent works best for 1 person unless you're thru-hiking. It's wonderful to be able to bring your gear in out of the rain. When we backpack, we can bring our packs in and touring, we bring in our panniers.

Anything by Big Agnes. Fabulous products and service. Ignore the expense. It's a many year investment. We bought our latest tent in 2010, floor went bad, BA sent us a brand new replacement, free. We did have to pay to ship them the old one. New tent has worked great the past few years.

CreakingCrank

Love mine too ... freestanding, durable, dual doors, large vestibules, and it comes standard with a footprint. Its 5 pounds, but a true 5 pounds, including all stakes, guy lines, footprint, carry bag, etc. The advertised weights of some tents don't even include the stakes necessary to pitch it.

Agree with the advice of a 2 person tent. The extra space is more than a luxury.