Minimal sleeping gear for the summer
 

I'm planning to do take some trips during the summer in which I do some camping (sleeping in the campground but no cooking). What would you recommend for minimal sleeping gear for weather that's no colder than 60 degrees Fahrenheit?

I’m thinking all I need is some sort of bag in which to sleep (maybe the thickness of a sheet) and some sort of shelter to keep me dry.

It depends on whether you like the feel of a tent or not. In Western Canada we almost always have mosquitoes so I prefer some form of barrier.

Here is my latest 1 man tent, a North Face Stormbreak 1 ($139CAD). It's footprint is about 3'x7' and weighs 2lb's

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/4...1a756997_z.jpg


I also have an Integral Design Gortex bivy sack with mosquito netting and hoop over the head. More minimal than that would be something like the SOL emergency bivy but it does not cover the head. Mine is larger and bulkier but with the hoop and net makes sleeping in a bivy for a longer time bearable

I have a HotCore 100 bag ($100CAD) that is actually pretty warm and packs about 6"x 11". But for summer use I can go with a Thinsulite climbing over bag instead that packs to the size of a water bottle combined with a light down jacket.

My mat is a Thermarest Scout ($60CAD) which is a bit bulky but light and inexpensive. Once you try to go smaller the cost of mat goes up. I'm ok with the bulk as it fits between my aero bars but may upgrade when I have more disposable cash.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/980/4...4db9b950_z.jpg


The photo above is my rig for multi day camping but no cooking with the Hotcore sleeping bag and clothes in the saddlebag, tent in drybag on bars. What I also have (not in pic) is a small backpack holding my day use clothing. My next trip will be in July with the Thinsulite overbag and thus I'll need no backpack, so that's how small one can pack without going too expensive.

I do not know how well you sleep on the ground, but for me the ground is too hard I require a pad/ inflatable pad.. F.Y.I. Unless Happy Feet bought some sort of last years ultralight version, The Storm break tent (according to their website) is actually 3 pounds 7oz. not two pounds as stated.

That's with tent pegs and cords and bags.
I removed all unneeded pegs (only really need 1 lightweight one for the door flap) and cords and small bags and my scale said two pounds.

Look in the specs at fast pack weight https://www.altitude-sports.com/prod...MaAtKjEALw_wcB

I prefer a tent, but some are content to use a bivy sack. My lightest smallest solo tent is pretty tiny and light.

I like an air mattress, but there are other pad options.

A sleeping bag down to 40 degrees (F) is usually adequate on unusually cold nights in summer. A bag with a higher rating would not save much in weight or cost.

I use a sleeping bag liner. It keeps my bag cleaner if the campground does not offer showers. And if it is a hot night, that might be a good substitute for a sleeping bag.

Compression stuff sack for the sleeping bag.

The tent is often damp in the morning. Thus, you might want a way to pack that so that it does not cause other stuff to become damp too.

Anything 60 or above I just use the rainfly from a tent as my sleeping bag and sleep under the stars or find an overhang to get under if it looks like it is going to rain. I used closed cell blue foam pad for underneath me. I keep it real minimum. Yeah, I take the tent with me in case I do find a spot with lots of mosquitoes, but that generally doesn't happen.

In southern California in the summer (beach campgrounds and inland valleys), where rain is almost unheard of that time of year, I could get by with a backpacking hammock and one or two $2 fleece blankets. I also carried arm and leg warmers I could slip on if it started getting a bit chilly.

Foam sleeping pad, bivy sack, insulation for lowest degree is minimal. Add a headnet for bugs.

I just got home from a 5 day tour with a double size bed sheet for warmth.
I lay the bed sheet on the air pad and fold it over on top of me.
I only sleep in boxers. If I get cold I put on a shirt. If I get really cold I put on rain pants.
I use a tent in Missouri summers. Otherwise, you will never sleep because of insects.

Tarptent brand shelter and enLightened Equipment quilt. Less than three pounds total, pack small, and decent pricing.

well John, one thing I would recommend is to try sleeping outdoors overnight in a borrowed summer sleeping bag if possible, just so you have an idea of what you are comfortable at. In general, an inexpensive summer sleeping bag inside a tent, along with a fleece and some long tights/underwear/plain camping outdoor long pants, will cover summer camping.

I take it from your question that you havent camped before, but most people will be comfortable in a tent using a summer bag--of which I know there are tons of at diff prices, diff temp ratings, diff packed sizes etc etc.
There is no downside to you visiting a number of good, established outdoor stores, depending on what country you are in, so at least you can see diff equipment and ask some questions. A large, well established store will have knowledgeable stafff who most likely have real life experience with camping situations, and at the least you can start to get an idea of what range of prices etc are available.
A good campmat is also important for warmth and comfort, although depending on your age, you may not care too much about that, but again, like sleeping bags, there is a big range of prices for campmats, and a large store will have examples hanging out of package that you can take down and lie on to try out.

Probably what the Trans-America, transcontinental racers are using right now, Race started yesterday from West coast.
https://transambikerace.com/

A few years back I experimented with a plain siliconized nylon 8'x10' tarp. The tarp itself worked fine even on a rainy night. Where it did not work fine was in the company of mossies, where I had a miserable night. I solved the mossies problem with netting but realized I was defeating the purpose of saving weight. Especially these days where tents are available weighing little more than a tarp and bug netting.

When unable to call upon a reserve of experience in sleeping out, the suggestion from above to doing a test run in a back yard or nearby campground is good. Leave yourself a way out.

Yep, I went through the same process. Add in a ground cloth and it gets worse. That's where companies like Tarptent come in.

Bug net would be my big concern. It can be brutal or nonexistent of an issue here in Michigan, from one night to another.

Sleeping bags are all up to personal preference, I prefer one that is 15F or so lower than the lowest temp I think I might encounter. Summer nights can still get pretty cold around me, and most bag ratings are overrated anyhow unless you are going with CE ones.

I use a 55 degree bag, packs down very small.

I live on my bike. Everything got stolen 2.5 mths ago and since I didn't have the money to replace all and winter was over (I'm in southern Cal), decided just to buy a $5 blanket at Wallyworld plus the sleeping pad and tarp I always use. Most nites it keeps me warm enough. The only disadvantage is that I can't hide stuff like I did with the bag (wallet, mace, phone).