|
Post by Jake on Jul 17, 2008 2:40:46 GMT -5
Of the two tents you’ve chosen I prefer the Vango Sigma 300+ Tent (Excalibur) because it’s geodesic (or self-supporting), but it’s still on the heavy side at nearly 6kg. I try to keep the weight below 4kg. Also for my needs a two man tent is sufficient….. And yes, it’s worth buying an extra groundsheet to protect the floor of the tent…… I’m also thinking about buying Khyam ZI tent which is similar to the one that Buzzin recommended: www.outdoorworld.co.uk/khyam-z-i-tent-p-905.html?zenid=38e84ba6595e5b281f352bf470e79d98
|
|
|
Post by derbyshirebill on Jul 18, 2008 7:14:15 GMT -5
Hi Jake. If you don't mind being near the lakes rather than actually in the hills, there is a campsite I have used a few times when breaking up trips to NW Scotland. I forget the name but it is just south of Longtown on the border. It was only a couple of quid, clean and quiet. Also, the Murray Arms in Longtown is very biker friendly- had some good nights there. As for camping, I've been doing this for ages. A few opinions, not necessarily agreed by others: Tents: Forget single skin tents; you wake up damp and clammy. Dome tents are fine, but some cheaper ones are a pain to thread the poles. The self erecting tents usually only pack down to a big circle- no use on a bike. A porch is very useful for storing boots etc and for getting in/out of wet weather gear; also useful for brewing up. I use a Vango ridge tent which is tiny but only 2.2 kg. If I was buying a new tent I'd go for a tunnel tent as they have maximum usable space for minimum weight and packed size. Camping mats: The most important thing is insulation, not padding. Old style camp beds are just too bulky. Lilo blow-up beds are crap- they conduct body heat away, they make you clammy, and are not even comfortable. Polyurethane roll-up mats do a great job but again are too bulky. I got a self inflating mat a while ago and it's great- packs very small, good insulation and just enough padding to be comfy. Sleeping bags: I've tried all sorts. The mummy style are the best if you are going somewhere really cold, but I've found that it's usually best to sleep with quite a few clothes on (useful too if you get up in the night for a pee) and use a quite thin oblong bag, opened out to make a blanket rather than a bag. Other tackle: Believe me, if you haven't been camping before, take a woolly hat. Several people have thanked me for this- if your head is cold it don't matter what other great tackle you have bought. Mashing tackle; there is nothing better than a brew. My £9 stove fits in the palm of my hand (not when lit, silly) and uses screw-in cartridges. Don't buy Gaz stoves that only use their pierced cartridges (though I understand they are now making screw-in types). And after all that, you wake up at 3.30 am with a bad back and a cold nose and think, "Why the **** am I doing this?" There isn't a sensible answer but we keep doing it.
|
|
|
Post by Jake on Jul 20, 2008 9:36:22 GMT -5
Hi Bill, Couldn’t agree more about the woolly hat, also some cheap waterproofs (jacket and trousers) if you don’t want to walk around in your biking gear….. If your insurance cover includes a rescue service then obviously a mobile phone is a must. The only reason I bought a mobile in the first place was to use with the bike. On a really long journey I suppose it makes sense to carry some spare cables and bulbs. I also pour some Ultraseal into the tyres to deal with any potential punctures….
|
|
|
Post by Jake on Jul 20, 2008 9:56:07 GMT -5
Forgot to add …. A small radio and/or MP3 player… absolutely essential!! ;D
|
|
|
Post by rj2para on Jul 20, 2008 14:03:27 GMT -5
Re fly sheets and the order in pitching. This varies with tent designs, personally I think the best is flysheet first as this keeps your inner dry. Also if if rains when its time to go you stay dry for longer. Most tents these days come with sewn in ground sheets, with my latest tent having a sewn in ground sheet in the porch, ie stiched to the inner that goes up after the fly. This is a plus as it gives youa dry area to move around in outside the inner. That said if you were going to go extream and want to cook in your porch you may want a removable or even no ground sheet. If you are camping in summer a tent with lots of vents is also good as it saves you cooking after sunrise. rgds Roger
|
|
|
Post by buzzin on Jul 21, 2008 3:52:54 GMT -5
Ow and never forget a roll of toilet paper when camping on the continent. It seems to be a 'luxury' at most campsites, although more and more campsites are beginning to understand that supplying TP is a small service that makes alot of people happy I'm going on a 4 day camping trip end of the month....should be fun Now all I have to find out is if the tent I bought really is waterproof. (last time it turned out the answer was no but that was a different brand)
|
|
|
Post by Jake on Jul 22, 2008 2:44:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by buzzin on Jul 22, 2008 5:04:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I did mean setting up the tent beforehand Finding out once was more then enough It surprised me a bit, because I have owned quite alot of tents, and so far they had all been waterproof for the start....not counting that specific one of course :/ Just to be sure, I had ordered a small pot of seemsealant from louis.de ;D Taped seems....hmmmm, I see pictures of yesteryear when my dad fixed the tent with ducttape
|
|
|
Post by jonsan on Jul 28, 2008 17:29:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by fenlander on Aug 4, 2008 2:42:14 GMT -5
The sel;f inflating matresses are great. I've been camping for a fortnight around Brittany with a double self inflating mattress on the bike (insert sarcy comment about it being more comfortable on the ground here). One side got a puncture, but it is still about as soft as a roll mat, and manages to keep the ground cold away from me (I don't know why I always have to get the punctured side, even though as rider I need more kip than pillion...)
Other handy thing to take while camping is some 14 year old Glen Turret or other suitable decent whisky. Takes up less bladder room than beer and just eases you off to sleep perfectly.
|
|
|
Post by buzzin on Aug 4, 2008 14:17:41 GMT -5
I got back yesterday from my first camping trip on the NTV. To be honest, it was only partial camping, the breakfast was booked or arranged by the organization, so no cooking or anything like it. The side cases were also deposited in the 'baggage bus' for day two and three. After driving to the first campsite with the full luggage set (first time) on the back and bendy roads of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany we arrived late. This was due to the other NTV traveling with us braking down a few times. (problem was over heating because the carbs don't use enough petrol). My Revere and the Hawk traveling with us too, were just fine, and didn't give any headaches.... The new tent proved to be ideal, and I am very glad I got the bigger model....as it was still full It turns out it's very simple to set up, and just as easy to fold up again, very important if you are on a different site every day. The room between the inner tent and the outer one are ideal for storing the bike cases and your boots. For the fist time I used a aluminium coated underlay for the airbed, and that is a real improvement....never slept better If you don't like overly warm mummy sleeping bags, I can advise the one I have now, Nordkap Summerlite. It's a straight bag, and zips open to form a good blanket. The airbed is a small pack, 6 cell (in lanes) airbed. Easy to blow up, even if you forget it and you get back to your tent....ehm well, less then sober The one thing I really learned now though: get a summer suit. The all-weather jacket and pants I have now are horrible when it's 30+ degrees :/ Some people had leather, and some summer/air-flow suits. I think I will get a summer suit to complement the all weather one, because I was sweating like crazy....not so bad, until the next day when you have to put it on again Next time I go camping might be quite soon, I don't know yet....but it's certainly doable if you can take the amount of luggage needed The givi set I have, 2x E36 and a 26 litre topcase, was plenty for a four day camping trip, and it was easy enough to drive with all the weight. I even made a 'toe-down' when going trough a scarp curve The other NTV had a luggage set of H&P, which I noticed are mounted more to the back, and lower. they were alot smaller though, and he also had a large baggage roll tied on the seat...
|
|