noob camping advise needed

[srileo]

Ok,
need your collective advise here. I am new to camping. (thats right folks, exhibit A right here).  

So I am contemplating going on short/long overnight trips to the n.georgia mountains on the GS. I want to ride extremely light in terms of personal gear. So a tank bag is all i will purchase to stow stuff in.

I am contemplating purchasing the following:

Tent - 2person
groundsheet -
Air mattress

Any idea of what kind/brand to get? Additional gear?
Budget is a big issue.  :x

The above items will be lashed onto the bike along with a small backpack. I will not be purchasing saddle bags right now.
What is the best way to secure these irregular bundles? Bungee cords? clothesline?

Thanks in advance,
Sri

[bigdood]

bad news for u:  quality outdoor gear is not cheap, but you typically get what you pay for in build quality/weight/packable size.  i'd recommend a trip to your local REI and see what they have.  

to fit within your budget ask if they do a used/returned gear sale.  the REI in my neighborhood does them once a month, the gear is next to new but about 25% of the cost of new.  

good luck!

[Stephen072774]

Im a camping nut.  I have a Kelty tent and I love it.  Its a simple 2 pole set-up and goes up in minutes.  It has plenty of room for me and the little lady, but its a little to small for a buddy

See www.campmor.com for tents and other camping gear.  You can find closeouts there and get a good deal.

As for a air mattress, just get a 2 dollar blow up pool toy type mattress.  I have been using them for years and they work great, and are lighter and easier to pack.

I don't know about lashing them to a bike, I'll leave that question to someone else.  My perferred transportation to the campsite is a canoe.

Edit:  Here is a real nice tent on the site above for 80 bucks, its made by Eureka.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=26504117&memberId=12500226

[cozy]

Save your self the hassle of inflating an air mattress and get a self inflating sleep mat:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=3290382&memberId=12500226

I have used both, had air pumps not work , never had a problem with a mat. Spend the $ for a decent tent. fabric and venting are important.

[Rema1000]

The air mattress/poll mattress is an interesting idea.

[heent]

I've done a bunch of tent camping, campsite and backcountry.  I might just suggest that you don't consider a tent without a full rainfly.  Also, after always using closed and open-cell groundpads, I just recently switched to a "blow-up" air mattress.  The difference is of course in how your back feels in the morning and is certainly worth it, even over the self-inflating closed-cell pads, to me.  So if you've got the space/weight limits to include one (the cheap pool raft idea sounds great to me, though I've not tried it), I would definitely do it.

I've owned both Kelty and Eureka tents and been happy with both.  Don't forget your nonpermeable groundcloth/barrier, which is what I believe you're refering to as "groundsheet" - makes a big difference with dryness and warmth.  One luxury I might recommend is one of those little candle lanterns.  I always thought they were frivolous until I used one.  Burns off the condensation from your respiration in a small tent, gives you just enough light for most "intra-tent" activities, and doesn't use up batteries that take up space and add weight.

[cernunos]

If you want to travel real light just use a poncho, good hunting knife, and fint and steel. It'll all fit in your bag too. I love the GS500, and remember there is more to this site than a forum.

C.......

[The Buddha]

I suggest a fat chick... In winter they are good for warmth, and in summer they provide shade... and they are always good cushion... But not too fat... cos the GS will pretty much give up... so I suggest somehting like this...
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11523&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60
Scroll to the bottom...
Cool.
Srinath.

[srileo]

Cozy,
the air mattress that i was thinking of is the kind that you mention. I have slept on one before and think its perfect for what i want. The price is right too. I will be getting one of those


Stephen: The tent you showed seems to be almost in my budget. I could definitely stretch out to that much. What do you think of this, my original choice  from Target?: [http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_6/601-1848208-4575368?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0000AS5NI]

Heent:
Can you show me a good groundcloth?

Thanks guys!! Its time i visited a local REI.
sri

[Roadstergal]

I skip the air mattress to get everything to fit in a backpack for bicycling (just tent and blanket)...  never tried to get a chick in there, though.

[The Buddha]

Oh not a problem... an inflatable chick will fit in easy...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Stephen072774]

Stephen: The tent you showed seems to be almost in my budget. I could definitely stretch out to that much. What do you think of this, my original choice  from Target?: [http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_6/601-1848208-4575368?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0000AS5NI]

Coleman makes an OK tent, it will def. get you in the outdoors, but the only thing I dislike about them is how the rain fly doesn't fully cover the window in the door.  In a storm where the rain comes sideways it could be a problem.  The tent poles and material is somewhat of a lesser quaility too.

But I had a Coleman before I upgraded, nothing wrong with it at all.  What really matters is getting out there.  I think it would really depend on how much you plan on using it.  Have fun!

[Kerry]

srileo ... pay close attention to the length of the box that the tent comes in.  That will give you an idea of how long the tent pole segments are.  When I went "motorcycle tent" shopping a couple years ago my eye was caught by a box that seemed WAY shorter than the rest.  I snatched it up quick.

It was a Eureka Apex 2XT, an earlier version of the one Stephen072774 linked you to.  On last year's trip it fit just fine INSIDE one of my hard saddlebags.  Here it is along with a "knockoff" that I found on sale after that trip:

Eureka Apex 2XT and Alpine Design Teton 2 EXT - Pic 1

Eureka Apex 2XT and Alpine Design Teton 2 EXT - Pic 2[/list:u]I haven't even opened the Alpine Design box yet -- I'm saving it for if/when the Eureka wears out.  But there's one thing I'm looking forward to about the AD tent: the aluminum poles.    My Eureka has fibergass poles, and they're kinda heavy.  (I should just "borrow" the AL poles, eh?  Quite right - good idea!)

PS - To see how the Eureka compares to the bike (size-wise), see the pictures of my embarrassingly bad first attempt at packing the bike for a camping trip.

[Roadstergal]

Whoa, great pics in that thread!

[Caravan]

Take a look at the Half-dome Plus tent at REI.  Tiny tents, while lighter and easier to pack along, will not improve your mental health if you have to spend any time in them!  I second (...third?) most of the advice here except for the candle lantern.  (OK, I am a _bit_ paranoid about setting my tent alight.)  Go to your local DIY store and buy a tarp that is just smaller than the foot print of your tent.  Cheap and simple to replace when you do trash it.  I use a self-inflating pad for sleeping after years of self-deflating air mattresses.  Thermarest generally sets the standard for this type.

Have fun!

Gene

[heent]

Sri,

The groundcloth certianly need be nothing fancy.  As suggested above, I just use a regular tarp you can pick up cheap wherever.  However, you might consider something lighter gauge for motorcycle packing that folds/rolls more compactlly - some heavy plastic sheeting similar to what new mattresses are typically shipped in would be about right.  One of the best groundcloths I've used was a section of an old aboveground pool liner.  However, I would recommend making it larger than the footprint of your tent - you really want a vapor barrier between the ground and the entire bottom of the tent - you can always fold it to size if too big.  Additionally, if you have a vestibule, the overhang of the groundcloth makes a good "doormat" area for boots and stuff you don't want in the tent with you; and, leaving the groundcloth bigger, especially if your tent is small, lets it serve other purposes (e.g. secondary shelter, motorcycle cover, table cloth etc.)

[spazzypengin]

I'd say a North Face ultralight one person tent. Expensive, but small and light and worth it. Or Mountain Hardwear.

[johncam4]

you dont need a tent or air mattress.....to keep dew off though...get a light weight tarp hang it over the bike and stake it on both sides.....your pack and gear on one side and your sleeping bag on the other....works for my xr but never camped like that on the gs

[Kerry]

Unless you buy something fancy for a groundcloth, you would be smart to use it as a "rain barrier" around the gear that you strap onto your seat.

Which reminds me - you also asked about how to secure all of this stuff.  I'm sure there are MANY ways, but I found that a bungee net (to keep things together and "tidy") and a pair of heavy duty bungee cords criss-crossed on top of that did the job nicely.

To illustrate both points, let me send you to the pictures on the Day 1 page of my 2002 trip to BC.  My packing arrangement seemed to change throughout the trip, so don't take that first page as "gospel"....

[Caravan]

Ground cloth!!

Well, heavy-duty plastic will work as well as anything, BUT, don't extend it beyond your tent walls.  If you do, any moisture (e.g., rain) will run off the tent and "pool" under the tent between the floor and the ground cloth.  



Gene