Tent, Mat & Sleeping Bag - Which are the Best?

richard36

Hi

Would appreciate some advice.

I'm looking to buy a good quality and lightweight one man tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag for touring. Any recommendations?

Thanks

Richard

mhuk

Not sure about weight but Thermarest and Alp-Kit do some good mats.

CyclepathToHell

What's your budget?

Thermarest is a definite must have imo. Either the orange prolite or , my choice, this trail light:

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog ... GULAR.html


If you have the money, Id think about a Hilleberg Akto..

takeonafrica

as far as I know, the Terra Nova Laser Competition is the lightest 1-man tent around.
I'm going to buy this for my next trip.
I have had a 2-man Terra Nova tent for a number of years and can recommend them highly.

Can also recommend Thermarest for mats.

As for sleeping bags, this will depend on what climate you require it for. Down bags pack down smaller and lighter but can be a nightmare if they get wet....

CyclepathToHell

My only concern with the Terra Nova laser comp is that it's the one that Mark Beaumont had on his RTW ride and it collapsed twice in bad weather.

takeonafrica

hmm..... didn't know that!

Kwenchin

Tent: If you are expecting bad weather the Hilleberg Atko is very good.

Bag: Mountain Equipment Xero 250. Down bag, packs small and light.

Mat: Exped Downmat 7. Downmats pack smaller than Thermarests.

GyatsoLa

Tents are a very personal thing, IMO, what works perfectly for one person won't for another. You need to sit down and list out all thIe things you want from it. Questions like:

1. How much room do I really need?
2. Do I want to sit up in it to read? (if so, get someone to measure your head height when sitting and reading, thats the minimum height of your tent).
3. Do I want to be able to store the bike in it? (a few tents, such as the Hilleberg Nallo GT allow this).
4. Do I want it to be freestanding? (a freestanding inner is quite handy as an anti-mozzie defense when sleeping in dodgy guesthouses).
5. What level of windproofing do I really need? (i.e., 3 or 4 season tent, etc).
6. Do I want one compact enough for a pannier?
7. Preference for front or side entrance?

I think if you sit down and put pen to paper listing out what you want, you will find by the process of elimination the ideal tent for you. The one that hits most of my personal needs are the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2.

Speaking of Big Agnes, they have an interesting range of sleeping bags that are designed for a thermorest style insert. They are also designed so you can layer two - in other words, instead of bringing one bag for all conditions you buy two (for example, a light sythetic one with water resistent outer, and a medium weight down one), which can be used separately for various conditions, or both at once when its really cold. I haven't seen them in action but I've heard good things about them.

priory

it also depends how old you are.
I remember waking up in the morning in a very moderate quality bag under 3 inches of snow having slid out of the tent as a teenager.
I now find I need to be comfy , and that means insulation mat ( i usually use a silver , foam backed roll ,or windscreen shield for lightness) and a rab quantum 400 bag
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=O459uA252fA
http://www.tauntonleisure.com/products/ ... ance/1568/

Which means I get a good sleep and enjoy the next day, whatever the overnight temperature..

I don't have a favourite tent. The only differences I've noticed are weight and space , and that goes with price. It is nice to be able to sit up. Terra nova are very well spoken of.

CyclepathToHell

I am seriously considering the Nallo GT for an extended tour. It's a lot of money but, generally, ygwupf with tents.

I also don't see the need for a sub 1 kilo tent for cycle touring. If I was backpacking or trail racing, then maybe. I like the space for panniers and to be able to sit up in wet weather.

I once ruined a French tour by taking a single skin bivy-type tent. Felt like a coffin and the condensation was horrendous.

cycladelic

Has anyone used the Vango Spirit 2-person tent? I'm thinking of getting one.

See..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VANGO-SPIRIT-200- ... 240%3A1318

richard36

Thanks to all those who have replied

I will initially be touring Europe and it will be a combination of biking and walking. Thereafter I would like to tackle some parts of Africa again biking and walking.

Will look on the internet at the various makes that have been recommended.

Thanks again.

Richard

nun

There are so many variables that you'll have to do research based on the typr of touring you intend to do. I do 3 season touring in N. America and like to keep weight down so here's what I use

Tent: Tarptent Contrail

http://www.tarptent.com/contrail.html

pad: Big Agnes (not the lightest option, but very comfortable)

http://www.bigagnes.com/str_pads.php?bid=4

sleepimg: Hudson River Quilt

http://www.jacksrbetter.com/Rectangular%20Quilts.htm

Total Weight 66 oz

My cooking set is 11oz so my big 4 are under 5lbs. In summer I might use a lighter pad and quilt

crafty

I use a Thermarest mat. Pretty compact and very comfortable.
http://www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-Trail-Lite.html

A Snugpak Softie Kilo Bag. Again, pretty compact.
http://www.penroseoutdoors.co.uk/acatal ... _Kilo.html

A Eureka Wabakimi 2 tent. It sits on the rack, no worries. After using a one man tent, the move to a two man has been worth it. Loads of room for kit.
http://www.eurekaeurope.com/en/tents.ph ... product=73

Ed

1footedninja

Mat: Exped Downmat 7 - Packs down small and is very comfy and well made.

Bag: Army Artic 'Mummy style' sleeping bag with a black plastic bag on the bottom to keep it from getting damp.

Tent: Terra Nova Voyager + footprint, packed not in a sausage style bag but flat packed or split between back panniers. Poles wrapped into middle of foammat I use as extra comfort/insulation below Exped mat.

Thats what I use.

mercsport

We all have our 'finds' that we swear by . Mine have been an original ( factory prototype in fact ) NorthFace Tadpole tent that has kept me 'out of it' for an aeon now . Light and small , along with a Thermarest and Rab bag - a Quantum 250 I think - superlight and near zero pack size .

Something else to consider might be one these :
http://hennessyhammock.com/ which I bought late on this summer for a try . Very nicely constructed and extremely comfortable , but wouldn't recommend particularly for a wet and dreary UK tour as I did in August . Be nice for a sunny tour somewhere else though .

Wooliferkins

Tent, I have a Terranova Laser comp, love it but it's really only for sleeping in it gets a bit stir crazy if you are hiding out of the weather in it. Kip mat Thermarest hands down. Sleeping bag I have 2, a Snugpack softie for the summer which packs up to smaller than a rugby ball and a Nanok endurance for the real cold which is fab. Shivver free in an ice hole in Norway.