Gorteen

Any recommendations on lightweight tent, sleeping bag, mattress, groundsheet, etc?

I prefer a 3 man tent because I am tall and like space in a tent and also there's room to bring everything "indoors".

I'm into short trips ( 1-3 nights at a time) rather than round the world

fietsbob

Black Diamond's Mega Mid / Mega light is a single pole pyramid , you can even put it up over the bike.

Its floorless (for snow camping, etc) but they sell an inner tent of mozzy net and a floor sewn in it, as an add on.





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bikemig 

By and large, posters will tell you that they like what they are using. It's not as if most of us have tried out a lot of different bags and tents to give detailed feedback on them.

It's also true that by and large the major manufacturers make pretty reliable stuff. You could do worse than to check out what REI has to offer if there is a store local to you. If you join and use their credit card, the prices become pretty reasonable and they have one of the best return policies in the business.

I'm a little skeptical that you need a 3 person tent. By and large a 3 person tent won't be longer than a 2 person, just wider, and the vestibules should be plenty for your gear.

The REI 2 person half dome plus (check out the plus, not the regular half dome) tent is no lightweight but it's a really fine design (i've used one extensively and it gets great reviews). Plus it's pretty darn long at 96 inches.

For a sleeping pad, I like them on the thicker side (at least 2.5 inches). I just find that more comfortable.

For a bag, the big decision is whether to use down or synthetic.

Squeezebox

Check out Zpacks, just for fun.

hueyhoolihan

for someone without any experience, i can't do much other than list what i have come to find useful for me. anywhere from an overnighter to a multimonth tour.

down 3-season bag.
2-person tent (if i know it's not going to rain, and there are such places/times, and there are no bugs. i won't take a tent.)
thermarest classic
tyvex groundsheet.

Ty0604

I love REI's credit card. When I signed up it was 0% interest for 6 months, you got a $100 REI gift card and you get an additional 5% back at REI so in the end you get 15% back. And we spend a lot at REI so the dividend this year was embarrassingly high

niknak

+1 for visiting REI.

You can also compare tents, sleeping bags, pads on their website to narrow down the selection to your preferences.

A 3-man tent for one seems excessive but you're the one carrying it.

I use a down bag rated to 25 degrees for all trips. I also use an original Thermarest Neo Air, which is great. The new ones however are noisier.

jefnvk

Agree with others that say a 2 person tent is a nice size for a single person. You're not likely to get much more length or height out of a 3 person, just width.

Pads, I still like the cheap blue foam rolls. I've also got an inflatey one, only seem to prefer it when I am really concerned about packing volume.

Bag, I'd recommend something 15-20F lower than the lowest temps you can reasonably expect. If it is too warm, you can always unzip it. I do Michigan summer camping in a 25F bag.

Ground sheet: one of my tents has a cut up Harbor Freight tarp, the other has the specific Big Agnes one for it. The only reason the second has the specific footprint is that it can set up in an ultralight setup with it.

andrewclaus

Look at Tarptent for large affordable shelters. My 6-7 friend, "The Two Meter Man," enjoys his one-man shelter from them.

My recent purchase of an enLightened Equipment quilt specifically for a summer bike tour is one of the best outdoor gear purchases I've ever made.

I use a cheap closed cell foam pad. I can usually find soft grass to sleep on, and I sleep well with just that.

I find I do not need a groundsheet. The tent floor suffices with a little care in site selection and has never seen damage. When things are wet, I find a ground sheet is just one more wet thing to pack up.

djb

Get thee to a nunnery, and also an outdoor store.

also get thee to your budget and figure out how much you want to spend, thats the kicker here.

as said, all kinds of good tents and whatnot out there, and yes, a 2 person tent is perfect for a single person to have space for panniers and your stuff.

skimaxpower

If you want to put 1 person in a 3 man tent, stop pretending you care about weight.

Go to a reputable backpacking gear shop midweek during late morning. They'll be slow for customers and have enough time to help you explore lots of different options. There's no substitute for actually laying down inside a sleeping bag or tent.

If you're taller than six foot, you'll probably want a size "long" sleeping bag.

Erick L

What's you budget?

Gorteen

At the risk of sounding curt, my budget is small

fantom1 

We need more info.

Questions:

Budget? small you said. (Remember the golden triangle of outdoor gear: Cheap, Weight, Functionality. Choose Two)
Anticipated Climate(s)?
Stealth Camping or Campsites?

jefnvk

Dollar values work much better. My small, your small, and Bill Gates' small are likely very different when it comes to budgets!

Erick L

Look at the Sierra Design Summer Moon. Look at backpacking tents at REI and sort by price. They're all good tents, but a little heavier. There's no need for a ground sheet.

Do the same for sleeping bags. I suggest something rated to 30F or below for 3 seasons. These quilts are affordable: Burrow Econ 20 - Hammock Gear

For pads, find something with a R rating of around 3 or more.

TimothyH

Late to the party but thanks for posting this.

What model did you purchase? You use it instead of a bag?

I'm a novice so thanks for your patience.


-Tim-