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rydra_wong posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
the_great_outdoorsIf I was, in a super-hypothetical way, starting to consider acquiring a sleeping bag and tent for possible use in good weather in the British summer ...
What would I need to know?
What would I need to know?
rydra_wong posting in the_great_outdoors
no subject
Date: 2012-03-19 01:53 pm (UTC)You would also need to take into account how often you'd be moving your tent.
Sleeping bag: packed size matters most here, as does budget. Also, whether you tend to get sweaty or get cold.
no subject
Date: 2012-03-19 02:20 pm (UTC)Public transport (trains, buses) and on foot.
Are any of those pop-up tents of decent quality? I know they get flattened by strong winds, but I'm not planning to be out in serious weather anyway.
Also, whether you tend to get sweaty or get cold.
Sweaty! Given that, what key words should I be looking for in sleeping bag descriptions?
no subject
Date: 2012-03-19 02:26 pm (UTC)Since you're going to be carrying the tent, it had best be below 3,5 kilos and below 3 would be even better.
And since you are a sweaty sleeper, a lightweight down (not synthetic) sleeping bag would be the ultimate solution. They aren't cheap, though.
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Date: 2012-03-19 02:36 pm (UTC)Coleman Bedrock 2 or Coleman Cobra 2. Not expensive, and nice and light.
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Date: 2012-03-19 02:41 pm (UTC)I'm generally travelling with a bouldering mat, so "unwieldly" is a given, and not necessarily a problem if they're light. *g*
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Date: 2012-03-19 02:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-19 11:14 pm (UTC)Think about whether you want to be easy to see or difficult to see and choose a colour for your outer layer accordingly.
Bivi Bag. I used to take a "survival" bag anyway so it made sense to upgrade to a good quality bivi bag (waterproof AND with a breathing panel when it's fully zipped up to cover the face) and use that as my outer layer cos my rucksack already had its own waterproof.
Sleeping Mat. For me the most important item was the thickest sleeping mat (mine was rollable foam) I was prepared to carry. If I was carrying a bouldering mat anyway then I'd've used that, heh.
Sleeping Bag. I tend to be a hot/sweaty sleeper but my sleeping bag was ALWAYS a "mummy" shape with hood cos I don't mind cold but draughts stiffen my muscles unbearably (and all my experienced camper friends have similar experiences). I found synthetic fibre fills sweaty but I could never afford down and they are at least easy to wash. If you're small then a "child", aka 3/4 length, sleeping bag would be lighter/smaller to carry.
Tent. If I was going to buy a tent then I'd either buy the smallest/lightest/flatest tent for carrying and repeatedly re-pitching OR a tent I could stand up in if I was only carrying it there and back and leaving it pitched (especially for several nights). Think about whether you'll want to cook in your tent (and consider a design with a porch).
no subject
Date: 2012-03-19 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-27 12:25 pm (UTC)I mean, if one is going to be carrying a giant hinged mattress anyway, it seems stupid not to integrate it into the structure somehow.
no subject
Date: 2012-03-27 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-28 07:26 am (UTC)This is what I have:
http://dmmclimbing.com/products/highball/
It seems silly to be lugging it around and wondering how to store it and not using it for shelter/comfort in some way. Maybe as a sleeping mat, or maybe it could be used as support for a bivvy ... *ponders*
no subject
Date: 2012-03-20 03:20 am (UTC)Shop: their retail park superstores aren't public transport friendly but I've found Decathlon tend to be cheap and their own brands reliable.
(Sorry for the comment spam.)
no subject
Date: 2012-03-20 08:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-20 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-27 07:47 pm (UTC)All the privacy of a tent with the facilities and comparative safety of a YHA hostel.