Sleeping In A Tent
 

Hi all

I'm faced with a dilemma. In years gone by I used to camp reasonably regularly. Sleeping was usually a tolerable situation in a tent. I am most definitely a person who prefers a proper good bed, like everyone I guess, but here's my problem.....Last night I went camping. I wasn't on the bike, I chose to 'cheat' a little bit and take the car and my proper bed quilt. Put the tent up, lit a fire had something to eat. When I went to bed I just had the quilt and a pillow. I wrapped myself up in the quilt (heavy and thick one) but I just could not sleep. The problem was comfort, even with the quilt the ground was too hard for me and it was a miserable night. So my question is: for motorcycle camping what on earth am I gonna do to fix this? Those little self-inflating airbeds are just not gonna cut it I'm afraid. I'm disappointed because I'm planning a decent trip next year and I was hoping to keep the costs down and add a bit of alternative enjoyment by camping a reasonable amount. Any advice would be great bier

Closed cell pad under an Exped sleeping pad should do you good. If you live near an REI you can go in an lay down on all the mats. Give 'em a test.

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I too was looking for a more comfortable solution when camping in a tent for my upcoming trip.

I used before the combination of a 1" thick thermarest + blue foam mattresses. But it is bulky and not comfy enough.

I bought a thermarest Neo Camper mattress (3" thickness). So far i'm very happy with it.

It is NOT self inflatable. So yes it does take longer to fill it with air. But, I don't mind. I better like to spend more time filling it and sleeping very well than the opposite.

When sleeping at cold temperature, i put an aluminum survival blanket between the mattress and ground.

Patrick

Hennessy Hammocks for a good nights sleep
 

https://youtu.be/q_7AYQ6jXnc

Unhappy campers...., I found the perfect solution to overnighting in the wild. rosa del desierto and I each purchased Hennessy Hammocks and have used them on three continents. These hammocks are very comfortable if you add a thermorest self inflating pad under you - good even in the coldest weather with the fly attached and a good sleeping bag - I was warm at below freezing temperatures.

Here I am at our place in Kino Viejo , Mexico earlier this year demonstrating the Hennessy Hammock which actually serves as a tent in foul weather because it comes equipped with a fly and mosquito net. (see video)

Also it is very easy to keep an eye on your bike and gear from the hammock. We usually leave the bikes packed and locked except for the hammocks and cooking gear. No problems through the Andes and from Spain to Turkey and return.

rosa del desierto produced, directed and filmed the video which is part of our "Overland Fitness" series free on You Tube.

xfiltrate

Take`s time to fill good sleeping on the thermarest to mach air is no good but you have to practice.....so get out in to the nature ...:thumbup1:

Or you can tray to fall a sleep this way ......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjMOvN0p1i4

Kawazoki,

Maybe i made the mattress air filling worst then it is. I also have the Thermarest Neo Air pump sack. So filling the mattress is no hard work. Just waiting time: opening the air sac, closing it and then putting small pressure on the air sac to fill the mattress. I could also use my electrical air compressor if i wanted too.

They came out wih a new model that is suppose to be even quicker to inflate: "neo camper sv"

I looked at your setup. Good that it works for you. But it is not flexible enough for me on long trips. I need a tent

I picked up a little battery operated inflator to help with the air mattress. doesn't take up a lot of room and you an finish putting up the tent while its inflating.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Mini Pump | Backcountry.com

We have been looking to get a pair of these:
Therm-a-Rest LuxuryLite UltraLite Cot | Backcountry.com

I have heard from those that use them that they work great.

I've just re felt recently picked up a Helinox Cot Lite and is a revelation. The poles fit easily into my panniers, taking up less space than a roll mat. It's as comfy as I could reasonably ask for in tent sleeping.

Bloody expensive, but a good night's sleep is worth the price.

Arma,

I looked at those Helinox Cot lite but i was worried that they would damage a tent floor quickly.

Feel free to give a longer review of the Helinox Cot lite: when ground is not level, how is comfort?

Patrick

Kawazoki
 

私、あなたの一番のファンです。
watashi, anata no ichiban no fan desu.
Very impressive Kawazoki, I grew up in Japan and as I watched your video memories of my childhood flooded in. Thank you so much for your excellent video.
ありがとうございました
Arigatōgozaimashita

Thermarest is self inflating. Just unscrew cap and wait a few minutes then screw cap tight.

I really enjoyed your video. do you have others? Sort of Haiku cinema!

xfiltrate

I can't say I've used it a lot yet, just a few nights - I got it as an impulse buy after getting sick of my Thermarest self inflating mat.

The feet are pretty big, so I doubt it would poke a hole in the floor unless the ground under the tent was very wet / squishy - but I do try to avoid camping in a marsh! You could always put something under the feet I guess, to spread the load - a riding jacket would do the job nicely.

The whole frame is fairly flexible, so I think it would handle uneven ground easily but I've not tried yet. It would certainly smooth out any bumps better than a mat.

It's really quick to put together as well.

Think you'll be surprised at how comfortable the self-inflating airbeds are. I put a few puffs of extra air in mine to make it firm. Borrow one and try it.

The quilt does not work as it is meant for no weight on it .. sleeping on it just compresses it to nothing - so it is both cold and has no padding for comfort.
In my home bed I found the self-inflating airbed was warmer to sleep on than the mattress (I was testing it for any slow air leaks, airbed on to of mattress).

Or this could be my solution, or something similar...as long as it's packed away properly. I am trying to find a compromise between comfort and weight/pack size. Has anyone carried one of these on a bike?

https://www.amazon.com/Lightspeed-Ou...=sleepjudge-20

Get use to this as you got use to your comfortable bad. People can get use to everything: A cigarette per day, no cigarette, a hotel, camping, wasting money or even saving money :D Some people even get use to be in jail...

I am an absolute sook when it comes to sleeping and any type of 'compact' mattress that is small enough for the bike kills me.

Yes I am a sook and (not) proud of it.

Being a side sleeper is the main issue I think.

So for my wife and I we are building a small trailer to tow behind the bike, for the sole reason of carrying two single '4wd matts' for camping. The type that self inflate when you undo the valves and straps keep them rolled up.

The type in Oz is called Dune

Sad I know. But the only option for me.

:blush:

This little devil looks pretty good. Compact enough when packed, fairly durable by the look of it and much wider than other single airbeds.

Coleman - DuraRest™ Single

Some photos and video from my Central and South America journey on... https://www.facebook.com/zoki.kawazoki
Thanks for nice words.....:thumbup1:

That looks good to me.. I like a soft bed, and at over eight inches thick that would prevent me laying on the floor when I sleep on my side.

At under £40, it's a bit of a bargain too... :thumbup1:

Yes Sleepy, it looks like it's worth a try. It looks a whole lot better than those skimpy thermarest 1" things

I would stay with the real outdoor stuff, the 3" thermarests and expeds are very comfortable and are isolating more than a big hollow air mattress. The exped synmat is my favourit and I am a side sleeper. A big 8" mattress might also be to high, forcing your feet and face against the sidewalls.


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Any "air" mattress without fill is going to be VERY cold underneath. You need something for insulation, such as down or a synthetic fill.

The old self-inflating mattresses just don't cut it for anyone over 30, and there is far better available now.

After trying just about everything out there, we've settled - for now - on Big Agnes Q-core mattresses. They're very similar to several others out there such as the Exped mats. The main thing is they're around 4" thick, and have a synthetic fill. They pack tiny-ish, about 4" / 10cm diameter and 10" / 23cm long. With a reasonably firm fill, even a side sleeper like me has no issues with ground contact. Very comfortable to sleep on, in fact Susan ALWAYS uses hers even in a hotel, saying hotel mattresses aren't as comfortable - Princess and the Pea!

Exped used to have / may still have a down filled equivalent which we had and loved, but they died finally, and the Big Agnes were handy to buy at the time.

We use the Neo-air pump, runs on two AAA batteries and they last about 20 fills, more if you're patient, as it slows down as the battery goes down. There are also some hand pumps that double as air pillows, so have a good look in a big camping store or motorcycle travel store, there's bound to be some good options.

Been using the Nemo Vector. Best design in my opinion. There is an insulated version as well. I went for quick and easy. It still has a aluminium baffle in the middle. Footpump (at the foot end) worked better than the hand pump in the Exped. Quick and large deflate valve so you can roll it up without wrestling it (for the non insulated version anyway). The air comes out without a struggle. I hate packing up gear. So the quicker the better.

http://www.nemoequipment.com/wordpre...cts/2443_2.jpg

http://img.youtube.com/vi/-p9jc5YIi7A/0.jpg

It'll only be used in warm sunny weather so the cold doesn't really bother me too much. Besides I can use one of those reflective pads for underneath if needs be.

My God man, it's 6 lbs!
I don't even want my tent to way that much....
I like my hammock too... Though there is a learning curve.
I'll take a tent if there are no trees, though I can set the hammock up on the ground.
I use an old Thermarest.

Bob

'an old thermarest' ain't even close to what I'm looking for Bob! bier

Hammock with Fly
 

Campers,

We have enjoyed "airborne" camping for years. The fly can be tightened down close over the mosquito net to create a tent like atmosphere for the Hennessy Hammock. The fly when properly adjusted traps warm air as does a tent.

An interesting question is if air temperature and ground temperature are different? The sun can certainly warm the air faster than the ground. A self inflating thermarest insulates from cold air temperature when used with a hammock, a thermarest is much more comfortable when used in a hammock than when used on the frozen ground.

I invite all to try the combination of a hammock and a thermarest self inflating mattress. Hammocks and thermarests are rollable, packable, very light weight and come in many varieties from back packer to bush camping. The photo, posted by rosa del desierto in Woman's topics Bush Camping post #1. is how we bush camp. The video earlier I posted demonstrates entering the Hennessy Hammock.

My guess is ground temperature is colder on average if frozen than air temperature which can be below freezing but never freezes. My experience has been a hammock with closable fly and a thermarest underneath worked great in the Andes at high altitude when the ground was frozen. see rosa's post for photo and explanation.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-camping-87600

xfiltrate eat, drink and stay warm

What if there are no trees around and bush camping isn't the target area?

What if I have no intention of camping when it is cold?

Those camping 'cots' appear to be gathering a large following. Perhaps this and a decent sleeping bag is the solution instead of an air bed. They seem to pack up small, they are light and if you believe what you read/see/hear then they are very comfortable too.

Camping cots allow the air to circulate underneath and are very cold!

I am an exped convert. I also take the sheepskin off the seat, have an exped pillow and put my clothes in a large thin roll bag and use this as extra padding/pillows to make a big comfy area. Bliss.

Luckily I'm a heavy sleeper, and one asleep rarely wake. Helped by hot water bottle and flask of hot chocolate :)

Which exped do you use Fern?

No trees, No bush No Problem
 

ChrisFS,

Kawazoki had a pretty good solution to the no trees question - see his video post #5 this thread. Am I missing something here??? Am I missing something here, I really want to know... Is there other camping besides bush camping. This is news to me.

Of course my "target area" is South America - and yes sometimes small villages allow a traveler to camp in the public park - but the only differences from bush camping are a lot of kids running around in the day, adults doing whatever, mostly drinking at night and many dogs, mostly barking. Oh and always loud music until 2 or 3 AM.

Also, some day use picnic areas although sometimes advertised as "CAMPING" might allow "camping" but one gets a lot of strange looks. generally in South America "CAMPING" means a day time picnic/asado area.

Please fill me in if I am missing something.

xfiltrate

Making amends for going off topic
 

To all,
I realize that posting about the advantages of hammocks on a thread entitled "Sleeping in a Tent" might be considered by some as off topic.

So in order to make amends I am going to share a video of me demonstrating how to exit a tent. Assuming one has to exit a tent after sleeping in a tent, I feel this video might be more appropriate than my previous video about Hennessy Hammocks and all my chatter about the advantages of sleeping in a hammock.

https://youtu.be/ZhvN6ndNqbM

This is especially for those who believe I have been off topic.

My sincere apologies

Xfiltrate. eat, drink and sleep soundly because your Air Force is awake

PS rosa del desierto has a cameo appearance in this video.... X

Are you suggesting there is no option to camp in places where there aren't trees? I actually used one of the first Hennesy's and found them too restricting and certainly not having any weight advantage. This was before you could get down bottoms etc. People also use mats and it has a canopy. In fact it has all the ingredients of a tent. But I can pitch that on the plains of central Asia, South American deserts and pampa and the savanna's of Africa.

No trees?
 

tmotten,

perhaps you are confusing my posts with posts of others. I never alluded to a scarcity of trees, that was ChrisFS. Please, if you are going to quote me try to at least interpret my quote with some semblance of what I actually said.


tmotten,
Now, as for your Hennessy remark, I do not want to jeopardize my amended position, so just let me say this about that, the Hennessy of yesteryear is not the Hennessy of today. I bet you were not aware of the new exit - through the bed of the hammock, I doubt you have slept in a new and improved Hennessy Hammock. And I doubt you have scaled the new model Hennessy Hammocks. they are much lighter than your grandfather's Hennessy.

If you are alluding to sex in a hammock by your "too restricting" comment, I will assure you that the cowgirl up position on a Hennessy is something you should really try for yourself, or by ......... I did not say that. Rather than being restrictive, I have found it to be inviting.

When you say mats with a canopy do you mean a tent? We have no disagreement there. One can pitch a tent most anywhere and call it camping as several have done on this thread already. I agree.

Thanks for your comments.

xfiltrate. eat drink and cowgirl up

A: it if my interpretation that you suggested there is no camping besides bush camping. You can rest your doubts
B: it is my understanding that all hennesy's had bottom entry as had mine.
C: fabrics need to be certain thickness to carry a person which is by design heavier than a canopy
D: you misinterpreted my restriction comment but whatever
E: Whatever dude.

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Your short-tempered moderator says:

C'mon. It's been a long day, and I'm tired. If you're tempted to insult another member, give some thought to how wearying it will be to delete your post. And if you're prone to poking and prodding in a manner which often attracts insults from others, please stand in the corner with your nose against the wall instead.

Thanks.

Mark

At last
 

Markarf,

Thanks, I thought I stood alone defending myself, it is finally good to know for once a mod is on my side.

xfiltrate

xfiltrate that video is comedy gold!! I love it!! :rofl::rofl:

In my eyes hammocks are may be nice to have at the beach but useless for adventure motorcycling. There are hardly two trees available when you need them and they dont protect you and your stuff from malaria moskitos and rain.

After spending more then 3 jears every day camping i know its importend to have a tent wich is able to stand without pegs. If you want to save weight dont take a matress but use your sleeping bag insted. There is nothing you cant get use to:

http://adventure-travel-experience.de/?report=zelte

What wrong with pegs?

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Serios??? You cant use a tent wich does need pegs on a ferry, a garage and other hard grounds. Why buy a useless tent like this if you can also get a Highpeak Texel 4 tent?

Can't is a big word. I tend to ride with another so that is at least 3 tie down points. But there are also sand bag pegs (dunno the official names), bricks, whatever really. I never thought to camp on a ferry. But with a bit of rope you could be creative. But I guess if that's a criteria, to camp on a ferry or concrete floor in a building, then no. It's not a good idea. Personally I would not encounter a situation like that.

That Highpeak is a bit heavy though.

Why looking for a plan b if you can buy a tent that can stand on hard ground anyway? Sand Pegs are heavy as well but 3gk for a tent dont matter on a 200+ kg bike. Comfort and space is what matters on every day use...

In Thailand i used this for 3 months. Light, small and cheap: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Iglu-Zelt-Kup...cAAOSwdzVXn1iL

3kg is huge. On any bike. Particularly out wide and back. If it wouldn't they put more shit on at the factory.

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But that's why I don't ride a 200+kg bike. Not much fun to me. I find 300 pounds too heavy.

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Thermarst camp and comfort product line
 

It seems some people are ok to carry heavy floor pads.

Have look at Thermarest's "camp and comfort" product line. Some mattresses are 4" thick.


Patrick

I bought one and tried it for a few nights. I can honestly say its alot better than the Exped 9dlx I had and easier to pack away plus ultra comfortable. The material is fairly tough so I think it will hopefully last and for the price a bargain. Using a sidewinder plugged into the bike it takes seconds to inflate

Update
 

An update on our sleeping system. Due to some issues with our state transport dept our light weight trailer has been put on hold and we went with a tent and sleeping gear that surprisingly I am really happy with.

We both got BigAgnes Air core ultra inflating sleeping pads;

Air Core Ultra

And Roman Palm IV sleeping bags that zip up together to form a double.

We topped that with a Vango Soul 300 tent. All compact on the bike but actually quite comfortable.

I went through a couple of cheap self inflating pads, like the OP I found I just couldn't sleep on hard ground - too hard, too cold. But the self inflating ones are bulky and heavy due to their internal structure, and don't provide much cushioning. Also, they both developed leaks very soon after buying them. So now I've got a Thermarest NeoAir Xlite. Inflates about 3" thick, super comfy and built to be durable. It weighs about a pound and rolls up to the size of a small thermos. Easy to carry on the bike.

I also bought a Thermarest mini air pump so I don't have to huff and puff to inflate it.

Sleeping Pad inside the Sleeping Bag
 

I use a sleeping pad, but many people put them under their sleeping bags, but I find it's too easy to wake up and have my face on the tent floor and the sleeping pad over somewhere else because I don't lay perfectly still all night. What I do is put the sleeping pad inside my sleeping bag and I sewed a thin sheet so that the pad slips right into the pocket I created with the sheet. This way the pad is always under me and the sheet makes it comfortable and it packs up small. Just an idea.

I use a Eureka Solo Plus, but when I have the kids along we use either an OEX Coyote or OEX Cougar which are Go Outdoors own brand which I bought ‘off season’ for silly money. (Low) They are good enough for what you need and the quality is impressive enough too. The Vango range of bags are good value and perfect. I do have a Thermarest quilt which is less than a year old and I’ve got to say quilts are worth thinking about.

For about 30 years now i have been using what i totally unPC call Paki mats which are the approx 70mm mattresses you can buy in any souk from china to morocco.i drive a landy and i keep it in the ceiling with bungies spanned from the interior trim beer