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Vstrom Camping

15K views 53 replies 37 participants last post by  stevewz 
#1 ·
Doing a 3 week Alaska trip this August, with a combination of hotel/motel and camping. Going to be roughly half and half so have been doing research on good gear to use. Ordered the Nemo Morpho 1p tent and the Jetboil personal cook system yesterday. They both come highly recommended for compact packing and overall ease of use and effectiveness. I will camping with all the gear in April on Vancouver Island to get a few trial runs camping and packing all the gear prior to this summers epic adventure. I will report back on the aforementioned gear.

Also after looking at various places to buy in person or order from online I came accross campsaver.com and saved a tidy sum of cash as they buy in bulk. The morpho tent was same price as from Nemo and they are currently throwing in the paw print for free with the order ($45.00 approx) and as long as I ordered $200.00 worth of product from them they ship to Canada with UPS for free. The Jetboil PCS and accessories I also ordered were all at least 20% off as well so with the free shipping and free paw print for protecting under the tent and 20% off of all jetboil products I was able to stretch my dollar and order more gear. Pretty sweet deal....wanted to pass it along to anyone else looking for motorcycle camping gear.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Yes, I agree 100 percent. The extra room of the two man tent is very useful for small things. I like to have certain items with me when I am asleep. Also, a two man tent is not much bigger when packed properly than a one person tent. A got a cheap Wally World tent and it has served me just fine in moderate rain showers. Don't know about Alaska type weather though... :jawdrop:



I have a twin sized inflatable mattress and some extra room for small items
 
#4 ·
Some people can make do with a one man tent but most would say that a two man is the minimum needed for any sort of camping comfort. It sure makes changing etc easier when it's pouring rain out. If you can it might be a good idea to upgrade a size.

I'm a big guy and a three man tent (in my case Eureka ElCapitan 3 man works brilliantly with it's two vestibules and plenty of space inside.

..Tom
 
#5 ·
it rains up there i understand. nothing worse than laying in a very small tent in the rain with all you gear is out in the wet. one man tent is ok for a couple nights but alaska is a big place. i've never 'enjoyed' anything smaller than a 5 man tent.

this is as small as it gets for me....



unless i do this...

 
#7 ·
What the fellers said about little tents and rain and your gear.
It's nice to have all your stuff dry and inside and still be able to sleep comfortably. I went from a REI Half dome to the Half dome plus. Mo bettah. I also carry a Kelty medium dome. Shade in the hot and more protection in the cold and wet.
I do like those new tents with the garage for your ADV bike! They just look so cool. Good place to sit out a rain storm too.
The bike can carry a lot, no point in scrimping comfort. If you were back packing that's different.
 
#8 ·
Whatever tent you end up with (4 person tent is ideal for me), i always bring along a big tarp and lots of string. Put that up first over your tent space to keep the rain off your tent overnight. It is awful to pack up a soaking wet tent the next morning.

Be sure to think about drainage around your tent too. Dig some channels etc. Then you don't end up in a puddle in the middle of the night. It doesn't take long to figure it all out.

I like the 4 man tent so i can move all the gear off my bike into it. Keeps everything dry and protected and all my clothes are there.

I suppose you could go with a single tent, and then put a tarp over your bike too, but then its harder to get to your stuff the next morning.
 
#9 ·
In my tough-it-out years I started with a 1 man tent until I realized the man in mind wasn't me. I quickly switched to a 3 man for basic comfort.
 
#10 ·
i see you have attained senior(nearly) status & for me that necessitated a few modifications, to my previous sleeping system

a good night's sleep is worth a lot, to these old/abused bones

the above suggestions to increase the size of your shelter are SOUND

i use an older LL BEAN 3-man, that still keeps me dry, happy & allows me to get up on my knees & avail myself of the infamous BOTTLE w/o going outside, during the night

it is free standing, which allows me to pick it up, while erected, & shake the dirt n leaves out

i cut my foot print, from a piece of vinyl sign/banner material, to extend into the vestibule area

cutting the foot print just a hair smaller than the perimeter of the fly keeps the rain from pooling under the tent, as bad

cutting it larger, directs the run off to pool under the tent & into the vestibule area

i used2b able to sleep well on a CAMPREST 2 & 1/2" self inflating pad

progressed to a 4" & have found that that's not enough, any more

on my trip, last spring, to Key West, i used a combination of:

Therm-A-Rest LuxuryLite Cot

Cabela's: Therm-A-Rest LuxuryLite Cot

and a:

Exped SynMat UL 7

Cabela's: Exped SynMat UL 7

this combination takes up less space than my original 2 & 1/2" pad and gives me a night's sleep that equals my memory foam mattress at home

my coffee service includes a SNOW PEAK TITANIUM coffee press & a SNOW PEAK TITANIUM cup

i went to the metal press when the LEXAN press crazed & started leaking

for short trips, i can put a zip-loc of grounds inside the press & put the press inside the cup

makes good coffee, is reasonably light in weight & packs well

i use a 1-burner canister stove, which works well down here, but may not serve you well in colder climes

my boiling pot is also a SNOW PEAK TITANIUM, sized to allow me to carry an extra canister in it

since i also canoe camp, the above items have been chosen for their packing sizes/shapes & serviceability, more than weight

lotsa good ideas, above

you've got plenty time to build/test the best kit for you, b4 you head out

i'm looking forward to following this thread/trip

sw
 
#11 ·
As someone who lived in Alaska and did a great deal of backcountry camping I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. A one man is lighter and nicer when backpacking but if you don't have to carry the extra ounces on your person then a 2-3 man is much better. Buy some quality rain gear if you havent already...I don't know which region you plan to visit up there but a good part of the state qualifies as a rainforest by measure of annual precipitation. Also, most of the ground is fairly rocky so be sure to bring a decent sleeping mat or something cushioned to lay on. Any questions just ask...

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App
 
#12 ·
Nothing special about the weather in Alaska. Rain is rain, and so on. In fact, there are places in the lower 48 states where it rains much harder than it does up here.

But as far as tents goes, I always advise folks to get the best tent they can afford, and if their camping is going to involve some rain, get a tent with a rainfly that extends all the way down the side walls of the tent. Short rainflys may work in a short, light sprinkle, but trust me, when it gets serious about raining, only a full rainfly works.

A "2-man" tent is barely big enough for just one person. I'm fairly tall, at 6'2", and I can't find a 2-man tent that is long enough for me. I have one that works, but just "OK" if I lay diagonally in it. Otherwise my head hits one end and my feet hit the other end. I'd say at minimum, a 3 man tent is recommended, but a 4-man ought to be about right. And unless one intends on pitching camp on a mountain top that is subject to extremely high winds, it isn't necessary to spend a small fortune on a tent. Even a cheap one will suffice. Just know that a cheap tent may be fairly heavy, and by spending a little more you can save some bulk and weight.

I am planning on a couple rides up here this summer and will probably opt to pick up a larger tent to use. I hate being cramped up!
 
#13 ·
my last camping trip on my bike, it rained for 3 days so i cut the trip short. i geared up in my waterproof klim suit and backed the bike into my REDVERZ EXPEDITION II tent and proceded to pack up everything into my waterproof boxes and bags. i then pulled the bike out and packed up the tent. it took 3 minutes to pack it up and strap it to THE seat. i was dry all except for my ball cap. i then rode for 4 hours in the rain, all dry except for my feet inside my WATERPROOF BOOTS FROM CYCLE GEAR. it was nice to sit in the vestibule out of the rain before i decided to get out of the mountains.
 
#14 ·
2 man, 3 man, 5 man, every manufacturer rate # of people different imho, some manufacturers aren't even consistent among the tents they make

I prefer to look at size in square feet of floor space and height to determine if I can stand at least in the center

minimum size tent I would consider would be 63 sq. ft for one man after that, about 40 sq. ft. per person



 
#15 ·
I agree you really want at least a 2 person tent. It's so nice to lay out your jacket/pants/helmet and some of your clothes inside the confines of the waterproof protection. I will keep my boots outside but within the vestibule. I used to think I'd get bug in my boots - lol sounds like a country song - but for some strange reason, never have.. LOL

Camping Gear & Outdoor Gear - Outerwear & Outdoor Clothing from Campmor.com is also a good place for gear.
 
#18 ·
I have to agree with the suggestions on a 2-man tent.
In June 2011 I rode from key west to Prudhoe bay and back to Tampa and was glad I had my Half-dome 2 HC from REI (2006 model)!!

I always ride in full gear so it gave me a dry place to store my jacket, overpants, liners, boots, gloves while I slept. I wouldn't want to leave that stuff on the bike outside the tent if it rained

It's also nice to have your change of clothes in the tent with you.

I used a Big Agnes pad, but later on got the luxury lite cot and really like it.
I was even able to put the cot together inside the tent when it was raining on the Blue Ridge Parkway on a later trip...nice to be able to stay dry while putting a cot together or inflating a sleeping pad - not possible with a tiny tent...

I kept my tent in a Wolfman dry bag on the passenger seat with other stuff that didn't fit in my Jesse bags.

As far as the stove goes, I went with the MSR Dragonfly for a few reasons.
the Jetboil IS a handy small system, but is useless if you can't find the isobutane cannisters. My dragonfly can run on coleman fuel (primary use for me) but also can burn Gasoline, diesel, JP4, etc which means I could always find fuel for it - it may burn sootier, but it would burn!

Just my 0.02/worth...

Dave in Afghanistan
Bikeless and bummed
 
#20 · (Edited)
I used a REI 2-man tent on my 2010 AK tent and found it was just too small. I loved that it packed down very small and would fit in my pannier with room so spare. And it provided just enough room so i could keep most of my gear inside at night, but it was a PITA to get dressed in, plus my head and feet hit both walls of the tent, and when you have something up against the wall (like your head!) it will tend to cause it to leak. I plan to go back to AK next year and will definitely be upgrading to a 4-man tent.......

I too used a MSR Dragonfly stove and it was nice to be able to burn most any type of fuel in it. It gets "sooty" when burning anything besides camp stove fuel, but using gasoline from the bike saved my bacon a couple of times......
 
#21 ·
I have camped with the Eureka Apex 2 along with a Thermarest pad and it works very well. Enough room to sit up comfortably and sleep with gear. Two doors and easy setup with only 2 poles. I color coded the fly connections with white florescent nail polish so it was easy to setup in the dark. Been through rain and had not sealed the seams but did not get wet. Not overly expensive either at about 120 bucks. 3 years old and looks like new.
 
#22 ·
My dad and I have ridden to AK twice on KLRs. Trust me it can be done cheaply.

I used a older Walmart special tent (3-4 man) for us both the first trip. My cook stove was (and still is) a cheap one burner propane stove. Works like a charm and really isn't that heavy and those propane bottles are everywhere.

On the second trip I upgraded the tent (the pole broke on the other one after to many trips in it. probably a 35 dollar tent that lasted years and lots of camping) The new tent was from bass pro (4 man)... originally 99 bucks and I got it for 59 on sale. Has a full length fly which is important to say the least. Lots of room and easy setup. It worked great.

As for beds. We took (don't laugh) air mattresses. Yep regular twin size mattresses. It packs up nearly as small as a thermarest and make sleeping after a long day much easier. The only problem is if the ground is cold it has little to no insulation from that. A small fleece blanket on the top of the mattress would take care of this. We also took an air pump that plugged into the power outlet on out bikes.

Side note: we always kidded about people watching us setup camp. Like they where saying "Oh man those guys are tough traveling on motorcycles .....whats that an air mattress...oh never mind." LOL But you sleep good and that all that matters. In fact we had couple that where 30K miles a year on bikes comment about the mattresses and loved the idea.

That leads to where I have to leave the Walmart stuff behind. Buy a good sleeping bag. I went up the first trip with a cheap 30 degree bag. It packed small and I thought I'd not need anything more. And honestly I was doing ok (I was Army a long time ago so I didn't think about it) but my dad thought I was cold so on our return leg he had bought me a nice zero degree bag that is square at the bottom and down filled...I had no idea what I had been missing...Get a good bag!

Everything else is whatever you decide on. We boiled water and used instant coffee or the tea bag kind if we could find them. We also carried a small cooler and had eggs and bacon breakfasts a lot of mornings. And yes we camped in bear territory...we just paid attention to what we were doing and kept a clean camp. Breakfast is nice to get you going IMO.

I have no doubt you'll take to much stuff. We did both times. But if you don't have it and need it you'll wish you did.

Oh one other thing. If you plan to have a fire. Do yourself a favor and go buy some lighter fluid (like for zippos) and take it. It makes starting a fire (especially in the wet) easier to get you warmed up and is small and light.


Now we both have stroms so we are both looking forward to camping some from them. And doing the AK trip again.

BTW avoid the motel at Pink mountain...camp instead if you stop near there. Also make a stop at Laird hot springs if only for a dip. It is worth it. Other than that take your time and enjoy...There are soooooo many places that will take your breath away.
 
#27 ·
.

As for beds. We took (don't laugh) air mattresses. Yep regular twin size mattresses..

Oh one other thing. If you plan to have a fire. Do yourself a favor and go buy some lighter fluid (like for zippos) and take it. It makes starting a fire (especially in the wet) easier to get you warmed up and is small and light.


.
i use the air mattress too and sleep like a baby. for firestarter i make my own with dryer lint and candle wax. roll it up like a cigar and cut off and inch or 6", whatever it takes. dry wood and twigs take and inch.
 
#26 ·
Big Agnes

I've got a 2-man UL2 Copper Spur Big Agnes tent and its great; well worth the price. I often sleep without the fly. Light & compact, easy to put up and totally rain proof. I survived the most amazing wind & rain & lightening storm in South Dakota that I've ever encountered.
https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/copperspurul22012
 
#30 ·
If you guys are camping around any evergreen trees the very lowest branches will be dead and dry even in torrential downpours. Instant kindling.

..Tom
 
#31 ·
Gear and techniques

It's good you're going out for some trial nights outdoors in April before your big trip in August. That gives you time to test your gear and techniques, plus time to adjust if necessary. As others have said, you'll probably end up taking more than you need, and that's what trial runs help eliminate.

Regardless of gear, I sleep like crap the first several nights so about a week ahead of a trip I sleep in my sleeping bag on my Big Agness insulated air-core air mattress on the ground floor of my house in a room with an open window. This helps me get used to the sleeping arrangement, so that when I'm out on the road it's familiar. For those who sleep like babies no matter where they lay their head down, bully for you -- consider yourself lucky.

One trick my brother taught me when we'd go backpacking ... pack your gear the same way and in the same places every time. Don't put your stove in one side case one day and in your top case the next, etc. Be consistent. This has many benefits, including:

1. You can more easily find your stuff in the dark
2. It's much more obvious when something goes missing
3. It's easier to judge weight distribution and 'leave room for misc.' planning
4. It takes less time

Finally, when test packing your bike, take off any pant or jacket liners and other miscellaneous layers and pack them on the bike. This will help you judge how much room you need when riding in hot weather. Oh, and leave room for food and water, too. Basically, before you leave the house, make sure you're not packed more than 80% of capacity. You'll need that extra room when you're on the road. For something. It happens.
 
#33 ·
. Basically, before you leave the house, make sure you're not packed more than 80% of capacity. You'll need that extra room when you're on the road. For something. It happens.
What he said. I hate it if I have to have the bike packed to the gills. Thankfully I finally convinced my wife to let me get side case for her Mana for road trips.
 
#32 ·
SteveWZ,

Great points.

I guess I have never been one of those guys that have trouble sleeping in a different location. If I am tired from riding a place to lay down is all I usually need. Comfort of the tent and mattress is a bonus that makes the next day easier.

Also packing the same is something I try to do always. Doesn't always happen but it makes life much simpler. My dad is riding up and back this year on his 2012 650 and he's not one that packs the same ever. So I will try to get him to do this but I'd bet it changes over the trip anyway.

As for packing 80% that is tough to do (or it was on the KLR) I used a good waterproof bag (yellow one in my pics) to stuff my sleeping bag and some clothes in there and strapped behind me on the bike. I know it is waterproof and it serves as a nice backrest too. And its easy to get too as well.

I'll have to learn all over again how to pack somewhat with my Wee. I'd guess there will be more room than on the KLR as I had spare tubes and lots of tools. Never needed them but it was a just in case when your 2-3K miles from home.
 
#37 ·
I use a "Gokot" which weighs @ 8 lbs but is very sturdy and makes for great sleeping comfort! Goggle it; costs @ $125 as I recall. Packs up small. [/I]Therm-A-Rest LuxuryLite Cot
Ooooo, at first glance the Gokot looks like a reasonable alternative to the LuxuryLite. That'll save me some bucks so I can invest in a BigAgnes pad to go with it. Thanks for mentioning the Gokot!
 
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