Camping Cherry Popped, Now Downsize!

[THE DOCTOR]

I experienced camping for the 1st time last month when I did the Italia '08 Tour with some guys & gals from this forum.

I've got to say I enjoyed it & WILL camp again.

Before the holiday I bought a self inflating mat (Vango Adventure, £11) & a tent (Gelert Tornado 3, £34.99) . Both items I can't complain about, they did the job. Unfortunately I took an old sleeping bag I'd had for years & wasn't what you'd call 'compact'.

Here's my bike packed up..

Yea, not exactly a light packer was I!

OK so here's the deal - take less bulk next time. BUT, I didn't take any cooking gear so that has to be added.

Any help gratefully received.

While in Italy I took a photo of Stemo's bike & I made a mental note to myself at the time that this is the way to go..

I've made a start & ditched my old sleeping bag that basically 'filled' 1 dry bag & bought this..
Ranger Ultra lite sleeping bag, £19.99 & Adventuridge bag liner, £3.99.

They pack down to this..

I'm getting there but I'm asking for advice on taking less bulk but being well equipped.

What items do you take camping that you'd recommend & are compact?

 

[roddy]

regarding the cooking kit, it depends on what you want to burn

Meths, the Trangia stuff is good compact but quite, a fuel bottle can be stored outside the panniers so it doesn't stick your stuff out

Petrol or Parafin, you have a couple of choices here

Coleman stoves are self contained (no seperate fuel bottle) which makes them bulky and since they carry fuel on board you need to be careful where you pack them so your kit/food doesn't taste like fuel, they also have built in wind protection which makes them more efficient

MSR stoves use a seperate fuel bottle which can be carried outside the panniers they are however very noisy compared to either of above but they are good the burner unit packs into a stuff sack so can fit into wee nooks in you panniers and if you use the tool tube that Mazza66 was ordering up the fuel bottle and pumpassembly all fits inside one of these so keeping it clean. however they need seperate wind protection which is an extra bit to lose

over the years I have used all of the above I prefer the petrol stoves as the noise they make when in use brings a warm glow to your soul when it's heaving it down that the meths stove just don't seem to do.

the MSR stoves seem to pack better into panniers because of the modular make up and they seem to be up to the rough and tumble of general use, also parts are easy to come by as they seem to have take over this outdoor stove market

regarding pots either use an old set from the house, a mid sized pot cut down makes a good frying pan cut off any handles and use the folding handles that outdoors shops supply, most outdoor shops do small stackable stainless steel pot sets that are ideal for one person.

whatever set of pots you use avoid the non stick varienty as the coating comes off due the intense heat of a petrol stove, also try and get ones with a thick base as they retain heat better. I personnally prefer stainless steel pots I think aluminimum pots give a taste to the food

 

[flash of the gap]

i have a coleman and think its great phil,if it,s just a cuppa your after try the jet boiler most campin area ,s have gas now anyways see you next year in Croatia

 

[THE DOCTOR]

Thanks Roddy.

...anyways see you next year in Croatia

Wow, Croatia! That's news to me, where's the link to that?



On holiday with the beautiful people!

 

[flash of the gap]

sorry just dreamin

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

I see you got a rare shot of Flash with a drink in his hand