WHAT SLEEPING BAG AND TENT IS EVERYONE USING?

[yz129]

been looking for a light weight bag and tent for arizona use. i am a first time backpacker(just getting into it)
not looking to spend a arm and a leg for one.

[ImAFred]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00314IWG6?pc_redir=1398387341&robot_redir=1

http://m.rei.com/product/684087/?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-6840870015&outdoor-research-bug-bivy,-black&preferredSku=6840870015&mr:trackingCode=3D821068-A7A3-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=m&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=48416174560&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=22842674354&msid=jaWfYad3_dm%7Cpcrid%7C48416174560%7C

[roadpacker]

For summertime you can get away with a used military woobie blanket and patrol bag, combined about $38. That's what I use for late spring/summer riding. Combine with some kind of synthetic insulating layer or long undies. I have even used just the woobie blanket (poncho liner) for up to a week in the mid-summer, but luckily for me I did not have to go to sleep soaking wet any of those times or else I'd have been quite cold. But I would do it again if it were a weekend journey and there was no rain forecasted. In that case your sleeping bag only cost you $8!!

 Otherwise I use a 30* quilt, which is truly 30*, and therefore only useful early spring late fall. If I had spare dough, I would probably swap out the patrol bag and poncho liner for a 40 or 45* quilt for summer use.

The nice thing about summertime bikepacking is that in many places you need hardly any gear.

[Racingguy04]

I use an integral designs sil tarp 2 (it's an 8 x 10 sil nylon tarp) and depending on the weather either an REI halo 25, or an ultralight down quilt from sierra designs. I already had both, but I definitely recommend the tarp (RAB also makes the same tarp) its plenty light and compact and provides lots of space if it rains.

[harryonaspot]

I have a 40 degree down bag and a silk bag liner.  good to 35 degrees or so.  And a sub 3 lb 1 man tent. Both pack small. With a Big Agnes inflatable air mattress I am under 5 lbs. And very comfortable. That is important if you are out for more than a few days, or getting older, or both.   I have a good quality 1 man tent for sale  cheap if you are interested.
Harry

[yz129]

I have a 40 degree down bag and a silk bag liner.  good to 35 degrees or so.  And a sub 3 lb 1 man tent. Both pack small. With a Big Agnes inflatable air mattress I am under 5 lbs. And very comfortable. That is important if you are out for more than a few days, or getting older, or both.   I have a good quality 1 man tent for sale  cheap if you are interested.
Harry

any pictures of the tent for sale and a price

[harryonaspot]

Sure send me your email and I will get it to you. Thanks, Harry

[harryonaspot]

Actually to make it easy.  It is a Eureka Spitfire 1  asking $75 plus something for shipping. In excellent shape.  1 very small patch on the zipper cover on vestibule.

[wahday]

As your neighbor in New Mexico, I don’t have to worry about mosquitos, so I camp with a tarp. I would recommend that for weight and variety of setup if bugs are not a concern. I love it for its simplicity and have never had issues with rain or wind. Different configurations will protect you from a slew of issues. My first two outings I just used a utility tarp, but they are pretty heavy and bulky. These days I have a lighter nylon tarp (not silnylon or cuben) which is plenty small and light. I cannot recall where I got it but it was in the $50 range and is 11’ on the diagonal I believe. Perfect for solo and can easily accommodate two. I did have to seal the seams. I don’t carry any poles, just stakes. I use trees or the bike to hold things up. Depending on configuration, the minimum you need is one point held/propped up.

For a bag I have an REI 45 degree down bag I picked up at a scratch and dent sale also for $50. Its great for warm weather and packs super small. I also have a SOL Adventure Bivvy which is good to about 52 they say. I can also slip the down bag inside it and that is good to 35-37 degrees. In the height of summer, the SOL alone should be just fine, though it is a recent purchase and I have not tested it yet. But it was $45 and is SUPER light and small. Pretty cool product.

My ground cloth is a piece of Tyvek and my pad is a Big Agnes Insulated Aircore (amazing comfort over the thermarest I was using). I will say the aircore slid around on the Tyvek like crazy, even after washing it (the Tyvek) a number of times to rough it up a bit. I ended up cutting latex with paint thinner and painting it on in stripes. It creates a grippy surface that solved the problem. But something to be aware of. Truly, it was insanely slippery and that first night with that setup was like sleeping on a slip-and-slide.

I have no idea the weight of all of this but its pretty dang light and small. A silnylon or cuben tarp is about all I can think of to lighten things up further, but I see no need. And those materials are expensive (though amazing if you have the dough).

[roadpacker]

+1 for Tyvek. If you want to be more stealth you can use black leather dye to make it a more muted color. You should wash it w/o detergent or hot water to make it un-crunchy, I find only 1 time makes a difference.

[Racingguy04]

You can also use tyvek 1443R for a ground cloth, it's light, waterproof, and much quieter and less slippery than normal tyvek. http://www.amazon.com/Tyvek-1443R-Kitemaking-Material/dp/B001TO4QVA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399059971&sr=8-1&keywords=tyvek+1443r

[Smo]

Another groundcloth option is polycro, AKA heat shrink film.  I highly recommend a groundcloth and cowboy camping for Arizona.  One of the perks of the desert.  I use an 8x5 piece cut out from a window insulation kit (Frost King).  15 bucks from Home Depot and you get enough to make four groundsheets.

It's surprisingly durable and mine weighs 2.5 ounces and packs down to smaller than my fist.  Lighter than Tyvec and totally waterproof.

[PeteStaehling]

If I take a tent I really like my Spitfire 1.  At under $100 it is roomy and pretty light.  I prefer to to most of the much more expensive options.

What I usually use is a 7 ounce bivy or bug bivy and no ground sheet.  I typically also take a siltarp1 tarp.  That said I sleep on top of the bivy if it isn't buggy and forgo the tarp much of the time,

Sleeping bag...  I love my Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45.  I have used it down into the teens with a layer of clothes, two pairs of socks, and a bivy bag and been fine, but I put out heat like a furnace.  Mine weighs 17 ounces without the stuff sack and packs tiny, but I see they list it at 20 ounces now.  Also the price is higher now.  I am not sure how they changed it other than using Q Shield down, but it is still pretty light.

The EN rating remains at:
EN Rating: T-Limit32 F / 0C
EN Rating: T-Comfort41 F / 5C

I found for me I could go a lot lower though.