Touring Newbie

Gorteen

Any recommendations on lightweight tent, sleeping bag, mattress, groundsheet, etc?

I prefer a 3 man tent because I am tall and like space in a tent and also there's room to bring everything "indoors".

I'm into short trips ( 1-3 nights at a time) rather than round the world

Planet X

Good online store, deep pockets.....
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/

Everything you'll need and get ideas from in above stores.

Lidl and Aldi also occasionally do stuff, nice n cheap

Actually saw some stuff in the Aldi book that came with todays paper, tents etc didn't actually pay much attention to it so no idea what quality is like etc.

Could be worth a look OP

barrymanilow

I got a thermarest neoair trekker mattress . Pricey but it was the difference between a great nights sleep and waking up a good few times on one of those thin foam mats . Packs down very small.

For a sleeping bag I got a €20 vango 1 season job . I pack thermal underwear when i think the sleeping bag alone wont be enough .

I picked up a never used second hand 2 man tent on adverts for €30 , weighs around 2.8 kg , Gelert EIger 2 , packs down to about the size of a bread loaf . im 6 foot 2 and its spacey enough for me .

Best move I ever made for touring was getting a front rack and panniers for it . It spreads the weight about the bike evenly so that its much more balanced to ride and the front wheel doesn't have that urge to come up on steep climbs .Even if I was only going for 1 night I'd pack the 4 panniers rather than just the rear.

Tigerandahalf

I am looking at self inflating mats at the moment.

They seem to come in 5, 7.5 and 10cm depths.

Which would you need for camping and perhaps to lie on a wood floor?

I would imagine the 10cm would be too bulky for touring.