Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

One of those giant Sports Direct mugs would be ideal.

You could maybe approach them for sponsorship, they do some pretty awesome Muddy Fox kit....

Last night's solstice bivvy. Mug tucked away in the frame bag.

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Nice one! I bet it was chilly this morning!

Pretty good actually, though first time trying a hammock - noticeable how cold they get underneath.

Also, successful first trip out with my new stove set up. 135g, including enough meths for 3 boils.

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where u going with that? looks like a fun and fast setup

Doing the etape in Annecy .. so Paris to Annecy.

if your frame is made of round tubes, just a normal cage, plenty of duck tape, and a little bit of old inner tube to pad the frame-cage contact

I can get 10 days out of a very small gas canister

https://vimeo.com/275246504

Production Quality on this is insane! And the route I've always wanted to do

No I know yours aren't, mine are

Nice set-up amey. Looks ready for TCR or something.

I've been looking at this recently as I'm dipping my toe into hammock camping after being badgered by one of my mates about it. The conventional wisdom online seems to suggest you'll want something under your arse at anything below 20.

What was your setup and how cold & windy was it?

Hammock £10 from Decathlon.
Used it with an Alpkit Airo short mat, and Pipedream 400 bag (rated to -5°C), and a (very poorly rigged) tarp over the top. I'd taken an inflatable pillow, but swiftly discovered it wouldn't be needed in the hammock.

No wind to speak of, I think it was 8/9°C last night.

I was plenty cosy and warm in the bag, except for any parts in contact with the hammock - feet, and at one point shoulders when I shifted off the mat a bit. The way the insulation in the sleeping bag compresses beneath you really reduces its effectiveness. Sleeping position was pretty comfy.

Overall, I'm not sure I'll persist with it, as I'm not sure I can justify buying an under-quilt.

Sounds pretty similar to what I've got, although I spent more than I should on the hammock from a cottage vendor in the US, on reflection I would have gone cheap like you have done to try it out.

I imagine temperatures will be pretty similar a month from now so I think the matt will be required to be comfortable. Did you sleep in much clothing?

Shorts, socks, base layer, t shirt, lightweight fleece.

Coolio, more or less what I was planning to take for 'off the bike'.

my plan for a cheap undequilt for hammock camping this summer is getting a half down bag from aliexpress which has a zipped hole in the bottom https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Naturehike-Factory-Store-Ultralight-Half-Chest-Strap-Duck-Down-Sleeping-bag-outdoor-camping-hiking-goose-Down/32846397564.html

I personally wouldn't even entertain the idea of buying a down product that wasn't from a reputable brand.. and even then to a degree, but it's each to their own.

The other thing worth noting is that with only 150g of 650fp down, I'd take the temp ratings with a LARGE pinch of salt. A Rab Neutrino 200 is a full bag with 200g of 800fp filling and it's ratings are only 1-2 degrees better than the nature hike. I'm sure the nature hike would be better than nothing but not even close to what they claim.

The unknown sourced down is a reasoable concern.

The temp rating being lower isn't so important as i was thinking of still using a sleeping bag but wanted something easily packable and cheap to use as an underquilt in addition.

Another idea just buy a bit of tyvek and add loops to it so I can hang it on the underside to block windchill

I had to bend it a fair bit to fit around my cheapo planet X podsac but I think it will help a bit with the wobble.

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Oof, nice work. Guess you might have reduced the lifespan by a bit but since a) it's ultra-cheap b) it's not taking much weight c) it's not risking an accident if it breaks I suppose there's no need to worry about it. Might try the same with mine

That's what I was thinking, it was cheap enough so I thought it was worth a go.
I found a proper one here but they are preorder/out of stock
http://woho.bigcartel.com/product/pre-oeder-xtouring-2018-anti-sway-dhl-express-service

http://theultimatehang.com/2013/01/22/diy-poncho-liner-under-quilt-pluq-sew-and-no-sew/

Think I'd go for something like this as a 'dipping my toe' solution, poncho liners are £20-25 on eBay. You could probably even just get away with attaching some shock cord directly to the ties for a super easy bodge version. Obviously heavier than down but at least you know you're getting reliable insulation, it's waterproof, and your conscience can remain clear.

Whatever you do I'd be interested to know the results.

I'm curious, how many of you bike packers, if any, use hammocks? having had a few terrible nights on the ground I'm planning to switch out to another pad come pay day (the new big agnes axl insulated regular/wide probably as I'm a side sleeping fatty) but the more I read up on hammocks the more i want to have it as an option for some trips. I'm a bit of a pussy when it comes to the idea of wild camping in farmers fields using stealth. but if i could just wander off into some woods and be able to hang up hidden among the trees away from any passers by i think it'd be a bit easier.

also setup and tear down using snake skins seems to take literally 3 minutes so the whole get in, get out unnoticed thing would be much easier.