Touring Equipment

Can anyone plesae advise me on the following things I'm after, bearing in mind I am trying to keep costs low where possible...

• Small pack sleeping bag - basically as small, lightweight as possible

• Small pack towel

• Small pack, lightweight pullover/hoody

• Possibly some merino/anti bac boxers which could be worn on a few nights between washes?

Also, I managed to get my hands on an Archie's saddlebag, one of my mates I'm going with wants something similar, does anywhere do something similar off the shelf? Found a site which does them to order but wait is 2 months, which isn't soon enough...

what about the large ortleib one? http://www.ortleib.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=saddlebag

or the carradice sqr trax http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=19

The large ortlieb is just 2.7 litres (is that right?) which isn't really big enough...

SQR looks good though cheers, have sent them a link to it.

Bikepack.pl

Or get a dry bag, compressor and strap = cruel saddlebag.

Bikepack.pl

2 month wait...

Or get a dry bag, compressor and strap = cruel saddlebag.

Think they want something a bit less cruel. If all else fails they're going to get a traditional carradice.

I lost the will to live trying to find a sleeping bag, went through PHD, Mountain Hardware, etc....in the meantime I found myself in an Army surplus store and picked up a British issue jungle bag, which is real light, packs down well, square, rather than mummy style (so they're roomy) and zipped sides so opens up, like the ones you used when staying at your mates overnight. Winner! Not the smallest, but I'm a big guy and like my sleep. Silk liner might be an idea.

Do Swrve still make the Bamboo Hoodies, they look like a good lightweight top, but maybe not so warm? Always liked the Buffalo Teclite shirt, for the eves and cold starts.

I quite fancy an Intertia sleeping mat....but hey, congrats on the Archies Saddlebag find. I can't recommend anything OTP, and with instant despatch that is going to be as good. Carradice make nice bags though. Trawl and post wants on the "other" spit bike forums and try the mountain bike sections, one of the Revelates came up not so long ago iirc.

I'll have a look for an army surplus store. Warmth is really not such a worry for me, generally a warm person. Jumper wise it's just a second layer for comfort if a t shirt is not enough on the evenings. This is a bit anal, but any idea what sort of dimensions the bag packs down into? I might even go down a different route and get a large but thin fleece blanky (like you gets on aeroplanes) if I can find one...

Would a thin flease not be the best bet?

That's what I used when I was travelling - a slightly bigger one so you can layer under it.

Here I would've thought that blacks have lots on sale.

Yeah I guess, I quite like having a hood, so I need to find a thin fleece hoody (must be such a thing)

2 month wait...

You didn't mentioned it was them.

The cruel method have worked rather well in the past, the biggest bonus is the cost - defintely less than £20 altogether.

what gps units are you guys using for day rides?

what gps units are you guys using for day rides?

http://www.bluestoneimages.com/images/Cover%20of%20OS%20Map%20Crown%20Copyright%20for%20Map%20Cover%20Image%20David%20Forster.jpg

Glad to see this thread is alive again..

I can't recommend the bikepack.pl bags enough - maybe even email the chap and ask him if he could get one out sooner? I've emailed him in the past and he's been most helpful.

Do Swrve still make the Bamboo Hoodies, they look like a good lightweight top, but maybe not so warm? Always liked the Buffalo Teclite shirt, for the eves and cold starts.

No way you'd want to be cycling in the Buffalo shirt - I own one and my lord you'd warm up fast in that.

I've worn it for cycling in -11 degrees and it kept me warm as toast though.

hello team touring.
Im putting the feelers out there to sell my Long Haul Trucker. Its a 26" wheel. nice build with deore, and wheels handbuilt by Merlin cycles (Leyland).
this bike here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47853324@N08/4944963213/in/set-72157624848518178

cant remember the size off the top of my head, most likely a 58. trouble is that im in Canada and the bike is in Oxted, Surrey. Ill be home for 3 weeks in August to try and sell it.

good condition - only one long ride, lands end to john o groats.

question for you guys is...what price should i go for? how much does one go for??

I'm after some camping stuff - sleeping bag, liner, mat, stove etc, anyone got any reccomendations for online shops? I've had a look around the high street chains but would like to save as much money as possible. Also is the decathlon stuff any good?

Check out Alpkit, they are online only and do decent stuff. I have their self inflating childrens sleeping matt (to save weight/space) and it's comfortable enough. Also have one of their dry bag rucksacks, which is very good.

Decathlon stuff tends to be of a reasonable quality and fairly good for the price, but don't expect top quality.

The sleeping bag is one thing I would say don't scrimp on. Get a good one and you'll sleep like a baby. A warm, comfortable baby.

I can recommend Trangia all-in-one stoves/pan kits. I'm a lifelong loyal customer but - and this is very important - get the non-stick pans.

I don't like the non-stickers; chip easily, overheat easily, prefer not to cook on plastic.
Would recommend this as an upgrade within the Trangia family:

at a not too tall 5' 7'' i'm looking at a 'short' therm-a-rest mat (120cm) for the weight/space savings, anyone used one? I camped across Canada with a full sized one and found it quite comfy but not used a short one.

There's such a wide spectrum of them out there, depends on how light and compact you plan on travelling.

I have a 3/4 length thermarest and its fine. Wouldn't want to do more than 10 days on it, but that goes for most sleeping mats. I never feel that my legs really need cushioning, would only be an issue in cold.

Use bubble wrap if you want to pack lightly.

I did 8 nights on a 3/4 thermarest and it was fine comfortwise. Importantly it cushions and insulates your hips and shoulders. Only issue I had was the foot of my sleeping bag getting a little damp because of condensation on the groundsheet. Not a drama though.