Touring Equipment

^^ He's not just cycling.. And if he were I'd recommend him something comfy because you dont want to have a bad and uncomfy night of sleep after a 150km ride day after day for however long the tour lasts. Aches and pains can be very disencouraging on such a trip..

Just got the Exped Synmat UL7. Delighted with it

Sizing look good;

Yeah. Its tiny. 450g. Pretty comfy too.

(admittedly only had it on the floor of my flat so far but still...)

Look much more comfortable than my tiny x-frame one, gonna check out their smallest one and see how much smaller they can get.

I have an Exped Airmat Basic 7.5
Small pack size, about 500g and £50. Thick enough for sleeping on the side as well.

^ I own the same mat. Served me very well for 6 weeks last summer. Indeed tick enough for sleeping on the side while inflating very easily. Only in the Pyrenees when I was sleeping at rather high altitude on a wet and chilly night it got a bit cold.

Packs very small:

exped by Kl Machine, on Flickr

Anyone got any advice for a relatively cheap sleeping bag. Going touring in Suffolk at the end of the month.

Where are you going? What is cheap? Any packed size/weight ideals?

Well I'm going touring in Suffolk in 3 weeks for a few days so warm enough for now. Ideally around 1-1.5 kilos and anything up to about £75 but tbh the cheaper the better.

Way over your budget but there are a few minims in the PHD bargain box: http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/bargain_box.php

I'm extremely satisfied with the super small packing 1000gram Vaude Piekan Light. But it comes at €120. You may want to check out cheaper Vaude sleeping bags though as all their products are proper quality. Both their Navajo and Sioux series seem to fit your needs.

(I asked where because I read ''touring with Suffolk'')

Way over your budget but there are a few minims in the PHD bargain box: http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/bargain_box.php

Wow. They're insanely light. You're right though. Way over budget.

Light indeed, but for that money I rather buy a slightly heavier sleeping bag, Uniqlo jacket and a months worth of food.

Thought this sounded reasonable for the money

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/sleeping-bags-backpacking/vango/vango-venom-225-down-sleeping-bag-2012-pd-4915.php

Central Europe...July - August

Tent....

I've read the reviews and it seems like great value (now discounted) vs. weight and pack size. I'm inexperienced with single skin tents and wondered what the web brain has to say about this....

Money-weight ratio is amazing, but I wouldnt recommend a single skin tent in Central Europe, or anywhere in Europe for that matter with exeption of Spains inland or places similar conditions.

You will feel cold at night and your tents inside will get wet from moisture, so you and your stuff will get wet as well. You're gonna be packing moist stuff every morning, unpacking steamed stinky stuff every afternoon. Not a pleasure!

Have a read in the Lightweight Tent Recommendations thread where I'm sure you'll find something that suits your needs and budget!

I have slept in that tent.

It's no miracle.

Well I'm going touring in Suffolk in 3 weeks for a few days so warm enough for now. Ideally around 1-1.5 kilos and anything up to about £75 but tbh the cheaper the better.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rab-genesis-1-sleeping-bag-p299507
This looks like a good price, Rab stuff is always decent.

^^^

^^

Thanks chaps, I'm on it.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rab-genesis-1-sleeping-bag-p299507
This looks like a good price, Rab stuff is always decent.

Cheers mate. Went for this yellow monstrosity in the end. Seemed light and the price was good:

http://www.thenorthface.co.uk/tnf-uk-en/lynx-sleeping-bag/p50429.html?gclid=CMrNvZb7_bwCFUcTwwodPUUAQA

1 season sleeping bag might be a struggle if it get colder.

1 season sleeping bag might be a struggle if it get colder.

Oh ffs. Well spotted Ed, I was going by the specs here where it says it is 2/3, Probably going to send that back then.

http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/62024716-the-north-face-lynx-mummy-sleeping-bag-yellow.html

Ah can see the confusion, The Lynx Mummy look like an even better value for money for £3 more than a 1 season bag.

Ahh they're different bags then? How annoying. I just thought that they were £3 cheaper on the Northface site.