camping advice

[stickysidedown]

I used to use a pitch inner first tent, but in south west of Ireland we do get such unending torrents of rain and there is no way inner pitch first will work down here. If you take it down in the wet you are erecting it wet the next night.

We used to take family camping holidays in France and more than once there was torrential rain the morning we were leaving. Delay was not an option. Everything was packed away inside an 8 man tent, trailer taken inside under the flysheet to be packed up and everything sorted in the dry. Only part of getting wet was taking down the flysheet and poles, into a plastic bag and then packed into the trailer.

in what way is taking down an 8 man tent and loading it into a trailer relevant to a motorcycle traveler? That is comparing oranges to apples isn't it?

By all means an outer first tent has merits, but I wouldn't say it was essential or exclude a fast erecting tent such as mine from consideration by a would be purchaser who may not only ever go camping in the wettest corners of Ireland, I seem to have got by all this time with Cornish winters, Dartmoor, Norwegian coast and other places that might be considered soggy at times, in fact I'm all set for a soggy Atlantic greeting this weekend on the North Cornwall coastline and I haven't packed my waterwings, as always YMMV, enjoy your camping, I know I love mine

[AndyB]

I always try to avoid large campsites because even though they have better facilities they also have screaming kids and I'd sooner wash in a stream than hear kids running around like lunatics. Wild camping is the way forward (if you can do it) and even more so if you're camping in trees where you can string a tarp out high enough to stand up under and even hang your bike kit up under it to drip dry if it's wet.

The other advantage of having a tarp and a tent that pitches inner first is that you can put the tent up without the flysheet under the tarp and get good ventilation on hot nights without too much risk of waking up in a puddle.

The only time I even think about wearing a one piece waterproof or similar is if I'm wearing leathers because unless you pay the extra cash to get decent breathable ones you're going to get damp from sweat or if your riding gear is already wet it won't dry out.

I take a microfiber towel with me and that can be used to mop up any water in the tent if it gets wet pitching it and they're also good for sponging riding gear a bit dryer if it doesn't repel water as well as it should.

Just keep that backstop of a credit card and be willing to forget camping and go for somewhere better if it's really grim (thumbs)

[sexysi]

Solution,





Managed to pick one of these up for £30!! I can fit my bike in the front and we can all stand up or sit on chairs inside the front, if it rains and we need a dry beer. .

As to setting up in the rain, the outer skin goes up first and acts as an outside skin, and then the sleeping compartment just clips to it inside. So worst comes to worst if it is chucking it down I can just stand under the outer skin and have a cup of tea and cake and then sort out the sleeping bit later

Took me 20mins - 1/2hr to setup, first time and on my own, so no real dramas!

si

[sexysi]

This is the newer version.

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/members/arg ... ion1.shtml

si

[bimota]

thanks for all replies,

I don't drink, so usually avoid pubs like the plague :laugh: , part of the camping plan is to be able to cook my own food, and not have to look around for restaurants etc.

I suppose some of the downsides do just have to be sucked up on occasion...not end of the world

@AndyB
this is what I was thinking, i'm not out to be Bear Grylls, if its bad, just stay somewhere.

I just really want to widen my options really, possibly a combination of camping/hotels if its worth carrying the camping gear, and its nice to spend some time camping (used to years ago)if you find a great place and weather is good, saves hotel money so you can stay away longer.

Got my eye on the Vango 250/350, if i'm going to do it, I want some space and to be able to cook decently, tarp seems a good idea if not too bulky to carry around.

Called in Go Outdoors this morning.....bewildering array of stuff, and then stuff needed to carry it all and keep it dry, suppose you can always buy what you realise you havn't brought....

I still use a 2 piece over rainsuit anyway, and usually have spare gloves, so theres ways around most of the problems

hi,
i use the vango 350 for me and the misses great tent for all your gear in the porch,
plus for £23.99 i use the lomo 60 litre waterproof bag to carry it all in great bag and 100% waterproof.



rob

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Solution,





Managed to pick one of these up for £30!! I can fit my bike in the front and we can all stand up or sit on chairs inside the front, if it rains and we need a dry beer. .

As to setting up in the rain, the outer skin goes up first and acts as an outside skin, and then the sleeping compartment just clips to it inside. So worst comes to worst if it is chucking it down I can just stand under the outer skin and have a cup of tea and cake and then sort out the sleeping bit later

Took me 20mins - 1/2hr to setup, first time and on my own, so no real dramas!

si

Exactly my point.

in what way is taking down an 8 man tent and loading it into a trailer relevant to a motorcycle traveler? That is comparing oranges to apples isn't it?

Its the exact same principle, packing away while staying dry. Trailer fits inside the 8 man outer, panniers and top box fit inside the 2 man outer so in both cases you pack everything out of the rain and the tent inner is dry the next time you pitch.

If you are either arriving or packing up in torrential rain its definitely the only way to go. Been camping out going back 50 years and so far have never given up or left early due to rain and choice of gear has a lot to do with it. First there were the Icelandic tents, then pitch inner first, then pitch outer first.

[yodagoat]

That big huge tent wouldn't be much cope in strong winds!

[chico]

thanks again for all the advice..some good stuff there....well many times over the years ive had to put damp gear back on in a morning even when staying in a hotel, either crap heating, or not enough time to dry, so nothing new there.

like I said...i'm not looking to be hardcore, just to increase my options, if its fine i'd camp for a few nights, if bad weather, find a place.....maybe the occasional free wildcamp....I want it to stay fun and not get too serious....appreciate I may get up of a morning to heavy rain...so be it,


AndyB
none of my gear is waterproof, I take the membranes out...they make me feel clammy, especially the trousers, I just use a Hein Gericke cheap 2 piece waterproof suit if its raining, i'd rather be a bit clammy only while its raining than all the time..a 1 piece is more sweaty than 2 piece I reckon..suits me anyway...I hate being trussed up in too much gear (I take armour out too..... :laugh: )
agree about the screaming kids though...better to stay dirty for the day hmy:

[sexysi]

That big huge tent wouldn't be much cope in strong winds!

That's why I have a small 2 man that goes up in 5 mins, :whistle:

si

[steve172]

Another tip if its peeing down and you need to cook indoors... always have a swiss army knife or something similar at the ready just in case your stove gets kicked over by accident and you need to evacuate out the rear of your tent.