Norway trip camping advice

Norway trip camping advice

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Speed addicted

Original Poster:

5,561 posts

226 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
As mentioned in the photo thread I'm planning a trip around Norway, Finland and Sweden on my Explorer in the summer



I'll mainly be staying wherever I end up that day, and there are loads of campsites on route. A lot of these have little cabins you can rent out but in case they're full I'll need a tent as backup. I may also stay in hotels depending on availability and cost.

As I haven't been camping in the last 20 years I need some advice about what's best to get! Ideally I'd like to keep everything in the panniers and topbox so it's more secure and waterproof.

After doing some looking I found the Coleman tatra 2 http://www.coleman.eu/uk/p-26287-tatra-2.aspx as it packs up small enough to get it into the topbox, looks robust enough and and I'll be going alone so won't need too much space.

Another option is something like the Vango stelvio/tour http://www.millets.co.uk/tents-camping/171687-tour...

That won't pack into the top box but offers much more room for getting changed etc.

I won't be staying anywhere for more than one night so I'm thinking a small tent is probably best?

Another question is what to bring regarding sleeping bag and materess. I'm thinking that an air mattress is likely to be the most comfortable and I can pump it up using the bike as a power supply, sleeping bag will need to allow me to go into the arctic from summer in the lower parts.

I'm not looking to spend a fortune as on most trips we stay in hotels, but I'd also like to avoid sleeping in a leaky tent while freezing my arse off.

I'm thinking it might be best to go up through Sweden to make some time at the start of the trip. This would give me an idea how much time I have to cover the distance through Norway in the in the 2nd week. I've heard the roads are more direct in Sweden.

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Personally I think you will die camping in Norway. Good luck.

Speed addicted

Original Poster:

5,561 posts

226 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
Personally I think you will die camping in Norway. Good luck.
My wife seems to have much the same opinion....

Farlig

632 posts

151 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Speed addicted said:
moanthebairns said:
Personally I think you will die camping in Norway. Good luck.
My wife seems to have much the same opinion....
Rubbish... Only in winter tongue out

srob

11,566 posts

237 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Personally I'd buy a small tent, one you can put up quickly is essential. Also if you can keep it dry it'll be dry on the inside when you put it up.

Bed wise, I don't mind those stretcher style beds if you have anywhere to strap the poles. The canvass bit you can then keep rolled up and dry in a pannier.


Farlig

632 posts

151 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
Speed addicted said:
I'll mainly be staying wherever I end up that day, and there are loads of campsites on route. A lot of these have little cabins you can rent out but in case they're full I'll need a tent as backup. I may also stay in hotels depending on availability and cost.
A lot of camp-sites will have these small cabins, they will cost a little more then a tent space, but save a lot of hassle. Summer is a busy time in Norway / Scandinavia with caravanning / Camper-wagon / tenting brigade from the continent & I would expect this year to be even more busy due to the drop in the value of the Norwegian kroner.

Speed addicted said:
As I haven't been camping in the last 20 years I need some advice about what's best to get! Ideally I'd like to keep everything in the panniers and topbox so it's more secure and waterproof.

After doing some looking I found the Coleman tatra 2 http://www.coleman.eu/uk/p-26287-tatra-2.aspx as it packs up small enough to get it into the topbox, looks robust enough and and I'll be going alone so won't need too much space.

Another option is something like the Vango stelvio/tour http://www.millets.co.uk/tents-camping/171687-tour...

That won't pack into the top box but offers much more room for getting changed etc.

I won't be staying anywhere for more than one night so I'm thinking a small tent is probably best?
Whilst the advantages of a bigger tent may seem nice and probably would be worthwhile if you're staying a few nights, I think you've answered your own question. I'd go for the smallest, easiest possible to to rig up. After a few nights of setting up camp you're gonna get pretty pissed off with a more complex option...

Speed addicted said:
Another question is what to bring regarding sleeping bag and materess. I'm thinking that an air mattress is likely to be the most comfortable and I can pump it up using the bike as a power supply, sleeping bag will need to allow me to go into the arctic from summer in the lower parts.
I'd go for a self-inflating mattress, saves you carrying a pump, and once inflated you just need to add a couple of lungfuls of air to fully inflate - they're pretty good actually but a wee bit bulky, you can get ultra thin/lightweight versions.
Re sleeping bag - I use an ultra thin one, packs into a very small space and when it's a little colder I have a fleece blanket on top. This I find okay down to about 5°C... Wifey, the Norwegian wimp, uses a down bag rated to -20°C... Really nice but bulky... Fleece blankets cost half of fk all here so pack light and if you do find yourself cold, you can easily buy one or two...

Speed addicted said:
I'm thinking it might be best to go up through Sweden to make some time at the start of the trip. This would give me an idea how much time I have to cover the distance through Norway in the in the 2nd week. I've heard the roads are more direct in Sweden.
Much more direct roads in Sweden, you can make good time up North...

Edited by Farlig on Monday 11th January 08:28

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
LET ME GET THIS CORRECT. Some nights you will be riding around staying in hotels, some you will be setting up your house for the night, taking it down soaking, finding your penis is now gone, lugging this st about, spending the price of a couple of nights in a b & b and taking up valuable room on your trip.

I don't get it.

you will die.

The Free Loon 1

16,688 posts

175 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
LET ME GET THIS CORRECT. Some nights you will be riding around staying in hotels, some you will be setting up your house for the night, taking it down soaking, finding your penis is now gone, lugging this st about, spending the price of a couple of nights in a b & b and taking up valuable room on your trip.

I don't get it.

you will die.
It's called adventure

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all


It's called misery....

Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:


It's called misery....
It's not my idea of fun but to each their own. I did 7 weeks in Oz from the back of the bike, and spent only 3 nights in that period with a proper roof over my head. It was great at the time, but that might have had something to do with the temperature

Speed addicted

Original Poster:

5,561 posts

226 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
The Free Loon 1 said:
moanthebairns said:
LET ME GET THIS CORRECT. Some nights you will be riding around staying in hotels, some you will be setting up your house for the night, taking it down soaking, finding your penis is now gone, lugging this st about, spending the price of a couple of nights in a b & b and taking up valuable room on your trip.

I don't get it.

you will die.
It's called adventure
It will allow me to just ride, without booking anything in advance or having to worry about finding a hotel or B+B at short notice when traveling through a fairly un-populated area. You can wild camp in Norway so worst case I can just stop and get some sleep if the campsites/hotels are full.

The only thing I'll have booked is the first night in Oslo and the plane home. Two weeks of just riding and taking photos, on my own with no-one to bother me. Bliss.

Also I'm taking a Triumph Explorer with panniers and a top box, space isn't really going to be an issue!

Thanks for the advice (the actual advice, not the doom monger!) it's good to get a better idea what I'll need.

Edited by Speed addicted on Monday 11th January 09:18

Gusto

606 posts

232 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:


It's called misery....
Easy:

http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/133676-eurohike-...

We went to a music festival in Spain and took one of these... Set fire to it when we left so nothing to bring home, perfect.

Although B&B would be my choice...

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
srob said:
Personally I'd buy a small tent, one you can put up quickly is essential. Also if you can keep it dry it'll be dry on the inside when you put it up.

Bed wise, I don't mind those stretcher style beds if you have anywhere to strap the poles. The canvass bit you can then keep rolled up and dry in a pannier.
Just to add to this.

I'm not sure on the temperatures you're looking at, I agree with quick up, but be wary of getting a single skinned tent like most of these pop ups. They are st, especially in colder or even average summer climates, where you find you wake up in a puddle of water because your own breath has condensed and run down the insides and then you can't dry the fking thing out.

Again not sure on temps, but an army style bed (I think this is the same as what srob is saying) makes sense, they take little more space than a roll mat and much more comfortable and warmer (if you need) as you're lifted off the ground properly, and any hobo will tell you that's a big deal. The only down side is an extra 5 minutes each end.









Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
From my experiences riding around Eastern Africa...

1.Get a 3 man tent. They're no bigger packed away but you'll be thankfull for the extra space. It allows you to put the panniers and such in with you overnight so no chance of pilfering. Make sure you have metal pegs not the useless plastic st. DO NOT get a single skinned tent. You might as well sleep outside. All the better if the tent has a "porch" type thing. Somewhere to make a brew or a bite if the weather is a bit dodgy.

2.Get a small blow up bed and electric compressor. Being on the ground is the quickest way to freeze.

3.A decent sleeping bag is a must but here's a top tip. If you're going from hot to cold, get a flannel type bed sheet and have it sewn into a tube. When it's cold you can put this in the bag as a liner and it adds another layer, keeping you warm. Leave it out when not required.

4. Get a simple petrol powered stove and russian doll type cook set. Easy to dip a bit of fuel out of the tank and get the kettle on. Nothing like a cup of tea to make the world better.

5. Get a decent pillow. Trust me on this!

6. Get the microfibre type towels. They pack away to nothing so great for space and dry really quick.

7. Take a moderate tool kit including tyre repair equipment and levers. Make sure the electric compressor can inflate tyres not just beds. Take bike fuses, 10 of each to be safe.

8. Take LOTS of mozzy repellent....

9. Take a head torch or similar AND spare batteries.

10. Carry a litre or 2 of water for tea/coffee or morning ablutions.

11. Take a couple of rolls of your favourite toilet roll. Trust me wink We don't call it White Gold for nothing!

12. Matches, lighters etc. Take lots. Loosing your only one sucks.

13. Get a decent 50 litre Dry bag. Not the ones that have a draw corded end but the type that has the roll down opening. It'll be your best friend. Panniers leak, wet pants or socks are not fun. Dry bags go nicely on the seat behaind you. Put stuff in the panniers you can afford to get damp. Bags Connection is the best.

14. Take lots of bin bags. Good for keeping stuff dry in panniers if required (sleeping bags etc) and good for taking your st away with you when you break camp.

15. Get a small set of Tupperware boxes, the type that are a couple of inches long. Good for keeping a dish washing sponge and washing up liquid in as well as tea/coffee/sugar/creamer etc.

15. Get a paper map. Modern technology can fail/break. Good to have an OS type map in reserve. Also good for seeing whats of interest around you.

16. If the bike has a charging socket, get a socket splitter, allowing you to connect several items at the same time.

17. Dump the Top Box. They have a crap weight lomit. Use side panniers and the dry bag mounted on the rear seat and top box plate.

18. Take a side stand pad. Ground can be softer than you think and waking up to find the bike on its side isn't cool. Simple piece of plate metal or plastic 4 inches square is perfect.


Edited by Steve Bass on Monday 11th January 09:57

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
The Free Loon 1 said:
moanthebairns said:
LET ME GET THIS CORRECT. Some nights you will be riding around staying in hotels, some you will be setting up your house for the night, taking it down soaking, finding your penis is now gone, lugging this st about, spending the price of a couple of nights in a b & b and taking up valuable room on your trip.

I don't get it.

you will die.
It's called adventure
Last proper camping trip I did was in the North of France initially at LeMans in 2012.

We camped once more before we realised for an extra ~5 euros each we could always upgrade to a cabin. We could also cook goods bought from local shops and street vendors. We even watched movies on the wifi drinking 3 euro bottles of wine.

Whilst I'm not averse to it, I have never camped again.

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
2.Get a small blow up bed and electric compressor. Being on the ground is the quickest way to freeze.

8. Take LOTS of mozzy repellent....
Last one from me I promise, I'm not "Mr-fking-Camping".

I agree except for these points Steve, unless he's springing for a (very) expensive compressor they are notoriously st and unreliable. Then he's sleeping on cold rocky ground and carting around a massive chunk of plastic. I'd still go with the army bed, but a foot pump would make more sense to me if an air bed is desirable.

I'm sure you know this Steve, but for the Mossies or Blackfly (I think this is a Norway problem?), just to add on he also needs DEET. The higher percentage the better but the stuff destroys plastics and discolours clothing so take care. But its the only stuff proven to work, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.





Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
Last one from me I promise, I'm not "Mr-fking-Camping".

I agree except for these points Steve, unless he's springing for a (very) expensive compressor they are notoriously st and unreliable. Then he's sleeping on cold rocky ground and carting around a massive chunk of plastic. I'd still go with the army bed, but a foot pump would make more sense to me if an air bed is desirable.

I'm sure you know this Steve, but for the Mossies or Blackfly (I think this is a Norway problem?), just to add on he also needs DEET. The higher percentage the better but the stuff destroys plastics and discolours clothing so take care. But its the only stuff proven to work, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Hobsons choice I guess smile

Stretcher beds are good except they are always under tension. So easy to break when making or dismantling. Then your pooped. Also, unless you're on dead flat ground, you slide down the feckers like you're at a water park. Blow up beds can be deflated to hold you a little and can be patched/heat welded if needed. If it really is kaput, it can be folded length wise and used as a floor mat to sleep on. But as always, it's down to personal choice.

The Mozzy problem in Scandanavia can be horrific I believe, speaking with friends who've been to Finland in Summer. Don't know the Deet products or concentrations so definately worth seeking local advice/products. In East Africa, they were only an issue near water (not surprising smile ) and never at 120kph biggrin

As for the compressor, definately a quality one or don't bother. Foot pump is a good alternative as well but I never used as the ones here are Chinese junk. Also consider a decent stirrup pump which can be strapped to the outside of the dry bag.

tvrolet

4,251 posts

281 months

Monday 11th January 2016
quotequote all
I get the 'adventure' bit about camping, and I've camped when going to events/rallies. But for actual touring I'd do hotels/B&Bs every time. You probably lose an hour each day taking down, packing up, then putting back up all the camping gear. Plus if it's camping at an event/rally there will typically be somewhere doing brekkies. Stuck in a camp-site you're also going to have to remember a plate, mug. stove, food etc.

Anyway - the tent pictured so far is the last thing I'd be looking at on a bike. It's not as if you're carrying it on your back, so size/weight isn't so important...to a point clearly, you don't want to lug a 4 bedroom affair with the packed size of a dustbin. But I don't see packed size as the overriding requirement. I'[d say you need something you can stand up in (or near as dammit) to put ALL your gear on in when it's pi$$ing with rain outside(done that...) and that has enough space to hang up/lay out wet gear that doesn't drip on you or get in the way of where you sleep. So for me that means a 3-man tent for a single rider. Still packs narrower than panniers, and maybe a 10" 'roll'?

I wouldn't be too fussed about how long it takes to erect (again within reason), as if it's pi$$ing it down you'll have your bike waterproofs on.

You certainly want a double-skinned tent (tent with flysheet), and I'd want a wee sealed 'porch' so muddy boots and the like can stay outside the sleeping area, but still get a chance to dry out. But you don't need some totally sophisticated expedition affair that can handle 200mph winds at an Everest base camp - you're in a camp site! So the trade off with lets say a 'recreational' 3-man tent versus a 'pro' throw-anything-at-it 1 or 2 man tent means the packed size isn't 3 times the size.

And for beds I'd always go with a camp bed - the type you assemble from metal tubes and sleep on canvas. Cooler in summer with air circulating underneath; ditto in winter you're not on the ground. So if wet gear starts to puddle on the floor it doesn't wick-up into your sleeping stuff. Comfier too, and packs small and light.

I'll maybe do one trip under canvas this year - plotting to go to the Killarney bike-fest. But the other trips/tours will all be in hotels/B&Bs for sure. Travel lighter, no messing about on arrival other than a shower/change; a goods night's sleep; a decent breakfast and guaranteed dry gear the next morning.

Although maybe my experience is tainted as every time I go away it pi$$es with rain the whole time. Maybe if Norway's guaranteed dry when you're going and things might be different. But I'll stand by my camp bed and 3-man tent advice for a single rider.

Mr Pew

174 posts

127 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Jet boil + brew kit, baby wipes, foldable roll mat, head torch.

bigandclever

13,750 posts

237 months

Monday 11th January 2016
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Plenty of lunatics just use a hammock and insulating pads. I did a week in Finland using a Hennessy SuperShelter. It was fking freezing but I didn't die smile

Some ideas here http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingWarm.html