Tenting / camping newbie

[oneandone]

An inflatable sleeping mat over a thermarest is a game changer.
The ability to sleep on your side and not have your hips dig into the ground ( for me) makes all the difference

I can't post links yet, but if you search the following on amazon, you'll see what I use

AKSOUL Self Inflating Sleeping Mat for Camping: 8-12CM

[Biker9090]

HairyMaclary said:

get a decent folding chair.

100% on the chair as well. Lot's of sites won't have anywhere (dry) to sit down so it's a big bonus.

[McTrucky]

Good call on the folding chair....

Well I now know more about sleeping bags than I ever thought I would need to know.... Who knew there were temperature standards, limits, extremes and comfort zones. Actually very useful to know that what will be comfortable in Braemar on a typical night in July.

So Tent, Inflatable mattress with integrated pump, and sleeping bag now procured from that killer of the High Street - Amazon. Should have it all by the weekend, and I think Saturday night on the back lawn is in order.... I kind of feel like a ten year old again...

[Speed addicted]

McTrucky said:

Good call on the folding chair....

Well I now know more about sleeping bags than I ever thought I would need to know.... Who knew there were temperature standards, limits, extremes and comfort zones. Actually very useful to know that what will be comfortable in Braemar on a typical night in July.

So Tent, Inflatable mattress with integrated pump, and sleeping bag now procured from that killer of the High Street - Amazon. Should have it all by the weekend, and I think Saturday night on the back lawn is in order.... I kind of feel like a ten year old again...

Braemar in July could be hot, cold, dry, wet or anything in between!

If you’re doing the NC500 I’d strongly suggest going before mid june or after late august, in between the midgies on the west coast are extreme.
I live near Aberdeen so have spent quite a lot of time zooming about the highlands and the west coast. We generally avoid the middle of summer even staying in hotels.

There’s a less well known NE250 which is worth a bit of a detour on the way to/from the NC500.
Also, whatever you do, avoid the A9. It’s a stupendously boring bit of road.

If you’re using soft luggage for the tent and gear remember to stop and check it occasionally. I know two people that have set fire to their gear or nearly had massive crashes when the bag has gone into the wheel.

[oneandone]

Anyone got any good recommendations on camping chairs?
It’s something I haven’t bothered with, but probably should.

[PurpleTurtle]

I do loads of camping and used to do a bit of bike touring, but have never mixed the two.

Last time I did a Highlands trip we based ourselves at a youth hostel in Fort Augustus for a week and it hammered down with rain all week pretty much non-stop, in June.

Drying our biking kit was a massive challenge even with radiators in the hostel, I hated putting heavy wet kit on every day. Not sure if I would have enjoyed the trip if I had to camp. Good luck!

[RizzoTheRat]

oneandone said:

Anyone got any good recommendations on camping chairs?
It’s something I haven’t bothered with, but probably should.

The Helinox One is good, lightweight and strong but expensive, there are lots of cheaper copies on the market but that general design is pretty good.

[ben5575]

Big Agnes inflatable mat. They come with a pump sack (most do but check) so you don’t need a separate pump. Packs up ridiculously small and light.

Sea to summit inflatable pillow. Again stupid small and light.

And another vote for the sleeping bag liner. Silk is best but expensive. I have the nod pod on Amazon (£45).

Proper midge gear. Spend the money here.

Chair as suggested. And definitely eye mask and earplugs.

My luxury item is an electric fan with light. Might be a bit big for your bike tho! https://amzn.eu/d/5usVW9c

[archie456]

RizzoTheRat said:

oneandone said:

Anyone got any good recommendations on camping chairs?
It’s something I haven’t bothered with, but probably should.

The Helinox One is good, lightweight and strong but expensive, there are lots of cheaper copies on the market but that general design is pretty good.

The Vango micro steel chair is a cheaper option, it looks very similar.

I have the tall version which is great for relaxing, it still packs up very small.

[McTrucky]

Anyone created a 'top box' to carry tent etc? I am looking at "Plano military storage cases" on line and thinking about fabricating a rack of sorts for it to sit across the passenger seat. Idea is to keep everything secure and together.

I'd run steel rod up from each passenger footpeg bolt, and connect that to an open frame that attached to the underside of the rear rack. That would keep the proper top box in play, and keep the passenger seat as removable (so access to fuses etc). The storage case would then either strap to the rack, or maybe I would bolt it on

Anyone done anything like this? Any recommendations for the truck/case? Not spending Peli money on this - but don't want 'rubbish' either.

[Speed addicted]

McTrucky said:

Anyone created a 'top box' to carry tent etc? I am looking at "Plano military storage cases" on line and thinking about fabricating a rack of sorts for it to sit across the passenger seat. Idea is to keep everything secure and together.

I'd run steel rod up from each passenger footpeg bolt, and connect that to an open frame that attached to the underside of the rear rack. That would keep the proper top box in play, and keep the passenger seat as removable (so access to fuses etc). The storage case would then either strap to the rack, or maybe I would bolt it on

Anyone done anything like this? Any recommendations for the truck/case? Not spending Peli money on this - but don't want 'rubbish' either.

Couple of thoughts.
Check how much clearance your existing top box needs to open, depending on the box it may be quite a bit. My givi trekker has quite a deep lid so anything on the back seat needs to be lower than the hinge.

A hard box needs to have a decent clearance from you too as they can get seriously uncomfortable if they’re too close and have obvious downsides if you’re bouncing against them on bumpy roads (on the NC500 for instance).

In a similar packing situation I used a Lomo roll top dry bag strapped to the seat with Rok straps. Soft bags are easier in a lot of ways and Lomo are pretty cheap while still being robust. They also have the roll on the long seam for easy access.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

McTrucky said:

Anyone created a 'top box' to carry tent etc? I am looking at "Plano military storage cases" on line and thinking about fabricating a rack of sorts for it to sit across the passenger seat. Idea is to keep everything secure and together.

I'd run steel rod up from each passenger footpeg bolt, and connect that to an open frame that attached to the underside of the rear rack. That would keep the proper top box in play, and keep the passenger seat as removable (so access to fuses etc). The storage case would then either strap to the rack, or maybe I would bolt it on

Anyone done anything like this? Any recommendations for the truck/case? Not spending Peli money on this - but don't want 'rubbish' either.

I think Givi are now doing something like this where it straps on but you can mount a hard box rather than a soft one

[HairyMaclary]

oneandone said:

Anyone got any good recommendations on camping chairs?
It’s something I haven’t bothered with, but probably should.

Mine is the old version of this.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/19589646/oex-ultralit...

Re top boxes etc. If I'm on my own I use a SW Motech 350 dry bag. It's got a really good quick release anchoring system. Great for removing it but not so great if you need to leave the bike somewhere unattended. Plenty of space for a tent, chair, rollmat and clothes for a weekend.

https://sw-motech.co.uk/products/drybag-350-tail-b...

Proof you don't need an adventure bike to go adventuring

[bristolracer]

Take a few bin liners. Wrap your sleeping bag in one during the day, and your clothes at night. Stops damp, keeps stuff dry if there’s a sudden downpour.
Small roll of fabric/duct tape for any emergency repairs.
Packet of wet wipes.

[leggly]

If you plan on camping next to your bike, you won’t be considered to be “wild camping” in Scotland. There is so much poor/bad information about outdoor rights up here. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code will keep you on the right side of the law AND the locals. If you decide to go for it, get in touch as we have a garden you can use if need be.

Edited by leggly on Saturday 25th May 12:35

[J__Wood]

Steve_H80 said:

And finally do a local camp first before heading off north.

and if possible do the trial run using borrowed kit (except for the sleeping bag...) otherwise in six months there could be someone on Ebay getting a 'only used once' bargain.

[jondude]

If you will use campsites, I'd say walk around first and try to locate a good spot, then ask for that when checking in. (Away from families or groups of teens)

You will be needing a good night's sleep but sadly fewer and fewer campers respect others, meaning noise and barking, unrestrained dogs can be an issue.

Take some good ear plugs as just a couple of nights camping and no sleep will have you give up and go home.

[Speed addicted]

leggly said:

If you plan on camping next to your bike, you won’t be considered to be “wild camping” in Scotland. There is so much poor/bad information about outdoor rights up here. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code will keep you on the right side of the law AND the locals. If you decide to go for it, get in touch as we have a garden you can use if need be.

Edited by leggly on Saturday 25th May 12:35

I didn’t know that, does the bike/vehicle need to stay on the road then?
I’ve never really thought about it but I’m more of a hotel kind of person

[leggly]

Speed addicted said:

I didn’t know that, does the bike/vehicle need to stay on the road then?
I’ve never really thought about it but I’m more of a hotel kind of person

Wild camping is about walking, cycling or horse riding into a location away from inhabited areas to make it simple. Camping next to your vehicle will win you no friends.

[archie456]

leggly said:

Speed addicted said:

I didn’t know that, does the bike/vehicle need to stay on the road then?
I’ve never really thought about it but I’m more of a hotel kind of person

Wild camping is about walking, cycling or horse riding into a location away from inhabited areas to make it simple. Camping next to your vehicle will win you no friends.

Well said, too many people think wild camping is parking their motorhome in a lay-by.