Camping Help

[Frump]

When I was young and stupid I didn't care. I bicycled and motorcycled a lot and would camp on the ground on top of a plastic drop cloth. It saved a ton of space and money. When it rained, I would find shelter somewhere else (picnic tables, shelters, barns, begging, etc). I often thought about all the money I was saving versus expensive equipment or sleeping in hotels.

Don't be like the young and stupid version of me, be like the older, smarter version and spend your hard earned money once on a Big Agnes or Exped mat and a decent ($100+) roomy sleeping bag and tent. Those mats will last the rest of your life or will be replaced for free. If you are riding long days, save your time and energy and sleep in a hotel. Yeah, bush camping is free but my experience is it gets kind of weird ... frequently. Get to where you are going, then camp.

Listen to Sleddog about soft luggage, he knows what he is talking about.

I'm selling my Exped Synmat 9 and moving up to the new SynMat 12. Someone has dibs on my 9 for $100, I paid $140 for it 2 years ago.