8 Motorcycle Camping Gear Essentials for Under $300

Mellow

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I would ditch the cooking gear and thermarest and spend the difference on an exped mattress..

But then, I don't have to eat at the campground, I prefer to keep the bear food at other campers' sites. LOL
 

jimsgone

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Love my apex tent, but i have to have a rectangle sleeping bag, even if it is a little bigger...

A good night sleep is #1 is my book! ;)
 

20valves

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Mellow said:
But then, I don't have to eat at the campground, I prefer to keep the bear food at other campers' sites. LOL
:))

So true!!
 

Karson

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::026:: on the MSR Dromedary. Use it all the time.
Sleeping pads are a personal choice, but I need a bit more loft than what 1.25" the Thermarest they quote gives. I use a ThermaRest NeoAir that sounds like you're unwrapping tin foil, and would eat up a big chunk of the allotted $300. Compacts down to a pop can and really durable.
 

True Grip

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I've got a 4 liter bag. I fill it when I get to my campsite and hang it from a tree, tarp pole or bike. It has a little flip nozzle on the cap that doesn't let alot of water out at once. Its good to fill the coffee/oatmeal pot, wash your hands or face and brush your teeth. It will strap to the top of a bag nicely if you need to carry extra water during a ride or fold up flat when empty. I really like mine!
 

tomatocity

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Mellow

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If you plan to camp seriously, stay away from the vinyl air mattresses... and get a quality mattress like the exped or the thermorest neoair or BA air pad.. The vinyl ones are cheap but when they fail it's usually overnight and waking up on the hard ground is no fun. They also have no R value so zero insulating properties.. heck, they probably have a negative R value so suck warmth from you, especially the thicker the mattress...

If you're summer camping they can be ok.. but of all my camping gear, the mattress is the most important to me. Just my 2 cents if even worth that much.
 

~TABASCO~

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I buy most all my 99% at REI because of there OUTSTNADING warranty / replacement policy... After trying out several air pads I ended up with the Big Agnes Q-Core. After trying several other pads this what the most comfortable for me.. http://www.rei.com/product/828412/big-agnes-insulated-q-core-pad
I agree with Mellow, don't go Mal-Mart on a pad.
 

Mellow

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I have a couple exped mattresses - both synmats.

One has the built-in pump and it's convenient and has an R rating that is something like -20 degrees so overkill for anything I'll ever be doing on a motorcycle.

A while back there was a sale on the exped 7.5 mattress without a built in pump. So I got one of their pillow-pumps.. works great. The smaller ma tress is still just as comfortable and has an R rating around 20 degrees I think so still better than any non-insulated options. It packs smaller and is actually faster to pump up than the one w/built-in pump. Plus, the pillow is a perfect size for the sleeping bag and doesn't move around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGIi7Of2ZFU
 

Chuck B

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My better half over the last few years has found sleeping outdoors uncomfortable. We spent years on basic rollups but she then needed something thicker and more thicker/comfortable. Last year we tried out way too many items and nothing worked for her until I sprang for a cot. REI and Aerostich both sell them. Very pricey but we've spent at least 30 days sleeping on them since we go them and she claims she sleeps as good as our own bed. Me? I can sleep anywhere, anyhow and on anything.

http://www.aerostich.com/camping/campsite/sleeping-bags-pads/high-tech-cot-2.html

 

merchant

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Mellow said:
I would ditch the cooking gear and thermarest and spend the difference on an exped mattress..
::026:: on the exped mattress. Love mine!
 

tomatocity

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West said:
It takes me forever to blow up my BA AirCore by mouth with all the dizzy-ness, passing out, waking up face down in the grass only to find the air leaked out, then starting over again.... I've been using this technique and it really works well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyK_5B06KhM
Very nice West. Thanks.
 

20valves

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West said:
It takes me forever to blow up my BA AirCore by mouth with all the dizzy-ness, passing out, waking up face down in the grass only to find the air leaked out, then starting over again....
:D
 

True Grip

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Not essential but when I camp in one spot for a few days a tarp is nice. Keeps the sun or rain at bay and makes a place to stand or cook protected from weather. This is a Chinese tarp bought from campmore 15 or so years ago. I've set it up different ways and consider it money well spent. The shock cords in the poles have lost their elasticity but still work at keeping poles together. If you come to the Rally in Arkansas you'll see it. It fits in my medium wolfman dry bag.
This ones at the Colorado Rally that's Buelligan. We moved the picnic table to the center, made a nice place to cook and eat.
 
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