Ludwig
Hopeless romantic
- Location
- Lissingdown
I have cycle toured for many years but am thinking of doing some short 2, 3 or 4 day trips so what would you reccommend in the way of pannier bags, tents and genereal stuff to take.
Best pannier bags, tents and stuff for cycle touring
- Thread starter Ludwig
- Start date
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Hill Wimp
Fair weathered,fair minded but easily persuaded.
If you have the money Ortlieb panniers.
Inertia
I feel like I could... TAKE ON THE WORLD!!
seconded, they are tough and waterproof
22camels
Active Member
Your question isn't very clear. Do you mean you have credit card toured / organised toured and now want to do some short self-supported trips carrying more stuff? In my opinion there is a big difference between kit for round the world journeys and kit for 2, 3 or 4 day trips. If I knew I was only going to be doing the latter, I would probably try to go lighter and durability would be less important, and I wouldn't be prepared to spend as much money on it. For example, there was a post a few days ago on the CTC forum about Altura ultralight panniers where they get very mixed reviews and would probably be totally unsuitable for a long tour, but if I was only doing 3 day trips I would totally take the risk as they are at least 1kg lighter than Ortliebs and cheaper. Though more often lighter means more expensive.
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Profpointy
Legendary Member
Panniers - Ortlieb unless you are totally skint - very much worth the money. (Carradice also well-regarded, though I've not used em)
Tent - if you can afford the buttock clenching price - Hilleberg are worth the money (just about) but there are perfectly ok tents much cheaper. Even some quite modestly price tents are OK providing you avoid the single skin toy tents. Look for a cheap tent that looks like a knock-off of a premium brand. But Hilly's are nice if you can afford it.
Cooking - I like trangia. Don't buy titanium pans as titanium is expensive and a poor heat conductor which is silly for a pan.
Tent - if you can afford the buttock clenching price - Hilleberg are worth the money (just about) but there are perfectly ok tents much cheaper. Even some quite modestly price tents are OK providing you avoid the single skin toy tents. Look for a cheap tent that looks like a knock-off of a premium brand. But Hilly's are nice if you can afford it.
Cooking - I like trangia. Don't buy titanium pans as titanium is expensive and a poor heat conductor which is silly for a pan.
Hill Wimp
Fair weathered,fair minded but easily persuaded.
^^ yes i second this. What kit can only be decided when you decide what type of tour.
For instance i have different types of panniers for different types of tours and you have different sleeping bags for the same reason etc.
Where and when you are going to tour also makes a huge difference too.
For instance i have different types of panniers for different types of tours and you have different sleeping bags for the same reason etc.
Where and when you are going to tour also makes a huge difference too.
doog
....
- Location
- The beautiful south
Depends what your budget is. I couldnt justify the expense of Ortlieb panniers back in the day so have been using Altura and Deuter panniers for years lined with rubble sacks to keep things dry..still going strong.
For a tent you might want to be thinking lightweight and this is where the cost can add up. The lighter the more costlier on most occasions. Then you will be thinking about a sleeping bag and mat, again you might want to look at the weight of each as it all adds up when it comes to hills. Its an endless subject but if you break it all down into separate items you can have a lot of fun researching the pro's / cons and price of each.
For a tent you might want to be thinking lightweight and this is where the cost can add up. The lighter the more costlier on most occasions. Then you will be thinking about a sleeping bag and mat, again you might want to look at the weight of each as it all adds up when it comes to hills. Its an endless subject but if you break it all down into separate items you can have a lot of fun researching the pro's / cons and price of each.
KneesUp
Guru
The first time I went camping as an adult (had a week to fill) I took one of those supermarket tents - they were all doing them for a tenner at the time, although they now appear to all be £12.99.
It was perfectly fine for one person to sleep in, and kept me dry during a few Scottish rainy nights. They don't weigh much. If I was off around the world I might get something a little better made, for for £13 you can't really go wrong. They are really easy to pitch too.
It was perfectly fine for one person to sleep in, and kept me dry during a few Scottish rainy nights. They don't weigh much. If I was off around the world I might get something a little better made, for for £13 you can't really go wrong. They are really easy to pitch too.
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
Panniers - I've used Altura, Halfords and Carradice. All will do the job.
Tents - Vango and Wild Country Tents have served me well.
Stove - Trangia and Primus gas stove have done the job.
Sleeping bag - anything that's compact and covers the anticipated temperature range.
Ultimately it will be your budget that does a lot of your decision making and not other folks' opinions.
Tents - Vango and Wild Country Tents have served me well.
Stove - Trangia and Primus gas stove have done the job.
Sleeping bag - anything that's compact and covers the anticipated temperature range.
Ultimately it will be your budget that does a lot of your decision making and not other folks' opinions.
Wandrin
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancashire
For my latest trip I've picked up a Zephyros 1 tent, it seemed to be the lightest proper tent before the costs for saving any more weight start to rocket. In terms of size, if I was an estate agent I'd be calling it cosy, compact or easily maintained. It's pretty small. As a shelter for one night at a time it's ample. As a base camp or should you decide to stay in it for a day, you'd probably want something a bit roomier. I'll be using it for my tour over the next fortnight and will update should that opinion change.
+1 for Ortliebs, went through a succession of Aldi and Lidl panniers before biting the bullet and forking out for the Ortliebs, as either the brackets broke or the bottom fell out and besides, they were too damn small. They also weren't very waterproof. The Ortliebs have been in one crash when I was hit by a car and the brackets broke but were easily and very reasonably priced to repair. They've also been for a slide when I came off during the winter with only a few small nicks and a small tear which are patched with gaffa tape (other/better methods of repair are available). Poles apart on pricing but in this case you do get what you pay for.
+1 for Ortliebs, went through a succession of Aldi and Lidl panniers before biting the bullet and forking out for the Ortliebs, as either the brackets broke or the bottom fell out and besides, they were too damn small. They also weren't very waterproof. The Ortliebs have been in one crash when I was hit by a car and the brackets broke but were easily and very reasonably priced to repair. They've also been for a slide when I came off during the winter with only a few small nicks and a small tear which are patched with gaffa tape (other/better methods of repair are available). Poles apart on pricing but in this case you do get what you pay for.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
Ortlieb. No point in p#ssing about is there?
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
My cheapo Edinburgh Bicycles panniers are waterproof.
I know that because the water that got into one during a downpour earlier this year was still sloshing around in the bottom when I got home.
I know that because the water that got into one during a downpour earlier this year was still sloshing around in the bottom when I got home.
KneesUp
Guru
Just to throw a fly into the ointment - UV light degrades nylon tents, and camping forums seem to hold that the useful life of a tent is 14 weeks pitched - after that the material falls apart, basically.
So assuming no other damage, the cost per night in wear to your tent is roughly Cost of tent/100.
Unless you have a polycotton one, but they are perhaps a bit heavy!
Edit to add - £13, waterproof and only (just over) 1kg. http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-basics-2-man-dome-tent/200-9024.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=200-9024
So assuming no other damage, the cost per night in wear to your tent is roughly Cost of tent/100.
Unless you have a polycotton one, but they are perhaps a bit heavy!
Edit to add - £13, waterproof and only (just over) 1kg. http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-basics-2-man-dome-tent/200-9024.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=200-9024
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