just startingout

[steve52]

how do u do it guys im 53 can cycle 100 miles fairly comfortably, but i did a 30 mile ride with my toura to camp the night as a pratice debugging ride? i didnt think i was soft but had the worst night of my life, well it felt like it, i was freezing and its still summer? i was uncomfortable to the point that i moved to relive pain ! it felt like evey five mins. am i that much of a wimp? ps i will get there in the end but all advice wellcom




















1

 

[snorri]

You say you can manage 100 miles comfortably, but few tourers would cover that daily distance with full touring load of tent etc, so perhaps you have to lower your mileage expectation.
Regarding discomfort, perhaps you should try a night in your sleeping bag and bed roll on your bedroom floor. If that also proves uncomfortable there may be more research required.
I think general exhaustion following a day of touring numbs any night time discomfort for me.

 

[willem]

I am 57. I think you need a good and warm mattress. I at least can no longer sleep on hard and thin mattresses. These days the top recommendation is an insulated air matress. The lightest and coldest one is the Thermarest Neoair at 410 grams, suitable down to about 5 degrees Celsius. The warmest is the Exped Downmat at about 900 grams, and ready for the Arctic. The cheapest, with a nice temperature range (down to a few degress below freezing) is the Exped Synmat Basic, at 660 grams and 7.5 cm thick (but a tad narrow). You may also need a warmer sleeping bag, but that I would not know. Most cold comes from below.
Willem

 

[Ticktockmy]

Practice makes perfect, you know the saying no gain without pain.
Seriously, if you suffered that amount of discomfort, it can be either the equipment you were using not being suitable. Our as a first timer you spent the night worrying about all the spooky things and noises going on around you.

Sadly at this time of year, as the night draw in the levels of damp in the air do cause one to feel cold.

At this early stage of your outdoor life,I would not worry about your tent being unsuitable, as willem pointed out cold rises, and as we have had a few rainy days of late the ground will be very damp, so making your groundsheet feel more the colder thus you need to tackle the problem from the ground up.

Regrettably comfort cost money, ok you can go to poundland and buy a sleeping mats there for a pound, but they are as good as useless, you will need to either shell out and buy the type of mat recommended by willem, or buy a 3 season polyfoam sleep mat which will be cheaper but not that cheap but more bulker.


Now to sleeping bags, for camping at this time of year, you really are starting to need to look at a 3 season bag as I have already said, night time temperatures are starting to drop. So you have the choice of down fill(expensive and compact) or Synthetic fill (Cheaper but Bulker). One reason peeps get cold is they buy a sleeping bag which is the wrong size for them, when buying sleeping bags, you need to get one which will allow your body bulk to move around comfortable, if it is too tight then you will lose body heat, where the material is pulled against your body likewise it need to be long enough so the shoulder baffle fits snugly around your neck

 

[vernon]

Tips to keep warm and comfortable:

Check the rating of your sleeping bag. It's unusually cold at night for the time of year and a three season sleeping bag might be in order. However you might like to investigate:

• Using a sleeping bag liner - silk ones apparently add a season rating to your bag.
• Wear gloves and a hat.
• Drape a poncho over the sleeping bag - this works for me.

I remember once waking up in my tent thinking that I was experiencing a minor earthquake - it was me shivering and an indicator that the insulating properties of my sleeping bag were inadequate.

For comfort, a Thermarest self inflating sleeping mat has served me well over the past six years. There are alternatives to the Thermarest out there.

 

[Brains]

I fifty cough something years old too, I've spent at least one month a year under canvas all my life, and I have camped every month of the year in the UK.
I also feel the cold, so whilst colleagues may be sleeping in next to nothing, I over do it

As a beginner what you need is:
A good quality full length 'Thermarest' type of inflatable mat. Don't scrimp on a cheap one, and try to get one you can get on the back of your bike easily
A good quality sleeping bag, personally I go for 4 seasons for any camping outside the hight of summer. If possible get "Down filled" they cost more, but pack down better and give more heat.
Get a silk liner.
I also wear thick mountaineering thermals, even in mid summer, walking socks and most important a hat in bed. (20% of heat loss is via your head)
A pillow is a good option there a number available, I take a little pillow case filled with clothing.
For added insulation and to ensure your clothing is not damp next morning I also sleep with my clothing either under me or on top of me.
Finally cover the end of your sleeping bag, the most common solution is to zip up your waterproof and then stick your feet in the sleeping bag into the bottom of the waterproof, it's a mini sleeping bag for your feet

 

[fimm]

Finally cover the end of your sleeping bag, the most common solution is to zip up your waterproof and then stick your feet in the sleeping bag into the bottom of the waterproof, it's a mini sleeping bag for your feet

I second all your tips, thought I don't have nearly as much experience as you. That last suggestion is just genius - I've never come across that on before and will definitely keep it in mind for the future.

OP; a good source of good-value sleeping bags and mats is here:

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/

 

[willem]

The modern insulated air mattresses are way more comfortable, warmer, lighter and more compact than self inflatables like the classic Thermarest. This has really been a breakthrough. The Synmat Basic costs 60 pounds for 7.5 cm of luxury comfort. If you need a new sleeping bag, Alpkit are a very good source for affordable down bags, and PHD Design for top quality performance gear. Their autumn sale has just started, with prices about a third off (Minim 300 starting at 145 pounds).
Willem

 

[JackE]

I've been camping for years and I always find the first night the most uncomfortable. The body needs to adjust to it's new (unnatural) position and it does so very quickly. Usually 2nd night and thereafter, I sleep as well as at home. Would agree with all of the advice given especially about getting a decent down sleeping bag. I have an Alpkit Pipedream 400 and it's a superb bag for the price (http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-bags/). They are very popular so you may have to go on the waiting list.

 

[HelenD123]

The modern insulated air mattresses are way more comfortable, warmer, lighter and more compact than self inflatables like the classic Thermarest. This has really been a breakthrough. The Synmat Basic costs 60 pounds for 7.5 cm of luxury comfort. If you need a new sleeping bag, Alpkit are a very good source for affordable down bags, and PHD Design for top quality performance gear. Their autumn sale has just started, with prices about a third off (Minim 300 starting at 145 pounds).
Willem

Thanks for the tip off about the PHD sale. I definitely need a warmer sleeping bag and something more compact would also be great.

Steve - I'd recommend getting a warmer sleeping bag than you think you'll need. You can always open it out and use it as a duvet in warmer weather. I'm not sure about the advice that a silk liner adds a season. It definitely adds a degree of warmth but I wouldn't say that much.

 

[willem]

I have just been reading through much of the other advice. It is clever and shows that there are indeed ways to extend the temperature range of your sleep system. However, I do think these tricks are there to be used in exceptional cases - they are your safety margin. In normal circumstances the basic kit should suffice. In my own case, I have a down vest to extend my sleep system's range if necessary. However, not even that is good for a whole extra season.
As for comfort, I have just bought a new pillow, the Exped Airpillow. Most comfortable camping pillow I have ever had, and only 85 grams. Also, the packed size is minute.
Willem