I spent 2 years cycling and wild camping around Europe. I quickly learned not to go great lengths to conceal myself. As you say, most people are nice, they see that you're just having a cycling trip and you mean no harm.
for cyclist is better to call it Resting spot not Camping, my priorities to end the day close to access some water, several times I was asking people guidance and never disappointed I was guided to nice spot or even close and safe to they hose, thank you for great tips
Liked your advice on people, stay calm, mask any personal fear & talk to them is my weapon of choice. I've only had to put this into practice once, Alsace France.
Some good advice👍 From my experience, you are often refused permission to camp, or told to move on, if you have brown or black skin...especially in some European countries. I guess certain local people suspect you are an ilegal migrant or refugee...this, unfortunately, is the sad world we live in 😥
In France, Germany, and Switzerland I have relied upon Foresters huts, or just hiking huts, alone and not bringing a tent. Never a big issue. Even in the 🇺🇸 used hiking huts in the Appalachians. Yes, look out for discarded beer bottles, and don’t camp near a highway. Not due to violence, but under 21s looking for a drinking location!
Hello I'm from Indonesia 🇮🇩 My family really likes this channel, keep up the enthusiasm for making vlog content, I hope you are always given health and make it easy for your sustenance, amen ya'rabb
Excellent, informative video...Very helpful. Thanks very much for sharing. Like everyone, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience... At the early age of 66, I'm hoping to go on my very first stealth camping bike tour...a short, 4-day jaunt along the Erie Canal in western New York...A chance to try out my bike and gear...Your video gave me some excellent ideas about what to look for...Thanks very much...Cheers and happy trails!
Hi Maundi - great vvlog, really informative and well presented. Plenty of new info that I hadn't considered. 1 tip I can give which is the opposite of your tip on choosing a flat spot to set up. DON'T set up in a hollow or dip in the ground - it's not fun to wake up in the middle of the night to find you are in a swamp because it has rained heavily while you were sleeping. Keep up the good work - really enjoying yours and Eric's vlogs, always informative, fun and entertaining. Thanks - any ideas about when you will set off again on another long distance trip?
Definitely not fun, that's what I meant with choosing a 'higher ground'... We've certainly experienced this a few times, not fun at all ;-) Well, maybe in hindsight... We are heading out for another long trip in Mid-August!
Very good tips. I do also take my time to find a good spot for stealth camping. Once in France on the Vélosipée was the only one a hunter (hé has to say it) that hé had to give me a fee because my bivouac in the wild.
I think this is one of the best videos yet! (I may have said that before) This is PACKED full of very useful information - I love it. I want to emphasise the very important info about avoiding old beech trees - I know of a young lady who was killed when walking her dog by a large bough breaking and falling on her: avoid beech on a windy day!
yay nice info, really insightful ! If you don’t mind, I want to ask about insects, do you brings any specific repellent ? especially ticks which can cause lyme disease ... your video in Japan inspires me to go there hopefully next year.
Most countries allow the use of permethrin products (on clothes, boots etc only) or DEET on skin, both of which are good. Avoid light coloured socks or clothes, which attract them (they may think you are a sheep!). However, they can be easier to spot on light coloured clothes. In my - quite extensive (forester) - experience, nobody notices them until the evening when they get home and have showered, then drying between your toes, your crotch etc (sorry!) often leads to you spotting the little blighters in hidden nooks and crannies! They can be anywhere - people check arms and legs etc but seem to forget their less looked at bits.
Japan is amazing, great memories! One of the countries I think about the most after our trip... We don't use any repellents. Only long trousers and we check twice a day for ticks. When mosquito hours hits, we try to be in the tent :-)
I didn't know that light clothing attracts them, I agree that it's much easier to spot them. Also pants with a smooth surface are not very easy for them to attach to!
@@WheelstoWander 35 students, including me, spent 6 weeks of one summer in the north of Scotland before Lymes Disease was a problem. Every evening we kept a tally of our ticks, most had none or only one most of the time. Some people - particularly one of the girls - got many - the max was 30, I think, though in all honesty I can't now remember if that was in one day or over the whole 6 weeks. The only reason we could see why some people got more was that they wore light coloured socks over their boots or trousers (pants in American-speak). Not definitive, but seemed probable
Also, some flashlight manufacturers have red filters in their accessories making you flashlight emit red light which is less noticeable from the disctance and keeps your natural vision in the dark. P.S. In Carpathian mountains in Ukraine, there several spots where locals steal things from tent vestibules or even cutting tents to steal things from inside while people are sleeping. So, it's a good idea to keep passports, money and smartphones in sleebing bags or under a mat.
Thanks Ross! We use those, very handy feature on a torch/headlamp. We didn't knew that, sounds terrible! We will take precautions when we find ourselves in that area.
I use the red LED head torch in my tent, which is two layers of dark green. As we know from physics, any object of a certain colour is of that colour because it reflects light of that wavelength and absorbs all other wavelengths, especially those of vastly different wavelengths. Thus, when using a red lamp in a dark green tent, a huge proportion of that red light will be absorbed by the green fabric. Conversely, a red tent would work exactly oppositely - it would bounce the red light inside the tent and leak between the fibres and the whole thing would light up red like a paper lantern.
one thing i try to do most of the times is to point the entrance of my tent south and to have some tree or something on east side to have some shade in the morning
Excellent advises, neatly organised experienced based tips, serious and responsible. You both look a lovely fine Dutch famous clever couple as pretty as your logo is. Today you look a bit changed, with kind of resolute peaceful accent, most respectfully would say.(is it the hair style?Please tell of if any conclusions about dealing with dogs in the open.
Haha could be, vlogs are more 'in the moment' whilst these 'tutorial' video's are more to the point & informative. I did cut my hair though, so maybe that's it ;-) Thanks for the compliment! We both handle dogs differenly, I prefer to stop when attacked (whilst cycling). If they're still agressive I shout or pretend that I'm throwing something. Eric just cycles a little bit faster. Mostly off the bikes they are not agressive, some even very sweet :-)
Big Foot videos are the rage now on You Tube. That dome structure totally looked like the work of one. They knock trees over, throw rocks at people, and generally are misanthropic assholes. My last overnight stealth was a couple weeks ago in a State Forest. It was quiet. Too quiet. But nothing ate my food so I was happy. Oh and an idea for your next tutorial . For the ladies: How to avoid strangling your boyfriend or husband when he does something stupid.
Nice, though we did find it difficult to find the right alcohol in some countries. We bought an addition to our stove, it's called the 'simmerring' which greatly reduces the noise of our stove!
Good video, but two comments: 1. Stealth is more ninja-like, you really don't want to be found or seen. Wild is more open; of course, you still want to be discrete and leave no trace, etc., but you don't worry so much about making a little bit of noise while setting up, whereas in stealth you have to be more silent so as not to be heard, not just seen. 2. About camping in Japan, I saw your other video, where you show the whole process and on that particular day and, frankly, the people were uncomfortable when they discovered you there in the morning. They had things to do, preparing for activities, etc. They may not have expressed it because that's how they are, avoid conflict, etc, but it's not cool. A different story is is public parks, and then again, discreetly, arrive late, leave early (by dawn, before people start walking around).
Thanks for pointing out the differences! And you're right, it could have made them somewhat uncomfortable and it was definitely not a regular thing we did. Though we did have an amazing morning talking and having fun with those people 😊
Seems we don't travel the same countries! Most have fences everywhere. No other choice than open and cross. Nobody never saw me going to the chosen spot to camp but often,i was discovered in the morning. Some people are early in the fields in the morning! But it was never a problem. I sleep better with all my stuff inside the tent near me. I leave nothing except my shoes outside. I carry one of those emergency blanket. I had to camp twice in a row. Well,i didn't know those blanket keep body humidity. And the next night I used it,it was wet inside. And it was a cold night. Didn't sleep as well as the night before ! Had also to camp in the airport once. I enjoyed having an inflatable pads ! Most were trying to sleep on the floor witch sucks a lot. I'm home now. I made it. Wasn't easy and being able to camp lower the cost of dealing with the covid stupid rules you learn at the last moment and you have to go back. At least, when you can camp,it gives more time and aloud to save money. But traveling is not easy. It's often hard work..... I will never be vaccinated. So it might be a while before I can travel again. But I m ok if that is so. Last trip was one year and a half. I can skip next year if ridiculous rules are mandatory.
That's odd, we haven't encountered many fenced off area's during our travels... Yes travel is hard work sometimes haha, though very rewarding too! Lets hope the situation will improve soon 😑
@@WheelstoWander If you ever travel Central america, you will see... There's not a inch without a fence. The US and Canada aren't that bad. But South of it and the Dominican republic, it's fences along all roads. As for traveling anytime soon, you will have to be vaccination friendly.... which I'm not.
Have you had any problems with stealth camping in Germany. I’m looking to cycle from the UK to Amsterdam then to Rugen island via Hamburg. Also I have seen you using light weight camping chairs, which kind are they? Many thanks
That is not really stealth camping. Most of Canada is not designated as a campsite, and you could camp over most of it, and not ever be within miles of another person. Stealth camping is camping with the intention that your activity is not observed or discovered. The point isn't legal or permited, or illegal, it is stealthy. There are a lot of good reasons to camp in a way where your activities are not under scrutiny. It isn't wild camping either, a lot of cycle tourists stealth camp their way through major cities. (It seems to be a UK peculiarity to put "wild" in front of normal activities like swimming, and convert them into something edgy, that requires special gear, and instructors.)
If you choose your places wisely (not close to people/pivate property) and you're traveling by bicycle it's not a problem. It's allowed to camp i when you can't reach a camping at night. Car camping is not allowed. You can have a look at the camping card: utilegukordid.is , with this card you can stay for a discount price at selected campings.
Hi Anasazi, yes we did in Turkey, and also in Spain (on a hike). In Turkey I heard them around our tent and went out with my flashlight, that scared them away. In Spain they started to make a lot of noise so we hiked on to camp a little further down the road, we still heard them at night but didn't have any problems.
Sad enough, two of my colleagues simply got robbed and shot while camping in the wild in Afganisthan. So really be risk aware and make sure that nobody can spot you.
Stealth camping and (a.k.a. wild camping) are not the same thing! Wild camping is “legally” camping for free in areas that you are allowed to camp... i.e. General use crown land in Canada. Stealth camping is “illegally” camping in areas that you are not allowed to camp... i.e. In a park hidden under a tree.
You are right David! It is often used interchangeable and we try and use one term for both as not to complicate matters to much but it's not the same. It would be great if it was just "wild camping" and everybody would be respectful and the rules were lenient in most places.
In Ireland we asked a farmer if we could camp in his land. He said yes, and it felt good knowing someone knew we where there (I felt safer, and the farmer looked like a good guy)
yee farmer are generally good people and most will let you stay in ther land , some may bring you water or food , as long as you distoy or steal ther crops , is rich peoaple land you should stay away
Glad you mentioned flashlights. Bikepackers often recommend bright torches that flat batteries. I use a small LED with 400 hour battery life. It avoids attracting attention, disturbs wild life less, and one relies on what nature gave us, ie, night adapted vision.
The good thing to know is when given animals have a season for ofsprings. Farmers will go berserk if our presence on their land can cause miscarriages. X
No one mentions the elephant in the room - going to the toilet! It's ok in a forest with soft, diggable ground but elsewhere it must be a difficult practise.
@@WheelstoWander What wording works best? When I've asked people if they know of anywhere I can camp they've always pointed me to a caravan park. But I've had better luck if I'm in a public place and ask if the person thinks anyone would mind if I camped there for the night.
Great points! Thanks for sharing! I've had a few tense situations while wild camping too and the best approach is to always stay calm and respectful, even when people are threatening you with weapons ;)
Picaradin plus DEET - the combination is supposedly better than either alone, and the best possible repellent. Permethrin is another story. I don't like to use it unless necessary (in some tick infested areas, for one example) because it indiscriminately kills, and is extremely toxic to virtually all arthropods.
There's a fine line between "harmless" stealth camping and "freeloaded" stealth camping. An example would be camping outside property line if a campground, simply to save money.
Nice video one more time. Great tips & tricks for selecting nice place to bivouac. My experience as a hiker is that I find it hard to practice bivouac in western Europe comparing to Asian countries ( except Nordic countries). Thanks again for sharing your experience 🏕️.
Yes I can understand why... With the bicycle it's easy to check out a few different locations, but hiking is just at a much slower pace. Also it's perhaps less common / accepted in Western Europe?
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Not in Scandinavia. You're free to camp everywhere in nature except in military and fenced off areas, as long as you respect the local "free roam" laws i.e. don't disturb nature, leave no trace, respect fire bans..etc.
I have been thinking for months to ask you guys for a video on exactly this subject. Even though I never did ask, this video turned out to be much more than I hoped for. Useful and to the point. Thank you, dankjewel. We have been stealth camping a few times and we did fall once for a location where after a while people had a party close by. It was impossible to sleep, so we just joined in on the party. But next time I will pay more attention to the signs you described that were definitely visible.
