One way you might consider to keep warmer, plus be lightweight, is to use a sleeping bag liner sheet. Mine is made of silk. So feels luxurious and surprisingly warm. It also has a hooded pocket in the top that fits my pillow. So it stops my pillow from sliding around, another problem you mentioned. As well as this I also always take a foil space blanket. These are super light and can be a lifesaver in an emergency if your sleeping gear happens to get soaked in the rain. At 3:00 in the morning when you said you felt uncomfortably cold, you could have added your space blanket on top of your sleeping bag to keep the warmth in.
Id be very interested in something like that! Send a link to one on amazon if you could! And very true, putting the blanket inside makes a huge difference in warmth rather than having it on the outside
Thats a great idea, i never thought of that. I did do a loop with my gear to try it out, but didnt actually camp at my house after. Thanks for subscribing!
Look into quilts as for a sleeping bag. To keep your pillow from moving around, maybe a mummy style sleeping bag that has a hood which you can slip your pillow under the hooded area of sleeping bag. watch videos from Sam Watsby. He does a brief summary of what to expect, eat, and bring during bikepacking trips.
Good idea on those! I found putting my pillow in a shirt or something will help as well. I looked up Sam Watsby and gave him a follow. Thanks for the tips!
Hope you enjoyed your first outing. Just got back from an overnighter myself (70 miles each way.) Bikepacking involves trials and errors when it comes to gears, what works and not work and to bring or leave. After a long ride, you'll appreciate a sleeping pad and pillow. A chair is definitely a luxury item but nice for lounging around at campsite. Either that or sit in a hot tent and who wants to do that right?!?! Just curious how your tent held up overnight. Lots of moisture or condensation inside??? I had been using REI's 1-person tent but decided to upgrade to the NEMO Hornet. Expensive but well worth the money since I enjoy bikepacking and gravel riding. Hesitated yesterday because it was hot but glad I toted my sleeping bag because temps dipped down to the 40's overnight and the chills is what woke me up at 3 a.m. Did not want to crawl out of my warm sleeping bag this morning for sure lol.
@@GoodwinBiking It was wonderful just to "get away" even for just 1 night. Headwinds for most of the rides to and back. Not as brave as yourself since I camped in a State Park and not in the wilderness though. That I have yet to do. Took my one luxury item (chair lol) with me and didn't use since I got to camp late and setting up the tent took precedence since it was starting to get dark. Couldn't get cell service at that location which is normal and a negative rating but overall worth the trip and ride.
To answer your question, the tent held up great! It got down to 32 at night, and the tent did great. I kept warm, and the tent was not full of condensation or anything. That's awesome you bought the Nemo Hornet. How do you like it? Would you say it's worth the upgrade given the price?
Pillow Talk: You can put an extra shirt around the top of your sleeping pad and slide the pillow in. On your first trip, keep it an overnighter and leave the house dark and early. Start it off with a sunrise. You'll give yourself plenty of time to sort out little things on the bike, enjoy the day and have time at camp to soak it all in. Do not rush. Cheers.
If you spent 2 weeks in a tent straight in one adventure you would get used to sleeping in it for your entire life. That's how it worked for me. Still I mostly traveled by feet, bikepacking for me is more like a dream. The biggest problem with it for me - I like using MTB as MTB .. and my tries to build up gear for traveling at least for one nighters felt like really limiting my MTB experience. Feels like you need to get to the point of your camp, to drop all your stuff and only then to go for trails. But after bikepacking travel to the point you already kill your legs :D. So I just can't figure it out in my head. And I need to say. You really took A LOT of gear with you. More than I used for 2 week travels, like why do you even need a sleeping pad :D
Haha thats awesome! Lol 😆 why a sleeping bag!? I suppose if you dont have a quilt or warm bootys, a sleeping bag is the next best option! Ol and trusty, stays around your body and keeps you warm. When you mentioned having all the gear on your bike is restricting.. i want to do a video soon revealing how i built my rear rack. Its noce because you can take it off in like 2 seconds - literally. So when you get to camp, you can go explore with less weight
Nice video :). I definitely leaning towards carting along some 'luxury' items on my trips too. Part of the appeal of the journey is having some time either on the way or at the destination to take in the surroundings & enjoy them. Taking a camp chair is a must & I'm rather fond of my small espresso machine. Some camera or video equipment usually comes along too. Binoculars for wildlife sometimes.
Thanks for watching, subscribe! That's a great idea to bring binoculars and a camp chair. Its worth it for sure if tube things you bring give you joy and improve the overall experience! Ill have to make a video on essential vs luxury items, and what people often bring on their rides
Really great video. Just starting to get bikepacking together at 66! I've bought my bike and learning about puncture changes on the road. DId you have any bike issues? Put anything you have in the videos cos it's great to get advice that you can refer back to. Thanks
@alpinaCD that's great advice, I'll be sure to add any mechanical issues i have into the videos. So far i haven't had any issues! I have Cush-cores in my tubeless tire setup so that helps a lot, especially when I'm not bikepacking and going fast downhill over rough stuff. I highly recommend doing tubeless for bikepacking. Glad to hear you found bikepacking! Check out my toolbag video for what I bring for tools etc
Cool video, I've never bikepacked but I want to eventually. I am also from your are and I've thought about going up that road before, is it open access or no trespassing signs etc? That area is on my list of places to check out!
Thats awesome! Glad you came across the channel. Yeah that road has a fence, but you are fine to go riding up the road. Its just not accessible by car. The road that goes to the base of the canyon is surrounded by private no trespassing land, but if you stay on the gravel road, you are totally within your rights!
For sure! The software i used is canned "strava" its an app, and they also have a very handy website. The paid version allows you to create routes. I like to see a heatmap of my ride history as well. A really handy tool. Since a few have asked, ill make a video on it!
as far as the pillow does yours have a strap? I struggled with the same until i realized there was a strap to go around the sleeping mat and hold it in place!!
Mine does not have a strap that i can see. I realized if i put it inside of a t-shirt (like a pillow case) it keeps it from sliding around, and that helps a lot! That awesoms your pillow has a strap!
i think for serious camping look into a hamock because it gets you off the ground and is very small when packed as well as light. lots of brands with their own sales pitch but better than having a bed sheet and pad ime. i live east so lots of rocks trees to anchor to might not work in your setting.
Thats a great idea. Ill definitely look into that option! Do you find it pretty flat? I could see sleeping like a banana being uncomfortable for me since im taller than some.
@@GoodwinBiking i think if you get the gear for you then you'll adapt like anything else. ENO has worked for me 1 -2 person or even some xl solution from kammock or hammock gear etc. maybe one shirt in a stuff sack or inflatable pillow? lastly dress for the weather, it's very easy to lose body heat off the ground to the environment so like a underquilt or something to throw over top the hammock and lock in the air you breathe.
@@williamforbes7156 Thats a great point. Ill have to look further into hammocks. The only downside is ill need to go places ill be sure will have trees! But i could see the major benefits of saving a lot of space with not having to carry a tent. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hey great video, really enjoyed it and subscribed! Sorry if you had said in the video and I missed it but what was the software that you used to map your trail? Thanks and looking forward to more videos 👍🏼
Hey thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and are a new subscriber. The app / software i use is strava. It is free but the paid subscription allows you to create routes and segments, which is really handy
Great video, its nice watching the super cyclists bikepack a trip for 300miles etc but this is realistic for the everyday rider. Looking forward to doing my first trips. I'm in South africa so have plenty places to ride but have to be super vigilant in planning from a security point of view. We can't just risk going into the local hills.
Thats a great perspective of what im hoping for with the channel! A place that the beginner and intermediate bikepacker can come for tips and ideas for bikepacking! That will be fun for you to get out in Africa and see new places. You will have to let me know what you end up planning / how it goes!
Cool info .. yeah the secret is knowing how to pack .. no need for backpack … My Bikepacking Setup Resupplies Food 10 Days Water Capacity upto 14 Litters Cooking Fuel 1.5 Litters 21 days 3 meals a day Apparel Summer Ride Apparel Winter Ride Apparel below -0c Summer Base Camp Apparel Winter Base Camp Apparel -0c Sleep System Four Seasons Tent Four Seasons Sleeping Bag -18c Four Season Air-pad Kitchen Cooking Pot & Pan Multi Fuel Stove Coffee Filter Water Filter Filming Equipment Cameras Drone Wireless Mics Tripods & Bike Mounts Editing Equipment Power System Battery Banks 40,000 Mha International Charger Solar Panel 60 Watt Maintenance Bike Tools & Spare Parts Material Repair Kit First Aid Kits Personal Wash Kit Navigation Hammer Head Karoo Every-sight Rapture Security Air Tags Bike Lock Defense Pen Police Baton
I'll have to take a look at what options are out there. What suggestions do you have? I would probably bring my bag but then use something small along with it
@@GoodwinBiking I use a Zenbivy quilt system, but use a liner too. The liner is not so much for additional warmth but more often that not when out camping or bikepacking you wont be exactly fresh out of a shower when you turn in to sleep, so the liner helps look after your sleep system.
I have a new level of respect for those that bikepack full-time! Probably not feasible with my family of 5, but ill definitely be doing 1 to 3 day trips whenever i can!
