Half a sleeping pill. Ultimately if you can’t sleep despite warm mat, bag and shelter, you’re lugging wasted volume and weight. Sometimes pharmaceutical insurance is handy.
Same as at home, it's a hammock every night for me. When I'm out on a trip and I don't have a Conor I carry a Tensa Solo - a telescopic aluminum support just in case I can't find a good hang spot.
I did use a bikepacking specific tent (still have it - Big Agnes Flycreek) that I'd ride fixed on top of my bar bag - great as the poles fit between the hoods. But my preference has moved onto an Accommodation App and a credit card. Lighter and more comfortable!
It was too dark and late to bother pitching my tent so I slept in a wheat field in a bin-liner on my first night of bikepacking, using my bike as a pillow. It was both cold and sweaty and I forgot about the morning dew. But when I sat up in the morning I took a photo of the sunrise that won a photography competition 😊
@@Rainaman- Yes! The best thing to do is to not be bitten at all, the second best thing is to remove the tick ASAP - and get treatment if you develop symptoms.
I've got a plastic card one, weighs nothing, has 2 different sized jaws and also includes a magnifier for the wee tiny ones. Always in my med kit for hiking, camping and bikepacking.
As an ex soldier I've slept under the stars on many occasions, when I left the forces I really didn't want to ever do it again! Fast forward 20 years and I started camping again. Cycling and camping. Its the cheapest way to travel. Off to Wales, Scotland, The Lakes hotels are expensive. It was brilliant! 3 years I did it, then on a week away MTBing in Wales we had storms every single night, it was horrendous. Through the day it was fine but we didn't get any sleep. The tent was great, it kept us dry and stood up to the wind but they aren't sound proof. That was the last time. Now I use Hostels. I really think you guys should do a film to show the UK's network of hostels, what great value they are. They're a forgotten thing. When I was growing up if you were planning an outdoor adventure the first thing you'd look for is the nearest hostel. You'd be doing YHA a great service too. Ps. Other than being a YHA member I don't have any affiliation.
@@mrbombastikalime9867 hi mate, thanks for the info. That would be the easiest and cheapest option 100% unfortunately I can't wear earplugs cos of issues I have with my ears. To be honest I don't think anything wouldve helped us that week. The tent was leaning over that far, banging everything about inside the tent. That's Wales for you though.
Life saver. Earplugs. Could mean the difference between a long night and a good sleep no matter how good your camping gear is. Especially if I sleep in the tent next to yours.
I use a one man tent that is not as high as the one shown in this video, but it packs up smaller because it has less fabric and more importantly, fewer and shorter poles. The top is made of a breathable waterproof fabric, so I don't use a rainfly. However, breatheable fabrics don't work as well when used as tent material compared to when they are use as clothing next to your skin. In certain weather conditions, condensation can build up on the tent fabric due to moisture from your body colliding with the cold tent fabric. Make sure the seams on whatever shelter you use are factory sealed. Seam sealer liquids applied by the user are not as effective and long lasting as the factory applied sealing tape. If you're claustrophobic, don't even think of using a bivvy. If you have to zip it up because of the weather, you can easily wake up from a nightmare in the middle of the evening and think you've been buried alive. Not joking. This has happened to several folks I know and it is not funny at all. Absolutely use a separate thin waterproof ground cover to separate the bottom of your tent from the ground. Do NOT extend that ground cover beyond the edge of your tent bottom or else rain can run down the side if your tend and flow underneath your tent between the tent floor and the ground cover. That ground cover can also serve as a temporary rain shelter if you get caught in a storm and want to ride out the storm with protection beyond a rain jacket. 40 year outdoor educator here. Most of what I have learned is through mistake and failure. I hope you can avoid this path I have taken! 🤦♂️🤣🤣🤣
Just go for a light weight tent. It always works, protects you from the rain, the sun, the wind, the cold and the heat and certainly not the least: the bugs. It's for all seasons and all climats. All other solutions (like bivi bags, hammocks, etc) are just desperate ways to try to avoid buying a tent, which you will do in the end anyways.
Started off with a tent, went to a hammock. Will never bring a tent anymore. Actually bought a bigger and more comfortable hammock this summer. Only weighs 700g and about 850-900g including the straps etc. Good luck with your tent though.
@@YouOnlyLiveHans As long as you only stay in places where you can put that (one person-) hammock, it is an option. By the way; with all the needed extra's added, I don't think hammock camping is less bulky nor lighter.
I've had bad luck with bivy bags. Trying to tuck in from the Canadian cold means more condensation in the bag, ruining the insulation of my down sleeping bag. Wasn't able to get it properly dry again after that. It was cold nights until we bailed for a hostel.
Regular sized tent poles no problem get a tent pole carrying case yes they are a thing and strap it to the top tube. Bivy bag bring a large heavy duty bin-trash bag to keep your shoes, etc in at night, it can also double as a emergency poncho I always get the groundsheet-footprints for my tents, they save wear and tear on the tent floor and keep it cleaner.
1 man tent for backpacking, I've got a Bivi with a bug net and a guyline to keep it off my face for bikepacking as it's smaller though. Usually carry a 3x3 tarp too, can either use half of it as a groundsheet under the bivi or cover the bike as well depending on where I am. Wild camping is legal in Scotland, but having the tarp to blend in can be helpful if you want to be a bit more stealthy.
Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations
I use an OEX Bobcat 1 tent. very small, but I can cook in the porch area and store all my kit in there too. Fantastic tent, used it in tough Scottish conditions. Excellent.
If you are not sure about bike touring, I recommend taking advantage of the Premier Inn policy of allowing cycle tourists to take their bike into the room. So no need for a tent or cooking equipment. We have used it half a dozen times and never been refused, although on one occasion we did have to quote the website. The advantage in bike security and reduced faff of stipping everything of value from your bike at each stop are obvious. I am not on commission but may be open to offers from Premier Inn😁
I have a 1 man tent weighing 560g the same as a bivvybag, which by the way must have the topside made of Goretex or you will be steaming inside and have icelumps forming when it is freezing.
I have both a one-person and a two-person tent that I switch between given the weather and difficulty of the tour. Wish I could get by with a bivvy or a hammock, but the extra weight is worth having my favorite sleep kit and keeping the bugs well away from me. There's no right answer; just experiment and find what works for you.
Been bike camping on a budget for ever and the best tent I found was the Station !3. It`s cheap and fairly light weigth but most importently tall enough to sit up in. Very usefull for getting dressed in the dry on a wet start morning
A follow up video on packing to bike and the available bags for a bike would be very welcome. Being new to bike packaging, I am in the process of buying gear for my first outing. ❤
Additional things to for: 1. A two door tent is better for ventilation and getting in and out of. 2. Make sure the tent you're getting has a rain fly, otherwise you'll be flooded next time it rains. 3. Free standing tents are easier to set up as they do not require staking in to stay erect.
I last bike packed 35 years ago. I just had a mat and slept on the ground - this was in the southern French alpes so the weather was ok for this. I still have the bike which I use now as a commuter.
If taking it seriously, I highly recommend a 2 man Big Agnes Copper Spur 2, the bike version comes with shorter segment poles, and the bag has attachments to fit on handlebars and fits between brake levers and only weighs 1.3-1.4 ish kg.
Great content, i’m older and much more simpler bike rider. I love GCN and everything that they do. But doing talks like this fits me for the things that I do.
I put the polls on the outside of your saddlebag or use velcro to strap them to your top tube. I have a single skin £30 Trespass tent that has served me at 4'C and in torrential rain
Just back from a shelter tour around Denmark which is pretty much the perfect scenario. I would love to see a dedicated bikepacking Q/A video with Conor.
Quick note about terminology: a 1 man tent sleeps 1 man, uncomfortably, with bags outside. A 2 man tent sleeps 2 men uncomfortably with bags outside or 1 man comfortably with bags inside. Plan accordingly.
Depends on the tent and your style. For example, if you use a 30L pack and you turn this into a pillow, it fits under your head. Biking, if you use a sleeping bag sack, it can turn alot of kit into a pillow too
Bus shelters... Church porches, and if it's raining and there are no drinking teenagers; A skateboard ramp 👍 Excellent shelter choices before carrying something like a tent! 😅 🚴♂🎶🐝
The pants & coats have become so breathable and water/wind proof: that for years I have not used a tent. Just getting back into tye luxury of a tent, will help me with exposure problems over winter.
Tarp, and a very lightweight basic cheap inner from a tent. Available on their own. All the tarp benefits, with a good bug-haven, protection from the lighter rain that blows/splashes in, and waterproof floor. Can be pegged out and guyed/poled up, or just used as a bivvy. Best of both worlds.
does the UK not have mosquitoes? I've actually wondered this on numerous GCN bike-packing videos without tents. where I live, it's not a matter of whether you like bugs or not--you would get eaten alive regardless of your feelings towards them.
The Celtic Isles don't really have mosquitos - least few enough that you're only rarely bothered by them. Lot of Scotland (highlands especially), Wales, and parts of Ireland have a lot of biting midges though.
I slept many nights with just a half a tent covering me, staying more than one night I would make a over head shelter. But most of that was Army life I would now spring for a tent now a days 🎉
Totally agree with the 3000mm static minimum. But also to get that from a reputable manufacturer. Buying a 3000mm static head tent off AliEx may not be what you're hoping for. And as for hammocks, two words.... WIND CHILL. You are exposing yourself to the worst of wind chill in a hammock. Great for warm climate, or if you're sleeping in a barn, but not very good in the cold or when you have no idea where you're going to be sleeping tonight. Especially if all your bike packing friends with tents, decide to stay on a nice camp site that they found towards the end of a long day.
Top worst part of a bivy bag is if you like to switch sleeping on one side vs another side it is not easy. Hence each time you wake up. If you are a back sleeper it works well I assume. I wanted to love mine. I hope I use it more than once but I'm thinking it will stay packed away. I'll take the tent next time.
Tee pee tent (Hex Peak v4a), wire saw to cut branch for main post. No poles to carry, wire saw weighs nothing, fully sheltered from weather and midges if in Scotland and has large porch area for cooking, can stand up to bad weather
I didn't particularly enjoy my bivvybag-ing. As mentioned in the video, if you go into after a hot day you can stay uncomfortably hot for a long time. But worse, it felt like a "Bodybag Preview Experience". Every morning, was relieved that I actually woke up.
In first my bike trip in Italy I did not use a tent. Just have a sleeping bag. During the bikepacking tour through the Alps and North France I did use one person tent because of rains in those regions. You do not need a footprint for your tent, because the tent is already rough enough. Very often I see one person tent like in the video. I am using a Snugpack Ionosphere. Just enough space for me and my bike bags.
1. if Connor had been an actual tree, the hammock would have been hung too tight, 2. the actual tree used was far too small, 3. you can buy hammocks that also double as a bivvy (for situations such as that where there are no trees available), 4. there are other solutions for conditions of lack of trees: the Tensa stand which is a mostly free-standing ultralight hammock stand designed for backpacking, and one of the partners of that project also invented a monopole design that would take the role of Connor in this video, for when you only have one tree available, and this reconfigures into a hiking pole. 5. just as with the bivvy, there are tarps designed for hammocks, and you can use the normal sleeping bag and pad, or instead opt for hammock specific inspiration. 6. hammocks can be as simple as the one used in this video, a simple length of fabric knotted at both ends, or be as complex as tents with mosquito netting and zippered doors, accessories. the Ammok Dramur is a 90° hammock where you lay perpendicular to the suspension rather than parallel to it, and functions more like a recliner than a bag. 7. the biggest mistake people make when choosing a hammock is they get the super cheap ones that are actually too short and made of material to coarse for most people to be comfortable overnight. typically they also lay in it incorrectly banana style. if you lay in it the Brazilian Way, on an angle, all of the tension in the fabric is down the middle which is where you need to support your bottom. like a bowling ball in a sack your hip bones are going to find their way to the bottom of the curve, and you want your back supported more on the incline, but you want your feet hanging away from the middle so that they sag down level with or below your bottom. you'll also want to adjust this angle so that your knees aren't overextended. also this is not like a flatbed so once you get this angle correct you won't want to sleep on your side or belly, in fact you won't probably even move all night and you'll wake up in the same position you went to sleep. if this is not the case for you then it probably means your hammock isn't set up correctly or maybe you're experiencing digestive issues. something else I should point out is if your hammock is set up correctly then you actually can sleep on your side in a legs bent or full fetal position as long as you have a pillow. if you can't do this then there's not enough sag in the sidewalls meaning you have hung it too tight. if you have any trouble getting a hammock set up, you can ask me and I can help you diagnose your setup. there are lots of tips tricks and advice on hammock forums, but honestly you're better off asking myself or somebody else who's really experienced (I literally only sleep in hammocks, everyday for the last 12 years barring hotel stays, and honestly if I could set up the hammock in a hotel room, I would)
Tent is a must and a 2/3 man tent is a must after a hard days cycle because rest is paramount for an enjoyable experience. Bivy bags aka hobo bags is not what i call restful imo.
I'm working on a new method: an ultralight cot (Helinox Lite) at 1.19 kg, + a waterproof bivvy bag at 0.3 kg, + a pillow (Nemo Fillo Elite) at 0.08 kg. Total weight 1.57 kg. In cool weather add a water resistant, ultralight down camping blanket (Alpine Ridge), 0.42 kg. Still under 2 kg. The items all pack to a tiny size, except for the cot, which packs to 50 cm x 11 cm. Advantages: low total weight and volume; keeps you off the ground, away from insects, rocks, bumps and holes in the ground; great comfort for sleeping; and the things that can get wet (cot and bivvy bag) can be shaken dry in the morning before packing away. Some small gear can go under the cot, and the rest can stay packed in the bikepacking bag. That's my theory anyway. I've got most of it and will be trying it out soon!
When you buy a tent, watch out if it has ventilation openings...We recently bought the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 and only noticed on the second trip, that it has no ventilation openings... Otherwise the tent is great: lightweight, designed to fit perfectly on your handle bar, big enough for two tall people
I once slept outside using just a zzzleeping bag and a sheet of plastic as a drop cloth. It started lightly raining so I took the sheet and folded it over top of me to stay dry.
It's actually the big shepherd dogs that scare me most. Then, snakes and the other wild animals. Although, we have scorpions where I live, I never considered them as animals to watch out for while camping. Now, there is a new animal in my list of animals to be scared of :( thanks Conor
Would GCN management consider selling bikepacking gear from the GCN shop? Maybe some gear makers would work with the GCN team to design and construct GCN BikePacking Gear (GCN BPG) as useable merchandise? Colours selected to be inconspicuous, but obviously not military. Small items in HiVis colours. Maybe frame bags would be too hard, but bivvy bags, tents, clothing, cooking gear and stoves etc. are rarely bike specific. Examples to start discussion only: Network with Trangia to arrange a GCN T28 or Mini Pot set. Network with a Bivvy Bag maker like SnugPak to arrange GCN Bivvy bag.
There's really no point using something like a Rab Ridge Raider. They're expensive, heavy and tiny. A Vango f10 Helium ul 1 is cheaper, slightly heavier and much larger, with an inner and a vestibule
As a seasoned camper it is very clear to me that you guys are indeed cyclists and not campers. information is somewhat correct and somewhat useful but a bit incomplete. Hammock camping usually requires more then just the hammock to be comfortable. Whole story for itself but a really amazing experience once dialed in. tents are great and there are types for any temper an any pricepoint. Absolutely not on board with the bivy bag. Just preference. I,d always take my tent instead. at 1 kg, it's lighter than the bivy, especially if a tarp is included.
Exactly, cyclists, not campers. I feel sorry for first time bikepackers, that watch this video, and then think they have been "informed" about what tent to use.
My tent weighs in at 850g with extra pole. It offers sooo much more room than a Bivy. I can situp straight, change clothes, eat, cook, wait until rain stops or whatever. There is space enough inside for me and for my gear pluis a dog why would I ever prefer a Bivybag? Or just a tarp without bugprotection at the same weight?
buy a one man tent DO NOT buy the slim bivvy tents humidity builds up on the inner lining on a tent, that builds up on the walls, and won't touch you, just get a tent please
Tarp is great but you need to know how to set it up. That looks horrible :) Try asymmetrical holden tent or an a-frame with foot end closed. A-frame with s-size tarp is also so low that it is stable even in storm.
Please add details of the products to the video. Particularly interested in the exo-poled one man. Conor used on the Tuscany trail and I'm a similar height and struggling to find a suitable option. Thanks.
It looks like a tent by Jack Wolfskin. But more producers make similar tents. I know Terra Nova makes one, Alpkit, Hilleberg, Exped, Wechsel. A lot of tent are around 2,15-2,20 m in lengtht. So to make full use of that look for relatively straight walls where your head and feet will go. Or consinder getting a 2 person tunneltent which usually provide more lenght (and you could use it diagonally 😊). Also it gives you more space to move around inside a tent. Wechsel has a 1 person tent with an inner lenght of 240 cm (Pathfinder). Good luck!
4 season inverted "T" entry Lanshan 1 XL, double skin, 985g less the pole(improvise what works for you for the 125cm needed, supposed to be a walking pole)- £135 delivered, from Ali Express... bargain....Only get the newer "Pro" if you can live with single skin horrors and dripping condensation soaking you anyway.... there is a "Flame's Creed" older version tent that's 210cm long(XL is 230cm) and suited to smaller people that can be had for even less!!
Not naming the example Tents used and not showing how big they are packed up... Seriously, thanks for nothing 😂 What's the point of the video, then? I mean solid observations made in it but ... yeah. Go figure.
Bivy bag is obsolete nowadays apart from ultra long endurance races (in dry climate!) if you lay on wet ground in the rain to sleep - you won't sleep, that's a guarantee. Small tarp over you doesn't protect from wind and splash, so you go for a bigger tarp, which can be easily taken by wind as it has no structure to keep it together in adverse weather. Plus if you have bivy and tarp to carry you may as well just take a bloody tent! It's like people wo insist on owning a monkey... Just get a kid already 😂
The route full of hills that day didn’t help either. 🤣 Here’s the link in case you haven’t seen that video 👉 th-cam.com/video/UA-7Vbxhp5k/w-d-xo.htmlsi=c4kzS8yp9ZshkqnJ
I’ve been bikepacking with a hammock for three years in a row and it’s amazing! Don’t forget some anti mosquito/tick spray and a good sleeping bag, it makes for a much lighter and smaller travel pack and it’s so comfortable to sleep in. About my hammock: it’s a king size Ticket To The Moon, 320x230cm, it weighs only 700g and the straps weigh about 150-200g. Setup only takes a minute and taking it apart max two minutes. Bought it online for less than 70 euros. If you are really worried about bugs or rain, just get a mosquito net and a hammock tarp with a tagline with it. I just hang my bags on the straps as the hammock will hold 200kg easily. I will never take a tent (+ air bed + tarp) bike packing anymore.
@@Skatted I see hikers in the UK use non-free standing tents all the time. And even free standing tents need pegs to keep them from blowing away. I do agree there are situations in which a free standing tent can be handy. For example when you camp in a barn or some other shelter with a concrete floor. Or maybe it's just an asphalt parking lot if you have to? But to suggest it HAS to be free standing just isn't true. A single pole tarp tent like the Lanshan has its advantages too. Cheap, light, space, great quality, small package. I mean a MSR Hubba Hubba bike packing tent is €500+
What's your favourite method for sleeping when you're bikepacking?
Half a sleeping pill.
Ultimately if you can’t sleep despite warm mat, bag and shelter, you’re lugging wasted volume and weight. Sometimes pharmaceutical insurance is handy.
Lying down with my eyes closed.
Same as at home, it's a hammock every night for me. When I'm out on a trip and I don't have a Conor I carry a Tensa Solo - a telescopic aluminum support just in case I can't find a good hang spot.
I did use a bikepacking specific tent (still have it - Big Agnes Flycreek) that I'd ride fixed on top of my bar bag - great as the poles fit between the hoods. But my preference has moved onto an Accommodation App and a credit card. Lighter and more comfortable!
5 star Hotel.
For my next bike packing trip I’ll be taking a hammock and Conor. He can do double duty as a pack mule and a tree. The ultimate lightweight kit!
Good hack-not the most moral, but still a good hack.
@@gcn What if we carried top notch snacks to share? Good trade then?
Yup packmule pulling up front, imagine that draft !
I like to camp out in a 2 person tent with just me because then I have room to move around and get most of my gear out of the elements. Awesome video!
It was too dark and late to bother pitching my tent so I slept in a wheat field in a bin-liner on my first night of bikepacking, using my bike as a pillow. It was both cold and sweaty and I forgot about the morning dew. But when I sat up in the morning I took a photo of the sunrise that won a photography competition 😊
It's a great story. We hope that next time you can take the photo without going through all the hassle of the previous night
I must add that it was an UNUSED bin liner 😅
Sounds like a super lightweight set up 😂
Top tip: make sure your multi tool has a tick remover on it. Lyme's Disease is worth avoiding as best as possible.
Just because you remove it doesn't mean you don't get lyme. Got it recently - it's not that bad.
@@Rainaman- Yes! The best thing to do is to not be bitten at all, the second best thing is to remove the tick ASAP - and get treatment if you develop symptoms.
... your multi-tool*
I've got a plastic card one, weighs nothing, has 2 different sized jaws and also includes a magnifier for the wee tiny ones. Always in my med kit for hiking, camping and bikepacking.
@@einundsiebenziger5488 appreciate you
As an ex soldier I've slept under the stars on many occasions, when I left the forces I really didn't want to ever do it again! Fast forward 20 years and I started camping again. Cycling and camping. Its the cheapest way to travel. Off to Wales, Scotland, The Lakes hotels are expensive. It was brilliant! 3 years I did it, then on a week away MTBing in Wales we had storms every single night, it was horrendous. Through the day it was fine but we didn't get any sleep. The tent was great, it kept us dry and stood up to the wind but they aren't sound proof. That was the last time. Now I use Hostels. I really think you guys should do a film to show the UK's network of hostels, what great value they are. They're a forgotten thing. When I was growing up if you were planning an outdoor adventure the first thing you'd look for is the nearest hostel. You'd be doing YHA a great service too. Ps. Other than being a YHA member I don't have any affiliation.
thanks for the recommendation 📝
Highly recommend ear plugs, i found the loop earplugs work very well and stay in your ears without falling out and dramatically reduce noise.
@@mrbombastikalime9867 hi mate, thanks for the info. That would be the easiest and cheapest option 100% unfortunately I can't wear earplugs cos of issues I have with my ears. To be honest I don't think anything wouldve helped us that week. The tent was leaning over that far, banging everything about inside the tent. That's Wales for you though.
Bothys are a great option too, and completely free to use. Not all are the most accessible for cyclists though!
Life saver. Earplugs. Could mean the difference between a long night and a good sleep no matter how good your camping gear is. Especially if I sleep in the tent next to yours.
I use a one man tent that is not as high as the one shown in this video, but it packs up smaller because it has less fabric and more importantly, fewer and shorter poles. The top is made of a breathable waterproof fabric, so I don't use a rainfly. However, breatheable fabrics don't work as well when used as tent material compared to when they are use as clothing next to your skin. In certain weather conditions, condensation can build up on the tent fabric due to moisture from your body colliding with the cold tent fabric. Make sure the seams on whatever shelter you use are factory sealed. Seam sealer liquids applied by the user are not as effective and long lasting as the factory applied sealing tape. If you're claustrophobic, don't even think of using a bivvy. If you have to zip it up because of the weather, you can easily wake up from a nightmare in the middle of the evening and think you've been buried alive. Not joking. This has happened to several folks I know and it is not funny at all. Absolutely use a separate thin waterproof ground cover to separate the bottom of your tent from the ground. Do NOT extend that ground cover beyond the edge of your tent bottom or else rain can run down the side if your tend and flow underneath your tent between the tent floor and the ground cover. That ground cover can also serve as a temporary rain shelter if you get caught in a storm and want to ride out the storm with protection beyond a rain jacket. 40 year outdoor educator here. Most of what I have learned is through mistake and failure. I hope you can avoid this path I have taken! 🤦♂️🤣🤣🤣
Just go for a light weight tent. It always works, protects you from the rain, the sun, the wind, the cold and the heat and certainly not the least: the bugs. It's for all seasons and all climats.
All other solutions (like bivi bags, hammocks, etc) are just desperate ways to try to avoid buying a tent, which you will do in the end anyways.
Started off with a tent, went to a hammock. Will never bring a tent anymore. Actually bought a bigger and more comfortable hammock this summer. Only weighs 700g and about 850-900g including the straps etc.
Good luck with your tent though.
@@YouOnlyLiveHans As long as you only stay in places where you can put that (one person-) hammock, it is an option.
By the way; with all the needed extra's added, I don't think hammock camping is less bulky nor lighter.
no
I've had bad luck with bivy bags. Trying to tuck in from the Canadian cold means more condensation in the bag, ruining the insulation of my down sleeping bag. Wasn't able to get it properly dry again after that. It was cold nights until we bailed for a hostel.
Regular sized tent poles no problem get a tent pole carrying case yes they are a thing and strap it to the top tube.
Bivy bag bring a large heavy duty bin-trash bag to keep your shoes, etc in at night, it can also double as a emergency poncho
I always get the groundsheet-footprints for my tents, they save wear and tear on the tent floor and keep it cleaner.
1 man tent for backpacking, I've got a Bivi with a bug net and a guyline to keep it off my face for bikepacking as it's smaller though. Usually carry a 3x3 tarp too, can either use half of it as a groundsheet under the bivi or cover the bike as well depending on where I am. Wild camping is legal in Scotland, but having the tarp to blend in can be helpful if you want to be a bit more stealthy.
Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations
I use an OEX Bobcat 1 tent. very small, but I can cook in the porch area and store all my kit in there too.
Fantastic tent, used it in tough Scottish conditions. Excellent.
If you are not sure about bike touring, I recommend taking advantage of the Premier Inn policy of allowing cycle tourists to take their bike into the room. So no need for a tent or cooking equipment. We have used it half a dozen times and never been refused, although on one occasion we did have to quote the website. The advantage in bike security and reduced faff of stipping everything of value from your bike at each stop are obvious. I am not on commission but may be open to offers from Premier Inn😁
I have a 1 man tent weighing 560g the same as a bivvybag, which by the way must have the topside made of Goretex or you will be steaming inside and have icelumps forming when it is freezing.
And gore-Tex ain’t cheap!
I have both a one-person and a two-person tent that I switch between given the weather and difficulty of the tour. Wish I could get by with a bivvy or a hammock, but the extra weight is worth having my favorite sleep kit and keeping the bugs well away from me.
There's no right answer; just experiment and find what works for you.
Been bike camping on a budget for ever and the best tent I found was the Station !3. It`s cheap and fairly light weigth but most importently tall enough to sit up in. Very usefull for getting dressed in the dry on a wet start morning
A follow up video on packing to bike and the available bags for a bike would be very welcome.
Being new to bike packaging, I am in the process of buying gear for my first outing. ❤
Additional things to for:
1. A two door tent is better for ventilation and getting in and out of.
2. Make sure the tent you're getting has a rain fly, otherwise you'll be flooded next time it rains.
3. Free standing tents are easier to set up as they do not require staking in to stay erect.
I last bike packed 35 years ago. I just had a mat and slept on the ground - this was in the southern French alpes so the weather was ok for this. I still have the bike which I use now as a commuter.
If taking it seriously, I highly recommend a 2 man Big Agnes Copper Spur 2, the bike version comes with shorter segment poles, and the bag has attachments to fit on handlebars and fits between brake levers and only weighs 1.3-1.4 ish kg.
Recommending a bivvy sack. for a first experience camping is a good way to make sure they never try camping again. Humidity much?
Great content, i’m older and much more simpler bike rider. I love GCN and everything that they do. But doing talks like this fits me for the things that I do.
I put the polls on the outside of your saddlebag or use velcro to strap them to your top tube. I have a single skin £30 Trespass tent that has served me at 4'C and in torrential rain
Just back from a shelter tour around Denmark which is pretty much the perfect scenario. I would love to see a dedicated bikepacking Q/A video with Conor.
Those shelters are incredible!
Conor, your enthusiasm for bike packing knows no bounds, you're even doing tree impressions. Brave given you're with Hank 😂
Footprints are great. 2 person tents too. Bivis condensate. Spot on !
Quick note about terminology: a 1 man tent sleeps 1 man, uncomfortably, with bags outside. A 2 man tent sleeps 2 men uncomfortably with bags outside or 1 man comfortably with bags inside. Plan accordingly.
Depends on the tent and your style. For example, if you use a 30L pack and you turn this into a pillow, it fits under your head. Biking, if you use a sleeping bag sack, it can turn alot of kit into a pillow too
Bus shelters... Church porches, and if it's raining and there are no drinking teenagers; A skateboard ramp 👍 Excellent shelter choices before carrying something like a tent! 😅 🚴♂🎶🐝
Literally going bikepacking tomorrow and had decided to ditch the tent. GCN you read my mind!!
The pants & coats have become so breathable and water/wind proof: that for years I have not used a tent. Just getting back into tye luxury of a tent, will help me with exposure problems over winter.
Tarp, and a very lightweight basic cheap inner from a tent. Available on their own. All the tarp benefits, with a good bug-haven, protection from the lighter rain that blows/splashes in, and waterproof floor. Can be pegged out and guyed/poled up, or just used as a bivvy. Best of both worlds.
does the UK not have mosquitoes? I've actually wondered this on numerous GCN bike-packing videos without tents. where I live, it's not a matter of whether you like bugs or not--you would get eaten alive regardless of your feelings towards them.
The Celtic Isles don't really have mosquitos - least few enough that you're only rarely bothered by them. Lot of Scotland (highlands especially), Wales, and parts of Ireland have a lot of biting midges though.
I slept many nights with just a half a tent covering me, staying more than one night I would make a over head shelter. But most of that was Army life I would now spring for a tent now a days 🎉
Don't worry too much about finding short poles. Poles don't have to be packed in your bags and can be strapped onto your bike separately.
Done this with some velcro straps and lashed them to the top tube, works well.
Good idea!
Oath! I do this you, don't even notice them
I use my tent poles in the saddle bag to make it more rigid and precent it drooping.
Totally agree with the 3000mm static minimum. But also to get that from a reputable manufacturer. Buying a 3000mm static head tent off AliEx may not be what you're hoping for.
And as for hammocks, two words.... WIND CHILL. You are exposing yourself to the worst of wind chill in a hammock. Great for warm climate, or if you're sleeping in a barn, but not very good in the cold or when you have no idea where you're going to be sleeping tonight. Especially if all your bike packing friends with tents, decide to stay on a nice camp site that they found towards the end of a long day.
Fable. Cheap tents from AliEx are more waterproof then cheap 'European' tents that use only the cheapest (also made in China) fabrics.
On my Orox R14, I bring my Keb Dome 3 person and enjoy all of the space. On my Diverge, I bring my Abisko Lite 1 person.
Top worst part of a bivy bag is if you like to switch sleeping on one side vs another side it is not easy. Hence each time you wake up. If you are a back sleeper it works well I assume. I wanted to love mine. I hope I use it more than once but I'm thinking it will stay packed away. I'll take the tent next time.
I've found outdoor research makes a really good bivy sack. They are a bit on the pricy side, but its worth it imo
Tee pee tent (Hex Peak v4a), wire saw to cut branch for main post. No poles to carry, wire saw weighs nothing, fully sheltered from weather and midges if in Scotland and has large porch area for cooking, can stand up to bad weather
1 man tent for the win.
Good Comparison. I like the hammock!
Would never use a bivvy bag in Australia.... climbing into that one man tent at the end of the day is pure luxury!
Some tents come in bike packing versions with small poles. Big Agnes for eg.
I didn't particularly enjoy my bivvybag-ing. As mentioned in the video, if you go into after a hot day you can stay uncomfortably hot for a long time. But worse, it felt like a "Bodybag Preview Experience". Every morning, was relieved that I actually woke up.
I just pressed the like button because of the last part 😂
In first my bike trip in Italy I did not use a tent. Just have a sleeping bag. During the bikepacking tour through the Alps and North France I did use one person tent because of rains in those regions. You do not need a footprint for your tent, because the tent is already rough enough. Very often I see one person tent like in the video. I am using a Snugpack Ionosphere. Just enough space for me and my bike bags.
Some hooped bivis are good compromise. Although never waterproof as condensation on the inside.
I use a 2 person tent worth the weight. You can change ur outfits and be comfortable in a storm(as comfort as one can be in one)
1. if Connor had been an actual tree, the hammock would have been hung too tight,
2. the actual tree used was far too small,
3. you can buy hammocks that also double as a bivvy (for situations such as that where there are no trees available),
4. there are other solutions for conditions of lack of trees: the Tensa stand which is a mostly free-standing ultralight hammock stand designed for backpacking, and one of the partners of that project also invented a monopole design that would take the role of Connor in this video, for when you only have one tree available, and this reconfigures into a hiking pole.
5. just as with the bivvy, there are tarps designed for hammocks, and you can use the normal sleeping bag and pad, or instead opt for hammock specific inspiration.
6. hammocks can be as simple as the one used in this video, a simple length of fabric knotted at both ends, or be as complex as tents with mosquito netting and zippered doors, accessories. the Ammok Dramur is a 90° hammock where you lay perpendicular to the suspension rather than parallel to it, and functions more like a recliner than a bag.
7. the biggest mistake people make when choosing a hammock is they get the super cheap ones that are actually too short and made of material to coarse for most people to be comfortable overnight. typically they also lay in it incorrectly banana style. if you lay in it the Brazilian Way, on an angle, all of the tension in the fabric is down the middle which is where you need to support your bottom. like a bowling ball in a sack your hip bones are going to find their way to the bottom of the curve, and you want your back supported more on the incline, but you want your feet hanging away from the middle so that they sag down level with or below your bottom. you'll also want to adjust this angle so that your knees aren't overextended. also this is not like a flatbed so once you get this angle correct you won't want to sleep on your side or belly, in fact you won't probably even move all night and you'll wake up in the same position you went to sleep. if this is not the case for you then it probably means your hammock isn't set up correctly or maybe you're experiencing digestive issues. something else I should point out is if your hammock is set up correctly then you actually can sleep on your side in a legs bent or full fetal position as long as you have a pillow. if you can't do this then there's not enough sag in the sidewalls meaning you have hung it too tight.
if you have any trouble getting a hammock set up, you can ask me and I can help you diagnose your setup. there are lots of tips tricks and advice on hammock forums, but honestly you're better off asking myself or somebody else who's really experienced (I literally only sleep in hammocks, everyday for the last 12 years barring hotel stays, and honestly if I could set up the hammock in a hotel room, I would)
Tent is a must and a 2/3 man tent is a must after a hard days cycle because rest is paramount for an enjoyable experience. Bivy bags aka hobo bags is not what i call restful imo.
Always love your video.
10:10 was undoubtedly the Brest part ha ha
I'm working on a new method: an ultralight cot (Helinox Lite) at 1.19 kg, + a waterproof bivvy bag at 0.3 kg, + a pillow (Nemo Fillo Elite) at 0.08 kg. Total weight 1.57 kg. In cool weather add a water resistant, ultralight down camping blanket (Alpine Ridge), 0.42 kg. Still under 2 kg. The items all pack to a tiny size, except for the cot, which packs to 50 cm x 11 cm. Advantages: low total weight and volume; keeps you off the ground, away from insects, rocks, bumps and holes in the ground; great comfort for sleeping; and the things that can get wet (cot and bivvy bag) can be shaken dry in the morning before packing away. Some small gear can go under the cot, and the rest can stay packed in the bikepacking bag. That's my theory anyway. I've got most of it and will be trying it out soon!
When you buy a tent, watch out if it has ventilation openings...We recently bought the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 and only noticed on the second trip, that it has no ventilation openings... Otherwise the tent is great: lightweight, designed to fit perfectly on your handle bar, big enough for two tall people
Now reshoot the video on a day where it's raining and blowing ... enjoy that bivvy bag😂
I once slept outside using just a zzzleeping bag and a sheet of plastic as a drop cloth. It started lightly raining so I took the sheet and folded it over top of me to stay dry.
Awesome Tree!
Be great to get a tent in a bike bottle (or 2) and pole in the seat tube.
It's actually the big shepherd dogs that scare me most. Then, snakes and the other wild animals. Although, we have scorpions where I live, I never considered them as animals to watch out for while camping. Now, there is a new animal in my list of animals to be scared of :( thanks Conor
Bugs don't scare me. Snakes don't scare me. But bears do. Major problem in western North America in areas folks like to camp.
Great information
Roflol! I never saw a tree mumbling it wants porridge too!
It’s because you haven’t tried Hank’s porridge, after that, everything makes sense
Would GCN management consider selling bikepacking gear from the GCN shop? Maybe some gear makers would work with the GCN team to design and construct GCN BikePacking Gear (GCN BPG) as useable merchandise? Colours selected to be inconspicuous, but obviously not military. Small items in HiVis colours. Maybe frame bags would be too hard, but bivvy bags, tents, clothing, cooking gear and stoves etc. are rarely bike specific. Examples to start discussion only: Network with Trangia to arrange a GCN T28 or Mini Pot set. Network with a Bivvy Bag maker like SnugPak to arrange GCN Bivvy bag.
I run a cheap one man hiking tent with pretty long poles. I just strap them to my rack or frame
Can I ask which brands are tents 🏕️ from please ?! Many thanks xxx
Best options: Rab Ridge Raider Bivi. Safe like a tent. Small like a Bivi.
There's really no point using something like a Rab Ridge Raider. They're expensive, heavy and tiny. A Vango f10 Helium ul 1 is cheaper, slightly heavier and much larger, with an inner and a vestibule
As a seasoned camper it is very clear to me that you guys are indeed cyclists and not campers. information is somewhat correct and somewhat useful but a bit incomplete.
Hammock camping usually requires more then just the hammock to be comfortable. Whole story for itself but a really amazing experience once dialed in.
tents are great and there are types for any temper an any pricepoint.
Absolutely not on board with the bivy bag. Just preference. I,d always take my tent instead. at 1 kg, it's lighter than the bivy, especially if a tarp is included.
Exactly, cyclists, not campers. I feel sorry for first time bikepackers, that watch this video, and then think they have been "informed" about what tent to use.
My tent weighs in at 850g with extra pole. It offers sooo much more room than a Bivy. I can situp straight, change clothes, eat, cook, wait until rain stops or whatever. There is space enough inside for me and for my gear pluis a dog why would I ever prefer a Bivybag? Or just a tarp without bugprotection at the same weight?
buy a one man tent
DO NOT buy the slim bivvy tents
humidity builds up on the inner lining
on a tent, that builds up on the walls, and won't touch you, just get a tent please
Tarp is great but you need to know how to set it up. That looks horrible :) Try asymmetrical holden tent or an a-frame with foot end closed. A-frame with s-size tarp is also so low that it is stable even in storm.
Watching this in my backpacking tent 🙈
Ha Ha. Brilliant. Loved the 'portable tree'
Connor as the "pretend tree": classic.
Thanks JLW , Conor "pretend tree", and crew , that was good ! I'm still planning my first , we shall see .
All those years of being the tree in the school play paid off. Let us know which setup you decided to use.
@@gcn of course
Too late, already purchased a 1-person tent. Have tried the bivy option back in the 1990's ... think I'll skip that.
Please add details of the products to the video. Particularly interested in the exo-poled one man.
Conor used on the Tuscany trail and I'm a similar height and struggling to find a suitable option. Thanks.
It looks like a tent by Jack Wolfskin. But more producers make similar tents. I know Terra Nova makes one, Alpkit, Hilleberg, Exped, Wechsel.
A lot of tent are around 2,15-2,20 m in lengtht. So to make full use of that look for relatively straight walls where your head and feet will go. Or consinder getting a 2 person tunneltent which usually provide more lenght (and you could use it diagonally 😊). Also it gives you more space to move around inside a tent.
Wechsel has a 1 person tent with an inner lenght of 240 cm (Pathfinder). Good luck!
10:10 Connor should have said, "I'm Groot!" 🙂
One word: midges. Another word: ticks. Last word: Tent
This title makes we need/want to know how many GCN presenters it takes to tow a caravan, and, is it big enough for them to all fit in it.
4 season inverted "T" entry Lanshan 1 XL, double skin, 985g less the pole(improvise what works for you for the 125cm needed, supposed to be a walking pole)- £135 delivered, from Ali Express... bargain....Only get the newer "Pro" if you can live with single skin horrors and dripping condensation soaking you anyway.... there is a "Flame's Creed" older version tent that's 210cm long(XL is 230cm) and suited to smaller people that can be had for even less!!
And ya didn’t even mention a highland great kilt. Harumph! 😂
Hiking pole tent and lightweight poles (not actually hiking ones). Have bivvy and tarped and it's generally awful.
First rule: Stay dry! After that, everything is so much easier. For me, 2 man tent so everything I can possibly fit inside is dry.
Not naming the example Tents used and not showing how big they are packed up... Seriously, thanks for nothing 😂
What's the point of the video, then?
I mean solid observations made in it but ... yeah. Go figure.
what is the blue tent make and model
Just tape your tent poles to your top tube if you have a cheap tent with longer, awkward poles
Shoes and clothes go inside the bivy. They go inside the sleeping bag at your feet
Bivy bag is obsolete nowadays apart from ultra long endurance races (in dry climate!) if you lay on wet ground in the rain to sleep - you won't sleep, that's a guarantee. Small tarp over you doesn't protect from wind and splash, so you go for a bigger tarp, which can be easily taken by wind as it has no structure to keep it together in adverse weather. Plus if you have bivy and tarp to carry you may as well just take a bloody tent! It's like people wo insist on owning a monkey... Just get a kid already 😂
Judging by Connor’s voice , bike packing leaves you sounding very hungover or tired , or both ? 😂
The route full of hills that day didn’t help either. 🤣 Here’s the link in case you haven’t seen that video 👉 th-cam.com/video/UA-7Vbxhp5k/w-d-xo.htmlsi=c4kzS8yp9ZshkqnJ
Connor as a tree is a like from me
If you are using a hammock make sure you use a ridgeline
I’ve been bikepacking with a hammock for three years in a row and it’s amazing! Don’t forget some anti mosquito/tick spray and a good sleeping bag, it makes for a much lighter and smaller travel pack and it’s so comfortable to sleep in.
About my hammock: it’s a king size Ticket To The Moon, 320x230cm, it weighs only 700g and the straps weigh about 150-200g. Setup only takes a minute and taking it apart max two minutes. Bought it online for less than 70 euros.
If you are really worried about bugs or rain, just get a mosquito net and a hammock tarp with a tagline with it. I just hang my bags on the straps as the hammock will hold 200kg easily.
I will never take a tent (+ air bed + tarp) bike packing anymore.
Tent doesn't have to be free-standing. 0.1% chance you can't use pegs.
Some places are rocky as, and I ain't bringing a hammer
@@Skatted I see hikers in the UK use non-free standing tents all the time. And even free standing tents need pegs to keep them from blowing away.
I do agree there are situations in which a free standing tent can be handy. For example when you camp in a barn or some other shelter with a concrete floor. Or maybe it's just an asphalt parking lot if you have to?
But to suggest it HAS to be free standing just isn't true. A single pole tarp tent like the Lanshan has its advantages too. Cheap, light, space, great quality, small package. I mean a MSR Hubba Hubba bike packing tent is €500+
As a not that short Pole i can confirm that if Hank tries to stuff me in a bag i will cause problems.
Them making this video:
Me still wishing for a bike: 👁️👄👁️
Did you take into account that a two man tent for Conor is a one man tent.
Ahhhhhhh !!! What's that big hairy caterpillar on Connors neck 😱😱😱😱
A German company does a very good trailer tent for bikes
which one?
1:17 😁
Sierra designs , clip flashlight. Light , small package, and storm worthy.
I think we know now why Conor had so much kit on his bike!