Reducing the bulk - weekend camping

[Christophe Noel]

Well, I don't have many shots that are terribly illuminating.



That is actually our previous MSR Mutha Hubba (3P) in Iceland. Everything fit in a Helly Hansen rolling 90-liter bag. That trip we used two Thermarest NeoAir XTherm pads, and two Thermarest Antares sleeping bags. Great set up. Total weight was well under 20 pounds with the Reactor Stove system and two pots. Super easy to keep weight down. We also use Helinox chairs on occasion, although I'm inclined to use Thermarests new chair when it hits in Jan. I forget what it's called.

My tank bag kit is a Sea to Summit Spark SpII bag, Sea to Summit UltraLight sleeping pad, and either an MSR AC Bivy, or a Sea to Summit Specialist Solo. Under 4 pounds - easy. Still pretty comfy.

Packing light is super easy and there's a million ways to do it.

This is another system I use off the mountain bike. Very comfortable. Surprisingly storm worthy, although I tend to like a shelter with a floor for most trips. I forget the total weight, but again, well under 10 pounds with a stove.

http://expeditionportal.com/field-tested-nemo-equipment-apollo-moonwalk-and-escape-pod/

 

[WyoCherokee]

As others have said...pack as if you are going backpacking. It's tough to not get in the "overlanding cram everything possible into the vehicle" train of thought. Having to carry 2 dogs, and 2 people, i have found that using:
1 large duffel that holds chairs, sleeping bags, pads and tents (folded back seat)
2 identical smaller totes that stack for cooking materials and "camp stuff" (roof rack)
1 larger tote for non perishables(folded backseat)
1 day bag for the dog gear/ hunting gear (folded backseat)
1 medium duffel for the clothes(folded backseat)
3 gallons of water (strapped into cargo bay)
1 20qt grizzly cooler (folded backseat)
3 ammo cans for tools/straps (under dog deck)
1 small tool box (under dog deck)
1 bag with air compressor and recovery gear (under dog deck)
2 small daypacks for each person (under dog deck)

is enough for a 4 day trip with 2 people, 2 dogs and everything fits in or On my Jeep XJ with room for comfort.

 

[xCSx]

This was the best way to fit everything into my FJ.View attachment 369773

Haha that's a good one!

 

[xCSx]

On lighter trips we can get two bags, two pads, one tent, inflatable pillows, and a few basic accessories like headlamps, small stove, etc, in a 70-liter North Face duffel bag. Pretty easy. In fact, we spent two weeks with a similar set up in Iceland with that kit, plus a small cooler and a months worth of luggage in - a Suzuki Jimny. Not hard. Plenty of room to spare.

The days when backpacking gear was uncomfortable, is long, long gone. We were also in a 4 person tent on 3 inch pads.

Wow - any recommendation on bags, tents, pillows? This is what I'm looking for.

 

[Riptide]

Even with our Sprinter camper, we sourced everything from the backpacking world. Clothing, chairs, tables, etc. Just the clothing alone saved us a huge amount of space, with crushable/ stuff able lightweight stuff. I'm still a sucker for some new lightweight wish speed/low drag camping gear. But over the years, we've tuned it down to just a few high-quality items that serve multiple uses. Trial and error...

 

[Lucky j]

Dawn sleeping bag, i like dawn illow too, but a travel pillow would work.

The tent cold be a small expedition tent with a vestibule just to leav shoes and get in an out, but a could also go with a larger 4 people (adult) expedition tent.

Go to a good outdoor store like REI and others, they should be able to give you good advice on quality products and you will see the size on the packed dimension.

 

[Biker Eagle]

Just a few items from my motorcycle camping gear and my backpacking gear.
1. Backpacking down quilt- about 2/3 the bulk of a regular sleeping bag. 2) Thermarest NeoAir mattress- packs as small as a nalgene bottle. 3. Silnylon tarp 10x12 or 12x14- slightly bigger than a nalgene, or 2 hammocks and tarps. (Or sylnylon Tarp Tents) 4. Cook with backpacker pots-n-pans and a MSR Pocket Rocket stove. All of the above will fit in one Rubbermaid Action Packer. (It's where my stuff is stored right now). And last, my Kermit chair...it packs ridiculously small and is very cumfy. Limit yourselves to one duffel bag each for clothes.

 

[perterra]

What are your top tips / top gear to reduce bulk?

By the time I loaded up the sleeping pads, sleeping bags, cooler, tent, tarps, snacks, tools, etc - the entire trunk of the FJ was packed top to bottom for 2 people's worth of 'stuff'...

I found this ridiculous.

Besides going the RTT route - what other ways have you found to reduce your overall gear storage footprint?

Start traveling by motorcycle, you will quickly decide what you must have and what is fluff.

 

[Robert Bills]

Start traveling by motorcycle, you will quickly decide what you must have and what is fluff.

No kidding. I used to tour extensively on a BMW R100S with two small saddle bags and a tank bag, often with a passenger. The routine was to camp two or three nights, then motel one night to take a long, hot shower, wash clothes and sleep in a decent bed, then camp again for several nights. One quickly learns how to pare down unnecessary items and conserve space.

 

[PlacidWaters]

Backpacking gear is small and light but you pay a comfort penalty for it unless you're young and fit. There's an intermediate zone between backpacking and bulky vehicle camping gear. Let's call it "Zone 2."

I have 3 separate sets of gear:

Zone 1: Backpacking & bike camping
Zone 2: Kayak camping (because a kayak can carry more than a backpack or a bike)
Zone 3: Vehicle camping

Often I use zone 2 gear for car camping because I'm really sick of preparing, loading, setting up, taking down, and putting zone 3 gear back on the shelves. This is all lost time when you could be doing something fun in the outdoors.

Now, zone 2 gear costs money! People who spend a lot of time in the outdoors are willing to spend the money for the added comfort and convenience.

Here's my zone 2 gear:

TENT: Kelty Trail Ridge 3

SLEEPING BAG: LL Bean down semi-rectangular 35F or rectangular 20F.

MATTRESS: Exped Synmat Mega 12: the most possible comfort in a small package.

LIGHTING: Streamlight Siege 3D lantern, small flashlight, and headlamp. The flashlight is only for identifying night creatures at a distance.

Other suggestions:

CLOTHING: Take multipurpose clothing and plan to wear things more than one day unless it's beastly hot and humid. Use layers. A t-shirt + fleece + shell takes the place of a sweater or sweatshirt. A good multipurpose shoe is the Teva Omnium---only footwear you might need on many trips.

FOOD: For a short trip if you prepare food at home you can dispense completely with the stove, fuel, etc. Bring only the dishes and utensils you need for your specific food list. Plates aren't always necessary (use a bowl).

FIRES: I've given up taking a saw and ax for space reasons. In fact I've generally given up having fires because it's too labor intensive. I think that's radical though. On nights when I make a fire I sure appreciate it.

What you consider "comfortable" depends on your age, size, and level of fitness. If you're in your 70s and overweight you won't enjoy crawling out of a two-person tent. If you're in your 20s and fit you won't mind that.

So a reasonable set of compact yet comfortable gear would be: Kelty Trail Ridge 3 tent; Exped Synmat Mega 12 mattress; rectangular or semi-rectangular down sleeping bag; inflatable pillow. No need to cram yourself in a mummy bag in a two-person tent. If the 3P tent is too small there are light, compact 4P backpacking tents. If you have to spend a day in the tent in the rain the 4P will make a difference.

 

[PlacidWaters]

I removed my rear seat which saved 80 lbs and freed up a space roughly 5'x 2' x 2'.

I would like to do this but I hear it greatly increases interior noise from the road.

 

[Kevin108]

The RTT is a great solution. It would lets you put all your bedding and clothing, if you wanted, packed flat on the roof. That gets the tent, sleeping bags, pads, pillows, etc. all out of the back. We have a large bin that always stays in our FJ with the basics, which is a jump pack, snatch strap, tool kit, jumper cables, Hi-Lift accessories, ratchet straps, etc. Trips of any length add a cooler and a few assorted milk crates. Different crates have different things and the contents depends on where we're going and what, if any, accommodations are at the location. This could be the addition of a Coleman stove, an Aquatainer, a Luggable 'Loo, etc. Add in a couple folding chairs and a table or two and you can stay out pretty much as long as you have a water source.

So far this method has ensured we had everything we needed for any given trip. We just need to work on how it's packed so what we need first or most often is easier to get to.

 

[Buddha.]

I would like to do this but I hear it greatly increases interior noise from the road.

It probably depends on what you drive. I didn't notice any extra noise. I don't get much noise from the AT2's. I get more wind noise than anything. My old vehicle was a straight-piped Mustang, that was annoying for a trip any longer than 45 minutes.

 

[PKayser]

I went from solo bicycle camping to family (2 adults, 13y/o daughter, and a Welsh Terrier) camping in a 2 door JK. We spent 12 days earlier this year exploring the lost coast and PNW. Key is definetly using lightweight backpacking gear and packing gear in lots of soft bags so they can be stuffed into unused spaces. Action Packers are great for storing things in the garage between trips, but take up a lot of space.

 

[Howski]

I save a lot of space downsizing my cooler for day/overnight trips. Depending on what I choose to bring for food I can get a weekend's worth in a soft sided cooler if I'm solo. Mainly an advantage from the bulk and ice side of things.

As has been mentioned, some sleeping bags take up a ton of room. I could use some improvement there