Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

Why not wait until the snow goes or get a sled with a couple of huskies then cuddle up to the huskies for warmth or catch a Pennine Great Brown Bear for its pelt

A 2 man tent is always much more comfortable than a solo tent but it depends on whether you are prepared to carry the extra weight. If cycling this shouldn't be too much of a problem I guess, but for backpacking every ounce counts. The geodesic designs are great for winter camping as you can pitch them and they will stay up without the need to put pegs in the ground...if there is little or no wind. Putting pegs in snow or frozen ground can be a pain. If the snow is compact enough it is easy to use a variety of objects which can be buried with the guy attached and packed down. If it is powdery then snow stakes or anchors can help but not many people carry these for camping.

I usually clear a flat area and pop then tent on this...a thermarest usually suffices with a good bag.

I have a Crux X2 which is a good winter tent but at 2.8 kilos may a bit heavier than you want? Geodesic tents also tent to be at the top of the price range! There are loads to choose from but Terra Nova always appear to be the favorite brand. They have an excellent range of tents for all seasons...but not cheap!

Enjoy your winter camping. I much prefer camping in the winter as you don't get earwigs and other creepy crawlies lurking in the tent.

Cheers, Windy

Keith
i agree what windy has said above, i have the coleman phad x2 Geodesic tent that has never let me down in any conditions, has a vestibule at the front and is just big enough for all my kit and myself to shelter from the elements and cook in if the need be. A tad heavier than windys but if your carrying on a bike it won't be a problem, and the best bit is Yeomans are selling them for £79, this is the only tent i own so it ticks all my boxes,

Andy.

Hi Keith,

There seems to be a bit of diversity in this thread, so I'll give you two answers if I may...

For guaranteed Snow, I'd go with Andy's Coleman Phad x2 (it really does tick all the boxes apart from weight), a small packing Thermarest (not an imitation), and a Snugpack Softie Elite 5 (a large(ish) pack size but worth it). Depending on how deep the snow was just compact the snow, dig a 'cool air sink' in the vestibule and use lightweight gelert 'Y' pegs.

For the Bike events, I'd probably go with this all year around, perhaps changing the sleeping bag for the summer.

For none Snow Winter and all year around I'd go with a Goretex Bivi (Winter) or Hennessy Hammock with Snake Skins, same Thermarest, Snugpack Softie Elite 3/4 or (5 if you don't mind lugging it around) and perhaps a TN Big Tarp depending on the forcast. (A lightweight, small packsize, warm and with the tarp very spacious solution).

I'd certainly use this for walking due to the decrease in space and weight by loosing the tent. I wouldn't bother going for the one man tent you're looking at, I'd put the money towards a TN Big Tarp, which will do what that does and more.

Cheers
Red.

thanks guys for all the input,
i have a DD hammock, and im waiting for a cocoon like Wild Bills on order from BCUK,
i have a SOTP Tarp, and an Alkpit Bivvy bag,
thermarest pro light, and a lightweight Vango tent, single skin job weighing about 1KG, that will do for spring till autumn,
so i have a few different options to try,
i could do with a new sleeping bag, but usually i use a couple of bags together, that way if i get too warm i can open the outer bag,

im planning on doing some backpacking and cycling the C2C this year as well as canoeing/camping so im looking forward to trying different methods...

when it gets warmer i will only have to carry one sleeping bag, so that will be a lot less bulky,

i weighed my rucksack the other day, in it i had my sleeping bag, bivvy bag, tent and thermarest, it came to 10lbs...

(09-01-10 09:14 PM)BB. Wrote: [ -> ]im planning on doing some backpacking and cycling the C2C this year

Hi Keith,

I've got a Wheelrights C2C guide here that's not been read in a little while, I can send it over if it would be of assistance....

I've also got a Seat Post Carry Rack that hasn't been used in a while, but is a dream on an MTB if you want to borrow it for the year...

Cheers
Red.

(09-01-10 09:32 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-01-10 09:14 PM)BB. Wrote: [ -> ]im planning on doing some backpacking and cycling the C2C this year

Hi Keith,

I've got a Wheelrights C2C guide here that's not been read in a little while, I can send it over if it would be of assistance....

I've also got a Seat Post Carry Rack that hasn't been used in a while, but is a dream on an MTB if you want to borrow it for the year...

Cheers
Red.

thats really kind of you simon, your a jolly good chap,
if you could pass the book onto Grizzly for me, i will be taking a trip to Nantwich to see him when all this snows gone,,,

the bike rack is it like this, i just bought one...
but Griz' might want to borrow it, i know he wants a bike...

(09-01-10 09:54 PM)BB. Wrote: [ -> ]the bike rack is it like this, i just bought one...
but Griz' might want to borrow it, i know he wants a bike...

That's the Baby....

If he give's me a shout I might have a Full Suss' Specialized FS-1 to go with the back rack (I ain't using it at the mo' so someone should) that will more than look after him, it's done the Polaris a few times and needs new bearings fitted, the bearing kit I've got, it's just a quick job to fit them....

Cheers
Red.

brilliant mate
i think he will be chuffed
i will give him a ring tomorrow

He's probably got a Gucci Suit that I'll need to borrow in the future....

Cheers
Red.