With your tent and sleeping bag, like with the pack, you’re
going to want to settle on a budget going in to your shopping. I would
even be more willing to make sacrifices to save budget on these items
than on the pack.
going to want to settle on a budget going in to your shopping. I would
even be more willing to make sacrifices to save budget on these items
than on the pack.
Unlike with the pack, I would feel pretty comfortable buying
either of these items online. There’s no fit or feel to be concerned
about with these. What you see is what you get.
either of these items online. There’s no fit or feel to be concerned
about with these. What you see is what you get.
So what, exactly, are you looking for?
TENT
FREE STANDING
You may need to pitch your tent on concrete or some other hard surface (like the desert) that won’t really take a stake. You want a free standing tent. This means you’ll be able to pitch your tent so it stands without being
staked into the ground. The poles will tension themselves against a
loop or grommet on the bottom of the tent.
Inthat same vein you want to find a rain fly, or vestibule, that doesn’t
need to be staked to the ground either. Most tents are going to have a
separate rain fly that comes with it, but a lot of those will need to be
staked out to the ground. That’s doable, you can tie the rain fly out
to some bricks or something, but it’s easier if you can be totally free
standing. [both tents pictured are technically free standing, the one
on the right has a rain fly that needs to staked out]
SIZE
You probably want a 2-person tent. This should minimize weight,
while still giving you enough space for you and your pack. I’ve seen
people make it work with a 1-person tent, but I wouldn’t be excited
about it.
while still giving you enough space for you and your pack. I’ve seen
people make it work with a 1-person tent, but I wouldn’t be excited
about it.
WEIGHT
Pay attention to it. When I was originally shopping for my
tent, I would not have thought to look at how much it weighs. You’re
going to carry this thing around the world and you’re going to have to
make weight on some international flights. The less your tent weighs
the more underwear (or souvenirs) you can pack.
tent, I would not have thought to look at how much it weighs. You’re
going to carry this thing around the world and you’re going to have to
make weight on some international flights. The less your tent weighs
the more underwear (or souvenirs) you can pack.
FOOTPRINT
You’re going to want some sort of tarp to go under your tent.
This keeps the tent floor from ripping if you’re on a hard or abrasive
surface. You can find a tarp specifically made for whatever tent you
buy (sometimes you get it for free depending on who you’re ordering
from), called a footprint. Compare costs of a footprint and a regular
tarp and, again, consider weight.
This keeps the tent floor from ripping if you’re on a hard or abrasive
surface. You can find a tarp specifically made for whatever tent you
buy (sometimes you get it for free depending on who you’re ordering
from), called a footprint. Compare costs of a footprint and a regular
tarp and, again, consider weight.
SLEEPING BAG
SYNTHETIC VS. DOWN
Thereare two types of filling for your sleeping bag, the stuff that keeps
you warm. A true down bag is lighter and will pack smaller. It’s also
more expensive and apparently is real tough to deal with if it gets
wet. A bag with synthetic filler is a bit heavier and won’t pack down
as easily, but is no problem if it gets wet. As someone who rarely
camps in real life, I would highly recommend a synthetic bag for the
Race as you never know when you might get rained on or something and
you’d hate to have to wait a day or two for your bag to dry out.
MUMMY VS. NOT MUMMY
WhenI got ready for the Race I had only known a sleeping bag as the one my
dad kept in the attic. I didn’t realize they made sleeping bags in
anything other than rectangles. Apparently they make some that fit your
body a little better. It’s called a mummy bag. It’ll also cinch
around your face. In the event that you end up in a real cold spot,
which will probably happy once or twice, you’ll be glad to have a warm
bag. [the above bag is a regular shape, the one on the left is a mummy
bag]
BAG LINER
There may be times when it’s too cold to sleep on top of your
sleeping bag, but too warm to sleep inside. You can find what’s called a
sleeping bag liner to use in this instance. They sell some that are
made of silk. You can use it as a standalone item when you want a
little less than a bag, or you can use it like a sheet inside your
sleeping bag. A cheap alternative is to bring an old sheet with you
that you can curl up in. I did without either of these, but there were a
couple times when it would have been nice to have.
sleeping bag, but too warm to sleep inside. You can find what’s called a
sleeping bag liner to use in this instance. They sell some that are
made of silk. You can use it as a standalone item when you want a
little less than a bag, or you can use it like a sheet inside your
sleeping bag. A cheap alternative is to bring an old sheet with you
that you can curl up in. I did without either of these, but there were a
couple times when it would have been nice to have.
