Sleeping gear for camping that is both light/ultralight and cheap?

allterrainbrain — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:01:05 -0800

I'm looking to put together sleeping gear for mild-weather camping, where low weight and low cost are equally important. So I'm seeking advice on the best way to balance these factors (since the lightest products seem to be the most expensive). So far I'm leaning towards a layer of warm clothing + a fleece blanket wrapped around me like a sleeping bag + a sleeping pad.

Would a Space Blanket be a useful outer layer?

For the sleeping pad, what I'm seeing recommended are Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pads or the Thermarest "lite" orange pads (either of these would be about $50 for one of the smaller sizes, for a total of maybe $65 with the blanket).

Other useful info: I'm 5'7", I'm planning to do at least a month total of simple / mild-weather camping this year (don't anticipate any overnights below 40 F), and I care about minimizing weight because there's other heavy equipment I need to bring on my trips and I need to have only carry-on luggage for flights. My tent is a typical low-end Coleman dome, 5x7 ft.

Will an inflated thermarest break or explode if I put it in my airline's checked luggage?

jldindc — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:50:23 -0800

Above the pressure at sea level, how many additional PSI can I expect checked luggage to experience ? I'm trying to come up with a bike bag that would protect a bicycle while in transit on an airplane. The idea is that most hard cases for bikes are strong, but heavy, and with recent changes in maximum checked luggage weight, often the traveler gets charged extra fees for excess weight. I already have a full sized mountain bike that collapes into a suitcase size that is within the maximum luggage dimensions allowed. (See www.sandsmachine.com) Now I'd like to make a nylon case with padding made of aircells of some sort, much like Thermarest camping pads. Not only are these things light and potentially could protect the bike, but I may collapse the big bag and take it with me while bike touring, a huge advantage when one wants to fly into one airport and fly out of another (or train or bus or whatever).

However, I can't imagine using breath inflated thermarests if they will break when the plane flies at those altitudes. I think the question comes down to: How many additional PSI of pressure will be added to an already inflated thermarest when at cruising altitude?

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Sleeping gear for camping that is both light/ultralight and cheap?

Will an inflated thermarest break or explode if I put it in my airline's checked luggage?