Cooking and camping gear for us cyclists? Suggestions?

rat_race

So, I quit my secure high-paying recession-proof job to do some bike touring...probably (and preferably) solo. Go me.

I'm fairly familiar with touring in the sense that I've done it (for short periods), and have a decent rack & back panniers, and a tiny 2.5KG tent.

I also have a decent sleeping bag, but it's massive, and maybe too warm for the temps I expect (Oz, Spring, in or around Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov)...

Soooo, I'm mostly looking for suggestions on:
- sleeping bag/whatever
- cooking equipment (what stove type? can I get fuel internationally? what pots/pans/skiddles?)
- good/quick/cheap/easy recipe ideas?

I'd like the smallest & lightest. And not too expensive preferably. No room/interest for luxury items...so I'm not looking for the "best" out there, but the most practical. I'm hoping some of your experiences can give me a list "must have" items -- and hopefully some makes/models too! Any ideas?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Lumen

Modern stoves are just amazing.

I bought a MSR Reactor for a family camping trip last year.

It is almost too quick, there's no zen-like quiet contemplation time while waiting for the water to boil.

http://cascadedesigns.com/en/msr/stoves/rapid/reactor/product

...compared to my experience in the early 1990s when cooking pasta seemed to take hours.

Expensive though.

Coronal

rat_race wrote: »

Soooo, I'm mostly looking for suggestions on:
- sleeping bag/whatever
- cooking equipment (what stove type? can I get fuel internationally? what pots/pans/skiddles?)
- good/quick/cheap/easy recipe ideas?

I'd like the smallest & lightest. And not too expensive preferably. No room/interest for luxury items...so I'm not looking for the "best" out there, but the most practical. I'm hoping some of your experiences can give me a list "must have" items -- and hopefully some makes/models too! Any ideas?

Sounds like fun I've been researching the same for a while.

Sleeping bag: I came across one of these a while pack for a decent price so I took it. It's suited what I've needed it for here, but I've never pushed the limits. Certainly small and light, though. These guys have the specs, but there are conflicting opinions of them online.
You may also want some sort of a ground mat/inflatable mattress. These can be light, but are mostly pricey. No experience with anything other than the simple foam thingys myself.

Stove: the lightest will be something like a mini Trangia, or a penny stove, which both take alcohol as fuel. Neither will cook stuff particularly fast, though. These options are also pretty cheap. I think MSR do a pocket rocket stove, or something like that, which is meant to be good. I haven't used either, not much of a cooking person.

Have fun with it!

feck sake lads

cant go wrong with Optimus stoves ,Alpkit do some really nice sleeping bags, Thermarest mats are supposed to be good but Exped down mat is the dog's.
sounds like a great tour.

Icyseanfitz

rat_race wrote: »

So, I quit my secure high-paying recession-proof job to do some bike touring...probably (and preferably) solo. Go me.

I'm fairly familiar with touring in the sense that I've done it (for short periods), and have a decent rack & back panniers, and a tiny 2.5KG tent.

I also have a decent sleeping bag, but it's massive, and maybe too warm for the temps I expect (Oz, Spring, in or around Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov)...

Soooo, I'm mostly looking for suggestions on:
- sleeping bag/whatever
- cooking equipment (what stove type? can I get fuel internationally? what pots/pans/skiddles?)
- good/quick/cheap/easy recipe ideas?

I'd like the smallest & lightest. And not too expensive preferably. No room/interest for luxury items...so I'm not looking for the "best" out there, but the most practical. I'm hoping some of your experiences can give me a list "must have" items -- and hopefully some makes/models too! Any ideas?

Thanks for any suggestions!

...sorry i couldn't be more constructive

El.duderino

I have used primus and coleman gas and multi-fuel stoves.

Regarding fuel. Gas stoves tend to be slow. Liquid fuel stoves as mentioned are like blow-torches and cook very quickly. Avoid fuels like petrol and any fuel with additives, Isopropanol (alcohol) killed my coleman multifuel. They will coke up the stove or require you to clean and service seals etc. Coleman fuel is good or any liquid fuel you buy in camping shops. They dont have any additives and are designed for stoves.

Also remember you cannot fly with fuels. If you are going to Australia, Wait till your there to buy bulk of things. There are massive B&Q size shops that sell outdoor/fishing equip for fraction of what items cost here.

Dont forget your Spork!;)

rat_race

Thanks for all your replies so far! Very helpful...

I've looked up most of the suggestions but I'm still a little worried about getting fuel. If I were to pre-buy one before Oz -- which I want to do because I'm doing a 10 day tour in the states before Oz -- I'm wondering about replacing the fuel.

For example, this Coleman:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-F1-Lite-Stove-8/dp/B000JXQABQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1327099476&sr=1-4

Operates off Coleman butane/propane cartridges 100, 250 or 500. Will non-Coleman containers fit? Is there a standard? Coleman might not be popular in the States or Oz.

Sorry, I'm a bit dumb about this stuff.

serendip

Coronal wrote: »

Stove: the lightest will be something like a mini Trangia, or a penny stove, which both take alcohol as fuel. Neither will cook stuff particularly fast, though. These options are also pretty cheap. I think MSR do a pocket rocket stove, or something like that, which is meant to be good. I haven't used either, not much of a cooking person.

I'd be a big Trangia fan myself. They're slow, but they can't break and the fuel is available pretty much everywhere.

Cabaal

Another vote for the Trangia stoves, great little things and hardy as hell.
Different sizes of them available too and they are pretty light

With the exception of muslin countrys its very very easy get the fuel for the Trangia stove as well,

clonmahon

No worries about fuel with the Kelly Kettle, use what ever solid fuel is available when you get there (will also burn liquid fuel like veg oil). Stove, kettle, pan and saucepan 0.76kg. With dry fuel it's as fast as an electric kettle or a gas hob. With the pot stand you can boil the kettle and use the saucepan (or frying pan) at the same time. I brought it on the bike to Mayo last year, loved it. Quality Irish made product, £ 54.25 sterling (+ carriage) from the Kelly Kettle Company in Co Mayo.

http://www.kellykettle.com/vmchk/Kelly-Kettle-Kits/Aluminium-Trekker-Kelly-Kettle%C2%AE-Complete-Kit.html

rurs

clonmahon wrote: »

No worries about fuel with the Kelly Kettle, use what ever solid fuel is available when you get there (will also burn liquid fuel like veg oil). Stove, kettle, pan and saucepan 0.76kg. With dry fuel it's as fast as an electric kettle or a gas hob. With the pot stand you can boil the kettle and use the saucepan (or frying pan) at the same time. I brought it on the bike to Mayo last year, loved it. Quality Irish made product, £ 54.25 sterling (+ carriage) from the Kelly Kettle Company in Co Mayo.

http://www.kellykettle.com/vmchk/Kelly-Kettle-Kits/Aluminium-Trekker-Kelly-Kettle%C2%AE-Complete-Kit.html

+1 on the Kelly Kettle, especially for boiling water. BTW, how do you go about using veg oil as fuel?

cdaly_

I suspect you soak something like paper/cloth in the veg oil and burn it that way.

clonmahon

cdaly_ wrote: »

I suspect you soak something like paper/cloth in the veg oil and burn it that way.

That will do it, or else get it going with solid fuel first and then once it burning hot pour some oil in the chimney.

Mycroft H

Another vote for the trangia. Amazingly reliable light little stove.

rat_race

Thanks all for the responses...

What are the Triangas like in terms of controlling temp.? I was gonna get the MSR pocket Rocket but seems that there isn't much control to simmer. Not a massive deal though.

thebouldwhacker

Best advice I can give....., www.crazyguyonabike.com