Best air mattress and tent

[muleman69]

In need of a backpack tent and air mattress. Only want to buy once so looking for durable and light mattress (leak proof). The tent needs to be as cyclone proof as possible no mater the price .

 

[Rick300]

I use the Exped 9 down mattress for motorcycle camping. Excellent quality and you absolutely NEED the insulation.. it is the only air mattress I have ever owned that didn't leak. Going on 8 years with it now. There are lots of 3 or 4 season tents to choose from. Being a tall guy, I find center height to be a crucial factor

 

[dolek]

My favorite pads are made by Big Agnes, my old bones need need a good pad these days.

https://www.bigagnes.com/Gear/Sleeping-Pads

 

[dolek]

And my favorite tents,you can't go wrong ...

https://us.hilleberg.com/EN/

 

[chuckshooter]

can you clarify your question? backpack tent and air mattress for backpacking or some sort of car camping. I got into ultralight backpacking and there is a huge difference in the gear if I am going to carry it on my back. my sleeping bag weighs 16oz. my tent 26oz. my pad weighs 14oz.

 

[muleman69]

can you clarify your question? backpack tent and air mattress for backpacking or some sort of car camping. I got into ultralight backpacking and there is a huge difference in the gear if I am going to carry it on my back. my sleeping bag weighs 16oz. my tent 26oz. my pad weighs 14oz.

Backpack,lite as I can find but has to be water proof 101%. No leak air mattress

 

[chuckshooter]

I built houses all my life and had to explain to home owners, house's aren't waterproof they shed water. the same goes for cars, a car goes under water it will fill up with water. sounds like you want a a more durable product than ultra lite. you will be the one carrying it, so more weight equals more protection and security, there is always a trade off. The best air mattress I have found for comfort for me is therm-a-rest neoair, I have several of the big agnes ones and a northface tadpole 23 that I would sell you cheep. they are a great products, but too heavy for me. I should have asked how big a tent you need and whether three or four season. just like reloading and guns once you go down this rabbit hole. well, you know what I mean..at one time I was carrying a two pound ulta-lite cot because my back hurt soo bad from the sleeping pads that were available at that time, but changing to the neo-air made all the difference in the world. "no leak air mattress" is like jumbo shrimp. every backpacking air mattress seller out there either provides a patch kit or you can buy one for it.. why would that be?? it's not a question of whether it will spring a leak and/or wear out, just when. it's a consumable just like a barrel.

 

[rayporter]

therma rest neo air x lite.
8 oz and 3.5 R

big agnes is a good brand -mine was 12 years old when it give up.
my thermarest sprung a leak after 15 years and they sent me a new one. it was so old it had a metal valve.
not many will do that!

never trust the R value -ever

never trust an air mattress -ever

if you are going where it is cold take a thin half or quarter inch closed cell foam pad to add to the top of the air mattress. if it is not cold put it underneath to protect from punctures. if it leaks you still have a pad.
personally I carry a self inflating pad to add to the top in all weather. cause the horse carries it not me.

if you are going where it is cold, test in cold, don't wait till summer.

a single wall shelter is the lightest you can get. but they have their own problems other than weight.

mine is 20 ft diameter and 10 ft tall. just cause I can.
kifaru and seek outside make the best single wall tipis. floorless camping is the only way to go. you can get wood stoves for them also.

 

[Shrek]

Exped UL9 synmat with a snozzle bag to inflate it. The UL 7 synmat if it’s only summer or early fall. There is no such thing as a leakproof inflatable pad but the Exped pads are very high quality. I run my bare hand over the area I intend to place the pad to feel for sharp things that might puncture or rub a hole. I use floorless shelters. I personally use a Kifaru Sawtooth. It’s huge for one person and perfect for two. Three is manageable. I use a titanium woodstove in it. Western Mountaineering bags.

 

[muleman69]

Exped UL9 synmat with a snozzle bag to inflate it. The UL 7 synmat if it’s only summer or early fall. There is no such thing as a leakproof inflatable pad but the Exped pads are very high quality. I run my bare hand over the area I intend to place the pad to feel for sharp things that might puncture or rub a hole. I use floorless shelters. I personally use a Kifaru Sawtooth. It’s huge for one person and perfect for two. Three is manageable. I use a titanium woodstove in it. Western Mountaineering bags.

Titanium wood stove? Who makes these? Sounds interesting

 

[rayporter]

ti goat
seek outside
kifaru
all make backpacking wood stoves. but at the moment I cant recall if all are making a ti version.
my kifaru medium steel one is about 3 lbs. at one time I had a large steel but it took up too much room in the pannier because it had to lay sideways - the medium can stand vertically.

are you hunting or just backpacking?

 

[muleman69]

ti goat
seek outside
kifaru
all make backpacking wood stoves. but at the moment I cant recall if all are making a ti version.
my kifaru medium steel one is about 3 lbs. at one time I had a large steel but it took up too much room in the pannier because it had to lay sideways - the medium can stand vertically.

are you hunting or just backpacking?

I travel back country in summer months and hunt in the fall. Have eleven mules so weight is not a big problem other than I like to spike out sometimes, then weight is an issue. I will look up the stoves ,thank you

 

[284winner]

In need of a backpack tent and air mattress. Only want to buy once so looking for durable and light mattress (leak proof). The tent needs to be as cyclone proof as possible no mater the price .

What size tent, 1 man, 2 man etc ? Stick with an REI, Thermarest or Nemo self inflating depending on how much you want to drop on a mattress. Mountain hardware makes very strong durable pack tents. Tough to beat.

 

[Shrek]

I have the Ruta Lacura/Ti Goat Large size. The Ti Goat is made by Ruta Lucura who is a son of the family that does his own thing while still building the stoves for Ti Goat.

 

[mtnman31]

Another thumbs up for Mountain Hardware. I've had mine since 1998. It was a 4 season, top end model at the time. It sleeps two comfortably or three if you don't mind a little snuggling. It is still going strong - the plastic window on the fly is still crystal clear. Still keeps out water and the zippers all still work. I've replaced a couple stakes that got bent when used in rocky soil but other than that I've had no problems. Because it's older, I'm sure there are lighter models out there but I'd look to Mountain Hardware first.

I'd say if you are mostly backpacking and by yourself, find a good, purpose-built, one person tent. Bivys are super light, but clausterphobic and you have to keep your gear outside. Also, getting dressed/undressed in a bivy is no fun, if not impossible. I tried out the Marine Corps' one man pop-up tent (don't recall its name). It sucked. It was basically a bivy. Definitely not for four season use. It was basically a minimal way to get out of the rain and keep bugs off you.

I've got one of the Army surplus Improved Combat Shelters (ICS). It isn't the lightest one man tent out there but it is durable and well made. I haven't used it a whole lot so far. It seems like a good, solid three-season tent. I'd call it four-season but haven't used it enough in real bad weather. I like that it is big enough to sit up in. Also, the fly is separate so if it's warm out you can remove it and go lighter as well as keep cooler. Nice feature is that putting the fly on blocks all the light. It keeps your light in and the outside light out. If you want to sleep in or you are summer camping in Alaska, the fly will keep it dark.

I can't help with recommendations for a pad/mattress - I need a new one myself.

 

[rayporter]

did you ever consider a hammock for those quick spike trips from base camp? my pard could be sound asleep on his before the fire went out. he used it in rain and snow. I would lean over and start a fire in the stove and pull clothes in the sleeping bag while coffee heated and about time to eat he would bounce in the tipi and eat and off we would go.

 

[muleman69]

I'm not a hammock guy but one of the boys likes his if it is not coming down in buckets

 

[284winner]

I like a solo tent. They don't come in only one size. My solo is big enough to put my pack inside with me. It also has a gun sleeve on the inside wall and a ceiling hammock for cloths and small items. If weight is a concern, the one man solo tent is the answer

 

[muleman69]

I like a solo tent. They don't come in only one size. My solo is big enough to put my pack inside with me. It also has a gun sleeve on the inside wall and a ceiling hammock for cloths and small items. If weight is a concern, the one man solo tent is the answer

Thanks I will check the solo out

 

[284winner]

Thanks I will check the solo out

It's not actually a brand name. Solo meaning single man tent. Mountain hardwear makes solo models.