Step 2: The Gear, Part 1 (of, well, many...)

If you've been following this journey from the start, you'll know that I've finally gotten a bike for these trips. (See more details here.) With the machine stored away in the shop it's time to get on with the gear prep - which is going to be the death of me!

Being as tall as I am, finding gear to go adventure riding is a PITA!! Dozens, maybe even hundreds of hours online searching for just the right combination of equipment that can fit a towering tree trunk like myself without leaving me completely broke; it's a "tall" order.

I've been camping many times but never on a motorcycle so I needed to get back to basics: sleeping bag, tent, camping pad, blankets and cooking/mess kit. I found a few likely options and started to rack up some rewards points on my credit card. Thank goodness for Prime and their free returns!!

Trip Gear Tracking Spreadsheet

The search for a sleeping bag was one of the first items on the docket. However, being freakishly tall and unusually slender (though admittedly less-so these days), this ended up being quite an undertaking. With so many styles, sizes, brands, features and options, the list of choices was decidedly daunting. So what does any half-way decent engineer do?!? Yup - create a MF'n SPREADSHEET! This little beauty would help keep all those little variables in-check and, most importantly, which of the few designs I might actually be able to stuff myself into. It didn't take long before it morphed into a tracking list of all the gear I would need for the endeavor. For those who know me - YES - it does also track costs but, due to the sheer embarrassment of the subtotals, I decided to hide that line from the screenshot but rest assured I'll likely get to that later on in this series.

All sleeping bags, except the North Face 

The (overly analytical) deets:
With so many options to pick from I started by researching the specs and selecting a handful of potential candidates. This resulted in:

1. Norsens, Ultralight Hiking
2. Hyke & Byke, Crestone (duck down)
3. Teton Sports, Celsius XL
4. Coleman, Big Basin
5. Redcamp, Cotton XL
6. North Face, Dolomite 1

These all have varying degrees of pros and cons and a never-ending list of features and options. Ultimately it came down to pack-size and overall height. The Norsen's was just too cheaply made, too small and wasn't warm enough for the types of climates I plan to ride in. This was the narrowest and shortest bag of the lot and felt rather constrained when inside. The zipper felt as if one restless night would yank the pulls right off of it and the stitching looked like swiss-cheese. It was light, and the second smallest when packed but the compression sack came apart the first time I used it. At around $46 it was affordable but not the cheapest on the list (though it certainly felt like it).

The Teton Sports pack had a higher quality construction to it with larger draft tubes, better zippers and a nice interior pocket for storage. It was warm but the flannel lining really sticks to clothing so, as I toss and turn, its guts get all twisted and tangled. The stuff-sack was significantly stronger than the Norsens but the overall size was a wee bit big for my luggage cases. It does have a hood but it's a bit small for my liking. At $65 this one was good value but not quite what I need.

The Redcamp XL was pretty good too, had some great zipper plows, was warmer and had the best compression sack of all the options. On paper, it was also the tallest but, to be honest, I couldn't tell. It also had a cotton liner that was clingy if wearing base-layers. As a result it just wouldn't work for people who toss and turn at night. This one does have a large hood, can cinch up around the head and at just under $40 this was by far the best deal on paper. For general camping it would be great but I have to be pragmatic and put practicality above price; this one gets sent back.

Coleman Big Basin

The Coleman bag was, without a doubt, my favorite to sleep in. It's - and I can't stress this enough - YUGE!! They call if the Big Basin for a reason. Even at 6'-8" tall I can easily and comfortably snuggle up inside this behemoth, cinch up the hood and get some great shut-eye. The low-friction liner slides easily when wearing base-layers, has some great zipper plows, a massive draft tube and is packed with features. As much as I love it, however, it's also (as mentioned above) giant and there's simply no possible way to get it into my bike's luggage. At just over $52 this is also great value-for-money. For regular camping where space isn't such an issue this is what I would buy but, alas, it's a motorcycle, not a Suburban so this one has to get returned too.

North Face, Dolomite 1

Next up is the North Face. This one honestly gave me the biggest surprise. While not as long as the Coleman, it was manageable for my height. What makes this one great is that it's modular. It's actually two separate pieces that can be used individually or combined for additional warmth and thickness. The material is very comfortable, has some well-built zippers, thick draft tubes and strong pulls but omits a few key features. Lacking zip plows I found occasional snagging that threatened to rip the outer liner and it doesn't have a hood or compression sack. Packed, it was the second-largest of all bags tested; just shy of the Coleman. If I was doing more warm-weather riding I'd take the smaller of the two pieces and buy a compression bag but, at almost $120, it just didn't have the value I needed; it too was added to the return pile.

And the winner is...

Hyke & Byke - Crestone 650 Duck Down

Hyke and Byke! This one was a wild-card from the start and does have a few flaws but it does the most important things very well. This is the only mummy-style that I tested and was the only down-filled (at 650 rise) bag of the bunch. Now, at this point, a seasoned outdoor veteran would probably want to object as down-filled bags are the WORST when wet. They take forever and a day to dry and are traditionally much more expensive than their plant-based alternatives. And, to some extent, you'd be right! This one was the costliest of the bunch at around $155 but it's also hydrophobic down, which has been treated to repel water. Coupled with a water resistant shell I should (in theory) be able to keep this high-and-dry. What also makes this bag interesting is that it's hammock compatible! While this isn't a feature that I was looking for, it is something that I could foresee using when out on the trails. After all, what's better than sleeping directly under the stars, next to your dream machine, up off the ground in a very cozy sack?!? Simply slide a hammock into the outer sheath and you'll have a fully insulated bag, top and bottom. In addition this also has the largest hood of all the bags I tested - a feature I fell in love with! Being the freak that I am, I usually sleep with one hand above my head and this bag's hood acts like an insulated head-board that keeps my stray arm contained and warm. Plus, the hammock holes can be loosened at both ends for a little air-flow in warmer climates. This sack also has a great compression bag, packs down to the smallest size, fits neatly in the panniers and, despite being the lightest of the group, makes no compromise on warmth.

Stowed in the panniers

(This one is rated to 15 degrees F.) However, it's not perfect. While it does have zipper plows, and a moderately effective draft tube, the zipper is on the top - right in the middle (awkward!) - and if not properly stowed in it's little pocket, the pull will bang against your face all night. It is also a little narrow for my liking, though still barely wide enough to kick a leg out when sleeping. Lastly, while not part of the decision making, I do like the manufacture's story. They are a small-business, growing organically and have a serious drive to minimize cost - which really shows! While the most costly bag of the bunch, this thing definitely hits well above it's weight class and competes with equipment that costs many times more.

Sleeping bag: CHECK!

Next up: tent...

Check out step 2 here.

(Disclaimer: The opinions above are solely my own, based on my own experiences and needs. I have NOT received promotional products or compensation of any kind for reviewing the products above. All testing performed indoors under simulated conditions. Outdoor overnight tests may yield different results)