Our Equipment: Camping
Score: 9/10
Heimplanet "The Cave"
Price: 549 €
For our journey through Russia and Kazakhstan we decided on a more reliable tent from the start. Since only Basti and Fabi planned on traveling there the tent could also be smaller.
This tent has some amazing features. It is set up in under 5 minutes all by yourself, it is lightweight because it doesn't have any poles that you have to carry around and it is held in place by only 5 tent pegs. It is a high quality product, which one has to expect by such a steep price tag. We have used it on more than 50 occasions and didn't have any problems so far. The air chambers are very sturdy and haven't gotten any punctures so far. And even if one suddenly does, you can simply disconnect the air chamber and it will still hold up.
It is a lot smaller and because of the rigid construction it is very good in all sorts of weather conditions. We can honestly say, if you're planing a trip where you have to rely on your tent as your home choose this tent!
The price tag is quite high which is why we took one point of the Score: but to be honest, it is more than worth it because you always have the security that your tent will keep you dry and comfortable under all conditions.
Follow this link to the Heimplanet website for more information!
This tent has some amazing features. It is set up in under 5 minutes all by yourself, it is lightweight because it doesn't have any poles that you have to carry around and it is held in place by only 5 tent pegs. It is a high quality product, which one has to expect by such a steep price tag. We have used it on more than 50 occasions and didn't have any problems so far. The air chambers are very sturdy and haven't gotten any punctures so far. And even if one suddenly does, you can simply disconnect the air chamber and it will still hold up.
It is a lot smaller and because of the rigid construction it is very good in all sorts of weather conditions. We can honestly say, if you're planing a trip where you have to rely on your tent as your home choose this tent!
The price tag is quite high which is why we took one point of the Score: but to be honest, it is more than worth it because you always have the security that your tent will keep you dry and comfortable under all conditions.
Follow this link to the Heimplanet website for more information!
Score: 9/10
Heimplanet "Fistral"
Price: 490 €
Fabi has decided to take the smallest tent from Heimplanet as our second tent for the trip. This way he can sleep by himself in peace. The Fistral is considerably smaller in packing size and has a smaller footprint. On the downside it needs at least 6 pegs to stand securely. On the upside the new Heimplanet Pegs are sturdier than the ones we had before. Fabi did have some punctures and it has to be noted that it can not stand as good with a empty hose as the Heimplanet "Cave" can. This is quite obvious since it only has two separate chambers. Nonetheless it is very sturdy and is quiet even during bad winds and weather. The materials used are all high quality and it is good to know you have a reliable option to sleep anywhere. The price is high but we are convinced it was worth the purchase. We could not be happier with our accommodations and enjoy camping with them very much.
Score: 9/10
Thermarest Treo
Price: 100 €
We have used and broken many different camping chairs on our past trips. So we were almost decided on taking no chair with us on this journey. Sitting on the boxes is always an option and since all chairs have broken within three weeks it just did not seem to make sense buying one. In all honesty we were always too cheap to spend more than 20$ on them. Luckily we were convinced by someone from Touratech that the Thermarest Treo would be worth checking out. It is by far the most expensive camping chair we have ever purchased but after 6 months of traveling, this chair has proven that it is worth every penny of it. Bastis chair has gotten a whole in one of the pouches where the poles go into by now, but he can still sit on it carefully and he will get it replaced soon. The chairs are very comfortable to sit in and you can place them on any surface thanks to its design. It folds away very compact and therefore is perfect for our purpose. This chair makes camping out in the wild a lot more comfortable and fun.
Score: 8/10
Therm-A-Rest mattress "Trial Pro"
Price: 125 €
We were quite happy with our old camping mats. For our 2 year journey, we all agreed that we needed as much comfort as possible when sleeping in our tents.
This is why we decided to buy the biggest and largest self inflating mattresses that we could find.
And they are so worth it! The length and width of our large version is big enough so you don't have the problem that your feet or arms get beside the mattress and therefore don't get cold anymore. So far we did not yet find a surface the mattress couldn't handle! No matter what's beneath you, you won't feel the ground!
Also they don't make any noise while turning in your sleep and give you proper hold even on sloped ground.
This is why we decided to buy the biggest and largest self inflating mattresses that we could find.
And they are so worth it! The length and width of our large version is big enough so you don't have the problem that your feet or arms get beside the mattress and therefore don't get cold anymore. So far we did not yet find a surface the mattress couldn't handle! No matter what's beneath you, you won't feel the ground!
Also they don't make any noise while turning in your sleep and give you proper hold even on sloped ground.
Score: 8/10
Cooking Set MSR Flex 4 System
Price: 159 €
To make yourself a decent meal while travelling often is not an easy task, but mostly the cheapest and flexibelst solution to eat something. Besides it's the best way to fully enjoy your camp side.
It was important for us to have a big enough pot to be able to cook up to 1 kg noodles at once and a second one for sauces etc. In addition we needed plates who withstand sharp knifes while cutting our barbecued meat and simultaneously can be used as soup bowls.
All of that naturally tightly arranged, easy to store, light and suitable for 3 persons.
We decided to use the MSR Flex 4 System and are very happy with it. The Set is very easily stored in a compact way, it is very light and the coated pots have nonstick interior and are large enough.
The fourth plate is very handy for side dishes or salads. Only the 4 cups we didn't need.
The quality of the product is persuasive, but the price is also pretty high.
It was important for us to have a big enough pot to be able to cook up to 1 kg noodles at once and a second one for sauces etc. In addition we needed plates who withstand sharp knifes while cutting our barbecued meat and simultaneously can be used as soup bowls.
All of that naturally tightly arranged, easy to store, light and suitable for 3 persons.
We decided to use the MSR Flex 4 System and are very happy with it. The Set is very easily stored in a compact way, it is very light and the coated pots have nonstick interior and are large enough.
The fourth plate is very handy for side dishes or salads. Only the 4 cups we didn't need.
The quality of the product is persuasive, but the price is also pretty high.
Score: 10/10
Travel grill "Brändi"
Price: 44.75 €
Bringing your own grill is luxury, but also important. The luggage space it needs is one of the most import things about your grill. Since we are not carrying charcoal with us we have to rely on a appropriate fireplace. Usually it is no problem to set up your own camp fire in the woods.
We have looked at many different travel barbecues and decided to buy the "Brändi" in the end. It offers big enough space for a 3-5 person barbecue and is easily set up at almost any fireplace. You can easily change the height and position of the grill which makes it possible to set it up perfectly over your embers. We were pleasantly surprised by the sturdiness of it and how much weight it can support. The easy concept lets you grill almost any kind of meat or vegetable.
Quality has its price, but so far it is more than worth the money. It has not spots of rust and all the parts look very sturdy. Another positive aspect is that you are supporting a Swiss public trust with some of the money of your purchase.
We have looked at many different travel barbecues and decided to buy the "Brändi" in the end. It offers big enough space for a 3-5 person barbecue and is easily set up at almost any fireplace. You can easily change the height and position of the grill which makes it possible to set it up perfectly over your embers. We were pleasantly surprised by the sturdiness of it and how much weight it can support. The easy concept lets you grill almost any kind of meat or vegetable.
Quality has its price, but so far it is more than worth the money. It has not spots of rust and all the parts look very sturdy. Another positive aspect is that you are supporting a Swiss public trust with some of the money of your purchase.
Score: 7/10
Louis Nordcap Tipi Living
Price: 180 €
Our first attempt on an all around tent for our tours. Our goal was to get a large, but light and easy to set up tent.
The tipi construction is very well suited for these needs. It is easy to put up alone and because it only has one outer wall it is very light. It is very comfortable because you can stand up inside which makes switching clothes so much easier.
On the other hand the large size also have its downsides. One always has to find a large camping spot which can be tricky if you camp out in the wild and not on a campsite. Because it is so high it is very vulnerable to wind. Also, because of only one layer it is not as waterproof as one would hope.
All in all it is a very nice and handy tent for 3-6 people with motorcycle gear. And we can definitely recommend it if you don't have to rely on it in every weather condition. So when you are able to sleep someplace safe during thunder and storms this tent is good value for a low price.
Sadly, it looks like Louis took it out of their sales line so you might have to browse ebay or some other place.
The tipi construction is very well suited for these needs. It is easy to put up alone and because it only has one outer wall it is very light. It is very comfortable because you can stand up inside which makes switching clothes so much easier.
On the other hand the large size also have its downsides. One always has to find a large camping spot which can be tricky if you camp out in the wild and not on a campsite. Because it is so high it is very vulnerable to wind. Also, because of only one layer it is not as waterproof as one would hope.
All in all it is a very nice and handy tent for 3-6 people with motorcycle gear. And we can definitely recommend it if you don't have to rely on it in every weather condition. So when you are able to sleep someplace safe during thunder and storms this tent is good value for a low price.
Sadly, it looks like Louis took it out of their sales line so you might have to browse ebay or some other place.