We're not talking Antarctic Expedition tipis here, I think. The Helsport Varanger is 11.3 kg in total, incl tent, inner tent, "floor", pole, plugs etc. I don't use the inner tent, shaving off 2.8 kgs. That's 8.5 kg for 17 square meters of tent space. And you can even have the Helsport Lavvulight, weighing in at 2.4 kgs - in total! - but then you have only 6.5 sqm to your disposal.

With some practice it isn't too difficult to put up these modern lavvos by yourself either.

The beauty of lavvos, or tipis if you will, is the continuous air current from the bottom of the lavvo and all the way up through the top. By adjusting the top venting hat and the vents at the bottom you can regulate that current to pull out the smoke and CO. Obviously you want to pay attention, but it has worked for e.g the American Indians and the Sami for ages.



From the Primus Winter Rally in Norway.

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

Tatonka Grönland 2 2 Personen Tunnel-ZeltHappy Card Artikel, XSPO - Cross Sports

Randa's RTW

Greetings
Randa / Denmark

You mention you are driving?
Why not sleep in the car?

Be aware that with a camp bed, you have to have lots of isolation under you, as the air under you, can be much colder than the ground and your sleeping bag is compressed where you lie on it.

Take a breathable bivy bag or fix a piece of nylon cloth over your downbag so the condensation from your breath, will collect on that and not on the sleeping bag.

By the way: between +10 and -5 centigrade, is the most annoying as you will get water condensation on the inner tent and you'll get wet every time you touch it.
If its cold enough, the condensation will be rime frost which can be so dry, that you can brush it off your bag or clothes.

A multiburner for diesel or gasolin is very effective in cold climates. A normal gas will not burn at all under 0 centigrade and even "wintergas" doesn't evaporate under -6 / -8 centigrade, if you have to use gas, heat the cannister with a candle and later over the gas fire when its burning (carefully !)

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Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !

I wonder if you could rig up a spare battery like they do in camper vans, and use this to power heated motorcycle clothing ?

If camping at the same spot for a few days or more, enough green biomass will start to compost and keep you warm. ( six inches thick or more, you cant have too much) In Mons (Belgium) last year, I found a campsite that had put all their grass cuttings in a big heap. by placing my tent over it, the temperature inside teh tent was over 20C with frost outside. My tent is a cheap dome type that i can pick up and position by lifting it by the top.

Normally i sleep on a camp bed ( but then i try to avoid camping when it is cold). With soft warm compost under my tent, no need for the bed.
Re Butane not working in teh cold. I use a small stove that uses 270 or 470 cartridges. these are a 50/50 mix of butane and propane and will work fine down to -5c and less (I dont kno how much further as I dislike teh cold )

A plastic pee bottle (with tape) is a great idea (I'll just leave it outside the door) and GORP is another easy one. A tipi is out though. Great for winter, but too big and expensive for me on what is a relatively short trip. If I ever moved to Norway, I'd get one and probably live in it.

I think I'll have to hold off buying a new tent for now. They all look great, but which one to choose? Pranda - thanks for the Tatonka link. If I use my cheapo dome tent for now and just make sure it's properly zipped up and pegged down, it should hold up. If doesn't, I'll just head for the car. I have a tarpaulin that I'll take along. It's fantastic in the rain, but I don't want to make things too complicated. I'll look in the sales when the season is over. Hopefully, I'll know what I'll need before laying down any cash.

Going by replies, it seems I already have most of what I need for this trip. Keeping dry seems to be the key in staying warm and happy - an art in itself. I'll pick up a petrol stove - it may never get cold enough to merit one, but fuel is everywhere and they can be used in any climate. Truth is, I've always liked the look of them, so now I have an excuse to buy one. Cheers.

Just for the record, I'm doing Russia into Norway so I can leave earlier and still coincide with Norwegian camp fire regulations - no fires allowed until mid September. I'll still need to drive away from the public road to camp though, which is technically against regs. Apparently, the land is only available to use if you walk or ski. I also hope to catch a fish two - means another reg busted if it's fresh water, or two if I try it without a licence. I'm not sure how strict it all is. I suspect Russia will be easier.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I'm not done yet, so if anyone still has thoughts...

Cheers for now.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

My home made heated vest will not heat up from the 12 volts provided by a battery on it's own,it needs the full 13.5(ish) volts available with the engine running.I don't know about the proper commercially available heated clothing.

A bizarre but potentially life-saving tip. Well, a night's sleep saving tip anyway. Though if I'm on a bike tour it's rare I'll spend more than one night in one place. But a good tip anyway.

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Seek Truth

15 countries in 40 days. Tanks, crashes, minefields and Kalashnikovs

Now it's not like me to point this one out, but I'm afraid this is one of those times when you have to stay off the too

Alchohol (and tea and coffee, less so) dehydrate you, make you need to pee and change your metabolic rate. The guy who has a tot before bed feels nice and warm, gets off to sleep OK but needs to pee at 2 am and that's your lot sleep wise until you get up, start the fire etc. The guy who goes to bed after say a mug of hot chocolate might wake up cold, but after the museli (I prefer a chocolate biscuit) will get back off to sleep again.

If you want a really bad nights sleep (actually about an hour), go to the Elefant, get off your face on what the Russian and Czech riders give you out of hip flasks, fail to close your tent properly and sleep fully clothed until the snow on your hat starts to melt. After that you can have as good a tent and sleeping bag as you like, you'll still be too cold to sleep.

If it is that sort of event, the cup of cocoa before you turn in works wonders IMHO, but need to be with it enough to use the stove safely.

Andy

Last time I tried something like that I spent the night listening to the rats running around outside the tent. I've tended to stay away from rubbish heaps since.

May I suggest a book by Dave Barr. He road across Siberia on a Sportster in winter.

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Sam Jones

Yes rubbish tips bad place to camp, all sorts of creepy crawlies.

I was referring to fresh cut green biomass. I learned this by accident back in 1961 when on a survival training course in the new forest. I pulled lots of young newly sprouting bracken to alleviate the cold and hardness of the ground after spending an uncomfortable first night in a makeshift tent. The first night with the bracken was much comfier, and I thought not so cold due to insulation of the ground by the bracken, Next night was much, much warmer stayed really warm for over a week.

Sadly not a lot of heat on the first night unless you pitch on finely chopped greenstuff. Not usually easily available. The coarser harder stuff takes longer to start composting. after 2-3 days though, the base will be well over 20 c possibly over 30c. Handy if you break down, or want to stop and do a couple days fishing.

I've 'camped' in a car and a tent on the same night ... a tent is warmer!!!!!! All that metal and glass .. never again. Well not unless it has been properly set up .. then a tent is cheaper.

One aspect of cold weather tents - the outer wall goes all the way to the ground .. warm weather tents outer walls stop above the ground to get rid of heat by more ventilation. If it is cold and you r tent walls dont go all the way down .. try to make something to block most of the gap.

The pee bottle should be inside the tent .. and inside the bag when you finish - it is warm - so keep trhe heat.

One firm rule - keep a light (headlight, torch or whatever) in some consistant location ... that way you'll always know where to find it .. It is the most important thing you hve on any dark night.

Nostrovia! (sp?)

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

If it came to that, I'll activate Plan B - the south of France.

In fact, it's now starting to seem like a really good idea.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

cheers Hans P they are the ones, a very useful bit of kit.