In preparation for our upcoming trip, my daughter and I tested out our sleeping arrangements last weekend. We have a Eureka Timberline 4-man tent that my dad bought brand new about 15 years ago but had never been used. Took a few minutes to set up, but we figured it out. Two twin size airbeds that are fleece or flocked on the top, I have a Cabelas Boundary Waters sleeping bag and just got my daughter a Eureka! Kiewa sleeping bag.

The temp got down to 43 and we had a steady rain for a while and 15 mph winds so it was a perfect night to test things out. First thing we noticed was how small the 4 man tent was, especially compared to our huge family tent that is like 12x16. Our air beds barely fit but there will be just enough room for everything that we will need in the tent. Plus we have the vestibule that we use if needed. We didnt quit get the rain fly attached right so we did get a little wet on one side because of the way the wind was blowing. I think I'll seal the seams but for the most part I think we'll stay dry.

The air beds are very comfy and I think will be worth the extra effort of taking a pump and blowing them up vs a thinner self inflating pad. Because of the flocking on top they are nice and quite, warm and sleeping bags did not slip around on them. We also both stayed plenty warm in our bags. We had to move our trip back and will be entering July 5th, so now I'm a little concerned we might be too warm.

In all I think we'll be able to get our tent, clothes, sleeping bags, air beds, camp chairs and hammocks all in one bag.

Best of luck on your upcoming trip. The more experience you gain, the more likely you will be wanting to reduce the amount of weight you have to portage.

Thank you. I've only done 2 trips and this will be my daughters first, I'm more concerned about comfort than light loads. I know we could reduce weight if we went with smaller sleeping pads and could probably do without the camp chairs and hammocks but trying to be as comfy as we can. She is 14 pretty strong and has done a fair amount of hiking so I think she'll be able to help a good bit on the trails. Entering Snowbank and I know we'll have a long portage into Disappointment, we may go to Ima and it looks like mostly short portages all the way there.

Definitely do the seam sealing on that tent.....both the tent and the fly if it has seams.

I'll make a critical comment. I think you will find out the liabilities of using an air-bed over more purposely intended sleep mats. Heavy, large volume, and potentially cold due to internal convection. The flocking adds almost no insulation

You did not specify what portage to Disappointment but the one east of Harri Island is only 1/2 mile, fairly flat.


Enjoy your trip with your daughter, that's the most important part!

butthead

johndku: "Definitely do the seam sealing on that tent.....both the tent and the fly if it has seams. "

Definitely do the seam sealing - good insurance.

Those have to be pretty big airbeds to almost fill an 86" wide tent and at least somewhat bulky. I'd do a test pack before you leave to see how everything will fit in the packs. There are options between something that big and self-inflators; almost all the major companies make inflatable mats 25" wide and 2 1/2" + thick.

Hope it all works out for a great trip for you and your daughter.

I wish you luck, but like others have mentioned, those air mattresses are a liability. Camping pads are durable and meant to sit on the ground, air mattresses are not. I hope you have no issues, but I don't see why you would want to risk using them. Their weight alone should be enough to deter you.

That said, I have never slept in my tents in my backyard. I'll set them up to try them out but usually that is only for a few min to make sure all the parts are there and to familiarize myself with it. I never slept on my exped mat either outside of the BWCA. I just don't see a reason to sleep on the floor/ground when I have a perfectly good bed to sleep in. I'm tired enough to sleep anywhere in the BWCA but not at home.

I always subtract at least one person from the #-man tent designation. If it's a 3-man tent, it will sleep no more than 2 comfortably with assorted ear. A 4-man tent will probably sleep 3 somewhat comfortably, if you don't have twin sized mattresses in it. Most tents aren't designed with that in mind, so I'm not surprised that there wasn't a lot of room left with them inside.

Also, as others have said, I would strongly recommend against using an air mattress not designed for camping while camping. A few weeks ago, I slept on an air mattress on a wood floor at a friend's house in Indiana (early April, it was cool but not cold at night, I was in the basement.) I was freezing, and I'm not normally a cold sleeper. Internal convection will indeed make you colder. The flocking is more to keep stuff from sliding around and doesn't do much if anything to manage temperature. But... that's not my big concern - I think of greater concern are weight, space, and durability. A foam sleeping pad would be much better - open cell or closed cell... the insulation makes a world of difference. It's not quite as comfortable on your bones and joints, but overall much warmer. They are also designed to be used on potentially rough surfaces and non-camping air mattresses aren't. One sharp rock and you're out of luck. If you're worried about cushion, maybe take 4 sleeping pads and stack them 2 deep for each of you. That will still weigh less and take up less space than twin sized air mattresses and an air pump. They also won't take up as much room in the tent as the twin sized mattresses, and they'll give you a little more room to put stuff in the tent if you need to.

Hey Twistertail,

Thank you for planning to take your kid to the BWCA!

Good thinking doing a test run at home before going out in the wilderness, especially to work out the kinks with the tent. I remember having the occasional backyard campout with my two oldest kids when they were little.

I remember having to seam seal an Eureka Timberline 4 when my Scout troop got a bunch in the 90's. As others have pointed out, don't forget the rainfly. If you want another test, subject it to an hour or so under the sprinkler while you water your lawn.

As others have pointed out, your choice of beds is ultimately bulkier and heavier than what we'd like to carry on a trip. I suspect if you and/or the daughter gets bit by the bug and can't think of anything else but how you want to return, your arc will end up similarly like the rest of us - going over your gear and replacing individual items with ones that are lighter, smaller, or both over time.

You didn't mention if your plan is to move camp multiple times or just stay put once you get to a destination lake. If you're planning on using a battery pump for the beds please be advised that a) the 4x D-cells the battery operated pump are also heavy, b) one set may not get you through breaking & setting up camp several times, and c) those suckers are loud, and sound travels far across lakes.

If you're going in July you may end up using your sleeping bags more like blankets, it all depends on the weather.

BuckFlicks: "
I always subtract at least one person from the #-man tent designation. If it's a 3-man tent, it will sleep no more than 2 comfortably with assorted ear. A 4-man tent will probably sleep 3 somewhat comfortably..."

Actually I have found that the Timberline 4 really sleeps 2 people with gear comfortably.

Good for you. Have a great time.

Personally, about 20 years ago a camp chair moved to the essential year list. Hammock is still on my optional list, in fact I seldom use one. But my chair is used hours everyday.

I like soloing in my timberline 4. Not traveling but car camping. Very comfy.

Bannock: "Good for you. Have a great time.


Personally, about 20 years ago a camp chair moved to the essential year list. Hammock is still on my optional list, in fact I seldom use one. But my chair is used hours everyday."

Plus 1: I even take a fold up rocking chair. Also a light weight chair for inside the tent. A 4 person tent is what each uses on our trips. Reading at night is the main reason for the flex chair.

Thanks for all the replies guys, certainly have given me some things to consider. We were both plenty warm and it got down to 43 and our entry permit is for July 7th so I dont think we'd get cold on the air beds, however the thought of getting a puncture has me rethinking. I used an air bed on previous trips 15 years ago but we base camped so only had to blow it up once with a hand pump, I remember it did take a while but only had to do it once, if we move camp several times I dont think I'd want to deflate and inflate the air beds everyday. I did buy 2 thermarest pads earlier in the year, i think they were 30" wide and 77" long, and they seemed bulkier than what the air beds would be so i took them back thinking if i'm not saving any space or weight i may as well take the air beds. I didnt consider the durability side of things but might be better with a different kind of sleeping pad.

whats a good seam sealer? ive seen tape or also the kind that has a brush applicator on the end, is one better than the other?


thinking of getting a few chairs like this to take along camp chair

You will want Gear Aid's Seam Grip WP unless using on a silnylon fabric, which I doubt an old Eureka tent is. Gear Aid sealants

You'll need to take repair materials no matter which pad you take. Thermarest pads usually come with a repair kit.

I don't take a chair (just a butt pad), but there are plenty of people here who do and will be happy to discuss chairs with you ;).

butthead: "I'll make a critical comment. I think you will find out the liabilities of using an air-bed over more purposely intended sleep mats. Heavy, large volume, and potentially cold due to internal convection. The flocking adds almost no insulation


You did not specify what portage to Disappointment but the one east of Harri Island is only 1/2 mile, fairly flat.



Enjoy your trip with your daughter, that's the most important part!


butthead"

yes, thats the portage. Where is that map from?

twistertail: "Thanks for all the replies guys, certainly have given me some things to consider. We were both plenty warm and it got down to 43 and our entry permit is for July 7th so I dont think we'd get cold on the air beds "

One important detail to consider. What type of ground were you sleeping on? Grass? Dirt? Rock? Grass is going to be an extra layer of insulation. Dirt is better but rock is closest to the conditions in the BWCA. You know how concrete in the basement stays pretty cold all year? That is because it is deeper into the ground and conducts heat very well. The granite rocks in the BWCA work the same way. It's big boulders up there so the cold from in the ground and ground water is easily transmitted to you at night. The sun only warms the surface. So while you would probably be fine in July, be aware that it could be in the 50's at night and feel much colder than you did at 43.

If you do decide to go with the air mattresses, you might really want to bring some sort of a layer of insulation, like a blanket, to go between you and the mattress.

twistertail: "

butthead: "I'll make a critical comment. I think you will find out the liabilities of using an air-bed over more purposely intended sleep mats. Heavy, large volume, and potentially cold due to internal convection. The flocking adds almost no insulation



You did not specify what portage to Disappointment but the one east of Harri Island is only 1/2 mile, fairly flat.




Enjoy your trip with your daughter, that's the most important part!



butthead"

yes, thats the portage. Where is that map from? "

A screenshot of, Garmin Basecamp on my home computer with USGS Topo from the Birdseye subscription. And additional .gpx files for waypoints and trails/routes.

butthead

I've spent a ton of nights in many Timberlines. Not the fanciest, nor the lightest but it always seemed to get the job done! Good on you for trying things out before you go, we always test stoves and other things before we take off.

I have done quite a few back yard camapouts with my kids. It's a blast for all of us and keeps me up to date on all my gear.