would you ever consider a hammock?  You can't fit 2 people in them but can usually hang them very close to eachother.  Way comfy as well.  Just a thought.

Agree.  I use HEET, Denatured, Isopropyl, whatever is available with my cat can stove.  Works great if you just want to boil water or if you are heating something up.   I love using my stove.

I'm so jealous it hurts.  I miss NC.

Tomi, if you want to save some water, avoid cooking. instant oatmeal can be soaked for ten minutes in cold water to get nearly the same creamy consistancy as cooked. i

How does this save water? 

Hey, my name is Travis Butler.  I have been riding for only 11 or so years.  I'm 29.  Started doing overnighters on the mountain bike last year in prep for the CTR.  I had knee issues and had to drop out .  Anyway, I live in Austin and do a lot of overnighters in town in local parks.  Kind of fun really.  I got to experience my first real bike tour this summer.  3 weeks in France with just the wife and I with no agenda, just a map.  It was awesome. 
I'll be doing a lot of overnighters and one 4 day trip in a few weeks in Arkansas.  Other than that it'll be tough to get out of the house in the near future.  Reason?  My wife and I are gonna have a baby! 

Good to see you on here Mike!  Guess what?  I am now the proud owner of a Wingnut 2.5 and 3.0.  Not only that, but my best friend just became a sales rep for them.  So now I get to see and use all his stuff!  I'm going to be using the 3.0 on a bikepacking trip in Arkansas in a few weeks.

I'm going with a few guys down here.  One guy that lives up there who is helping with the mapping of the route.  At first we wanted to do all the Ouachita but found out that a lot of it is hike a bike.  Since we are on a limited schedule we wanted to do the most riding possible.  We're shooting for around 150-200 miles.

how don't know who excited I would be to camp in Cameron Park.   That place is scary at night.

Ben,
I'm doing a trip in a few weeks up there.  We are using the Ouachita and Womble to create a long trail and we'll also be using some dirt roads to connect us.  When I get back I'll send you the beta.  We plan on riding for 3 days.

I have a CDW handlebar bag but I have friends who are starting to get into bikepacking but aren't ready to drop the coin on a handlebar bag.  A lot of you guys strap your pad to your handlebars.  My question is...how?  It seems that just regular cinch straps would slide around.  are you putting it in a compression sack and using that?

Thanks for the info.  My Lakes are awesome for hike a biking (which I do plenty of since I ride a SS) but are rather expensive (to me).  I really want to find some super light weight/low cut gaitors to keep the junk out of my shoes.

Let me know if you figure something out.  I've been wanting to go out there for a nice 3 or 4 day trip.  I think Mike Brown said he had some ideas.  I think he lives in Ashville and posts on MTBR.

New Braunfels actually, not sure if you're allowed to camp at GC, but I'll check. What about a BCGB overnighter?

You're not supposed to camp at BCGB or City Park or anywhere else I've camped.  Doesn't mean you can't.  Ride til you get tired, walk off the trail a few feet and set up camp.  Simple as that.  I've camped at City Park a couple times now and have been probably 10 feet off trail and well concealed and got to listen/watch as people road by.  Pretty fun stuff.  You're right, this weather is finally starting to come around where it would be nice to camp.

backpackinglight.com was a great resource for me for camping equipment.  So much of it though had to be taken with a grain of salt because it didn't always transfer over.  Clothing is an important aspect in these things.  Some things tansfer and some don't.  I would say continue with the review section here and if someone finds more information they could link it.

Scott,
  Thanks so much for getting this going.  I have been wanting a resource like this for a while.  I can't believe mtbr didn't jump on something like this.
Good stuff.

I have Lake 185's.  Love them for general riding and light touring.  They are a bit pricey though (especially since QBP doesn't carry them anymore).  Has anyone tried the Pearl Izumi lace up ones?  I saw Ethan P. using them on the CTR but I never heard back from him (because he's do dang fast!) about how he liked/disliked them.

Don't you live in S.A.?  I would say do an overnighter at Government Canyon.  I would think that might be fun.  Hell, I might come down and join you for it.  I've never ridden there but I hear it's pretty good.