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Single or double tent? Single or double tent?
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Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan




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  #1  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Single or double tent?
So prepping for my first RTW and wondering. Should I bring a single or double tent. In other words do you need the extra room for your gear at night etc.

opinions
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  #2  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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for sure, go with a 2man you will be glad ov the extra space when your on the road
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  #3  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Def go for the biggest tent you can that packs up the smallest lightest.
cr\awling in and out of a one man tent even without travelling is not much fun!
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  #4  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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2 man for sure
+ 1 for a 2 man tent.

You will definitely be glad of the extra room when you have wet gear to keep in the tent with you.
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  #5  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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1 or 2 person tent
Thanks all thats what I thought for the negligible weight and pack space difference a 2 person makes sense.
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  #6  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Even some two man tents will feel small when you get in them. If you're going rtw you'll be spending quite a bit of time in the tent so it's worth putting the effort in at the buying stage. For me the interior height is important - anything with less than 100cm headroom feels really claustrophobic as you can't sit up without banging into the inner tent. Look for around 120cm interior height - you'll be pleased you did when you're stuck in the tent in bad weather.
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  #7  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Whatever you end up getting, live out of it at home as much as you can prior to leaving. This may sound stupid, but you'll find out what works and what doesn't. Try setting it up and taking it down in the rain.

I've done MC camping and I've found that I don't like the riding gear inside the tent, just me and my sleeping kit. The tent is my nest, so to speak. I don't ride all day in the rain and then dump the gear on the floor of my bedroom and I don't cook there either. I use a PACSafe for my riding gear. I can lock it to a picnic table, a tree or the bike's frame. Regarding tent size, that's something you'll have to discover for yourself.

How much volume and weight are you willing to carry and manage day-to-day?

How much use it will see?

Have you thought about a hammock instead of a tent?

Good Luck on your trip!

daryl
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  #8  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Definitely a two men tent with two layers.

And you will need a tent for cold weather too. It is said some tents are for cold weather and winter. Infact most are for 3 seasons. Check the tent reviews before buy, especially the serious users. Make a good search and be ready for a serious amount for a good real tent.

It will be too late when you feel frozen in a very cold night in a remote forest, helpless and real frozen... you will be real regret for not paying 100 bucks more for a better tent.

And also go for a good sleeping bag and mat too. when you make search also look for real reviews. You will be happy at last.

Tent, mat, bag and your riding clothes-riding gear is the most important gear than your camera.

When you ride in a country where the gasoline is expensive, you can buy a good tent with the amount of a few days ride. Having a bike on economy saves you money for batter gear.

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  #9  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Once again valid information from all. For the gear I was thinking a 2 man tent that had a vestibule area. Just not sure how dry it would keep the gear in rainy weather. Agree on reading real reviews but al my gear that way. Know one knows better than users. Never thought of the height thing but makes sense nice to be able to sit up comfortably. Pretty much need a 4 season tent as I do not know what I will run into.......
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  #10  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Are you camping because you want too or because you have too?

Four season gear is heavy and bulky. A three season tent should be enough. On the days when the weather sucks, seek out a hotel or hostel. The money you save by camping on the clear days should help cover the cost.

You might check out YouTube for some tent reviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WDlxoz8W9o

daryl
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  #11  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Hey Daryl,

a little of both reasons. I do read that people expect to camp a lot, but find accommodations cheap so end up not. I think i just want to make sure I have options. But weight is a hugh consideration (sucks picking up any bike overloaded). So will be trying to keep the tent and all camping gear light as possible. thanks for the link
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  #12  
Old 26 Sep 2011
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which gear is the most important than weight ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dlh62c View Post
Are you camping because you want too or because you have too?

Four season gear is heavy and bulky. A three season tent should be enough. On the days when the weather sucks, seek out a hotel or hostel. The money you save by camping on the clear days should help cover the cost.

You might check out YouTube for some tent reviews: Eureka 4 Season Tent Review - Camping Gear TV Episode 26 - YouTube

daryl
How many of us here contributing had real long distance travel with an enduro ? and had very difficult time in bad weather ?

Roameo talks about RTW. RTW means you will not have a motel or something else, even camping most of the time.

You had a problem with bike and need to fix it and need to stay in a place for 2 weeks in bad weather. Or needed to camp somewhere in Mongolia, Africa, Russia, Alaska, you name it...and nobody can guarantee it will be in nice weather.

In this case should decide 1 kg heavier and better protection or lighter and worse protection ! ?

I prefer better gear in extreme situation...
Of course everybody's choice is different...

Roamao, you should decide which gear is more critical and how much can you tolerate it as weight, space and money. Make an order in which it is the more important. Than decide and do what you want and never regret
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  #13  
Old 26 Sep 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roameo View Post
thanks for the link
Happy to help!

You have to weight out what your willing to spend, carry and manage day-to-day. But experiment with your kit prior to leaving. Even if your sleeping in your backyard or using your cooking kit to prepare meals at home.

As someone once said, everything has to have multiple uses. You can carry a zero degree sleeping bag. Or you could get a 3-season bag thats good down to 20 degrees F and supplement it with long underwear, some sort of fleece pants, down jacket, a fleece beanie and a pair of wristies. All of which could be worn on or off the bike.

Back to your original question: The smallest tent I would go with would be a two man. If you still plan to store your riding gear inside, I would get some sort of gear bag to put it in.

daryl

www.wristies.com
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  #14  
Old 28 Sep 2011
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As always agree with all sides. No bike is the perfect bike and know gear is the perfect gear for all situations. Like most going to try and find that happy medium and adapt as need. Why else do they call it adventure riding lol.
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  #15  
Old 28 Sep 2011
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It depends how long you're going to spend in that tent.

If you're doing a fair amount of camping over a long period of time then having a tent with some space to move, read, change becomes a necessity, not a luxury.

I used a two man tunnel tent on my last trip and ended up selling it cheap because I was fed up it. Very difficult to change and impossible to sit and drink a cuppa on a wet day. As people would 'retire' to their tents in the evening, I'd end up sitting outside mine getting beaten to death by mosquitoes.

I now use a 3 man dome/geodesic for me and my gear and it's well worth the extra weight.

Your tent can become your second home.
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