Best tent
 

Hi All.
Im looking for suggestions as to what tent might suit me best for my future RTW. The criteria are: 2 man; free standing; four season; 2 porches; sitting height inside; £200-300 price range. I'm UK based so a UK supplier would be best. Even better if I can go and see it at a store somewhere in the south east.
Thanks,

Geoff

Hi Geoff - I can't recommend the EXPED range enough.

In particular this is a great tent

Exped-Auriga Mesh

This is the 'mesh' version - which isn't the best one - you can also get a normal version from TravelDri

Tents & Tarps: Auriga from Traveldri Plus

I think it ticks all of your boxes and is incredibly well made - it should see you around the world quite easily. If you want to take a look at it Les (from TravelDri) normally has one up outside his stand at the shows - or you can take a little trip down to see him towards Dartmoor.

If you want to have a look nearer to home I'm sure I could get one for you to take a look at and play with - I'm in Buckinghamshire.

m

All useful stuff Matt, thanks. I'll have a look at them and I might even take you up on your offer.

Is that a four season tent? Doesn't look like it.

Mark

A four-season tent for motorcycling? Gonna be riding in the snow? LOL

Four-season tents are more expensive, weigh a lot more and can be broilers in warm weather. If you can make do with a three-season tent, take a look at this Big Agnes. This is just about the lightest 2-door, 2-man tent out there. Good luck & enjoy.

https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/De.../CopperSpurUL2

The OP asked for a four season tent recommendation. FWIW, I watched quite a few three-season tents collapse with broken poles and/or shredded fabric in Patagonia: no snow involved, just wind.

Ability to withstand snow-loading is not the only distinguishing feature of a true four-season tent. Strength aside (see: Patagonian winds), the use of net fabric makes a three-season tent far less weatherproof as well as significantly colder to sleep in. This can be viewed as an advantage (in hot weather) or not (in cold weather).

It's usually necessary to decide whether to buy for one or the other, or to strike an unsatisfying balance between the two.

Mark

It's interesting how often this type of query comes up - the elusive best tent.

It comes down to, basically, "horses for courses" but one feature of an earlier thread of similar nature ( http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ble-tent-59315 ) that I thoroughly endorse is to use a 3 person tent for 2 persons, for instance, and a 2 person tent for 1, all when living in a tent for long periods of time, and especially so when the weather is at all inclement.

Walkabout - as ever - hits the nail on the head. In this case I think Geoff is being quite specific and has clearly done the research and knows what he wants.

@markharf - the mesh version is not a 4 season tent - the normal version will be more than adequate, however, it is not a true 4 season tent in that it doesn't have snow skirts etc. The build quality of the Exped is amazing - really tough tents that will do everything you want of it.

m

Thanks to Walkabout, Markhaf, Ridefar and Matt for the comments. I will be alone (as far as I know anyway) so a 2 man is ideal. I would go for the normal version anyway even though it's dearer and a bit outside my upper budget limit. But I don't mind that as I'm only going to do it once. Quality is what counts here so I'll willing look at all suggested tents especially if they come with a recommendation based on hard experience.
Geoff

Brother Man of Kent,

Personally I'd have a good look at VANGO tents in the UK. I have used a variety of these tents over many years and they appear to be great value for money. With the money you have available it will be perfectly possible to get a 3 man tent which will be large enough to camp in relative comfort. Forget the lightweight versions and go for something capable of withstanding adverse wind/weather. You will appreciate the extra room in a 3 man tent compared to a 2 man one.

Hi Kentfallen.
That's definitely something to consider and I've been looking at Vangos already. They do seem to have a good range. For the best compromise of weight over room I'll probably stick with a two man, especially as I'll be alone so should have enough room. I'm not in a rush to make a decision just yet so lot's of time to look and think.
Thanks for the advice.
Geoff

Hello Geoff,
I have used a Kyham Igloo for many years,now i have a Kyham Ranger. A bit large on the packed down size but good tents and very quick to put up.

Thanks for that info keroders. I'll have a look at them.
Geoff

Erm, what he said ! You can't go wrong with Vango IMHO. Proven tents and parts are also obtainable. I've had Vango's for the past 28 years and am just about to purchase a Vango Halo 200 and the Adventure Tarp to go with it, for my lightweight off road excursions next year. :scooter:

I have tried and tested various tents over the years...

The winnner is the Vango halo 3

3 ali poles all the same length.. vestibules at both ends, free standing (almost you have to pull the vestibules out).
pitch with inner or if taking down in rain, climb inside and detach the inner keeping it dry.

great pack size

worth a look

Cheers
Geordie aka Will

Thanks for those comments Will and Harty. The Vango Halo is on my list of tents to look at.
Merry Christmas,
Geoff

I like the Vango Force 10 tents and when I was looking for something strong, but still lightish in weight, I was recommended to look at the Vango Nitro+ tent. It has a spacious porch area for wet biker gear and also more tie down points for use in rough weather. The super light Heliums, etc. lack these tie additional tie downs.

The Vango tents I think are only 210cm internal length so (being tall) I went with something a bit longer inside. Also, being in Germany, it was difficult to see the tent in the flesh so to speak.

I still have a Vango Force 10 MkIV (cotton) and that has been out in some dreadful Scottish stormy weather, but never had a problem with it. I was even able to get replacement springs for the pole sections recently, even though the tent must be 30 years old or so. Makes a change being able to get spares for such an old bit of kit.

Grey Beard

The force ten is a legendary tent - famous in the UK for being used as a punishment for the bad kids on school trips - you can carry the tent!

They are also pretty much fireproof, as has been demonstrated at least once with an exploding MSR.

Your right about the weight, but I have carried it with climbing gear to some climbs in Arran on the slabs (Glen Rosa?). But it's a great tent, solid ground sheet and no condensation problems. Mine is even heavier as it has a snow valence fitted.

I did see one MkIV have a broken ridge pole one fierce night wild camping night in Glen Etive in Scotland. My tent was right next to it, but I had storm guys on it, so it survived the night. Not sure I slept so much, as kept expecting the tent to take off!!

Grey Beard

Jeez, carrying a rack two ropes and a Quasar up to Cloggy (Snowdon) nearly wiped me out - you must be built like a brick sh*thouse!

I have the Vango Omega 350 (3 man Tent), I went for the 3 man as I will be having a pillion with me & I got the 2011 version as the inner ground sheet has a inner skirt raised up so water don't get in, 2010 don't have the raised skirt,
It has ally poles & the wait is 5.5kg the Vango Bravo is very similar but has fiberglass poles. I like the idea the tend has its own stuff sack, & a inner sleeping area, 2 doors, I was surprised at the amount of tent pegs I got 30 and not your flimsy things these are good quality pegs, the omega & bravo both also have a tension band system so if in very bad weather or windy can tighten these for extra strength.

I know quite a few people have used this tent even the D of E recommend this tent, I think looking at the wait over space (irrespective of the 250, 2 man or 350 you would be pleasantly surprised on the amount of internal space!
I have 2 standard Givi Panniers & a Otleib roll bag, all of that went into the
porch / cooking ,(wet weather), area & me and my pillion still had room to sit about with out going into the sleeping area.

I suggest you seriously go have a look at this model.

FYI I decided 1 day when I had only got the tend 2 days prior to put it up but as it was raining i decided i would put it up in the living room, all I can say was WOW I was supprised how big it is & how small it went down too.

When I got mine I got it from a firm called outback trading (a really good fast service, & a good price, i asked how he could do it so cheap as they are a small independent)

Outback Trading -

Thanks for all that info Selous. I'll definitely check it out.

Geoff

I've just heard that Les will be at The Ace on Sunday for the Overland and Adventure day with a range of Exped Tents including an Auriga if you want to see them in the flesh.

If you've got questions on tents Les is the man to speak to.

m

Ridge poleless
 

The best tent, ever, was the Black's Good Companion which didn't break ridge poles because it has none :thumbup1:

Good Companion Standard Tent Reviews and Details 1

Hard to find nowadays I expect.

Thanks Matt. I'm going there and I spoke to Les at Excel to confirm he'd be bringing some tents. I'll look out for you.
Geoff

Good Companions, Wow, that takes me back a bit! Actually so does the talk about Vango Force Tens as I still use my Mk 4 regularly. I bought mine in the mid 70's and I know of two older ones that are still in regular use, one of which, a Mk 5 bought in 1970, is the oldest one Vango are aware of.

Yes they're heavy (slightly less if you have the nylon flysheet) and no, I wouldn't like to go backpacking with it but for bike use they're fine. Quite a few other tents have gone through my hands in the meantime but the Force 10 just keeps on going. Def gets my vote for the best tent ever.

See you there :-)

m

Hilleberg tents are very good.

I dont think you can buy a really good 4 season tent for only 200-300 quid.

I own a Hilleberg Kaitum 3 and that is a very good 2 person tent. Folds small, light weight, very spacy inside, can be pitched extremely fast by only one person.

Redverz
 

I just bought a Redverz Exhibition 11 tent, haven't had a chance to put it up yet..
3 season, you can stand up in it and most importantly you can park your bike in it! And it only ways about 6kg's, you can fit a double mattress in there and its a fairly small pack size, all for about £350.
Check out www.redverz.co.uk
Looks perfect to me!

Hope you went for the green one! That yellow job will attract the midges and mosquitos like no-ones business!

I can attest to the room it has

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6...6cdc66c7b5.jpg

Stace and I did a little 'testing' last year at the Adventure Travel Film Festival.

Another Vango fan here....

They are well made, sensibly designed and very good value..

Tents are one of those things that many spend three months travel budget on.. Why ????

I wouldn't spend mega cash on a tent like many do unless you're planning on some SERIOUS camping. And as you're with a bike, I really doubt that you are.

Bare in mind that around the world, you will have many opportunities to replace a tent if you have to. For probably a lot cheaper than you can buy in the UK and probably better suited to the environment too.

You see some ridiculously expensive expedition tents 'looking cool' at bigger meetings. What's the point ??? They still burn/stain/tear just like the much cheaper models. Sure, they maybe able to withstand a force 10 gale at the top of Everest and have lazer etched poles but do YOU need that ??

My vangos have been more than adequate in the high mountains of Ethiopia and well as the scorching desert sands and patagonian winds.

It's not always the 'brand' of tent that determines it's last-ability, but the design you go for and how you pitch it.

I'd seen mega bucks tents fold and fly away at Shell Islands (crazy windy Welsh campsite) while my £15 ASDA dome tent stood proud. :innocent:

I'm not saying get a cheap ASDA tent, but a Vango should be more than good enough for all but the most extreme camper.


I currently use the Omega 350..

http://www.vango.co.uk/expedition/omega-350.html

It's shaped so you can point it into the wind if you have to, it has a generous sleeping compartment as well as a really spacious front porch for all your storage. You can easily sit up in the front section too. It even has curtains for the front windows.

Ticks all my boxes.


http://www.vango.co.uk/components/co...20-%20pine.jpg

I have a couple of tents and would recommend them but I am not sure what you are after.

I have a Vango Apex 200 (no longer made but you might be able to find them around still - Vango Apex 200 Mountain Lite Tent UK) ... they are a two man, which means 1 man of course, inexpensive, and it weights a tiny 1.6 kgs. But its not a 4 season tent.

You did specify a 4 season tent ... in which case you have to spend more, carry more weight and get something like a Hilleberg Nallo-2 (Nallo 2 | hilleberg.se) ... which weighs in at 2.3 kgs

That's the same tent that was blowing all over the place in a bit of wind! WTF do you want to park your bike in your tent for doh Might as well kip in a hotel and stick your bike in the garage :thumbdown:

"That's the same tent that was blowing all over the place in a bit of wind! WTF do you want to park your bike in your tent for doh Might as well kip in a hotel and stick your bike in the garage"

Its a little thing called security! Out of sight and out of mind and all that?
Its the same reason why travellers go to great lengths to find accomodation where their bikes are behind closed doors - away from prying eyes! I thought the benefits of hiding the bike in a tent would have been obvious? Obviously not...

So obvious that your trying to hide in an oversized bright yellow tent ?c? ;-)

now now you two...

Different tents for different people - I know we can get passionate about gear... but come on.

Now, I can attest that with both Stace and I in the tent it didn't blow anywhere. There may have been some wind inside the tent but poor Stace had just had some of my bacon curry.

I don't own this tent by the way - I just take the mickey out of it at the meets ;-)

Go Vango
 

:stormy:Agree with most of you. No need to spend mega buck. My Vango Spirit 2 has got me thro 2 Welsh winters. And will take it to the Arctic this May. The porch is essential for bike gear and very easy and fast to pitch. Light weight and compact, My sleeping mat cost more than the tent... down filled, Exped hand inflated , worth every penny Reflects body heat and very comfy.

Vango for me
 

Hi Ted nice tent where did you get that from? I have the HALO 300 and it does me, it has more space than the Omega and packs about the same weight. Ted is right you can spend a fortune on tents with laser engraved poles and drilled graphite pegs but does the cost justify it?

I lost one tent in Cornwall when it turned into a kite as I was taking it down. Fortunately it was a cheap tent but it could have been an expensive one. By the time I had retrieved it out of the brambles it was like a set of lace curtains and ended up in the skip. Shell Island is the graveyard of tents but the best place to test any out. I have left at least one very expensive tent in a skip there. In fact I have thrown most of my tents away and they were a combination of expensive and ultra cheap bargain basement jobbies.

My advice would be buy a cheap one and test it out on any hill top in bad weather. If it works then great if it does not then you have not wasted a fortune. My current HALO has seen me through 6 inches of snow, temperatures of -7 and hurricane type gales. IT has not leaked, has not blown away or been ripped to shreds by the wind and it has loads of space in it to keep my gear dry.

Hope this helps

GM

I am not saying this is the best tent as no tent is the best for everything but the Exped orion is very very good, (I still rate the moskol tipis as one of the best for everything) Able to withstand high winds is roomy, with excellent head room, the tent can be pitched with the inner in place, or the inner can be stand alone for hotter climate, it has two porches, two entrances, excellent stability, free standing very good ventilation and better than most build quality, zips and materials. Its cheaper to buy from Europe than in the UK generally but you might find a bargain one. http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped...endocumentwell worth a look.

fyi, your link doesn't work... doh

Cheers ted maybe this will work cheers.
Exped-Orion - expedition grade shelter.

copy but who copied who?
 

Hi Adventure, the tent you posted looks like a clone of the HALO. Thing is who copied who. If it is a good as the HALO then it is a good tent.

here is a review of the HALO with pics so you can see how similar they are.

Vango Halo 300 Tent Uploaded Photos and Images

Hi Greenmalashi the Vango is no doubt a good tent however its aimed at a different market to the Exped which is a full on 4 season expedition grade mountain tent that has won many top awards for its build quality and levels of protection that can be given, If you do not need this type of tent then the Vango is no doubt fine. The exped has top design features built into the tent to help when putting it up in severe weather and the like stand this quality of tent apart from others - I would suggest its in a different league to the vango ( sounds snobby that but just the difference between an everyday tent and a top quality expedition tent) materials and build quality are far above that of the Vango. It can withstand full side on 75 to 100mph windspeeds see demo ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI-BQUDlPxo ) the poles, pegs and material are superb quality and the little features like self stowing guidelines, easy fit colour coded poles (seams are internal for extra strength and to lower wind drag),the fact the internal tent can be put up seperate from the external and visa versa the list goes on it all adds up to make a difference to the whole tent.But there again the Exped is up there at around £500 notes so you pays your money and take your choices - depends what you may use your tent for and I use mine to live in in very northern climates (arctic areas as well as use on the bike so feel its justified) All that said I can not knock the Vango at its price its probably a great tent and you could have three in succession for the price of one Exped. The Vango is more than likely copied from the Exped not the other way round. Still if your full of beer on a campsite it makes no difference cos your probably in somebody elses tent anyway. Jake.

just bought the MSR Holler.
Already liked the Mutha Hubba (or whatever its name is), but the poles didn't fit in a touratech pannier. The MSR Holler fits in nicely!

Bibler (Black Diamond)
 

Maybe i missed it... has the Bibler (Black Diamond) been mentioned? If not, I'm surprised! Bibler became Black Diamond a number of years ago, but as far as i know are the same quality. I have had my Tempest since 2005. Its extremely durable with very high quality fabrics and zippers. Single wall design works like Gore-Tex, with zero condensation inside and excellent venting. The Easton aluminum poles are inside the tent creating an egg-like strong shell. I have been caught in 2 day long rain storms on top of mountains and never been wet. It packs small, around 2 kilo's and has a front and rear vestibule. Tempest Tent - Black Diamond Mountain Gear
Another option is the I-Tent, used by Helge Pederson.
I-Tent - Black Diamond Mountain Gear
If i ever wear this tent out, which i find highly unlikely, i would replace it with another in a heart-beat!

BTW: These tents come with un-sealed seams. Before venturing out, you must seal them with Seam-Grip urethane sealer. Mine lasted six years before i re-applied mine and were always water-tite.

What I bought
 

Having started this thread I suppose I should reveal what I bough in the end. I chose an Exped Orion which is a two man tent with two porches. It comes highly recommended by many on the HUBB and I hope it will serve me well over the years. It's expensive but I'm going to be asking a lot of it when I start my travels. I bought it from Travel-Dri, who must be one of the most customer focused UK companies you will ver find. Its first use will be at Ripley - maybe I'll see some of you there.
Thanks for all the helpful opinions ad comments
Geoff

anybody else wants a tent consider all year rounder husky fighter 3 , around 200 euros , guys on himlayas use it a lot and swear on it

got the orginal Bibler I tent .. very_stable tent .. have camped out in 95+ mph winds with no problems. properly guided out of course.

minimal condensation, under extreme cold condition like 10f degree. your breath will condensate on inside of any tent.

main drawback to my Bibler four season tent is lack of ventilation for hot weather camping. that and weight .. it's too heavy for a two man tents. weight has been solved in the Black Diamond version which is one of the lightest two man tents available anywhere. much lighter fabric than the original Bibler design. but add vestibule for outside storage and weight goes back up to two layer tent range.

tent technology has really advanced since days of Bibler's first tents. thank goodness trickle down technology has made requirement of spending BIG $$$ to get a world class tent .. no longer valid.

my suggestion is focus on getting a light 3 season free standing tent that will easily survive 95+ mph winds. a two layer tent with LOTS of mesh to allow comfortable camping during 90f+ degree camping. while allowing cold weather camping down to 10F degrees.

choice available for USA are completely different for Europe.
here in America ... first stop would be a close out specialist, online store.

fact is most any high end, state of the art tent will meet or exceed your requirements. main problem is cost for these type tents.

state of the art for tents occurred years ago... sure minor improvement goes on every year. but tents that are a few years old are not that different from current models.... except for price $$$.

one can save 50%+ by knowing where and what models to shop for.
let's start with Sierra outfitters... since only what models are available counts. it's next to useless recommending models... only brands.

Tents up to 56% off at Sierra Trading Post

for instance this Marmot two person/3 season tent is available for $171 USD. very stable free standing light weight design. using the well known tactic of only buying a two man tent for one. 3 man tent for two...etc.


http://i.stpost.com/marmot-ajax-2-te...v_01%7E340.jpg
here's a pic of a true 4 season Bibler tent. if you remove vestibules, notice outline is nearly identical to Marmot tent above. properly guided out, both will easily survive 95+ mph winds. both use two long aluminum poles crossed forming a free standing dome.

naturally a true 4 season tent will have a huge advantage in truly nasty conditions like howling snow at say -10f degree below zero. that same advantage turns into a liability camping out in say 90f degree HOT conditions. where one needs as much venting as possible.

most any state of the art two layer, 3 season, free standing tent will easily survive high winds, 90f+ temps and allow camping down to 10f degree. which should cover just about any bike trip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...mpest_side.jpg

A mountain tent is overkill for bike camping and unnecessarily expensive.

On the face of it I'd agree. Not only are they more expensive but they're bulkier and heavier as well. Here's a picture comparison between two of mine, an "old skool" mountaineering tent and a recently bought (2010) cheap and cheerful festival type tent. Both are two man capacity with similar amounts of porch storage.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r.../_DSC5040s.jpg


The top one weighs in at around seven kilos. That's well over twice the weight of the bottom one and it feels like it when you pick them up.

So why do I bother with the heavy, bulky one? Partly it's because when the weather takes a turn for the worst I know it's going to survive. I've spent many days inside it sheltering from thunderstorms and nights where I'm not worried about non stop rain and / or high winds because I know it's not going to leak or blow down. It's over 20yrs old now without any real sign of decay so I'm still happy to use it regularly. Having that confidence in the tent does make for relaxing nights - it does for me anyway.

It also makes the cost per year a lot more acceptable. I'm not a gear junky and I'm not really bothered whether I have this years model or not. When I buy something it tends to get used until it falls apart and then replaced. The high initial purchase price can be painful but spread over 20+yrs (or in the case of my Vango Force 10 nearly 40yrs) it represents a lower cost per year than the smaller one above. That's only a couple of years old but already it's showing signs of wear despite only being used for dry(ish) summer nights. I'd guess another couple of years and that'll be it for that tent. I've no problems with it though, it was cheap and on hot nights it's better ventilated than the heavyweight ones. It's when the weather turns nasty that the overspecced tents earn their keep. I've been flooded out of enough campsites over the years to value the extra weather resistance that mountaineering tents incorporate.

I must say, Back, that I can't see past the Khyam tents. For bike travel I think they are fantastic. Now on sale at 30£ reduced from 70£. But till you said you weren't a gear junkie, I didnt mention this tent because I know that there are some (not on this thread) who think that dearer means better. And the Khyam is suitable for purpose, unlike a mountain tent for biketravel needs. But people want sophisticated tents so .........

I have an Exped venus II tent. Quite expensive was it. Used it in my M/C trip to Europe in May-June.

For such expensive tent, it kept me cold inside though lightweight and easy to set up and down.

I don't agree with Caminando "A mountain tent is overkill for bike camping and unnecessarily expensive.". If you have harsh and strong weather, good equipment is must.

My Exped tent is for summer only.

Next time I will take a mountain tent even for spring rides.

If any one is still looking......You wont go far wrong with the vango spirit 200. 2.5kg's, sleeps 2 comfortably and shed loads of porch space. I've had the same one for about 4 years and stilll going strong. infact i had it up last week in torrential north wales rain and strong winds without any probs at all. half the price ( £240) of my previous terra nova and just as good, if not better!

Size matters!
 

I did the usual thing of getting a 2-man tent for solo travel. Mine was a cheap-as-chips Eurohike in a Milletts sale - under £20. It was a two-man tent if the two men were each 9 stone and very good friends. I am 15 stone and it fitted so closely that my Danish friends called it my 'condom'.

So the next tent I went for was a Vango Beta 350 (similar design to Touring Ted's Omega 350 but I would guess lower quality). Ebay, one season's use, £38. This is a three-man tent (after my experience with the Eurohike) and I could have parties in there! It's huge - possibly too big for solo trips. The porch is great though and takes all my bike gear, plus it is high enough for me to sit upright in a camping chair. The sleeping area can take a double airbed if necessary. It's a very nice tent, and well made. I carry it strapped across the seat, so I can't comment if the poles will fit into panniers or not. Never let me down, so I would say a big +1 for Vango.

Redverz tent
 

Hi
Good info about tents -Thanks!

I have read the advertising blurb about the Redverz II tent and it seems ideal for a long adv trip, if a little heavy perhaps. Not seen much feedback from actual users though. Has anyone used these tents in some hectic weather and how did it perform generally??c?

This is going to be a two sided reply:

a) I wonder if that tent gives extra peace of mind since your bike doesn't get wet when it rains outside, otherwise I can't see the point of parking your GS, sorry, motorcycle, inside the tent (lapsus, I said GS because their add shows a 1200 GS). Well, unless you are not willing at all to cannot change habits of parking everyday in an underground parking. However, I know nothing about the tent apart from the pictures, but just how I see it [in reply a)], but happy to learn why the concept is so good (and I'm just wrong).

b) If you are interested in the tent, I've got friends who have a brand new one, never used, for sale. I can give you their contact details (live in London). It's an excellent high quality and great value tent, great to protect yourself and your bike from weather and theft, especially 2nd hand never used ones at a great price [reply b) helping friends approach].

Esteban

Hi Esteban
 

Thanks for your thoughts.

Actually I have a KLR:innocent:

I can see the benefit of having place/space to work on the motorcycle during poor weather. I lived in a two man tent for 9 months while hitch-hiking through Europe many years ago and can still remember the space problems for kit especially if the weather turned bad.:thumbdown:

Thanks for the second hand offer, I plan to spend about 18 months on the road starting mid 2014 so am not in any hurry to purchase but am getting good quality gear together to make this a memorable trip.

I am concerned particularly with the possibility of problems during high winds with the Redverz tent being so "tall".

That's a nice bike... and a good reason for the tent in your case, so no more objections (and prejudices... :innocent:) from my side.

Just a thought if I have to forecast the situation: it's imperative to work on the bike no matter the weather (visa deadline, ferry, tight schedule, etc), it's probably late (night?), so have to use a torch, it rains outside and the porche is probably a little damp, and there is no better place to stay and/to work on the bike... how many times will you have those factors to justify such a big thing ? Just a thought, maybe it's just better to work inside due to the wind and dust in the steppe, so I cannot say. If it's right for you, just go ahead, it's a personal thing (and it's not only to polish the chromes :D) . No idea about the wind...

Have a great trip and enjoy the preparation stage,

Esteban

small tents?
 

I'm surprised to see most of the recommendations are for rather bulky 2 and 3 man tents. what happened to 'less is more' !

I'm with Camiando on this one - '4 season' capability seems absolutely unnecessary and adds weight, bulk, and expense. I've been through torrents in this thing and stayed dry!:
http://www.zpacks.com/images/shelter...ue_front_m.jpg


Cheaper seems better as there are plenty of opportunities for damage or loss - I once had thieves slice thru a tent wall with a razor blade in Morocco while I was asleep.

For bike travel I got one of these for $100 on Ebay:
REI Quarter Dome T1 Tent - Free Shipping at REI.com

meets these criteria: relatively cheap, light, freestanding (as Ta-Rider recommended), simple to set up (two poles), gear fits in the vestibule, packs super small, and keeps me dry..

Small is better :)

Courtesy of Aerostich, curiously out of stock ;)

Primary qualities in a tent - my opinion
 

I prefer that a tent has the following qualities:

1. Two pole, free standing, for ease of set up. I hardly ever tie or peg my tent down. Also, I hate "trip wires"
2. No vestibule - it usually requires an extra pole and usually also needs to be tied down. Less convenient to set up. I also don't like having to crawl through it and over all the luggage that usually finds its way there.
3. Poles in many short sections for compact packing
4. One layered tent for easy set up and compact packing
5. Doors with mosquito nets
6. Ventilation flaps with mosquito nets
7. Taped seams
8. Robust composite poles
9. Poles attached using clips rather than pockets for ease of set up and to prevent tears
10. One tent per bike, except for shorter trips or if you are attached at the hip with whoever you are traveling with (friends should be free to split up)
11. Built in foot print, robust bottom, for ease of set up
12. Tent one size bigger than the number of people that will use it to accommodate luggage and for comfort. Exception if you really want to pack very small and can make do without the added comfort and convenience. I prefer not having my luggage in a vestibule where bugs and animals can get to it, where I have to crawl over it, or where dirt or the damp ground makes my life more complicated - I always bring whatever I need inside.
13. Long enough for your mattress and for you not to have your head or feet pressed up against the fabric
14. Preferably two doors, one on each side
15. On on small one person tents, the door should be on the long side
16. Fat pegs that will hold in soft ground
17. Inside pocket to store various items like flash light
18. Small height and foot print makes it easier to find a place to set it up, reduces the chance of hawing it blow away or getting it flattened by the wind, packs smaller and lighter

In short, pack small and light and be easy to set up.


I have too many tents as is, but there is always progress in technology and design and two of my two person tents are well beyond their expiration date (cheap tents). I need a new tent, so please feel free to post links to two person tents that fit my requirements.



Some additional tips:


a broken pole can be repaired using a piece of from a soda can and some tape, wire or plastic strip ties - so no need to bring an extra piece of pole for repairs.



Tools, sticks, eating utensils, knife, rocks, your panniers, and your bike, can all be used in place of tent pegs, so there is no need to bring a complete set of pegs. On the rear occasions that I do tie and peg down my tent, I usually get by with securing it in a few places only, and as such, I only bring a few pegs with me.



Remember, if you do tie your tent to your bike, tie it low on the bike and preferably not sideways to the bike, and preferably also on the side of the tent opposite of the wind - this to prevent the bike from tipping over. I find that the center stand is a good place. Make sure the bike stands sturdy and turn the handlebar fully sideways and put the bike in gear to "lock" the bike. Also, keep the bike at such a length from the tent that if it should tip over, that it will not fall over you while you are in your sleep.



Also, your tie downs for your tent can be used as a clothes line, shoe string, and for various bodge repairs - so no need to bring lots of extra string for these purposes.

I'll go with that list, because you have described my Coleman X-tent, more or less: it doesn't have two doors but there is a ventilation panel where another door could/would be, and it does have a total of 3 poles (two for the tent - hence its name I think - with one for the flysheet).

Hi,

I prefere a two layers Iglutent to stay dry in winter like the High Peak Texel 3. My perfect tent is

a) Cheap (27.- Euro insluding shiping http://www.ebay.de/itm/High-Peak-Kup...item337b77be97 ) so i dont have to worry it might get stolen
b) can even stand without hugs (on a ferry etc)
c) has a moscito net

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/im...OXo62uoQSFKHmw

I traveled around africa and around southamerica with this (not using hotels so camping most of the time and it worked great) and left the two front sticks at home:

http://www.adventure-travel-experien...rt=ausruestung

I dont need expensive stuff, Tobi

This I would like to see :rofl:

Yeah, it can be a bit inconvenient having to take the tent down before you can eat your dinner and I've never managed to find a way of holding a tent up with a spork :rofl: but needs must and all that. The picture below wasn't my best choice of campsite (or best choice of tent come to that) but I was too tired to move on once I'd got there. The surface was soft powdery sand and none of the normal pegs would hold in it so the tent is tied to the bike side stand at one end and to both 15" tyre levers driven deep enough to get some purchase at the other. Good job I didn't get a puncture at the same time :biggrin3:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...Africa0090.jpg

Haha great :) Thats exactly why i allways recoment to take a tent wich is able to stand without any pegs. Same if you want to have some privacy on a ferry:

http://www.adventure-travel-experien...silien_047.jpg

Ha, ha, yeah I do see your point. Not super practical, and looks out of whack. But, my point is only that I seldom ever need to use all my pegs. In instances where I don't have a complete set of pegs and find that I need to secure the tent better, I make do with whatever I have and won't need until I tear down the camp. Pegs are optimal for the longer taught strings, but just about anything can be used for the bottom floor corners.

As for your tent Ta-rider, I had an almost identical looking tent, except for it was only one layer. I found that the poles that hold up the semi vestibule would often fall down, and it drove me nuts. I finally cut off the whole vestibule... But then my tent was less waterproof, and it became a play tent for my kids, who destroyed it. I cannot recommend that type of vestibule as it is no longer completely free standing, the poles and tie downs for the vestibule get in the way, and they are vulnerable to fall over if not secured really well.

I am currently using a tent similar to the one below. It is ultra quick to pitch, and due to it being only one ply and without vestibules, it packs small and light. It was the cheapest tent I could find, and out of all the ones I own - it quickly became my favorite until one of the poles broke last summer from material fatigue

(I currently own six or seven vastly different tents, for all types of purposes - but this is the only one really I use). Still, it could be improved upon a lot. The ventilation cover on top of the tent will let in water if it rains heavily sideways (never had a problem with it as I in heavy rain have always found a tree to pitch under.

The poles come in too long sections for my liking and are of crap quality. Also, it should have come with more self standing ventilation flaps that some of my other tents come with. The floor of the tent is of a cheap thick heavy material - without this it would have packed even lighter and smaller.

Lastly, the tent poles goes through pockets rather than clips, which I find is more cumbersome to pitch and take down. Also, it wears the fabric.

Now, I am looking for a high quality replacement that fits the specs, but all I can seem to find are cheap festival tents (they are ok for shorter trips, do not last). Any of you know of such a tent?http://p.lefux.com/61/20110720/A1872...052-Gallay.jpg

I just left those front sticks at home. My tent has two zipers so i can close this section then it is waterproof with the second layer or just a moscito net with only the first but i like your small one man tent...have to try one of them if thy really pack so small :)

Travel save

Actually I think that is a two skinny person tent... Mine was of a different manufacturer, but almost exactly identical to the one in the picture. My wife and I used it on our cape town to Nairobi trip. It was small, but adequate for those few nights we camped. On trips when only I sleep in it, its size is perfect.

There are many such "festival tents" on the market, and they are all dirt cheap. Try to find one with poles in many shorter sections and one with a thin light weight floor to pack extra small and light - I myself am still searching. Plz let me know if you find one.

I've got a couple of those small single skin tents like Wheelie's picture but I'd want sunny weather right through the night before I'd use either of them for more than a family shelter on a beach. They do pack down really small - probably half the diameter of my next most compact tent and about a quarter of the size of my sand dune tent above but that's not really a massive issue with bike travel is it? For back packing maybe but an extra kilo or a few centimeters bigger surely isn't a deal breaker on a bike. If it is leave a few cans of beer behind to compensate :rofl:

I've just started prepping a 70's 10bhp 120cc Suzuki for next year's Elephant rally :freezing: and even that will take the additional weight of a tent with a flysheet. A real bike shouldn't have any problem at all. The weight you saved won't be the first thing on your mind when you wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of continuous heavy rain blown in on storm force winds. Here's a good description I read recently of a wet night in a cheapy tent -

"An ominous dark stain is spreading across the top of the tent ... and water is already running down ... forming puddles on the ground sheet. You carefully arrange the ground sheet so that the growing puddle does not form a rivulet and run towards your sleeping bag and try and get back to sleep but the damage has been done. Ten minutes later, the flashlight is back on. The puddles are bigger and some drips are forming along the ridge. Soon a drip, drip, drip is heard. A cup is placed under the leak. Then another and a plate is used this time. Clothes are gathered up and moved to the driest area of the tent and perched precariously on top of shoes or boots or anything that will keep them away from the flooding ground sheet. Eventually, it is a losing battle and you try and sit on your heels with the majority of the sleeping bag gathered up around the knees. Even if the rain stops and the puddles swept out of the tent, the cold and damp from the evaporating water chills to the bone."


I spent too many nights like that back in my early camping career (in fact I feel like I might have owned the tent he was talking about :rofl:) to want to revisit it voluntarily by skimping on tent technology. There was a reason why the single skin tent I bought from from Halfords was only £10 - for :mchappy:+:Beach: ok, maybe, :mchappy:+ :rain: no way

I totally see your point. A tent got to be waterproof, and cheap tents, well they often lack taped seems, can't cope with more than a 1000 mm of rain, etc. But even the crappiest tent, with thorough use of seem sealer and Spraying several layers of waterproofening, will become utterly waterproof. Test it befor you go by putting the water spreader to it for a few hours.

I left one of those cheap tents set up in my garden for my kids to play with, for weeks in a really wet Norwegian summer, it stayed dry. In the army we had single layered canvas tents, and even those were dry with enough waterproofening.

One issue with single layered tents is that it is far more vulnerable to condensation due to less air circulation. This can collect on the inside of the canopy and drip down. Snow or zub zero temperatures on the outside of the canopy, with snow melting off wet gear dragged into the tent, is especially bad. Still, I really have never had any significant condensation issues on any bike trips, even on really rainy nights with wet gear inside the tent - some ofcourse, but nothing to be bothered about. I can't say that I hace camped in monsoon rains though.

Another issue with single layered tents is that they can get really hot in warm summer climates compared to a tent where you can use just the inner tent. But as I hardly ever stay in bed when the sun shines, this is not a problem for me. Near the arctic circle where the wun shines 24 hours it can be an issue if you are so lucky to get a really warm night. On the other hand, the unstable climates up north, going to sleep and wake up to find that sunshine unexpectedly turned to rain, is a bad experience if you went to sleep using the inner tent only.

For my use, single layered tents is the only way. However, I advice against cheap ones on longer trips as there is a great chance they won't last. This is why I am searching for a high tech tent with the specs mentioned.

I guess what is right depends on how often you will camp and for how long each time, as well as under what conditions you will be camping in as well as under what conditions you will be riding, and maybe even your budget. For some, a simple tarp is enough, others need nothing at all and will bite their teeth and ride until they find a cave, bridge, hotel, or what not. Serious offroaders may not wan't to compromise handling a tad bit by adding any grams that isn't absolutely vital. Others bring large tents and chairs for comfort. We all need to compromise in one direction or the other - the question is to find the correct compromise for you as there is no size fits all here. I guess this is why I have accumulated so many different tents - my needs and preferences vary.

I didn't even get to mentioning condensation in my last contribution but to my mind that's a huge drawback to single skin tents. If the material stops water getting in it also stops it getting out and you can wake up to find yourself covered in your own drips.

How much condensation you get does depend on weather conditions but certainly in the UK what many people perceive as ideal camping weather (still air, warmish slightly humid nights followed by chilly sunny mornings) would see lots of condensation forming. We've got that this week here in the south and it has crossed my mind whether I should try and get away for a few days under "canvas" before it changes. If I do it won't be in one of my single skin tents though.

For me it's all about quality of sleep inside a tent. To get a good nights sleep I want to feel relaxed in much the same way I do at home, confident that tent will cope with everything while I'm asleep. If I don't have that then I tend to wake up frequently just to check that nothing has broken, leaked or come loose. Being dripped on from heavy condensation is one of those trigger points and it does wake me up. It doesn't even have to be on my face or even on me at all - a few drips that soak into the sleeping bag will do it. That's just me though, I know others who would sleep through the tent blowing away and leaving them on the grass. If you're like that then you won't have any problems and an ideal customer for single skin technology but I don't think it's coincidence that most tents on the market have an inner and an outer.

Like you I've left single skin tents up in the garden for extended periods and been pleased to see they've remained dry inside even after days of continuous rain. I've looked at the single skin display tents (two of them!) in my local caravan centre which can be up for months on end and they seem to be dry inside as well so there's no doubt they can be waterproof, it's just that I think the drawbacks outweigh the advantages.

I can happily recommend the Marmot Limelight 2p.

I have had many tents from the cheapest upwards and this one is great.

Quick, easy pitch.

Pitches inner-only for really hot weather but is pretty airy with the fly anyway.

At a push, it could be free-standing.

Tall enough to sit up in and long enough to sleep without head rubbing against the inside. (I'm 6'2")

To be honest, the vestibule isn't much good for anything other than a pair of muddy boots and a cooker but I like all my other stuff in the tent with me anyway.

The first tent I've ever bought that actually comes with decent pegs. I've added four rock-pegs just to be sure of every eventuality.

Ha ha, I guess we are never going to agree on this one no matter how long we dance :D : Because with compromise, there is no right answer.

For me, weight, size, and ease of pitching is the most important qualities - hence the single layered tent.

When it comes to tent selection I find this article pretty comprehensive: Wilderness Equipment - Backpacks, Tents, Adventure, Outdoor, Camping, Hiking, Accessories, Perth, Australia

For the same budget, a single layered tent will not cope as well with rain and condensation as a double layered, true. But, if you have the means to fork over some extra money - you will find a really capable single layered tent, even for really poor conditions.

My personal experience with many different types of tent constructions, in many in many different conditions, condensation has not been significantly worse in a single layered, even in the type of climates you refer to... even cheap ones that I have added water proofing agents to has coped fairly well.

But, what others reading my comments must keep in mind is that I try to avoid camping in poor weather all together, and therefore will not do prolonged camping in rain if it can be avoided. If the weather is poor, a tent is an emergency shelter for me. I think the longest I've spent in rainy weather in a cheap single layered tent is four days in a row, and then it didn't rain continuously. If it is nice weather, then it is a whole different story.

So, if you plan to tent a lot, for prolonged periods of time, in all sorts of conditions - then you should bring "more of it", meaning a larger two layered high tech tent with vestibules, two doors, pockets, etc... the same goes for everything else you plan to use a lot for prolonged periods of time - you bring "more of it" (camping gear, cooking utensils, camera equipment, computer, dancing shoes...).

If camping in the monsoon rains is something you will be doing quite a bit, or in heavy snow or rain storms above the tree line, well then a single layered tent is probably not a good option... but that ain't me.



I am still looking for the "perfect" tent though... I think finding a unicorn will be easier.

I don't think it's that bad! Even if we're not singing from the same hymn-sheet we're (probably) at least in the same church. :rofl:

It does all come down in the end to personal experience I'd guess. I've had some pretty awful times in tents over the years (as well as some great ones, but lets not go there :innocent:). I've been drowned out of them (many times!), had them collapse in high winds, been bitten to death by insects while I slept and even woken up by the noise of a bridge collapsing above me (it was on fire - v. poor pic of it in flames below). I've also lost them, had a couple stolen and once set fire to a tent that I'd got to the end of my tether with. So I tend to buy them with all that background in mind. What I don't do is camp "out on the edge" - high mountains, extreme cold, months at a time, that sort of thing. -20C for three nights , -10C for a week is about the coldest I've done for example, but I know others who do push things (one who camped down to -35C while working in Canada for a couple of months to save on hotel costs!) and I tend to take their advice on board.

Interestingly though when my daughter was preparing for the expedition part of her Duke of Edinburgh's award her tent selection criteria were all about space, ease of putting up, whether it looked "cool" etc, but afterwards she wanted to know if we had anything lighter.:laugh:

Interesting reference you gave - I read through it and it just about reinforces my prejudices!

Sounds like you are cursed and that nature doesn't want you to go camping much :)



Another way to go is hybrid, there are many different concepts...

Easton SI2 is an ultralight hybrid tent.

SI2 is a four season two person single layer self standing tent, two and a half poles, two large doors on the long sides, and two detachable vestibules (bring them along or leave them at home). It has a tub construction with robust water proof fabric. The poles are set up in external with c-clips rather than pockets. The poles are made out of a robust and light carbon composite - from which they have replaced the traditional internal shock cord with the much lighter and smarter air lock system.The shell is both breathable and water proof (not simply water resistant). It weighs in at 1900g/4pounds. It is 221 cms long, which means that having ones head or feet pressed against a moist canvas won't be much of a problem for most people. It has numerous securing points to deal with harsg conditions. An added foot print is an option. It used to be priced at 400$, so about ten times as much as my current favorite...

I can't tell from the pictures and the info I've read if it came with internal mesh doors - but I would be surprised if it didn't have this feature as it seems they have thought about just about everything.

Only problem is that they no longer make it... which makes me wonder if it was too good to be true. Maybe someone still has it in stock?

http://www.eastonmountainproducts.co...tent-large.jpghttp://www.eastonmountainproducts.co...nt-large-3.jpghttp://www.eastonmountainproducts.co...nt-large-2.jpg

This is the tent you describe as blowing away all over the place in a bit of wind:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rAcyTOiVJc


I believe you are referring to the Horizon Unlimited Meeting in Ripley 2011.
I was there.
I remember this tent blowing away.
I also believe it was put up either by a pretty drunk and careless guy or by an amateur.
I was actually lying in exatly the same kind of tent the exact same place at the exact same event and it was a very wet and windy weekend.
Even so, I had no issues with instability, wet "living room" or "kite-effect" when packing down.

But each to his own.

How about a tent ferino chaos 2?