Hi all,

I have an opportunity to take a high-end 1k Terra Firma tent that is not free-standing or buy a free-standing one for an upcoming tour around S.America. Given I'm on a budget, would you guys just take the Terra Firma or spend a bit more on a free-standing tent? Is it really worth it, and if so, why?

Many thanks,

RTW

I don't know what a 1k Terra Firma tent is, but if that's what you have, it'll probably work. I googled, and in my uneducated view, they look like they're probably overkill for a ride into South America. The google image search shows tents which look to be four-season alpine tents.

My preference is for free-standing tents, but I frequently set up my tent on concrete pads, or other surfaces where a free-standing tents are necessary. Of course, if you don't have a free-standing tent, then you don't look for spots like that. I guess it depends on the type of camping you do.

I traveled once with a guy who had a tent which needed to be staked out. On a couple of occasions, I thought his tent made things a little more inconvenient, but he never complained and never had trouble finding a place to set it up.

I haven't motorcycled in South America, but I've done some backpacking. I didn't have a tent, but it appeared to me that there are lots of places to set up your tent. A free-standing tent wouldn't be necessary, but it could make things a little easier. My main concern--again, I don't know what kind of tent you have--is that your tent may not be suitable for the hot and humid environment.

Could you sell your high-end tent and get something that isn't so high-end? Might even have some cash left over to fund your trip.

Jamie

I have a Scarp2 by Henry Shires ( Tarp Tent). It will set up staked or free standing with the optional crossing poles. Also, made in the USA I've camped 60 days in the last 2 years and have staked the tent 95% of the time.

Freestanding is number one in my criteria. And four-season is number two.

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Thanks for everyone's input!

Jamie: Yeah I meant 1k as in it weights 1kilo, so it's very lightweight and compact. I think when my dad bought it, it was one of the better backpacking/hiking tents around.

super lightweight is a compromise, for size or durability. On the bike, a kilo extra might be a good price to pay for something a bit more sturdy.

I love free standing tents, because you can flip 'm upside down to dry the bottom before you pack it. We currently have a MSR Holler 3 person (for the two of us). This tent fits in the standard ZEGA panniers, also the poles, and is absolutely fantastic. At least, that's what I think.

I think weight reduction is critical. I'm about to do South America with a tent that stakes out, but it is ultralight…500g with pole and pegs. There are very few tents marked 'ultralight' that come anywhere near the 1kg mark, most are closer to 1.5.

My thinking is that in Sth America accommodation can be so cheap in places that it's not even worth getting the tent out. If you spend 6mths travelling and only camp 15 nights, I'd rather carry 500g than 1.5kg for the rest of the time.

Go with what you have and if it doesn't work for you enroute, reassess for next time. 1kg and robust is a good combo.

PN

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Nothing is a must except weight and size maybe if you like off road or sporty riding. I think everyone agrees that no luggage would be ideal so might as well make it as small as possible.
I prefer no poles what so ever and use the bike as a support. Backpacker tents that allow for walking pools would allow for this. Most time is spent on the bike do I try to accommodate this as much as possible.

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Camping outside of Argentina/Chile is actually pretty rare... I never saw camp sites. Wild camping is a different matter though. And a personal choice.

Free standing would be advantageous. I remember plenty of camp sites having ground like concrete.

If your tent isn't free standing, Its not the end of the world.. DEFINITELY invest in some quality titanium tent pegs though and ditch the crappy aluminium ones most tent's come with. They're fine for lush grass fields and nothing else.

I bought some heavy duty steel ones as I'm cheap and they were WAY better.

I've always found the main benefit of free standing tents is that you can put your tent up literally ANYWHERE.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I just bought the Hilleberg Nallo tent for which I found a great money saving voucher on Voucherbox UK and this May I will be off on an European trip together with a good friend of mine. Therefore I will get to test the tent quite soon, looking forward to it. So this is going to be the first test for my new Hilleberg tent, but at the same time I'm more than certain that it is going to live up to my expectations.

If your tent isn't free standing it might be a good idea to pack a cordless electric hammer drill that way you could screw it down.. also a bed that keeps you off the ground because they "miss" all the hard spots and are more comfy.

I've done a lot of camping and never found a place I couldn't set up a non-freestanding tent. (I don't 'camp' in concrete parking lots.) As Ted mentioned, don't expect cheap aluminum stakes to do the job. Either get high quality lightweight stakes or buy some stout long nails at the hardware store. You'll need to use your ingenuity to get it staked out in snow, sand or very soft ground but it can be done.

Freestanding tents are convenient but they should be staked out anyway. I've personally witnessed the wind pick up an unstaked tent with a person and his gear and roll it over. fortunately he was not camped on the edge of a cliff.

I also had to chase my freestanding tent into a lake once: while drying it out in the morning I unstaked it so I could turn it round in the sun. I turned my back on it and an unexpected puff of wind turned it into a beach ball and bounced it into the lake. I had to go around to the other side of the lake to retrieve it.

...............shu

Like said.. Do you really want to sleep in a car park ??


However, if you turn up at a busy hostel or camp ground and they're full.. They might still have a gravel or concreted garden that you could pitch up on. Maybe even for a discount

I recently did a long canoe trip down the Yukon. The only places I could pull up to were gravel beaches. Pegging out my tent was a MASSIVE P.I.T.A.


My advice would be to get a tent that at least maintains it's structure without pegs.... You will always find a way to get a few pegs in if you really have to.

Geodesic and dome tents are your friend here. I'm getting a Vango Halo. Only really needs one peg.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Sand or gravel anchors do the trick when pegs can't be done. Alternatively tie it to the bike's wheels or trees, rocks, bushes, anything you can find.
MSR do nice pegs in Ali.

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In France when they built the motorway network they mostly left the original RN roads whole but often near exit points there are abandoned bits of orphan road when they re routed the original RN through or over a bridge. these are usually tucked away and made invisible by a low(ish) earth banks. If you know that a line of trees usually marks the old abandoned bit, it is normally easy to get a bike off the road and onto the hidden bit. I usually pitch my tent on the tarmac and attach it to my bike.

These bits are usually at crossovers or junctions, but sometimes not. The clue as you ride by is when the old RN road suddenly loses its tree shade. and the trees fork off the road. (In fact it is a new bit of RN that forks away from the tree lined original route).