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8 Apr 2012
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Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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How important is it to have an easily hidden tent color
We're putting together the gear for a RTW with our dogs. Because we're bringing them we expect to spend most nights camping, and most of those nights will probably be hidey-camping. The tent we've decided to go with has a dark green variant as well as your standard bright orange, but we can't decide which to go with.
Our thinking is this:
If we spend a day just relaxing in the tent (maybe avoiding a hail storm, or whatever else mother nature throws at us) the green is going to be somewhat depressing. I've always enjoyed waking up in a brightly colored tent.
We've heard other riders suggest that it's important to be as hidden as possible. But, how hidden can we really be when we've also got a Ural and F650GS standing next to the tent?
I figure we'll either be totally hidden (behind a hill, down some tiny side-road, etc), or it won't matter what color our tent is because a four person tent and two big bikes are going to stand out like a sore thumb.
We'd really love to hear from someone who's done a bunch of hidey-camping and can comment on how much of a difference tent-color makes.
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8 Apr 2012
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Hi,
I wouldnt worry too much about the color. If you enjoy having a red tent bay it. The tent you have choosen is able to stand even without hugs and can be used as Moscquito protection without the raincover. Those two things matter everything else doesnt realy. As you said your bikes and tire marks will easily be spotted and if you would carry a carmoflage tent you might get trouble with the military...
Travel save, Tobi
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8 Apr 2012
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Location: Back in the Garage..regrouping.
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How about a Hilleberg Kerron. Green outside and nice yellow inner fly.
The three and four man would be big enough for your needs.
Better to have the option of going incognito every time - you can't always camp where you should.
Welcome to Two Bikes Running
Quote:
Originally Posted by masukomi
We're putting together the gear for a RTW with our dogs. Because we're bringing them we expect to spend most nights camping, and most of those nights will probably be hidey-camping. The tent we've decided to go with has a dark green variant as well as your standard bright orange, but we can't decide which to go with.
Our thinking is this:
If we spend a day just relaxing in the tent (maybe avoiding a hail storm, or whatever else mother nature throws at us) the green is going to be somewhat depressing. I've always enjoyed waking up in a brightly colored tent.
We've heard other riders suggest that it's important to be as hidden as possible. But, how hidden can we really be when we've also got a Ural and F650GS standing next to the tent?
I figure we'll either be totally hidden (behind a hill, down some tiny side-road, etc), or it won't matter what color our tent is because a four person tent and two big bikes are going to stand out like a sore thumb.
We'd really love to hear from someone who's done a bunch of hidey-camping and can comment on how much of a difference tent-color makes. |
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9 Apr 2012
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Location: Cochrane, Alberta
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My wife and I last summer got a 4-man Hilleberg Kerron and we discussed the merits of the brighter colour versus the green, but in the end decided on green.
Here it is at the HU Meeting in Nakusp 2011:
While we haven't done any "wild camping", the green Kerron does seem to blend into the trees somewhat. I don't find it's depressing while inside because the inner tent is yellow and is pretty bright inside, especially when the sun is shining!
The 4-man might be big for some, but my wife wanted the space and we travel on 2 bikes with the camping gear spread across both bikes.
Here's a pic showing its relative size in a less than wild campground (Omak Rodeo Grounds Municipal Campground, Omak, WA)
It's easy to setup and take down - I can highly recommend the Kerron.
Ian
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Ian Stephens
2009 FJR1300 Black
2008 VStrom DL1000 Silver/Black
Nakusp 2010,2011
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9 Apr 2012
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Come to think of it, our Redverz Adventure tent is also green. We picked one up on sale at the Calgary Bike Show from AnderWorks, for the occasional solo trips.
We discussed the colour of it too and decided on green versus bright yellow.
Ian
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Ian Stephens
2009 FJR1300 Black
2008 VStrom DL1000 Silver/Black
Nakusp 2010,2011
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9 Apr 2012
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Go with the green tent that orange is way to bright for me. Get a tarp for the bikes if you think you need it. Many places in the world no one will care where you camp so long as it is not on there land. You gust do not want stand out if you can help it.
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9 Apr 2012
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I too would vote for the green. You would be amazed how far away orange is visible. We have a green Land Rover with orange Maxtrax strapped to one side and it is that you can spot from miles away. Plus I think it's nicer to blend in with your environment as much as you can.
A word of warning on the latter though. A couple of years back we were working in an national park famous for it's elephants. I had always been led to believe that elephants step round tents but we had a very shaken guy whose small, dark tent had been walked "through" by a huge bull the night before. It stepped on a bottle of water next to his head which exploded and then with it's trailing leg demolished the tent. Luckily he was OK apart from a bruised shoulder.
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17 Apr 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masukomi
We're putting together the gear for a RTW with our dogs. Because we're bringing them we expect to spend most nights camping, and most of those nights will probably be hidey-camping. The tent we've decided to go with has a dark green variant as well as your standard bright orange, but we can't decide which to go with.
Our thinking is this:
If we spend a day just relaxing in the tent (maybe avoiding a hail storm, or whatever else mother nature throws at us) the green is going to be somewhat depressing. I've always enjoyed waking up in a brightly colored tent.
We've heard other riders suggest that it's important to be as hidden as possible. But, how hidden can we really be when we've also got a Ural and F650GS standing next to the tent?
I figure we'll either be totally hidden (behind a hill, down some tiny side-road, etc), or it won't matter what color our tent is because a four person tent and two big bikes are going to stand out like a sore thumb.
We'd really love to hear from someone who's done a bunch of hidey-camping and can comment on how much of a difference tent-color makes. |
My own conclusion is that color does not matter on an RTW trip. Either people will know you are there anyways (you stick out as you arrive at the very least) or you are so far away from people that they won't see you no matter what color the tent is. Better to just find a friendly local and ask to setup your tent on their land in an out of the way location.
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18 Apr 2012
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another issue is not just the colour, but all the bloomin reflective bits they put on them nowadays. Great at a rally when you've had a few to many drinks and are trying to find it in a field, not not when vehicles with headlights are passing by.
I'm going to gaffa tape and colour in with a pen , and re-sew tabs on mine.
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10 Mar 2014
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I had a tent with a yellow rainfly before. The amount of bugs attracted to the fly during the summer was astonishing. I could have caught my dinner by collecting the bugs and insects from the fly, I hear that they are rich in protein. 
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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