Author Topic: Tent for Cycle Camping? (Read 19421 times)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #25 on:** 05 November, 2015, 05:29:16 pm »

Don't its feet^ sink into the ground too?

Kim · « **Reply #26 on:** 05 November, 2015, 05:37:48 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 05 November, 2015, 05:29:16 pm

Don't its feet^ sink into the ground too?

On soft ground, but the end plugs (not really ferrules) do at least stay firmly attached when you pull it out again.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #27 on:** 06 November, 2015, 10:17:22 pm »

Quote from: Ruthie on 04 November, 2015, 10:03:41 am

Quote from: eck on 04 November, 2015, 08:18:52 am
Hi, I'm considering some cycle camping next summer and need a one-person tent, of which my knowledge is scant!

This is for sale "elsewhere", and I wondered if, at £80 posted including the footprint is a reasonable prospect. The seller says it has only been used for a couple of weeks
http://www.eurekaeurope.com/p/spitfire-solo

Any other suggestions for a suitable not-too expensive tent would be welcome.
Thanks.
I'm replacing my cycle camping tent too eck!

I'd agree with the two-person tent for solo cycle camping, it doesn't have to add much weight or pack size and it's worth it to store your gear comfortably. Actually, lots of people have offered to lend me their tents to try out, so I haven't spent any money yet - but now is a good time to buy, lots of end of season tent sales.

mcshroom and I both took Coleman tents on our Scottish tour recently, and were very pleased with how they performed. Mine has died of old age now, but I had it for four years and it wasn't expensive, so I think I got good value from it, including camping in the snow in Northumberland in February.

Enjoy surfing all the tent porn!

I have a Coleman tent which is excellent for dry summer use. The inner is mostly mesh of the "noseeum" variety but allows far too much ventilation if it's cold. In addition, it pitches inner first. The first time I pitched it, in the garden, it absolutely threw it down wth rain and it was more of a paddling pool than a tent. I think it was designed or the US summer market, where in some areas rain is not at all common.

Ruthie · « **Reply #28 on:** 06 November, 2015, 10:21:20 pm »

Yes, I would always go for pitch-in-one or fly-first pitching. Always.

clarion · « **Reply #29 on:** 09 November, 2015, 11:06:12 am »

That^

Christophe · « **Reply #30 on:** 23 November, 2015, 03:30:20 pm »

I'm also in the market for my first touring tent. Mostly will be using it for lightweight over nighters and weekends all year round.
My main question really is what is a reasonable weight for a lightweight tent?
The tents I've been looking at go up to about 2.3kg. I'm looking at the budget end of the market at the moment and current favourites includes Coleman Cobra 2 at £65, Wild Country Hoolie 2 £135, Vango Helix 200 £90 and Luxe Minipeak. Any others I should be looking at in that price range?

cycleman · « **Reply #31 on:** 23 November, 2015, 07:07:44 pm »

I like my vango mirage 200 .freestanding and outer/both together pitching ☺

Wowbagger · « **Reply #32 on:** 23 November, 2015, 11:38:27 pm »

Forget about the Cobra. It pitches inner first and the inner is mostly mesh. It's a great tent for summer use when you are sure the weather is going to be dry, but that's not much help in this country, especially when you are looking fora n all-year-round tent.

IN fact, a review I wrote is still available on line!

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/coleman/cobra/ I am Anonymous Hiker 22nd July 2004!

mcshroom · « **Reply #33 on:** 24 November, 2015, 06:41:59 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 23 November, 2015, 11:38:27 pm

Forget about the Cobra. It pitches inner first and the inner is mostly mesh. It's a great tent for summer use when you are sure the weather is going to be dry, but that's not much help in this country, especially when you are looking fora n all-year-round tent.

IN fact, a review I wrote is still available on line!

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/coleman/cobra/ I am Anonymous Hiker 22nd July 2004!

I don't think it does now. My cobra (c. 2011 vintage) pitches all in one

Mad cyclist · « **Reply #34 on:** 26 November, 2015, 11:18:27 am »

I have the Vangoo Banshee 200 2014 model

Fab Foodie · « **Reply #35 on:** 26 November, 2015, 08:51:16 pm »

Quote from: Mad cyclist on 26 November, 2015, 11:18:27 am

I have the Vangoo Banshee 200 2014 model

Me too. So far I've used it on a couple of Long Itch weekends.
It's pretty good. Room enough for me, the Brommy and bags (or just panniers if I use the big bike). The porch is big enough for the large Trangia, water bottle and bits and pieces and a pair of shoes. Lengthwise the tent is a bit tight so those over 6' need not apply. That it opens on both long sides is pretty useful for accessing bits and bobs. It can be pitched all-in-one or fly only which could be useful for lightweight bivvy-bag type camping. Pack size and weight is OK for solo cycle-camping.
I find the main drawback is not being able to sit upright in it at 5'9". Makes getting dressed a bit of a struggle!
Otherwise it's pretty good.
Having said that I found a cheap and basic Eurohike festival tent in the loft of my daughters that is fly + inner, 2 flexy poles and plastic groundsheet that weighs about the same, packs the same and offers more space .... and I can sit upright in it. Cost approx £25!

Kim · « **Reply #36 on:** 26 November, 2015, 09:02:58 pm »

I've got a Banshee 300 and while I've no problem sitting up in it, I do find it a bit tight lengthwise - with a thick mat it's really easy for your feet to push the inner and outer together and get your sleeping bag wet with condensation. If I'm using it solo, I sleep diagonally to avoid the issue, but not so good when there are two of you.

The 300 is ostensibly a 3-person tent, which means it's just big enough for two with some gear, and generous for one. While there are doors on both sides, only one has a porch (about the same as that on the 200), which means the other is out of bounds if it's wet (opening it will expose bedding to the sky). Again, not an issue if used solo.

The Banshees occasionally get heavily discounted in sales, which makes them very good value.

Jakob W · « **Reply #37 on:** 26 November, 2015, 09:30:48 pm »

Are there any suggestions for tents suitable for tall folks? At well over 6' most of the models I've looked at look like they'll be a tight squeeze; am I best off looking for nominal 3-person designs and sleeping diagonally?

Kim · « **Reply #38 on:** 26 November, 2015, 09:36:05 pm »

Sleeping diagonally doesn't fix the not-being-able-to-sit-upright problem. Ideally you want to be able to do that, sitting on your mat. Preferably with enough headroom that you won't unleash the condensation while getting undressed, but certainly enough to be able to sit and cook/eat/drink when it's wet without neck contortion.

Headroom seems to be at a premium in small tunnel tents, so you're either looking at the larger ones or non-tunnel designs.

nikki · « **Reply #39 on:** 26 November, 2015, 11:46:17 pm »

Quote from: Jakob W on 26 November, 2015, 09:30:48 pm

Are there any suggestions for tents suitable for tall folks? At well over 6' most of the models I've looked at look like they'll be a tight squeeze; am I best off looking for nominal 3-person designs and sleeping diagonally?

I've got a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2. I'm also a short-arse, but Phil had this to say about his in the review he wrote:

Quote from: Phil on 17 August, 2014, 11:05:42 pm

However, for one person it's excellently roomy. One of the features that made me buy it was the high arch which provides extra head room. I'm 6', which isn't unusually tall, but I do struggle to find a tent in which I can sit up to drink water or kneel up to blow up an airbed. It's also wide enough for me to sleep without my toes touching the end, and someone taller than me could sleep diagonally across it for another few inches of room.

Not sure if that makes it long/high enough for "well over 6'", but, if it turns out American brands cater well for talls, then I suppose this weekend would be a good one to be looking for bargains to compensate for the shipping charges!

http://www.backcountry.com/rc/shelters-on-sale?p=category%3A2.bcs.Hike%5C+%5C%26%5C+Camp.Tents

http://www.backcountry.com/alps-mountaineering-tasmanian-2-tent-2-person-4-season?skid=ALM000F-COP-ONESIZ&ti=UExQIFJ1bGUgQmFzZWQ64oCcU2hlbHRlcnM6IE9uIFNhbGXigJ06MTo4Og== perhaps?

andrewc · « **Reply #40 on:** 27 November, 2015, 12:01:53 am »

I have an MSR Hubba HP which I rate as a pretty good tent, I'm 6ft tall with a "long back" (according to a physio) I can sit upright on a thick Exped sleeping mat.

Pyramid style tents are also worth a look if you are tall, I also have a Golite Shangri La 3 which is excellent, no longer available in the UK, but clones are available, checkout the backpackinglight.co.uk site. Bob the owner is 6'4" so he sells tents he can fit inside.

Ruthie · « **Reply #41 on:** 02 April, 2016, 01:34:44 pm »

I got my new tent! And it was delivered by cycle courier, which was marvellous

Naturally the tent needed a test erection, and I have no outside space to do this, so the kitchen it was.

Now, according to Vango, this tent can be erected in 15-20 minutes. So mcshroom and I devised a method to test this.

Our Sainsbury's Taste The Difference nut cutlets are supposed to cook in 20 minutes. So the tea went in the oven, and erecting commenced.

2016-04-02_01-20-55 by Ruth Irving, on Flickr

20 minutes, on the dot. Working round the erection to put the nut cutlets, veg, and Yorkshire puddings together on plates was, er, entertaining, but it got done. It was a pretty good dinner!

Vango Nemesis 200. It's enormous. And 3.9kg. Erected size-to-weight ratio I think that's pretty good, because it's a 2-man tent that could actually be big enough for two people to go cycle camping in. I got a footprint too, hoping to make this tent last and last and last. And let's face it, I need to lose a lot more than 3.9kg off my fat arse, and if I can manage that, the weight of the load on the bike is cancelled out forthwith. The picture shows the porch folded right back, there's a good space for storage at each end of the tent, and doors at both ends of the tent in case of changes in wind direction.It's got a little hook to hang your light from, lots of internal pockets, and a mesh panel on the inner door. There are windows on the fly but I wasn't too bothered. It ticks all my boxes, and will bungee on the rack in my preferred fashion. A lovely touch is the oversized stuff bag. You can get the tent in its bag without too much difficulty. The joy of this is worth many camels.

Sorry for the over-use of the word 'erection'. It's been a long time, okay?

eta: Here's a picture of the re-packed tent, with my hand on it for scale, though it's significantly foreshortened.

2016-04-02_01-39-39 by Ruth Irving, on Flickr

JenM · « **Reply #42 on:** 02 April, 2016, 02:39:12 pm »

Splendid - looks a great tent. Did you eat the nut cutlets off plastic plates sitting in the tent pretending it was raining outside but smug in the knowledge that you weren't going to get wet?

I've just had an erection in the back garden,but lacked your foresight to take pictures.....of the tent.

Aidan · « **Reply #43 on:** 02 April, 2016, 05:05:19 pm »

I've been using a Banshee 200 but find it too short, I'd also like to be able to sit up so have just bought a Mirage 200 which looks the biz and comes in under 3kg, which is a tad heavier than I'd like but I prefer the comfort! Its also free standing, which can be useful at times, be able to pitch under shelter then move to a spot. the Banshee might be up for sale soon.

cycleman · « **Reply #44 on:** 02 April, 2016, 08:17:20 pm »

I have a mirage 200 as well and am very pleased with it. It's next appearance should be at long Itchington in May and

Canardly · « **Reply #45 on:** 02 April, 2016, 08:23:19 pm »

I have yet to use my new Octane in anger however the Banshee has served me well.

Kim · « **Reply #46 on:** 02 April, 2016, 08:42:09 pm »

Quote from: Canardly on 02 April, 2016, 08:23:19 pm

I have yet to use my new Octane in anger however the Banshee has served me well.

Isn't yours a Banshee 300 like mine? That's a bit roomier than the 200, though I agree that the design is a bit lacking in length for tall people (or short people with thick mats). When I use it solo, I tend to sleep diagonally inside it so my feet don't get wet.

Canardly · « **Reply #47 on:** 02 April, 2016, 08:49:04 pm »

Aye a 300 and agree with limited height issues which for me provide a challenge.*

But as a shelter in which to be dry and warm, very good. Anyone that recalls the tempest at Mildenhall last year will know that a tent that kept you dry and warm is of value. You will recall Kim that you pointed me at a somewhat bargainous purchase some few years ago. I think I paid £69 or £79. The only thing missing from the Banshee is a decent lobby.

*OK try changing your underwear in a limited space whilst suffering megga cramp with your legs in the air!

Ruthie · « **Reply #48 on:** 02 April, 2016, 10:21:59 pm »

Quote from: JenM on 02 April, 2016, 02:39:12 pm

Splendid - looks a great tent. Did you eat the nut cutlets off plastic plates sitting in the tent pretending it was raining outside but smug in the knowledge that you weren't going to get wet?

I've just had an erection in the back garden,but lacked your foresight to take pictures.....of the tent.

Mcshroom thought I'd want to spend the night on the kitchen floor to play in the new tent, but with a memory foam mattress and 400 thread count egyptian cotton sheets upstairs ... that's a no-brainer.

Gruby Mits · « **Reply #49 on:** 11 April, 2016, 02:08:05 pm »

Have gone for a MSR Hubba-Hubba. Very light (1720g) and has 2 small porch(es) for boots/bags. Nice features inside as pockets and gear hanger on top (well a few light bits)
But the real bonus is that you can buy a gear shed that doubles the footprint so if there are 2 of you with need of being tidy...
Personally I rather carry the extra weight (880gr - total 2600gr) so I can sit indoors and cook (well sticking out but with some shelter as no flame indoors) The Shed is not tall enough for sitting in if you are above 1.70 mt I guess but for the shorter people is an extra indoor area. Also have slept in the shed when 3 of us went backpacking in the hills, it is then only a single skin tent out there but as used to bivvy it is a luxury. Not cheap but the tent and shed can be purchased at different time to spread the cost.
It is rated 3 season, has took some rain but not foul weather yet but feels sturdy. Not in the same league of the top touring tents but a nice one.