tent advice

[pce13]

im hoping to go away for a few days camping on my SV650S and would like to know what tent is best to take, i have seen a 2/3 man pop-up tent which is about 18 inches round when packed flat but attaching it to bike is another thing, what tents does any of you have ?
thank you for advice and tips

[yorkie_chris]

vango omega 250.

Light, easy to pitch, sturdy in wind, very good and waterproof, big porch for gear with groundsheet.

[Jamesy D]

Recent article in RiDE has a few that they recommend, depends exactly what you want in the end, the price, the ease of erection (giggle), the size and weigh et cetera.

I'll scan the article for you tomorrow morning if you want.

[the_lone_wolf]

Blacks Octane 1

Very happy with it, from 3ft of snow to the Sahara desert it's done me proud - basic single pole one man tent, packs extremely small , ~12-18" long and 2-3" in diameter including pole and pegs:

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr243/ktm_wolf/Elefantentreffen%20Jan%202010/DSC_0143.jpg

[MattCollins]

Currently using one of either of these depending on mood:

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/alpine_bivy.html
http://www.oneplanet.com.au/gunyah/gunyah-1v.html

Both are decent quality gear, so not exactly inexpensive, but worth every cent.

Vacuum bags help enormously in reducing the bulk of soft items and getting everything into a pair of mid-sized throwovers (say 30l per side) is fairly easy for weekend trips. If still short on space add a tankbag and/or tie the tent down on the throwover straps.

[orose]

Vango Alpha 300 has served me well the last few times I've been away on the bike... bag is easy to use, which is a benefit when you spend most of your packing up time in the mount position on a sleeping bag that you were sure came out of this bag

[cuffy]

If you've pitched your tent next to an attractive young lady and upon engaging in conversation she say's, that due to the current hot spell she will be sleeping with her flaps open, it is NOT necessarily an open invitation for casual sex......

I appear in court next week!

[Quiff Wichard]

if you've pitched your tent next to an attractive young lady and upon engaging in conversation she say's, that due to the current hot spell she will be sleeping with her flaps open, it is not necessarily an open invitation for casual sex......

I appear in court next week!


lmao

[SoulKiss]

Short version: Anything by Vabgo tends to be good.

Longer Version: Use the search this gets covered on an annual basis and I dont fanct repeating myself this morning

[_Stretchie_]

Short version: Anything by Vabgo tends to be good.

Longer Version: Use the search this gets covered on an annual basis and I dont fanct repeating myself this morning

Sorry I missed that, what did you say Dave??

[BigBaddad]

a blanket and a copy of Razzle.

[Jayneflakes]

Ms Flakes, Mountaineer extraordinair here.

I bought a Coleman Cobra II in 2000 and have used it for back packing around Europe, my MLA training in Snowdonia in winter and even beach camping in Sardinia in August.

For a budget tent it is pretty awesome, having survived a major storm that flattened many others in my group. Pack size is small enough to fit in a back pack for walking, so strapping to the bike should be easy. The mosquito net is so fine, nothing can get through, but ventilation is good and you do not wake up in a sweat box. It cost me about a hundred pounds and has never let me down. I would recommend a foot print or using a thick survival bag under it though if you are pitching on stony ground, the ground sheet although totally water proof, is a little thin.

One other tip, no matter what the cost of your tent, seam sealing is well worth the effort. Those little needle holes where the fabric is sown together can let a little water through, seam sealing stops this and protects the join a little too. You can get seam sealer from any tent shop and it is a simple rubber solution that you run down the joins. I have done every tent I have owned up to and including the Cobra.

[AndyBrad]

after taking a long had look at tents recently (and picking up a wicked suncamp 400, a little big for the bike) i shall be getting a vango alpha 200. its very basic but will take one plus a little bit of kit. and its under 30 quid so isnt going to break the bank

[timwilky]

Cannot remember what make mine is, need to go/look

2/3 man. Minimum required for one person to have reasonable comfort

Important for me were the waterproofing head (3m I think mine is) and the size stowed. I did not want it to hang over the side of the bike etc.

I use straps to stow it.

[Ed]

David got out of bed the wrong side this morning, hit his head on the sloping ceiling, trod on the cat which promptly scratched him, then fell over his wife's slippers landing in aforementioned cat's used litter tray...

What he really meant was that this is an H post;)

Vango 300. Great tent. It's a wincy bit heavier than I would like on the back of the bike but it's no wider than the bars so it doesn't stop filtering heroics. And I discovered that if I cram it in hard enough I can fit my kip bag in the tent bag and the mat in the bag handles which you can then tighten down around the mat, so there's only one bag on the back.

[embee]

Last year I got myself a new tent, replacing a dome type with a tunnel type. Definitely go for a tunnel type preferably with a vestibule extension for the gear, so much more practical than the dome versions for biking use.

I nearly went for the Vango Nitro 200+ but then got a brilliant deal on a Hilleberg (oooh, quality, but at a price!).

There's even a website just for folks searching for tents, Findmeatent (http://www.findmeatent.com/admin/)

[yorkie_chris]

Blacks Octane 1

Very happy with it, from 3ft of snow to the Sahara desert it's done me proud - basic single pole one man tent, packs extremely small , ~12-18" long and 2-3" in diameter including pole and pegs:

I have used one of those while out walking. Nice tent but IMO too small, loads comfier in big tent so you can spread your kit out rather than being squashed in with it. Not like you care about weight on bike.

[gettin2dizzy]

vango omega 250.

Light, easy to pitch, sturdy in wind, very good and waterproof, big porch for gear with groundsheet.
+1

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/gettin2dizzy/tent.jpg?t=1275070789

LOADS of room for bike kit, so you can sleep completely clutter free. Packs down small, is good for us that are 6'+

Pretty cheap on ebay too :thumbsup:

[MattCollins]

Weight not an issue? The number of bikes that I see in these parts two up, loaded with everything and dragging the rear with topped forks makes me shudder. BMW riders are the worst but it is not an exclusive club. It is easy to get caught up in the 'it's only a little bit more' mentality especially when riding with a pillion to become an unwitting member of that club.

[yorkie_chris]

I'd rather turn preload up another notch on bike than add 5kg to my pack when out walking :-D

[boot]

We have a Vaude Hogan. Not that much room for gear, the Hogan XT would be better for getting your gear in, but did manage to sleep 2 adults and a 3 year old in it last weekend. :)

Depends on how much you want to spend though really -

Well worth a trip to a camping shop that have them on display, such as gooutdoors. Generally find Blacks and Millets overpriced. Probably a good idea to pick your tent then buy online.

Design, comfort and suitability a paramount over pitch time (i.e. 3 second pop up tents), and most small tents are very quick to put up anyway. If you're going 'cheap' at least make sure you get one that's double skinned.

[gettin2dizzy]

Weight not an issue? The number of bikes that I see in these parts two up, loaded with everything and dragging the rear with topped forks makes me shudder. BMW riders are the worst but it is not an exclusive club. It is easy to get caught up in the 'it's only a little bit more' mentality especially when riding with a pillion to become an unwitting member of that club.
Nope. Did 3000 miles with that tent, pillion and luggage on the back no problemo. Just boshed 2 sleeping bags, groundsheet and tent in a waterproof ortileb bag and put it on the rack. I didn't even need to expand the pannier bags to their full capacity.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/gettin2dizzy/30042009152-1.jpg?t=1275137316

[MattCollins]

G2D, My post was more for YC. I was tempted to ask for a pic of it all packed up. Didn't, but glad you posted anyway. All of that gear on the ground looked scarey, but packed up looks pretty good for two people. You're obviously wearing a fair portion of it.

[cb1000rsteve]

I think my 2 man tent is called a Gelert. weather check thingy. Cost £17 new. Go Outdoors do one similar by Hi gear for £14. Used mine in summer and cold wet spring and it held up fine. Packs down small and has enough space for all your gear when up. Cheap and cheerful!!
www.autoplusuk.com (http://www.autoplusuk.com)

[Messie]

Mmm I find that with increasing age, achiness of back and improving bank balance, the first choice is travelodge.co.uk

[Lozzo]

vango omega 250.

Light, easy to pitch, sturdy in wind, very good and waterproof, big porch for gear with groundsheet.

I have the Vango Gamma 250 which I've had a few years and it really is good.

[carternd]

Last year I got myself a new tent, replacing a dome type with a tunnel type. Definitely go for a tunnel type preferably with a vestibule extension for the gear, so much more practical than the dome versions for biking use.

I nearly went for the Vango Nitro 200+ but then got a brilliant deal on a Hilleberg (oooh, quality, but at a price!).

There's even a website just for folks searching for tents, Findmeatent (http://www.findmeatent.com/admin/)

Tunnel tents are good. I have a £40 one from Millets, and it was very good on a good tour of Scotland last year. It is narrow, which is a plus on the bike, but also the lower roof keeps you a bit warmer. I have a 2-man, which is good for the bike, as my gear can go inside with me rather than in the porch, but if it is going to be properly cold, don't have any bigger a tent than is vital to sleep in. Your body is the only heater! Get a good sleep-mat (maybe a self-inflating one, they are lush) and sleeping bag. Whisky is also good for camping!

[yorkie_chris]

I have the Vango Gamma 250 which I've had a few years and it really is good.

I think that might be same tent just with door at front rather than sides

[Lozzo]

I think that might be same tent just with door at front rather than sides

I think you're right, going by pictures of them. I have one side door and a front door as well, as opposed to your two side doors. Good tent that's seen action all over Europe with me.

[Lozzo]

Whatever tent anyone buys, try to get one with a porch area as they are dead useful for stashing your luggage and for brewing up in when it's wet outside. Another plus point is the inside of the tent doesn't get wet if it's raining heavily outside and you're climbing in, you can take off muddy shoes or boots in the porch and leave them outside but under cover too. Vango's are particularly good in this respect

[Specialone]

Got myself a vango zetes 300 tent yesterday along with some sleeping bags and a inflatable double mattress.
Chose that tent cos it seemed the best one and lightest for the money as dont wanna be carrying massive weight on the bike as well as 2 hard panniers and a 46l top box full of stuff.
Gonna try it out a couple of times before the ar so i know what im doing ;)

[timwilky]

Mmm I find that with increasing age, achiness of back and improving bank balance, the first choice is travelodge.co.uk


OMG for once I agree with Messie, send for the men in white coats.

[yorkie_chris]

I dunno that is a lot of beer money...

[Ed]

I dunno that is a lot of beer money...


...and a surrender:rolleyes:

[Sally]

...and a surrender:rolleyes:

More about the waste of beer money :drunken:

[yorkie_chris]

Aye but wasting beer money AND being french (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html) ... that's not even worth contemplating, terrible thought.

[Lozzo]

Chose that tent cos it seemed the best one and lightest for the money as dont wanna be carrying massive weight on the bike as well as 2 hard panniers and a 46l top box full of stuff.
Gonna try it out a couple of times before the ar so i know what im doing ;)

In September I'm taking my Versys down through France and Italy and hopping on a ferry to Malta for a week's holiday <waves to Zunkus>. I have 2 Givi V35s and a Givi E450 topbx, so plenty of luggage space - 115 litres of it. On top of that my tent, sleeping bag and airbed will be in a rollbag strapped to the pillion seat, as I prefer that kind of weight closer to me not hung out the back of the bike. The panniers will be home to clothes and wash kit, the topbox will house my cooking stove, oddments of camping gear and the liners for my textiles, nothing heavy. Normal day to day stuff like wallet, passport, phone etc will be in my dinky little 2litre capacity Baglux tankbag.

I've already tried it out over a couple of hundred miles of back roads just to see what it's like, and I can cope easily with that lot stashed as it was.

[Specialone]

In September I'm taking my Versys down through France and Italy and hopping on a ferry to Malta for a week's holiday <waves to Zunkus>. I have 2 Givi V35s and a Givi E450 topbx, so plenty of luggage space - 115 litres of it. On top of that my tent, sleeping bag and airbed will be in a rollbag strapped to the pillion seat, as I prefer that kind of weight closer to me not hung out the back of the bike. The panniers will be home to clothes and wash kit, the topbox will house my cooking stove, oddments of camping gear and the liners for my textiles, nothing heavy. Normal day to day stuff like wallet, passport, phone etc will be in my dinky little 2litre capacity Baglux tankbag.

I've already tried it out over a couple of hundred miles of back roads just to see what it's like, and I can cope easily with that lot stashed as it was.
Trouble is i will have my mrs on the back so no room on pillion seat, at least my st wont struggle like the sv was when it was weighed down.

[yorkie_chris]

Trouble is i will have my mrs on the back so no room on pillion seat, at least my st wont struggle like the sv was when it was weighed down.

My SV does not struggle with 2-up and camping kit :)

[Specialone]

My SV does not struggle with 2-up and camping kit :)
I didnt mean power wise, i meant suspension wise, you can tell its struggling, im 16 stone with gear, mr mrs must be 10.5 stone (dont know actually) so any additional weight i think it struggles.
My st seems to be more comfortable under load.

[Lozzo]

I didnt mean power wise, i meant suspension wise, you can tell its struggling, im 16 stone with gear, mr mrs must be 10.5 stone (dont know actually) so any additional weight i think it struggles.
My st seems to be more comfortable under load.

I've ridden a fairly well laden Sprint, they cope quite well

[yorkie_chris]

I didnt mean power wise, i meant suspension wise, you can tell its struggling,

Can believe that aye

[Specialone]

Well i had my panniers on last week to go to mallory, mate on back whos about 13.5-14 stone and 2 dslr cameras with kit and it coped quite well, some of the bigger undulations were not too great but the suspension / preload is as it came so not bad really.
I will turn the preload up a bit next time and it should be fine.