What tents are you guys using?

[ZeroBike]

Im on the look out for a tent (I'm new to touring and therefore dont have one)

I was thinking about a Scarp 2 for solo touring.

http://www.tarptent.com/scarp2.html

What are you guys using and what do you think to the scarp?

[Danneaux]

Zero!

For the last go-'round on tents you may wish to take a look at this thread:
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3942.0

For what I use, go here:
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3942.msg17485#msg17485
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3942.msg17505#msg17505
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3942.msg17568#msg17568
To sum up: It is an inexpensive and highly serviceable, reasonably lightweight one-person tent with a convenient side-entry and I can just sit up in it. At USD$60 on sale, I bought three so have some spares as they age/die. It is not self-supporting (requires a minimum of three pegs, but panniers-as-deadmen will do instead). It has a bug-mesh inner that must be pitched first and a waterproof fly-cover for foul weather that provides a small but usable vestibule capable of holding all my bags. It is a "cold" tent which addresses condensation by passing a lot of air. Fine for three-season use.

Prior to that (and still, as part of my SOL/casual overnight touring kit), I used a three-layer, hooped Gore-Tex bivy-tent that provided room for me, 1 HB bag, and 1 front pannier, max. It used an end-entry that was tough in muddy conditions, but was very warm, adding +15°F above ambient outdoor temps which could be good or bad, depending. Nice when cold, like being a slice of bread in a toaster for hot weather. Great for my four-season use.

I think the Scarp 2 looks like a nice tent. Lots of room for taking your bags inside if you wish, and room to spend the odd layover day as well (I use my one-person tents only for sleeping and move on regardless of weather). There's pros and cons to any tent, as that first thread referenced above will show. Many people who plan to travel for some time tend to "size-up" by one-person in the ratings (i.e. single people using a 2-person tent) so they have more room on layovers and can easily store all their gear inside and/or change clothes inside more easily.

Hillebergs of several varieties seem to be heavily preferred by many for true expedition touring. They are incredibly sturdy and durable in the worst of weather and most if not all have the advantage of pitching in one go, so the inner compartment stays dry. They are also expensive. Those who have them almost universally feel they are well worth it.

Of course, tarps and hammocks are viable alternatives for many. Don't forget to check the Backpacking Light (BPL) forum for thoughts on tents as well: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/index.html

Hope this helps!

Best,

Dan.

[ZeroBike]

Thanks Dan.

It will take me a while to read through all of that!

[jags]

hilleberg akto
mountain hardware spear 2 gt.

[ianshearin]

Hi Zero,

I am in a similar position as you, looking for a tent for cycle touring.
I have looked at various sites, lurked on many forums and pondered the questions of what tent for some time now.
I have come to the following conclusions:

1. Forget weight issues, a few grams here, a kilogram there, sod it.. For a comfortable nights sleep or a stay over for a day or two Im willing to not worry about the weight or size.

2. Ease of set up is important to me, if it can be pitched in minutes thats an important consideration.

3. Higher prices do get better quality tents, but the lower priced tents also have their fan base, for the cost of a high quality tent I can get 3 decent tents.

4. Plenty of opportunities have come along for second hand tents, im considering buying second hand if a good price comes along.

5. Although I always buy online, im considering going to a big store to see a tent and just buy one there having seen it pitched.

Please bear in mind I have no experience of cycle touring so I reserve the right to claim credit for anything that works out well and deny anything that doesnt.....

Ian

[StuntPilot]

The Hilleberg Nallo 2 seems popular with cycle tourists, but it is quite expensive. Almost the same is the Vango Spirit 200+ that I use. It is very comfortable with a huge vestibule to store panniers and giving welcome living/cooking space in bad weather.

Vango make a newer version than mine now but previous models can still be found on-line and are a bit cheaper. Weight 3.1kg.

http://www.vango.co.uk/trekking/spirit-200+.html

There is also the Nitro Lite 200+. More expensive but only 1.8kg and capable of withstanding heavier weather. They are designed in Scotland so should be up to all conditions. So far so good with my Spirit 200+ too in such conditions.

http://www.vango.co.uk/force-ten/nitro-lite-200+.html

[ZeroBike]

IS this too heavy for tiring?

http://hilleberg.se/product/staika

[jags]

if you can  see the tent pitch before you buy this is very important, when i was looking to buy my first tent everyone recommended the Akto ,so i went ahead a bought it from the uk supplier, well when i got it i was never so disappointed  i hated it from the start  simply because it was way way to small for my liking.
if your a very experienced camper (I@M NOT) then the akto is a super tent 
so easy to pitch / light/4 season/ ticks all the boxes. but as i said it's to small for my liking.
my other tent mountain hardware  suites me much better  loads of room  very like the nallo gt2  but only in looks.its a pain in the ass to pitch i'm always afraid i'll break one of the poles and its hard to  get it tensioned but if your in no hurry to pitch it then i much prefair it to the akto.cons
hard to pitch/heavy/
so Ian's advice is spot on   forget about weight if your going to be spending a lot of time in it then get a tent your going to be 100% happy with.btw free standind i reckon is the best but try to see it pitched before you spend all your hard earned money that way no one to blame only yourself.
good luck in the hunt always exciting buying something new.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Agreed; good suggestions to watch the tent you desire being pitched, or at east see it in person once it is up. If the one you want is not offered in a store near you...YouTube to the rescue! Simply enter the name of the tent you're considering and more likely than not, someone will have video'd the pitching process.

If you can find a store selling tents that interest you, it is well worthwhile to ask if you can also crawl inside the tent, in one of the sleeping bags atop a pad they also offer. Nothing fills a tent like having people and gear inside it, and often sloping sides or ends can lay across the hood and foot of a sleeping bag, wetting it out with condensate by morning. In damp, still-air conditions near bodies of water (the Triple Bad of camp locations), the ends of a bag can get as wet as if one had been out in the rain, as several friends have learned to their dismay. Precisely the reason why some people prefer tarps.

Best,

Dan. (...who thinks selecting the right shelter is an in-tents process, but well worth the trouble before purchase  )

[strictnaturist]

A Go-lite Shangrila 3 with one person inner by Ookworks. This tent comes in at just under 2kgs, is a one pole tipi (cone) shape that can be pitched outer first,or works as an outer-only shelter. I also have a full inner for the tent that can easily accomodate  3.
For some reason I am drawn to this style of tent. My other is a Tentipi Varrie, from Lapland,  which I can light a fire in or use a small wood burner for winter trips. 
 

[bikepacker]

Jags you state everyone recommended the Akto for you, if you go back through the old Tramp forum postings you will see I did not, in fact I had one for sale at the time but would not sell it to you because I thought it too small to be comfortable for you.

I think what you spend on a tent depends on how much you intend to use it. Last year I sold my trusty Hilleberg Nammatj 2GT and replaced it with a Nallo 2GT and didn’t like it. The doorway and sloping ends were not to my liking. The Nammatj and me had shared over 400 nights in the 6 years I owned it and having cost me £435 and sold it for £195 I consider it gave me excellent value.

As I have stated on other threads, if you are only camping for a few nights a year and not cycling fully loaded for more than a few days, then there are many tents to fit the bill. If this were the case for me I would not be concerned about the weight. Only if you intend to do more or cycling in mountainous terrain do you need to think lighter.

I am now engaged in an exercise to replace the Nallo 2GT as it has been sold but one of my future requirements is to be able to sit inside the tent on my Helinox chair. I can do this with my Nammatj 3GT but would like to find something lighter. Before you hit me with your recommendations I have analysed all the tents on the market, it is just a matter of deciding which way to go.

My full camping list is on my website.  www.bikepacker.co.uk

[NZPeterG]

There is only one tent to use it's a
Hilleberg Staika!
Yes I have one and only got to use it for a short time! (got ill in Africa)
So easy to but up, can put it up in the rain and still have a dry tent inside (not like MSR tents)
I have it so it's going to be my World Cycle Touring tent 

Pete..
 

[in4]

I use a Mountain Equipment Dragonfly 2XT. Its not a lightweight tent but I've never felt enough guilt to wear the hair shirt that is sleeping in a crisp packet!  I come from a mountaineering background so already have gear chosen for that pursuit: My stove is a Trangia that continues to give great service; no moving parts y'see. I also have a Jetboil which is great for boiling water but probably not quite so versatile as the Trangia.

Here's a link to my tent.

http://www.ellis-brigham.com/products/dragonfly-2xt/2927

[Andre Jute]

There is only one tent to use it's a
Hilleberg Staika!
Yes I have one and only got to use it for a short time! (got ill in Africa)
So easy to but up, can put it up in the rain and still have a dry tent inside (not like MSR tents)
I have it so it's going to be my World Cycle Touring tent 

http://www.hilleberg.com/home/products/staika/staika.php

How long does it take you to put up the Stalka?

Andre Jute

[Tartalo]

Exped Vela I

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage_int.nsf/

There are the Extreme and Ultra Light versions.
I love it!