Touring - Topeak Bikamper Tent

Anyone seen or used this yet?

http://www.rei.com/product/732405

http://media.rei.com/media/529847.jpg

Kind of a cool idea I guess.

Yea, and have you seen the optional ancillary attachment that makes it into a set of front panniers? :)

nope.
how did it work out for you?

Here is a friend funny but informative review.

http://hastyworld.blogspot.com/2008/02/first-product-review-topeak-bikamper.html



Not much room to change clothes. Changing clothes in this tent is probably pretty much akin to throwing on some clothes under the bed and preparing your escape while an enraged husband is looking in the closet for you. Merely speculation on my part, but both situations seem pretty uncomfortable.

Here is a friend funny but informative review.

http://hastyworld.blogspot.com/2008/02/first-product-review-topeak-bikamper.html

Nice!

... Brad

I have yet to read an actually use review by a real person. There are a lot of perceived problems with it from a cyclist's point of view, see previous threads. People don't like the idea of say muddy wheels being used in the back of the tent. What do you do it you need the bike during your camping stay? What about low rider racks? And on and on. Also the poles for such a tent really don't weight that much.

I think a lot of cyclist like the idea of a tent that shelters their bike a little, and one that uses the bike as one of the poles as some of us do, but when Topeak actually executed on that idea in a conceptual way, it seems to strike people as fake.

That review clears up the muddy tire thing. The reviewer didn't use his bike as a pole. The pitch looks poor, It looks similar to my MSR microzoid, but not as nice to pitch. I do find these micro tents perfectly sleepable, but otherwise too small for extended use. I have used them on several 2 week trips and do find it hard to stay out of a hotel if the weather turns really filthy, and one anticipates stuff like rolling sideways out of the tent to go to the can with the whole tent opened up to a downpour.

Cool Idea. When doing warm weather day, or 2 day trips, I usually just use an army poncho and my bike in a "lean-to" style setup. Works pretty well if you have a sturdy, long kickstand.

Seriously, it looks like a solution in search of a problem.

Removing my front wheel every night and putting it on again every morning with grass and mud and crud in the most important part--that which attaches the wheel to the bike, and hence moi?

That aside, it's most likely that eventually I will forget to fasten the quick release properly, or re-engage the break cable.

It looks nice though.

Seriously, it looks like a solution in search of a problem.

+1, with tents coming down in weight, what's the point of it. Looks like a paint to get in and out of.

My MSR has a side entry door, and if one is in a chewed up campsite, or when it rains etc... one needs a small tarp to lie down on before rolling sideways into the tent. In more backcountry situations, or private lands where one tents on nice virgin sites every night, it isn't as big of a problem.

Loved it at first glance. Would never buy it. As Peterpan1 said above, what if I wanna tool around on my bike and leave the tent?

Some industrial designer got his rocks off putting this together. Bet ya a box of new 'tubes that this thing won't be around for long.