No tent

[Standalone]

I use a similar tent design, it carried well on my rig,
although mine wasn't free standing like the one I use now
plenty of room with small vestibule

I've bicycle toured ireland and done four hitchhiking oddysseys on three continents using that Eureka Solitaire. One of the fiberglass poles eventually went and I haven't found a replacement.

[Aushiker]

I use a similar tent design, it carried well on my rig,
although mine wasn't free standing like the one I use now
plenty of room with small vestibule

That looks interesting. Can you provide more details about it? Also interested to know if you could get dressed in it? Just thinking about those nights spent in caravan parks or the like where I guess one needs to more considerate of others

Thanks
Andrew

[Jamoni]

I used a Hennessy Hammock on my last two long tours in Australia. Great protection and shelter, light, dry and bug-proof. Packs easily BUT needs 2 supports - steel posts or trees. BUt, it can be used on the ground if you can find a couple of sticks to keep the fly and screen off your face and body..

[Ron Harry]

Man, I live in Florida and I'd never consider sleeping under the stars; the bugs would eat you alive. Well...
maybe on the beach or something if the wind is up.

[drrobwave]

thermacell for the bugs and a tarp incase of rain. the thermacell stuff is available at any Walmart.

[staehpj1]

thermacell for the bugs and a tarp incase of rain. the thermacell stuff is available at any Walmart.

Interesting.

1. Anyone actually use this device on tour? If so where?
2. How well did it work?
3. How bulky are the refills and what do they weigh?
4. Do they actually last for the claimed amount of time?
5. Does a light breeze render them less useful? If so how much of a problem is this?
6. How does it compare to citronella candles or mosquito coils in effectiveness, weight, and cost?

[Bacciagalupe]

There was one summer where every time I went out camping, it rained at least once. As in, ridiculous downpour rain.

And as others have noted, lyme disease is a major issue on the East Coast of the US. It's pretty nasty.

"No tent" can work fine in some places, not so well in others.

[staehpj1]

And as others have noted, lyme disease is a major issue on the East Coast of the US. It's pretty nasty.

As someone who has had Lyme Disease twice and had considerable health impact from it, LD does concern me. That said it really does not seem that the time I am in my sleeping bag is when I am likely to pick up hitch hikers in the form of ticks. So I have never really considered that to be a factor in whether I went with a tent or not.

[prathmann]

That looks interesting. Can you provide more details about it? Also interested to know if you could get dressed in it? Just thinking about those nights spent in caravan parks or the like where I guess one needs to more considerate of others

Thanks
Andrew

I also use a Eureka Solitaire tent for bike touring and backpacking. Yes, I am able to get dressed in it, but that's the aspect of it that I like least. Headroom is minimal, so getting dressed involves a few contortions and pushing against the inner mesh tent with elbows and knees.

[staehpj1]

I also use a Eureka Solitaire tent for bike touring and backpacking. Yes, I am able to get dressed in it, but that's the aspect of it that I like least. Headroom is minimal, so getting dressed involves a few contortions and pushing against the inner mesh tent with elbows and knees.

Personal preference entirely, but to me the Solitaire is almost a great tent, but misses the mark. The size is fine, the price great, and it packs pretty small.

I think it misses the mark on the following:

1. It is kind of heavy for the size it is. The Spitfire 1 has a lot more room for the extra 3 ounces they claim it weighs in at. That said I suspect that the Solitaire weighs more than they claim and the Spitfire is pretty close to claimed weight.
2. It requires way too many stakes to pitch. Twelve stakes if I remember correctly, way to many for what is essentially a bivy. This is extra weight and a hassle in hard or rocky ground.
3. The poles fail too frequently, are heavier than necessary, and are not as easy to replace as they might be because they are very small OD and have to bend in a pretty tight radius.

I have often toyed with modifying one to use less stakes and a different set of poles. I wonder how it would pitch if using better poles with pre-made bends to square up the arch and eliminate the tight bend. The poles could be lighter higher quality ones. It might be worth it if I could get total weight down to 2 pounds or so. The poles would likely cost more than I paid for the tent.

[drrobwave]

thermacell has worked great camping and hunting. I'm in NC so i know about misquotos. Any breeze that does not remove the bugs does not make the thermacell ineffective. the problem is cost $5 for 8-10 solid hours. weight is not a big deal. REI also carries detergent you can wash your clothes in that repels bugs. Ticks? I've camped under a tarp many a night and ticks have never been an issue, not anymore than sitting in the grass taking a break.