staehpj1

It is kind of on the small side, but I have managed. When it rains and blows I find I need to pitch it quite low. Also I tend to pick sheltered spots if I am somewhere that there is much wind. There is usually at least a little rise or something to offer a bit of wind shelter.

I try to limit weight as much as possible and have resisted the siltarp 2 for that reason, but I can see where some would like a bit more coverage. Something halfway between the Siltarp 1 and Siltarp 2 might be nice.

scroungetech

I bought a Six Moon Skyscape Scout for many of the same reasons as the OP requested. Got to use it last weekend for 1st time. 1st night was clear, no rain & I left the door open & got a good breeze thru the mesh. 2nd night rained hard & while I didn't get soaked, I did get a bit damp & felt a few drops on my face. I don't know if I didn't seam seal well enough or if it was condensation that was dripping. Needs further testing.

tcs

Schweet. Or, for $550 less, there's the Ozark Trails Ultra Light backpack, a semi-free standing mesh tent + fly. You know, whatever scratches one's itch.

lax

Interesting, thanks for your feedback. how quick is the tent to set up? Are you using the optional poles from the same company?

lax

To those of you who use a tarp system without a tent... do you find the lack of privacy is ever a problem? For instance if you find yourself with other campers nearby?

bikenh

If you stealth camp you don't have to worry about other people around you...you have the campsite all to yourself. Normally I just toss the rainfly from the tent over me at night and that's the way I sleep...I don't set the tent up at all.

scroungetech

I'm not using the optional poles that Six Moon sells, because I went thru one of their re-sellers, Anti-Gravity Gear. Anti-Gravity Gear includes a 5x9' pc of Tyvek (to trim and use as groundsheet), 6 titanium stakes, and free shipping. I got two of their 45" carbon fiber poles @ $30 ea. They break into 3 sections = 15". With the seam sealer they recommend, total was just under $200. As far as speed of setup: I've only set it up twice, once to seal it and once on recent trip. Not counting time to select a spot and clear debris, I'd say about 7 minutes. Lay out ground sheet, put in all 5 stakes, insert poles, then re-tension stake tie-outs. In that order! I'll probably get faster at that. Though in a hard down pour, I wonder how much water would get inside the tent during set up, because the poles go inside the tent, not through sleeves/clips on the outside. If further testing shows that I got drips inside from condensation, I might retire it and go to a net tent with separate tarp. That was how I was leaning originally, but many of the cottage/custom gear makers are backlogged this time of year. Bear Paw Wilderness designs isn't too exorbitant, and has a walled net tent with oodles of custom options to pick from, and that along with my DD Hammocks 3 meter square tarp, and the CF poles I now have would also make a fine shelter, with no condensation issues. I had a trip approaching quickly and the Skyscape's price point was lower than all others, and it was in stock, so I figured I'd try it. Six Moon's website does have a video showing setup process. I hope that is helpful. Let me know if you'd like any other details.

hilltowner

Not sure what "lack of privacy" means but I use a hammock with tarp and if I'm around other campers (usually stealth camp) I can change clothes using this: sport kilt. Also works great if I'm passing a swimming beach and want to change out of my cycling clothes for a swim.

CliffordK

Doubles as a beach towel?

PolarBear007

I have a Henry Shires "TarpTent" Cloudburst II that easily fits in the OP's criteria. It's a great little shelter.

It is probably 15" and weighs just about 2lbs 8oz IIRC.

In fact, it's on my "must sell" list this summer.

I've only used it 5 times and is in nearly new condition - meaning i've sealed the seams. There is minimal (if any) visible evidence of having used it.

Rob_E

That's been my solution. My set up was never as compact as it could have been. I used an open sleeping bag instead of a quilt, which could have been more packable, and I didn't always compress everything as much as I could have. But it took up little enough room. I had my Hennessy Hammock with under insulation and sleeping bag and tarp in one, large pannier that I carried on the front. Then I found I could fit it all into a large, dry/compression sack that I tied, uncompressed, to the handlebars, without the tarp, which I had to stash elsewhere. That's my goal going forward: To get my entire hammock and associated sleeping gear on to my handlebars.

Miele Man

One of my favourite tents was one called "Bike 'N' Lite" that was easy to set up with just the one ridge pole although it wasn't free standing. Hoever it was very compact yet roomy when set up.

Front view. It's the mifddle tent.

#06 A Nice Open Place to Camp by Miele Man, on Flickr

rear view.

#07 Lake for Swimming & Water by Miele Man, on Flickr

Tent packed and on the bicycle. It's the tan thing just behind the yellow helmet.

#01 Ready to Ride by Miele Man, on Flickr

Tent is on the right just above the sleeping pad with the red sleeping bag stuffed inside it.

#02 Heading out by Miele Man, on Flickr

I'd love to get another of these tents.

Cheers

Philly Tandem

I have an MSR Hubba (older version) and it's great for bike touring. Weighs about 2.5 pounds, but I don't know the pole length. Current models of the Hubba (solo) list a packed length of 17", so it's probably close to that. Most Hubbas came with a rust-colored fly, but MSR replaced mine under warranty with a nice green one that really blends in well when camping.

Just found this useful thread on a motorcycle touring site. Maybe it will help: Tent pole packed-length list | Adventure Rider

Tundraouch

New to bike touring, just one trip in, but i do ultralight hike and some stuff carries over.

For my front bike storage i fit a fully enclosed single person shelter under 2 ibs: SMD Trekker tent silnylon 24oz purchased of bpl websites gear forum used for 150$. It has one removable 12 inch pole at the top. when hiking my trekking poles form the inner stays at 120 cm tall, but for biking i bought carbon fiber poles sections, elastic to run inside, and end-inserts to tie off elastic, from off quest outfitters website ( cost me 35$) = 3.5 oz cut with a regualr saw and put together in 10 minutes. I cut the poles to the length i wanted so if you want 12 inch or less just order the number needed to do so. I ended up doing 15 inch which fit in my 6L REI dry bags harnessed tactical molle water bottle holders (cheaper than metal options for front fork bag harnesses (i spent 50$ for 12 liters of space on the front fork weighing in at 14oz total on the fork).

So for roughly 2.2 pounds:
-- Front 6L dry bag / molle mount (uses one braze on and one hose clamp, plus 2' elastic lashing = 7oz, 25$
-- Trekker smd sinilyon 23.5 oz 150$ used, 235$ new 1 person fully enclosed shelter.
-- easton cf poles 3.5 oz 35$, probably add another 1-1.5 oz for 4 section poles of shorter length.
-- z-pack stays = 0.3 oz 8$
-- vargo stakes (5x) = 1.5 oz 20$
-- polycryl ground sheet = 1.9 oz 5$

Good luck

mdilthey

$140 on sale, less than 3lbs, very stealth, packs down to the size of a grapefruit.

The Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1

My picture:

DropBarFan

Some interesting links, thanks. It's surprising how few light camo tents are available, as if the corporate lawyers warn against making them. Bikepackers don't need hi-viz tents like mountaineers & I figure that if one is paying good money for a tent it should have the camo stealth option.

Seems like staked tents save a lot of weight vs slightly more convenient free-standing tents. Light Heart Gear seems to meet lax's requirements:



LightHeart Duo Tent

Yan 

The neon colour is not because of lawyers. It's because if you return to camp after sunset and cannot find your tent, you will die.

5100m camp, Mt. Abi, Sichuan, China. We are in a Black Diamond First Light and a Sierra Designs of unknown model.

I would not recommend an ultralight four season single wall tent for bicycle touring.

1. Weight and space are not at a premium on a bicycle.
2. Lack of vestibules for storing panniers and shoes overnight.
3. Extremely cramped interior.
4. Lack of ventilation.
5. Severe condensations issues when used above freezing.
6. Easily damaged when used in other than snow.

The ideal tent for bicycle touring is a two man, double door, double layer three season tent, such as the very light MSR Hubba Bubba NX 2, or the more budget friendly but bulkier REI Quarter Dome T2.

reppans

Sixmoondesigns Gatewood Cape + Serenity NetTent + 6 Ti stakes ~ 1.5 lbs, in a granite gray or forest green, and doubles as a rain poncho (don't expect to ride a fast pace in a poncho though ). If you want, add 4oz for a 3x9' Tyvek footprint, and 3oz for a pole, but neither are required (any ~45" stick/branch works fine). It all packs inside the Gatewood's own pocket (except 16.5" pole, of course).

revcp 

Another vote for a hammock, although it's certainly best in a wooded area or with some kind of make do idea if you find yourself in a treeless spot. I've bike toured and canoed (more the latter than former) with my Warbonnet Blackbird. I've been in some terrific rainstorms and I've stayed completely dry. I also have my system rigged to set string the tarp out first and then clip the hammock into carabiners below the tarp, so I can set up or take down in a rainstorm and stay dry.

troll and blackbird.jpg

antokelly

yan don't take this up wrong but man your stone crazy .
man that is some place to pitch a tent

Leebo

[QUOTE=Yan;19039059]The neon colour is not because of lawyers. It's because if you return to camp after sunset and cannot find your tent, you will die.

5100m camp, Mt. Abi, Sichuan, China. We are in a Black Diamond First Light and a Sierra Designs of unknown model.

I would not recommend an ultralight four season single wall tent for bicycle touring.

1. Weight and space are not at a premium on a bicycle.
2. Lack of vestibules for storing panniers and shoes overnight.
3. Extremely cramped interior.
4. Lack of ventilation.
5. Severe condensations issues when used above freezing.
6. Easily damaged when used in other than snow.

The ideal tent for bicycle touring is a two man, double door, double layer three season tent, such as the very light MSR Hubba Bubba NX 2, or the more budget friendly but bulkier REI Quarter Dome T2.

What? Two man? I'm only one. Weight and space ARE at a premium. All your pics are in the winter in mountains. Dude. I don't take my panniers off at night. Condensation? Ventilation? No issues in warm weather.

DropBarFan

[QUOTE=Yan;19039059]The neon colour is not because of lawyers. It's because if you return to camp after sunset and cannot find your tent, you will die. [QUOTE]

Yes, I did mention that mountaineers need hi-viz tents. & I suppose that some bikepackers in remote areas would also like hi-viz tents in case they need to leave the camp spot.

Thanks for the recommendations. I used to assume that one could buy expensive tents that were half the weight of cheap tents but with same features, doesn't seem so. OTOH the two tents you note are fairly light & give option of using the UL fly + footprint mode. So they could be a good option for Canadian tourists who might like added protection in cooler weather.

Yan 

There's no such thing as warm weather north of Boston. You will have condensation issues even in the height of summer. If you use a single wall tent you will wake up up each morning in a pool of moisture. Your bedding will be wet, your mat will grow moldy, and you will wonder in disbelief at how you could be drenched in sweat and shivering at the same time. These tents are called "four season" but are meant to be used below freezing only. The condensation forms as ice on the ceiling. You shake it off and brush it out the door periodically.

Ultralight tents are undersized. Two man means you can fit two men with elbows touching. If you are over 6' your head and feet will both be touching the walls, where your sleeping bag will become soaked by condensation. These tents pack to the same size as Hennessy hammocks. There is not much to be gained by making them smaller. Black Diamond doesn't make a one man tent. If you want to go lighter you will have to get a bivy bag.

If you want ultralight without the condensation issues of a single wall tent, you will have to sacrifice mosquito protection and opt for a tarp based solution. I recommend you not take this route in New England.

Regarding space and features vs bare bones light weight, only you can make the decision. If you use a one man tent you will not be able to have much inside the tent with you. Without a vestibule you will not be able to open your panniers in the rain without the contents getting wet. You will not be able to keep your shoes dry. You will not be able to cook while sitting inside your tent. You will not be able to keep your gear where they are safe from theft in campgrounds.

After a few months of living continuously under such inconvenience, you may form a different opinion regarding whether space and weight really are at a premium on a bicycle.

Yan 

[QUOTE=DropBarFan;19040637]The MSR is an expensive tent that is half the weight of cheap tents, and has more features than cheap tents. Just buy this tent and be done with it. I fit this tent, a tarp, an inflating mat, and a sleeping bag liner into one Ortlieb Back Roller, with room to spare.

mtnbud

I agree with Yan. It's really tough to not have condensation issues with a single wall waterproof tent. You need ventilation to keep the moisture in your breath from condensing on the inside walls of your tent. Your skin also emits a bit of moisture though not much if you're sleeping at the proper body temperature. If it's really raining and blowing outside, most single wall tents are going to need to be closed up tight to keep the rain out.

I always used a ground cloth and a simple rectangular rainfly when going light on the bicycle. I made my own poles by adding extra ferrules to some fiber poles. When it was really blowing and raining, the rainfly need to be pitched low to the ground and positioned properly against the wind. If there was no chance of rain, I cowboy camped.

Now days, I don't worry so much about the pack size or the weight.