LuckySailor

My first and only air mattress that I have bought was an Exped UL7, and if I remember correctly, it was $180. (It may have been more). I slept on it 74 nights in a row while on tour. I have not slept that well for that many nights in a row, I think, ever in my entire adult life! I am 51. I am not kidding. Recently, I have purchased a new queen air bed for home, in an attempt to replicate some good nights sleep. I have significant back and neck problems due to one leg being 3/4" shorter than the other, and unfortunately, for 35 years after my accident, did not get my shoes altered to include a full lift. It's my fault, and I have and will continue to deal with serious pain in these areas for the rest of my life. I will use it again on tour, in 2018 for 32 days when I ride from Vancouver to the Arctic Circle.

Happy Feet

The need for expensive tents depends upon conditions. Ive spent many a night in bivy sacks and under lean to's so even a cheap tent is an upgrade from that.

The pic I linked was from a November trip on the gulf islands that had me tent bound with rain for 15 hours. Pitched under a tree I stayed dry.

There are two main differences between cheap and expensive tents. Usually the latter will have a full fly, which is a benefit in really foul or windy weather but not required in fair summer conditions and the former will usually have heavier fiberglass poles (as compared to lighter aluminum).

Three if you count the fact that cheap tents usually have cheap zippers. I try to always baby mine.

If I were doing a simple weekend summer camp I would not spend much or rent from an outdoors store as suggested earlier. In my town you can rent a decent quality 2 man tent with full fly for 10 bucks a nite.

FBinNY 

FWIW - I've toured using a tube tent as my backup, camp-if-the-opportunity-arises, tent. I don't know if they even still make these pieces of crap, but for an occasional night (where mosquitoes aren't an issue) they keep you dry, and warm on cool nights.

I don't know how good or bad these tents are, but they'll probably be OK for a night on a weekend trip. Probably the worst things about them will be the weight and setup time, but it's only for one night.

IMO the pad and sleeping bag will be more important, so OK to skimp on the housing, but make sure you have a good bed.

jonc123

Tent=No Bedbugs
Hotel & Motel=Bedbugs

robert schlatte

My first tent was a cheap "pup" tent i bought at Service Merchandise in the late seventies. It at least had a floor and a rain fly. I used it on a motorcycle trip to Alaska and hitchhiking all over Europe. It performed flawlessly for the most part. Back in those days, i could put up with a little more discomfort though.

Buy the $30 tent and you may find it suits all your needs.

indyfabz

All god and fine until you puncture it with a tiny piece of tire belt.

BigAura

Those walmart-type tents are fine for a week or so of touring assuming no extreme wind and/or rain. It's a good idea to seal the seams if you're expecting any wet weather.

Snuts

Are you overlooking the Bear risk!


Let's all get on our bikes and go for a ride, ha-ha.



-Snuts-

indyfabz

In any event, the point of my question to the OP was that, in addition to shelling out $30 for a tent, he needs to be thinking about some sort of mattress for his back.

Papa Tom

From the OP: Years ago, I bought one of those blow-up pool lounges for a couple of bucks and slept on it one night in the back of my car. I haven't really thought it through yet, but that's what I sort of figured I'd use for this. Interestingly, though, my back does quite well on a hard surface.

Will Wheeler

The main downside with Junior, Happy Camper or "Festival" (ebay) kind of tents is the poor ventilation. You will most likely want to keep the zippers on the entrance not fully closed to get some air flow through. Other than that, they are reasonably lightweight and can be packed pretty compact into a pannier or sack/bag (except the tent poles of course).

I think I would go for a Coleman Sundome 2 instead. It costs and wheighs a bit more, but the overall quality is better, more rain proof, far better ventilation and should be an excellent tent for summer use

Snuts

Thank-you for a recommendation based on experience.

At age 56, I tried my first weekend trip to Nippigon (136km out) last summer. I bought my mattress, it worked. I used the rest of the summer. But like ALL my equipment I was ready to drop the idea of touring, or upgrade as required. I did buy a new bike 16 days before my trek, leaving my first (9 week old) bike behind. Transferred all my bolt on accessories to the newest bike.

Back to the original question. And I promote, tour with what you think will/might work. Experience will prioritize what needs to change. Weather it be day-day on tour, or for the next trip.

We are all looking forward to some touring weather.



-Snuts-

bikemig 

Borrow one from a friend? Cost maybe a beer.

Snuts

Along the same idea. But I remembered I had an entertaining photo of the air mattress I was using. Though I would share it in a humorous way.

It's cold here. -39C with the wind chill.

-Snuts-

jefnvk

Meh, I've stayed in all sorts of shady hostels, still have yet to catch bedbugs. Is it a possibility? Sure. Then again, you can catch them at the laundromat, too.

Last I checked, Wal-Mart still sells those blue foam rolls for $7-8. They're more than suitable for a few nights, assuming a halfway fit person with no particular back issues.

10 Wheels

Likes mine. Great Summer tent



Mine held up good in a 4 hour rain storm

staehpj1

Two of the people I camped with on the Pacific coast used a $30 tent for the whole trip and did fine. One took it as a challenge to do the whole trip gear and all on some random low dollar amount. I forget what his limit was, but it wasn't much. The other was a Japanese gut who flew in bought a bunch of cheap walmart type gear including the bike, with the idea that he would give/throw it all away at the end of the trip. Funny thing is that those two seemed to be having as much and probably more fun than everyone else I met.

The thing is... if it is pretty sure to be a non rainy night I usually don't bother with a tent or bivy and just cowboy camp. I just pull a tarp over me if I need to during the night. You could cowboy camp for $0 and for just a few dollars more use a sheet of plastic or a cheap tarp just in case.

Tundra_Man 

I've not done any bicycle touring, but have done motorcycle touring. Nine years ago I bought one of those $30 tents from K-Mart (except for the color, it looks to be the same tent as 10-Wheels has above.) Used it on four different tours, plus a few camping trips with my son.

Got caught in some major rain storms in it. Had a few small leaks, but I survived. Broke a fiberglass pole once while setting it up in a wind storm. Was able to fix it by wrapping it in black tape and the mend has held for years. Had two raccoons get into a fight on top of it one night, and while I was traumatized inside, the tent itself was unscathed.

A better quality tent would be nice, but I feel like I got my $30 out of this one. The biggest thing I think I would gain with a more expensive tent would be weight reduction. This tent is a bit on the heavy side. But seeing as I've been using it for motorcycle touring that wasn't a huge issue for me.

Miele Man

An inexpensive tent can be very useful and comfortable. Check the size to make sure you're not going to be squished up against the sides or ends. Set the tent up in your yard or somewhere BEFORE you tour. that way you'll know how it goes together and you can apply seam sealant to the seams as well as inspect it for flaws.

I like the inexpensive tents and that's what i bought when my more expensive tent got ruined by my cousin who packed it away wet and never told anyone. When I came home two weeks later that wet tant (and sleeping bag) were completely rotted.

BTW, my inexpensive tent also has a separate fly that I leave off if I KN OW the night won't have rain. I can look out through the tent mesh top and see the stars.

I prefer a closed-cell foam pad over a cheap air mattress because the foam won't lose air if punctured and it insulates better if the ground is cold.

Cheers

edthesped

My only issue with cheaper tents is the weight. Sealing seams is something Boy Scouts taught me to do to all of my new tents regardless of what they cost.

MikeRides

My $30 Coleman "2-person" tent has held up just fine over the years of much (ab)use. I've had it since the early 90s. I've been caught in many thunderstorms with that tent, and always end up staying dry in the morning.

But yeah, if you don't plan on making camping a regular thing, I wouldn't even bother buying a tent. Look into renting one or the dishonorable buy & return practice aforementioned.

robow

I would have thought the same thing but surprisingly the cheapie single wall my friend uses was not heavy at all, only about 5 lbs for a spacious 2 person tent

edthesped

I'd love a super light tent but my budget has afforded me an REI Quarter Dome T2 Plus tent that I paid $120 for after coupons... I think it comes in somewhere in the 4+lb neighborhood. What I'd really kick around splurging on is a more comfortable air mattress.

OneCheapGT

The cheap tent will be fine.

If you are worried about the fiberglass poles, they sell fiberglass pole replacement/repair kits which are cheap. They've saved a camping trip for me more than once.

Don't hesitate to check your local thrift store, goodwill, etc. for camping gear. People often buy stuff, go once, hate it then ditch the gear. I've picked up tents, self-inflating pads, stoves, grills, lanterns, flashlights, chairs, etc. for real cheap. Just a couple of weeks ago I picked up a hardly used REI Quarter Dome T3 for $7.99.

escii_35

Fiberglass poles, bad. Since Im really hard on gear and I don't need winter capable, I just buy the cheapest tent with OK poles. Mmm sierra trading post.