MikeR

I intend to take a few short tours (2-3 days) this summer. I figure that a tent and sleeping bag would cost the same as a motel bill of one tour.

What tent, sleeping bag and pad do you like for solo touring in the summer?

MikeR

Ooops!

After I posted the above, I did a search on tents and found a previous thread all about them.

Guess I did this bass ackwards. Sorry.

Juha

I don't know which of the older tent threads you found, so I'll just post here:

For solo tours you might want to check out the Hennessy Hammock. I have convinced myself that I need one for the next summer.

--J

alexeicharkham

what about if you wanna hang out in your tent and read etc? if it's raining I would've thought you can't do this, as you'd have to tuck yourself up.

how much does it weigh and cost, by the way??

A

Dougmt

Some of you probably aleady know about this site but it's a great forum.

I use a down filled bag from mamot called an Arroya(sp?) and I have many tents (gear junky) but I really like my marmot swallow. However if I was really concerned with weight and wanted a smaller tent this is the one I'd go with:

FORUM
TENT

Doug

ndbentrider

North Face Chrysalis(sp) down bag and a Sierra Designs Meteor Light CD - like the room if I need to bring in the bob.

Guest

Ok, question while we're on the topic-

What about a good tent that can survive hard rains in the summer?

I haven't gotten to that part of my tour yet in my summary of my touring trip in Italy, but it was raining HARD and my tent collapsed from all the water that fell on it in a short period of time. Any suggestions on a tent that can withstand extra hard rain and keep moisture out in general during the summer that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg?

K Brown

RWTD

For a good quality tent that will last look to spend around $199 new though if you shop around you should be able to find a discount.Three quality brands to consider though there are others as well are Sierra Designs right around that price,North Face which will run slightly more and Kelty which will run slightly less.Look for a canvas tent for durabilty with good mesh ventilation for summer.All the brands I mentioned should have a good quality nylon rainfly which should be seam sealed to waterproof and have a sloping design to allow water to run off.If you are talking about real windy driving storms you may want to consider a freestanding tent as it will have more poles and therefore more stable plus it will give you more flexiblity on where you can set it up as stakes aren't needed however will cost and weigh slightly more. As far as size keep in mind there are true two person tents which will cost and weigh more and two person tents that only have room for one person plus gear or two people with little extra room which are good for solo touring. Check Campmor,REI,Northern Mtn. Supply,Mtn. Equiptment Co-op,Sierra Trading Post etc. on the web and look for three season tents and you should find some good deals on these brands and others though I also suggest you look at and set one up in a store as well before you buy.

MikeR

Well the price is right, but I'm not sure that I want to go the hammock route. I like to roll over onto my stomach sometimes. I've never been able to do that in a hammock.

Triker

I have a little REI two-person tent that serves me well for solo touring. It has room for me and all my stuff if I get rained in, and it ventilates well on hot, humid summer nights. I sleep in a Kelty Le Tour bag (from Campmor) that is supposed to be good down to 45 degrees, but has kept me comfortable down to near freezing. I have been very happy with both, and expect them to serve me well for a couple thousand miles next summer.

I like aluminum tent poles because they are lighter and, I think, stronger. Nice if you will be in windy country.

Erick L

I use a Sierra Design Clip-Flashlight and a tarp or just a tarp. For two, the Clip-Flashlight for three is still lighter than most two-person tents. It's not freestanding though.

Triker

Oh yeah -- sleeping pad. I use a Z-rest, the closed cell pad that accordion folds.

MikeR

That seems to be the norm - A two person tent for one cyclist.
Maybe I'll start a tent size poll.



Forgive my dumbness - what other kind is there?

MikeR

Do you like that better than the roll up kind? Is it easier to pack?

MikeR

I've never used a freestanding tent. Of course, the last time I camped, they did not exist. It's obvious to me that a freestanding tent must be more convenient. What are the negatives to a freestanding?

RWTD

The freestanding have usually 3 poles to stabilize it while nonfreestanding generally use two poles and stakes to stabilize.The disadvantages to freestanding would be extra weight ,extra cost and an extra pole to set up though the later may actually be an advantage to those that don't like to set up a staked tent.Go to a store and try setting up one of both types and see which you prefer as convenience of setting up is an important factor and is somewhat of a personal decision.

Triker

The Z-rest is WAY EASIER to pack, and very light. It may not be as comfy as a self-inflator, but I am not as fussy as some folks about feather-bed comfort.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

By all means get a free standing tent. It will be easier to move, and can be set up on any surface. I have tented on concrete under picnic shelters in thundertsorms, a nice option.

Aluminum poles are lighter, stronger, and easier to repair than fiberglass. Also get some good stakes. I prefer thick aluminum ones, that I can straighten if they bend.

Any decent, non-Mart tent should be able to handle a downpour; high winds are another story.

Right now www.thetentstore.com has some good deals on Eureka tents, and Eureka is offering rebates. I just got an Apex 3XTA for $120 after rebate, which is a fine tent for two, at a great price. For solo camping I use the REI, but the new 2003 Eureka Apex 2XTA would be a great solo tent: two doors, good ventilation, easy set up, alum poles, etc. I have an older 2XT that served me well in wind, rain, etc. You can get tents that are a pound or two lighter, but not the same quality for the money, and I like being able to get all my gear inside the tent.

I hope this clears the waters, rather than muddying them!

Braumeister

Sleeping Pad:
I use a full-length ThermaRest Ultra Light (with the die-cut foam) and a ThermaRester chair kit (the one that is always attached). Some people can sleep on closed-cell and 3/4 pads but I'm not one of them.

Sleeping Bag:
Ditch the bag if you're touring in the summer (unless you'll be in the mountains) and take a long a fleece blanket, instead.

Tent:
My tent is a Eureka! solo tent (has since been discontinued--shoulda' bought two!). It's a little heavy for a solo (4 lbs.) but it's bomb-proof, roomy, and has a huge vestibule for sheltering all my gear (except the bike) from the rain.

JimboTrek

Mike-
If you're on a budget I have a freestanding tent for you... ($120!)
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...html?SKU=15619

I have the older model "Kelty Tourlite 2", but it's nearly identical to this one. It's a great tent for the cash. I've used it in 14 different states and some very bad weather... Performance also has a solo (non-freestd) model:
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...299&Store=Bike

However, if you intend to do any extensive touring or backpacking you may want to spend a few more $ and get a lighter, even better tent. I'm used my Kelty for touring, but gonna use the MSR Zoid 1 for backpacking.

Kelty makes decent, value-minded gear. But there are better tents if you want to spend $.... Check out:

MSR, Sierra Designs, Mt.Hardware, TNF, Marmot, Hilleberg, Eureka, Marmot, Wanderlust Gear, etc.

Hope this helps....

MikeR

All your opinions are helping greatly. Keep them commin'

I'm looking up all of your suggestions and browsing the on-line catalogs.

It seams that whenever I bought something without this type of research, I am invariably disappointed with my choice. This thread is helping greatly.

Thanks a lot!

Julien

For solo touring, I use a bivy. Outdoor Research makes excellent ones... They weight less than 2 lbs... Have small posts that will lift the tent above your face and allow you to read (with a forehead lamp if it's dark) and the fabric is very tough and waterproof...

A bivy is small, but I don't spend a lot of time in a tent anyways... You'll find that no other 3-season tent will come at under 2 pounds...

I use a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. The ultralight model is down filled and rated to -5 deg.C. while weighting only 750 grms... If it's warm, I'll only use a "hostel sheet" in the bivy.

With respect to pads, I use a thermarest inflatable...

temp1

I would seriously consider going tentless, I have done this year round in all conditions and really enjoy the freedom from a bulky and heavy piece of gear. In very bad weather I have used a bivy sack which is a water proof shell that you slip your bag and pad into, most have a small area over your head supported by poles and they can be totally zipped up. They are very compact and light. check out sierratradingpost.com great deals on all types of gear, marmot.com top notch bags, tents and outer ware, and kelty.com innovative and priced right. I personally stay away from the North Face as I have found other companies that make equal gear for much much less but sierra trading post often has NF stuff at very low prices, good luck

beowoulfe

I'll stand by my Sierra Clip Flashlight!! I've been through below 0* and have withstood
torrential rainstorms without a failure. I was once flooded out while inside. Stayed
dry as a desert in there. (I did eventually get up and move it).

Mick

Check out www.robertsaunders.co.uk especially the Jetpacker & Spacepacker ranges.
I used a Jetpacker plus for a years 5,700 mile walk ..... fantastic.
Set up fly first in bad weather, helped on numerous occassions. Lightweight & well worth the money.

speir2

I have done alots of bikeing & tent camping, go to an outfitter shop purchase backpack's tent & sleeping bag, they are light and compact, can bungie strap both on a rack put other requirements in panters, packing heavy thing in bottom of panters on my first trip I had to stop & lower heavier things to keep bike from swaying on down hills.