antokelly

what tent do you guys reckon is the best for touring
on this side of the pond ,,they reckon hilleberg nallo gt
is way ahead of everything else,,
seems to tick all the boxes.
so what has america to offer ,,,thats as good or better than hilleberg tents

wahoonc

As far as I know most of them are made in China so wouldn't that make them Chinese tents

Eureka, North Face, Big Agnes, MSR are a few that come to mind. I use an old Coleman Exponent Inyo 2 (similar to the MSR Zoid2)

Aaron

niknak

Choosing a good tent for touring is tough. I'm looking for a tent for a trip to Iceland next summer that fits these criteria:

1) excellent ventilation
2) space for two people and gear
3) entry into tent without letting in rain
4) prefer two doors
5) good wind/rain resistance
6) decent weight

The Hilleberg seems to meet 3,5,6 and possibly 2. For short tours in fair weather I love my www.tarptent.com Rainshadow2. For Iceland and future trips with nastier weather, this tent looks intriguing https://www.bigagnes.com/str_tents.php?id=em3 The only drawback may be that rain can get in when entering the tent. I have to see one in person first.

The Smokester

It's hard to beat the Big Agnes Seedhouse for light weight in the free-standing category. I measured just over 3 lb for my SL2 complete with pegs. They have a reasonable vestibule with enough room to park your wet shoes and outer clothes. They are rated for 3.5 seasons. I'm sure they have their limitations. Not sure I'd like to be caught out above tree line in a raging gale with one, though.

Cyclist0383

Which side of the pond are you on?

Miles2go

That BA tent doesn't look very wind resistant to me and doubt it ventilates much better than today's Hillebergs. Most expedition tents have the main support poles coming all the way down to the ground as Hilleberg's do. Their rainfly's come all the way down for rain and wind resistance though some like the Nallo allow part of it to be raised for additional ventilation. There are several two-door models and our Staika has never allowed rain into the tent. Vestibule yes, tent no.

How much gear are you bringing in? We bring 8-10 bags under the Staika plus our helmets and have plenty of room to sleep. 4-6 of these sit in the vestibules, out of the way and the rest are in the tent with us.

As mentioned in the other running tent tread, each Hilleberg is hand made in Europe by one person and the tents carry their name on a tag near the inside door.

I don't sell their stuff but think they are a class act and have talked to Petra Hilleberg on several occasions. They seem to always take input from those who use the tents and improve them where needed. Therefore, a company I'm happy to support. Are there other good tents to be had? Certainly. That said, I doubt I'll buy another tent that doesn't allow for the fly and body to be set up and taken down together though. This has proved incredibly valuable in heavy rains.


Cheers,

Bill Abbey

I have a Sierra Designs two person tent. It is free standing and has an adequate vestibule. I ended up camping in 50+ mph winds (of course it was very secured in that case) a couple of times without much hassle. The The mosquitos stay out, the dry stuff stays dry -even if I end up in a slight depression and rain because it has a 6" raised door/floor pan. I'm six two and 250# and I do not know how big the "standard person" is, but my wife and I used it on my trans america ride a couple of years ago. It still looks good and works well. It has gone across Alaska (Anchorage to Dawson, canoed the Yukon and riden back to Ancorage from Circle) and down the Pacific coast. I plan on taking it with me on the Southern route next spring. It's not a high end do everything tent but it is under 5 pounds in weight (come to think of it that includes tent pegs, footprint, attic, leaves, twigs and stuff from the last bike camping trip and 60' of nylon critter line) and I got it at REI fairly reasonably. I don't think it is probably the "best" but it works pretty good for me.

bwgride

Kelty Gunnison 2 meets a number of criteria listed above:

https://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...berId=12500226

NoReg

"The Nallo and Nallo GT are the first choice of those needing the lightest weight tents that still offer all-season, all weather functionality."

That sounds like a mountaineering tent, not a touring tent. I'm not hardy enough to bike in the winter, though a x-country trip would be fun.

I think US has been the tent leader for years. Most euro designs seem highly derivative, and rather expensive. Biggest problem these days is designers are just dreaming up new designs for the sake of it. In that regard something like the H might be ideal, in it's place. Marmot used to make a great tunnel tent for mountaineering, but it isn't on the market any more.

You need to break out your specific needs and look at versatility and light weight as major issues. On a bike you can be one moment in a dense reforestation with hardly an inch for a tent (hammock country), and next moment in a flat bog. In some of the areas I sleep in, bugs trump just about anything else.

Miles2go

Hmmm. If you're calling Hilleberg's designs derivative that's the first time I've heard anything like that of them. I'm sure Bo and Renate looked to Marmot for ideas back in the 70s when they started making their tents. Tunnel tents have long been a standard in Europe. And I know of no one that's made anything like the Staika.

I'd say the majority of what's offered by "American" tentmakers is derivative. Often chasing gimmickry as much as they are looking for true functionality. Certainly there are exceptions. Funny though, when you get into just about anyone's tent lineup and find the true expedition tents, these newer offerings start exhibiting similar qualities of what Hilleberg features in all of their tents.

14 days of our 30-day tour in Alaska were with 14 others, all carrying smaller and lighter tents. Of these folks, we were the only ones that I know of that had extensive solo touring experience. On these 14 days I had no less fun on my tour than they did, despite carrying my heavy shelter. I got to camp as quickly as they did if that was my choosing (and sometimes I was first), yet I had more room while sitting in the tent waiting for the rain to let up. I also had more vestibule storage space, so all of my gear was dry in the morning. All of the European tourers I met on this tour had larger, so called "mountaineering" tents, though I'd call them expedition tents and were happy to be using them. Amanda and Richard (Losligato) are others that have found joy in carrying a bigger tent.

Most of the places I want to go on tour can have nasty weather even in the summer months. I want to have shelter along that I can move around in and that I can count on. I'll worry about saving weight elsewhere, like around my waistline. It's also nice to know that I can call Petra Hilleberg up from just about anywhere and have her send me a new 10mm tent pole if I need one. She'll see that it's in the mail the next day. She'd do the same for you for one of their tents. That said, these happen to come with a repair section and bracing sleeve to get you by. Oh, but everybody does that, right?

There's a reason why these tents come highly regarded. It's not hype. Drop by my place if in Utah and check my Staika out. Bring any tent over that's stocked by REI and let's compare quality and function.

I’d bet that the majority of American tent designs are targeted at users that go on weekend get-aways. Since more Europeans go on extended “gap tours”, I’d bet that there are more tents designed there that are truly a pleasure to spend a long tour in. In America you have to fight to get away from work. In Europe, it’s expected that you do. How many businesses around your home close for a summer month? That's pretty common in some European towns.

Cave

I'm pretty happy with my Tarptent Double Rainbow.

Plus:
- 1160 g total weight (poles, pegs, everything)
- Roomy enough for a couple + some gear (most gear will be in the vestibules). Great sitting-up height (eg. can sit facing each other, one at each end of the tent).
- Has proven to be quite wind resistant (I was initially skeptical)
- Easy to put up/take down

Minus:
- Condensation. Always some at the head end. Roof is high enough for this to be manageable.
- Not huge. Definitely a 2-person tent, not 2+ or 3.
- Not really a time-proven design. It has worked for me in mild conditions, can't comment on bad weather. (Only used out for about 3 wks by me or my sister.)

wadaminute

I have a Sierra Designs Orion 2. It's a great tent. SD had the best weight to space to cost ratio when I was shopping. You really have to look at the Black Diamond and Bibler tents. The Biblers used to be the gold standard, not sure where they stack up now. The BDs are the more affordable versions of Biblers designs.

niknak

Yeah, a roomy tent is a big plus on long tours. I've been looking at 3-person "American" tents just so my wife and I would have plenty of space. The Hilleberg website doesn't give a lot of info about their tents, just a photo and a brief description. If they do ventilate as well as you claim, then that would move the Hilleberg to the top of my list. Thanks, Miles2go.

antokelly

good stuff ,i reckon its down to two tents
hilleberg or sierra designs,,
but i think i might go with,even dough it costs, an arm and a leg,,
and who am i to argue with miles2go
hilleberg,,,

gregw

There is no perfect tent, you just have to choose your compromises. Miles2go likes the Staika, this is a great tent but it too has compromises (not freestanding, heavy, needs a very large area to set-up, condensation) but it's advantages outweigh the compromises for him. Same for everyone else. List your needs in order of importance and be prepared to compromise at the bottom of your list.

"I’d bet that the majority of American tent designs are targeted at users that go on weekend get-aways. Since more Europeans go on extended “gap tours”, I’d bet that there are more tents designed there that are truly a pleasure to spend a long tour in. In America you have to fight to get away from work. In Europe, it’s expected that you do. How many businesses around your home close for a summer month? That's pretty common in some European towns."

OK this is just a dumb statement and has nothing to do with the OP!

littlewaywelt

Bibler or Black Diamond. Either would be superb. They're very light extremely functional single wall tents. Biblers are made with a goretex type ptfe material, and BDs are made with ultra breathable Epic.

The BDs are an amazing value for the money.

Rogerinchrist

For anyone wanting to learn more about tents, order the Hilleberg Catalog. They rightly call it "The Tent Handbook". It is much more than a sales pitch, there is a lot of knowledge shared in it. (I'm lookin' to get an AKTO someday)

cyccommute 

I used my Seedhouse 1 for the first time this weekend and can attest to it's wind resistance. I camped high in the Arapahoe National Forest and the wind kicked up to around 60 mph (if you live on the Front Range you get pretty good at estimating wind speed) from the side. The tent never blinked. I, on the other hand, spent a terrible night worrying that one of the big trees around my tent was going to pancake me

Miles2go

Hey Cyccommute. BA has a couple of tents they consider to be 4-season (madhouse) and they're advertising additional stability in wind due to continuous pole sections. That's BA’s own words. I'm not saying all tents without poles running from ground to ground won't be strong enough for touring use but the Emerald Mountain looks fairly weak against side gusting. The design isn't the same as that of the Seedhouse. The SH design looks pretty solid and especially with the rainfly on and properly staked out. That said, given the direction my tours are going, I'll stick to tents that are as close to expedition class as I can. Having a mechanical in the middle of the Yukon (for example) is one thing. Finding out what the upper limits of my tent are in the middle of the night in the Yukon is something I'll put a little more effort into avoiding.

On another subject Cyccommute; have you seen the "Taking our T800 to Octalink" thread? I figured you had some experience in that regard.

niknak: Since you said you've been looking at 3 person tents then you might want to add REI's TAJ 3 to what you've already seen. I've known a lot of touring couple that have liked it and the price is nice for that kind of tent. As far as being able to see more about Hillebergs, one of the best net sites to look at tents is Backcountry Equipment. Have a look at the first photo on This Page for the Nallo 2 GT. It has two doors on the vestibule with one being quite far from the tent entrance. They have some pretty good shots of the Staika too and really love its design regarding venting.

gregw: What experience tells you that the Staika has an issue with condensation? The same experience that leads you to the conclusion that it's not freestanding? Very large area to set up? Compared to what? On average for the tourers in this forum audience, how much room to pitch a tent do they need? That may vary from person to person but I've pitched the Staika in about twenty-five different campsites and haven't had a problem yet. On our ACA tour of Alaska we were often even stacked two or three tents deep per single campsite. If I had a Keron 3 GT perhaps that would be a different story. Keron GTs are very long.

The OP looked to compare American designed tents against European designed tents. I've spent enough time looking at what's marketed exclusively at buyers "on the other side of the pond" to know that it's not the same as what we see in the States; quite different in fact. Many tent companies outside the US routinely aim at the cycle touring segment and rightly so since it's more of a mainstream activity in Europe. Bigger tents or those with bigger vestibules are very common. Tatonka, Hilleberg, Rejka, Lightwave, Exped, Salewa and more.

niknak

I went to REI this evening to inspect the Big Agnes Emerald SL3. My wife and I pitched the tent and liked what we saw. Both entrances are under cover of the fly so rain wouldn't get in while exiting/entering the tent. There are two vents, one on each end. These are pretty small, but any venting is better than none.

Miles2go, you said that the ends of the tent could be victim to high winds. You may have a point. The walls are nearly vertical (great for living space). The fly, however, has three guy lines per end to help keep the fly taught during rain and wind. If properly pitched, and if we're clever enough to pitch the tent so the wind doesn't hit the ends dead on, I think the tent would be just fine.

The vestibules are nice and big. We like the extra space to stash wet panniers and clothes. Everything we normally bring could easily fit inside this tent without much effort though since the interior is very roomy.

Although the Hilleberg tents look great - I especially like the ability to pitch both the fly and tent at once - they are very expensive. The Nallo2 GT with footprint is about $200 more than the Emerald with footprint. $600 for a tent is pushing it. We've enjoyed many nights in far inferior tents. I just don't think I can justify the cost. They do look nice though.

Miles2go

Absolutely. $600 is certainly a lot of money. Few will initially be willing to spend that and many still won't after years of touring. $200 more is easily justified in my mind though, to have something that excels in every functional area and is hand made. This doesn't make $600 any easier to spend for many though. Not when there are plenty of China made tents for a fraction of the cost. I'm speaking primarily of backpacking tents available in the US that have a lot of storage capacity. Otherwise, if you leave most of your gear outside check out Tarptent.

I looked at the Emerald solely from an engineering standpoint since I haven't personally set one up yet. My job is investigating structural, material and procedural failures. Aviation mishaps as the big picture goes. The Emerald isn't billed as a go everywhere tent and I'm sure it has been well tested by BA. It could prove to be awesome in the wind but if I were worried value, I'd find something already proven to take on a far away tour. On that note, I've not looked into touring Iceland. Are you going to be able to stake a tent out easily there? I'm just not sure of what the ground is like.

Did you happen to look at the TAJ 3? It's been around a long time and is a bigger 3-person tent, which should allow you to get all of your gear in except the bikes. No big vestibules though.

Isn't tent shopping for a touring couple fun? I wish you the best of luck finding the right one for you. Keep setting them up and imagining them in use. Remember that REI has a great return policy too so you could set one up in the living room for a few days if need be.

niknak

Another tent that looks promising is the Exped Venus II. The inner tent is smaller but the twin vestibules look enormous. It sets up like the Hillebergs, offers good ventilation and great rain protection. The price is great at $350. The tent seems very similar to the Staika.

Miles2go, since you're the engineer, do you see any flaws with this tent? Backcountry Equipment sells them and has a 30 day return policy so it might be worth ordering one just for inspection.

The Taj 3 looks good, too. I'm worried that entering the tent during a storm may allow rain inside, which is a real pet peeve. I should go back to REI though to do a real inspection.

Bekologist

I'm more of a 'tarp and hide in the woods' type of guy, but these tents from cookecustomsewing certainly get a rave from canoe campers- you could definetly bring your bike into the tent with you... and lightweight!


www.cookecustomsewing.com/lean3.shtml

That being said, I've got a 3 pound Black Diamond Firstlight for when I'm expecting buggy conditions- packs up hella small! and a sub 6 pound tunnel tent (old TNF Westwind) I use for trips on occasion. Last Christmas ride, I brought the Westwind.

I think any old tent you like, with a tarp to pitch over the bike and picnic table if one is available, serves bicycle camping very, very well.

The Smokester

Bek,
Is there mosquito netting on the Lean3? Can't tell from the pictures.

Bekologist

The plus models have mosquito netting. I don't own one, but am considering trying one out.


www.cookecustomsewing.com/lean3.shtml


59 ounces for a 10 foot wide, 10 foot deep, five foot high shelter with mosquito netting is pretty dang nice.