My wife and I have a 4 person tent (Eureka Mountain Pass) we've used for several trips over the past four years. It's served us well, but it weighs in close to 9 pounds. So before I plop down even more money on gear this year, how small becomes too small for a wedded couple? Is any 2 person too small for a couple to share for a week or two on tour? Is a 3 man tent the way to go for a little extra room. The lightest traditional tents at a reasonable cost appears to be the Eureka Pinnacle Pass line. A three man under 6 pounds costs some money and I'm not sure 3 pounds is worth spending well over $300 at this point (though the pinnacle pass is close to 6 for under $150).

I can't tell you about a married couple, but me and my dad use an older northface 3 man tent (It was very high end in the day, probably 6-7lbs). Fits us (200+ lbs 6'3"-6'4") and our stuff.
My two person (sierra designs) i use for solos wouldn't fit me and a small child, but then, i'm big.
I'd definitly go 3 person. I wouldn't spend double to loose a pound or two.
I'll tell you, i notice the difference between my two tents with a 2-3lb difference.

i agree with nm+ ...
i have a lightweigt 2 man tent, and it gets very cosy even with just me and my gear, let alone my daughter and i ...
i would suggest a 3 man tent, and a pound or two of weight is neither here now there ... you will lose this off the body on tour anyway ... more important considerations are layout, ease of putting up, waterproof, wind resistance, etc ...

i am thinking of getting one of these, which has a 'garage' for the bike as well ... protects the bike from foul weather, and also away from prying eyes ... it is only 200gms more than my current 2 man tent ...


would your next tent be better classified as a 1 man and 1 woman tent, or a 1 man, 1 woman and 1 spare tent?

https://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=488

If I had something as fancy as that I'd move into it and ditch my $$$ apartment.

I've got a Force Ten Serac 2:3 it's an awsome tent give it look. www.forcetentents.com/

I was looking at this tent on ebay.. The packed weight was just under 5 pounds and packed dimensions were 27x4x4.. This would be considered a lightweight summer tent. Here is the link

https://cgi.ebay.com/Bivy-Tent-3-LBS-...QQcmdZViewItem

I use the REI Half Dome 2+, it can get a little cozy, but really isn't too bad at all for a 2 person backpacking tent. We have never had any problems with it either, sheds rain well and has good ventilation.

+1! I was going to pimp this tent first, but you beat me to it. Weighs only about 5 lbs, very good headroom. usable space in all four corners, a vestibule entrance for each person. We were camping in a torrential downpour, and not one leak! And you can just use the fly in conjunction with the footprint. Easy to set up and take down. Inexpensive, and did I mention that we love it?

Just me $0.02. The tent referenced on ebay would be a real adventure in a heavy rain storm. I would not give up an Eureka for that one. It may well be lighter, but I doubt it's made well. If you shop around you can get a very servicable tent for under $150 from REI, campmor and the like.

As half of a married couple, the half that does not snore and is a very light sleeper, I would go with two tents . Go with the three person tents, you will thank me when it rains and you sit there for a day or two. Not a couple? Put the dunnage between the two of you. Sloping ground? Bags and stuff on the downhill side.

I use a Inyo 2-person.

Weighs in at 4 lbs, and keeps me (6'3" 220) and my equipment cozy and dry.

We are currently on tour (drying out at the public library in Anacortes, Washington) and we've been using our MSR Velo in the rain the last few days.

After a few days of showers I have to say I love this tent. The extra large vestabule is great for all the bags and still leaves room to boil water for tea in the morning. When we leave the tent to go about town we can zip the bikes under the vestabule.

We purchased ours on eBay.

You're in anacortes atm? Where you headed? I'm there right now and heading out on the northern tier on Wed.

My partner and I use a Salewa Sierra Leone which is a 2 person tent but is quite spacious. It's easy to set up and performs very well in wet and windy conditions. If we collapse our Burley Nomad trailer we can store it, and our panniers, in the vestibules leaving plenty of room for us inside with our sleeping bags, clothes etc. I've also had excellent customer service from Salewa.

When I've solo toured with a single man tent I've always felt really crowded and I now chose a 2-man tent for solo trips. Figure that the panniers and all that extra [wet] bike gear is equivilent to another person.

I finally had a chance to set up the REI Half Dome 2+HC I bought during their dividend sale. I haven't had a chance to use actually use it in the wild, but here are my impressions while putting it up in my back yard.

1. Assembly was easy. I liked the screen printed instructions on the tent bag.
2. Putting the fly on was a little clutzy. After setting the tent up, you lay the fly over the tent and then remove the pole from the grommet on the tent tab to thread the fly grommet through the pole. But once attached, the fly is as secure as can be.
3. 42 inches of headroom. You can sit up inside the tent.
4. Seems spacious for a 2 person tent.
5. Has mesh pockets in the corners and a gear loft on the ceiling.
6. The rainfly has top vents that can be propped up with velcro tabs.
7. There are tie backs for the rainfly and screen doors for increased ventilation.

All in all, a very refined tent. Its worth the investment. I'll be using it on the bikenorthwoods tour in a few weeks. I can give a report on how I like it after a week of set ups and tear downs.

Michael

Yeah, but would you feel comfortable using it with your significant other for two weeks straight, or would it get cramped in there?

Mmmmmmmm. MSR Velo. Mmmmmmmmm. Me want.

I've used mine on 4 day backpacking trips and bike tours with my girlfriend and it has been fine, no problems at all. The two doors make it nice so you can enter and exit without crawling over anybody.

I suppose if you where couped up in the tent for two weeks straight, it would get cramped pretty quick. But since you're only using the tent for sleeping, it wouldn't be so bad.

The Half dome 2+HC is 54x90 inches, roughly the size of a double bed. I wouldn't have a problem sleeping that close to my SO. While we haven't slept together in this tent yet, the tent we use for car camping is a Eureka Sunrise 9. It has 108x108 inch floor and the four of us (2 adults x 2 kids) sleep side by side without any problem. We're thinking of replacing that tent with another Half dome so both us and the kids have separate tents.

An added bonus on the Half Dome is that it has door on either side, so you can enter and exit without disturbing the other person.

Michael

I was leaning toward finding a three man, but now you've got me thinking two again and I'll never make up my mind... thanks a lot!

You won't only be sleeping in it. You will also be hiding from the weather in it at times, as well as other unexpected stops. An extra pound on a bike makes no difference. Get the extra space. You'll both be glad.

Light Wedge™ tents are simple backpacking tents for two or three. Featuring Mountain Hardwear’s patented tension shelf for strength and storage, the 70D nylon and mesh canopy has a single, D-shaped door, two mesh ceiling vents and one rear vent. Atlas 7001 poles are strong and light. Guaranteed watertight construction. Superlight option: pitch with fly and Pitch Light™ footprint to shave pounds. Footprint sold separately.

Capacity

3

Minimum Weight

6.31 lb / 2.86 kg

Packaged Weight

7.23 lb / 3.28 kg

MSRP: $225.00

I've used this one for three-four months at a time...Mud,Snow,Gully-Washin Rain Storms you name it! and I've had Eureka,North Face,Serria Designs,Three Season,Four Season,Ect. Take a look at this one!

I use a Bibler Ahwahnee that's a few years old. It's a single walled tent and weighs 7 pounds packed. It's also incredibly expensive. The single wall design means there isn't a rain fly and the bottom is completely sealed. There are only two long poles and one bridge pole which are trivial to setup even in a storm. There is space for two people and gear. It's worth the price for my wife and I because it's eliminated any "discussion" after a long day on the bikes about setting it up. It only takes one person and about three minutes.
I do like the garage on the MSR velo a lot though.