Cave

Have a look at www.tarptent.com for some lightweight shelters. I've ordered a double rainbow, will report back when it arrives.

Why is freestanding an issue? Most free standing tents need stakes for stability in the wind anyway. I will admit free standing is easier if you are trying to pitch on sand.

flipped4bikes

Yeah, pimping the tents they have! Actually the only tent I wouldn't get is the Duolite. Duo it's not. And it's not lite, either (neither?).

vik 

I tried a tarptent and had issues with it in high winds. Other people seem to really love them so it is either operator error or they don't camp in windy places like the desert??? They also are not really waterproof - so that in a heavy rain you get a light misting of water on the inside. This isn't a big deal in a short rains torm, but prolonged rain and a down bag would require a cover or waterproof shell on your bag. On the plus side Henry Shires will let you return your tarptent for a full refund in you are not happy with it.

I sold it and bought a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2. I haven't got enough use out of it to comment yet, but it is better in wind/rain than the tarptent, but somewhat heavier and less room. Anyone used the Big Agnes tents and the MSR Hubba Hubba tents that can compare them?

I also bought a Hennessy hammock, but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

I am not stuck on freestanding tents as tunnel tents are a good design for lightweight and interior space. I have rarely been anywhere you can't get some pegs in - especially if you are touring with two bikes - you can just tie off to one at each end. Just make your your tunnel tent has places to guy it out well during high winds.

I also have a bivy sack, but condensation inside it isn't great unless you are camping in a cool dry place and modern tents are starting to get down to bivy weights if two people share one.

Ideally I would like to get shelter weight down to 2lbs for two people including rain and bug protection. I admire the tarp only folks, but I need some bug protection and by the time you get a tarp and bug netting system in place you are nearly at the weight of an ultralight tent.

wheelin

Panic not. I use a Slumberjack bivy shelter, and love it. It now has the hoops replaced with aluminum which makes it even better. I'm certain that you put in a lot of thought when you select the Microlight, so why not enjoy it. Do carry nylon strings of fairly good thickness, and of sufficient length. You can tie the string to anything you can find to anchor the tent to keep it erect, in place of peg. A chair, a table leg, your bike etc will make fairly stable anchor point. I myself prefer to pitch my tent on hard floor with a roof over it. Pavillion? I like. Then I don't have to use the fly, and I hate getting wet.

frost_from_hell

Does anyone use and/or reccomend a Kathmandu Aspre? Here's a link for further details on it: https://www.kathmandu.com.au/14.html?...id=-1504564379

I plan to use it for staying at caravan parks and the like, and I hope to do some summer touring in Germany, maybe Holland as well. The most extreme conditions I expect it will be having beer spilt all over it/in it! Picture this situation:

Raining beer
From an alcoholic sky
Bleeding its malt hops
Baptising my canvas
Now I shall reign in beer!

Bonus points to anyone who recognises the song that I adapted the lyrics from!

Ah, i've been at work too long, and studying too hard! Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I'm thinking of buying this tent whenever Kathmandu have their next sale, and save probably 40-50% on it. Feel free to suggest any other tents that you feel are appropriate for me, but they MUST be able to be purchased locally (don't have credit card). btw i'n not a "weight weenie", i would like my tent to be reasonably lightweight, but I wont double my budget for it to save 150 grams, or anything like that.

Oh yeah, almost forgot to say, said tent needs to accomodate 1 person (me) plus plenty of "stuff", or 2 people plus a bit less "stuff" per person. Cheers!

maximusvt

ANGEL OF DEATH!!!!!

That was the first song of the soundtrack to a loooong ride this weekend. The only way I could get through the wind and up those first 25 miles of big rolling hills was to crank up some SLAYER!!

About the tent, I've never heard of it but it better be good for that price. One very important piece of information is left out and that is weight! what the hell?

frost_from_hell

Oooooh, very close, it's RAINING BLOOD!!!!!!

I reckon that the entire album is awesome, and it sure is great for getting me up long hills and through stiff breezes!

The tent weighs 2.5 kg, according to the catalogue which I have in front of me. I also forgot to mention that the price is in Australian $, so in US$ it would be roughly $340. Hopefully that gets rid of any confusion!

hoogie

hey there F.F.H. ... i have a kathmandu cisalpine which is a good touring tent ... i had a REI nitelite tent, which was a similar tunnel tent to the one you are looking at ...

personally i find the tunnel tents sag during the night, plus being a bigger guy, there wasn't much room to sit up in them, and after spending most of a really wet and windy day in my cisalpine, i can recommend them ... there was ample room in the cisalpine for a 6'4' guy and all my panniers ...
on the back lawn the cisalpine is quite cosy for the same guy, his 14yo daugter and a boxer dog ...

i wouldn't recommend getting the footprint either ... looks really nice, but when it rains lots, the side sof the tent sag in a little and the water runs down the tent, onto the footprint and then under the tent ... i just use a cut off piece of cheap blue tarp as a groundsheet ...