I am thinking of riding to London this Summer (260 miles, about 50-60 miles a day). I am considering buying a tent/sleeping bag to stay in as the B+B’s will be quite expensive once they stack up over 4-5 days, may as well buy the kit instead.
I’d like something that isn’t tiny, nothing ultralight/thin etc – I’m not a minimalist. Basically something of decent quality, has a bit of room to store stuff in (just me in a 2 man?), is reasonably light and durable and stands up well to the weather.
I have a tempest. Its quite a nice tent and it handles a weather bomb admirably. But if you are tall you’ll not be sitting upright which would be tiresome.
Its a vango mirage i have which is the tent they are showing in the first pic.
Someone will come along and say cheap tents are rubbish and not seam taped. It is and its withstood wind and rain that I genuinely thought would see it fail.
5.7 you’ll be grand plenty of space in the inner and the porch. The porch entirely folds into the wee triangular peak away too if the the weather is nice.
Pick one of these up very cheaply. Will be ideal. At around 6ft, I used it to make my weary way from South of France to UK. I found it a tad short but for you there will be loadsa space.
Decathlon do a good range of lightweight tents or some of the Vango ones aimed at backpackers.
I think Alpkit are launching a new range at the end of the week so you may want to look at that.
I use a Lunar Solo tarptent from the states. It’s a cracking tent but a bit pricey and you need to get it shipped over. Plenty of room for one person though.
I wouldn’t discount the lightweight side of things. If you save a kilo on a light tent – that’s the equivalent of a summer bag and an air mat.
For my setup, I have the Lunar Solo, a NeoAir X Lite mat and a cheap Lifeventure summer sown bag (replacing it this year with am ultralight quilt). Tent and mat in the seatpost bag, sleeping bag and clothes in the handlebar dry bag. Tools, tubes in the frame bag and a bum bag/waist pack carrying electricals, cycle jacket, wallet etc:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/o6Ad7W]IMAG0312[/url] by DKNWHY, on Flickr
My tent is on the left:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/o6pGye]IMG_1192[/url] by DKNWHY, on Flickr
Not cheap but get a hilleberg. Me and my brother used one on our France/Spain bike tour and it’s exceptional. Light and small in pack size yet a good size when up with a porch for storage. We have had ours for probably a good 7 years now and it is just like new aside from a few replaced guy ropes. The quality is much better that cheaper stuff we had before but it has outlasted everything before to the point where it has paid for itself.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ccswjd]P1040204[/url] by ScotRoutes, on Flickr
Double doors/porch so always somewhere sheltered for cooking and another porch for wet gear storage. And when it’s warm, open both for good ventilation.
It’s about 1 1/2 man-width so loads of space inside too
Proper double-skin tent for best ventilation and waterproofing.
We have a hilleberg staika. Self standing means easy to erect on any site. Very easy to put up, very good quality. Expensive, but very pleased with it.
I had a Vando Helium and that was ace but died in the summer. I haven’t replaced it yet but I’ve basically narrowed it down to a Terra Nova Polar Micro 2.
I wanted something slightly bigger than the helium but that was <2kg and had short pole sections (i.e. would fit inside a frame traingle). This was the best I could find with going Hillberg sort of money.
I’ve been using a Terra Nova Laser for a few years, good balance between packed size and inside space. I believe they do it now as a Wild Country model now, bit cheaper and heavier. [url=https://flic.kr/p/o42ENq]
P1030125[/url] by pickers48, on Flickr
How about a Wild Country Zephros 2 xl lite? I got one last year and its been great. Big for one person,light enough, and a half decent packed size.
Heres a couple of pics,with a mat to give rough idea of size.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/oL7CLj]SAM_0566[/url] by philipdixon36, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ovENHm]SAM_0567[/url] by philipdixon36, on Flickr
EDIT. A quick google search doesnt show much available any more,only saw one place and that was £230 🙁 ,perhaps they stopped doing them for some reason.
Highly recommend Hilleberg – we (2 people) used a 3-person one for two years’ cycling in Africa and it’s still going strong. Lightweight for the size/durability/function/waterproofness too. They’re not cheap though, but well worth it if you can afford the price.
Terra Nova are a little cheaper and also make very good tents.
Plenty of cheap rubbish around too which will be fine for most purposes but will be relatively heavy and not last as long. Bit like bikes really.
Cheap, but good! Vango banshee. Waaaay better than the £62 in sales cost suggests.
If you can find one, they also used to make an Apex model, that was cheap, small and you could sit upright in, but maybe not full on mountain tent.
Terra Nova Superlite Voyager here – palatial for 1 – tight squeeze for 2. Weighs nowt but well tough – I’ve had it out in some proper mountain weather – none of yer campsites – and it stands up well.
Heavy or cold weather – Hilleberg Soulo. Heavier than the Voyager but absolutely bomber any time any weather any place..
North Face Tadpole. Its a 2 person tent, but I use it on my own for touring, plenty of space for me and all of my stuff. And its high enough to sit up inside. Has coped fine with plenty of wind and rain. Plus it can be set up freestanding (without any pegs) if necessary.
That North Face one is £200. I ain’t got that sort of cash. Less than £100 really.
I don’t have a sleeping bag and mat either so it’s gonna be a big outlay even at the cheap end. I do like the look of those sleeping blankets, I can’t stand those mummy bags and I’m not a fan of the square ones either, too restrictive.
I’m not going mega lightweight or off-road, using a proper touring bike.
I have a Tempest too. Decent tent for the price, and squeezes nicely on to a pannier rack. Was thinking of replacing it with something smaller though, as I originally thought along the same lines as yourself, but in practice, for what I’ve used it for, it seems overkill. It is a good size though. Comfortable.
More to give you an idea of what’s available really. Weight is going to be the issue with any tent on a bike and as ever less is more (money).
Marko
I know you can spend any money you want to on a tent. My original post asked if a £80 tent is any good. Recommending a £400 is kinda missing the point.
TNF Solo 12. Weighs 1kg, single skin, surprisingly good in strong winds especially given I never use the guys. Obviously no room for cooking, it’s well vented, but you’ll need them open all the time or else it gets a little clammy. £85 from cotswold on offer iirc.
Terra Nova Laser Competetion.
The one with two doors.
More than five years use and no tears or damage. Recommended
P.S I got a second from Terra Nova for £195.
I’ve got a Gelert Solo and for £30 its amazing.
Its in one of the pictures near the start. Around 1.3kg I think. Pegs can be changed to drop the weight further if needed. It’s not bulky and easily fits between the hoods on a road bike.