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I'm heading off on a 5-7 day bikepacking trip with a pal next month. He's not got a tent but I've got a few, so I've got two options:
- Share a 3-man tent between us
- A tent each
There's no appreciable difference in volume and weight between the two options. We're going to using the one stove so there's a convenience benefit to #1. But with #2 we get our own space and increase the chances of preserving our friendship.
WWSTD?
If the combined weight/volume is the same, I'd go tent each. But it will probably warmer sharing.
But it will probably warmer sharing.
Especially if you spoon
No way. Tent each. 😀
it is not going to be cold in August (assuming UK!)
Apparently there's been an influx of these 'tenting' videos on Xhamster and PornHub following Glastonbury. Go for it!
Depends on your diets....
And quicker to get one tent up in a hurry if it's raining hard
I wont willingly share a bedroom even with the Mrs nowadays except for romantic reasons so it would be tent each for me. Less arguments and better sleep.
Don't see what's wrong with sharing, personally (if it's with a mate, not some randomer).
Are you hoping to 'stealth camp'? If so, one tent needs a smaller area and is less conspicuous than two. Also, quicker and less faff to pack away.
No problem with either approach. Last time I toured (yeah, pre-bikepacking...) me and a mate shared a TNF Tadpole, a v light but ok for space 2 man tent. I would go for whatever is the lightest/smallest set up. A 3 man tent doesn't sound that light/small?
What are your individual tent options? Have you got a stash of ultralight 1 man tents?
Tent each.
Snoring.
Farting.
Smelly kit.
Pee bottle.
I can put with my own but don't enjoy others doing them.
Tent each. Room to unpack, room to sleep nekkid on top of your sleeping bag if it's a warm night. Not elbowing each other in the face, not trying to dress/undress while remaining in a single dimension...
not trying to dress/undress while remaining in a single dimension…
😂 I have never heard this so perfectly described before
Apparently there’s been an influx of these ‘tenting’ videos on Xhamster and PornHub following Glastonbury. Go for it!
"Apparently"...??!! So you've heard?
Depends on your diets….
Good point...vegan, so plenty of fibre...gulp!
Less arguments and better sleep.
This is what I'm worried about really. Also, we're both over 50 so frequent night time trips to empty the bladder are going to occur. Two tents it is!
What are your individual tent options? Have you got a stash of ultralight 1 man tents?
Doesn't everyone here? I thought you had to demonstrate that, along with proof of a wood-burner and a career in IT before approving your membership? But no, I've got a cheap Naturehike tent - the Taga I think - which weighs just over a kilo, a Nemo Dagger 3p which is about 2.5kg with the ground sheet, and a Durston X-Mid2, because the Nemo was just a bit too bulky for me and the missus to go hiking with - she only agrees to go if all she has to carry is her sleeping bag and clothes.
Impressive stash of lightweight tents!
Well either option is pretty light then. Have a good trip.
bivybag each?
Spent a night on Snowdon summit in a '2 man'* tent with a mate a few years ago. We were doing the Welsh 3000s/14 peaks. He's a big old snorey unit and l discovered , a restless, mobile sleeper. We were up at about 03:30 to start - I'd had zero sleep. I've done a few multi day walking/wild camping trips since. I always sleep in my own tent now. I'd never contemplate sharing again.
*Lies
Jesus, this place sometimes, it’s worse than a school. Brokeback Mountain eh! How homophobic of you. Grow up
Really? 🙄
Christ [s] on a bike! [/s] in a tent!
I can't believe you even need to ask.
Sharing a tent with me would fall under the UN definition of 'cruel and unusual torture'
when bike packing i apply the rules of - self sufficient.
At least if you both have the kit - theres less chance you'll have a fully miserable night .
"can i get the tent poles" "you have the tent poles though i have the XX.." - No one had the tent poles.
Separate tents. I'm amazed this is even a question.
OK. I'll bite. What is a "tenting" video?
5-7 day bikepacking trip
Tent each, it's a bit of personal space for either of you, after each full day stuck with each other. And you're going to be together for the best part of a week. Don't underestimate the value of personal space.
I've done it both ways (throws in a quick oo err missus) the only real downside of two tents can be finding adequate space to pitch. Two tents need a lot more space than one slightly larger tent.
Having had to share with snorers before, I have my own tent and it is pitched far enough away from anyone else for snoring to not be an issue.
Having had to share with snorers before, I have my own tent and it is pitched far enough away from anyone else for snoring to not be an issue
Foam earplugs work a treat. Though as someone who has been accused (unfairly I might add) of snoring like an asthmatic wildebeest, possibly in my nostrils as well as my ears.
I used to share 2-man tents with mates as a much younger man, because we were poor and didn't have many options. I wouldn't do it now though!
“can i get the tent poles” “you have the tent poles though i have the XX..” – No one had the tent poles.
We did exactly that at a Polaris challenge. No poles, no pegs. Amazingly we asked around and found someone who had previously broken a tent pole and replaced it but inadvertently left the broken one in their bag. With the broken section removed it was just about the right size for our single hoop tent. I whittled pegs from sticks with a multi tool.
Though as someone who has been accused (unfairly I might add) of snoring like an asthmatic wildebeest, possibly in my nostrils as well as my ears.
Last time I slept alongside someone who resembled that comment, it was in a cave...an echoing cave I may add. Never again.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49547386016_ed1fcb64bc_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49547386016_ed1fcb64bc_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iukiE9 ]Lacy Caves[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Having spent a stupid portion of my adult holidays in hostels with randomers..... I'd definitely go for a tent each, especially for multiple nights!</p>
Edit ffs mods can we please get rid of whatever new formatting buttons get randomly pressed please!!!
Same as molgrips, in my youth it wasn't an issue, always shared. Now I'm older I prefer to have my own space / tent. I still sometimes happily share (with ear plugs) in circumstances that are obviously better to share. However Mostly it's about me knowing I probably now snore, I'd rather relax and sleep in whatever position I can best get a sleep, rather than worrying I'm keeping a pal awake and trying to not snore and not be lying in a snoring position. Even when we rent a house, I now prefer to move a mattress out of a twin room and sleep in the lounge or kitchen to get a good night's sleep rather than stressing about snoring (them or me).
Tents? Not single glamping cabins? 😆
if you are bikepacking with that person, you are spending all the time with them - even with a mate there is the risk of getting on each others nerves, especially when tired hangry - tent each gives both of you a mental break
Tent each.
And quicker to get one tent up in a hurry if it’s raining hard
Bevis and Butthead had an episode on pitching a tent if you search on YouTube.
I would go for a tent each, but does anyone have any tips for sharing a tent when there's no option? I'm doing a trip next year where tents are provided, and no chance of taking my own as luggage is limited by the capacity of the aircraft.
I would go for a tent each, but does anyone have any tips for sharing a tent when there’s no option?
- Opposite sex
- Very attractive
- Fertile
- 'Clean' - ahem
- Accomodating
No issues sharing... 🙃
Otherwise? No thanks unless hanging off something that requires minimal packweight and footprint which is highly unlikely these days.
does anyone have any tips for sharing a tent when there’s no option?
Earplugs.
If you’re sharing a tent, put some bags down the middle so you’re not breathing in each other’s faces.
Overall I'd probably go tent each.
However, a larger single tent could give more usable inside room, for sitting in if it rains. And/or room in porch for gear or cooking. But that depends on what type of tent it is.
It can be pretty grim holed up in a confined 1-manner for extended periods of time to keep out of the weather.
Me & Mrs bought a super light 3 manner which has plenty of inside room recently, for this reason. It's pallatial.
Another alternative to that is 2x 1-manners and a tarp to sit under. That's probably best.
@Greybeard - Something with a square footprint works best, that way you can sleep like sardines.
Earplugs.
TBH, that applies whether one tent or two.
A couple of layers of thin cloth won't spare you from a snorer (unless there's 100 yards between them).
Top tip for sharing: keep your sh!t together on 'your' side, rather than letting it spread around the whole tent.
I'm still somewhat bemused at the reaction against sharing... If you're forced inside, a slightly bigger tent, where two of you can sit up comfortably and cook / play cards has got to be a better place to be than individual 'canvas coffins'.
so frequent night time trips to empty the bladder are going to occur.
You could always pull the Spike Milligan hopepipe hack
I’m still somewhat bemused at the reaction against sharing… If you’re forced inside, a slightly bigger tent, where two of you can sit up comfortably and cook / play cards has got to be a better place to be than individual ‘canvas coffins
Solitaire
Solitaire
And pocket billiards
Jesus, this place sometimes, it’s worse than a school. Brokeback Mountain eh! How homophobic of you. Grow up
What's homophobic about it?
If the suggestion was made that a bloke and a woman might get cosy when sharing a tent with a film reference would you be kicking off, or are you looking for reasons to be offended?
Tents up now, bunks up later
Something with a square footprint works best, that way you can sleep like sardines.
Thanks. Unfortunately the tents already exist, but I understand they're 3-person, so probably square-ish. Overnight temperature will be below freezing so hopefully there will be a warmth benefit to sharing. I will be taking earplugs.
I'm gobsmacked at the suggestion there is something "odd" about 2 blokes sharing a tent.
I’m gobsmacked at the suggestion there is something “odd” about 2 blokes sharing a tent.
Same here but given all the juvenile jokes about Brokeback Mountain etc it's not that surprising
Nothing odd about it at all.
Most of us have shared tents multiple times. I certainly have.
A lot of threads on here get their fair share of pisstaking.
That's all I and some others were doing.
Apologies for going about it badly and offending some.
Wasn't my intention.
This is 2023. Banter was banned around the time of the Great Hack.
Separate.
A 3 man tent doesn’t sound that light/small?
for some manufacturers a ‘3 man’ tent is only 10cm wider than their ‘2 man’ version. So not really a great deal more weight or bulk (or space)
Went camping last weekend with a couple of pals and we shared a 5 man tent. Those two in the main bit, me in the other half. TBH one of the lads is a bit of a fun sponge these days and after going to bed early spent the next few hours tutting at us for not being boring so tent each would be my choice if I wasn't buying a van.
TBH could be handy having 2 separates, just in case one fails or has missing parts.
I’d also say that something you’d laugh and endure for a night is different if you have to do it for a week and could ruin a friendship/holiday.
You don’t have to put both up,try one and take it from there.
Hmm as an aside I wonder how many people have actually watched brokeback mountain from start to finish on here 🙂
I would maybe consider sharing if it was just for one night* but for several days no chance, for all the reasons everybody else has mentioned.
*last time I did this with anyone other than MrsSalmon was on Snowdon doing the same as blokeuptheroad - I did get some sleep though!
Spent a night on Snowdon summit in a ‘2 man’* tent with a mate a few years ago. We were doing the Welsh 3000s/14 peaks. He’s a big old snorey unit and l discovered , a restless, mobile sleeper. We were up at about 03:30 to start – I’d had zero sleep. I’ve done a few multi day walking/wild camping trips since. I always sleep in my own tent now. I’d never contemplate sharing again.