Author Topic: shelter  (Read 24087 times)

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Offline jlsccjan

shelter
« on: June 19, 2005, 11:49:10 pm »
Does anybody have any recommendations for a good, light weight, roomy tent for easy carrying on a touring bike?

Jan


Offline annie

shelter
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2005, 04:38:54 am »
How lightweight and what size tent are you looking for? Freestanding or not? I just bought a Sierra Designs 2-person Electron tent. I've used it twice now and it rocks!!!! I am totally happy with it. Lightweight (less than 6 lbs.), easy set-up. Room for two people. PLENTY of room for one! I am carrying it in my BOB trailer, but you could fit it on the back rack of a touring bike. Poles are not short enough to fit in panniers. There are so many good tents out there. Decide what your requirements are and look around till you find one that meets them.

annie


Offline FrankN

shelter
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2005, 08:03:06 pm »
Annie,  Just read your posting about the Sierra Design Electron tent.  I'm looking for a good tent myself and was wondering how it held up in the rain and/or humidity.  We plan on doing a tour in humid conditions if not alot of rain and would appreciate the feedback.  Thanks


Offline VTonWheels

shelter
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2005, 09:11:31 pm »
I have a mountain hardwear approach tent - under 5 lbs., double wall, and its well ventilated, easy to set up, and packs down in under 5 minutes. it does have a small vestibule, but most light tents do.

not to insult anyone elses gear, but i have heard about quality isses with Sierra Designs tents, esp. in regards to leaky floors.


Offline jlsccjan

shelter
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2005, 02:52:37 am »
Thanks for the answers. I would have replied sooner but I was having trouble with cookies or something. Anyway, We are looking for something that has a pack size of less than 20 inches, and the more area the better. I was looking at a Sierra Designs AST, but now I am leaning more toward a Mountain Hardware Mountain Jet. We are new to riding and are planning our dream trip even though we can't ride that far yet. We have to work up to it.  We will probably have a trailer for the long trips, but want to accomodate shorter trips without as well.
By the way, that floor leaking you were mentioning - was that with or without a foot print?

Jan


Offline TheDaltonBoys

shelter
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2005, 12:21:36 pm »
Copius application of seam sealer will make all but Wal-Mart cheapos a good tent. Are you near an REI, or EMS? Look in your yellow pages under camping/hiking equpiment. As others have written, 6 lbs. and less is the optimal weight. I have a Kelty one person that is 4 lbs and change and I know could handle two people. You can go palacial, but you've got to haul the weight. Enjoy the voyage - Mark of the Dalton boys


Offline VTonWheels

shelter
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2005, 02:02:21 pm »
Seam sealer will keep the floor from leaking, if you do it on an annual basis. However, it tends to be one of those things that people space after the first year they own their tent, and they realize they forgot to do it when they are swimming in the first storm of the season.

regarding the airjet - historically single walled tents do not fair well in humid environments because they do not breathe well enough, although the airjet seems to be well ventilated, i would seek some reviews on it in this regard. Being on the east coast, humidity is always a concern for me.



Offline dombrosk

shelter
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2005, 05:58:13 pm »
I'm very happy with my MSR Zoid 2 tent.  I like a roomy tent, so I use the 2-person tent for one person.  They also make Zoid bivies, solos, and "1.5" size tents.
Not free-standing, though that's never kept me from setting up (yet...)
I especially like the fact that the poles go into pieces short enough to fit into my panniers.
Happy Camping!


Offline scott.laughlin

shelter
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2005, 02:16:17 am »
Hi,

I bought a Kelty ZEN about five years ago.  It weights about 3 pounds and serves me well on both bike, as well as motorcycle tours.  No leaks and easy and quick to set up.  It's also cool if you want to leave off the rain fly.


Offline annie

shelter
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2005, 03:02:56 am »
To whoever asked about the Sierra Designs Electron tent I mentioned.......... I can't really answer your questions about how it holds up in rain. Haven't had it out in any bad weather yet. It's got a bathtub floor. Came with a footprint. I've seam-sealed all the seams. I am hoping  for the best. As for humid conditions, it does well if you leave the vestibules slightly open.

annie


Offline Styx

shelter
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2005, 08:14:40 am »
If your budget is slim get a Coleman Dome tent. Dimensions are 6'L x 5'W x 4'H. Cost is under $43.00
and you can probably find it even cheaper. Weight is
4 1/2 lbs. I have used one for 9+ years w/o a problem.
Be sure to seal the seams. Amazon has it on sale for
$29.99 right now.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000ASET3/sr=1-1/qid=1121846550/ref=sr_1_1/002-3500553-0125631?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3401821&s=sporting-goods&v=glance

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9556-605K&categoryid=11060

If you are small, Amazon even sells a smaller dome tent
made by Spartan Sprots for $24.99.

Turns out Amazon has loads of nice cheap tents.


Offline ldtuttle

shelter
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2005, 12:27:13 am »
I've used the North Face Tadpole 23, and found it to be great on a lot of counts.  Light weight, roomy, well-designed....


Offline jack

shelter
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2005, 03:40:45 pm »
I bought a North Face 2 person about 2 years ago and I was so dissapointed.  Paid 300 bucks too and it leaks even after the sealing paste was applied to the fly.


Offline SoNouveau

shelter
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2005, 03:59:48 am »
For what it's worth, Sierra Designs has been making tents for a LONG time and they constantly win awards. Your choice of tent, though, depends A LOT on the weather you think you'll encounter. I just purchased a Sierra Designs Lightning tent for a two month trip across the U.S. next summer--but that'll be July and August. It's lightweight (4 lbs., 2 oz, total), has lots of room for just me, pitches FAST (has just two poles), and it's a nice color (i.e., it doesn't scream, Look at me!!! I'm camping over here!!!!) (LOL), etc.

Too, I've owned a Mountain Hardwear tent (several years ago) and it was great. I used it for backpacking. It was rock solid and sat like a stone in even very high winds! Just FYI.

www.campmor.com sells tents at reasonable prices, their shipping rates are reasonable ($6.95, I think!?!?), and they have "Web Bargains" where you might luck out and find the tent you've decided on for 30-40% off.

Good luck!

PS I'd think a lot about the weather, though, and the amount of room inside the tent--as much as I would the length, etc.


Offline erniegrillo

shelter
« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2005, 07:27:54 pm »

On our 2 week Pacific Coast tour and on a 12 Day Mt Rainier back packing trip we used an REI half dome plus. It was rated a best buy by Backpacker Magazine. Easy to set up, dual vestibules, dual doors, under 6 pounds and compact. It also has clear windows which helps brighten the interior. It's weathered some wicked rainstorms and has remained dry inside..I heartily recommend it.