Camping Tent

[crosari2]

Hi! I'm a recent member without long distance touring experience and on the market for a tent. Looking for a 1 or 2 person lightweight. I have read a few reviews on different ones. My only concern is condensation. Any tent out there passing this test?  Open to any guidance or suggestion. Thanks,

Miguel

[Seel]

I purchased an REI Half Dome (http://www.rei.com/product/728308) that has proven to be very reliable. It's a 2 man (really 1 1/2) that has good vestibule space, ventilation and the rain fly is neat. It has vents at the top that you can open to let the air circulate.

I give it a 10. Not the lightest but IMHO sleep comfort is critical when touring so I don't care about the weight of my tent or sleeping bag.

[cyclesafe]

Buy the discontinued Sierra Designs Hyperlite AST 2 man tent from REI-Outlet at a deep discount.  Buy the footprint too.  This tent is awesome.  No complaints after 180 days of bicyle touring.

[ptaylor]

I don't think condensation is a big issue. I think all medium priced tents today will have that problem minimised.

If my 10 year old North Face tent were to self destruct today, I would replace it with one with identical features:
[list=1]

• Two man tent (so I can bring my panniers in at night)
• A vestibule - so I have more room and can leave my wet/dirty stuff outside
• Aluminum poles - they are more durable than fiberglass
• Free standing. Much easier to pitch than one requiring stakes to hold the poles in position

Paul

[bogiesan]

> Looking for a 1 or 2 person lightweight. I have read a few reviews on
different ones. My only concern is condensation. <

Depends on where you are camping and what you want to spend.
Single-wall tents were notorious for condensation a few years ago but
fabric advances have changed that. Mountain Hardware's single-walls
are fabulous. And expensive.

A 1 person tent is way too small for me solo unless I am trying to go
ultralight but UL is a completely different topic.

Almost any tent from a reputable mfr will last many years and
withstand most weather conditions. But if you're biking across
hurricane or tornado country, you need to consider the worst case. It's  
not like camping in southern California.

david boise ID

go, ristretto, FCP/AE
"Read the manual."

[dombrosk]

Specifically on condensation: the MSR Zoid has a unique "Chimney" vent that I've found extremely effective in getting moisture out of my tent... especially when I've been riding all day in the rain and get into the tent with a lot of moisture on me.

I use a Zoid 2 as a one-person tent, and appreciate that the poles break down into segments short enough to fit into my panniers.

[gregg]

Everyone has their own preferences, and there are a lot of good tents out there. My preference is for the MSR Hubba, a one person freestanding tent and rainfly that weighs about 3 pounds. I'm able to fit my panniers under the vestibule, and it is easy to set up and keeps my dry in the rain. I have never gotten condensation in the tent itself, but have seen some on the underside of the rainfly. You should check it out, the two person version is the Hubba Hubba.

[BC]

I started my Northern Tier tour with a 1 person tent from Mountain Hardware, hoping to save weight. Within the first week, I knew I had made a mistake. Very little vestibule space, a door design which guaranteed water in the tent if you opened it while it was raining, and the neccessity to bend like Houdini when you got dressed. I looked at the MSR Hubba Hubba, which is a nice touring tent, but it was a bit high-priced. I ended up with an REI Half-Dome, mentioned above, and I loved it. Very reasonably priced, no condensation woes, dry in heavy downpours, and lots of room. Twin doors and 2 spacious vestibules give you plenty of storage space. Using the footprint, and you can set up the fly and then either pitch or strike the rest of the tent under cover if it's raining. It meets all of Paul's insightful criteria for a good tent, plus it has not one, but two vestibules. It's worth a look.

Stay dry!
BC  

[jnorth]

i use these guidelines when buying & using a new tent:
*fly reaches all the way to the ground
*it has lots of ventilation
*has 1 door if for one person, two doors if for two people
*i replace the factory stakes with good nail pegs, and always carry extras
*treat it lovingly, especially by packing the wet and dirt fly and groundcloth separately
regards-janet

[Bigwavedave]

After my old mid-80s Moss Landing tent died, I bought a Big Agnes tent. It worked for me this summer. Id prefer to have my old Moss Landing tent, though.Happy touring.

[CNC2006]

Miguel,
Hey, lot's of good advice, can't go wrong with any of these tents so far.  

One thought.  If you are going to be riding with someone else along the way, I have found that having 2 doors and 2 vestibules are a god-send.  That way you can: 1)crawl out for that midnight pee without awaking your partner and 2) Have room to keep your gear out of the elements without taking up sleeping space!

The Eureka Apex 2XT fits the bill at a sub $100 price.  I have the 3 man version (Hey, my girlfriend is a princess, and, well, let's just say she's worth the extra weight of the tent!)  

Another great tent in this category is the Kelty Gunnison 2.  It's a bit lighter, looks to be a bit sleeker, and is a bit more expensive.  And, even though you may be able to find it $10 or so cheaper elsewhere, if you buy it from Adventure Cycling the profits go to promote the sport/lifestyle we all enjoy!

Cameron

This message was edited by CNC2006 on 7-24-07 @ 12:42 PM

[MichaelTheWingN]

Condensation means your gear is working and small amounts of it should be expected...The ambient air temperature in your tent will be 10F - 15F warmer then the outside air and will condense on the fly wall...By the tent that works best for you, condensation is normal..

Happy riding!

[Jason]

My two cents:

i went across the southern tier with this one

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1830&prod=3402&cat=1854&viewAll=False

During my trip it rained  - a lot - during some evenings winds over 40/50 miles an hour (Louisana, and east-Texas.)  The tent is light-wieght, easy to set up and the tent material is durable.  The only real concern was the main tent pole, which suffered a break in each of the rivets, not a huge issue if your prepared with a sleeve or the like, but something to consider. 

i ended up giving back the tent west of Austin since it was so dry - just slept in my sleeping-bag.  But when it comes time to go back out on the road in April, I'm going to repurchase the same tent.

Cheers,
j

[paddleboy17]

I tried an MSR Hubba, but my shoulders are too wide.  I have a Big Agnes Seed House.  It is wide enough for me, and I can pack my clothes off to the side.  That way I can dress in the morning with out having to go out and get clothes.  I pretty much just keep my shoes in the vestibule.

[Jesterrider]

Buy the discontinued Sierra Designs Hyperlite AST 2 man tent from REI-Outlet at a deep discount.  Buy the footprint too.  This tent is awesome.  No complaints after 180 days of bicyle touring.


I have used the Sierra Designs Hyperlite on several bike trips and it has been a very good tent.  Plenty of interior space for your clothing and equipment, dry in rain storms, and no condendsation problems.  For the space and features, it is light weight.