Lightweight tent

sian_c

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a lightweight 2-person tent that's good for cycle touring? Weight as well as ease of putting up are the key factors.

Thanks!

rjh299

I've got a Terra Nova Voyager Superlight. Decent sized two man tent that's easy enough for me to put up (that's saying something). Quite bit of money but quality that will last.

amaferanga

Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2. About 1.5kg and almost free standing. It does seem to have gone up in price quite a bit though - I paid less than £200 for mine in 2007.

bobhitch

Sian ,
I bought a Hillebertg nallo GT2 last year which is has plenty of space for 2 and we use the porch area for storing our panniers etc under cover
It is v.light ,and appears well made, Ben Fogle and James Cracknell used the 4 man version when they did their trek to the south pole, so I imagine it will withstand a bit of bike touring!!
The down side is that it is expensive , but if you are planning on giving it lots of use it could be a worthwhile investment.

Happy camping Bob

hisoka

Wild Country DuoliteTourer is what i have gone for, someone cycle touring on the forums has bought and they said it was great so I had to go for it too. It is so easy to put up and so much space but still a good weight. Not too bad on price, not dirt cheap but not expensive I think.

mea00csf

we also went for the WildCountry Duolite Tourer. For the price (we found it to be much cheaper than any other comparable tent) it's been excellent and isn't too heavy and is very easy to put up. the only thing i would say is don't expect to be able to get your bike in the porch area as some of the layouts show. If you had a small bike, and it was just you, you'd probably fit it in, but not xl bikes and def not 2 bikes

ralex

bobhitch wrote:

Sian ,
I bought a Hillebertg nallo GT2 last year which is has plenty of space for 2 and we use the porch area for storing our panniers etc under cover
It is v.light ,and appears well made, Ben Fogle and James Cracknell used the 4 man version when they did their trek to the south pole, so I imagine it will withstand a bit of bike touring!!
The down side is that it is expensive , but if you are planning on giving it lots of use it could be a worthwhile investment.

Happy camping Bob

They actually used Nanok tents on the South Pole expedition : http://www.nanok.no/engelsk/

JabbaTheHut

I bought a Hillebertg nallo GT2 last year which is has plenty of space for 2 and we use the porch area for storing our panniers etc under cover
It is v.light ,and appears well made, Ben Fogle and James Cracknell used the 4 man version when they did their trek to the south pole, so I imagine it will withstand a bit of bike touring!!
The down side is that it is expensive , but if you are planning on giving it lots of use it could be a worthwhile investment.

I also have a Nallo GT2 as a recommendation as a cycle touring tent, and I cannot recommend it enough its light, Strong, quick to erect :shock: and spacious. If you buy the GT version i.e. extended vestibule you can fit in two bikes in without their wheels, my only gripe is they should provide a compression sack with it because the tent itself can pack down pretty small but the the sack provided is massive! However its defiantly a worth while investment

VirtualCyclist

BobHitch and Jabba The Hut,

Some user reviews of the Hellebert nallo suggested that there is a problem with condensation - have you found this the case?

takeonafrica

MSR Hubba Hubba HP.
10months in Africa and still going strong. I bought it for £100 second hand off e-bay - not sure what their price is new.
1.8kg, similar to the Big Agnes Seedhouse in design - free-standing (i've done away with the pegs), inner-only pitching possible. entry on both sides good if 2-people using it with good porch space for gear. if alone - plenty of room inside for both you and all your gear (except bike of course!).

because lightweight, the materials used may not be very hard-wearing so i am careful when pitching to avoid rips/tears - but so far no problems.

all-in-all very happy with it. for africa and relatively fair weather would definitely go for same again. if expecting frequent adverse weather might fore-go the lightweight advantage and pick something stronger.

dilemna

sian_c wrote:

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a lightweight 2-person tent that's good for cycle touring? Weight as well as ease of putting up are the key factors.

Thanks!

Another one who posts questions but doesn't have the decency to watch their thread and make follow up posts thanking those for contributing. And no budget :roll: .

bobhitch

Virtual cyclist,
I've never had a problem with condensation in the nallo and have found it to be a brilliant tent as it is v.light and easy to assemble/take down , although I would agree with the point of it being supplied in a compression bag as it fits easily into the supplied bag ,although this may be to do with the risk of the tent poles bending out of shape if they are squashed too tight!!

ralex

I think I read somewhere that Hilleberg supply oversize bags for their tents to make it easier to pack them in extreme conditions wearing gloves etc.
But yes it would be good if they had compression straps attached.
I guess you could easily sew some straps on.

jc4lab

.Anyone ever been cycling just using a bivvy..?Paid a lot of money for one but aint used it yet.Are you better off taking a tent despite the increase in weight and size

RonL

I use a bivvy frequently from May to late September. Weather and security are the main considerations. More suited to remoter locations but you can use anywhere with caution. You need to be flexible, to use other accommodation, security is obviously poor for the remainder of your kit when asleep or doing domestics so being organised is important. I have a long cable lock which secures everything together, then to the bike. In formal campsites they raise curious looks but also stimulate conversation.
On a long tour I take my Hilleberg Alto single, which can get two slim people in end to end and with space for the kit. Tight but cosy for a couple of nights !!
From the 'thread' condensation is an issue for all tents depending on the outside temperature and wind direction speed. I purchsed my Hilleberg two years ago and can't fault it. Superb construction, ventilation and attention to detail. A little heavier than some alternatives and more expensive but well worth it -- providing you use it often. I expect the nallo would be similar.

jc4lab

Thanks for sharing that...My local shop also sells two person bivvys.Has anyone ever used one of these?

Tail end Charlie

I use a Robert Saunders Spacepacker plus Mk1 tent. It is very roomy and flexible as it has doors at both ends. I generally use one door and store my kit in the space near the other door.

scally56

A mate of mine did LEJOG with a bivvy, he had no problems. I'd say don't use an Alpkit one as you'll want a "porch" so you can chill out and read etc.

Simon

andrew_s

jc4lab wrote:

.Anyone ever been cycling just using a bivvy..?Paid a lot of money for one but aint used it yet.Are you better off taking a tent despite the increase in weight and size

With a bivvy, the vulnerable period is when getting into it or out of it. If there's heavy rain, it's not really possible to get unpacked, undressed, and into the bivvy without getting your sleeping bag fairly damp.
In my case, that was find a good pub, find a nice bivvy spot 1/4 mile up the road, return to the pub, and emerge after dark into a thunderstorm.

To be sure of additional shelter, you'd have to take a small tarp, plus guys and pegs, but if you do that there's not much if any weight advantage over a small tent. There's still some benefit, in that you can discreetly bivvy in places where you wouldn't or couldn't put up a tent.

cycladelic

Can anyone suggest a one-person tent that can be used with just the inner mesh alone?... I am thinking of camping in warmer, humid climates where the outer skin would make it a bit clammy at night. Thanks.

VirtualCyclist

bobhitch wrote:

Virtual cyclist,
I've never had a problem with condensation in the nallo and have found it to be a brilliant tent as it is v.light and easy to assemble/take down , although I would agree with the point of it being supplied in a compression bag as it fits easily into the supplied bag ,although this may be to do with the risk of the tent poles bending out of shape if they are squashed too tight!!

Thanks for the info. It is always good to have the experience of real users.

priory

just got back from mull/ardnamurchan etc

midges meant it was not really possible to stand still for long, so the tent needed to go up fast and be midge proof and roomy enough for person and all bags and to permit all activities

my old aztec ligero is not now available but did all this well .Vango Banshee seems like the modern version.

In particular it packs with the inner still attached and closed, so it goes up in one move and the flies do not get in.This is a crucial feature for me.It seems more efficient when erecting in the rain also.

I lke the little mesh pockets that hang from roof and walls:you can always find the torch, mp3, watch, tissues etc. . single pole is quicker than two.

I would prefer an igloo shape . the narrow foot end of mine wets the foot of my down bag

I will be looking for these features and robust materials rather than to save a pound in weight.

Terry Jones

iPete

I've just completed London to Rome, carried a Quechua T3 Ultralight Pro, it was a cosy 3 man tent for two, weight was 3Kg, goes up in a few minutes, only uses 2 poles and has the inner layer built in. It was perfect and I think £99 is great value for a lightweight tent. (?)