One Man Tents.

Stoo61
Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
edited October 2010 in MTB buying advice
Looking to buy a one man tent for touring, mainly in the wilderness of Scotland.

Tents really are a thing I have no knowledge of so was wondering if people here use them and which ones.

At a quick glance the Aztec Rapido looks like decent value on Amazon but I wouldnt really know. I guess the main features I need are for the pack size for hiking it around to be very small and the weather proofing to be decent. Not got lots of money to throw around either

Cheers in advance for any help.

Comments

  • Looks to have a good waterproofing rating for it's class and at that price it's a bargain....never had one. My only reservation is that it's a single skin tent, so don't touch the sides with anything if it rains. 1.6kg seams light so it's a trade off you have to decide on.
  • Slamdunkin
    Slamdunkin Posts: 355
    edited September 2010
    what is your budget?

    This looks a much better tent as it is double layered and has room for your kit and according to some reviews the door can be modded to give you somewhere to cook when it's wet.

    Vango Banshee 200 Tent (2009)

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vango-Banshee-2 ... m_sbs_sg_1

    google the names of these tents and it takes you to forums where they are being discussed by other hikers.

    Lichfield Treklite 200 Tent (2010)This is Lichfields (vango's sister company) copy of the Banshee 200 Tent but at a better price £55 + 5 Delivery

    http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog ... 2010_.html
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    You considered a bivvy bag Stoo?
  • STOP PRESS


    Vango Banshee 200 Tent £59 with free delivery. This is a Duke Of Edinburgh Award recommended tent....which really is a great recommendation.

    http://www.worldoftents.co.uk/vango-ban ... rrency=GBP
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Not the most luxurious of options, but I have once slept on a mountainside in nothing but a waterproof mummybag, for a bet. And it was ok.
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    Not the most luxurious of options, but I have once slept on a mountainside in nothing but a waterproof mummybag, for a bet. And it was ok.

    They can get expensive, but the Bivvy bags with poles around the head end are basically a very small insulated tent :D Like this bad boy:

    78314516_l.jpg
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    looks ideal.
  • Looks like you don't get much for your money for £200 - 250
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    Not a great deal waterproof (only 1500mm) but there is this nice cheap tent:

    31ryz-luCHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
  • what is your budget and what do you want it for? Do you want chaep as chips or something long term? carrying or in the back of your car?

    If you want somethething that will be light and last then it is woth investing. The bad boy pictured above looks to me like a wild country/terra nova make. If so they are superb. We have had them for Duke of Edinburgh for years, and my mate has had one for about 17 years. They are more expenxive but they are worth it.
    Other makes worth considering are:

    Vango/Mountain equipment/mountain hardware/vaude/RAB/coleman off the top of my head.

    a cheaper tent will do the job in the short term but may offer less protection and will not last as long. Look for features such as ripstop as well that is very usefull.

    Look at the season rating as well-if you are doing Scottish wilderness a 3-4 season would be good.

    Bivvi bags are good if you are carrying them and can cope with little space to rest your head.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Slamdunkin wrote:
    Looks like you don't get much for your money for £200 - 250
    Holy crap :shock:
    My mummybag thing only cost me something insane like £20 due to a slight issue with the Zip.
    I'm scratching my head trying to remember where I got it. They sold all kinds of stuff at bonkers discounts because of the slightest QC issue, when most of it was perfectly serviceable.
  • i was into tent porn before bike porn.....................
  • Wild country are fantastic. They're owned by Terra Nova so a very reputable company with the added benefit that you can send them to get repaired if they get damaged, and they also sell all the individual peices so that should something go distastrously wrong you can just buy the part that needs replacing.

    Decide what you want, something cheap and throwaway or something that will last. Ours is a very spacious 2 man tent with tons of porch space for under 3kg.

    * Think about how much time you'll spend in it, do you need porch space or not?
    * Will it be all weathers? If so you'll need a fly sheet and inner tent. Preferably one where you can pack the inner up seperately for rain soaked mornings.
    * Look at how the tent pitches, we rejected a lot of very reputable manufacturers because they pitched inner first, which meant if pitching in the rain the inner would be soaked before you've got the fly sheet up.
    * If you'll spend any amount of time in the tent in the evenings it's worth checking the height of the tent to see whether you can sit up in it
    * If you're touring with it, you'll be constantly putting it up and taking it down, speed and ease of pitching and packing it up are important otherwise it'll really get on your nerves
  • Stoo61
    Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
    Jeeeezo cheers folks. A lot of info to take in there, will read through it properly tomorrow and go interetsearching.

    In theory, at the moment, i want it to be along term investment so maybe a price hike would be a good idea. However, i've only ever done a wild camp ride once and hated it v(the trying to sleep part, camping and riding are good but I could NOT get comfy).I know what you're thinking but the spot we pitched on was brutal and...well there was lots of cons. So perhaps I should get a cheapish one...try it out see if its something i'm right into.

    I figure I would like a bit of space to thrash around in while trying to sleep and would definitely need it double layered. Big mountain shops have tents pitched to jump into don't they?....maybe I should do that too.

    I want to do the Coast to Coast up here eventually, maybe split up the trip in Hostels, bothies if i'm lucky and wild camping. Got other 2, 3, 4 dayers that I wouldnt mind trying too so its got to be a good'un i suppose because sleep is crucial to me not being a grumpy basturt..... :roll:
  • Personally if I was trying to get into it then go with the bit more money. see if you have rides that can go from campsite to campsite so you at least have some facilities.

    Weight is vital-look for one that is around the 1KG mark and few poles to mess about with. It will also pack easier in your bag. have a look at the size packed as well as one put up. If one is not put up in a shop ask them to pitch it so you can see what it is like. Take the bag you ride with so you can see how much room you will have with it in.

    One of my tents has the inner attached permanently to the outer to save messing about pitching. Worth looking for.

    think about your sleeping mat as well-I used to use a foam role up one but brought a therm a rest. They are the dogs and give much better comfort. They are not cheap but you can get cheaper versions.
    dont rule out bivvi bag.
  • Kiblams wrote:
    Not a great deal waterproof (only 1500mm) but there is this nice cheap tent:

    31ryz-luCHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
    I've got one of these little tents to use when packing space is an issue & its a fantastic bit of kit for the price.

    The only real downside is there isn't even enough hight to sit up inside but thats a tradeoff with pack size & the addition of another tent pole (or a long length of parracord to tie to a near tree) converts the side flap into a handy porch area.
    Statistically, Six Out Of Seven Dwarves Aren't Happy
  • Stoo61
    Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
    Kiblams wrote:
    Not a great deal waterproof (only 1500mm) but there is this nice cheap tent:

    31ryz-luCHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
    I've got one of these little tents to use when packing space is an issue & its a fantastic bit of kit for the price.

    The only real downside is there isn't even enough hight to sit up inside but thats a tradeoff with pack size & the addition of another tent pole (or a long length of parracord to tie to a near tree) converts the side flap into a handy porch area.

    Hows water proofing though?
  • priory
    priory Posts: 743
    it does not need to very waterproof if it is double skin and you do not cram stuff in so that the inner presses on the outer. Water will run down the fly sheet inside or outside. If the fly is very watergroof it will be less breathable and condensation will wet the inside surface thoroughly most nights, unless the weather is such that you can leave the flaps tied wide open.
    tents in olden days were 'never' waterproof but made of canvas that got in the way of the water and diverted its course as above.I made a flysheet from a big plastic sheet a few times but had to leave them wide open front and back. or it was boil-in-the-bag time.
    this gelert looks great value but how do you put it up in driven rain? is it inner first?
    Raleigh Eclipse, , Dahon Jetstream XP, Raleigh Banana, Dawes super galaxy, Raleigh Clubman

    http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z122 ... =slideshow
  • It has a tendency to gather? the fly to cause folds for the water to run down & through but take a bit of time to pitch it right & its fine. It even stood up well when I accidentally pitched it in what turned out to be a drainage path (healthy green grass is not always a good sign) & it persisted down all night.

    As with all tents you want to make sure the fly & inner isn't touching. ;)

    Oh and the outer goes up first with the inner clipping in after.
    Statistically, Six Out Of Seven Dwarves Aren't Happy
  • Stoo61
    Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
    Thank you for all the replies, seems like a lot of opinions based on experience which is useful.

    I've sorta missed the camping season thisyear so thinking I can wangle a tent as a birthday or xmas present (both in December). I'm drawn to the Vango Tempest 200. Hoop design is nice with obvious rain benefits, decent sized porch, well under 3 KG and a small pack size. Its also sold as a 2 man tent. £110.

    Anyone know of anything glaringly awful about this tent?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Stoo61 wrote:
    Anyone know of anything glaringly awful about this tent?
    It's really hard to get a Sky dish to stay put on it.
  • You don't need to spend £110 on the Tempest £200...use google shopping tab and it can be had for £79 with free delivery

    http://www.sportswarehouse.co.uk/produc ... -Tent.html
  • topeak do a tant that has no poles, but is instead supported by a 26" wheel and your frame... suppose its a bit silly and overkill really, but IMAGINE the bragging rights.
    Am i strange in that i actually ENJOY going up hills? Yes, yes i am.


    PS: Full - Sussers are for SOFTIES AND BIG GIRLS
  • topeak do a tant that has no poles, but is instead supported by a 26" wheel and your frame... suppose its a bit silly and overkill really, but IMAGINE the bragging rights.
    Am i strange in that i actually ENJOY going up hills? Yes, yes i am.


    PS: Full - Sussers are for SOFTIES AND BIG GIRLS
  • Stoo61
    Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
    Slamdunkin wrote:
    You don't need to spend £110 on the Tempest £200...use google shopping tab and it can be had for £79 with free delivery

    http://www.sportswarehouse.co.uk/produc ... -Tent.html

    Yeah would've scouted around just going on the Tiso booklet price I have. Cheers. :D
  • If waterproofing is an issue get some tent proofer. Nikwax and others do it. Should be able to get it in most outdoor shops and will add waterproof protection.

    Agree with other posts. Keep stuff away from the edges and keep inner and outer apart. getting guy ropes nice and taught will help.
  • priory
    priory Posts: 743
    vango 200 looks like a good choice, goes up in one, flysheet only if you just want shelter and less weight, 2.5kg, roomy, said to be well made, not expensive.
    Raleigh Eclipse, , Dahon Jetstream XP, Raleigh Banana, Dawes super galaxy, Raleigh Clubman

    http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z122 ... =slideshow