nomad
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Hello, new to this forum. Just checking it out right now, figuring out how to use it.
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Post by nomad on Jan 22, 2017 10:14:06 GMT -8
Hello everyone! I am having some trouble picking the right tent for a trip I am planning. I need something tough, durable, waterproof, light, and can squeeze down to a compact package. My trip will be a cross country adventure that will take a few months and I need a tent that will withstand the punishment well. For my options, I've opted towards a more bushcraft, rugged approach. I'm on a tight budget, but I also like the style of basic, bare minimum, no thrills, no neons. I'm also looking for something that will be compact on my motorcycle as I travel from park to park, and light enough to carry in my rucksack. I have narrowed my options down to 5 different tents: EXPOSED Bivouac Motorcycle Tent, Nomad II by Abel Brown, Half Shelter Tent by U.S. Military, Ionosphere by Snugpack, and Stasha Tactical Shelter by Snugpack. Each have their own pro's and con's and I need some help sorting through it all. I figured I would ask a community of people who have far more experience with camping equipment than I currently possess. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!
Blog Post on Finding the Right Tent
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jan 22, 2017 10:36:21 GMT -8
Since the tent's purpose is to ride around in the pack until it keeps rain off me at night, I don't buy one based on durability.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 22, 2017 13:03:32 GMT -8
Your picks seem quite random. Here are questions that I would be considering when getting a new shelter.
What "real" specs do you need? What kind of snow load are you going to experience? What kind of winds do you expect to endure? What do you need for space requirements? Do you want a bathtub floor or are you fine with a floorless shelter? Do you need a puncture resistant floor or are you only camping in established campgrounds? Is headroom important or are you just going to sleep in it? Do you need/want a vestibule to cook in? What is your realistic budget? Have you considered a hammock shelter? Have you slept in a bivy (changing clothes, reading a book)? Are you going to suppliment your shelter with a tarp for those days on end rain?
Nothing is going to make a shelter more compact than something that doesn't have a floor and is single wall. However, bugs may become an issue without some sort of mesh. Also, humidity depending on the location can become a huge factor.
Your question seems like a "romantic notion of camping". I recommend you focus more on the details that are going to get you a specific shelter to do the job.
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Post by johntpenca on Jan 22, 2017 22:27:40 GMT -8
I have no knowledge of the tents you have listed; never heard of them. Perhaps look at an REI Quarter Dome?
edit: just checked out your blog post, All seem like reasonable shelters. Depending on where/when you are going, consider the bug effect.
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Post by bluefish on Jan 23, 2017 5:40:42 GMT -8
I put 150,000 miles on a K100 BMW, mostly on long trips. After a day of 500+ miles in rain , I was really happy to have a tent with some room that I didn't feel trapped in. Having a real tent with a dry floor, mosquito protection and some room to stretch out was a great thing.Also, that had some privacy to change clothes, especially to get out of rain gear and get damp stuff off. Your mileage may vary, as an 883 doesn't ride like the Beemer with a Corbin seat. I'm very familiar with the limitations of panniers, a fork roll and a rear rack. Still a backpacking tent with decent care would make for a much more comfortable trip and take up no more room. You're going to get in situations where it's better to get away from the bike to camp and having a rig that depends on attaching to the bike may get frustrating. Rolling into a campground at dark after a hard day's ride, to find you have problems setting up sucks. We kept most of our gear in a dry bag with shoulder straps. We did tour with a trailer a lot of the time- 2-up is really limiting for space. A lot of campgrounds have the campsites blocked from vehicle entry or require a walk in. If your staying in motels during bad weather, it's not so bad. My wife and I never exceeded 7,000 on any one trip, so I really can't offer much advice for a trip of your scope. I do know I became a pretty decent bike mechanic. It's a good thing H-D's are #1 on the road, these days and parts are easily come by. Best advice I can offer? Don't scrimp on rain gear. Shaking from near hypothermia in a cold rain can get you down and done. It also saves on clothes.
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Jan 23, 2017 8:08:45 GMT -8
I think all the tents you mentioned are crap. I think you'd be happier with a tried-n-true lightweight backpacking tent. These have all been around for a long time and durability is not an issue. Eureka SpitfireKelty SalidaREI Quarterdome
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jan 25, 2017 13:01:50 GMT -8
Here's another perspective. The biggest challenge you're going to face is mildew. If you pack a damp or wet tent into a bag and stuff it into a warm pannier, you're going to have a smelly tent in short order. So you can either fully dry your tent before you pack it away or come up with another strategy. Instead of getting one expensive, durable tent that will last you several months (if properly cared for and thoroughly dried), or you can buy several cheap tents at Walmart and simply toss them in the dumpster when they are used up.
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Post by bluefish on Jan 25, 2017 13:07:07 GMT -8
Mesh bag and a bungee. Nothing like an 80 mph tent dryer.
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crick
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Post by crick on Jan 26, 2017 5:32:14 GMT -8
For ultralight check out the Big Agnes Copper Spur/Fly Creek or the Nemo Hornet(both 3 seasons though). Cheaper options include Bryce or Alps Mountaineering Lynx( AM tents are heavier but decent value for money).
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 26, 2017 5:45:14 GMT -8
Maybe I don't quite understand the motorcycle factor in your choices but, to be honest, I think your "right tent" candidates and your selection logic to be really odd. I definitely don't get the "cool" factor that you mention often. "Pro-hiking" tents certainly don't cost $800 and $400 for a solo tent would be considered expensive for backpacking. In fact, for $400, you could easily buy a weather-worthy tent for yourself and a separate simple shelter for your bike.
It seems that durability and "toughness" is a priority for you. In general, that usually translates to heavier materials which is a disadvantage for backpacking but less so for bikes/canoes/etc. Heavier materials are typically cheaper, not more expensive.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Jan 26, 2017 7:01:50 GMT -8
Good silnylon tarp and a bug net might just suffice. Can be set up into a variety of configurations, very light, and easy to dry.
Don't know the locations you will be at or how much backpacking you will do, but "lightness" and "smallness" are good things.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 28, 2017 7:20:04 GMT -8
nomad, to get worthwhile advice you really need to provide details on the locations this tent will be set up and under what conditions. Will you be backpacking in rugged wilderness areas and backcountry camping off trail? Will you encounter signficant snow? Answers to these questions will determine your optimal shelter. I've had a variety of tents over the years and finally transitioned to a hammock. My Warbonnet Blackbird has a mesh to keep the bugs out and keeps me off the dirty wet abrasive uneven ground. I sleep much better and durability isn't an issue. The only thing that gets wet is the overhead tarp I set up first that provides a shelter for everything else, and I can camp anywhere with suitable trees. The bottom double layer of the hammock accommodates a sleeping pad but an underquilt is much better, especially in colder temps.
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Post by hikerjer on Jan 28, 2017 8:44:32 GMT -8
I don't understand your concern with having to have a super durable lightweight, highly packable tent. After all, you'll be carrying it on a motorcycle, not your back and not under your own power. Imean bicyclists get by carrying regular backpacking tents that are pretty versatile. I'd go with a traditional backpacking tent from any of the reputable major manufacturers. Certainly a two man, and if you want more space, a three man. Surely you can pack that on a motorcycle.
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ErnieW
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I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Jan 28, 2017 10:21:21 GMT -8
If you are planning on moving most days to a new location, consider ease of set up and take down. Over months you may be doing this like 100 times. Putting up a tent that is kind of a pain in the pouring rain is no fun. Sometimes a motel instead of set up in the rain is the answer.
Also living in a tent day in day out under sometimes trying conditions with not enough space will drive you nuts. Again staying in a nice motel with a hot shower occasionally can help with that but if you are on a tight budget that may not be an option.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Jan 28, 2017 21:55:02 GMT -8
Speaking as someone who's spent lots of night in a tent, I just think all those tents he mentioned would be more miserable than necessary to camp in. They are cramped and have no head room or bug protection. They would be awful in the rain. And they aren't as packable as light nylon tents, and they aren't bargains.
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