Tents for bicycle touring (UK opinions sort)
02-25-19, 01:33 PM
#1
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Tents for bicycle touring (UK opinions sort)
Hi.
What current/on the market tents would people recommend? After scanning the internet the only one I can see that will comfortably fit into a pannier is the Phoxx 1 (which I have just bought) but it is a very small tent almost like a bivy bag. It fits fine into one pannier bag with plenty of room to spare.
I'm not sure if to take it back and get the Vango Nevis 100 but even though it is a small tent the packed dimensions looks very big.
Any other recommendation. Budget is limited to around £100.
What current/on the market tents would people recommend? After scanning the internet the only one I can see that will comfortably fit into a pannier is the Phoxx 1 (which I have just bought) but it is a very small tent almost like a bivy bag. It fits fine into one pannier bag with plenty of room to spare.
I'm not sure if to take it back and get the Vango Nevis 100 but even though it is a small tent the packed dimensions looks very big.
Any other recommendation. Budget is limited to around £100.
02-25-19, 02:21 PM
#2
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https://youtu.be/O_MZppWQouY
Newer version, better ventilation and condensation management:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FNVTNSL/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=dalen87-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07FNVTNSL&linkId=925a4d0c38d5f3aff3fead58a670db7c
Lanshan:
https://youtu.be/kQwLubozsTU
https://youtu.be/O_MZppWQouY
Newer version, better ventilation and condensation management:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FNVTNSL/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=dalen87-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07FNVTNSL&linkId=925a4d0c38d5f3aff3fead58a670db7c
Lanshan:
https://youtu.be/kQwLubozsTU
Last edited by Bikesplendor; 02-25-19 at 02:34 PM.
02-25-19, 11:21 PM
#4
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Aint cheap
Swedish tent company, Hilleberg OK?
£100. you're looking a a Chinese Import , just through a UK importer..
.....
£100. you're looking a a Chinese Import , just through a UK importer..
.....
02-26-19, 05:53 PM
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I've seen a number of Brits post very positive reviews on the Lanshan 3F UL 1 and 2 person tents. They are available from AliExpress and Amazon.
AliExpress 2 person tent link 1 person tent link
Right now, AlliExpress has a listing for the 1 Person version for 62.85USD.
Based on those reviews (and some others), that's the tent I'll be taking with me on my modified ACA Southern TIer tour in April.
It's very light, airy and easy to set up. Mine easily fits in my pannier and.or rear rack bag.
The only disadvantage is it's a "trekking pole" tent so you need to take that into account.
The shipping time to UK from the Far East seems to be about 3 weeks........but don't hold me to that. (Shipping from AliExpress to me in the USA was about 16 days/I could/maybe should have gone through Amazon, but I'm cheap and saved $15.)
AliExpress 2 person tent link 1 person tent link
Right now, AlliExpress has a listing for the 1 Person version for 62.85USD.
Based on those reviews (and some others), that's the tent I'll be taking with me on my modified ACA Southern TIer tour in April.
It's very light, airy and easy to set up. Mine easily fits in my pannier and.or rear rack bag.
The only disadvantage is it's a "trekking pole" tent so you need to take that into account.
The shipping time to UK from the Far East seems to be about 3 weeks........but don't hold me to that. (Shipping from AliExpress to me in the USA was about 16 days/I could/maybe should have gone through Amazon, but I'm cheap and saved $15.)
02-27-19, 12:20 PM
#6
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Some very good options that I'd not heard of before. I'd never heard of Lanshan before and as I love great value stuff from China that one has definitely piqued my interest.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Last edited by Wozza2014; 02-27-19 at 12:27 PM.
02-27-19, 03:06 PM
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I toured Northern France, England and Ireland in 2016, bringing along my trusty REI quarter dome. Without the fly it is almost all screen for ventilation in the heat.
By way of contrast most all of the other tents in the campgrounds over there had much less vented surface, especially on top. Why this matters is when pitching in the rain my tent would be already thoroughly soaked inside through the screen top before I got to attach the fly, whereas I presume the tents with less window space would remain dryer inside.
By way of contrast most all of the other tents in the campgrounds over there had much less vented surface, especially on top. Why this matters is when pitching in the rain my tent would be already thoroughly soaked inside through the screen top before I got to attach the fly, whereas I presume the tents with less window space would remain dryer inside.
Last edited by Sharpshin; 02-27-19 at 09:23 PM.
02-27-19, 03:54 PM
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If you're looking for short pole sections
and everything in one pannier, take a look at the Terra Nova Starlite 2. It's a bike touring specific tent. Good quality, fairly quick pitch, passably light and roomy for 1p, fits 2.
Last edited by revcp; 02-27-19 at 03:57 PM.
02-28-19, 12:51 PM
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02-28-19, 03:49 PM
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Really, the best place is wherever you want it to be, it isn't in the way, and you have room for it. Some like to strap it on top of the front or rear rack. Others, especially if their tent is smaller, prefer to eschew bungies/straps and put it in a pannier. Still others put the body and fly in a pannier (or, again, strapped on top of a rack) and lash the poles to the top tube. There's no "best", just preferences.
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02-28-19, 03:59 PM
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02-28-19, 04:07 PM
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On top of the rack held on with adjustable straps. Putting it in a pannier uses up valuable space for things that need to be dry like sleeping bag or clothes. Tents don't need to be kept dry, they're supposed to get wet and keep you dry.
02-28-19, 04:13 PM
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I keep hearing this, that panniers are "valuable space". No one who carries a tent in a pannier is dragging by a rope behind them stuff that's been kicked out so the tent could go in. I prefer to carry my tent in a pannier (and while the fly may get wet, the body damn well better stay dry). I pack light, and my panniers are larger than ditty bags, so I have plenty of room. Other people prefer to carry their tents on a rack. That's fine. I don't berate them for doing so. People should experiment to see what they prefer.
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Don't complain about the weather and cower in fear. It's all good weather. Just different.
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02-28-19, 05:59 PM
#19
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I keep my tent in my single 25L pannier... it's quick release and backpackable, so a nice clean single piece that can come with me inside if I have lock up outside (but its a folder, so usually comes inside too). Whole shelter (fly, inner net tent, footprint, stakes) packs into a 2.5L stuff sack (XXS Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil), ~size of stuffed down sweater, and weighs ~1.5lbs. Fly stuffs into into own waterproof pocket, so won't get anything else wet. It's a pryamid so I just grab a fallen branch for a pole. It's a great multitasker, so I EDC it (w/o the inner net tent or stakes).
03-01-19, 10:24 AM
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During warm trips, I will use 2 rear panniers mounted up front on the fork and a compression dry bag for the top of the rear rack.
I love the setup- a front pannier is used for anything wet(tent and fly, really) and the other pannier has clothes and misc gear. sleeping stuff(bag, inflate pillow, etc) goes into the compression dry bag to ensure it stays totally dry. This works out to be about the same weight in each pannier.
I view panniers as simply compartments to store stuff. What that stuff is really doesnt matter much to me- it isnt any more or less valuable space to me than the compression dry bag.
I love the setup- a front pannier is used for anything wet(tent and fly, really) and the other pannier has clothes and misc gear. sleeping stuff(bag, inflate pillow, etc) goes into the compression dry bag to ensure it stays totally dry. This works out to be about the same weight in each pannier.
I view panniers as simply compartments to store stuff. What that stuff is really doesnt matter much to me- it isnt any more or less valuable space to me than the compression dry bag.
