Tents that are up to a Global Adventure

[simon thomas]

Tents that are up to a Global Adventure[/B]

Lisa and I are off in may 2003 around the world, much like monika and Simon this march. Can anyone recommend a good touring tent, that will support 2 poeple and the neccerssary kit. I'm guessing that it'll have to have a 4 season rating.

First hand experience or just good advice would be really appreciated, as we are now actively looking to buy.

See you in Wales
Cheers
Simon T

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Tents and things

Check out the Gear Zone link at the top of the Board

 

[simon thomas]

Cheers Paul,

I'll have a good look this eve.
Flicked through quickly this morning & your right it looks good.

Talk to you soon
Simon T

PS. You might want to see a specialist about that nasty eye problem

 

[Jim McSharry]

Tents

Have a 6 berth Cabanon frame tent but I think you'd struggle packing it on the rack ;-)
Have a look at the Wild Country range - scirocco - featured in Paul's flyer. I think this tent also takes an inner-tent (Extra £50) into the porch area where you could store bike gear etc - certainly a range I would consider and well up to the challenge albeit a 3 season rating. If you find a store selling Wild Country gear you will get all the advice you need - all sales reps. given top quality training and not in the business of skanking you - good luck!

 

[(RIP) Yosi]

Tent

I've been using for a while a Khiyam tent. It's open as an umbrela in less than a minute, it's fold in less than a minute and, more important, is self standing. meaning it doesn't need flying cords to support. Brilliant!! remember, after a long hard day, you want to put the bloody think togethere quick and go to sleep. For me, it work avery time. Yosi
PD. If you are coming to Llengollen, I'll be there with the tent.

 

[simon thomas]

Thanks for the advice from you both.. much appreciated.

Yosi, I've considered the folding umbrella tent design and although they put up and down very quickly, I have a few reservations. The main one being, that the design works on the basis of plastic hinges holding the poles together. If you're out in the back of beyond (NO specialist camping shops), with the tent getting heavy daily use, if one of the hinges goes...you're buggered.

if you know different let me know.

Cheers
Simon T

 

[Howard Millichap]

I've always used BLACKS tents. They were British once. Anyway I've had a "Good companion major" since 1977 & is still going strong. Dont make them any more thou'. For quick get aways on my own I've got a "Storm Shield" 2 man. All nylon with bendy aluminium poles (with repair kit included). OK for 1 person & luggage but you'll need one each for comfort.

 

[Simon Hughes]

Simon

I've had a VauDe Mark II for about 5 years, it's a top piece of kit - there's a pic of one on the Gear-Zone website. The external framework is made of high quality Aluminium , that even comes with a repair kit. It's stood up to some pretty harsh conditions (best was force 9 on the top of a Cornish cliff).

It's light and comfortably sleeps two big'uns (I'm 6'3", Heather is 5'9"), and you can "get it up" in less than 2 minutes, so to speak. (handy when it's p***ing down)

You can pitch the bug-proof inner seperately from the outer water proof bit to keep the bugs off bu tkeep cool in really hot conditions.

The only drawback I've found is that cos it's light, it's quite easy to puncture the groundsheet if you're not careful to clear your pitch first - being naturally lazy I now put down a separate groundsheet first.

Hope this helps - good luck on the trip.

Simon

 

[(RIP) Yosi]

Khyam

The repair kit include replacement bits. So far, they have resisted my heavy, dislectixs hands with flying colours. But you are right. It is a real concern. Phillip, our german member and his sister took two Khyam on their trip (left in January) and before leaving we gave the think a "real" test trying to break them purposelly and we fail. They are very strong indeed. Take a look at the Robert Souders tents. Expensive but apparently the best. The sort of stuff profesional explorer's use.
http://www.robertsaunders.co.uk/
Best luck, Yosi

 

[John Hill]

Vaude tents will be in the next Touratech catalogue. I don't know the prices yet, but give me a call and I'll let you know what models thay are.

020 7232 1814

 

[john slater]

I do a load of cycle camping and have used many of the tents mentioned. My needs are light weight, storage for panniers and wet gear, needs to be erected as quickly as possible in bad conditions and finally I must be able to cook inside. The single hoop ones have worked as a best compromise. Saunders produce some of the best and if you want a good deal try the Wonderful Spa cycles in Harrogate. However if you want something that is bullit proof and will take the stick over a long period it would have to be a Hilleburg from Hawkshead. Good luck!

 

[DavidHolmes]

Tents

I went to Blacks with my (non-camping, 5* Hotel) girlfriend. She chose a tent - nice colour. Asked the nice salesman why there were two ranges of tents, he said these ones are waterproof....The concept of a not waterproof tent did her head in so badly that I have never been allowed back in blacks. Ended up buying a MacPac Olympus 300 - I am not going to recommend it so much as recommend the buying process. Cotswold Camping in St Albans had everything I wanted to chose from (Vaude, Wild Country, Kyam etc) and let me open them out and pitch them in the shop several times each. I would seriously recommend you do the same. Some big name brands looked seriously shoddy to me. Ended up with the MacPac partly because I loved it, partly because it packed to a more convenient shape/size for a bike than any other, and partly because the salesman told the girlfriend that Vaude's were the best 'campsite tents'. She wanted a proper expedition tent - even though the thought of staying on anything less than a 5* campsite was never an option for her PS - I am not recommending the MacPac because I got a serious discount, a different day, a different tent on offer, I might have bought something else.

 

[simon thomas]

Thanks guys

Had a look at the Hilleberg tents...WOW :illbe they look the business.

I'll investigate further, in the mean time thank you all, for your geat advice.


Cheers


Simon T

 

[Zwerver]

For the last 3 years I've been using a Jack Wolfskin Tundra III tunneltent; using it about 20 weekends and a 3-4 weeks holliday
per year. In 20 years of motorcycle-camping it is the best tent I've owned, because it (almost) fits my needs:
- lightweigh and a small package,
- spacy enough for 2 persons +mc gear / panniers
- easy to set-up, 3 bendy tentpoles trough (extra strong fabric) tunnels in the outer tent.
- outer tent is setup first, so innertent stays dry when setting it up in rain.
- Its stormproof; Low profile, 3 alu bendy poles with 2 cords at each side; extra cords at the front and back. Outertent is large enough to keep the wind from blowing in from underneath.
- Repair kit for poles, extra cords ect included

It also has some disadvantages:
- Its a thin fabric, I always have to bring an extra groundsheet
- Its a low shape, so you have to sit down the ground when cooking in the fronttent
- The standard tentpins are very soft. I take a few long nails
to make the holes for them on rocky ground.

I can recommend this tent (and any other tunnelshaped tent like this (Nomad Tellem, Fjall Raven ect.), to every mc-camper, because in my experience they fit our needs.

 

[Mike Osborne]

Well all I can do is say that the range of tents made by High Country are excellent. I currently have a 3 person tent (very comfortable for 2) with a covered porch area (ideal for all those panniers and cooking). The porch is big enough to sit in (small seats) with the front open AND stay dry and cook at the same time. Have used mine for the last 2 seasons in temperatures to about zero in this country and winds up to gale force 8 on Calshot Spit so has seen some very good exposure. Tent poles are lightweight duralloy, as are the pegs. Very easy to put up and can be taken down from the inside out if needed on those wet days. Off to Southern Europe with mine for the month of June, hopefully only sun there but I can be sure it will stand up to all the Alps have to offer. Fits in to half of a Givi 52 litre back box, with the poles in a small drainpipe tube across the back of the pillion seat.

Have fun

 

[BIG GORDY]

Mike, do you know........

Mike, Lingfield's a small place, do you know the Unsworth family of Lingfield. They are a bunch of pissheads usually in The Star.

Your tent sounds a bit cumbersome to me!! A Jack Wolfskin Pocket Hotel, thats what you need.

Cheers

Big Gordy

 

[simon thomas]

Still haven't made a solid decision yet as to which tent, but a strong contender to recieve our hard earned dosh is the Hillenberg Keron GT. Have a look at the spec and if you get a chance your opinions would be appreciated

http://www.hilleberg.se/default-e.HTM

Cheers
Simon T

PS. Big Gordy, congrats on your 100th post "Get out more"

 

[Zwerver]

Simon,

this tent looks a lot the Jack Wolfskin Tundra tent I'm using now for several years!
Stormproof, seperate innnertent, fast and easy to put up,
so almost a perfect tent for all year camping!
Did you compare the price of this Hilleberg tent with other brands?

Just be aware that these quite low tunnels are not really
suitable for an all-rainy-day-inside-the-tent; they are a bit low
to put a chair or something in to sit on...

For me that was a reason to buy a bit larger (higher) tunnel, the Jack Wolfskin Worlds End. (what's in a name)

 

[Mike Osborne]

Big Gordy,
Sorry mate but although I only live a stones throw from the Star I do not know the Unsworths - tend to spend any free time out on the GS or in the Old Cage !

ps tent is far from cumbersome, but of course I am a bit biased.

Mike O

 

[BIG GORDY]

a stones throw

Mike if my knowledge of Lingfield is correct, isnt a stones throw from the Star a graveyard?

Big Gordy