Picking the right Tent

[Trailace]

Types of Tents
3-Season - These tents are usually just right for motorcycling as they will perform well in hot, cold, windy and/or wet conditions.
4-Season - These tents are typically overkill when it comes to motorcycling since you are less likely to be riding in the blizzard-like conditions that require such a tent.
Convertible - These tents allow the conversion from 4-Season to 3-Season tents by omitting poles and sections allowing for more ventilation - they are typically more expensive.How Big?
The average sized person will appreciate the extra room allowed by getting a 2-person tent. The 2 person tents don't pack much larger than a 1 person tent so you aren't giving up much in that area and it's still enough room when camping for two.
There are some 1 person tents that are a little cheaper and pack smaller however you are trading cost for head-room and comfort.Rain Fly or Single-Wall?
This ends up being a personal choice.
Single-Wall tents have the convenience of a quick easy setup especially in the rain as the tent walls also act as a Rain Fly. These tents can also become hot in warmer climates as the ventilation is not typically as good as a tent w/fly that can be removed.
Tents with Rain Flys do pack larger and require extra effort to setup and take down but, as mentioned above, provide additional comfort options.Configuration
There are several configurations of tents available.
The one that we here at MotoCampers.com recommend the most are the free-standing tents. A free-standing tent is one that, once the poles are connected to the tent, it stands in place and all that remains is to stake it down.
They are the easiest to move to another location if necessary just in case conditions require a quick relocation of the campsite. We've been in low lying areas where a sudden rainstorm dictated we move. With free-standing tents it was much easier than it would have been with some other tents.
They are also very easy to get the dirt out of them by picking them up, with one door open, and shaking.Footprint/Tarp/Groundcloth
Not all Tent manufacturers sell Footprints for their tents.
A Footprint is basically an additional layer of material between the ground and the floor of the tent. This extents the life of the tent by preventing rips tears or abrasions which might occur from direct contact with the ground.
The dimensions of the Footprint, personal choice:
Some feel the footprint should be larger than the tent floor dimensions to keep water out
Some feel the footprint should be smaller than the tent floor dimensions to keep water from collecting between the tent and footprint.
I haven't found enough references to confirm more one way than the other but I would choose the fold any excess material under itself so it matches the tent floor size.

[Ron_Ces]

The dimensions of the Footprint, tarp or groundcloth used should be at least a couple inches larger than the floor of the tent on all sides.[/LIST]

I may be mistaken, but I thought that the ground cloth should be a few inches smaller than the size of the tent. This prevents standing water to run down into the tent area like a wicking effect. Any thoughts?

[mongo]

I think that is a personal choice. Some think that a ground fly that is larger that the tent actually catches water and diverts it under the tent, some think that a smaller fly lets water in on the uphill side, and holds it in the floor. I think bath have their advantages/disadvantages. The next tent I buy will have the cloth built into the floor, they come up about 6-8 inches on the walls. That is if my old tent wears out it is pretty old, but has a lot of memories.

[Mellow]

That's a good point, that may be what I meant to say.. can't think of when having it larger would be a benefit. The footprint I had on my previous REI tent was the exact dimensions of the tent.

This REI link (http://www.rei.com/rei/learn/noDetail.jsp?URL=%2Frei/learn/camp/howtarpf.jsp)mentions any excess should be folded under itself to avoid catching rain.

Thanks for helping keep this Tutorial accurate, great first post and welcome to the site.

[2002TGP]

I have been using a 3 man dome for the last 15 years and it has worked well.

My next tent will be a Tipi either a Kifaru 4 man or the Vaggi Tentipi. Both are very light weight and provide alot of vertical and horizontal room .

The Kifaru has a foot print of 10.5 feet by 15 feet and a vertical hight of 6 feet 6 inches and the total weight is just under 6 pounds.

These are very durable tents and have the capability of adding a stove which I will not use for motorcycle camping but maybe for snow camping.

MK

[sandman]

I'm using an 8ftX8ft 4 man dome that has 5ft headroom.

I can set up the tent in pouring rain and keep all my other gear in it's waterproof bags.

Once the tent is up and all gear is inside I can setup my air mattress and sleeping bag, in relatively dry conditions. I don't think I would be able to accomplish this feat easily with a smaller tent.

I chose a 9ftX12ft tarp from Wal-Mart for my groundcloth. At first I thought this would be a great idea with the extra 3 ft that extends out from the tarp being larger than the tent's footprint it would give me a porch to take my muddy boots off to help keep the tent cleaner. The plan went well until one night in Daytona Beach with my tent setup on level ground there came one of those thunderstorms that wouldn't let up for 3 hours. My floor seams weren't sealed and I started to take on water. It's very disturbing to put your elbow down in 2 inches of water at 2AM.

I still use the tarp and the cure to the problem is to setup your tent on a small rise or with the porch facing downhill...I needed drainage, OH! and seam sealer is a must.

Since I moved to an air mattress with a four inch rise I stay off the floor enough now not to worry about a little river runs through it episode.


Gordon

[keanejamesf]

I use the 4 man Eureka Timberline. It's cheap, strong, & simple. It's only a few inches bigger than the 2 man packed, and put-up & take-down times are equal for the 4 man vs the 2 man. The extra pound of weight is no problem either, as long as I'm camping off the bike, though it might be an issue if I were backpacking. In return, I've got an absolute embarrasment of space. When camping off the bike, where everything must come in with you if it's going to stay dry, the extra space is appreciated. I've been using it for 12 years now, & 2 years ago I considered getting something newer & more Hi-Tech. After reviewing a lot of options I elected to buy a tube of seam sealer & go over every seam in the bottom & up about 8-10 inches up the sides, both inside & out. Then I invested all of about $35.00 in a snap-on vestibule & a footprint. Viola! like a new tent! My saddle bags & muddy boots now live in the vestibule...I have even more room than before, it's even actually comfy for 2 when I'm camping with my Sig. Other. The footprint is great, it really protects the tent bottom from dirt & small rocks & sticks. It does, however make for problems in the wet. It's a little bigger than the floor, maybe one all around. After one bad experience when rain water got in between the floor & the footprint, I now just take a little more care about placement. It helps to make sure that the uphill side is fully under the floor & the extra footprint area exposed is all on the downhill side.


Jim Keane

[Trailace]

Jim Welcome!

I feel the same way about my tent I got it about 10 years ago and can't find anything I would replace it with. A few years back I tried to add up all the times I used it but stopped at 100. I hope I never have to replace it.

Rick

[JCS]

We are using the Euraka Timberline TL-4XT. 4 man tent with an attached vestibule. Not high tech but simple and reliable. It works fine for 2 people and gear from 2 bikes. Never had a problem getting wet from rain or condensation. It is a little bulky to pack though.

[Blues Traveler]

I've gone through 4 tents in the last year trying to find just the right tent. After 4 years I felt my 2 man Colman Exponent was now a little short on space. Next was a 4 man tent with a huge vestibule. So big two people in Kermit chairs could hide out from a storm with room to spare. But there was something like 16 tent stakes involved :( and as much as I liked the tent I still needed something different. Next was an REI Half Dome 2 man. Nice tent but smaller than what I started out with. REI has a GREAT! return policy and they took it all back. While at REI I noticed a Mountain Hardware 3 man Wedge 3. I bought it even though it was a little pricy but I was getting tired of looking. This is without a doubt the perfect tent for me. Plenty of room, lots of storage up high and considered a 3 1/2 season tent. I have now used it many times and once again, the perfect tent for me.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/AWedge3.jpg

For pictures of the other tents look in my webshots below in my signature. Look in the album marked Camping Farkles.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ownst1100

[Mellow]

Great pics (http://community.webshots.com/user/ownst1100) and reviews.

Sorry, sigs don't show up in the reviews to make the comments as easy to read as possible. They do show up in the non-review forums. Looks like you've done a lot of research to get the best solution, bravo!

[number9]

I thought that was you Keith. Welcome to the site. I know you will make great contributions here as you seem to have the bike camping thing figured out.

[MstrJim]

While I don't do a lot of MC camping, I have done a bit and found an alternative to a tent that you guys may be interested in. Just to let you know, I have no affiliation to him but he has a great product. If you do a search for Hennesy Hammocks you can find his web site and read about his products. Last year, I bought one and did get to try it one night. I was pleasantly surprised that it does all that he claims it to do. Very comfortable, easy to set up and you don't sleep on the ground. Excellent quality and workmanship. The only problem that I found was that an ensolite pad would be handy to keep your back warmer. I see now that he has made improvements to the hammock and that problem should be solved. The design has you sleeping crossways a bit and you get great back support. Check it out on his site. A nice feature is that it doesn't take up much room on the bike at all.

[STeveGray]

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

[Alan]

A couple of years ago when picking a tent, I ignored the online advise and bought a one man tent. Bad move, absolutely no room for my gear. I wanted to save on the size of the tent, so I went with the one man. Maybe if I was backpacking, it would have been worth worrying about, but camping from a motorcycle, it was a stupid move. And since I'm a cheap skate, I still use the one man tent that I have learned to dislike. Maybe if I'm lucky, a bear will tear this one up and I'l be forced to spend some money.;)

[Mellow]

Same here, I got a 1-man bivy type and could barely sit up in it. After seeing Trailace and how easy his 2-man tent was to setup and deal with... I had to have one.

But, I'm still cheap.

[Trailace]

But, I'm still cheap.
I'm cheaper!:D

[Alan]

Well, I was at Dick's Sporting the other day and they had Coleman 2 man tents for $39.99. So I opened my wallet and let the moths fly out and bought one. I compared it with my old 1 man tent and the Coleman only weighs 1 1/2 pounds more. The Coleman goes up easy and even has a doggie door! And lots of room! :D

[mongo]

Well, I was at Dick's Sporting the other day and they had Coleman 2 man tents for $39.99. So I opened my wallet and let the moths fly out and bought one. I compared it with my old 1 man tent and the Coleman only weighs 1 1/2 pounds more. The Coleman goes up easy and even has a doggie door! And lots of room! :D

That resembles my old tent I have used for years, without the built in fly. Actually it resembles what I paid for mine also!

[Alan]

Above I mentioned a doggie door in the Coleman test. Well this picture shows the little door very well, just look inside the main tent door. The documentation that came with the tent was poor, so I'm not sure why Coleman put that tiny door into the tent. I had it open so I would get some cross ventilation, but it would work well for a small dog.:)

[Mellow]

Above I mentioned a doggie door in the Coleman test. Well this picture shows the little door very well, just look inside the main tent door. The documentation that came with the tent was poor, so I'm not sure why Coleman put that tiny door into the tent. I had it open so I would get some cross ventilation, but it would work well for a small dog.:)

That's strange, I couldn't see your post until I switched to a threaded view but I knew it was there somewhere.. gonna have to search for some bug fixes to see if I can get it corrected... sorry about that.

The dog door is cute... :D

[Alan]

I couldn't find the post after I posted it either. Some kind of bug in the software. Back at the main menu, the forum titles showed that I had posted, but the actual posting would not show up.

[Trailace]

Above I mentioned a doggie door in the Coleman test. Well this picture shows the little door very well, just look inside the main tent door. The documentation that came with the tent was poor, so I'm not sure why Coleman put that tiny door into the tent. I had it open so I would get some cross ventilation, but it would work well for a small dog.:)
That?s there so you can get to the beer cooler with out moving from your bag.

[mongo]

That?s there so you can get to the beer cooler with out moving from your bag.

I can imagine your next tent farkle will be a funnel with a hose on it for the after affects of all that beer!:)

[MidLife]

I've gone through 4 tents in the last year trying to find just the right tent. After 4 years I felt my 2 man Colman Exponent was now a little short on space. Next was a 4 man tent with a huge vestibule. So big two people in Kermit chairs could hide out from a storm with room to spare. But there was something like 16 tent stakes involved :( and as much as I liked the tent I still needed something different. Next was an REI Half Dome 2 man. Nice tent but smaller than what I started out with. REI has a GREAT! return policy and they took it all back. While at REI I noticed a Mountain Hardware 3 man Wedge 3. I bought it even though it was a little pricy but I was getting tired of looking. This is without a doubt the perfect tent for me. Plenty of room, lots of storage up high and considered a 3 1/2 season tent. I have now used it many times and once again, the perfect tent for me.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/AWedge3.jpg



Was on my way to buy a $40 Coleman at WM, when a post from Mellow on ST-O lead me here. I liked the Mountain Hardwear Wedge 3 illustrated here and off I went to REI. REI had an anniversary sale and a salesman talked me into a Mountain Hardwear Haven 3 at 33% off instead!

After setting it up in the yard, I was disapointed by the useable floor dimensions, quite overstated in the spec sheet, as well as useable vestibule area. It also felt hot in the Houston weather: could use more ventilation.

So I went and returned the Haven, to exchange it for the Wedge 3 at REI. The knowledgeable sales guy told me that if I was looking for ventilation, I should try their MSR Mutha Hubba....which I did as they were generous enough to extend the 20% off they had the week before on this item.

Gave it the yard test and liked it. But then looked at the sales slip and figured that Mellow made me spend 10 times my initial intended amount and thought about returning it.

But it is now set in my living room, and the useability just looks too good. Maybe a tad too large, but I figure that a tired back at the end of the day will appreciate the large and high entrance doors. Ventilation feels quite good too.

Lesson learned: following Mellow's links is onerous!

Now I have to figure out with which Big Agnes to sleep with!

[Mellow]

Was on my way to buy a $40 Coleman at WM, when a post from Mellow on ST-O lead me here. I liked the Mountain Hardwear Wedge 3 illustrated here and off I went to REI. REI had an anniversary sale and a salesman talked me into a Mountain Hardware Haven 3 at 33% off instead!

After setting it up in the yard, I was disapointed by the useable floor dimensions, quite overstated in the spec sheet, as well as useable vestibule area. It also felt hot in the Houston weather: could use more ventilation.

So I went and returned the Haven, to exchange it for the Wedge 3 at REI. The knowledgeable sales guy told me that if I was looking for ventilation, I should try their MSR Mutha Hubba....which I did as they were generous enough to extend the 20% off they had the week before on this item.

Gave it the yard test and liked it. But then looked at the sales slip and figured that Mellow made me spend 10 times my initial intended amount and thought about returning it.

But it is now set in my living room, and the useability just looks too good. Maybe a tad too large, but I figure that a tired back at the end of the day will appreciate the large and high entrance doors. Ventilation feels quite good too.

Lesson learned: following Mellow's links is onerous!

Now I have to figure out with which Big Agnes to sleep with!

LOL... sorry man, hey, I'm using the $10 walmart air mattress so you can't blame me on the Big Anges sleeping pad you'll end up buying.. :D

[basco]

I have a Eureka Apex 3xta tent. Fits into one ST1300 saddle bag with room to spare.

The pic below is our campsite at High Valley Resort. The Apex tent is the yellow one.

[DirtGirL]

HI,
I have been lurking around , reading all the good stuff, and looking at all the great pictures.
My evil other half is Goldwinggl, don't let him tell you any different ! I happened upon this thread today, and went to look at Blues traveler's pictures of camping farkles* http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1298469753031153994WACsoF Your stove and kitchen setup, is really neat. I love the picture of your bike set up in a parking lot, with the stove on the back. Pat yourself on the back, for some great ideas and Superb packing abilities!! You are a Farkle king :)

[GoldWingGL]

Hey, if I were you guys, I would believe her...really...LOL
That is a nice setup Blue's....

[Blues Traveler]

Saw this tent on another forum. Looks to be a great tent.

Its made by Coleman is called a Exponent 'Phad X3' , very interesting. Sleeps 3 and has a 4' X 5' vestibule.

866

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9830-392&categoryid=11070

The Exponent series of gear and tents from Coleman are their upper/top end of campming gear. One of my 1st. tents was a 2 man Exponent, very well made and after 3 years I moved on to a 3 man tent and sold the Coleman tent to a friend who still enjoys it to this day.

If I was looking for another tent i'd give this one a real good look and consideration.

Here's a review from ADV on the tent with many pictures of the tent during and after settup. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270297&highlight=Coleman+tent

Yep, looks like a really nice tent.

[Mellow]

Thanks for the link / review, I saw that yesterday. Looks like a nice one.

[ParkerBill]

I use my The North Face Harrier that I've had for a few years now. I bought and equipped it with the optional footprint and inside upper shelf. It was pricie, for sure, but is holding up well, packs small enough to fit in one side or the other of my saddlebag and is rated for 2 people. They don't make it anymore. No big deal--there are plenty of other good tents from TNF and others.

The general rule of thumb is to buy a tent rated for one more person than will be actually using it most of the time so you have room to bring your gear inside with you. Vestibules are nice and can be used for storage and some can be (dare I say this) used to very carefully cook in if the weather is really inclement. Do NOT start your stove inside the vestibule. You really have to know what you are doing, have a vestibule that you can do this in, realize the danger of fire, know and trust your stove and keep a knife handy in case you have to cut your way out of a burning tent!

Having said all that--my mountain-climbing son is an absolute master at doing this and has safely cooked hundreds of meals on big mountain climbing expeditions without a single incident.

Have fun!

[DAD]

FYI, There is a company called "RAINY PASS REPAIRS" out west, they do all types of repairs on tents etc. They also do custom footprints. Just thought some of you might want to know just in case you don't want to get rid of your old tent. Sierra Designs doesn't make my Nightwatch any more and I need a new footprint, so to rainy pass I will go. They aren't cheap and if they don't have the pattern for your tent you have to send it to them. I've heard nothing but good about them.

[AzDesertRider]

Ok, at the risk of asking a really dumb question. Besides $150.00, what is the difference between a $50.00 tent & a $200.00 tent? Most seem to be the same size, make the same claims of water tightness & have the same options, such as gear hanger, rain flys and such.

I would imagine that the zipper & fabric quality come into play? I have always been a believer in "Ya get what ya pay fer"

I bought my original Mountain Ozark 9' x 8' pack size 24" x 8" at Wal - Mart thinking I would only use it one time, back in 2001. It was very cheap, but I have used it several times with no issues. I would like to upgrade to a good quality tent with aprox the same dimensions, set up & packed.

What makes for a quality tent?

[motomac]

Usually the greater the cost, the lighter the material, thus making it better for hiking and motorcycling.

[AzDesertRider]

Usually the greater the cost, the lighter the material, thus making it better for hiking and motorcycling.

Thanks Mac,

Seems like most of the tents I have seen at our local Big-5 & Sports Authority are made the same. Uppers are some kind nylon & the bottoms look like the same material as the blue tarps you can buy at Home Depot. I don't even know if that's a bad or good thing. Still learnin bout tents.

[Mark]

Bob,

When you start asking about tents it is the time to go to REI and Cabella's in Phoenix and look at them. You will quickly see the difference between Big 5, Wally World and the more expensive tents. Material (especially 3 and 4 season tents).

I like campmor.com as well as rei.com for tent comparisons (I haven't needed to look at Cabella's tents so I don't know about theirs).

Mark

[Mellow]

I think the 'cheap' tents of today were probably the expensive tents of yesterday...

As stated above, some of the material is different but it's all basically the same the mesh part and the waterproof layer.. some have full coverage flys, some have 2 door, some have fiberglass or aluminum poles some have 2 poles or 8 poles... some are tall some are wide some are extremely light.

Some brands like Mountain Hard Ware, North Face and MSR are noted high quality, hard core backpacking, hiking tents that as known for being tough..

For what WE do as motocampers, we don't really need a $500 tent. I think for $100 you can get a tent that will more than work. The first thing to do is list YOUR requirements. Then, go from there and narrow down your list.

[motomac]

I guess the biggest problem with tents and motorcylces is the thing Joe went trhough with the poles on his Tetragon 8. He thought he was going to get 26" poles and ended up with 29". Not a big difference, but he can't get them in his saddlebag, so he has a tent he doesn't want. I, on the other hand got the same tent and the 29" poles don't bother me 'cause the bag I have is a 30" bag. I only put my pots and pans in my saddlebag, so I pack a little different than Joe does. That is another thing you'll have fun doing is trying to figure where everything goes when you load your bike, and if you are packing a co-rider, the fun gets even more complicated. And Joe's comment on the quality of tents now compared to a few years ago is very true. So, check the pack size as well as the interior size of whatever tent you look at.

[AzDesertRider]

Thanks guy's

I'm really happy with a 24" length pack size and I like the big 9' x 8' size tent I now have, even if the guys at SeaSToc did kigd me, asking if my family was coming...lol...

There The local Big 5 had the Coleman Aris 8' x 7' on sale for $39.99. reg price $69.99. The tent looked good, but seemed like it was made out of cheap stuff... like I would know. I passed - thinking that if it sounds too good.....

That's it, I'm just gonna have to come to the big city & do some tent shopping !

[motomac]

I would not worry about what others say about your tent if it packs that small, you don't have much to worry about and you got a bunch of space.

[sandman]

Thanks guy's

I'm really happy with a 24" length pack size and I like the big 9' x 8' size tent I now have, even if the guys at SeaSToc did kigd me, asking if my family was coming...lol...

There The local Big 5 had the Coleman Aris 8' x 7' on sale for $39.99. reg price $69.99. The tent looked good, but seemed like it was made out of cheap stuff... like I would know. I passed - thinking that if it sounds too good.....

That's it, I'm just gonna have to come to the big city & do some tent shopping !

I've had a tent like yours for 3 years now and got some kidding about it's size. The one thing that makes it valuable to me is the space to stand and dress, plus I can bring all my gear inside including my Kermit chair. When the weather goes south I can sit in my tent and read a book just like I was at home.

Gotta Love It.

[Motocentaur]

I've had a tent like yours for 3 years now and got some kidding about it's size. The one thing that makes it valuable to me is the space to stand and dress, plus I can bring all my gear inside including my Kermit chair. When the weather goes south I can sit in my tent and read a book just like I was at home.

Gotta Love It.


Those guys who were laughing are going to be knocking on your door (flap) when the rain starts. Spending a rainy day on your back in a backpacker's tent is no fun.

[AzDesertRider]

Oh yeah, I'm sticking to a 9' x 8' ish size. Just want to understand what constitutes quality in a tent.

[Alphafang]

I went to check the tent I have used for about three years this morning. It's been used as a pup tent over last season, at the side of the caravan. I havn't used it at all last season. Dont kids make stuff fall apart real quick, the tie down loops were ripped the floor is sort of breaking up.....anyway decition time. I needed a new tent. I'd read this thread before and liked the look of the Coleman Phad 3. I shopped around on the internet and found one at £94.99, most were around the £150 mark. So I went to have a look at one in the flesh (I like to have a feel if you know what I mean) It was marked up at £154.99.
The camping shop (CCC) I went to had one pitched up inside the showroom. I was out with the tape measure and pulling on flaps' etc. The sales guy came over and asked if he could help. I was honest with him and told him I fancied it but had seen it cheaper on the net. He asked where and I told him Amazon at £98.99. He went on the net and told me that if I bought there and then he would match the price and add a 10% discount. At £89.09 quess what I came home with. It was straight to the back garden and pitched. It took 10 mins to pitch from the bag, honest, the wife timed me. Ok I didnt peg it down all round but wow it's easy. I like the many features, vents everywhere, zip back vestubule ground sheet great for bad weather cooking, adjustable straps, light weight 8.7lb, colour coded poles and tabs, real strong looking pegs, two doors and on and on...I think I'm going to like this. It real small too fits in the givi top box with loads of space to spare. All my cooking gear goes in too.
I'm a happy boy, as soon as it's used in anger I will let you know if my thoughts have changed.


http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313/alphafang/DSC01145.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313/alphafang/DSC01144.jpg

[Tx White Knight]

Nice write-up Alphafang,

I to have been places locally and mentioned that the net was cheaper and have gotten them to meet the net price :)


:tent8:

[Mellow]

Nice tent. Someone else posted a review from advrider I believe on that one as well.

[Alphafang]

Hi Joe
Yep saw that thread too. (nothing on it looks cheap and nasty to me)
Cheers
Paul

[Millsaps2]

I have an old Cabelas 6-man tent that allows you to stand but you can not put it up alone due to the pole/sleeve arrangement. Someone has to get in the tent and raise it while someone inserts the poles into the webbing.

Can someone suggest a 6-man tent that uses clips and aluminum poles which would allow you to erect the tent alone. Weight up to 20 pounds would be OK since I use a trailer.

For short trips without the trailer I use a Mountain Hardware 3-man tent. I need the bigger tent for multiple day camping-Bike Week-Daytona Beach in March where rain is typical and temp down in the 30's.

[GroundHog]

Millsapps2

I found this one at Sierra Trading Post..Price is not bad, but it has fiberglass poles.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,88122_Alps-Mountaineering-Wilderness-Tent-5+-Person-3-Season.html

[Ironheadziggy76]

Millsapps2,

A buddy of mine has a Eureka Tetragon 9 that he really likes. Plenty of room, 9'x9' floor, six foot center height, but has fiberglass poles.

http://www.eurekatent.com/p-79-tetragon-9-tent.aspx#

He caught it on sale for less than $100.00 at Gander Mountain a year ago with the rebate.

[Ripshod]

I would not worry about what others say about your tent if it packs that small, you don't have much to worry about and you got a bunch of space.

Amen to that one, brother!
If you can get it to stay on the bike and it helps get you through the night, then that's what's good for you. I know there are lots of times I'd dearly love to be able to stand up in my tent.

[rbertalotto]

If you saw my basement you would laugh.............I must have a dozen or more back packing size tents, in the boxes, most only used once or twice. Always trying to find the PERFECT moto tent.....

But 5 years ago I found the PERFECT tent for Moto Camping.........

Cabela's XPG

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Pod/02/48/30/p024830hz03.jpg



WHY........

The Two man version packs down small enough, with poles to fit in a BMW or GIVI 41L side case with plenty room to spare........

It is a "bath-tub" bottom so you don't need a ground cloth unless you want one......

Huge amounts of screen keeps it cool even on the hottest days....

It uses hooks, not sleeves to attach the tent to the poles. Much quicker and you aren't putting a tent pole through your neighbors tent in a crowded rally.....

It has overhead, totally rainproof ventilation. Stuff dries out even on wet days! And you can open and close the vents from inside the tent. Perfect!....

When it is all buttoned up for a storm, not one zipper is exposed. I don't care what brand of tent, if zippers are exposed, they will leak.....

The rain fly has two vestibules and the tent has two doors leading to each vestibule. You use one for your gear bag and this leaves lots of room inside the tent for you.......

Gear pockets in each corner for wallet, eye-glasses, etc. It comes with a gear loft overhead for more stuff off the floor.

Only two poles and four tent pegs are needed. Very fast set up and take down........

Two small plastic windows let you see what is going on outside.......

Mine has been in near hurricane conditions, to Alaska and back and used everyday for 5 1/2 weeks. It has been on hunting trips and canoe trips, cross country five times. It has been set up and taken down hundreds of times and it is still in perfect condition.

And it costs $179...............

[TXST_Rider]

If you saw my basement you would laugh.............I must have a dozen or more back packing size tents, in the boxes, most only used once or twice. Always trying to find the PERFECT moto tent.....



I'm in the market for a 2-3 man backpacking/moto-camping tent...

Interested in listing the backpacking tents you have to maybe thin the herd inexpensivley (at least for me? ;) )

[Mellow]

I'm in the market for a 2-3 man backpacking/moto-camping tent...

Interested in listing the backpacking tents you have to maybe thin the herd inexpensivley (at least for me? ;) )

Welcome to the site keith.

Check out the Eureka Pinnacle Pass TWO (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28100) or THREE (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28102) man tents. They pack down nicely.

[G wizz]

I'm in the market for a 2-3 man backpacking/moto-camping tent...

Interested in listing the backpacking tents you have to maybe thin the herd inexpensivley (at least for me? ;) )

Keith ... Correct me if I'm wrong.
Are you are looking for a used two or three man tent that one of the forum members might want to part with ?
That's what I thought you ment.

OH ... and Welcome to the Forum

G wizz

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome to the site Keith!

[TXST_Rider]

Thanks for the "welcome" notes...

Yes - I am trying to find a good 2-3 man tent for moto-camping AND for hiking suitable for solo work and for my son and I to utilize. I *really* like some of the good tents by Marmot, Big Agnes, MSR, Mountain Hardware, Eureka!, etc, but - WOW! - new the prices are getting close to bank note territory! Ok, not really, but certainly high for a hobby... at least on my budget.

I'm monitoring a few on flea-bay in what I consider to be a price range I might be able to sneak in under the SWAMBO-radar screen. I signed up here to learn more 'bout this growing interest in camping. I am learning a LOT reading from all the recommendations you folks have posted. Then I saw the post about the basement full and thought I'd drop a "wanna sell a good'un cheap" q-line out... :-)

[Mondo]

Keith - Try geartrade.com. Many of the tents listed have been returned to Mountain Hardware with little or no use. Good prices. I bought one from them and it is as advertised.

[STraddler]

Santa brought me a Nemo Morpho AR tent for Christmas . ( Bless his little heart .) It's a 2 person 3 season tent with 40 sq. feet of space inside. The best part of this tent is , NO POLES . It has air beams that you inflate with a foot pump.

http://www.nemoequipment.com/

[TXST_Rider]

Check out the Eureka Pinnacle Pass TWO (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28100) or THREE (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28102) man tents. They pack down nicely.

I checked these out (along with so many others they are starting to run together in my brain now...) and I like the size of the "3", but I REALLY like the Eureka! Mountain Pass 3XTE. Pack size is within 1/2" of the Pinnacle Pass, weight is just a tad more, but what I like is the beak over the door. This design looks like it might do a bit better job of keeping rain out of the tent during ingress and egress in inclement weather.

Any thoughts/comments on this design observation?

There are a few others that I like as well that tend to be higher up the $$ food chain. I am monitoring fleabay, Craigslist, Local Sales Network and the gear sites I am finding and/or being pointed to (thanks for the heads up on "geartrade.com", Mondo - I had not found that one!) for clearance or other steal-of-a-deal opportunities.

:think1:

[TXST_Rider]

Anyone familiar with the Big Agnes Elk Horn 3? Comments?

[denny]

If you are going to use one tent for both Motorcycle camping and backpacking, I think you need to decide where you want to make the compromises.

Motorcyclists need a place for all of that heavy riding gear, and it needs to be protected from the weather. A backpacker will not enjoy carrying around the extra tent space for gear that he is not using, unless it is an ultralight tent (usually big $$$$$).

That Elk horn is not a current Big Agnes product. I did find a little info, and some reviews.

I think one of the new Big Agnes tents with the optional large Vestibule would be nearly perfect for dual use, because you could leave the vestibule at home when backpacking. However I understand that is more than your budget wants to stretch.

I just bought a new tent. Vaude Taurus II (http://www.vaude.com/epages/Vaude-de.sf/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Vaude/Products/15743/SubProducts/157434000&Locale=en_NL&NavSignature=5,5,2). I found a 2008 model, still new, for a great price on ebay. I chose this model because the inner and outer tents are attached, so if I have to pitch it during a rainstorm the inner tent remains dry inside. It does use sleeves instead of clips, but setting it up inside revealed to me those are not really a problem since it only has 2 poles. This one would be a little heavy for backpacking. It has ample room inside for 2 and gear, plus a vestibule for muddy boots and a duffle bag or 2. Pack size is good too. There are much nicer tents, but in my price of under 125$ I think it was a good value.

It's a hard decision, I studied and shopped tents for a few weeks before I made up my mind.

[TXST_Rider]

Denny,

Thanks for the comments.

Like you, I have been reading and researching on the internet relatively intensely for almost a month now. I recently just missed an opportunity on an almost new Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL3 for $100... bummer!

Oh, and on the Elk Horn 3 - if they don't get away, I have my eye on 2 that are available now for around $100.

I have leaky tents now. Having recently borrowed a friend's The North Face 2 man tent and getting through some moderate rain at the Blue Ridge Gathering totally dry in it, I told my wife, "I want a GOOD tent!"

Also, now having the vast level of experience of two (count'em - 2!) motorcycle camping trips, I am hooked on moto-camping. In addition, between being married to a gal who enjoys camping (we actually bought a used pop-up camper this past summer after 2 tent camping trips, one of which is a tale unto itself! I know, "camper" camping is another animal, but still,...) and being a Scoutmaster for a new Boy Scout Troop at our church, I have camped more in '09 than probably all the years of my life prior put together. I see many more similar experiences in my future. All in all, I think I will be able to put a good tent to good use, and I want it to keep me dry, warm, cool and to hold up so I stay dry after using it a fewseveralmany times.

Oh, did I mention it's important it keep me dry when the sky weeps? :D

So, as best as I can construct at this juncture, here are my general priorities in a tent:

Good weather protection
ROOM inside for 2 campers who do NOT desire to be intimate, plus a bit of gear
Pack Size - critical to meet my personal goal of "all my camping gear fitting in my top box when moto-camping solo"
Decent ventilation for the warm muggy outings
Decent heat retention for the chilly outings (I nearly froze my tootsies off once camping the wrong way with the wrong equipment when the temps dropped to the low 40s F - have since camped more comfortably with "better" equipment and knowledge even when the dew iced on the outside of the tent)
and as some of you know - Scouts sometime do this thing called "Winter Camp"... :confused:
Enough head room inside to comfortably sit up or raise up on my knees to change clothes - I'm really not a good "ground dweller".
Vestibule or similar option for gear overflow
Pack weight - unless I REALLY get hardcore about hiking, I don't foresee doing a lot of solo hike-n-camp excursions, usually will AT LEAST be with my son. As I expect to split the tent components to share the weight when hiking, I'm ok with up to about 8 or 9 lbs for a tent if the $/size compromise demands it, obviously I would PREFER less if the right "deal" is found
Prefer AL poles for both weight and durability
I like the tents with more vertical side walls as this makes for more livable interior space
Dual doors and dual vestibules are nice features, and I do like them, but certainly not a requirement - adds weight cost, and another opportunity for a failure

I may well have forgotten something.

I will admit that I have already picked up some ideas from accounts and pics on this site from the more experienced campers. For instance, I like the idea of a lightweight waterproof tarp set over the entrance of a tent which makes a protected sitting area and even a cooking area when the weather is foul... P^

As to price range? Well, I WANT to stay around a C-note, but am currently willing to go as high as about $150 if I HAVE to. Frankly, to poorly paraphrase an old song, I want a whole lot-o-something for nothing... :rolleyes:

So - what have I missed or overlooked? Are my "priorities" totally skewed? Am I looking at / going about this all wrong?

Listening and willing to learn - - -


:tent6:

[denny]

Keith,

Your priorities are the same as mine. I found several that would work OK for me.
I started narrowing down the list based on pack size as the first priority. My old tent is 27 x 8 when rolled in it's tote bag. And that's just too big for my taste. I spent 2 uncomfortable nights in my old tent in May. Around 40 degrees, one night I heard hunters using dogs to run bears. I am hoping to be much more comfortable this year on the Adirondacks trip.


That Elk Horn has nearly the same floor size as the one I bought, and a little bit more headroom. My brother and I set it up in the basement and crawled in. It will be pretty good for the 2 of us and we could crowd in another if it was an emergency. Good Luck finding what you want for a good price. I learned that there are several of last years models available this time of year. O and I forgot to mention I also bought a fairly nice tarp from Crazy Creek. That will make a nice cover for a picnic table or just in front of the tent.

[Dusty Boots]

Keith, besides looking at Campmor (http://www.campmor.com/gear/tents.shtml), keep an eye out at REI/REI-Outlet.com, or better yet, sign up for their REI Gearmail(free) and you can get 'coupons' for 20% off any one item. You'll also receive notices of sales they have throughout the year. They have some tents on sale for up to 50% off, at times.
When you find something that interests you, post a link to the tent on this thread and I'm sure other, more experienced campers, will advise you

I echo Denny's advice about carrying a large, lightweight tarp to expand your 'living space' during inclement weather. They offer lots of shelter for minimum packed space and are pretty easy to set up, after you have practiced a few times and use the correct knots. You'll soon be able to select a campsite that makes erecting a tarp easier, before long. I always carry a tarp with me, that fits over a standard size picnic table. You can also use them when 'car camping', or backpacking. Makes life so much more pleasant, whether it's getting out of the rain to cook/sit etc, or to duck under for shade. So much more room for living than being 'tent-bound' in a cramped tent.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/4204429523_9e0829487e_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3661794510_1451341b6e_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3667677105_d5e373fd1a_o.jpg http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/103000/103814.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3667718637_5d2b9a5ffb_o.jpg http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/103000/103652.jpg http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/103000/103812.jpg http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/103000/103810.jpg http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/103000/103816.jpg http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/103000/103815.jpg



I've also made a little video showing 3 simple knots that are easy to tie and just as importantly, untie. I hope this helps those that are intimidated with knots. :o


YouTube- Dusty Boots's all purpose knots


Dusty

[Ironheadziggy76]

Keith, be sure and keep an eye out for the clearance sales, Mountain Hardware, and North Face have changed some of their tents and may have the "new" old ones on sale. As far as I can tell, the new version of my Light Wedge 3 is basically the same but only a different color with maybe an upgrade or two. The North Face Rock series tents are a different color as well, so the leftovers may sell at a better price. I've been very pleased with my Mountain Hardware tent. I was looking for a four person tent to start with and had decided that the Kelty Gunnison 4 was the tent for me. Then I saw Blues Traveller's three person tent and went with it. It's been flawless so far! P^

[TPadden]

Personal druthers in my tents:

Poles -clip or sleeve (I hate sleeves).

Doors - one or two makes me no-nevermind; door front or side (I hate front)

If you set up and take down a tent more than 3 or 4 times on a trip you'll hate sleeves too, I promise. Doors at the front are just a pain getting anything in or out of the tent as well as entering and leaving the tent. :tent2:

[TXST_Rider]

TPadden - I agree on the sleeves. They are a pain.

However, given my primary concern of price constraint, I would likely seriously consider a sleeve design at the right if the other parameters were met. I would be a lot happier if it met those, was a good price, AND clips... :rolleyes:

[denny]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4fJqih4JL4


I watched this and decided I could live with the sleeves. Trade off is I can erect this one in a rain storm (by myself) and the inside will remain dry. With clips the inside is exposed until the fly is thrown over. I get caught in the rain every time I take a bike trip, I figure it is only a matter of time until I'll get stuck pitching camp during a rain storm.

I've used other tents with sleeves, and I must admit these work quite a bit easier. I might regret my decision, we shall see. This one beats the hell out of my 8 year old WalMart tent that's for sure.

[TPadden]

With clips the inside is exposed until the fly is thrown over.......

You're doing it WRONG :o. With clips in the rain you put up the fly and groundcloth FIRST then throw the tent inside and clip. Everything stays dry inside; done it MANY times :).

[denny]

I never had a tent with a full fly before so that was not possible.

[Ironheadziggy76]

You're doing it WRONG :o. With clips in the rain you put up the fly and groundcloth FIRST then throw the tent inside and clip. Everything stays dry inside; done it MANY times :).


I've done it this way too, but it sure is tough on a fat guy! :lol2

[Black and Blue]

You guys are all doing it wrong. I have my wife hold up a six foot wide umbrella over the area that the tent is being set up.:D Works everytime.P^

P.S. Umbrella works well in hail storms.:p

[TXST_Rider]

Just this morning my son and I were discussing tents and I had added the Eureka! Spitfire 2 to my short list of possibles. I know, this compromises some of my space preferences, but, at least based on the i-net descriptions, sounds like a larger 2 man option. My one concern - just looking at pics - is the fly appears to open directly over the mesh door leaving a significant opportunity for rain to get into the tent in inclement weather conditions.

Any thoughts, experience, observations, pros/cons from anyone regarding this tent for one or two man (me and my son) camping off the bike or doing some hiking with this tent?

Much appreciated!

[2000Newsboy]

P^Hi Folks,

I travel 2 up and my lady so much prefers to stand to dress...:tent7: We bought a Vaude Grand Famile 4 man tent which I think may be off the market. The Vaude Famile is similar but a little lower. All have aluminium poles and I added the additional footprint.

We've used the tent in rain but not high winds. The height is great most times but faced with wind I'll be very carefull to go for a sheltered spot: seen a few good tents destroyed... There is enough through ventilation to keep fairly cool in the sun, something other tents have suffered from.

Our uses have confirmed the old saying that "Quality Remains Long After the Price is Forgotten...". BUT the tent was expensive, has little in the way of vestibues and would maybe be a purchase for someone who's sure they'll get value from it.

At the time the tent had the best height/weight ratio available. Tipi tents weren't much in evidence in the UK and those I saw seemed just too big and quite heavy.

Rob

[TPadden]

Just this morning my son and I were discussing tents and I had added the Eureka! Spitfire 2 to my short list of possibles..... My one concern - just looking at pics - is the fly appears to open directly over the mesh door leaving a significant opportunity for rain to get into the tent in inclement weather conditions.
Much appreciated!

More important for a 2 man tent that is ACTUALLY going to be used by 2 persons is the 2 side doors (BIG plus). Inclement weather or not there are few things worse than getting kicked in the face as the other person tries to crawl in or out a "one door" 2 man in the middle of the night when nature calls.:o

A BIG minus is the Spitfire isn't freestanding :(.

[canyonman]

Just this morning my son and I were discussing tents and I had added the Eureka! Spitfire 2 to my short list of possibles. I know, this compromises some of my space preferences, but, at least based on the i-net descriptions, sounds like a larger 2 man option. My one concern - just looking at pics - is the fly appears to open directly over the mesh door leaving a significant opportunity for rain to get into the tent in inclement weather conditions.

Any thoughts, experience, observations, pros/cons from anyone regarding this tent for one or two man (me and my son) camping off the bike or doing some hiking with this tent?

Much appreciated!

I have the spitfire 2, nice tent but not much head room, not self standing which can suck and takes longer to set up and tear down cause you need to use the stakes every time.

I have a single wall 1 man zeus that is self standing and sets up really fast but no head room and if your east of the rockies it will sweat on the inside.

I just got a 2 man mountain pass and though I haven't actually tried it yet it is by far the best one I have. Lots of room, packs very small for how big it is, 2 doors with windows, gear loft, high/low ventilation and a rain fly with a nice overhang to form two dry vestibules one on each side.
I got it from Manventure Outpost for $120 which is $50-$70 cheaper than everywhere else I looked, $10 to ship. no I'm not affiliated in any way.
Just checked they have the 3 man mountain pass for $145 thats $45 cheaper than campmor
mountainpass 3man (http://www.manventureoutpost.com/products/Eureka%21-2629055-Mountain-Pass-3XTE.html)

[TXST_Rider]

Whewwwww....

This has been an arduous process!!!

Thanks, Canyonman, for the heads up to the ManVenture Outpost. P^

Very early I flagged the Eureka! Mountain Pass 3XTE as one of the short-short list desireables,

http://www.campmor.com/wcsstore/Campmor/static/images/tents/29055.jpg

but the Campmor price tag was above my desired limit. I have been searching and even bid on several other tents on flea-bay, but had not won an auction. I had even recently raised my price ceiling on a couple of auctions as the $$ reality set in. With ManVenture Outpost's $145 price plus 15 shipping/packaging/insurance, this dropped the outlay to within my (newly adjusted) pain tolerance window...

My Moutain Pass 3XTE is ordered, :run1:

now just to axiously await the arrival of the Brown/Ex-guy or gal... :please1:

the to find an opportunity to try it out! :tent7: We have a Scout Winter Camporee schedule end of Feb, they should do nicely... :cold1:

Unfortunately, with the "restrictive" camp-counter rules around here (just kidding), I won't get to count that in my profile as this most assuredly will NOT be a "MOTO" camping trip. :(

:rolleyes:

[Ironheadziggy76]

Good looking tent! P^

[denny]

Your perseverance paid off!

[gdawg]

If you saw my basement you would laugh.............I must have a dozen or more back packing size tents, in the boxes, most only used once or twice. Always trying to find the PERFECT moto tent.....

But 5 years ago I found the PERFECT tent for Moto Camping.........

Cabela's XPG

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Pod/02/48/30/p024830hz03.jpg



WHY........

The Two man version packs down small enough, with poles to fit in a BMW or GIVI 41L side case with plenty room to spare........

It is a "bath-tub" bottom so you don't need a ground cloth unless you want one......

Huge amounts of screen keeps it cool even on the hottest days....

It uses hooks, not sleeves to attach the tent to the poles. Much quicker and you aren't putting a tent pole through your neighbors tent in a crowded rally.....

It has overhead, totally rainproof ventilation. Stuff dries out even on wet days! And you can open and close the vents from inside the tent. Perfect!....

When it is all buttoned up for a storm, not one zipper is exposed. I don't care what brand of tent, if zippers are exposed, they will leak.....

The rain fly has two vestibules and the tent has two doors leading to each vestibule. You use one for your gear bag and this leaves lots of room inside the tent for you.......

Gear pockets in each corner for wallet, eye-glasses, etc. It comes with a gear loft overhead for more stuff off the floor.

Only two poles and four tent pegs are needed. Very fast set up and take down........

Two small plastic windows let you see what is going on outside.......

Mine has been in near hurricane conditions, to Alaska and back and used everyday for 5 1/2 weeks. It has been on hunting trips and canoe trips, cross country five times. It has been set up and taken down hundreds of times and it is still in perfect condition.

And it costs $179...............


i like the 3 man version, which is now set at $169
sometimes my wife may take a short trip with me and that will give me the extra room for her....

anyone know the pack size ? i couldn't find it on their site
which is located here

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=netcon&id=0031780516763a&navCount=1&podId=0031780&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=&indexId=&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=cabela%20xpg%20tent&cm_ite=netcon&rid=2146251080&hasJS=true

is this still considered a good tent? i plan to purchase in a week or so

also, where are you guys buying your tarps ? i see many places with many different prices

[Maryland Roger]

I recently purchased a Coleman eXponent Cadence 2. 2 person 3 season. I like the single aluminum pole design. It has a 90 x 60 tub floor and is 45 high. 4.7 lbs. I tried it out last week up on Skyline drive at Big Meadows campground in VA. It was 34 degrees and gusting wind conditions. Set up was as simple as you'd imagine for a single pole design. It also has a large vestibule area and a big back window. The stakes are thick and well made. It performed very well in the howling wind. Packing it away was just as easy as set up and I have no complaints.http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/prod_lrg_images/621/210956621.jpg

Update: After using this tent again, I've decided to return it. The issue I'm having is the main doorway zipper keeps getting snagged in the flap that covers it. It's a pain to use unless both hands are free. Now, I'm looking for a new tent...again.

[nortonkicker]

The tent I use at this time is the Alps Mountaineering Chaos 3. It has 2 large D-style doors, large #8 zippers, lots of ventilation for summer camping, plenty of storage pockets, and a vestibule area outside of each door for storing gear outside. Measures 5'6" x 7'6" and packs down to 7" x 24" . It weighs 5lbs and sets up pretty easily. The Chaos 2 is a little smaller and lighter, but I like the extra room. I am also looking into the Catoma internal frame tents. They sent me one for review and I think I will like it. Will post info on the Catoma, but I prefer to test it during bad weather.

[martyblok]

I have a Kelty Yellowstone 4 which has plenty of room for me and my stuff. I can stand up with my head bent over and put my pants on which I prefer to being on my back side to do that. It is 8x8 and although it doesn't pack real small it carry it on the back seat so that isn't a problem. If you get the Yellowstone 2 you have pole sleeves to deal with, but the 4 has clips. Very easy set up for one person. I am very happy with it.

[Indianscout]

After three years of a cheap Wally-World tent I broke down and bought a Apex 3xta tent. Only had the chance to use it 2 or 3 times this year but am please with it. I do wish the vestibule was a bit larger like the new ones but other than that have managed to work around that. As far a ground cloth I use a piece of house wrap I got from the local lumber yard or construction site. Cheap, folds up very small and easy to replace if needed.

[zig]

I've got a question about the footprint (ground cloth). I bought the one that is supposed to go with my tent, but after setting the tent up the first time in the backyard, when I took the tent down, the footprint had a tear in it. The local Tractor Supply has a 6' x 8' Canvas "tarp" that is labeled as "water resistant". The package actually markets this as breathable, which would allow condensation on equipment it's covering to dry out, preventing rusting. My question is do we want a "water proof" tarp for a footprint? Or would this "water resistant" breathable canvas tarp (which is quite thick and a little on the heavy side) be better for a footprint?

[Mellow]

The purpose of a ground cloth/tarp is to protect the bottom of the tent... that's it.. doesn't matter if it breaths or is waterproof... it's protection.

No matter how breathable it is... you'll have condensation under the tent.

[Mr. Guy]

A lot of people use the "Tyvek" house wrap for their footprint. You can pick up at a lumber yard pretty cheap for a big roll or poke around new housing additions and go dumpster diving and find some for free. When it tears, throw it away and cut a new one.

Guy

[Clamper]

Have you ever gone dumpster diving around a construction site where you are not known? It is a good way to get shot, hit with a four foot 2X4, or just arrested. :eek:

No I think it is cheaper just to pick up a blue tarp or a tent ground cloth. :D

Or did you mean a construction site during the Day? Well that might be different. Hmmm,,,, maybe I should have thought of that first. :think1:

[Indianscout]

As a former general contractor if anyone would have asked me I would have been happy to help out as there was always a partial roll somewhere on the job site or some scrap laying around. I asked for some at my local lumber yard and they gave me a piece big enough for two tents.....but then again I live in a small town.

[zig]

Thanks for the info. I had read somewhere that the footprint helps if it rains and water runs underneath the tent, guess that has been buggin' me, didn't know if it was to help keep the water out in that situation. Tyvek makes a lot of sense. I'll have to keep my eyes open when I'm ridin' around. The tarp may have to work until then. This is a great site, thanks for the help everybody.

[Mr. Guy]

Have you ever gone dumpster diving around a construction site where you are not known? It is a good way to get shot, hit with a four foot 2X4, or just arrested. :eek:

No I think it is cheaper just to pick up a blue tarp or a tent ground cloth. :D

Or did you mean a construction site during the Day? Well that might be different. Hmmm,,,, maybe I should have thought of that first. :think1:


Sorry, I just always assume everyone knows you ALWAYS ask first. It's just plain polite if nothing else.

Guy

[Clamper]

No problem Mr. Guy. I was question politly and when the owner got there it was all taken care of, the cops left and we laughed. Well John did, I tried.. I did get stared at by his neighbor. Ha, Ha, yeah, big woop. John still gets some mileage off that story.

[nimrod]

I've got a question about the footprint (ground cloth). I bought the one that is supposed to go with my tent, but after setting the tent up the first time in the backyard, when I took the tent down, the footprint had a tear in it. The local Tractor Supply has a 6' x 8' Canvas "tarp" that is labeled as "water resistant". The package actually markets this as breathable, which would allow condensation on equipment it's covering to dry out, preventing rusting. My question is do we want a "water proof" tarp for a footprint? Or would this "water resistant" breathable canvas tarp (which is quite thick and a little on the heavy side) be better for a footprint?

Your tent "floor" is the waterproof element. Footprints are like disposable protection.

[Mellow]

Thanks for the info. I had read somewhere that the footprint helps if it rains and water runs underneath the tent, guess that has been buggin' me, didn't know if it was to help keep the water out in that situation. Tyvek makes a lot of sense. I'll have to keep my eyes open when I'm ridin' around. The tarp may have to work until then. This is a great site, thanks for the help everybody.

It's a common misconception, think about it.. depending on where you setup or how much rain you get.. the footprint could just as easily keep a layer of water ON it was much as keep it under it...

As stated above, your tent is waterproof already.

[aysrav]

The purpose of a ground cloth/tarp is to protect the bottom of the tent... that's it.. doesn't matter if it breaths or is waterproof... it's protection.


I almost always use one too. Same reason, just to protect the bottom of the tent from getting punctured by little rocks or twigs. P^

[TXST_Rider]

As stated above, your tent is waterproof already.

... or at least you HOPE it is...

:rolleyes:

[zeke]

Has anyone used or seen the Apache tents?

[dapugh]

I'm researching the Nomad tent companies "Tenere Expedition tent, holds you and your stuff & bike

[SCoffman1]

Santa brought me a Nemo Morpho AR tent for Christmas . ( Bless his little heart .) It's a 2 person 3 season tent with 40 sq. feet of space inside. The best part of this tent is , NO POLES . It has air beams that you inflate with a foot pump.

http://www.nemoequipment.com/

I'm really anxious to read a full review of this tent when you have had a chance to use it some. It seems like it would be really great for motocamping. Not having poles and leaving the inflatable airbeams in the tent would make it really fast to setup in almost any condition. It would seem like it would fold down small too. I hope you do a full write up on it with pictures.

Steve

[quadancer]

I can say that if the footprint is smaller than the tent and it rains, you can get mud and litter all over the tent sides from rain splash, and still may get water beneath. The ideal IMO, is to have a bit of ground slope around the periphery of the tent if possible and a larger footprint, so you don't get splash but have drainage.
If camping on a pad of loose chat (crusher run or gravel), it's easy to trench around the tent by lifting the footprint and scraping away some gravel.
edit: oops, I was answering the wrong page...oh well, I got an excuse...57 year and I have CRS. (Can't Remember Stuff)

[zeke]

The Tenera is an interesting tent. If it is raining you could use the garage
to cook in. I also want to be able to stand and get dress.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The Tenera is an interesting tent. If it is raining you could use the garage to cook in. I also want to be able to stand and get dressed.

I have one and I like it.

My last three tents have been Kelty 3-person units. Very well made tents with two doors and two vestibules. Plenty of room to sleep on one side and have my "stuff" on the other side. However, I still had to dress on the ground and they were a bit difficult for someone of my age to exit and that process always involved a lot of crawling on hands-and-knees.

Now with the Nomad [new company name is Redverz Gear, I was told a copyright issue with the original name forced the change] I can sleep in the inner tent [which is a bit larger and taller than the Keltys] and dress either sitting on a chair or standing up in the outer area. I'm 5'10" now and can stand in the outer area with no difficulty.

The setting-up process is not very much different -- three poles, some stakes and guy-lines for the outer fly. Then go inside, in the dry, and attach the inner tent to the inside of the outer fly. It's all set up. Tear-down is the reverse -- detach the inner tent, in the dry, and put it and the other things I want to keep dry [sleeping bag, sheet, pad, etc] in a dry bag. Then go outside and disassemble the outer fly [it's normally going to be wet], roll it up and put it into another bag with the poles and ground sheet.

Ride safe.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I've got an MSR Skinny 2 which I don't even think they make anymore.

While escaping a fire here in Texas up at PK lake the floor got ripped up pretty good. I thought for sure my 200 dollar tent was a gonner. 40 bucks and a UPS package later I got it back in the mail. They didn't just patch the rips they replaced the whole floor. Excellent customer service. Which is I guess something that 200 dollars goes too not just material :)

These pics are from a test setup right after I got the tent for x-mas

[jim454]

Hi All,
I bought a cheap single wall bivy tent from Cabela's, for a 1 week trip to Montana. We got hit with a huge overnight storm in North Dakota and I literally got soaked to the bone, EVERYTHING was soaked. There are somethings that you just can't skimp on. I bought a 3 man, Sierra Designs tent about 12 years ago that has always treated me well, just a little big (I thought) for my trip. Lesson learned.

[neorider]

I can echo the comments about the Eureka Timberline tents. I have used them for 20+ years in scouting and if they can withstand the abuse of 10-17 year old boys, then I think they will last a careful camper forever.

I do, however, have a little different opinion on the "larger than the bottom" vs. "slightly smaller than the bottom" debate when it comes to the ground cloth. I have always used a cut-to-fit piece of fairly heavy poly placed inside the tent. In all of the years of using this method, I have never had wet sleeping gear, even when a small river ran through the camp.

[Kimswang]

Here is the ultimate motorcycle tent for longer stays:

On shorter stays / longer trips I use a 3 man version of it. The larger one packs up to 9.4" by 20" and weigh in at 15.6 lbs, not bad for that size of a tent.

[oldmanriver1951]

[QUOTE=Millsaps2;21715]I have an old Cabelas 6-man tent that allows you to stand but you can not put it up alone due to the pole/sleeve arrangement. Someone has to get in the tent and raise it while someone inserts the poles into the webbing.

Can someone suggest a 6-man tent that uses clips and aluminum poles which would allow you to erect the tent alone. Weight up to 20 pounds would be OK since I use a trailer.

try the coleman insta-tent...one man setup, 2 will make it quicker...up in less than a minute, lots of cross vent. and no need for a rainfly (but I'm hedging my bets and getting a kelty just in case...)Coleman quality, little more heavy duty than standard coleman, comes down in a minute or less and weighs in at 24 lbs...not a lite tent, but perfect for the Ural and the trailer....

[Whosoever]

[QUOTE=quadancer;39234 I have CRS. (Can't Remember Stuff)[/QUOTE]

I like that! P^ CRS....have to remmember that one!

[quadancer]

Yeh...I use the cleaned-UP version....! :o

[kitesurfer]

there was a brand new nomad tenere on ebay yeterday for $386. i like the new changes to it so much, i'm going to the the newer version expedition 2 @ $450.