Anyone have any thoughts - or guiding to - 1 man tent use?

[CafGriff]

I started of thinking ' Oh! I'll just get a light weight 1 man tent' easy .... OMG! I'm now at the other end of the scale, I'm innandated with too much information and I'm spoilt for choice.
I'm looking at the Vango Banshee 200, Zephyros Wild Country or the North Ridge or even a Jack Wolf Gossamer 1 person tent !!
It's all the sizes ! It's all the packaged weights ( all under 2 kgs ) It's all the greens, blacks, some red ones, some tubular, some... some using one main pole ...some two!!
I can't stand it no more !!!
I'm off for a cuppa and a lie down !! No ! Not in a tent!!

 

[Bodhbh]

I'm not one who knows much about tents, but I'd consider whether you really want a 1 or 2-man tent for touring. The weight's not as much as an issue cycling as when you're lugging it on your back. I've used a 1 man Lightwave Trek for the past 6 years, and while it's been a solid tent, it's small and there's not much you can do in it but sleep or sit crosslegged. Very little room for panniers or wet clothes either and requires some flexiblity to get in and out of.

On the plus side, is size means it's easy to pitch behind a hedge or wherever if wildcamping.

 

[Mile195]

Don't get a 1-man tent. It's basically a sleeping bag! 2-man actually means a comfortable 1-man tent, only with room for some of your gear.

I use a Coleman Avior X2 when it's just me in it. Takes about 5 minutes to put up... and has room for my gear (I often use it on motorcycling holidays). Anyway, it sounds like you're already overwhelmed with suggestions though, so feel free to ignore me!

 

[frank9755]

I did research on this a couple of years ago. I ended up getting a Terra Nova Laser.
http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/laser-competition-1-tent/

It's not enormous but has certainly been big enough for me plus all my gear on various tours, weighs less than 1kg and is quick and easy to put up.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I use a quecha t2 two man tent in black at 1.8kg and about £100 FROM DECATHLON.

perfect on and off bike ...no probs across Germany, France, USA

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Ask yourself what you want the tent for. sleeping in only, sheltering from bad weather, being able to sit up in. Now start looking at some of those 'floor' plans and watch as you realise how little space or headroom they have. Now consider what life expectancy you want from this tent - how many years? how often you are going to use it, and at what time of year - only summer, then a 1 season tent may be OK. All of these things control what tent you should buy. Also watch the hydrostatic head figures - this is basically how much rain the tent will stand up to... the larger the figure in mm the better...

I have just had to research purchasing a new ultra lightweight tent for myself and my husband who is 6 foot 0. A really useful website for stats etc on 2-3 season tents, (something that should stand up to the worst Scotland can through at it in late autumn or early Spring) is this site (cheaptents.com) though it is not necessarily the cheapest place for a particular tent, it does have weights and good floor plans all in one place.
In the end I purchased a 2-3 person tent for the 2 of us (Vaude Power Lizard SUL 2-3P) which will be huge for me when I use it on my own for a week, but at 1.4kg total weight (including peg, pole and tent bags) is easily light enough for me to tour alone with and should be big enough for the 2 of us plus our kit when it rains.

 

[andym]

Decide on your budget: £150-£200 takes you below 2 kgs. Over £300 takes you below 1kg.

See if you can get to one of the tent shows organised by Cotswold Camping. There's no real substitute for actually sitting in a tent and putting on/taking off a jumper.

Also ignore what manufacturers say: a 1-2 two-person tent is fine for one person, if there are two of you get a 2-3 person tent.

...and while it's been a solid tent, it's small and there's not much you can do in it but sleep or sit crosslegged. Very little room for panniers or wet clothes either and requires some flexiblity to get in and out of.

I'm wondering: what else do you need/want to do in a tent?

My panniers go in the porch. Ditto wet clothes. And unless you have major problems with arthritis, getting into and out of a tent shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Of course, bigger tents take longer to set up when rain threatens. But are better when it is raining.

 

[Bodhbh]

I'm wondering: what else do you need/want to do in a tent?

My panniers go in the porch. Ditto wet clothes. And unless you have major problems with arthritis, getting into and out of a tent shouldn't be an issue.

I was probably being generous. While it's possible to put them in the porch the reality is they stay on the bike, as they fit in at a squeeze and block the exit - I use an empty pannier as doormat, leave my barbag and shoes there and that's the porch full. Sitting up crosslegged is I guess is all you do in a tent, but I suppose it's nice to shift position - tbh I generally dodge the issue by staying outside, or in bad weather finding a bar or whatever. But not everyone wants to do that and it's not always possible. I don't regret using a small tent, but it puts a certain spin on things and I think for better or worst my next will be larger.

 

[classic33]

Consider where you'll be using the tent.
This may help decide on the colour. Some places require that your tent not stick out like a sore thumb. Also consider when & where the tent will be used. Again down to colour, "wild camping" you're easier spot in a bright coloured tent.
Single or double skin tent. When & where will help decide that part. As will your budget.
Will you be looking at possibly cooking whilst in the tent?
If yes, then a porch is desirable.
Ease of pitching?
Liken it to trying to fold a standard size map up, to the area you want/require. Easy do it indoors in the shop, especially if they happen to be demonstrating the same ones over & over. Now think about trying to that in a rush, in heavy rain & with a bit of a wind blowing. Not quite so easy or quick.
If a pole were to break?
How easy would it be to get a replacement? Are individual sections available or do you have to buy a set? Duct tape can hold as a temporary repair.
As others have said manufacturers seem to overrate the sleeping capacity of their tents.
Take what you would normally have with you on the bike, panniers & suchlike, see what footprint they leave. Add this to the space required. Err on the side of caution & go up a "size", rather than find out your having to leave stuff outside the tent.
As for what you can do in a tent. Go to the toilet, change out of a wet set of clothes, cook.
And you can always sit the bad weather out before packing up & moving on.

 

[bikepacker]

Another thread on tents. You pays your money and takes your choice.

But if you want the best space for weight ratio, plus ease of putting up in poor weather, plus double skin. Then a Hilleberg tunnel has to be a consideration. Yes it will cost your more but if you come to sell it will have the biggest resale value. Having tried, tested and used many tents over the years, I cannot find better.

 

[CafGriff]

ok Team! I have purchased a Vango Banshee 200 from Go Adventure!!
I'll play around with this through out the autum and the winter ... no too into the winter!
I shall also get a macro-packed sleeping bag from our local Goulds, army surplus shop and a self inflating mattress .. which again folds down into a tiny, tiny pack.

 

[mcshroom]

The Banshee is a good little tent. A bit limited on head room but nothing too major. When my old Coleman Viper wore out a couple years back I got a very similar tent to that Vango as a replacement. (I actually got a Coleman Cobra2 because it happened to be on offer and cheaper).

 

[CafGriff]

cool !! I'm happy with it so far.
Mind you It's not raining ............ yet!!

 

[bikepacker]

Called into Trekitts outdoor shop in Hereford this afternoon. Walked out with a Hilleberg Anjan 2gt, now I have to find a way of telling the wife.