Best pannier bags, tents and stuff for cycle touring

[MichaelW2]

Nomadic cycle tourists get several years use out of premium grade tents, used almost every day.
For weekender use, you don't need that much quality. I have used a Gelhert Solo for about 35 days of camping, inc some heavy rain and it is showing wear, but it cost me £20 and was bought for 1 night use when I couldn't book a hotel room.
My Hilleberg Akto is a hardier beast and I have complete confidence in scary winds and heavy rain. It is overkill for summer nights.

 

[22camels]

"UV light degrades nylon tents"
another example of something that might be a real concern if you were planning to be on the road for 1 year + and camping half the time, but is pretty insignificant if you're just doing 2,3,4 day trips once in a while..

 

[psmiffy]

UV light degrades nylon tents, and camping forums seem to hold that the useful life of a tent is 14 weeks pitched

So take it down before first light and pitch after dark - I reckon on about 300 nights for a decent quality tent - about the time that the stitching starts to go, the poles get thin, the groundsheet knackered- £600 (which gets you a pretty decent tent) works out about £2 a night - I looked at my capital costs for my stuff a while back and it worked out about £10/night

 

[KneesUp]

So take it down before first light and pitch after dark - I reckon on about 300 nights for a decent quality tent - about the time that the stitching starts to go, the poles get thin, the groundsheet knackered- £600 (which gets you a pretty decent tent) works out about £2 a night - I looked at my capital costs for my stuff a while back and it worked out about £10/night

It's 13p per night with the Tesco tent, and less if you pitch and take down in the dark

 

[psmiffy]

So to clarify did the Tesco one last 100 nights - or are we being a little hypothetical

 

[stoatsngroats]

Ortlieb panniers are so damn good!

I can't suggest a tent, as we booked one which was already on the site we chose, which limited what we needed to carry!

 

[Hill Wimp]

I bought a new tent for my tour next month. It's a Vango Banshee. From only having it up once it looks good. It's a two man but imho you would need to be very friendly with the second person or very desperate for shelter.

I will let you know how it did when i come back in August.

 

[NickWi]

It's a two man but imho you would need to be very friendly with the second person or very desperate for shelter.

That's one of the problems with the 'man' rating. Two size zero catwalk models probably, but not necessarily two fully grown men. However if the tent manufacturers are wiling to provide them, I'm prepared to spend the night or maybe even conduct an extended test with two catwalk models to see if it is possible to ...........

 

[Hill Wimp]

That's one of the problems with the 'man' rating. Two size zero catwalk models probably, but not necessarily two fully grown men. However if the tent manufacturers are wiling to provide them, I'm prepared to spend the night or maybe even conduct an extended test with two catwalk models to see if it is possible to ...........

Well i am a 5'4 female and it would be tight with 2 of me. However i do think it will be fine for me and my panniers.

 

[KneesUp]

So to clarify did the Tesco one last 100 nights - or are we being a little hypothetical

I think it was left in the loftwhen I moved house - I probably only got 21 nights from it, but that's still only 50p per night (and if someone has found it in the loft it might still be in use )

EDIT to add - I'm a parent now. The current tent weighs only slightly less than I do, so it's not really bike friendly!

 

[Ticktockmy]

Personally for Trips of a few days, something like a cheap millets eurohike 2 man tent would be OK, when cycling weight is not such a problem as if you were backpacking, I say use a 2 man because there is nothing worse than having to try and pack up in a small tent when it peeing with rain. also trying to move around in a small tent can be a pain in the backside.

 

[slowmotion]

I have cycle toured for many years but am thinking of doing some short 2, 3 or 4 day trips so what would you reccommend in the way of pannier bags, tents and genereal stuff to take.

This site has a lot of good advice.
http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/

 

[Blue Hills]

Ortlieb. No point in p#ssing about is there?

Tend to Agree. I've had some top of the range rear bikepackers for 15 to 20 years. They still look like new. If anyone baulks at the price use them for shopping (particularly if you shop for yourself and would otherwise use a car/public transport)- you can cycle to cheaper shopping places and they will actually pay for themselves in no time. Mine have carted a ton of stuff over the years. Tins, the lot. And they are still perfect.
<edited for typo/grammar>

 

[Blue Hills]

Just to throw a fly into the ointment - UV light degrades nylon tents, and camping forums seem to hold that the useful life of a tent is 14 weeks pitched - after that the material falls apart, basically.

So assuming no other damage, the cost per night in wear to your tent is roughly Cost of tent/100.

Unless you have a polycotton one, but they are perhaps a bit heavy!

Edit to add - £13, waterproof and only (just over) 1kg. http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-basics-2-man-dome-tent/200-9024.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=200-9024

Good point about the UV degredation. That seems to be an argument for not paying much over about £150 for a tent. What's the point of paying mega bucks for a tent if the UV will get it?. Folks feel free to chip in to argue against this - thinking aloud though, won't a tent used for cycle touring last substantially longer since it won't be up in the sun much - arrive late afternoon, early evening, even later, leave before much sun has been at at it.

That Tesco tent - I'd read the reviews - not encouraging.

 

[psmiffy]

Good point about the UV degredation.

I think it is overstated - I have only owned two tents as an adult - must have used them around 1000 nights over 20 years - one is dead - but the flysheet was still functionable - the other older one is still going strong