What Tent To Buy

[Chris Swift]

Hi All

Starting to do some touring cycling for a few days with my mate.... We are undecided on what tent to buy...

Do we buy X2 2 man tents - 1 each

or

Do we share a 3 man tent ?

Looking at no more than £100 max budget for time been.

As always your help much appreciated.

Chris

 

[saoirse50]

Sharing or separate depends on how long your tour is and how tolerant and easy going you both are. Me, I am a grumpy old cow who prefers touring alone and on occasions when I have been away with friends, would hate sharing a tent. I have only ever shared a tent with my daughter and partner, and even then not for more than a week at a time (actually, longer with my daughter when she was small, but that's it).
So, hard to give advice on that aspect. If you can share a tent, it will probably be easier weight wise as with a budget of 100 or less, you are not going to get something super light, so splitting the weight between you would be a help. Having said that, the Go Outdoors site seems to have some very cheap and not too heavy tents online at the moment....this one person one seems far too cheap and no idea how good it is. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-soloista-p217173
They also have the Vango Banshee at a decent price, and while I can't personally recommend it, I do know people who have it and used it in Ireland in pretty bad weather and said it was fine. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-banshee-300-tent-p140013

 

[Chris Swift]

Sharing or separate depends on how long your tour is and how tolerant and easy going you both are. Me, I am a grumpy old cow who prefers touring alone and on occasions when I have been away with friends, would hate sharing a tent. I have only ever shared a tent with my daughter and partner, and even then not for more than a week at a time (actually, longer with my daughter when she was small, but that's it).
So, hard to give advice on that aspect. If you can share a tent, it will probably be easier weight wise as with a budget of 100 or less, you are not going to get something super light, so splitting the weight between you would be a help. Having said that, the Go Outdoors site seems to have some very cheap and not too heavy tents online at the moment....this one person one seems far too cheap and no idea how good it is. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-soloista-p217173
They also have the Vango Banshee at a decent price, and while I can't personally recommend it, I do know people who have it and used it in Ireland in pretty bad weather and said it was fine. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-banshee-300-tent-p140013

Thanks Was actually just looking at the Vango Banshee and this one: Vango Tempest 300 Tent

think ill take your point on board and persuade my mate to have a tent each!

 

[Crackle]

The Coleman Cobra series are quite similar to the Banshee and often considerably cheaper I bought the 3 man one and thought it was fine.

 

[saoirse50]

Those Coleman's look amazingly cheap....in which kind of conditions have you used it? And how many trips?

 

[Crackle]

Those Coleman's look amazingly cheap....in which kind of conditions have you used it? And how many trips?

hah! I'm afraid I haven't yet.

Bought at the end of last summer in a sale for 60quid I think. I did compare it in the flesh with a Banshee set up at a camping show and remember thinking there wasn't much in it in terms of difference. Coleman is a touch heavier and has less 'features' but for cycle touring, I can live with that. Unfortunately though, I'll have to let you know how it copes when I do finally get around to using it but a quick test pitch didn't show any problems with it.

On a completely different note, have you ever stayed in Lochranza Youth Hostel? Your avatar looks similar to a woman staying there when we were there attempting our first mini tour with the boys. Probably not but I thought I'd ask.

 

[oldfatfool]

Banshee as served me well touring, 200 as plenty of space for one. Only downside is the entrance is awkward when it rains. I think I would have risked the extra weight of the tempest 200 and gone for the (little) porch.

 

[Crankarm]

I would go separate tents but get a two man tent for yourself as a one person with cycle gear is too small. The Banshee is not self supporting btw, you need to peg it out for it to stand up. The Mirage 200 is however as it is geodesic but heavier. Vango also do the Jazz and Soul 200 which are bit cheaper more 2 season tents where as the Banshee and Mirage are 3 season maybe even 4 for the Mirage.

Why would you want to share a tent when you could have your own? You could be sharing with some one who snores and has some really quite annoying habits …………...

 

[doog]

Whatever you get, I would advise you get one tent each and that it, at the very least has a small porch.

 

[juliusfister]

Personally I would recommend a basha/ tarp and bivi bag setup. Super lightweight, incredibly versatile and a much more satisfying way to sleep outdoors . I've actually gotten to the point where I would consider the use of a tent "glamping".

 

[alans]

A 2-man tent each is my recommendation.
I'd also agree that a tarp/bivi bag is very enjoyable,particularly in the summer moths.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I would go separate tents but get a two man tent for yourself as a one person with cycle gear is too small. The Banshee is not self supporting btw, you need to peg it out for it to stand up. The Mirage 200 is however as it is geodesic but heavier. Vango also do the Jazz and Soul 200 which are bit cheaper more 2 season tents where as the Banshee and Mirage are 3 season maybe even 4 for the Mirage.

Why would you want to share a tent when you could have your own? You could be sharing with some one who snores and has some really quite annoying habits …………...

poking said person in the ribs (who snores) is much easier when they share the same tent! And it works for shutting them up try doing that with someone in another tent!

 

[Dave Davenport]

poking said person in the ribs (who snores) is much easier when they share the same tent! And it works for shutting them up try doing that with someone in another tent!

But at least you can up sticks to the other end of the field.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

But at least you can up sticks to the other end of the field.

yep you can if you are not on a busy campsite that is or one with 'allocated' spaces!
Still upping sticks to the other end of the campsite could be taken the wrong way by my OH of 17 years! poking him in the ribs works really well and if I don't poke the same place too often he doesn't get sore ribs, and is none the wiser in the morning and I get a more peaceful nights sleep

 

[fluffkitten]

Personally I would recommend a basha/ tarp and bivi bag setup. Super lightweight, incredibly versatile and a much more satisfying way to sleep outdoors . I've actually gotten to the point where I would consider the use of a tent "glamping".

Although tarp plus bivi is my favourite way to camp it isn't really much (if any) lighter than a lot of today's lightweight tents and if you're on a public camp site can be a right pain for privacy. Also isn't good if you're anywhere near midges.