Best Tent & Camping Gear for Biking?

[Mr.R]

Hi David,
There's been a few good suggestions here already, Vango is very good kit packs down small and weighs very little, I've used it myself for many years, Peapod by Ulitimate make good lightweight kit also, but If you're feeling flush check out Saunder's tents they're the best you'll ever find............
Fantastic quality and weigh less/pack up smaller than any I've ever seen, I'll be buying one of them next time I'm in the market for a new tent, their 3 man tent packs up smaller than most 1 man tents and weighs less, lots of room for your kit in one of these. I believe the SAS use them.
Another tip is 'Thermorest' self inflating camping mattress' they pack down to 1/2 the size of a 2 ltr pop bottle and weigh very little.
I've had mine for years now it's been one of the best bits of kit I've ever bought, it was recommended to me buy some Royal Marine mates who use them in Norway, in their 'Ice Holes' and they're that good !!!!!
The Marines pay for them out of their own back pockets.
One last tip, don't **** about with tent pegs, buy 2lbs of 6" nails, they won't bend so easily and if the do you throw them away as they only cost less than 10p each..........
Available at any hardware store, I've been using them for over 25 years!

Steve

[Dan]

Great thread this one, thanks for all the tips. (I love outdoor kit)

I've not got a "Thermarest" sleeping mat, but I have a similar one a mate picked up for me in France, I've used it winter and summer for about five years now and I'd never consider camping anywhere without it these days. It prevents the cold ground from keeping you awake and just adds that tiny layer of comfort to help you get off to sleep. Get one if you haven't already!

[Monkey Boy]

Coleman Avior X2 and Gelert Xpedition 3/4 size self-inflating mat are what I use - highly recommended - along with a 15 year old Ajungilak Nordic Lite down sleeping bag. All this weights under 3kg and takes up little space.

Is what I am taking with me when I go on my two European trips this summer - Austria and Spain.

[triumph5ta]

Forget tent, just knock one of these up every night from whatever is lying around:



nice n cosy in Wales last Saturday night!

[moto748]

I've got a dinky little 2-man (but as people have observed, 2-man really = 1-man) that I bought from Lidl. Cost me the princely sum of a tenner. I've used it twice. I figure it's already paid for itself. Got a good quality "stuffa" type sleeping bag, but again, it didn't cost me a lot of money.

For kit that lashed on the back of a bike, I'm personally not convinced it's worth paying a lot of money.

Others may disagree, of course.

[mmattyt]

Hi...

A good piece of kit to have is a hooped bivi bag. Many outdoor firms do them and they are superb as they are lightweight, waterproof and pack down to f*** all. Get yourself a good roll mat like a therma-rest and a good dossbag and you will be snug.
If you are going touring in a hot/humid country, instead of a tent u might want to consider a hammock with a waterproof sheet, mozzie net and instead of a dossbag use a doss bag liner.

Regards
Matty

[oh_seven]

I can not recommend highly enough a Terra Nova Lazer tent. It's a one man job that provides enough room for gear, a small porch (enough room to cook) and will with stand anything Britain's weather can throw at it. It weighs about 1Kg and packs down smaller than a large flask!

I've used mine for the past 4 years when mountaineering and it's never let me down.

[Kiwi]

what you really need is something small enough and light enough to fit on the back of a bike but tall enough that you can stand up in it

you get sick of crawling around on your hands and knees in the wet grass to get in and out of a tent

if any body knows of something that fits the above criteria let me know

[Kenoir]

Originally Posted by oh_seven

I can not recommend highly enough a Terra Nova Lazer tent. It's a one man job that provides enough room for gear, a small porch (enough room to cook) and will with stand anything Britain's weather can throw at it. It weighs about 1Kg and packs down smaller than a large flask!

I've used mine for the past 4 years when mountaineering and it's never let me down.

Couldn't agree more oh seven, Terra Nove make the best tents by far IMHO.
I've got a quasar (probably the best mountain tent in the world) and as I mentioned earlier a 'Solar Minor' for mountain marathons etc.
I'm planning to take the small (one man) tent out with the bike this year. It'll be perfect, very small, very strong and actually quite comfy.

[David.Hicks]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

what you really need is something small enough and light enough to fit on the back of a bike but tall enough that you can stand up in it

you get sick of crawling around on your hands and knees in the wet grass to get in and out of a tent

if any body knows of something that fits the above criteria let me know

Makes sense to me but sounds like a big ask (?)

[northworthy]

Best Camping Gear for Biking - NONE

Just allocate the touring budget more appropriately and rest your soul in a 4Star (minimum) bivouac with room service.

[triumph5ta]

Originally Posted by northworthy

Best Camping Gear for Biking - NONE

Just allocate the touring budget more appropriately and rest your soul in a 4Star (minimum) bivouac with room service.

There is much to be said for this approach.

[Tortuga]

My god!

What is wrong with you all

Get a tent that the bike can go in to keep it warm and dry and to stop that horrible dew stuff collecting on it, then you sleep outside in one of those army sleeping bags with the full hood thing, totally waterproof and then the bike gets the tent

Your all weird

[Multimental]

We'll have no antisemitism here.

[Tortuga]