Suggest a tent

[hightower]

Ok, so I need a tent I can use for rallies - looking for something compact (to be able to fit on bike with pillion, pans and so forth). Compact is probably priority 1. Priority 2 is money - don't fancy paying any more than £40. Yes, I am tight.


Third priority is it would be good if it has some storage space etc, to be able to put kit so we're not sleeping on top of it.


Recommendations please.

[Exupnut]

Always thought these were good...



Mrs sleeps outside :-)

[bigbluebear]

Halfords have a few options

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categorydisplay_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_236901_langId_-1

[Robbie8666]

ok so the tent is only for going to rallies, I'm guessing during spring/summer type of weather. so lightwieght 2/3 man tent should do.
as you are looking @ £40 then see if there are any camping displays (http://www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/campshow-lists.aspx)
they have a good selection of tents & if your not too fussy sometimes you can buy the demonstration tent at the end of the show... you may have to take the tent down yourself but at least that way you know how it goes up!!!

if you look at website they have some 2013 clearance tents that fit your budget...

also they may do deals on sleeping bags too!! I got a tent & 2 x 4 sleeping bags for £100 few years ago


personally I would go for a Vango Tent but that would probably be over your budget!

[Hedgetrimmer]

Yes, Vango tents are pretty good, with a good range to choose from. Go Outdoors sometimes have some good discounts on them, and worth getting one of their discount cards (£5 for a year) for such a purchase.
 
I'm thinking of looking into some kind of tough dry bags for putting wet bike gear in - always a headache when you're on the bike and limited to a fairly small tent. I do have a Vango 3 man tent which I have carried on the bike with all the other kit before - this has loads of room, including a good sized porch which is more of a living space (think it's the Vango Beta), but prefer to carry less size and weight usually.
 
So I now have 3 tents to choose from: Vaude Power Lizard, small backpacking tent, which I use for shorter trips, a few days at most, when the weather is likely to be good. Very light, packs down very small, cost a small mortgage.
 
No. 2 is a Vango Banshee 300 - roomy, 2 man, plenty for me and all the kit, not too heavy or bulky, not much "porch" space, hence the search for decent dry bags, or maybe just heavy duty bin liners.
 
No. 3 Vango Beta 3 man, huge for one person, ample for 2 and kit, heavy, doesn't pack down very small, would only really use for long trips where I expect a lot of bad weather - but then I probably wouldn't go camping!
 
Thinking about no. 2 option for 3 weeks on the continent at the moment. Hmmmmmm............

[caretaker]

i had a small ridge tent on my scotland trip but it rained mostly. so in a small tent, you have no room to remove soggy leathers and if you touch the insides you get wet. get the biggest you can get. or B&B.

[BBROWN1664]

The Le Mans method for tents is to buy a cheapo one from Halfords, use it at the circuit then burn it/bin it before travelling home. Saves having to try to pack it up wet then dry it out when you get home.

[Frosties]

Always thought these were good...



Mrs sleeps outside :-)

Although expensive, that one won the Ride award for best.


http://redverz.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/38/

[hightower]

Not worried about having somewhere to store the bike, and it's only for 2 days here and there during our 'summer'

[brooker81]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charlies-Outdoor-Leisure-Idris-Camping/dp/B00C231YB2/ref=sr_1_297?s=camping-hiking&ie=UTF8&qid=1398341593&sr=1-297&keywords=tent

i have one of these enough space with a bit of storage.

[hightower]

Thanks, that looks more than suitable.

Packed size: 60 x 15 x 15cm - which is ideal

• 
  [/color]Little heavier than others but not like we're walking anywhere with it. Could be a winner.

[keithfzs1000]

a bit more expensive but had one of these for 7 years (have the freelander now) and never failed to keep me dry warm in all weathers at rallies, has a porch for all ye kit too, if you buy £40 tents for rallies you will be buying  later on in this summer if not next year,

[hightower]

Link?

[keithfzs1000]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Khyam-McKinley-tent-simlar-to-biker-/141263707599?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_HikingCamping_Tents_JN&hash=item20e3f91dcf

there 3 of them on flea bay

[esetest]

Go outdoors are having a wow sale at the moment .

[Hedgetrimmer]

Always thought these were good...



Mrs sleeps outside :-)

 
Yeah, looks good, even pack size isn't too bad, 6kgs so a bit heavy but manageable BUT silly money, and HH is only 2000mm, not good for a so called "expedition" tent.

[hightower]

Came home to go outdoors sale brochure in the post. Nothing in there to suit.

[Hedgetrimmer]

No, there's never a great deal in their postal brochure, usually lots more in store though. Worth popping to your local one for a look I'd say. Or go online and see their full listings (starting to sound like a Go Outdoors salesman here - me, on commision? I wish    ).

[keithfzs1000]

the kyhams are slightly heavier but have integrated poles and are up in 5 mins  they are slightly more expensive but speaking from a rally perspective and someone who has been doing them 30 + years and have friends that been doing them all that time,  then all i can say is most my friends have kyhams and have had them for the past 10 years

hmmmm I wonder why???
depending size bike how many sleeping and how much comfort you want but 2 up on a 600 bandit this tent is owned by my son
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Khyam-Biker/752

2 up on a 750 kwak my friend has this but they now disconinued and 2nd hand ones are rare
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Khyam-McKinley/2161

me on my fazer with the wifey on her kwak go with this
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Khyam-Freelander/382

but in the end you go with what you can afford and make the best of the amount you have available, after all you pissed most of the weekend anyway lol and even if the tent fails there plenty of peeps around to take you in and let you sleep in their porch

good luck n hope to see you at ben hurr

[dickturpin]

I have two Coleman tents which give plenty of room (Rock Springs and Coastline) and also a small Karrimor that I may use for a 'one night' trip.
Im also experimenting with just a tarp and groundsheet which could be a one night option also if weather is settled.
Finally, I am experimenting with reducing pack size of all my tents by removing poles and using compression sacks...the poles could then be simply fixed to top of panniers. Tent pack size is usually governed by pole length and this can be reduced. I may look to attach a small bore plastic pipe on side of bike that poles could be slipped in to.....welcome your thoughts on that.
 
D

[Hedgetrimmer]

I think separating poles from fabrics only matters if you want to keep the tent in a bag/luggage when strapped to the bike. This is fine when the tent is nice and dry, but if you're moving from one site to another with a wet tent, perhaps better to strap the tent separately on the outside of the rest of your luggage, and then you might as well pack poles and fabric together.
 
It's handier this way too - you get to the campsite, and the first thing off the bike is the tent. Get it set up, and then you're ready to finish unpacking anything else inside if it rains.
 
Dammit, all this talk of tents has got me thinking I need yet another - more porch space than my smaller Vango, but less sleeping space than the big one 

[hightower]

Lots of good replies here, thanks. And yes Keith, you will - I'll be the one with the new tent more than likely lol

[dickturpin]

I think separating poles from fabrics only matters if you want to keep the tent in a bag/luggage when strapped to the bike. This is fine when the tent is nice and dry, but if you're moving from one site to another with a wet tent, perhaps better to strap the tent separately on the outside of the rest of your luggage, and then you might as well pack poles and fabric together.
 
It's handier this way too - you get to the campsite, and the first thing off the bike is the tent. Get it set up, and then you're ready to finish unpacking anything else inside if it rains.
 
Dammit, all this talk of tents has got me thinking I need yet another - more porch space than my smaller Vango, but less sleeping space than the big one 

If the tent was wet it would simply go into a plastic bag....after being compressed in stuff sac