Not another 'What tent/wild camping' thread?

[2E]

Yep another one.

I've been looking at tents and am quite interested in the 'Highlander Jura' and the 'Vango Juno' to start.

Ideally i would love just a simple ridge tent, which tbh, withstand the test of time as it'll hardly be used, but when it does get used, i would expect it to work, and work well.

That being said, after reading Stinkwheels stickied godsend of a post about pegs/guyropes, i think im ready to go, and think a kebab tent/ridge would be the ideal tent.

But what brands are a definate AVOID?

Also interested in the Coleman Bedrock 3... will happily spend lots of dosh on a good tent, if it lasts.

Lastly, i've been arguing with the old man lately over the legality of 'Wild Camping'
Is it legal?? What are the legalities of doing it? Best advice to do it e.g. in a forest, no where near a road... hide the bike behind the tent, dark tent, etc etc?

Thanks


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Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500

[G]

It's not illegal if you don't get caught .

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I like easy-up for such things; turn up late at night, chuck the tent up and crawl in. Minimum light, sound and impact.

Oh and I still say a tent that needs guy ropes is probably a bad choice of tent .

[Itchy]

get thee a self standing tent, those Khyam ones may not stand up in a gale but the fact you can put them up in less than a minute and they are guarenteed to stand up is a bonus. My steel pole mountain tent was not self standing and it was horrendous after a long day of riding in Siberia to get it up.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[stinkwheel]

The Jura is a cheap tent. I have one and as a £25 tent goes, it is perfectly adequate for one person in anthing but severe weather. I look on it as disposable although I've had mine for 2 years now. I'll be taking it this weekend to pitch in the pub garden after our club rock night.

Re. wild camping. In Scotland it is totally legal providing it is done responsibly.

In England, you could run foul of the Tresspass law. Interestingly, you have only comitted tresspass if the landowner has asked you to leave and you have refused to do so. You are not comitting tresspass until that point.

So, the trick is to wild camp in a place and manner that someone will not ask you to leave.

In terms of penalties, if someone is tresspassing, the landowner has the right to use reasonable force to remove you from his land. That is it. You can't be fined or arrested for it because it is a common law offence, not a statuatory offence. As such, it carries no statuatory penalty.

If the police land up being called, they will almost certainly arrest either you or the landowner for breach of the peace depending on their mood and who is being the biggest arsehole.

EDIT: Having wild camped all over Scotland prior to the land reform act. When confronted by a landowner, an invitation to join you for a cup of tea and an assurance that you will treat their land with respect, that you will be gone in the morning and that there will be no evidence of you having been there usually placates them.

We always used to tell them we had pitched up there because it is a beautiful place and invite them to pop along the following morning before we left to check we'd left everything in order.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[doggone]

Some of the people who camp wild will leave rubbish of all kinds behind which is part of the reason some landowners get annoyed.

Had experience of this just recently, they had left a bin bag with some junk mainly half eaten food packages but there was about a dozen bottles and cans all to pick up.
If not spotted before grass grew over these could have got in silage feed and caused cattle casualties.

Hard to see why it is such hard work to take rubbish away especially stuff that won't rot down.

[yen_powell]

2E, get the cheapest Kyham (about £95) and you'll have a tent that you can put up in about a minute (including getting it out of the bag) and they do stand up in gales, I've been in a few, extra guylines help if required.

I've actually been taken to court for trespass, as stated, you've got to be sued by the land owner, it's not something the police hand you a ticket for.

If I'd agreed to go away and not come back that would've been the end of the matter, however my case had a right of way hanging on it so it was fought out in court, that's when it will cost you money.

Bayonet
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[stinkwheel]

[yen_powell]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

If you are camping somewhere you shouldn't (and you have a bright orange tent with only open fields to choose from), then minimise the exposure by only using it as somewhere to sleep. Have your evening meal in another place, and break camp before breakfast.

[2E]

Some good advice there, but i haven't really heard good things of Khyam tents?? Told the mechanism lasts, but the tent does not?

How about the Slumit Cub 2, I can pick one of those up for about £30 delivered right now But not sure how they fare up against wind/rain etc... has anyone properly tested it yet??
____________________
Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500

[stinkwheel]

Canvas is great stuff to have a tent made of due to beingquiet, warm and breathable BUT it is bulky and heavy when wet. So less than ideal on the back of a bike. I have an old Mk3 Vango force 10 which is canvas with an A-frame. It is an excellent tent and will stand up to pretty much anything the weather can throw at it.

It is however three times the size and weight of my spirit 200 and has considerably less room in it.

When looking at materials, they usually quote hydrostatic head which is the depth of water you can put on the nylon before it starts to seep through. Lower-end tents have about 1,500mm, higher end tents are double that. More = better.

Ripstop nylon is also desireable, it prevents a small hole becoming a tear.

All the tents you've shown will have a huge pack size. The second one is mouldy and will fall apart. Remember, pack size is critical for motorbike camping. Especially so if you are going to be 2-up.

If I was going in a car, I'd probably have a massive canvas tent with an awning, but I'm not so I go for minimalist backpacking tents that will pack into one of my panniers.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[2E]

Hmm, well im really interested in the Vango Juno, i keep looking at it as its fast to put up, has one steel pole only, guy ropes, is fairly good in the wind due to the shape, spacious, and has a 2000mm HH.

Problem is i think the 300(3 man) looks quite small...the 500 looks alright and pack size isn't terrible but i can't find much info on it... i might get one to give the first review on it, i would rather have one of those than a fibreglass pole crappy tent.
____________________
Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500

[stinkwheel]

Looking at the Juno. It's a single skin teepee type tent.

Pros: You can stand up in it. Small pack size.
Cons: Single skin means touching the sides will be unpleasant, it will be cold, risk of biting insects getting in. Probably not that resistant to windy conditions.

I'd see that as ideal for a festival or camping in the summer on a campsite. Not really for wild camping.

For a wee bit more you could get something like the Spectre 300. Lighter, stronger and a bit more suitable for wild camping. Not as easy to errect but ought to stay up once it is up.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[2E]

[2E]

Woah i've just realised a potential flaw in these vango tents..

'Pitching time' is 10 minutes!! I don't want to spend 10 minutes putting up the tent tbh, particularly if wild camping you want it to be up and down quickly to move on surely??

Im not a novice when it comes to pitching tents, i can do it no problem, but seriously, are they really that long to pitch?
____________________
Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500

[stinkwheel]

Other makes are available, I just landed up with that brand a couple of times and have been happy with them so I know what I'm recommending to people.

Some of Blacks own brand tents are decent quality and not too pricey.

Lightwave make very good tents, they are higher end though.

At the cheaper end, you get stuff like the eurohike ones from Millets. Fair enough tents for the vast majority of uses. I've had the fibreglass poles in them break under heavy winds in the past so I tend to avoid them but in fairness, those were extreme weather conditions (force 9/10 winds).
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ms51ves3]

I don't class 10 minutes very long to pitch a tent. What's the rush?

[stinkwheel]

[Itchy]

[yen_powell]

[Maruchino]

I've just ordered and received the Gelert Eiger 2 for my first foray into camping (wild).

https://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=51130601&CameFrom=froogle
Ordered it from this place which seemed nice and cheap. Product looks okay too size wise and quality wise. Whether or not it will turn out to be 24 quids worth of hassle is another matter

[2E]

Found another tent that seems good value, only problem is its a single skin

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230405632290&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
____________________
Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500

[Grubby]

Vango Beta 450 will be the one that replaces my current tent as it's almost the same size & shape. The plus side is that it's a Vango. I've had several force ten tents & recommend Vango highly.
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I am me & you are he & we are all together. See how they run like pigs from a gun!

[BanditJeff]

[2E]

How about the Vango Force Tens?? The old ones, Mk2/Mk3?

Got a few on ole fleabay going cheap enough, and I know they're heavy but actually they're lighter than the Khyam Igloo i keep being advised... plus I KNOW these tents can withstand the most severe weather as i've seen them do it!
____________________
Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500