Oh no more tent stuff...

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I'm after a tent for general use and for using next year on the Trans-America Trail.

I'm looking at the Vango Tempest at the moment, looks like a decent tent for reasonable money.

My question is do I go for the two or three man? The three man packs up only slightly bigger as to make virtually no difference and only weighs as much as a good morning poo more. Having more space inside to store stuff can only be a good thing right or can some experienced campers tell me why this could be a bad idea?

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

You can only carry so much stuff (to stash inside overnight) anyway.
The smaller footprint is sometimes a good thing if say you are wild camping and can hardly find a clear spot.
This also applies if you use it for bike rallies here, surprising how much space a tent needs when you include guy ropes.

The three could still be better though, you might pick up a friend and then your junk would be seriously annoying in a 2man.

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Karma :

The weight all adds up, the 2 man would be the best choice at 500 grams lighter and a smaller pack size, you really dont want to go bigger than 30-40cm in pack size as it becomes differcult to carry it on a trail bike.

I,ve got a £200 tent l brough a few years ago which is a simular size/weight to the three man version and its getting to be pain in the arse now when carrying it on a bike, not sure what l,m going to relpace it with yet though.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/p2220040.jpg
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Name_goes_here · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :

I'd say a three man Thumbs Up

the extra space is worth the small increase in weight and size.
I used a Taurus 2 man tent on short bike camping trip and although it had been a perfect size for backpacking i found it cramped inside when i stored my lid/jacket etc inside. Should of taken my 3 man tent which weighs a ton but enough room to swing a cat Laughing

If you find yourself bogged down in bad rain etc youll find the extra space easier to get changed/sort your crap out.

Andrew
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields Smile

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Mate of mine had one of them last weekend.

There is a reasonable sized porch so I'd say go for the 200, especially if you're in it on your own, there'll be plenty of room.

The "sunroof" attachment struck me as totally unecessary, as did the third, shortie pole holding the porch bit out. All adds weight and bulk.

Still fits in a pannier though and it's a tension-band design so it should stand up to pretty heavy weather.
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“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 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

I'd go for the two man.

If I can fit me and all my stuff in a one man tent, a two man will be like a mansion.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Thanks everyone, I did try a couple of local shops to see if they had any so I could try them out for size but they didn't.

Looks like I'll go for the 200 then.

Any recommendations on a sleeping bag? I reckon I'll need one to cope with temperatures from 0 degrees up to summer temperatures.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've just had a snugpack one delivered.

Folds down VERY small. I ordered a 1 season jungle one which is supposed to be for over 6 degrees. It's designed to be fast drying and non-clingy. I'll be using a liner in it on the basis this is more easily washed and that it'll bump the thermal properties up a bit.

Liner bag should also be handy if I stop in any hostels, saves using sheet sleeping bags.

Might be too cold for UK use but I'll take the risk. With Summer camping, I'm more often chased out of bed by the sun than kept awake by the cold.

It also has an integral insect veil so my hammock might see some use.
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“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.

Swim41 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Karma :

I tested my new Tempest 200 on Skye at the weekend. I was very impressed with it. Packs very small, and the aluminium poles fold up short too which can help packing if you store them seperately from the tent.

It is fairly spacious inside, certainly plenty for one person though two people would be uncomfortable unless you were er... very friendly. Stablility wise, considering this was an £89 tent it is very robust. With the TBS in use it was rock solid in the face of strong Skye winds that were pummeling standard dome tents. A couple of Khyam quick-erect tents were close to being written off. As I had been considering one of those am glad I got the Vango.

EDIT

Sleeping bag: recently bought a Snugpak Elite 2. I bought this to replace my ancient summer sleeping bag, having been very impressed with a Snugpak Elite 4 that I used for winter camping (been nice and warm at two Dragon Rallys now). Seems to work well. Packs pretty small. It is possible to get bags that pack smaller, but they tend to be one season so not much use to me. Recommended anyway.

https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t292/Swim41/Skye%202010/DSC00334.jpg
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tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Karma :

With sleeping bags you,ve got a choice between down and synthetic, Down is warmer and packs alot smaller than synthetic but if they get damp they can rot and are differcult to wash.

I,ve always used Vango down bags and its easy to store them in a waterproof roll-bag, currently have a vango viper 500 and love it.

Get a sleeping bag with a rating of at lest 3 season, a trick to make the sleeping bag even warmer is to use a silk liner as it adds a extra layer and keeps the bag clean as you can just wash the liner (also feels alot better to sleep in silk).
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

dibbster · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Karma :

I've got a Tempest 200 and it will sleep one person and gear comfortably. Used it every month for the last 2 years and it has stood up to everything it has had thrown at it. Only thing to break was the spring toggle on the pole bag but that only cost 10p to fix :p

I don't know who they base their tents on (Gnomes maybe?) because to get two people in would be very cosy and two people and gear impossible.
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ram_doom · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Karma :

Regarding sleeping bags , I bought an "ultralight" one from tesco for 37 quid, filled with duck down.
Weighs very little, and packs down very small.

Extreme is down to -10 so should make a good uk summer bag
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Name_goes_here · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Karma :

@ Swim41

That tent looks pretty good with that porch, can you store your stuff in the porch and still get in and out easily enough? I have a Tarus Ultralight 2 man which has a small porch so i cant store stuff in there and be able to get in and out so my stuff sleeps with me Sad

Andrew
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields Smile

Swim41 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Just a quick update - I used my tent for the first time at the weekend. I went for the Vango Tempest 200. I think for one person it's spot on, for two it would be cramped, especially if you had bike gear with you. The Vango Venom 300 bag I used was good, easily warm enough (too warm) and packs really small. I think the best buy was the Rok Straps that I used to pack the whole lot on the bike - brilliant.

Tonka · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Karma :