Is a tent an absolute must??

[KebabShopDanc...]

Firstly this is my first post, so hello.

I am planning on doing the whole wild camping thing next year (very new to bikes). I have spent hours reading through the stuff on here and wanted to ask this:

If I use a tarp as a pea pod type hammock with a thermarest mat, decent sleeping bag and bivi bag would this be enough for warmth. Obviously this is just for me and I understand that I would need to have shelter for my kit etc.

I can afford to buy a tent (by the time I go) but was wondering if it was an absolute necessity. Of course I also understand that a hammock is reliant on uprights/ trees.

I'm planning on doing my wild camping in Scotland.

[G]

You should be able to just get a dry bag for your riding gear and the rest of the kit can stay on the bike.

If you want a tent, you can usually get them on freecycle.
Or, while they're not not great, you can probably pick up a double skinned tescos or similar one for under £15 over winter.

[KebabShopDanc...]

Thanks G. I can afford a tent but was just wondering if I can do without. Less to carry and all that.

Hetzer that makes sense, I might just invest in a tent and not have any concerns.

Could play it by ear once I got to where I wanna camp and then decide if the weather is suitable.

[tbourner]

You could always just carry a tarp/poncho and build a leanto:
https://www.practicalsurvivor.com/poncholeanto

Shelter's pretty important for survival, depending on the weather of course.
https://www.practicalsurvivor.com/shelter
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Charlie]

Go out and try it some where local. That way if you decide its cold, windy etc you can go home and know you need a tent for future travels.

Advantage of a tent in Scotland is there somewhere to hide from the midges, but if you choose a breezy spot and get a smokey fire going they wont bother you.

Do as G says and buy a large dry bag to put in your helmet and riding gear. Me and my girlfriend did this when we went for a walk in the Lakes. We traveled up on my motorbike and left the dry bag attached to the bikes helmet lock and it was fine. Fortunately it wasn't needed and we had a great dry walk up to High Street.

Only disadvantage to putting stuff in a dry bag is that it will stay wet once in there. Whereas if your tent has got a decent vestibule you lay your gear out to dry a bit. Although watch out for dew. I'd recommend leathers and then over trousers/jacket as these dry very quickly, whereas textiles stay wet for ages which makes them cold. They also start to smell after a few days of wet weather.
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Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[doggone]

You can get away with out for a couple of nights maybe, or if you were somewhere more reliably toasty like the South of France in August.
When packed a tent can form a sturdy wider base to attach and stabilise other items so not as bad as you would think.
It's reassuring to have other items from the bike more secure with you in a tent even in a seriously remote location.
Bear in mind everything you carry is almost essential to have.

[stinkwheel]

Hammocks can get very cold if there is a breeze but I have hammock-bivvied in Scotland before.

By the time you've packed a tarp, hammock and something to tie it up with, you could probably have just taken a tent in the first place. One trick is to have a double function so your luggage straps are also used for hanging your hammock. Mini ratchet straps are good because they are strong enough, grip the tree without damaging it, leave a nice "drip gap" to stop water tracking into the hammock and allow for easy adjustment of the tension of the hammock. If you feel yourself sagging, you can just reach over your head with one hand and tighten yourself up a few clicks without getting up.

You definately need the therm-a-rest in the hammock though or a cold arse will ensue. Just partially inflate it.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0860.png

The new army issue basher sheets (like the one in the picture above) are excellent for bivvying. They pack up small, are big enough to cover past your hammock knots and have a ridge tape, handles and eyelets built-in.
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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.

[Casper]

Budget tent

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-neutron-2-p143491

I bought one last week and its better than it looks. 40 quid or sixty without a discount card. If you dont have a card look at buying one as i am sure they are only 5 quid fir a year.

[G]

Also - remember you're on a motorbike and can easily make sure the tent is in a fairly waterproof bag. It should be pretty easy to attach on top of other stuff, or use to attach other stuff to, as mentioned above.

If it was a push bike, I could understand going light. But, unless you're massively loaded up and going off-road, I wouldn't worry about it on a motorbike.

[pepperami]

I`ve said it before on here .
Admittedly it was when the weather was warm and not in wet Autumn .

I took a light-weight bike cover and when it came time to sleep, I put it over the bike and got under that.
wasn't perfect by a long way, but it did get me out of the worst of the damp in the morning.
On the plus side , if anyone had tried to nick my bike, they would of been in for one hell of a shock!.

The key to that being successful for a couple of nights was that the bike cover touched the floor because it was a big cover and I had a right old toasty sleeping-bag.
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[stinkwheel]

Doing it oldschool, I've seen our whole bike club sleeping under army ponchos tied to the handlebar and rear rack of the bike on one edge then stretched out and pegged to the ground on the other edge. '56 pattern army issue sleeping bag (with built in groundsheet) underneath it.

If you get cold, leathers and helmet on.

If you want to go VERY minimalist. I can recommend the East German army sleeping bags. You used to see these a lot at rallies etc. Converts into a waterproof parka too.
____________________
“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.

[fatpies]

[pepperami]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

In my opinion is it takes too long setting up tarps and hammocks, which is a disadvantage if it's *raining.

Green coloured 2 man tent (dome/ridge but not the small tunnel types...so you can at least have a pee in the night *without leaving the tent) and camping stool so you can choose where to sit.
I use an extra groundsheet. Reduces the risk of damaging the sewn-in groundsheet.

Disturbed sleep doesn't equal a good Tour so get a thermarest. It's a long time till next year and I'm guessing you have family/friends. i.e You know what you want for Christmas. £'s
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The Harry Turner Project

[Joncrete Cungle]

Midges, mosquitoes and other bitey things! I have kipped out side lots of times while fishing, wearing hat, gloves and face mask. I would not fancy getting ravaged by biting insects.

[Lupo]

While the difference in space and weight is minimum between hammock and a tent, the difference in comfort is massive, for you and your stuff. Think what other activities are you going to do while camping, reading in a hammock just means being eaten by insects, cooking will be possible only is the weather stays dry. I have done both, one or two nights is ok for rough sleeping, but more than that a tent is a must.
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[KebabShopDanc...]

OK it seems the way to go is just get a tent and be done with it. I'm gonna get a decent one so I don't regret a cheap one and end up buying twice.

I assumed putting up tarp/ hammock would be quick and easy to put up. Modern tents are too so no real advantage not having a tent.

Thermarest is definitely on my list (despite it's cost) as I've only ever heard good things about them.

I'll buy a decent sleeping bag and without question a bivi bag (MOD issue) as I know they are good.

Thanks for all the advice. Lots of obvious stuff in there I hadn't really thought of.

Roll on next year.

[stinkwheel]

[stinkwheel]

[Casper]

[tbourner]

They don't attack people who like marmite apparently. I'm a lover and don't get bitten much, missus hates it and gets attacked all the time. I don't eat it often so it's nothing to do with actually having it in your system either.
____________________
Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[garth]

[Peirre oBollox]

Try some Avon "skin so soft" spray, I dunno what's in it but the biting bugs don't like it
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[tbourner]