Another tent?!

[chickenstrip]

So it seems I'm not happy with 3 (yes, THREE) tents to choose from. I've been thinking that no one really makes a tent suitable for biking/camping, by which I mean this: A one or two man tent that is lightweight (say, 2.5 to 3kgs) and packs down pretty small, and (the crux of the matter), has a good-sized storage area/porch to put wet bike gear and luggage in over night.

I'm not really interested in these things that have been appearing of late where you can actually get your bike in a part of the tent - seems to me they're too bulky packed down size and weight for one thing. And one like this I've seen is selling for silly money.

No, what I'm looking for now is one that fits the above description, for commercial campsite use. The only thing that comes close that I know of, I saw in Go Outdoors in Swindon today. It was a North Ridge, think it was called a Torre Light - 2.65kgs, a packed size that can easily be handled on the back of the bike with other luggage, two-hoop tunnel design with a reasonable size porch space, including fitted porch area ground sheet. Siliconised for good waterproofing. It looked decent enough quality for the money (£119 with GO discount card) - anybody used North Ridge tents? Any good?

Does anybody know of anything else that fits the bill?

[Aff]

I Use a Vango Tempest 200, think it fits most the things you've said.
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[Itchy]

No actual suggestions, but get a self standing tent.

Stinkwheel will disagree but how often do you camp in conditions so windy you're at risk of being blown away?

I've had far far far too many times when I'm tired and find the ground baked rock solid or the commercial camp site is funny and the pitches are concrete slabs.
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[chickenstrip]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I've a Vango Ark 300, but they now do a 300 Plus - does this look like what you might be after?

https://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/460x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/a/vango-ark-300-plus-tent.jpg

https://www.outdoorworlddirect.co.uk/vango-ark-300-tent.html

[edit] 5.6 kilos, my bad.

[edit 2] The Ark 200 Plus is 4.6 kilos : https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/2-person-tent/55-ark-200.html
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[Casper]

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/go-outdoors-rio-2-tent-p263450

I bought this for when I am away with the bike. It packs up surprisingly small and its light. Only downside is lack of awning and can be a tad tight for two if you put your luggage in the tent.

I also have this for when I need ore room.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-neutron-3-p217175

[sidewinder]

Vango stelvio

https://www.cave-crag.co.uk/vango-stelvio-200-tent

https://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m492/sidewinder11/00b78553d137b2d9aa763b3303e585d8_zps5a5b395a.jpg

[EazyDuz]

Cobra 2? Think that's what its called and only £80ish
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[stinkwheel]

A spirit 200 is a 4-season, force 10 tent that fits in a single, unexpanded oxford throwover pannier. I have slept in one in a genuine force 10 storm, it inspired confidence, I DID sleep.

3.1kg. 3 hoops. Tension band system, 5000mm hydrostatic head. 440x150mm packed size. Porch area is as big as the sleeping area which fits 2 people.

https://www.outdoorworlddirect.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/p/spirit_200_-_grasshopper.jpg
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[chickenstrip]

Shaggy, that one looks very much like my "glamping" tent, so a bit heavy and doesn't pack down small enough - thanks for the suggestion though.

GPz, I'm looking for more porch space than that first one. Hi Gear I feel might be a bit too budget - once I settle on a tent, I want it to last. But again, thanks for the suggestions.

Sidewinder, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid!

EasyDuz, will look for that one later.

Stinkwheel, think you may have hit the nail on the head there! Nice one, cheers

[Casper]

[sidewinder]

[chickenstrip]

So, on the weekend I picked up this fella:

https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/112872-blacks-octane-3-man-tent-yellow.html

Close in design to stinkwheel's suggestion, nicely discounted, a tad over 3kgs, and packs down small enough to fit easily on the bike with other kit.

Pitched once in the garden so far, it's pretty easy to erect, and can be done with the inner all buttoned in, or fly first. Loads of storage room in the porch - in fact, I could probably sit in the porch with all the gear and cook at the same time with room to spare

The fact that it's orange...no, sorry, it's ORANGE!!! did make me wonder at first, but as it's really for commercial campsite use, I wasn't that bothered in the end.

So, now my Euro trip is cancelled, I'm hoping it's first outing will be a little trip to the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, maybe two weeks-ish, from mid July. So we'll see how it performs then.

[Duke125]

I've just finished with this bad boy https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/go-outdoors-havana-4-tent-p263482
... it was just me so I left the second "bedroom" compartment at home. I was able to fit my duke 125 in the space that was left! (the matching colour was just a bonus) It is a really great little thing, the only problem was, for one, slightly dim person, it took a solid 40 minutes to put up! Other than that it's a fantastic piece of kit for the money.

[Tierbirdy]

Vango Theta 300, its the geodesinc brother of the Vango Ark, pretty cheap too.

https://www.vango.co.uk/55960-thickbox_default/theta-300.jpg


I work in Go Outdoors in Taunton, feel free to ask about any of the tents

Im currently trying to decide what tent I want for a bit of bike touring too, theres too many to choose from. Im torn between the Theta 300 and the Vango Mirage 300.

[Clanger]

I bought the Vango Storm 300+ in 2004. I've used it for rallies, festivals, wild camping, backyard camping. It's been in bogs Celtic Blue Rock in Wales, Glastonbury. It's survived high winds (Mersea island). Its endured heat and kept me cool as it has mesh inside flaps

I love it, it has a back porch for dirty boots and the like, and a decent sized front porch to sit in if needed. It's supposedly a 3-man tent, but I use it for just me so my panniers and clothing and lid and food / cooking stuff live one side and my airbed and me sleep diagonally across the other.

Perfect.
It weighs around 4.3kg.
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