Definitely tents to suit the job.

My current 'flying solo' tent is a Vango Tempest 200. Pack weight and build quality is great, and it was IIRC less than �80, but it is (one man) small and particularly low. It's for sleeping in, not living in.

I've got a Quechua tarp these days which I'd definitely carry if I expected foul weather and to be spending a lot of time around the campsite - consider me thoroughly converted by last year's Lakes trip :D.

The downside is the tarp is almost the size and weight of the tent again, and I suppose you could argue that I could just carry around a bigger tent. It's quite a flexible solution though.

I've also got a Black's '3 man' tunnel tent (can't remember exact model) which is used for travelling with Mrs Thumper. It doesn't pack well at all, although that matters less with two bikes, but it is enormous, both in sleeping area and porch area. When we went away last summer we took the tarp as well, and had a mansion wherever we stopped :D. It did mean the bikes looked like this though:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5621131_n.jpg

(that's the tent on the back of the ER6 - I said it doesn't pack small)


Having seen Tom's, I am intrigued by the idea of tipis.

I had one of these, as we spoke about. Mine was blue and a DofE recommended tent. Having seen both ut's and mine there were differences in the materials used, ut's green one being far better constructed. Mind you I think I only paid �50 for mine.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...n/IMG_2576.jpg

I remember you admiring my erection. Fnarr.

Tipi pitched up

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...mping/tipi.jpg

and packed on the bike, yes it's all in that yellow drysac on the back

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2.../gill_ford.jpg

The Aztec Camara is a 3 man tunnel and packs nicely into a 35l drysac on the back-

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...eston_park.jpg

and pitched up at the Dragon

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ragon_camp.jpg

I am very pleased with the tipi, but it wasn't cheap. I think it stands me at �160, you buy it all separately; the inner I paid �50 for, the fly was �110, but can be used on it's own in summer. Weight is 2kg all in.

why is this Quensha Tarp so good? Whats it for? A windbreak, cover your bike..come on, let me in on this guys

10 years is good, it looks very roomy too...does your bike fit in the Biker with the door closed?

You'll figure out why it's so good when it pisses down for the whole of the lakes weekend :D

It is huge, and really quick to put up - but ask Tenere Doug about it !!! :104:

I can confirm that it has aged well (much better than Keith), I'd say a good investmentm if you've got the space on the bike!! (although Keith did manage it on a R.. )


It comes with two long poles (and you can use 1, 2 or all three sections so you can vary the height) and lots of tie off's, it's around 3 x 3 meters and can be errected in any number of fashions from a 'roof' (picture a normal pitched roof), a rear side & roof, a tunnel over your tent, lean to from the bike, or any other way your imagination can put it up!

I saw NickW with one a couple of years ago, got one myself and it's very good indeed. I use it on the bike or even when we go off with the bungalow...

That's largely because you should be looking for Quechua, as I wrote, not what Richard wrote ;)

Quechua is Decathlon's camping gear 'own brand', so you should be looking in Decathlon.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/tarp-3243880/

err...I must have missed the smallprint when I signed up for Lakelands......I assume its an indoor BBQ then...:069:

Here's a possible bargain...Vango Equinox 350 @�99....ITS GOT NO RESERVE 7 HRS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!! I would say still a bargain at �180.....A very roomy tent, weighs 5.3 kg, (add around 500g for a footprint), and will suit those looking for a bit of comfort in a tent. I nearly went for the Equinox 250, it is pretty stable for a "skyscraper", well made, a quality tent. It has inner tension straps that go diagonally either side of the inner tent door, and at either end, (you can chose not to connect them, but they give a much greater stability in high wind). Someone here MUST buy it!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vango-Equinox-...item3a622e3766

only 7 hrs to go on this tent..�99 on Ebay, no reserve....just a bump for you...