Gear

Hi,

My sister and I are cycling from london to sydney over a year. We will camp as much as possible.

what do you think of this tent?

Vango TBS spirit 200 or 300 (http://www.vango.co.uk/)

the 300 is 3.1kgs and we can get it for about £180 (a discount price)

do you think we should go for something lighter?

does anyone have this tent?

Thanks!

Our website is www.cyclingtosydney.com if anybody is interested! theres a nesletter

http://www.cyclingtosydney.com

Vango are ok...

For that money I might be tempted to look at the Vaude Hogan, a bit cheaper and a bit lighter...

Good luck

can you fit your bikes inside? i'm going to iceland on bike and have a tent with room for bikes. better sercurity and keeps it protected from the elements. i have a terra nova eclipse 2+ which i got for £230 down from £400. good luck on your trip - very jelous!!

Hi Marv,

I would also like to put the tents in the porch bit. where did you get your terra nova for £230?

thanks! ;)

emhh like the website,hope you do well especially as the last couple I met who were going to cycle to Sydney gave up in Turkey! Have you got any previous?

I think Wild country do a tent for the specifics of storing bikes in the porch. I just can't remeber where i saw them and whether or not they still make them!?

Sorry couldn't be more of a help!

Rowie :-)

Have a look at Lightwave. I'm told they make good tunnel tents with plenty of room

Kiki, Hi...

...I'm not a cycling buff myself,but last year I went with a friend of mine to help him choose a 2 person tent for an extended trip around Europe. He eventually decided that a 3 person would be much roomier, and the difference in weight not significant (when split between 2).

We managed to narrow it down to a couple of tents, the Vango spirit 300, and the Jack Wolfskin Tundra 3. The Vango was his eventual choice, mainly because of the lower weight. The Vango is approx. 3.2kg, the Jack W is approx 4.6kg.

Both of these were excellent tents, and huge with a capital 'Aitch'

He spent 5 Months around Europe with his girlfriend, mostly camping. The Vango got used and abused, suffered a few accidents, but made it back in one piece. Hope all this helps.

Love the idea of your cylcle adventure, and wish you great success...Keep the site updated as much as poss...I'm sure theres a lot of us who will be following your progress.

P.S heres a link with both of the above tents specs.
http://www.outdoorfocus.co.uk/tent%20lists/3-5berth_tents.htm

hi kiki, i believe the eclipse 2+ might have been preceded by this. its a little more than £230, but is lighter and about the same size. looks good IMO.

tent

Hi Everybody!

Thanks a lot for all your help.

Marv - I really like the look of the Terra Nova Laserlarge 2. Also the Eclipse 2+ looks good!

I will keep researching for a bit but i defo want to find one where it is possible to fit the bikes in the porch.

...but not too heavy!

;)

Are you people mad or what? How can you compare a Vaude Hogan with the Vango Spirit 200.. the Vango slaughters it! Just because it isn't cool to admit one of the so called BIG names in outdoors could possibly not be as good as common and plain old Vango eh?

The Vango TBS Spirit 200 is an amazing tent, the space is unbelievable, it is always first thing in my pack as its like taking a mansion with you, a mansion at only 2.6kgs!! The most underated tent on the planet! Vaude tents are nowhere near as stable as the TBS system and there tiny, its like forcing yourself to have no space when your camping!

This is on the Expensive Side but Hillebergs Range can fit a Bike init,The Akto can and it now costs roughly (240) + pp around 250 pounds which can fit 1 man and 1 bike + Gear.

Have a Look at Hillebergs range.

I don't think that putting your bike in the tent is all that important. You can lock them up and then just put a cycle cover over them which will weigh just a few grams. I have the vango TBS spirit 200 and I think it is one of the best tents on the market in its catorgory although I do have a few gripes -see review.

Any updates on these guys charity trip. Where are they?

I’ll would recommended a Hilleberg tent like the Akto to the Nammatj GT. But I wouldn’t bother putting a bike in the pouch only because you would somehow had to climb over the bikes to get into the main tent. Plus there be limit space to cook if it rains outside.

And if you did want to place your bikes in, try this stroll down & look at the Base version of "Stalon Combi 2" with extension. http://www.hilleberg.se/default-e.HTM

I’m doing a similar thing, BUT I’m cycling worldwide, Six Continents, Covering over 100,000 miles plus and almost 80 countries or more but going up to 10 years.

Kiki,

Check this out -

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/epages/terranova.storefront/44a29d980047f4e22743ac100140067d/Product/View/U43LLG3GC?Template=PR,ClearanceProductDescription

I have bought a used tent from TN it was as good as new.

For cycle touring I would want a lighter tent that 3 kilos.

The other consideration besides weight is packed size. I would expect you would prefer something that takes up as little space as possible. Shorter poles are also better for packing into your pannier, something not a lot of tentmakers take into account!

The Hillegerg Nallo and Atko get very good reviews. The Big Agnes Seedhouse series are quite popular with american cycle tourists. Hike Lite has them. (Just checked -- "had" them -- the SL2 is sold out but the SL1 is still available). The Lightwave are also very popular with cyclists. MSR Zoid and Terra Nova Laser also frequently mentioned.

I just got a Big Agnes Sarvis SL2 for cycle touring and general camping. It's about two kilos and really very spacious (from what I hear -- it arrives tomorrow). It also has a very good height which is why I selected it over the Seedhouse SL2. But I won't be putting my bike in it!

I would also use a lightweight tarp for my bikes rather than get a bigger tent to accommodate them.

Good luck getting ready for your trip! It sounds wonderful!

Edited to add: for a year long trip I would be inclined to spend more on a tent than I would for just occasional use. Under those conditions I think the Hilleberg would get the thumbs up!

I think if you read her link that they set off last July, did 3000 odd miles and had their bikes stolen in India so had to return early. Looks like they went for a Force 10 Serac 1:2, not sure what that is though?

D'Oh! Thanks. :)

Oh dear, well never mind at least they got somewhere, then nowhere.

But that Big Agnes Seedhouse tent have too many poles to put up, I've got the supercharged Nallo, another words the Nammatj 2, two poles, 2.8kg large porch & can with hold must weather or bad condition.

And planning it to use on my worldwide cycling tour/trip starting end of this year.