Are poles and tents for BIKEpacking any different from BACKpacking ones? To me, they seem the same.
REI has sales sometimes. Robert--as I recall we were about the same height. There was lots of room in this one, enough for me, 6" blow up mattress (I drove not biked to the campsite) and my weekend bag without feeling squished. Roberta Philadelphia On Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 1:40:57 PM UTC-5 Robert Blunt wrote: > Thanks for starting this thread Roberta. I am also in the market for a > tent and feel equally overwhelmed by the offerings. I'm wondering if people > here have any strong opinions about bikepacking-specific tents (shorter > pole segments, handlebar-specific stuff sack designs etc.) versus a more > standard two-person tent design. > > Rob Blunt in Pennington, NJ > > On Sun, Mar 1, 2026 at 11:58 AM Brian Turner <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Another “rule” I find helpful for deciding on a specific tent, is what I >> like to call a “+1” rule… meaning, I find it best to select a 2-person tent >> if you want to be comfortable on solo outings; a 3-person tent if you >> routinely camp as a couple. Ultralight tents these days are so efficient >> with space, it helps to size-up if you’re someone who enjoys a bit more >> room. >> >> Brian >> Lexington KY >> >> On Mar 1, 2026, at 11:17 AM, Guy Jett <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> Over the decades of backpacking and bikepacking I have carried and slept >> in many tents. REI, Sierra Designs, North Face, Mountain Hardware, bivy >> sacks, generic tarps, high end tarps, and others. I don't think you can go >> wrong with the REI tent in the link. They are well built, sturdy, light >> enough, and a fair price. Your can find cheaper and not as well built or >> durable. You can find lighter and with more features but at *much* >> higher prices. And REI has an excellent return policy. (I've been a >> member since '71 and have returned a total of 2 items -- a pair of boots >> and a high-end tent (and the later after several *years*).) >> >> As a newer camper DON'T go with tarps, bivys, or one person tents. They >> will be either too small or way too fiddly to set up. The two person >> should be just right. If you're worried about rain get a small nylon tarp >> from a hardware store, or simply put a plastic bag over your saddle (and, >> maybe, a garbage bag over your handlebars). >> >> You will also want to get some sort of sleeping pad for comfort. You >> could start with a simple air mattress. With experience you could graduate >> to either an inexpensive "closed cell" foam pad or a more expensive >> self-inflating insulated pad. >> >> My personal favorite is a silicone-coated tarp for very small size, >> ultralight weight, and flexibility. But I wouldn't recommend to anyone >> relatively new to camping as set-up and site selection are critical and >> take extensive experience. >> >> Best of luck, >> GAJett >> >> On Sun, Mar 1, 2026 at 6:48 AM Roberta <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Camping is not my thing and if I go on overnight bike trips, I’m more >>> likely to stay in a hotel. On Kayak trips, you camp where you pull the >>> kayak out of the water. So those bike days when I’m forced to sleep in a >>> tent as well as the Kayak camping, I’m looking at tents. For biking, I >>> know, shorter pole size and lighter tent is important. Neither of these >>> are important for Kayak camping. I cannot imagine I’d do this more than a >>> few times a year. >>> >>> I borrowed a tent for two trips last year. It stayed dry and I could sit >>> up in it. Opinions? Also, is it worth the additional weight to get two >>> person tent for one person? Other tent recommendations, but around this >>> price point? >>> >>> >>> https://www.rei.com/product/243702/rei-co-op-half-dome-2-tent-with-footprint >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Roberta >>> Philadelphia >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eb8cef8b-6599-4f23-935a-d6b048e24a4en%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eb8cef8b-6599-4f23-935a-d6b048e24a4en%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAMHQv6V9hQY0JUimjm8kxNH%2BFzniur9EHKZx67zeJqy7BDLJGw%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAMHQv6V9hQY0JUimjm8kxNH%2BFzniur9EHKZx67zeJqy7BDLJGw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9ED31E36-FD97-42C5-B408-9F398E8AF581%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9ED31E36-FD97-42C5-B408-9F398E8AF581%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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