H Roberta,The poles for bikepacking tents are made in shorter segments, so the
packed bundle is short enough to fit crosswise, even strapped to (not too
small) drop bars.The one thing I regret about my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 is the
"end" door. My next tent will have a "side" door. My aging body isn't as
flexible as it once was, and getting in and out with the end door is a bit of a
challenge. That said, I DO like the 900g weight of my Fly Creek tent!
Also, I have heard good things about the Naturehike tents. My friend had a
Mongar 2 on our recent bikepacking trip and spoke highly of it.cheers,Andrew in
Sydney
On Monday, March 2, 2026 at 07:11:50 AM GMT+11, Roberta
<[email protected]> wrote:
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.
RobertaPhiladelphiaOn 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.
BrianLexington 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, RobertaPhiladelphia
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