Plodder wrote:
> Don't want to do the usual thing (for me) and buy several
> tents before I find a good one and end up with a heap of tents next to the
> pile of saddles and other assorted bike bits...
Pray tell, what is wrong with this? {
Naah, know what you mean.
Seriously, you can expect to buy at least two.
The first one tells you what you really want in the second, just like
with bicycles.
My criteria (after 30 years bicycle touring) for a nylon tent.
Double skin
Inner skin; mossie/fly neeting should erectable by itself - cool in
summer, see stars, etc.
Ninimal pegs to erect, current requires four pegs for inner, 2-8(?) for
outer.
Integral floor, vestibule(s), two entry points.
Chnky or metal zips (I add snap large swivels to make easier to find at
night.
Some peeps like domes, as they can have lots of internal space for gear
and can stand independently without pegs. Seem to also have better head
room. I might try one next time, but I still think I'll be snaking
across the floor to pull on the strides.
I like tube/torpedoes for minimal area to wind. Currently I am using a
Companion Orion, which is about 20 (?)years old.
Prefer fibreglass poles as when they splinter you can usually tape them
up and continue to use them. Try to choose a pole with segments that is
fairly generic, that way you can buy any longer pole and cut it down.
Noticed these are commonly available now.
When I was on the road regularly, I carried one spare long segment and
one spare short segment, but thinking about all this is really going
into it deeply.
I was googling to see if the Companion Orion is still around and found
http://www.discountcamping.com.au/ (no connection) which shows there is
a wider range of styles these days.
Last points, consider size before weight, as in, where are you going to
carry it? I usually found that the fabric can be balled/rolled anywhere
in a pannier (small stuff sacks handy here), it was the length of poles
that might require consideration.
My 2c, start with something economical, use it, wear it out, buy another.
