Recommend me a tent for a world tour

[Psamathe]

I've been looking at videos on YouTube of various tents and the MSR Hubba Hubba is coming out on top so far. I love the design and ease of putting up. I've also come across the MSR Freelite, how does that compare?

Do distinguish between youtubers who might be out camping for an occasional weekend during the summer from everyday for an extended duration. A lot of stuff can "look good" for weekender levels of use but not really up to an extended tour - and sods-law says you'll be somewhere remote when you discover the youtubers were focusing on "features" rather than how well it can stand-up to more intensive use.

Ian

[Psamathe]

Whatever you get just make sure that its not one where you put the inner up first like my Robens Lodge 2, as if its raining it fills the inside before you can get the outer in position.

I don't personally like inner-first pitches but the number of happy users, including in rainy places, suggests it's not the deal breaker it might be......

My month with the Hubba Hubba required a few pitches in the rain. I'd got used to pitching so was pretty quick but the inner still got wet (made worse as the seams leaked after pitching as the rain continued.

Ian

[Ivor Tingting]

Whatever you get just make sure that its not one where you put the inner up first like my Robens Lodge 2, as if its raining it fills the inside before you can get the outer in position.

I don't personally like inner-first pitches but the number of happy users, including in rainy places, suggests it's not the deal breaker it might be......

My month with the Hubba Hubba required a few pitches in the rain. I'd got used to pitching so was pretty quick but the inner still got wet (made worse as the seams leaked after pitching as the rain continued.

Ian

If it's raining pitch the fly first and then the inner.

[robing]

If your tour starts in the USA, could you arguably get a better tent cheaper there?

doodah

It's a thought. Do you know any chains of outdoor shops there? I'll most likely be starting from Washington dc. I will head towards Knoxville Tennessee as my sister will be moving there then either finish in sf or pick up the trans am to oregon or even Canada.

[doodah]

Is the chain REI?

I was trying to find you a link to a couple (Dutch I think) who are cycling rtw. They are using a Marmot limelight tent with great success. I will dig more for the link.

Good luck with your tour.

[Bmblbzzz]

REI come recommended. Tarp Tents is a USA brand I've heard good things of but no experience. Will you have time between arriving in USA and setting off to actually see tents?

[robing]

I like the look of the hilleberg niak which is a 1-2 man tent. Though being a Hilleberg is eye wateringly expensive.

[Psamathe]

I don't personally like inner-first pitches but the number of happy users, including in rainy places, suggests it's not the deal breaker it might be......

My month with the Hubba Hubba required a few pitches in the rain. I'd got used to pitching so was pretty quick but the inner still got wet (made worse as the seams leaked after pitching as the rain continued.

Ian

If it's raining pitch the fly first and then the inner.

Not easy. I didn't have preset lengths of line to keep the corners in. Then hanging the inner on the cross pole becomes a fiddle (discovered that after it broke and I was having to bodge things together to avoid sleeping outdoors).

Reality is that with my MSR the inner getting wet during being pitches was not a major problem and even pitching fly 1st would not be an answer because the seams on the fly leaked (and we are talking about in the rain).

I'm sure if you setup it might be possible but I found a pitch together (as per my Hilleberg) much faster and easier and the same problems does not arise.

Ian

[horizon]

I like the look of the hilleberg niak which is a 1-2 man tent. Though being a Hilleberg is eye wateringly expensive.

So first month travelling staying in B and Bs and small hotels single occupancy at £35.00 per night (plus weak pound) = £1085.00.
Second and third month as above.

Cost of Hilleberg (most models) = about £1000.
3 months' travel: 90 days for £1000 = £11.00 per night
Value of tent at end of three month trip: £300?

These figures are a bit notional and don't include campsite fees but you can see what I am getting at. These upfront costs are unpleasant but factored over an entire trip justify themselves IMV.

Someone once said that if you intend to wear your suit everyday at work, buy an expensive one; if you are going to use your suit only for special occasions, buy a cheap one. Most people do the opposite.

I'm currently planning a short trip using AirBnB. Even at their rates (which are great), accommodation adds up rapidly. Transport (e.g. flights) is a one off, accommodation adds up night after night after night. And you can add to that the difficulty of cooking for yourself too (albeit again, hard to quantify).

[Ivor Tingting]

My month with the Hubba Hubba required a few pitches in the rain. I'd got used to pitching so was pretty quick but the inner still got wet (made worse as the seams leaked after pitching as the rain continued.

Ian

If it's raining pitch the fly first and then the inner.

Not easy. I didn't have preset lengths of line to keep the corners in. Then hanging the inner on the cross pole becomes a fiddle (discovered that after it broke and I was having to bodge things together to avoid sleeping outdoors).

Reality is that with my MSR the inner getting wet during being pitches was not a major problem and even pitching fly 1st would not be an answer because the seams on the fly leaked (and we are talking about in the rain).

I'm sure if you setup it might be possible but I found a pitch together (as per my Hilleberg) much faster and easier and the same problems does not arise.

Ian

So you didn't buy the footprint? Face palm. The foot print is not only necessary to add an additional layer to protect the groundsheet, but without it you cannot pitch the fly sheet firstly if it's raining or secondly on it's own as just a tarp or you can, but it is rather difficult with DIY lines as you have found. I've not tried. LoL. Why did you not but the footprint? They are £30-40. Once the fly is up it is easy to hang the inner from the inside. You paid way more for a Hilleberg but skimped on buying what you needed for your MSR tent to pitch it properly. For me pitching in the rain is not a regular occurrence but when it happens it's not a problem. I'll grant you MSR has some leakage issues primarily with the fly sheet of their Hubba Tour series tents, the one with the large porch incorporated into the fly, but I've not had any problems with my Hubba Hubba HP, Hubba NX or Elixir 2. I must have been lucky.

Hillebergs are not perfect tents. First the prices of them are astronomical compared even to other premium brands. Their fly sheets can suffer sagging and need frequent re-pegging. Also ventilation can be very poor and lots of condensation. But the main thing which attracted me to MSR was the free standing design and in warmer and drier times of year being able to camp out with just the inner and gaze at the stars and moon as you drift off to sleep. AFAIK you cannot do this with HIlleberg tents. Each to their own.

[Psamathe]

If it's raining pitch the fly first and then the inner.

Not easy. I didn't have preset lengths of line to keep the corners in. Then hanging the inner on the cross pole becomes a fiddle (discovered that after it broke and I was having to bodge things together to avoid sleeping outdoors).

Reality is that with my MSR the inner getting wet during being pitches was not a major problem and even pitching fly 1st would not be an answer because the seams on the fly leaked (and we are talking about in the rain).

I'm sure if you setup it might be possible but I found a pitch together (as per my Hilleberg) much faster and easier and the same problems does not arise.

Ian

So you didn't buy the footprint? Face palm. The foot print is not only necessary to add an additional layer to protect the groundsheet, but without it you cannot pitch the fly sheet on it's own or as you have found it is VERY difficult. Why did you not but the footprint? You paid way more for a Hilleberg but skimped on buying what you needed for your MSR tent to pitch it properly. For me pitching in the rain is not a regular occurrence but when it happens it's not a problem. I'll grant you MSR has some leakage issues primarily with the fly sheet of their Hubba Tour series tents, the one with the large porch incorporated into the fly, but I've not had any problems with my Hubba Hubba HP, Hubba NX or Elixir 2. I must have been lucky.

I didn't buy the footprint as I didn't want to carry the extra weight. I could pitch it properly without the footprint, and most people were saying inner first in the rain was not a big deal. I would not call it a "big deal" but I would call it "a nuisance" (but that gets to discussing the meaning of words).

Footprint was not going to stop the MSR poles breaking and that was what led to paying way more for the Hilleberg.

I got the Hilleberg once the MSR had broken. Once the MSR broke my choice was either replacement pole sections for the broken pole MSR (which would undoubtedly have gone the same way after a few weeks and other side was on its way to breaking) or I got a different tent. Given I was mid tour at the time I wanted something reliable so where pre-departure I could not justify the expense of the Hilleberg, my experiences with the failed MSR made that justification change.

I didn't get a footprint for the Hilleberg but I might. I keep thinking about it and putting it off. I suspect it will be put-off until close to next departure.

Ian

[Ivor Tingting]

Not easy. I didn't have preset lengths of line to keep the corners in. Then hanging the inner on the cross pole becomes a fiddle (discovered that after it broke and I was having to bodge things together to avoid sleeping outdoors).

Reality is that with my MSR the inner getting wet during being pitches was not a major problem and even pitching fly 1st would not be an answer because the seams on the fly leaked (and we are talking about in the rain).

I'm sure if you setup it might be possible but I found a pitch together (as per my Hilleberg) much faster and easier and the same problems does not arise.

Ian

So you didn't buy the footprint? Face palm. The foot print is not only necessary to add an additional layer to protect the groundsheet, but without it you cannot pitch the fly sheet on it's own or as you have found it is VERY difficult. Why did you not but the footprint? You paid way more for a Hilleberg but skimped on buying what you needed for your MSR tent to pitch it properly. For me pitching in the rain is not a regular occurrence but when it happens it's not a problem. I'll grant you MSR has some leakage issues primarily with the fly sheet of their Hubba Tour series tents, the one with the large porch incorporated into the fly, but I've not had any problems with my Hubba Hubba HP, Hubba NX or Elixir 2. I must have been lucky.

I didn't buy the footprint as I didn't want to carry the extra weight. I could pitch it properly without the footprint, and most people were saying inner first in the rain was not a big deal. I would not call it a "big deal" but I would call it "a nuisance" (but that gets to discussing the meaning of words).

Footprint was not going to stop the MSR poles breaking and that was what led to paying way more for the Hilleberg.

I got the Hilleberg once the MSR had broken. Once the MSR broke my choice was either replacement pole sections for the broken pole MSR (which would undoubtedly have gone the same way after a few weeks and other side was on its way to breaking) or I got a different tent. Given I was mid tour at the time I wanted something reliable so where pre-departure I could not justify the expense of the Hilleberg, my experiences with the failed MSR made that justification change.

I didn't get a footprint for the Hilleberg but I might. I keep thinking about it and putting it off. I suspect it will be put-off until close to next departure.

Ian

Ehh??? The footprint is not exactly heavy not does it have a large packed size. In fact I blame MSR for not including it in their Hubba range. It is a bit tight of them meaning those who buy the tents who are tight won't buy them. It is also gives a false impression of the total weight of the tent with an important component missing. Their Elixir tents have the footprint included. Without the footprint you are not able to use the design to it's full potential.
Regarding broken poles etc. It was illuminating working in the out door industry a few years ago to see how poorly most people treated their tent's pole sets - chucking the poles around, trying to snap them together my flipping the whole lot out like a magic wand, stepping on them, when pole sections were together and they were bending them to erect the tent bending the pole sections in totally the wrong places causing all sorts of stresses on joints that were not intended. Not suggesting your poles or joints joining them broke through mistreatment but I saw many people breaking tent poles because they were simply clueless. Touchwood I've never had a broken pole. I'm really careful with tent poles. I carry several repair sections just in case, but never had to use them. I also peg a tent out properly if either strong wind or rain or both is forecast.

[robing]

I like the look of the hilleberg niak which is a 1-2 man tent. Though being a Hilleberg is eye wateringly expensive.

So first month travelling staying in B and Bs and small hotels single occupancy at £35.00 per night (plus weak pound) = £1085.00.
Second and third month as above.

Cost of Hilleberg (most models) = about £1000.
3 months' travel: 90 days for £1000 = £11.00 per night
Value of tent at end of three month trip: £300?

These figures are a bit notional and don't include campsite fees but you can see what I am getting at. These upfront costs are unpleasant but factored over an entire trip justify themselves IMV.

Someone once said that if you intend to wear your suit everyday at work, buy an expensive one; if you are going to use your suit only for special occasions, buy a cheap one. Most people do the opposite.

I'm currently planning a short trip using AirBnB. Even at their rates (which are great), accommodation adds up rapidly. Transport (e.g. flights) is a one off, accommodation adds up night after night after night. And you can add to that the difficulty of cooking for yourself too (albeit again, hard to quantify).

I see your point but I'm comparing a Hilleberg with other tents. They just seem like a small fortune for not a lot of tent. For that sort of money I'd want an en suite. They're not infallible and the MSR has a lot of plus points as have been mentioned. The MSR Hubba Hubba is probably the most popular cycle touring tent.

Having said that, if a Hilleberg were to last me for years to come and the MSR falls apart a lot quicker then I would happily pay the premium.

[Sweep]

I didn't buy the footprint as I didn't want to carry the extra weight.

****

I didn't get a footprint for the Hilleberg but I might. I keep thinking about it and putting it off. I suspect it will be put-off until close to next departure.

Ian

Cripes - this strikes me as madness/weight weeniness gone crazy. Do those tents garble folks' minds?

I have several tents - none have a dedicated footprint (they are always overpriced) but I use the same bit of blue tarp from B&Q for them all.

Weighs nothing I am going to bother about - cost about a fiver.

I'd just pop out and buy such a thing if I were you.

(you do have to go round the tent checking that no bits are sticking out to pool water/guide it under the tent, but that's no great problem.

[ipswichcycler]

I’ve pitched a hubba hubba in the rain and the trick is do it quick!! Also I can’t see the inner of a pitch outer first tent can stay that dry when you actually get in. If you have been cycling in the rain you yourself are wet before you climb into the tent. Surely you take a lot of water in with you?