Cycling UK Forum

We usually pack our Nallo 3 GT as one (inner/outer/footprint), as it makes pitching/taking down easy.
If it is raining heavily, I now pack the inner separately from the outer/footprint.
Last year I was hoping for heaving rain while taking the tent down so I could test packing the tent as 1 when it was wet. My wish was granted (rain weather warning that day). When we put the tent up at the end of the day, I had to sponge out the inner (puddles) and let it air before we could put anything in the tent.
With my old Saunders Space Packer Plus, I always packed the inner/outer in separate bags, putting the outer below the inner in a front pannier. That way the inner was always dry, regarless of how wet the outer was, and regardless of how big the water puddle was at the bottom of the pannier.

bikepacker wrote: ↑25 Aug 2021, 4:09pm On all the tunnel tents I have used (Hilleberg, Helsport, Coleman and Vango) I leave the footprint attached to the tent and roll them up as one. Makes it easier and quicker to pitch especially when moving on each day. If you do this you may need a larger tent bag but there are many cheap ones to be had.

Our tent will easily go in its bag with the footprint. I just prefer if possible to pack a dry tent.

iandusud wrote: ↑26 Aug 2021, 7:51am

bikepacker wrote: ↑25 Aug 2021, 4:09pm On all the tunnel tents I have used (Hilleberg, Helsport, Coleman and Vango) I leave the footprint attached to the tent and roll them up as one. Makes it easier and quicker to pitch especially when moving on each day. If you do this you may need a larger tent bag but there are many cheap ones to be had.

Our tent will easily go in its bag with the footprint. I just prefer if possible to pack a dry tent.

As PT1029 says just take the inner down if packing up a wet tent keeping that dry is the essential thing. By separating tent from footprint and leaving the inner in place is more likely to give a wet inner tent.

bikepacker wrote: ↑26 Aug 2021, 3:46pm

iandusud wrote: ↑26 Aug 2021, 7:51am

bikepacker wrote: ↑25 Aug 2021, 4:09pm On all the tunnel tents I have used (Hilleberg, Helsport, Coleman and Vango) I leave the footprint attached to the tent and roll them up as one. Makes it easier and quicker to pitch especially when moving on each day. If you do this you may need a larger tent bag but there are many cheap ones to be had.

Our tent will easily go in its bag with the footprint. I just prefer if possible to pack a dry tent.

As PT1029 says just take the inner down if packing up a wet tent keeping that dry is the essential thing. By separating tent from footprint and leaving the inner in place is more likely to give a wet inner tent.

Fair comment if packing up a wet tent.

pjclinch wrote: ↑25 Aug 2021, 10:03am

horizon wrote: ↑23 Aug 2021, 10:46pm
Even a two man tent in this configuration will be a game changer. .

You don't need a formally extended porch for this, just a decent sized porch (or porches). A Spacepacker has plenty of porch space for all of the above, and Saunders' fly-first designs generally did too.

I've been using my Saunders Fellpacker recently and yes, it has a nice porch, adequate for most purposes. But we'll have to agree to differ on whether an extension (as oppposed to a porch) is a real bonus or not. I think an extension is a vast improvement but I agree it doesn't make other tents useless.

Both my old tents together, vango zenith 200 and wild country zephyros 1 (still own this)... Me an my son a few winters ago..

horizon wrote: ↑27 Aug 2021, 7:59pm

pjclinch wrote: ↑25 Aug 2021, 10:03am

horizon wrote: ↑23 Aug 2021, 10:46pm
Even a two man tent in this configuration will be a game changer. .

You don't need a formally extended porch for this, just a decent sized porch (or porches). A Spacepacker has plenty of porch space for all of the above, and Saunders' fly-first designs generally did too.

I've been using my Saunders Fellpacker recently and yes, it has a nice porch, adequate for most purposes. But we'll have to agree to differ on whether an extension (as oppposed to a porch) is a real bonus or not. I think an extension is a vast improvement but I agree it doesn't make other tents useless.

IIRC the Fellpacker was along the same lines as the JetPacker, and that was really trimmed towards light weight rather than spacious porch area. It was rather remiss of me to overlook those in my comment, but I was thinking of the transverse designs like the SpacePacker, Basecamp and Galaxy when I made it.

Being transverse designs the porches are as wide as the sleeping space is long. A Spacepacker has far more space in one of its porches than a Jetpacker has, and the Spacepeacker has two of them. The Galaxy has porch space equal to the entire ground area of a complete Spacepeacker: with that kind of space you really don't need an extension.

The Hille Kaitum has an extended porch version but for a lot of uses I think you're getting too much of a good thing, and paying for it with extra weight, bulk and tent-size (the standard Kaitum is a big tent, the GT is huge!)

A Kaitum and a Nallo GT are about the same size overall, the difference is the Kaitum has the porch space split to each end so each one has a sloping end, while both ends of the inner are vertical. So while porch and inner area is about the same in each, in the Nallo GT you get more porch volume and in the Kaitum you get more inner volume, as here...



I prefer more cat-swinging space for me than my gear, and there's still loads of space for cooking/gear/getting in and out, plus the convenience of a door and storage each.

Pete.

pjclinch wrote: ↑30 Aug 2021, 11:49amIIRC the Fellpacker was along the same lines as the JetPacker, and that was really trimmed towards light weight rather than spacious porch area. It was rather remiss of me to overlook those in my comment, but I was thinking of the transverse designs like the SpacePacker, Basecamp and Galaxy when I made it.

Being transverse designs the porches are as wide as the sleeping space is long. A Spacepacker has far more space in one of its porches than a Jetpacker has, and the Spacepeacker has two of them. The Galaxy has porch space equal to the entire ground area of a complete Spacepeacker: with that kind of space you really don't need an extension.

Yes.

We use a BasePacker (two people, transverse ridge) for cycle touring. The two full-length porches are excellent for storage under cover and for access to what's stored there. And for getting out without disturbing your tentmate.

Jonathan

Used my new Wild Country Zephyros Compact 1 for 9 moving-on days in North Wales.
Downsides - still a faff to put up and to get taut. The door if clipped back hangs down a bit as in the photos, but rather better if pulled loosely back over the tent with a bungee. The footprint, unlike previous ones I've had for other tents, doesn't reach to the outer tent most of the way round, reducing the storage usefulness of the spaces round the inner. I brought some pieces of very lightweight tarp to use instead. More bulky than I expected and the compact shape applies to the bag in comes in too - great for a rucksack but not for my panniers, so I re-packaged it to be longer and flatter.
Upsides - I liked being able to lie inside and still watch the campsite! It isn't clautrophobic and there was plenty of room in the inner (but I'm only 5'2" and not chubby!) There is enough space to store cooking stuff and panniers, etc., in the long narrow porch. It's under 2 kilos, and with the Cycling UK discount was under £150.
I think it's an OK budget fairweather tent - not sure about in the rain. I'm thinking about some sort of door hack... someone here has had the same idea http://grejtest.blogspot.com/2013/08/te ... ros-1.html

Slowroad wrote: ↑14 Sep 2021, 4:07pmThe door if clipped back hangs down a bit as in the photos, but rather better if pulled loosely back over the tent with a bungee
I'm thinking about some sort of door hack

Suggestion: https://speedsterstoves.co.uk/other-pro ... gnets.html

Short overnight trip up the Lee valley
Off around Cornwall coast for the next few days


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels

Hi,
Oh, good luck with the Cornwall coast

marketability wrote: ↑17 Sep 2021, 5:15pm
Short overnight trip up the Lee valley
Off around Cornwall coast for the next few days


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels

appears to be on a lawn?

Slowroad wrote: ↑14 Sep 2021, 4:07pm
The door if clipped back hangs down a bit as in the photos, but rather better if pulled loosely back over the tent with a bungee
I'm thinking about some sort of door hack

Suggestion: https://speedsterstoves.co.uk/other-pro ... gnets.html

Strange but very useful looking objects! Would hold back the tent flap without wearing the fabric - and all sorts of applications, I'm sure...

Slowroad wrote: ↑19 Sep 2021, 9:01pm

Slowroad wrote: ↑14 Sep 2021, 4:07pm
The door if clipped back hangs down a bit as in the photos, but rather better if pulled loosely back over the tent with a bungee
I'm thinking about some sort of door hack

Suggestion: https://speedsterstoves.co.uk/other-pro ... gnets.html

Strange but very useful looking objects! Would hold back the tent flap without wearing the fabric - and all sorts of applications, I'm sure...

A ball bungee might possibly also be useful.
I always carry a few on tour - innumerable uses - helping to string washing lines, help with tarps, help hold bikes on trains, immobilise (not high security of course) bikes/stop them rolling.