Retiring soon and I have a Question about tents.

Randall53 · Jul 28, 2014

I am retiring in September. I plan on traveling solo to the Outer Banks from Chattanooga tn and then heading South to Stewart Florida sometime in the middle to late October. I would like to camp rather than stay in a motel. I have done this years ago, but it's been quite some time. What is the best single man tent that would be practical for travel on an ST1300 (if they even make one)? Any help will be appreciated. Tent and blanket will be all I use. No cooking, coffee making etc....just stop eat, hit the campground, sleep, eat breakfast at a waffle house and down the road I go. Ya know? Ideas, suggestions are very welcome.

dwalby · Jul 28, 2014

best means different things to different people. The first question is do you plan on camping if there's a threat of rain? If you want to stay dry in a downpour, then don't go cheap. If you just want to keep the bugs out, that's a simpler requirement to meet.

Mellow · Jul 28, 2014

Just a tent and blanket? Well, my advise would be a good backpacking tent, marmot makes a good one and I'd go with a 2 man tent. Mountainsmith makes a tent called the Morrison 2 which is only about 18" long packed and will fit in the saddlebags easily enough.

Then, I would get an expend 7.5 synmat and a pillow/pump they sell which will help pump the mattress. Then at least a 40 degree down sleeping bag.

That's my advise, it may not be what you asked for but I feel it's the best way to go.

Randall53 · Jul 28, 2014

Thanks! Both of you helped me more than you know. I've already found my tent Eureka! Solitaire, which is 17" x 4". Mattress (took Mellow's advise) and already have my blanket (very lightweight wool I've had for years from deer hunting days) I believe it will all fit in one saddlebag with room left over. That leaves top box and another saddlebag for the rest. Small tool kit I already have, tire repair kit with Airman compressor.

Mellow · Jul 28, 2014

There's a sticky in this section as well which may help

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?134137-Camping-The-Basics

STimpa · Jul 28, 2014

Wow! That went fast... I guess I get to save my .02 for another situation

O well, I'm glad you got what you needed.

jonjonboo · Jul 28, 2014

when I got my ST I thought "smaller =better" so I got me a one man tent, I spent one night in that thing and got rid of it quick. TOO SMALL!! I have a 3 man Big Agnes that works great, I would never go smaller.

VFR · Jul 28, 2014

You want to talk to Tom Padden! He has a one man tent that he uses sometimes. He folds this tent up with the mattress & sleeping bag in it. Rolls the tent out, sets up the poles, Done!!!

Ron · Jul 28, 2014

Take all your stuff you will be carrying and set up camp in the back yard. Set up your sleeping stuff and crawl in and try it out for fit. Don't forget your riding gear. Where you going to store it overnight? I found a 2 man tent wasn't big enough. I went over board and bought a big tent. I can fit a queen size mattress and have room on 2 sides of it. The packed size isn't that much bigger and it is worth it for the comfort.

jonjonboo · Jul 28, 2014

Ron said:
Take all your stuff you will be carrying and set up camp in the back yard. Set up your sleeping stuff and crawl in and try it out for fit. Don't forget your riding gear.

and do it in a hard rain

Ron · Jul 28, 2014

There used to be a line of motorcycle bags made by Helen2Wheels. One of the things mentioned for packing was to keep your dry stuff (sleeping bag, pillow, etc.) separate from the other stuff (tent, tent poles). Set the tent up in the rain and then take the dry stuff into the tent to unpack it. It has a better chance of staying dry.

rjs987 · Jul 29, 2014

Taking this another step... I bought a 12ft Kelty tarp to set up first. Then I can setup the tent under the tarp and keep even that dryer. I also keep the tent and tarp packed separately from the "inside the tent" stuff. Most is packed in drybags, one for the tent and tarp, one for the sleeping bag/pad and clothes. Anything else goes in the paniers.

:plus1:

on practicing set up in the back yard or a nearby campground including everything you will have with you on the bike. Also a good idea to pack the bike with everything first and then riding to the back yard, unpack and set up, just to verify what you can bring and have room for and to see what changes you need to make before you get far from home.

STreaker · Jul 30, 2014

Ron said:
Take all your stuff you will be carrying and set up camp in the back yard. Set up your sleeping stuff and crawl in and try it out for fit. Don't forget your riding gear. Where you going to store it overnight? I found a 2 man tent wasn't big enough. I went over board and bought a big tent. I can fit a queen size mattress and have room on 2 sides of it. The packed size isn't that much bigger and it is worth it for the comfort.

Ditto your thoughts. I have found a 3 man tent selling for $39 at Big 5 sporting goods keeps the rain and bugs out as well as a $250 tent from REI. Buy a big cheap tent and throw it in a $29 stuff sack. The 10 lbs won't make a difference on your bike. DO splurge for the most comfortable mattress, which may be at REI. Best of luck to you.

Styles · Jul 30, 2014

In 2009 BuddingGeezer pointed me to this Great Priced Tent. Academy Sports might still have it. I spent two nights in it last week. A great buy.

Styles

dwalby · Jul 30, 2014

STreaker said:
I have found a 3 man tent selling for $39 at Big 5 sporting goods keeps the rain and bugs out as well as a $250 tent from REI.

Curious what other people's experiences are regarding that, its hard to argue with a man from Olympia regarding rain protection.

Back in the '80s on a backpacking trip we had two tents, I had a small REI tent and my roommate had a Big5 (or similar). Ran into an afternoon storm up around 11-12k ft and his didn't fare so well. He and his buddy who was sharing the tent spent the afternoon trying to dry out their stuff, and I think they ended up fairly miserable that night because it never got warm enough to really dry everything out and it goes down to freezing at those elevations at night. He went to REI and bought a good tent immediately after that trip. Ever since that lesson I've never bought anything less than a good name brand tent, but maybe the cheaper ones work better these days. It doesn't seem like it should be that hard to keep water out of a dome, so maybe they've improved their designs over the years. I think the problem then was they cheaped out on the rainfly and part of the tent was exposed to the rain, whereas the better tents had more full coverage rainflies.

STreaker · Jul 30, 2014

dwalby said:
Curious what other people's experiences are regarding that, its hard to argue with a man from Olympia regarding rain protection.

Back in the '80s on a backpacking trip we had two tents, I had a small REI tent and my roommate had a Big5 (or similar). Ran into an afternoon storm up around 11-12k ft and his didn't fare so well. He and his buddy who was sharing the tent spent the afternoon trying to dry out their stuff, and I think they ended up fairly miserable that night because it never got warm enough to really dry everything out and it goes down to freezing at those elevations at night. He went to REI and bought a good tent immediately after that trip. Ever since that lesson I've never bought anything less than a good name brand tent, but maybe the cheaper ones work better these days. It doesn't seem like it should be that hard to keep water out of a dome, so maybe they've improved their designs over the years. I think the problem then was they cheaped out on the rainfly and part of the tent was exposed to the rain, whereas the better tents had more full coverage rainflies.

A high quality tent will likely outperform a cheap tent in a mountain storm. The "cheap" tent I bought for $39 is also marketed with a Coleman tag for about twice the price. It will stay dry in heavy rain, but if you want a mountaineering tent that will take whatever Mother Nature throws at it, you may want REI. I had a 2 man Eureka Timberline that was the only tent standing the morning after a Nebraska tornado. I remember 2 things about the tornado: it sounded like a freight train, not like a lot of wind. I also remember downing about a fifth of Scotch (just to increase my ballast, not because I like 12 year old Scotch) because I didn't want to feel like Dorothy getting my ***** kicked by a storm.

Today I received a Big 5 Sports flyer: Arroyo Creek Dome tent, 8' X 8' with 56 inch center, with fly and taped seams: $34.99.

Tor · Aug 3, 2014

If you are camping alone, you would want a 2-man tent. If you want a high quality 2-man tent that packs extremely small, look into Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2.

Appalachian · Aug 16, 2014

Two words: Mountain Hardwear. Light, compact, bomb shelter durable, excellent venting, and water proof in up to 2-3" of standing water. You pay for what you get. Just packed this one on the the Bird an hour ago for a quick overnight with my girl to the Smokey's tomorrow

I have 3 of their models, never moto tour or go back country without one.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/skyledge-3-dp-|-304-|-none-786559896010.html

Bush · Aug 17, 2014

Appalachian said:
Two words: Mountain Hardwear. Light, compact, bomb shelter durable, excellent venting, and water proof in up to 2-3" of standing water. You pay for what you get. Just packed this one on the the Bird an hour ago for a quick overnight with my girl to the Smokey's tomorrow I have 3 of their models, never moto tour or go back country without one.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/skyledge-3-dp-|-304-|-none-786559896010.html

$550.00 !!!! I'm sure it's a quality product, or wants to be for that price, but for those # of dollars, I'd get a lot of comfy motel beds instead!

T_C · Aug 17, 2014

Bush said:
$550.00 !!!! I'm sure it's a quality product, or wants to be for that price, but for those # of dollars, I'd get a lot of comfy motel beds instead!

10 nights in a motel?

Retiring soon and I have a Question about tents.

Randall53

dwalby

Mellow

Joe

Randall53

Mellow

Joe

STimpa

Livin my best life!

jonjonboo

VFR

"Uncle Larry"

Ron

jonjonboo

Ron

rjs987

Robert

STreaker

Styles

2000 Non-ABS

dwalby

STreaker

Tor

Making Life A Ride

Appalachian

No, the OTHER left!

Bush

T_C