Hey everyone shirts are available on Teespring if you want to help support this channel! The one I am wearing in this video is a prototype but there are lots of cool designs to choose from! teespring.com/stores/fortytimesaround
It would help with the whole world if you added metric conversions on screen. North America is the only part of the world that doesn’t use metric which means you miss out on Europe and Australia/NZ.
I've been Moto Camping for years and this video is spot on. Just a couple of points from an older rider. I switched to a 3 person to gain height for getting dressed in the morning. I'm just not as nimble as I used to be. Vestibule you mentioned but folks reading this may underestimate its importance. Love the garage analogy. This is so true. Put the smelly gear outside! First time watcher and new subscriber. Thanks for the video!
Packing the poles separately is brilliant. The poles will fit into areas that that entire tent cannot. The tent will then be able to be packed smaller and like you stated, if you have to strap your tent poles to the outside of the bike, who cares? Excellent advice. Thank you sir for that golden nugget.
Great, informative video. To solve the stake issue in the desert I've used rocks and trees to tie off to. Or I've put rocks on top of the stakes to keep them from pulling out. It helps to have something like a strong Ti nail stake to make pilot holes for the weaker stakes. This is a relatively common problem in the backpacking world.
Wal-Mart Ozark trail 2 person backpacking tent. Use scotch guard on it and seam sealer with a regular blue tarp as a ground sheet. Light, small, packable and budget friendly.
Louie Watson. I'm leaning to that too. I have used the tarp off the bike and bivy for years. The 2.5 lb backpacking Amazon tent for $55 has excellent reviews by hikers, has the integrated floor, and easily stuffs into a tiny bag. You just have to find two 42" sticks or go between two trees.
6:31 best advice you can give. Two person is a minimum. Also if the weather gets really bad you need some space to spread out and relax. Nobody wants to weather a storm in a phone booth.
Pro tip of the day: Tyvec for ground cloth is light and near bullet proof. Super light: the shrink film for sealing your windows in winter. Tough as nails and almost nothing in size. Go to tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3, a little pricey but awesome. Nice work on the video.
Thanks for some excellent tips! Thank you, I appreciate that and I'm glad you enjoyed my video! I will check that tent out, I am looking to do some specific tent reviews soon. Thanks again!
Those are both great suggestions. I use landscape cloth. Super light, super cheap, difficult to puncture and drains. Downside is the nonwoven texture can pick up debris in woodland settings. It's aces on gravel and sand. Wet sand will stick, but falls off easily when dry, which it does quickly
This video is spot on. Even though I would mention that with heavier duty deniers the tent tends to get heavier too, so that's something to keep in mind. Also, something you didn't mention is the waterproofness of the tent. Especially for the bottom. It's really no fun waking up surrounded by little pools of water due to rainfall.
Great vid and a tip from a long termer...keep your fly separate to the main tent if you live or visit areas with overnight dew or rain. Keeps the main tent dry. Dry is good.
Excellent review. I used the Redverz Solo tent on a recent 25,000 km trip through Africa. I agree it is a bit bulky, but when the rain is coming down in sheets, the wind is howling with thunder and lightning adding to the spectacle, being able to sit tight in that “garage” section with a cup of coffee is just the biz!
I've done quite a bit of backpacking/camping. I've used a "Clip Flashlight" for YEARS. Super lightweight, packs super small. 2 aluminum poles. If I were to do motor camping, I'd probably go with the USMC issue ICS. "Improved Combat Shelter (Light tight and full camo rainfly) or the British Issue Snugpack Scorpion2 or 3. I strongly suggest those interested to check these out.
I like your review of different types of tents. I settled on the MSR Elixir 3. It can be free-standing, although I stake it down whenever possible. The Elixir line includes the fly and footprint. It has 2 doors and 2 vestibules. One thing I do is carry an extra seal bag to put the tent in if it's wet when I pack up in the morning. The seal bag keeps the tent from getting other stuff wet. I've used a tarp as a footprint, but I fold it so the edge is just under the tent. If you don't do this, the tarp will conduct rainwater to the floor of the tent, but I assume that's not a problem in AZ.
Good idea about the tarp as footprint. I also carry and set up a light tarp in front of my tent to extend the vestibule. So when I get out of the tent during or after rain, its great to have an additional 10x10' dry area to get ready, do your hygiene and cook food - also to get your tent ready and packed dry. When my friends and I arrive, the tarp is the first thing we set up. Also I can recommend umbrella dome tents. They are a bit bulkier & heavier (8 pounds), but the great thing about them is that - even in total darkness, rain or very windy situations - they are ready in less than a minute.
Nothing quite like the Bibbler Ahwanee single-wall tent. Backpacked and rode (bicycle, that is) that thing all over and in the worst of weather. I carried a seven-pound Moss four season before that. Both literal bomb shelters and added to all the negative gravitational drag (until downhills :-). Now that I am old and weak I carry a light and big-assed Big Agness three season at half the weight, and ten times as easy to set up, on a moto instead of one of those on my back or MTB. I've seen it all and you, Mr. FTA, give good and practical advice on these matters of moto travel. I'll keep watching as I swing to the Dark Side LOL
Like you, I also discovered that a two person tent was more ideal. I can put all I need in there and have plenty of me room, my helmet serves the purpose of dumping all my pocket items into and my small mag light, makes it easier to find in the dark. I do keep my boots in tent as well and they make a nice cradle for keeping the helmet from tipping over. My sleeping bag for moderate weather is a fleece bag that packs well and it can be unzipped completely to just use for a layer on tent floor or as a blanket, pretty versatile. When rolled it makes great place to hold the tent poles.
always like a 3 man tent for 1 person not much more to weight but a lot more room, for biking of canoe tripping, also came in handy when a young women got her tent flooded out the first night on a trip was able to give her a spot in mine so she had a dry place to sleep. I also like some head room in a tent at least be able to get on my knees and be straight up from my knees up, makes it much easier to get dressed. Great video. will have to get one of those patch kits.
I have a Nemo inflatable tent, it comes with a foot pump. It has two air bladders that create arches. Sets up in about two minutes and does very well in windy conditions.
I used an MSR Hubba Hubba two person tent for a bike trip across Europe over the Alps in 2008. Over 10 years later I'm still using it an camping trips in the UK. Very light, mostly free standing, two entrances that let a draught through, and two vestibules for boots, etc. Pacs small enough to fit in one of my panniers with lots of room to spare. Seam tape is now disintegrating so will use some seam sealer, and its good for another ten years.
Makes sense, excellent analysis.. I might add.. Never buy a tent on the road, at night. Yrs ago we purchased a pup tent from FM. The pic looked good on the box and was cheap. Good enough. When we set it up it became apparent why it was cheap.. It was a kid's tent. 😥
I tend to put my boots, jacket, gloves and riding pants pads in the drybag I stuff/compress my sleeping bag into. They can then live dry inside or outside the shelter AND creatures can't crawl inside and surprise you. The bag can double as a pillow.
I am a bit late to the party, but my 2 cents: you would want a tent that allows you to set up the outer shell first and then clip the inner tent onto the frame on the inside. Why? Because you don't want to set up a the inner tent with all that mesh in the rain (unless you want everything wet and damp). And although I like the dome tent (the free standing effect), most don't have a reasonably large vestibule. There are some hybrids of a dome and tunnel tent out there which may offer you more flexibility. Great tips by the way!
I've been long range traveling for quite a few year but I'm really getting tired of the increasingly crappy and expensive hotels out there, so I'm going to start camping more. I'm really glad that I watched this vid because I was poised to purchase the Redverz or Lone Rider tents but I did think about how ridiculously big and heavy they are until you mentioned it. I rarely stay in one place for more than a day so I want something that is easy to assemble and take down, as well as more compact. I like that you pointed out the free-standing aspect. That is something that I didn't consider.
Thank you again for another great comment! Good point weight is so important on long trips and the difference between a 12 lb. tent and a 2 lb. tent is big !
Great video -- you give a lot of great tips all around, especially those about tent size and the stakes. "2-person" really just means that two people can fit in there to sleep and doesn't consider gear, sleep systems, and general comfort. And if you're anywhere that is not a seasoned campground, it is likely the ground will not be ideal for staking, so you'll want good stakes for that. Thankfully, I was a backpacker before a motorcycle camper, so the 'pack light' mentality was there, and I had all the gear I needed. The roof-only concept on a tent sounds great in terms of weight, but especially if you're in the desert, you'll want to have a barrier between you and all the fun creatures that come out at night (scorpions, spiders, snakes, etc.). Thanks for the video, and your channel in general. Watching has helped feed my excitement for my upcoming trips and has taken some of the sting off the extended winter we've had here in the midwest.
This was surprisingly helpful! I have owned a few tents over the years and thought I knew all I needed to know, but Tim told us some things I never considered. Tim does a great job with these videos. He should have his own tv show.
Great advice here. I kayak camp for expeditions and use a Salewa Lite trek 3 as it is lightweight, big enough for my 6’5” frame and to bring the gear in when it snows. Always go as big as you can but light. 3 person maximum if it’s lightweight and small as the Salewa is. Also pitches in one or two pieces. For example the outside first or both together. Absolutely important to be able to pitch the outer section first as the inner part stays dry. You can then decamp by packing away the inner tent while under the fly, keeps it drying yourself dry until the last minute. . The outer part doesn’t matter as it gets stuffed in a cram sack and off you go. In Serbia I was on the Danube in winter at -21 C with 8 inches of snow and Romania three days later with 70kph winds. Stayed dry and warm. And never had to second guess my gear. Always invest in good tents, they will save your life.
Good video, i have a tent just like that, and i didn´t knew it that they are the best for moto camping. Another things to be said is: 1- choose well your sleeping bag, a warm one is good, if it is too warm , you can always take it off, 2 - put locks on your bike, three for example, 3 - put an alarm. 4 - Carry two guns loaded, on safety mode. 5 - If you can, take a light cover for your bike with you.
After procuring a 2 man tent to travel across country and to Alaska I grew tired of crawling around in a small tent. I upgraded to a Big Agnes Big House 4. I will never go back to crawling around!
One of the best and strongest tents is the Eureka Timberline 2 or 4 person. Super strong. Optionable vestibule for your boots and gear. Shock corded fly. Very dry and airy.
I started moto camping in 1970. Yes, I’m very old now. Back then my choices in tents were, 1 man, 2 man, or a 3 man pup tent. 2 outside poles, (2 piece wood each,) and 8 metal stakes to be driven into the dirt. 3 on either side, 1 stake placed about 3 feet in front of the only door and 1 placed about 3 feet in the back. Today’s choices are phenomenal. And weigh next to nothing. Poor health keeps me off motorcycles now days. 😢
For solo riding and camping, I've pretty well settled on a "3" person tent. For me and gear that is just right. The funny thing is, when I am camping with a passenger and lose that part of the seat to pack stuff, I have to drop down to the 2 person tent to save room and that means most of the gear has to live in the hard bags and trunk 90% of the time on the bike. At least being crowded does have some compensations.
Great point! I think a three person tent would be great for the amount of gear that I use too! And yes, traveling with a companion comes with perks and sacrifices for sure! Thanks!
very good points, especialy I like the GREAT tip regarding how to pack the tent on a bike. sticks separately! Boah! I have watched already "few" tent/camping/moto vids and none ever mentioned this idea, so yeah. Big ✋👍👌✌ One more thing, as my 50 cents tip, in case you are touring in rainy weather conditions, consider getting a tent that has it's outer layer (the rain coat) attached to the sticks/construction/support beam, instead of the mesh. The reason behind it is that with regular tents, the mesh one is build first and then you put the rain shelter on top of it, but when it's raining already, untill you get to the point where you put the outer layer on it, the whole tent is wet af and you have an issue. ;)
Coleman Darwin 3 and Coleman Bedrock 2, 2 great tents for motorcycle camping, just change out the tent pegs for heavy duty and take a small mallet. Travelled all over Europe with both, and in ridiculous weather conditions from hot, to damn right wet. Also have the Coleman Tasman 3 but it is slightly bigger than the other two, but again still a good tent for motorcycle camping. Will look at a dome tent from MSR in the future if I ever camp in rock hard desert.
Check out Hilleberg... the tent can be pitched with the fly already attached to the inner tent (and or the ground sheet if using one also attached).... this allows for supet quick and easy pitching, and most importantly, allows you to pitch in the rain without getting the inner tent soaked. Taking it down in the rain you can work from the inside taking down the inner tent first to keep it dry and separate from the wet fly, then take down and pack away last the wet fly on its own. Expensive tents, but high quality and high value.
The best tent pegs I've ever used are Rock Nail Rock pegs. They're effectively 10" nails with a T bar welded across just below the head. If you're half decent at welding, you can make them yourself.
Like he said pack the poles separate and if you use a tarp all the time and want a quick setup, take down, collapse the tent on the tarp and fold,roll the tent inside the tarp. That way you pull out the tarp roll it out and open it up and there's your tent.
Great video on tents, very informative for newer moto-campers. Here's a tip regarding tent placement I learned the hard way. It's nearly impossible to find truly "level" spot for your tent. After you put down your tent footprint down and before you set up your tent, lay down on the footprint to determine which way the ground slopes. Reorient or relocate the footprint if necessary.
Greetings Tim! I recently purchased a tent, and after spending several nights over a couple trips in it, I feel I can recommend it to those looking for a lower cost option: Alps Lynx 2. Light weight, easy set-up and take down, and the pole segments are 18" long so a compact package all around. The floor is thin but I use a lightweigh 5X7 tarp. Full coverage fly which I havent used yet (So and central cali, even the nights at altitude are warm enough and no rain). The Lynx 1 is even lighter, smaller, and cheaper if you dont mind the size.
Good vid. One tip I would add is for riders to determine where in luggage or on bike they'd like to place the tent --- and measure that space. Then select a tent that fits. Sorta disagree with your remark that shoppers are looking at 18" to 24" of packed length. Those lengths are common but longer than necessary. The $150 Kelty Salida 2 packs to 15" long. So does a cheap $80 Featherstone Granite that I'm using. If my tent was much longer than 15", I couldn't fit it in my pannier. Good to see you've seen the light re the silliness of 1-person tents for moto camping. 1-person tents are for hikers, not bikers LOL.
Good info in the video but clearly made from a warmer climate perspective. I would always go for a small mesh inner tent with a high focus on keeping the warmth inside, but then again, I do my camping in Iceland. But on a serious note, I think a mention on the types of poles should be added. An aluminium pole is going to be stronger, lighter and able to pack smaller than a fiberglass pole. A mention on how to pitch the tent would also be informative. By that I mean that if the outer tent is able to be pitched first or as all in one. Pitching your tent in rain and being able to keep your inner tent dry can be invaluable. Just my two cents on an otherwise a very good video.
Thank you! I tried to stay unbiased because of where I live. The tent I have has actually been used in some pretty cold climates too, but nothing below 20 F. You are totally right and I am planning to do a follow up video talking about some tips on use and care of tents and some other things to consider, I will be sure to mention that! Thanks again!
great video! would like to add that if you use a tarp as a ground sheet, cut it to size so it doesn't stick outside of your outer tent, otherwise it will accumulate rain and possible make it flow in between your tent and the tarp. I learned that the hard way, not even the tents with the bathtub style will keep the water out :)
Last year I chose a tent especially for motorcycle travels. After heavy searching I found the first thing I have to consider is packed size. Most tents I liked was 50 cm (19.7 in) in length in packed size and my panniers could fit around 40 cm (15.8 in) only, maybe little more diagonally when poles are packed separately. So I had to pick from tents that has its poles more compact when packed. That was a real pain in my back. But I found it. My tent is 39 cm (15.4 in) when packed. Secondly weight wasn't ma priority. Half a kilo (one pound) of a difference is not a problem, I do not wear it on my back. Thirdly size - I chose 2 person tent to fit all my stuff inside with me. It has 2 entries and 2 vestibules. Fourthly it is made of poliester. Yes it is heavier but nylon stretches in the rain badly. Fifthly it has good ventilation but it is not a tropic ready. I live in EU, we have no deserts in here. But of course it has drawbacks. Main one is the poles are slipped on a rain fly rater than clipped on. So raise time is a bit longer and folding down even worse. If you are curious what is it: Forclaz MT500 Fresh&Black. It is for sure not perfect one. I rank it 4/5. But for me it works fine.
My tent is the msr hubba hubba! It is lightweight very good quality and is designed to pack into motorcycle panniers which at £400 is ideal as you can lock it away so it doesn't get stolen ,you could go around the world with this tent absolutely bulletproof
Hey, The ground cloth should actually be no more than about 1" out from the tent. Otherwise rain could gather on excess material and flood the tent. I learned a lot about rain in the Pacific NW while backpacking.
Excellent point! Thank you for bringing that up, I plan to do a follow up video about proper setup and use of a tent, and some storage and care tips too, I will be sure to mention that! Thank you!
Good info and things to consider. I travel a fair amount on my touring MC. Try to pack light, had a North Face Tadpole tent (still do) but it was narrow and low, had to lay down to slide pants on. Now my go to tent is a Coleman half dome 2 person. Works pretty well and free standing, room for gear and only $45. Sprayed couple cans water proofing to inside and outside seams, stayed dry in rain 3 times.
Tim, I have a mountain hardwear 4 season tent that weighs 2 pounds. Complete- that’s counting tent poles stakes rope. Granted I have some other mountaineering 4 season tents that are too heavy! After those older tents (10-12 pounds)I went on the search for lighter everything. So in the mountains it gets cold, it snows, it rains. The other criteria is I can sit up in the tent without hitting the roof. I always use 2 person tents and always use a footprint. It adds to the weight (6-8 oz) but protects the tent investment. I have used homemade and home made footprints.
Great show, I watched it to see if I was doing every thing right.I have a 4 season 3 person tent and it has lots of large vents, front and back and the back is also another door. It has a large vestibule on the front and a smaller at the rear. I have a large tarp so I can stay clean entering the tent. I also use aluminum tent poles, they stand up better then fiberglass in strong wind. I actually bought 8 inch nails for tent pegs.
The teepee style made by Ozark Trail has elastic action holding lightweight metal poles that locks in the shape. It has the ability to alter the shape slightly so if you are on a slope, you can adjust the tent to those conditions. It was less than $50 at Wal-Mart, and is 11' 8" at the base. Packed it rolls up to a package 24" long and about 7" round. It weighs in at less than 12 pounds. It is almost small enough to fit in my saddlebags, but being just a hair too large it served as a catalyst to have me finally get around to having a custom backrest made for my bike. It rides well on the back, and is large enough to actually park my motorcycle inside if needed (think hail) and I can almost walk in upright which is a great deal at the end of the 500 mile day.
That teepee tent took 3 cans of cap dry to completely seal it from the rain. NO rain infiltration anywhere in the two weeks I was on the road for Americade and Laconia. With no center pole, and plenty of head room, it was prefect. I have no complaints with it.
I tent camp at least once a year and definitely want to do more. So.. while it's not my first rodeo.. this was still great info. You know.. there's always the chance that someone knows how to do it better. Good stuff. (And, yes, I did learn something.)
Sierra mountain 3 man tent is great for me. l have lots of room for me with gear. This also allows home base when exploring. It too is external pole allowing fast set up / disassemble... Perhaps it may weigh 2.5lbs. l bought larger tarp to cuddle over tent extending entrance.. l sometimes bring "Ag-Bag" for site coverage in storms. l installed snap eyes for tie down... Good video...
Ozark Trail makes an excellent two man four season tent. Plenty of room for gear, water proof, and does well in the wind. Have been living in mine for six months now and very pleased with it. $45.00 at Wally World.
Depends on the trip, RTW then four season for the durability and bases covered. Free standing and big enough for you and gear. Green or brown for stealth camping. Removable fly essential.
Thank you for the very informative video, I am new to tent camping on my bike and decided to start off with a less expensive tent. I will see how well I like the experience. I did have to explain to my wife why I wanted a two person tent for just me.
you are right man i bought a Redverz that thing is so BIG ..... crazy !!!! but i got to say it is the best basecamp base on the market if you don't move from site to site every day
That is an excellent point, I just never tend to stay anywhere long enough to justify taking one, for me at least. I do see a value in that though, if you are stationary for a few days, or based out of a particular campsite. Good point!
Thank you for your advises. I came to the same conclusion. One Tip from me: If you have great vestibules, try to put your tent diagonal on your floor protection. this way you can maximize the area covered by your ground tarp and your vestibule. Hope that helps.
Very comprehensive. Othere details to consider: select a tent that is long enough for your self inflating matress and sleeping bag. If the tent walls touch your sleeping bag at the bottom, it will likely be damp in the morning from condensation gettting on the bottom of the bag. Try to select a tent colour that matches your style of camping. IE if stealth camping at free roadside sites get one that blends with your surroundings. If paying to camp, a bright red or yellow tent wont be an issue. Do you bring a tarp with you? I've been considering trying a tarp off the side of the bike with or without a small mesh tent under it (depending on bugs), but not sure if its perhaps more aggravation than just using a 2 man tent. Keep up the good work !
Solid advice. All of it. One of those rare videos where I agree with every syllable of it. I've owned a bunch of tents and while I do like my $650 Hilleberg Anjan 2 tunnel tent, it does requires stakes and I bent half of them on my first cycle trip. In a lot of ways my $120 Eureka! 2 person dome tent was much better.
When you say you’ve scoured the internet for tents I believe you. Cause I seen your videos on this stuff 1st and have honest to god scoured the Internet now and your product reviews are always between the 1-2 models that I come to on my own. Often after forgetting which one you’ve reviewed, then finding my own and seeing after that it was the same ones you reviewed. It’s been this way now with Tents, Sleeping Pads and the Helinox chair. Maybe more.
I have a Eureka it's like a free standing double A frame and it's at least 40 years old and has been lived in for say 5 years straight. About three years ago the zipper went out and so I called Eureka told them that I was pissed and ask if my tent was still under warentee. They said send it to use,I did and they fixed it for free. Try that with any other company. I was amazed and delighted and of course they knew I was joking about the warranty. So this year I went on a long bike/ camping trip and my tent that outlasted three marriages went with me.
I have a mesh tent similar to yours. I spent a night at Toroweap on the north edge of the Grand Canyon. The clay dust there is so fine, the wind blew it right through the mesh. Otherwise it's been a great tent.
Great video and your experience echoes my own. Dont underestimate the value of a little extra room. Mine is a 2-3 person tent and I still sleep on the diagonal. Never seem to sort out what makes the best pillow. Be interested to see a video on sleeping mats I have a self inflating one which is great. Been watching As the Magpie Flies she can be hilarious.
Hello Fellow Arizonan! Great video and learned quite a bit from a few of your videos. Recently started riding and love camping. This and other videos big help in deciding what to bring. Most of my first trips will be on weekends. Can't wait and maybe will see you out there!
Great video. Wish this video was out two years ago when I was searching for a motorcycle tent. I looked at every tent in existence and spent hours/days looking at them. Finally got a Marmot Tungsten 2p. One thing, I carry two Coleman 10 inch stakes with the green tabs, if the ground is very hard these will at least hold the fly down and will drive in concrete lol
Thank you very much! I wish this video was out when I was purchasing a tent! There are so many factors to weigh in, and so many tents to choose from! LOL I know the ones you mean, I could see those driving into concrete! I should pick some of those stakes up!
Another awesome and informative video! Thanks! You might want to add a link to the stakes in your description, every penny counts! As far as options go here's something else to consider, models where the poles fit into the supplied "foot print" (Hyke and Byke models, and others). What's neat about these is that you can use just the footprint and rain fly as an even lighter option, and/or you have the ability to set up/take down the tent body under the fly in inclement weather, keeping the (typically all mesh) tent dry. Also, a quick note on footprints/ground cloths... In rainy climates (like in the SE & NW US) it's best for it to not extend past the base of the tent. It can catch water causing puddles between the tent floor and ground cloth and may leak into the tent. That said, I use a piece of landscape fabric. It is REALLY inexpensive (maybe free if you ask around), super super light, packs very small, is tough (non woven, hard to puncture) and allows water to pass through (no puddles). One drawback is that leaves and sticks will stick to it sometimes. Ok, I'm done 😉.
Thank you! Great point, I never thought of that with the poles in the foot print! And I probably should have mentioned about the tarp not being larger than the tent, I will fold it under itself in rain. Excellent tip about the landscape fabric! I will have to give that a try! Thanks again!
Havent tried it yet myself, but i've read tyvek house wrap makes a cheap footprint, especially if you can get a small piece free where a new house is being built.
Thanks for the vid.... been camping for 25yrs on a bike and I have the same Nemo in the vid.... amazing tent replaced a very old MSR also decent.... only one comment - I know you mention use a tarp for protection of tent bottom sure but I live in PNW and rain is guaranteed a perfect sized footprint I find is mandatory - due if any part of the tarp is outside of fly the tarp will funnel water directly under you rather than getting to the ground - footprint is worth the price I think.... Also about the Nemo you can get an inside footprint in fleece - super thin, clips in and stays in tent when packed and I find it makes tent a bit warmer under cot. Lastly the storage bag for the Nemo is so compartmentalized it makes packing so much quicker. Can you tell I love Nemo. Thanks again !!
Excellent point, I guess I forgot to say that. That brand is light years ahead of the rest, and can be distinguished with the YKK embossed on all their zips. Thanks for pointing that out Blaze!
They keep you warm, sure, but are impermeable. Like getting into a reflective, crinkley trash bag. If you can't stay dry, you'll probably go hypothermic.
Last time I went tent camping on my bike it was during Bike Week at Sturgis. I didn't go to Sturgis but enjoyed the comradraeship of the bikes while riding through the Black Hills. My big issue was the Thunderstorms that rolled through and the potential hail that came with them. I want, no need a tent that can handle at least 1" hail (I've been in hail that was tennis ball size that caused 14,000 dollars in damage to my pickup).. being dry while camping is nice as well..
That is a great point about hail. I have seen some crazy storms in that area and other places too where hail comes out of no where and wreaks havoc. Thanks for the comment!
What a great informational video. I'm going to share this with our HOG chapter and to our local motorcycle riding group. Thank you for the links as well.
Get some marine grade waterproofing for all tent fabrics. It not only waterproofs, but adds UV protection too. It'll make your tent last a whole lot longer.
Good advice. Nicely crafted video. I use a Hilleberg Nallo2 for short trips and a Keron 4GT for longer ones. Arguably overkill for motorcycle camping , but I like the quality and the fact they will never let me down.
Thanks Douglas! Dry gear storage is so important for motorcycle camping. Nothing worse than putting on a helmet that has been out in the rain all night. Safe travels!
I'd like to add that the tarp should not extend past the floor of the tent. This will direct rain water between the tarp and the floor. If you fold it just under the edge of the floor, water can run off onto bare ground.
I use one of those 'ridiculous' Redvers tents but I find its worth the bulk and extra weight. I am much older and less agile than you so the extra space to stand up and move around is welcome. I also have a couple of dome tents but when I take those I also take a tarp and at least one pole (I use a tree, post, wall or my tent as the other pole) but I find myself preferring the big tent for European (Particularly British!) weather. Again some great points - keep em coming!
Thanks for the comment donnyo65! I know they aren't really ridiculous, just not for me. I appreciate where you are coming from, standing room in a tent would be nice. I also carry a lot of camera equipment so I have to shed weight where I can. Glad you enjoyed my video, ride safe!
Hey everyone shirts are available on Teespring if you want to help support this channel! The one I am wearing in this video is a prototype but there are lots of cool designs to choose from! teespring.com/stores/fortytimesaround
Forty Times Around thank you
I already bought one :)
How about not parking on hatd surfaces where you are unable to drive a tent stake into the ground.
It would help with the whole world if you added metric conversions on screen. North America is the only part of the world that doesn’t use metric which means you miss out on Europe and Australia/NZ.
You should also add Amazon links to things you suggest like repair kit and tarp and pegs!
One door at least 2 is ideal. I purchased a tent with no door, I am still in there help!
Hahahahahahahaha!
Call out Khabib, He will find you XD
If there was no door, how did you get inside?😮
I've been Moto Camping for years and this video is spot on. Just a couple of points from an older rider. I switched to a 3 person to gain height for getting dressed in the morning. I'm just not as nimble as I used to be. Vestibule you mentioned but folks reading this may underestimate its importance. Love the garage analogy. This is so true. Put the smelly gear outside! First time watcher and new subscriber. Thanks for the video!
Packing the poles separately is brilliant. The poles will fit into areas that that entire tent cannot. The tent will then be able to be packed smaller and like you stated, if you have to strap your tent poles to the outside of the bike, who cares? Excellent advice. Thank you sir for that golden nugget.
Great, informative video.
To solve the stake issue in the desert I've used rocks and trees to tie off to. Or I've put rocks on top of the stakes to keep them from pulling out. It helps to have something like a strong Ti nail stake to make pilot holes for the weaker stakes. This is a relatively common problem in the backpacking world.
Wal-Mart Ozark trail 2 person backpacking tent. Use scotch guard on it and seam sealer with a regular blue tarp as a ground sheet. Light, small, packable and budget friendly.
Louie Watson. I'm leaning to that too. I have used the tarp off the bike and bivy for years. The 2.5 lb backpacking Amazon tent for $55 has excellent reviews by hikers, has the integrated floor, and easily stuffs into a tiny bag. You just have to find two 42" sticks or go between two trees.
Was waiting for you to say something that I didn't have but it was really cool to hear that I've got a tent that checks all those boxes!
6:31 best advice you can give. Two person is a minimum. Also if the weather gets really bad you need some space to spread out and relax. Nobody wants to weather a storm in a phone booth.
Need space for the gear you don't want to get wet too
Pro tip of the day: Tyvec for ground cloth is light and near bullet proof. Super light: the shrink film for sealing your windows in winter. Tough as nails and almost nothing in size. Go to tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3, a little pricey but awesome. Nice work on the video.
Thanks for some excellent tips! Thank you, I appreciate that and I'm glad you enjoyed my video! I will check that tent out, I am looking to do some specific tent reviews soon. Thanks again!
Those are both great suggestions. I use landscape cloth. Super light, super cheap, difficult to puncture and drains. Downside is the nonwoven texture can pick up debris in woodland settings. It's aces on gravel and sand. Wet sand will stick, but falls off easily when dry, which it does quickly
This video is spot on. Even though I would mention that with heavier duty deniers the tent tends to get heavier too, so that's something to keep in mind. Also, something you didn't mention is the waterproofness of the tent. Especially for the bottom. It's really no fun waking up surrounded by little pools of water due to rainfall.
Great vid and a tip from a long termer...keep your fly separate to the main tent if you live or visit areas with overnight dew or rain. Keeps the main tent dry. Dry is good.
Excellent review. I used the Redverz Solo tent on a recent 25,000 km trip through Africa. I agree it is a bit bulky, but when the rain is coming down in sheets, the wind is howling with thunder and lightning adding to the spectacle, being able to sit tight in that “garage” section with a cup of coffee is just the biz!
I've done quite a bit of backpacking/camping. I've used a "Clip Flashlight" for YEARS. Super lightweight, packs super small. 2 aluminum poles.
If I were to do motor camping, I'd probably go with the USMC issue ICS. "Improved Combat Shelter (Light tight and full camo rainfly) or the British Issue Snugpack Scorpion2 or 3.
I strongly suggest those interested to check these out.
Improved combat shelter
I like your review of different types of tents. I settled on the MSR Elixir 3. It can be free-standing, although I stake it down whenever possible. The Elixir line includes the fly and footprint. It has 2 doors and 2 vestibules. One thing I do is carry an extra seal bag to put the tent in if it's wet when I pack up in the morning. The seal bag keeps the tent from getting other stuff wet. I've used a tarp as a footprint, but I fold it so the edge is just under the tent. If you don't do this, the tarp will conduct rainwater to the floor of the tent, but I assume that's not a problem in AZ.
Good idea about the tarp as footprint. I also carry and set up a light tarp in front of my tent to extend the vestibule. So when I get out of the tent during or after rain, its great to have an additional 10x10' dry area to get ready, do your hygiene and cook food - also to get your tent ready and packed dry. When my friends and I arrive, the tarp is the first thing we set up.
Also I can recommend umbrella dome tents. They are a bit bulkier & heavier (8 pounds), but the great thing about them is that - even in total darkness, rain or very windy situations - they are ready in less than a minute.
Thank you fro your comment it is much appreciated!
Nothing quite like the Bibbler Ahwanee single-wall tent. Backpacked and rode (bicycle, that is) that thing all over and in the worst of weather. I carried a seven-pound Moss four season before that. Both literal bomb shelters and added to all the negative gravitational drag (until downhills :-). Now that I am old and weak I carry a light and big-assed Big Agness three season at half the weight, and ten times as easy to set up, on a moto instead of one of those on my back or MTB.
I've seen it all and you, Mr. FTA, give good and practical advice on these matters of moto travel. I'll keep watching as I swing to the Dark Side LOL
Like you, I also discovered that a two person tent was more ideal. I can put all I need in there and have plenty of me room, my helmet serves the purpose of dumping all my pocket items into and my small mag light, makes it easier to find in the dark. I do keep my boots in tent as well and they make a nice cradle for keeping the helmet from tipping over. My sleeping bag for moderate weather is a fleece bag that packs well and it can be unzipped completely to just use for a layer on tent floor or as a blanket, pretty versatile. When rolled it makes great place to hold the tent poles.
always like a 3 man tent for 1 person not much more to weight but a lot more room, for biking of canoe tripping, also came in handy when a young women got her tent flooded out the first night on a trip was able to give her a spot in mine so she had a dry place to sleep. I also like some head room in a tent at least be able to get on my knees and be straight up from my knees up, makes it much easier to get dressed. Great video. will have to get one of those patch kits.
I have a Nemo inflatable tent, it comes with a foot pump. It has two air bladders that create arches. Sets up in about two minutes and does very well in windy conditions.
I used an MSR Hubba Hubba two person tent for a bike trip across Europe over the Alps in 2008. Over 10 years later I'm still using it an camping trips in the UK. Very light, mostly free standing, two entrances that let a draught through, and two vestibules for boots, etc. Pacs small enough to fit in one of my panniers with lots of room to spare. Seam tape is now disintegrating so will use some seam sealer, and its good for another ten years.
I have that same Eureka tent. It has served me well many times over the years and it has performed well in wind and rain.
Good tens that also save on weight: Kelty, Big Agnes, Hyke & Byke, & Marmot Tents which are dome tents and in 1-4p sized tents.
Makes sense, excellent analysis.. I might add.. Never buy a tent on the road, at night. Yrs ago we purchased a pup tent from FM. The pic looked good on the box and was cheap. Good enough. When we set it up it became apparent why it was cheap.. It was a kid's tent. 😥
I tend to put my boots, jacket, gloves and riding pants pads in the drybag I stuff/compress my sleeping bag into. They can then live dry inside or outside the shelter AND creatures can't crawl inside and surprise you. The bag can double as a pillow.
I am a bit late to the party, but my 2 cents: you would want a tent that allows you to set up the outer shell first and then clip the inner tent onto the frame on the inside. Why? Because you don't want to set up a the inner tent with all that mesh in the rain (unless you want everything wet and damp). And although I like the dome tent (the free standing effect), most don't have a reasonably large vestibule. There are some hybrids of a dome and tunnel tent out there which may offer you more flexibility. Great tips by the way!
3 person Eureka! tent. Quality built, light, strong, fast, dry .. perfect! 😁
I've been long range traveling for quite a few year but I'm really getting tired of the increasingly crappy and expensive hotels out there, so I'm going to start camping more. I'm really glad that I watched this vid because I was poised to purchase the Redverz or Lone Rider tents but I did think about how ridiculously big and heavy they are until you mentioned it. I rarely stay in one place for more than a day so I want something that is easy to assemble and take down, as well as more compact. I like that you pointed out the free-standing aspect. That is something that I didn't consider.
Thank you again for another great comment! Good point weight is so important on long trips and the difference between a 12 lb. tent and a 2 lb. tent is big !
try the marmot tungsten 2p
That is genuinely one of the best videos I've seen, you talk a lot of sense. Thanks for the vids.
Thank you Mark for your comment I really appreciate it. Thank you for watching. Safe Travels!
Great video -- you give a lot of great tips all around, especially those about tent size and the stakes. "2-person" really just means that two people can fit in there to sleep and doesn't consider gear, sleep systems, and general comfort. And if you're anywhere that is not a seasoned campground, it is likely the ground will not be ideal for staking, so you'll want good stakes for that.
Thankfully, I was a backpacker before a motorcycle camper, so the 'pack light' mentality was there, and I had all the gear I needed. The roof-only concept on a tent sounds great in terms of weight, but especially if you're in the desert, you'll want to have a barrier between you and all the fun creatures that come out at night (scorpions, spiders, snakes, etc.).
Thanks for the video, and your channel in general. Watching has helped feed my excitement for my upcoming trips and has taken some of the sting off the extended winter we've had here in the midwest.
Dave thank you! I am glad you are enjoying my videos! Hopefully winter will come to an end soon up there! Ride safe my friend, see you on the road!
This was surprisingly helpful! I have owned a few tents over the years and thought I knew all I needed to know, but Tim told us some things I never considered. Tim does a great job with these videos. He should have his own tv show.
Great advice here. I kayak camp for expeditions and use a Salewa Lite trek 3 as it is lightweight, big enough for my 6’5” frame and to bring the gear in when it snows. Always go as big as you can but light. 3 person maximum if it’s lightweight and small as the Salewa is. Also pitches in one or two pieces. For example the outside first or both together. Absolutely important to be able to pitch the outer section first as the inner part stays dry. You can then decamp by packing away the inner tent while under the fly, keeps it drying yourself dry until the last minute. . The outer part doesn’t matter as it gets stuffed in a cram sack and off you go. In Serbia I was on the Danube in winter at -21 C with 8 inches of snow and Romania three days later with 70kph winds. Stayed dry and warm. And never had to second guess my gear. Always invest in good tents, they will save your life.
Good video, i have a tent just like that, and i didn´t knew it that they are the best for moto camping.
Another things to be said is: 1- choose well your sleeping bag, a warm one is good, if it is too warm , you can always take it off,
2 - put locks on your bike, three for example, 3 - put an alarm. 4 - Carry two guns loaded, on safety mode. 5 - If you can, take a light cover for your bike with you.
After procuring a 2 man tent to travel across country and to Alaska I grew tired of crawling around in a small tent. I upgraded to a Big Agnes Big House 4. I will never go back to crawling around!
One of the best and strongest tents is the Eureka Timberline 2 or 4 person. Super strong. Optionable vestibule for your boots and gear. Shock corded fly. Very dry and airy.
I started moto camping in 1970. Yes, I’m very old now. Back then my choices in tents were, 1 man, 2 man, or a 3 man pup tent. 2 outside poles, (2 piece wood each,) and 8 metal stakes to be driven into the dirt. 3 on either side, 1 stake placed about 3 feet in front of the only door and 1 placed about 3 feet in the back. Today’s choices are phenomenal. And weigh next to nothing. Poor health keeps me off motorcycles now days. 😢
For solo riding and camping, I've pretty well settled on a "3" person tent. For me and gear that is just right. The funny thing is, when I am camping with a passenger and lose that part of the seat to pack stuff, I have to drop down to the 2 person tent to save room and that means most of the gear has to live in the hard bags and trunk 90% of the time on the bike. At least being crowded does have some compensations.
Great point! I think a three person tent would be great for the amount of gear that I use too! And yes, traveling with a companion comes with perks and sacrifices for sure! Thanks!
Again you provide great information. Thanks. Stay safe.
very good points, especialy I like the GREAT tip regarding how to pack the tent on a bike. sticks separately! Boah! I have watched already "few" tent/camping/moto vids and none ever mentioned this idea, so yeah. Big ✋👍👌✌
One more thing, as my 50 cents tip, in case you are touring in rainy weather conditions, consider getting a tent that has it's outer layer (the rain coat) attached to the sticks/construction/support beam, instead of the mesh. The reason behind it is that with regular tents, the mesh one is build first and then you put the rain shelter on top of it, but when it's raining already, untill you get to the point where you put the outer layer on it, the whole tent is wet af and you have an issue. ;)
Thanks for putting this together Tim! I thought I had a suitable tent but you really mentioned a lot of good points! Excellent video!👍✌️😀
Coleman Darwin 3 and Coleman Bedrock 2, 2 great tents for motorcycle camping, just change out the tent pegs for heavy duty and take a small mallet. Travelled all over Europe with both, and in ridiculous weather conditions from hot, to damn right wet. Also have the Coleman Tasman 3 but it is slightly bigger than the other two, but again still a good tent for motorcycle camping. Will look at a dome tent from MSR in the future if I ever camp in rock hard desert.
Check out Hilleberg... the tent can be pitched with the fly already attached to the inner tent (and or the ground sheet if using one also attached).... this allows for supet quick and easy pitching, and most importantly, allows you to pitch in the rain without getting the inner tent soaked. Taking it down in the rain you can work from the inside taking down the inner tent first to keep it dry and separate from the wet fly, then take down and pack away last the wet fly on its own. Expensive tents, but high quality and high value.
The best tent pegs I've ever used are Rock Nail Rock pegs. They're effectively 10" nails with a T bar welded across just below the head. If you're half decent at welding, you can make them yourself.
Like he said pack the poles separate and if you use a tarp all the time and want a quick setup, take down, collapse the tent on the tarp and fold,roll the tent inside the tarp. That way you pull out the tarp roll it out and open it up and there's your tent.
Thank you Ben for your comment and for watching appreciate it. Safe Travels!
I'm sure you do this, but it bears mentioning; first fold the tarp+tent in half, so you are rolling dirty side with dirty side.
Great video on tents, very informative for newer moto-campers. Here's a tip regarding tent placement I learned the hard way. It's nearly impossible to find truly "level" spot for your tent. After you put down your tent footprint down and before you set up your tent, lay down on the footprint to determine which way the ground slopes. Reorient or relocate the footprint if necessary.
Greetings Tim! I recently purchased a tent, and after spending several nights over a couple trips in it, I feel I can recommend it to those looking for a lower cost option: Alps Lynx 2.
Light weight, easy set-up and take down, and the pole segments are 18" long so a compact package all around. The floor is thin but I use a lightweigh 5X7 tarp. Full coverage fly which I havent used yet (So and central cali, even the nights at altitude are warm enough and no rain).
The Lynx 1 is even lighter, smaller, and cheaper if you dont mind the size.
Long time didn't saw someone speak so plain about what you actually need.. You got yourself a sub here..
Good vid. One tip I would add is for riders to determine where in luggage or on bike they'd like to place the tent --- and measure that space. Then select a tent that fits. Sorta disagree with your remark that shoppers are looking at 18" to 24" of packed length. Those lengths are common but longer than necessary. The $150 Kelty Salida 2 packs to 15" long. So does a cheap $80 Featherstone Granite that I'm using. If my tent was much longer than 15", I couldn't fit it in my pannier.
Good to see you've seen the light re the silliness of 1-person tents for moto camping. 1-person tents are for hikers, not bikers LOL.
Good info in the video but clearly made from a warmer climate perspective. I would always go for a small mesh inner tent with a high focus on keeping the warmth inside, but then again, I do my camping in Iceland.
But on a serious note, I think a mention on the types of poles should be added. An aluminium pole is going to be stronger, lighter and able to pack smaller than a fiberglass pole.
A mention on how to pitch the tent would also be informative. By that I mean that if the outer tent is able to be pitched first or as all in one. Pitching your tent in rain and being able to keep your inner tent dry can be invaluable.
Just my two cents on an otherwise a very good video.
Thank you! I tried to stay unbiased because of where I live. The tent I have has actually been used in some pretty cold climates too, but nothing below 20 F. You are totally right and I am planning to do a follow up video talking about some tips on use and care of tents and some other things to consider, I will be sure to mention that!
Thanks again!
great video!
would like to add that if you use a tarp as a ground sheet, cut it to size so it doesn't stick outside of your outer tent, otherwise it will accumulate rain and possible make it flow in between your tent and the tarp.
I learned that the hard way, not even the tents with the bathtub style will keep the water out :)
Last year I chose a tent especially for motorcycle travels. After heavy searching I found the first thing I have to consider is packed size. Most tents I liked was 50 cm (19.7 in) in length in packed size and my panniers could fit around 40 cm (15.8 in) only, maybe little more diagonally when poles are packed separately. So I had to pick from tents that has its poles more compact when packed. That was a real pain in my back. But I found it. My tent is 39 cm (15.4 in) when packed. Secondly weight wasn't ma priority. Half a kilo (one pound) of a difference is not a problem, I do not wear it on my back. Thirdly size - I chose 2 person tent to fit all my stuff inside with me. It has 2 entries and 2 vestibules. Fourthly it is made of poliester. Yes it is heavier but nylon stretches in the rain badly. Fifthly it has good ventilation but it is not a tropic ready. I live in EU, we have no deserts in here. But of course it has drawbacks. Main one is the poles are slipped on a rain fly rater than clipped on. So raise time is a bit longer and folding down even worse. If you are curious what is it: Forclaz MT500 Fresh&Black. It is for sure not perfect one. I rank it 4/5. But for me it works fine.
What did you end up getting? I am looking for something simular.
My tent is the msr hubba hubba! It is lightweight very good quality and is designed to pack into motorcycle panniers which at £400 is ideal as you can lock it away so it doesn't get stolen ,you could go around the world with this tent absolutely bulletproof
Hey,
The ground cloth should actually be no more than about 1" out from the tent. Otherwise rain could gather on excess material and flood the tent. I learned a lot about rain in the Pacific NW while backpacking.
Excellent point! Thank you for bringing that up, I plan to do a follow up video about proper setup and use of a tent, and some storage and care tips too, I will be sure to mention that! Thank you!
Good info and things to consider. I travel a fair amount on my touring MC. Try to pack light, had a North Face Tadpole tent (still do) but it was narrow and low, had to lay down to slide pants on. Now my go to tent is a Coleman half dome 2 person. Works pretty well and free standing, room for gear and only $45. Sprayed couple cans water proofing to inside and outside seams, stayed dry in rain 3 times.
Thanks for the comment Larry. Good point about spraying with water proofing, I will be sure to try that out on my tent.
Tim, I have a mountain hardwear 4 season tent that weighs 2 pounds. Complete- that’s counting tent poles stakes rope. Granted I have some other mountaineering 4 season tents that are too heavy! After those older tents (10-12 pounds)I went on the search for lighter everything. So in the mountains it gets cold, it snows, it rains. The other criteria is I can sit up in the tent without hitting the roof. I always use 2 person tents and always use a footprint. It adds to the weight (6-8 oz) but protects the tent investment. I have used homemade and home made footprints.
Good sensible info. You know what your talking about because you've done it. Not a lot of wasted words...good stuff.
Thanks Robert! I appreciate the compliment. Glad you enjoyed my video.
Great show, I watched it to see if I was doing every thing right.I have a 4 season 3 person tent and it has lots of large vents, front and back and the back is also another door. It has a large vestibule on the front and a smaller at the rear. I have a large tarp so I can stay clean entering the tent. I also use aluminum tent poles, they stand up better then fiberglass in strong wind. I actually bought 8 inch nails for tent pegs.
The teepee style made by Ozark Trail has elastic action holding lightweight metal poles that locks in the shape. It has the ability to alter the shape slightly so if you are on a slope, you can adjust the tent to those conditions. It was less than $50 at Wal-Mart, and is 11' 8" at the base. Packed it rolls up to a package 24" long and about 7" round. It weighs in at less than 12 pounds. It is almost small enough to fit in my saddlebags, but being just a hair too large it served as a catalyst to have me finally get around to having a custom backrest made for my bike. It rides well on the back, and is large enough to actually park my motorcycle inside if needed (think hail) and I can almost walk in upright which is a great deal at the end of the 500 mile day.
That sounds incredible, and you can't beat that price! I am going to check that out! Thank you very much!
I hate how much I love WalMart gear, hahaha.
No problem. You have provided me with good information. I like to be able to return the favor if I can.
That teepee tent took 3 cans of cap dry to completely seal it from the rain. NO rain infiltration anywhere in the two weeks I was on the road for Americade and Laconia. With no center pole, and plenty of head room, it was prefect. I have no complaints with it.
I tent camp at least once a year and definitely want to do more. So.. while it's not my first rodeo.. this was still great info. You know.. there's always the chance that someone knows how to do it better. Good stuff. (And, yes, I did learn something.)
Thanks Chris, I am glad you got something out of it! Thanks!
Sierra mountain 3 man tent is great for me. l have lots of room for me with gear. This also allows home base when exploring. It too is external pole allowing fast set up / disassemble... Perhaps it may weigh 2.5lbs. l bought larger tarp to cuddle over tent extending entrance.. l sometimes bring "Ag-Bag" for site coverage in storms. l installed snap eyes for tie down... Good video...
Because of this video, I just bought Kelty's late start 2. It's perfect. Thank you for your sage advice.
The best review on tents!
Ozark Trail makes an excellent two man four season tent. Plenty of room for gear, water proof, and does well in the wind. Have been living in mine for six months now and very pleased with it. $45.00 at Wally World.
Thanks for the comment! I will be sure to check that tent out! Great price, I have gotten many things from Walmart too.
Depends on the trip, RTW then four season for the durability and bases covered. Free standing and big enough for you and gear. Green or brown for stealth camping. Removable fly essential.
Thank you for the very informative video, I am new to tent camping on my bike and decided to start off with a less expensive tent. I will see how well I like the experience. I did have to explain to my wife why I wanted a two person tent for just me.
this is a great channel you do a great job have learnt lots after watching 4 of your videos
Thank you alastair for your comment and for watching ! Safe Travels!
Very good advice due to experience. Thank you kind Sir.
you are right man i bought a Redverz that thing is so BIG ..... crazy !!!! but i got to say it is the best basecamp base on the market if you don't move from site to site every day
Jim Bob I love my redverz. You are right the thing is crazy big. But I love having everything tucked away at night.
That is an excellent point, I just never tend to stay anywhere long enough to justify taking one, for me at least. I do see a value in that though, if you are stationary for a few days, or based out of a particular campsite. Good point!
Great video, you just saved a lot of people a lot of beginner mistakes
Thank you for your advises. I came to the same conclusion. One Tip from me: If you have great vestibules, try to put your tent diagonal on your floor protection. this way you can maximize the area covered by your ground tarp and your vestibule. Hope that helps.
Very comprehensive. Othere details to consider: select a tent that is long enough for your self inflating matress and sleeping bag. If the tent walls touch your sleeping bag at the bottom, it will likely be damp in the morning from condensation gettting on the bottom of the bag. Try to select a tent colour that matches your style of camping. IE if stealth camping at free roadside sites get one that blends with your surroundings. If paying to camp, a bright red or yellow tent wont be an issue. Do you bring a tarp with you? I've been considering trying a tarp off the side of the bike with or without a small mesh tent under it (depending on bugs), but not sure if its perhaps more aggravation than just using a 2 man tent. Keep up the good work !
Dan Smith Great Point! A friend regularly camps in the desert. He recommends hi viz colors to help prevent being run over.
Thank you very much Dan! Excellent points you made, thank you for that! I have a tarp but just for under the tent not over it. Not a bad idea though!
Solid advice. All of it. One of those rare videos where I agree with every syllable of it. I've owned a bunch of tents and while I do like my $650 Hilleberg Anjan 2 tunnel tent, it does requires stakes and I bent half of them on my first cycle trip. In a lot of ways my $120 Eureka! 2 person dome tent was much better.
When you say you’ve scoured the internet for tents I believe you. Cause I seen your videos on this stuff 1st and have honest to god scoured the Internet now and your product reviews are always between the 1-2 models that I come to on my own. Often after forgetting which one you’ve reviewed, then finding my own and seeing after that it was the same ones you reviewed. It’s been this way now with Tents, Sleeping Pads and the Helinox chair. Maybe more.
Thank you! That's good to know, I really dive into rabbit holes with gear research haha.
I have a Eureka it's like a free standing double A frame and it's at least 40 years old and has been lived in for say 5 years straight. About three years ago the zipper went out and so I called Eureka told them that I was pissed and ask if my tent was still under warentee. They said send it to use,I did and they fixed it for free. Try that with any other company. I was amazed and delighted and of course they knew I was joking about the warranty. So this year I went on a long bike/ camping trip and my tent that outlasted three marriages went with me.
I have a mesh tent similar to yours. I spent a night at Toroweap on the north edge of the Grand Canyon. The clay dust there is so fine, the wind blew it right through the mesh. Otherwise it's been a great tent.
Great video and your experience echoes my own. Dont underestimate the value of a little extra room. Mine is a 2-3 person tent and I still sleep on the diagonal. Never seem to sort out what makes the best pillow. Be interested to see a video on sleeping mats I have a self inflating one which is great. Been watching As the Magpie Flies she can be hilarious.
Large spikes from any hardware store work well...there cheap and easily replaced. Can also use for drying line install etc.
Thank you Brad, good to know how easy they are to find when traveling.
Hello Fellow Arizonan! Great video and learned quite a bit from a few of your videos. Recently started riding and love camping. This and other videos big help in deciding what to bring. Most of my first trips will be on weekends. Can't wait and maybe will see you out there!
Hi Bruce! Thank you, that means a lot to me. Have fun moto camping, maybe I will see you out there one day!
Great video. Wish this video was out two years ago when I was searching for a motorcycle tent. I looked at every tent in existence and spent hours/days looking at them. Finally got a Marmot Tungsten 2p. One thing, I carry two Coleman 10 inch stakes with the green tabs, if the ground is very hard these will at least hold the fly down and will drive in concrete lol
Thank you very much! I wish this video was out when I was purchasing a tent! There are so many factors to weigh in, and so many tents to choose from! LOL I know the ones you mean, I could see those driving into concrete! I should pick some of those stakes up!
Another awesome and informative video! Thanks! You might want to add a link to the stakes in your description, every penny counts! As far as options go here's something else to consider, models where the poles fit into the supplied "foot print" (Hyke and Byke models, and others). What's neat about these is that you can use just the footprint and rain fly as an even lighter option, and/or you have the ability to set up/take down the tent body under the fly in inclement weather, keeping the (typically all mesh) tent dry. Also, a quick note on footprints/ground cloths... In rainy climates (like in the SE & NW US) it's best for it to not extend past the base of the tent. It can catch water causing puddles between the tent floor and ground cloth and may leak into the tent. That said, I use a piece of landscape fabric. It is REALLY inexpensive (maybe free if you ask around), super super light, packs very small, is tough (non woven, hard to puncture) and allows water to pass through (no puddles). One drawback is that leaves and sticks will stick to it sometimes. Ok, I'm done 😉.
Thank you! Great point, I never thought of that with the poles in the foot print! And I probably should have mentioned about the tarp not being larger than the tent, I will fold it under itself in rain. Excellent tip about the landscape fabric! I will have to give that a try! Thanks again!
Havent tried it yet myself, but i've read tyvek house wrap makes a cheap footprint, especially if you can get a small piece free where a new house is being built.
A friend of a friend has had success with Tyvek, and he travels very light and logs A LOT of off road miles.
Thanks for the vid.... been camping for 25yrs on a bike and I have the same Nemo in the vid.... amazing tent replaced a very old MSR also decent.... only one comment - I know you mention use a tarp for protection of tent bottom sure but I live in PNW and rain is guaranteed a perfect sized footprint I find is mandatory - due if any part of the tarp is outside of fly the tarp will funnel water directly under you rather than getting to the ground - footprint is worth the price I think....
Also about the Nemo you can get an inside footprint in fleece - super thin, clips in and stays in tent when packed and I find it makes tent a bit warmer under cot. Lastly the storage bag for the Nemo is so compartmentalized it makes packing so much quicker. Can you tell I love Nemo. Thanks again !!
nice vid - just one thing: ykk is just a brand and not a type of zipper. its simply one of the global players (Japanese) which manufactures zippers.
Excellent point, I guess I forgot to say that. That brand is light years ahead of the rest, and can be distinguished with the YKK embossed on all their zips. Thanks for pointing that out Blaze!
Next up for me - a reflective thermo blanket tent footprint (REI space blanket). I keep wonder where I'm losing heat in my feet.
They keep you warm, sure, but are impermeable. Like getting into a reflective, crinkley trash bag.
If you can't stay dry, you'll probably go hypothermic.
Really good video. We discovered all of these the old fashion way...experience. You were spot on regarding all aspects.
Thank you Jim for you comment appreciate it very much.
Great video bottom line 3 person tent means 2 person tent 4 person tent 3 person tent
Absolutely spot on. My main luxury that I always take and has been laughed at more than once is my chair.
that is very useful video mate ! thank you very much!
For Europe... main feature, make sure it's green or camouflage... wild camping has huge fines in the likes of Austria and Croatia
Last time I went tent camping on my bike it was during Bike Week at Sturgis. I didn't go to Sturgis but enjoyed the comradraeship of the bikes while riding through the Black Hills. My big issue was the Thunderstorms that rolled through and the potential hail that came with them. I want, no need a tent that can handle at least 1" hail (I've been in hail that was tennis ball size that caused 14,000 dollars in damage to my pickup).. being dry while camping is nice as well..
That is a great point about hail. I have seen some crazy storms in that area and other places too where hail comes out of no where and wreaks havoc. Thanks for the comment!
What a great informational video. I'm going to share this with our HOG chapter and to our local motorcycle riding group. Thank you for the links as well.
This was a really informative episode. My experiences mirror your recommendations. Well done!
Get some marine grade waterproofing for all tent fabrics. It not only waterproofs, but adds UV protection too. It'll make your tent last a whole lot longer.
Thanks much. Excellent explanation. And the perfect timing for me as I am currently looking for a tent for motorcycle trips.
I am envisaging camping and that’s sound advice. Thanks for sharing.
Mesh isn't lighter than most tent fabrics. A good example of a somewhat light and decently ventilated 4 season tent are some hillebergs
Good advice. Nicely crafted video.
I use a Hilleberg Nallo2 for short trips and a Keron 4GT for longer ones. Arguably overkill for motorcycle camping , but I like the quality and the fact they will never let me down.
Thanks Max. I will check those tents out, always curious what is working for other people. Ride safe!
Very nice, I’m a dome person my own self. I agree though all my gear goes in my tent with me at night so definitely a two person tent
Thanks Douglas! Dry gear storage is so important for motorcycle camping. Nothing worse than putting on a helmet that has been out in the rain all night. Safe travels!
Great video.
Lots of info
Good work. Tim.
Love your down to earth presentation style
Thank you
Lots of good info, Tim.
Thanks much for sharing.
Loving your videos.
I'd like to add that the tarp should not extend past the floor of the tent. This will direct rain water between the tarp and the floor. If you fold it just under the edge of the floor, water can run off onto bare ground.
Chris Schultz good point. Of course you can always learn this the hard way 🤪
I use one of those 'ridiculous' Redvers tents but I find its worth the bulk and extra weight. I am much older and less agile than you so the extra space to stand up and move around is welcome. I also have a couple of dome tents but when I take those I also take a tarp and at least one pole (I use a tree, post, wall or my tent as the other pole) but I find myself preferring the big tent for European (Particularly British!) weather. Again some great points - keep em coming!
Thanks for the comment donnyo65! I know they aren't really ridiculous, just not for me. I appreciate where you are coming from, standing room in a tent would be nice. I also carry a lot of camera equipment so I have to shed weight where I can. Glad you enjoyed my video, ride safe!