Gelert Beyond Solaris Lightweight Tent
 

Just got back from a brief run up to the Scottish Borders and back where I got a chance to test one of the one man tents from Gelert, it's part of their Beyond range and at £70 it's cheap, but in the high end of Gelert's products.

http://www.l-space.net/gallery/photo...laris/sol1.jpg

The tent is an all in one model (fly sheet and inner are attached), which makes it incredibly quick to pitch and take down, it packs down 38 x 13 x 13cm, weighs around 1.9kg and thankfully uses aluminium poles rather than fibreglass.

For a one man tent I have to say I was quite happy with the space inside it, obviously you are not going to be cooking in it, but there is enough room inside to get in and out of your kit easily, and store your riding gear inside while you sleep (except my boots, but the last thing I would want in a one man tent with me would be my boots after riding all day!).

http://www.l-space.net/gallery/photo...Dimensions.jpg

To give you a better idea of the size inside I took a few snaps with my Thermarest Neo Air set up inside it, this is the large model Neo with dimensions of 196cm * 63cm

http://www.l-space.net/gallery/photo...laris/sol2.jpg

http://www.l-space.net/gallery/photo...laris/sol3.jpg

http://www.l-space.net/gallery/photo...laris/sol4.jpg

The weather gods smiled on me so I didn't have to test it in the rain, although with a claimed HH rating of 5000mm it should be up to the job. With it being such a small tent there was an issue with condensation, not dripping on me or anything like that, but as the inner and fly are attached when you pack it away the fly touches the inner so any condensation on the inside of the fly is wrapped up inside the tent itself. This wasn't a major issue, a quick wipe of the inside floor when next setting up sorted it out, and there wasn't so much condensation to make it a problem.

All in all I really like this tent and can see it becoming my staple accommodation of choice when motorcycle camping, until something else catches my eye :)

http://www.l-space.net/gallery/photo...laris/sol5.jpg

Iv got a similar Gelert tent. The cheaper version of yours !! It leaked like a tea bag from Brand new !! The "Weather tested" tag on it made me laugh when I came back to a huge pool of water inside it after a 2 hour downpour !!

Good luck with that .... I won't touch Gelert with a shit*y stick ! Everything I've got made by them failed in one way or another !

Test it in the rain before you rely on it properly. Maybe give it a good sealing before use !

If it works for you (and it doesn't leak!) that's great but it looks a bit claustrophobic for me. I have a very similar two man tent made by Robens which I bought about 10yrs ago and I find that too small inside when I'm on my own.

It's the head height that does it. Anything with an internal height of less than 110 - 115cm I find restrictive to the point where I find myself crawling out in the middle of the night to relieve aches and pains caused by lack of space in the tent. Not something you really want to do if it's p*ssing down.

That's probably why I have eight tents at the moment; eventually I'll find one that suites me.

Generally if I'm out and about on my own all I use a tent for is sleeping in, so something this small works for me. If I need somewhere dry to shelter then I will usually have a tarp with me anyway.

I read your thoughts on your Gelert tent Ted, indeed I was thinking about them when I was pondering trying this, I'm hoping you are just unlucky LOL.

Just make sure when you buy a tent whether it says waterproof/resistant weather checked or whatever that you give it a good spraying with fabsil waterproofing spray or similar before you use it, leaky tents are a thing of the past since i started doing this. I like the idea of the ultralight 1 man tent as i come from a backpacking background and love to travel light but for Motorcycle touring i want to be able to sit up in the tent for putting on jackets out of the rain etc and have room to store my gear in the inner compartment of it, i also like a flysheet extention for cooking under. I have used a Robert Saunders Backpacker 2 EXT for years and have been very happy with it. I have got a Gelert Tent but havent tried it out Yet. Your tent looks great though and as i say i love the idea of packing light, for me its a must as i use a 125.

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/1156358252_vjJ7D-O.jpg
I've just bought one of these 2/3 person jobs @ £72.00: Coleman Avior X3 Expedition Tent. What attracted me to this particular make and model were the reviews it's received - for some sample testimony click here and here. Moreover the packed carry-bag size and weight of 37cm x 16.5cm and 2.95kg means that it can easily fit and be carried on top of one of the bike's alu panniers.

Decent erected dimensions too:

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/1179171970_JA6Vb-S.jpg


Can't wait to try it out .. :yes:


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Keith1954, any experiences with the Coleman tent? I am considering this same model, but would like to have some first hand opinion. As a downside, I find it a little low, 105cm at its highest point is not that much, considering also its shape... But such good reviews.

Thanks in advance.

Esteban