Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Camping Equipment and all Clothing
Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 21 Aug 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,048
Question Pitching inner first in bad weather.

I have two tents. One a "pitch together" tunnel tent, one an "inner first" geodesic. Despite camping in all seasons and getting rained on I have been blessed with good fortune in that I have never had to pitch in the rain. I thought that streak of luck had run out on my recent trip to the Tatras. Thankfully, if did not.

However, one day it will.

So what advice can anyone give for pitching the inner first, with the least likelihood of water hitting the inner as mine is essentially porous if the water hits with any power.

Assembling upside down?
Using the outer as a canopy and look like an idiot stuck in duvet cover?
__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 22 Aug 2011
gixxer.rob's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Back in Melb
Posts: 287
Is do you have a particular attachment to the tent ? Is it an expensive one ? You can probably guess where I am going with this.

In terms of actual tips other than your "Duck in a doona" idea or having a and waiting I am not much help.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 22 Aug 2011
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,898
Apparently there's been a substantial shift in people's expectations recently. Back in the day, no one ever asked "How do I keep my tent dry while setting it up in the rain?" These days it happens once every couple of weeks. See: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-in-rain-58025

I'll stick by my previous answer: your best bet is to have the butler set up your tent while you lounge around in the back seat of the Bentley.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 22 Aug 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,048
Well, I had hoped from some handy technique because the "pitch it as you do in the dry" point is precisely what I'm trying to avoid.

I don't mind getting wet, but I do mind sleeping in a wet tent interior. Whilst moisture beads on my inner's roof, I only need to touch that location from beneath for the water to drip through, so clearly it is pretty porous.

I was hoping for some neat trick that I could apply, but alas, there appears to be none other than my initial thought of clambering around under the inner, or hoisting my tarp which in no easier if you lack decent hitching points nearby....

I feel some dry day practice coming on.
__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 22 Aug 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Aussie expat in Switzerland half way RTW
Posts: 611
My approach is to try and keep dry things dry, withstanding a little rain of course it should be possibe for most 2-part tents that come with a fly to use the fly as a kind of tarp to cover the inner part whilst mounting the inner underneath.

See my reply with instructions in the aforementioned thread.

In case you missed it, here it is again: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-in-rain-58025
__________________
TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29 Aug 2011
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: England
Posts: 52
There is, no easy answer to this... I personally would never buy a tent that didn't allow pitching the fly first, especially whilst travelling by motorcycle.

At least you can have a shelter up until maybe the rain eases off, before finishing setting up camp...
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 30 Aug 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On the road ...
Posts: 262
There's two solutions to this:

a) Pitch your tent fast enough + have a little bit of patience. If it's absolutely raining cats and dogs you probably want to wait a bit with putting up your tent irrespective what kind of tent you have. In little/moderate rain, it shlould be possible to be quick enough to maybe get the inner tent wet/moist, but not so wet that the inside of the tent gets wet. If the tent is well vented that shouldn't be a problem, unless you like leaning aginst the inner tent ;-)

b) If you're absolutely set on keeping things dry, then on most tents there is a simple trick. Take a piece of string (or several, depends on the tent), and tie some loops or rings to it to resemble the shape of your inner tent and the hoops that take the poles there. Use that to set up the poles, put the outer tent over it and then set up the inner tent within. I guess it sounds more complicated than it is ... On a simple free-standing tent all you need is basically a string to span the circumference of your tent, with ends tied to form a big loop, and with some 4-6 rings tied in the right places to take the poles. Light weight, cheap and easy ... Necessary - not sure ;-) ymmv, especially with complicated tunnel tents ...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 7 Sep 2011
Selous's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: England
Posts: 437
in the good old days of tenting, we never had an outter or inner just 1 canvas cover just didnt touch the sides or it would leak.

With out taking the P**s I would of thought you could put the outter shell first then place the inner in side, you may have to remove a peg 1 at a time bu still dry.

I have noticed that there is more that 1 way to put a tent up, suggest you do a bit of lateral thinking go out side (in garden) put up the tent and play, try different portability's.
__________________
We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 16 Sep 2011
holodragon's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Back in Blighty
Posts: 171
I have had to pitch the tent in the rain many times which is why I never buy anything but a outer first or pitch as one tent now, it's a pain that so many good free-standing tents are pitch inner first. Simple answer .... take the tunnel tent if its pitch as one. Or take a tarp & tarp poles to cover the inner but that means extra kit.
__________________
Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11 Oct 2011
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Germany (near Hamburg)
Posts: 67
I don't think there is any easy answer with a geodesic design tent. I have an older one, which is very good quality and I bought it to walk the West Highland Way, many years ago. As it happened I couldn't really have picked a worse time for the walk, as it rained more or less continuously for the whole 5 days or so.

You may be able to try and protect the inner by laying the outer over the inner, during the erection process, but I remember the horrors of putting the tent up outside the Kingshouse Hotel in Glencoe in the dark, in a howling gale and horizontal rain. In fact the wind caught the erected tent like a sail and it very nearly landed in the River Coe. I did get the tent erected, but then found my sleeping bag rather wet . At that point opted for B&B in the hotel as I was mentally and physically wrecked. At least I got everything dried out.

Using a tarp is extra weight, as said and in a howling gale is more trouble than it's worth.

I would never now buy a tent, which could not be erected flysheet first and tent designs have moved on, so I would think most quality tents these days would be flysheet first or both together.

I was thinking of taking this old tent geodesic tent with me to Norway next June, but given the likelihood of bad weather there, I may need to reconsider.

Grey Beard
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
All-weather jacket in hot weather Lagan Camping Equipment and all Clothing 11 4 Jan 2010 17:45
And the weather here is..... narly The HUBB PUB 3 20 Apr 2008 12:10
The weather - what's it going to do? Walkabout TRAVEL Hints and Tips 7 29 Sep 2007 22:22
Where is the weather OK from Feb to May? nick_horley North Africa 3 4 Jan 2003 17:00
UK to Aus weather Sean Kelly Route Planning 0 6 Mar 2001 17:32

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:57.