I am not about to read all responses, I'm afraid, but I will offer you what advise I can having done a 2-up trip. Sorry if it's already been said.

Initially we went with the same design that you specified and got a 2 man geodesic tent from Robert Saunders for our 2-up overland trip in South America. It was free standing and had two entrances, etc. It performed very well, but space was a premium. Basically, we never needed the two entrances and I doubt you will either when you get in the swing of things. When you pitch you will do so with one clear point of entry and exit: you don't end up needing the second one. You might once in a while but it's really not that essential.

Then, about 18 months ago, we got a dog and if the 2 man was a bit cramped before with all our kit, now it was ridiculous. Our solution was to buy a tunnel tent.

It weighs and packs down the same as the 2 man, but it is vast. Admittedly, only one entrance, not free-standing (you need good tension on the two ends to maintain the form) and probably not as solid in strong winds (but that is only relative: it does not mean it will collapse if you sneeze on it, either).

However, the atrium area is huge: as big as the sleeping area which, in turn, is already bigger than the geodesic. We have not used it in very demanding conditions yet, but we met other tunnel users when in Patagonia and they had no complaints (ever been in Patagonian wind?).

If you pitch cleverly you can off-set probably all disadvantages of a tunnel, they are quick to set-up and so spacious.

The geodesic is now my comfortable 1 man and his dog tent when I go off alone. Otherwise it's the tunnel.

I've been using a Trangia alcohol stove for 3 years with few complaints. Sometimes I had to stick the alcohol burner into a warm body part to get it lit, but it always lit and worked under all conditions, altitudes, planetary alignments; and its pretty goof-proof. Stoves for Dummies! The wind-screen/burner assembly is very efficient and sturdy.

Gets my :thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

How about a cheap, easy to put up tent and a lightweight tarp? They're useful to live and work under as well as being an obvious alternative at night.

Just a thought. :thumbup1:

Ok after looking through a lot of tents today I think I've narrowed it down a little as to what we'll look into.

1. Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 3
2. Vaude Mark III
3. MSR Mo Room 2
4. Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL2 with extendable vestibule

Hilleberg Staika - off the table because of the price

Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 - off the table because of the overkill 4 season (or 3 colder seasons :)) tent, longish set up, heavy

The North Face Big Fat Frog which is the follower of the famous Tad Pole - seems to be a little too small for 2 -up

The North Face Minibus 23 - thought through design but overdone a little maybe - too many things can go wrong with it and the waterproofing is not the best.

Bear in mind that it's not as if I used any of these - just sharing my thoughts with you.

@Warthog:

I don;t know why but the tunnel tents frighten us a little :) It's just all about where u can use them. A freestanding tent will stand on its own and if the weather is crappy you peg it down and you're sorted. With the tunnel tent you always have to peg it down no matter what the weather is like. I think that MSR Mo Room tent is close to beeing perfect - it's built almost as if it was a tunnel tent but is freestanding thanks to one additional pole PLUS it has an extandable vestibule which makes more room for gear.

Let us know what you think,
Stay safe!
Gosia and Andy

[quote=quastdog;245931]I've been using a Trangia alcohol stove for 3 years with few complaints.

Stoves for dummies - like it! We too used a trangia, and yes, had to warm up the fuel - the last thing you need after a chilly night camping is to not get a brew going! But to find fuel (burning alcohol), esp in Morocco, was v tricky - we had to get some dodgy moonshine from under a tarp down a side alley, but at least it burned and we got to meet some great locals!!

That is a fair point and it's your choice so yo need to be happy with it regardless what others may think. I'll be curious to see how often you are in a place where pegging down is impossible, even if it means huntng around for a spot for a bit longer, though. Still, if your heart is set on a dome type, then also have a look at Robert Saunders tents. We bought a Mountain Trek and it has been fine, albeit a little small. It has the same form as many dome tents but was far cheaper than other brands like Terra nova, North Face et al. However, they have lots of models, so you may find the shape you want, but a lot cheaper than many. I would say the Base camp, Satellite Plus, Spacepacker, or Space-Trek may be worth a look-see.

Whichever tent you decide to go for, get a good footprint (I made mine by ironing together opened out rubble bags: not pretty but it works) because tent ground sheets seem pretty flimsy these days (all the brands included!!) IMHO.

Happy hunting.

I second the tarp option. MSR do one the TWING which is only 800 grams


Tarps are hugely versatile, you can use them as extra porch/cooking room for your tent, pack it on the top of everything and pull it out when you want a shaded siesta or a rain-sheltered lunch, suspend it over your inner tent when things are really hot to let the breezes blow, throw it over the two of you while you slide the poles into your tent in the pouring rain or sleep under it in an emergency when your free-standing tent blows away.

If you combined it with a lighter tent like MSR's 2.84kg FURY




you end up with a more versatile set up for the same weight.

One thing I'd really make sure is how long the tent takes to set up. When you're cold, wet, muddy and stood in howling wind and rain, do you want to be fiddling with complicated clip together pole systems, particularly ones which clip to the inner tent which has a nice big mosquito netting-ed "hole" in the roof.

nice tarp Alex but...... Twing - $229.95 ....:eek3: it can be!
I use a 4m x 3m tarp and it cost less than 2/3rds of that price!
and a +1 for the Nammatj 2 Hilleberg - had it for ...must be 6 years now I think and good as new except 1 wee tear in the roof which was my fault as packed next to a sharpy-
I can put it up in under 2 minutes, 6 pegs (can take more) - inner remains suspended and outer all attached in 1 piece- 2 poles- either fits- 2 ends taped up. The Staika is too expensive sadly for me- I'd get another but perhaps the Plus version that has a larger porch.
Solid & reliable-

Oh, eeek, yes, didn't look at the price, it was more for illustrative purposes only. I think my tarp was about £20 from Blacks.

Hi Andy,

This is a very exciting part of the trip - when I was looking for tents I ended up with quite a few before I settled on my favorite (Tatonka Narvik 2). It's a very personal choice and you've had some fantastic advice from the folks here - nearly all of it I totally agree with. I'd just like to throw in one more option to your list.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/...b28b7f.jpg?v=0

The Exped Orion. The Exped site is at http://exped.com and worth a little browse. I suggest it on the back of taking it to Russia and back, it's a solid geodysic design with exceptional quality parts and materials. It has two vestibules that importantly sit at a perpendicular angle to the inner - meaning it's much easier to get in and out of the tent, and store kit without having to climb over it to get out.

It's simple to erect, and one of the most solid tents I've ever tested. In fact have a glance at the video below - scroll through to 4 minutes to see the Exped.



If you do decide to go with something along these lines then give Les a call at Travel-Dri Plus - he's the chap that helped us out for our last journey - he's the most knowledgeable person I've ever met when it comes to this kind of thing. His website isn't the best in the world, but by God his advice and help is!

Hi Matt!

I must say that this tent really kicks ass! It ticks almost all of the boxes and I think we'll be trying it out in one of the shops and if it is what we think it is we'll be buying it.

Thanks a lot for the info:)

@Alex

Hi alex and thank you for your input as well as others! :)

I think you're right and taking a tarp with us is a good advice. I think that's what we'll do as this will add quite a few options that you've already mentioned.

Thanks a lot all!

Stay safe!
Gosia and Andy

I'd suggest you choose from the Travel Dri, Touratech and similar specialist catalogues.

- Beware of mesh tents as they are freezing cold when you're in windy conditions--if you are interested in something like the MSR Hubba Hubba, go for the HP version with non-mesh interior.

- Get a footprint so you're not packing up a wet floored tent. It also gives you a dry area to pack everything up.

- Consider how the entrances work in the rain, some tents will tip several gallons into the tent when you open them up!

My personal shortlist was:
Exped - Venus II, Venus III, Andromeda
MSR - Hubba Hubba HP, Mutha Hubba HP
Coleman - Phad X3
Vaude - Hogan, Hogan XT, Mark II, MK II long, Mark III

There's nothing worse than being cramped in a small and low tent when you have wet biking gear. I ended up buying an Exped Venus III from Les at Travel Dri which is a three-man-and-a-dog tent with a high 1.5m interior. It's a kilo heavier than some of the tents listed above but at 48x19 it packs down smaller than most of the Vaude alternatives, so it's a real Tardis tent!

- Twin entrances
- Twin vestibules, one with a gear loft
- Freestanding
- Good ventilation
- Quick set up, though I wouldn't agree with the claimed 2.5 minute setup time, more like 5 minutes for me.
- Poles and pegs that are tent porn
- Internal pockets, hanging points for lighting

I imagine Les will be at the Horizons Meet at Ripley this coming weekend if you fancy a short jaunt south. With 300+ tents Ripley would also be a good place to ask fellow travellers what they think of their tents. ;)

Tim

Here comes an opposing point of view :) what if you can't stake? Like in loose sand, on concrete, etc.

RE the MSR Fury tent, I've seen one in action - impressive but where is the ground sheet under the entrance? Not much use for storing stinky bike gear outside the main space and keeping it dry...

Oh and tarps. Decathlon do a very cheap one (£20 inc guys and pegs) that I'm bringing to Ripley... not a clue how to pitch it, could well be memorable! :D

I have seen tents come and go in my life spending $10 to $400 and almost none have lived more than year or 3 with any use. Most have a zipper go out pole split shatter bend or the floor get so thin it rips or a pole rips a hole in the tent when I am setting it up at 1:00 am or have a friend pack it away wet. Price is a good bet on "quality" but its a tent and is made light and so you buy a new one every few years.

There are a few places that make them to last
Exped
black diamond
And others but be willing to pay for it. $600+ for 3 person

My advice go to a online shop and look there. Here is one I have gotten kit from Tents and Shelters at REI.com | 100% Satisfaction Guarantee | Customer Reviews

Most tents I have come with the worst set up gear the pegs are scrap AL. rod best given away the "rope" for the down lines are some polly junk that is land fill bound. Get some good line and pegs and you will spend less time setting up and tarring down the tent.

Have a tarp and rope with you at all times. I like the cheap blue tarps big so that you can cover the bike and you in it. I spent more than few nights under one. You can use one as a footprint for the tent to works better than most.

Stove? coleman all the way cheap and works and you have a tank of gas for it between your legs.

One thumbs up fro Exped
 

I have a Venus II and highly satisfied...