Sorry my mistake 1544g

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There are quite a few one-person tents at around this weight, 1.5kg/3.3lbs. My Hilleberg is one of them, and though expensive it is still going strong at 20+ years: https://hilleberg.com/eng/tent/solo-tents/. Some are even lighter than this.

Tim's link didn't work for me, but here's another (chosen at random): https://www.backcountrygear.com/ultralight-tents.html. It includes a number of solo tents under 1000 grams.

I can't look at the photos of your Abel Brown without thinking about the couple of times my bike has fallen, blown, or been accidentally pushed over during the night. Maybe that's unreasonable of me, but it's difficult to see the advantage when there are stronger, more durable, and/or lighter tents available.

Mark

For January in Morocco I'd suggest you definitely need double skin tent and preferably a four-season. With all tents, generally the flysheet doesn't come all the way down to the ground, there's a big gap. And then with three-season tents the inner tent is 100% mesh to keep the weight and costs down. Consequently in winter the wind can really whistle through. I've suffered in the UK with a three season tent in cold and windy summer conditions.

With a four season tent the inner tent is windproof until about halfway up, then mesh. So you still have the ventilation needed to prevent condensation forming inside, but at least you are not in a constant draught.

And then head height is a consideration if you want to be able to put your gear on whilst kneeling (some tents aren't high enough to do this).

The weight and size saving of a one-man tent over a two-man might not be worth it.

On the other hand, if it is really just an emergency shelter then almost anything will do.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
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Zpacks Duplex is an ultralight tent fabric used by many thru hikers. It’s 19.4 ounces (550 grams) plus your hiking poles.

I love my Hilleberg tents. They’re bulletproof four-season tents but weigh much more. My one-person Soulo Tent weighs 2.4 kg/5 lbs 5 oz.

Hi IanC - I'd pretty much echo everything Tim Cullis has said...

In addition, if you're looking for genuine 'ultralight' then you can end up spending many hundreds of pounds/dollars... similarly, if you want short pole length, have a look at the Big Agnes range (they are available in the UK too, and I've had good customer service from them on both sides of the Atlantic).

https://www.bigagnes.com/Gear/Tents

Personally I'd avoid their Crazylight range (carbon poles etc.) as they are a LOT of money for something you say is likely to see only occassional use.

I'd consider their Superlight range - the C-Bar 2 model for example is well priced and packs down reasonably small.

Otherwise, if space is a premium, they offer 'Bikepacking' versions of certain models which have 12" folded pole length - very compact, but you do pay a little more for the convenience.

Hope that helps...

Jenny x

ps. I have one of their original Seedhouse 2 models, which I bought in 2008, although that model/range appears to finally no longer be in production. Fortunately there are similar models which free stand as required, can be used as a bug-hut with just the inner in warm weather, and pack down to around 6x18" to stow in your luggage.

I agree with Tim that you go one size up from the number of people that will be using it. I also agree on a free standing tent.

My go-to tent on many bike rides (I've accumulated a lot of tents over the years) - have often been dirt cheap free standing festival tents, the type without the vestibule, and with one layer only and two layered door (one layer being mesh). They are not the most waterproof tents in the world (to say it mildly), but with waterproofing spray, they do ok. They are not built for storms either, but do ok in quite heavy winds. They do condensate quite easily, but with using the mesh door without the waterproof door, they do well enough (not an option in the rain). In rain you will need to close the door - and then you will have condensation. Still, this can be resolved if you bring a tarp that you can string over the tent - or even some dirt cheap plastic sheeting.

I've slept under both tarps and cheap plastic sheeting in snow and down pours - in both hammocks (awesome) or on a sleeping mat right on the ground. If there is a good place to set it up, and there are not many critters around - sleeping under a tarp is a wonderful experience... if it isn't raining sideways from all directions that is. You can even have a small fire going under it - not a lot of tents you can do that in!

A tarp is a great complement to a tent, or even as a substitute. If I plan to camp for a while, having a good tarp - even if I have a good tent - is really good. It can provide you with a roof over your tent or in front of it, or in a separate location - i.e. if you don't want to be hunched down inside your tent the entire day, but rather have a place to sit outside without getting wet (or place it high if you want standing height). You can even hang your wet up to dry underneath it when it is raining - not having to bring it inside the tent, etc, etc. If it is very hot and sunny, you can use it as a sun shade. If it is windy, you can use it as a wind shield...

You can use the tarp as a bike cover, or as a mat under your bike if you plan to put a wrench to it and don't want to loose small parts in the sand, or get sand into everything.

A one layered festival tent without the vestibule sets up in seconds. You don't need any plugs. You can set them up indoors and move them around with one hand. Because their construction is so simple, they are very low weight.

I have used such a tent in Morocco and found it perfect.

For emergency use, my festival tent is my go-to - unless I have to travel extremely light - then I bring my tarp only (as long as I'm not in a mosquito infested place). On trips where I'm confident I will find trees, I also bring a hammock. Sleeping under the stars and off the ground, under a tarp - is a wonderful experience even in the rain (aslong as the mosquitos don't get you). Sitting underneath a tarp with a small fire going in the evening, enjoying the view while the rain taps on the tarp - also beats being stuck inside a tent for hours at end.

For trips where I know I'll be doing more serious amount of tenting, in wet or stormy places - I bring something more serious - a four season tent with a low profile.

My advice for a Morocco only trip - bring a cheap festival tent (20-30 USD). If you closer to the end of your trip know that you won't be doing anymore camping - just give it away to someone to rid yourself of the weight and clutter.

There are not a lot of trees to hang up a tarp in in morocco - so I would leave the tarp at home.

If you want to go ultralight, ultra compact, and shoe-string-cheap, and only have something for a one-off emergency - then a sheet of plastic of 3x4 meters will do the job. You can use your bike to hang it up in.

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All good suggestions, Hilleberg, Big Agnes at all, good stuff. What about a bivi bag? Rab Ridge Raider or Terra Nova Jupiter? Also, Morocco does get very cold at night at that time of year.

In hot humid conditions you want the fly to not go all the way down to the ground to promote ventilation. This also helps reduce condensation.

No tent is great in all conditions. Ideally the fly should be able to be pitched so it can go either all the way to the ground or not all the way to the ground. Only one of my tents I can do this .. though the height above the ground is small - a Dan Durston XMid one (from {Mass} Drop). It is a fill mesh inner, and in hot weather you can leaved one or both doors open partially or fully. It does use walking poles .. so varying the pole height helps get the fly to ground heigh where you want it. I think it is my most versatile tent. Second place would go to either my MSR Hubba Hubba (not quire free standing) or my old Eureka one .. I need to replace it's fly - worn out from too much sun and camp fire embers. If use is anything to go by then my old Eureka wins ... but they don't make that model any more, and I have had it far longer that the other 2.

Warin's comments reminded me of another consideration. With most tents nowadays you pitch the inner first with the poles, then throw the fly over it. Some tents it's the reverse, and a few designs you can pitch both together.

If you have an inner first design you can do without the flysheet on a really muggy night, and sleep in just the mesh to keep off insects. If it's a freestanding tent you can use this indoors to provide mosquito protection.

If you want to pitch just the flysheet to provide a very basic lightweight rain shelter, follow this tip to use the footprint to secure the poles (won't work with every design): https://outdooressentialsuk.com/blog...hilst-pitching

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

It works the other way around as well. E.g. the Exped Orion sets up all-in-one or outer-first depending on your preference. But it can also be set up inner-only, but it is no longer free-standing in that case.

Our Vaude Space L can do the same but remains freestanding with the inner-only and was a whole lot cheaper than the Exped.

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Thanks all for the informed replies

After a lot of thinking and looking, I've bitten the bullet (not as hard as if I'd had a Hilleberg!) and ordered this one:
https://www.bigagnes.com/Copper-Spur...-Bikepack-2021. £400 in UK.

Seems it's all I wanted, light and packs to 300mm x 150mm so should fit a Kriega OS-6 which is perfect!

Will take a careful look when it arrives, can return if need be.

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