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desert camping
Am off trans-sahara on December 26th, with a convoy of others. It's my first proper desert trip, so I'm sure this is the first of many questions that will occur to me. To start with though, do any of you experienced desert rats have any advice on tents? I need to buy one, and would welcome any thoughts on which will best withstand wind/sand/massive temperature changes.
Thank you! |
Tents are very useful as they give you privacy and they enable you brain to un2wind. It it is a bit primevil but if you sleep in the open you dont rest as well that if you are in cover. They also provied prtection from the sun sand (to some degree) and wind.
Buy a cheap tent nothing fancy and if traveling by bike try tio get it reasonably light. You proably need only pay £50 max for a reasonable own brand one. Charlie |
It may be obvious but one thing I would advise it to get one that is self supporting - a dome on two crossed bendy sticks) - my one cost me 30 quid. I only ever use the inner tent.
Most tents are like that these days but I am amazed to see people still messing about with pegs and guy lines in the sand. Ch |
hello out there,
chris is mostly right (as always), but in case of a harsh desert wild (not too rare)self-supportance of a tent can rapidly come to an end without "pegs and guy lines in the sand" ;-) this is especially true if you use fibre glass rods (which are used in cheaper tents and tend to break very quick in windy conditions). good luck to everyone |
It is true, I have tied the x-poles on the top to my bike/car on windy nights with a piece of cured camel intestine - and I usually have to put rocks in corners when I'm not in it or it blows away. But a guy line peg in the sand has to be the size of a shovel, to be useful, I find.
Ch |
Try and get a self supporting tent with loops that hang from the bendy poles,rather than one that has a tubes across the tent top.Much easier to fit poles thro on a dark windy night. I presume you are doing the PDC? If so.Enjoy1
Dave |
... or you can have a Khyam Quick Erect Dome Tent that unflods like an umbrella and can be set up 30 seconds.
------------------ Roman (UK) www.overlandcruiser.info |
Those tents look good, I love the idea of "quick erect" (oo-err missus!)
http://www.khyam.co.uk/flexi-dome.asp?productID=0 but with fibreglass poles I bet there duty cycle isn't high. Anyone got any real world experience? ------------------ Nick Taylor www.exerro.com ------------------ 1996 BMW F650 1996 300 TDi 90 1997 NAS D90 ST #685 1998 Camel Trophy 110 CT47 Vehicle Specs |
Airzone do inflatable tents (use a compressor). Anyone have any experience of these? £348 for 3 man job - don't know how that compares to others.
Andrew. |
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Actually, I'm doing a new rally rather than the PD - we are headed down through Algeria via the Hoggar and through to Niger. It was founded by a bunch of guys who were on the first PD. Tent advice most useful, thank you everyone: am off to trawl ebay armed with your information.
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Imogen wrote "Actually, I'm doing a new rally rather than the PD -"
what's the rally? |
I believe it may be Andy Pag's Rallye du Hoggar with the possible aim of flogging the cars in Agadez
------------- "with loops that hang from the bendy poles,rather than one that has a tubes across the tent top." V good point Dave . My previous one from Macro had hooks but my current one has 'tube/sleeves' which are a pain. Definitely go for clippy hooks - truly a pleasure to use Ch |
yes, it's the Hoggar - tho I think we're concentrating on getting the cars to Niger before we think about flogging them. I think it's too late to sign up for this year (he's booked ferries etc) but for anyone interested, here's the website
http://www.hectagon.plus.com/hoggar |
Back to the tent issue: just to remind that leaving something more or less heavy in the tent is far more useful than pegs and guy lines, and in case you forgot to do this: never, never pack your bags and say "oh well, we'll break the tent up after breakfast"...
By the way, if someone finds a nice green tent somewhere in the Libyan desert... must be around Uweynat by now... Raf (alias the stupid novice) http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif |
Just to throw another thought out, I really hate tents in the desert! You miss the stars, the sunrise, the appearance of animal life in the dawn.
Even if you take a tent, try a night without! I only use tents in sandstorm season and even then rarely. a poncho as a windbreak, a decent Karrimat-type insulator and a 3-season dossbag (or 4 season in winter) are the best solution - *dont* forget the windbreak, esp anywhere near a sea wind Sleeping out in the air is wonderful! Smell the tea brewing in the fire embers, wake and see infinite stars over you, see the sunrise without getting up.....! |
hello runner,
i suggest you enter your tent for sleeping only! of course everybody sits around a campfire and watches stars, scorpions and snakes in the evening. and in the morning we enjoy the sunrise through wide opened tent doors. while during the night's sleep, we too don't see anything at all except dreams. so there is no contradiction between using a tent and enjoying nature big time. good luck to everyone |
"i suggest you enter your tent for sleeping only!"
I suggest you dont use a tent at all. "so there is no contradiction between using a tent and enjoying nature big time." I would respectfully disagree, for the reasons Ive already given. Each to their own. My opinion (for what its worth) is that you lose the feeling of being in the desert when you're closed away in a tent. [This message has been edited by Runner (edited 09 December 2004).] |
hi runner,
at home - you sleep under a bridge, right? no - for sure you prefer a roof above your head. so there's got to be something about that... but anyway: some folks like tents, some do not. so what? they're all nice people, i believe. greetings ;-) [This message has been edited by desert soul (edited 09 December 2004).] |
Makes no odds to me what you do, mate.
I think the point about the futility of arguing on the WWW has already been made elsewhere.... |
The Khayam tents are great except they are heavy, not good at all for bikers.
I can set mine up in about 1min 30secs....! no need for pegs or ropes unless its windy. Im looking for a ultralight one man tent 2kg or less that is free standing (none out there) free standing is like chris scott describes above since (pegs in sand = hopeless, pegs in cacampsite also = hopless!) amazing how tents are a big topic. but they can be SUCH a pain if the wrong choice is made. they are always erected when youre tired at the end of the day Karim |
One point ref the tent versus no tent question, the last time I was in Libya on the shitty side we had: a sandstorm, torrential downpours, cold biting winds and a violent hailstorm with stones the size of golfballs - no exageration (one of our vehicles back windows was smashed by one)! It isnt always clear starry nights in the Sahara!
A tent and (or) a bivy bag (Goretex ideally) is an asset on expedition whether you use it or not. Ref dome tents - the ones with aluminium poles are the best. You can also get snow pegs, albeit at a price, which work in the sand for your guys otherwise burying tyres or jerrycans or shovels (as mentioned) works well. If you're looking for the ultimate modern dome tent for a group look no further than the "Vaude Base Dome" - it isn't cheap though but you can get a table and chairs up inside, cook and get out of the weather! [This message has been edited by ctc (edited 09 December 2004).] |
hello runner,
ever seen somebody try to argue with smilies? so please, stay mr. nice guy ( as everybody knows you are normally ;-) ) hello all, i would also submit to the posting ahead of mine, that even just the prophylactic "erecting" of a tent (you can always sleep beside it) in the evening can be a blessing in case of rapidly changing weather conditions. this is not too unusual, according to my own experience! one time we froze our asses off while sleeping "under the stars" in the teffedest range / algeria. free dropping temperatures and a wind straight from the south pole came as a horrible surprise. there was no chance in building a tent anymore. one other time on our way back home we were took by surprise: heavy and cold rains came crashing down the desert sky, and we had 10 minutes of weak downpour to raise our tent, before the whole shit came down on us. so a little preparations for the bad odds seems to make some good sense to me... good luck, again |
great thread, guys.
my fave tent (Karim) is from Decathlon (branch near Canada Water in London). its a forclaz 2 (ultra?)light. 2-man/1+bike kit simple dome with clippy bits. must be about 2.1kg with pegs and outer, but I usually just tie it to the front wheel (when parked raher than riding into the teeth of a storm) or kick sand up the sides to stop the wind getting under it. while I also like to sleep outside the tent, its a bit of an umbilical chord for a townie like me that keeps going off the rails. |
I have a 3 person Sierra Designs Stretch Dome tent. I like a somewhat bigger tent, as then you have more space and keep some gear inside. It's about 10 years old and still going strong. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
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Just one more thought if you have more than one vehicle to tie it to it may be worth considering a Hennesy hammock as an alternative to other tents
Dave |
Rich
Is it one of these? and is it free standing (the ultralight one?) http://www.decathlon-usa.com/us/prod...t/o_tent_h.htm thanks Karim ------------------ <A HREF="http://www.desertbiking.co.uk Water=Time,Fuel=distance" TARGET=_blank>www.desertbiking.co.uk Water=Time,Fuel=distance</A> |
I've found that a cheap £30 tent from Milletts does the job very well. As Chris says, you can use snow pegs to pin it down in sand, and put anything heavy in it to hold it down on rock. The wind can blow it away so use the guys to tie it to your vehicle - preferably in the lee of it
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I also tried using an army poncho strung up
between bikes (Austin Vince's idea..!) advantages light, no poles, can be used as a waterproof coat. quick and easy to setup disadvantages when it rains the roof fills with water you are still in the 'open', and wake up covered in dew/condensation as a waterprrof it falls to peices riding at speed need minimum 2 bikes! anyone agree? cheers Karim ...also trying to get topic desertcamping to the record books... ------------------ <A HREF="http://www.desertbiking.co.uk Water=Time,Fuel=distance" TARGET=_blank>www.desertbiking.co.uk Water=Time,Fuel=distance</A> [This message has been edited by coolkarim (edited 12 December 2004).] |
We took Khyam tents for 7 months London-Sydney, I have then used the same tents many times all over the world (with clients, who can be pretty brutal with equipment).
They're good and strong, just relatively heavy. I would recommend them to anyone vehicle based. I actually don't use a tent in the desert, horses for courses. I often use a tarp elsewhere though, instead of a tent. Lighter etc., but you need to have a little experience if you want to stay dry/sleep well etc.! Sam. |
The ex-army poncho thing is an excellent idea - esp as they fold away to nothing!
Bedouin windbreaks make a real difference to the comfort of a camp... though they are heavy, clunky things with big wood poles and thick canvas. Some folk weld loops to their 4x4s to slot the poles in (LRs and TLCs with steps on the back are perfect for these) There's always roof tents too http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif |
S.ix years ago I followed Tom Shepperds advise and bought a canvas dome tent from Christys Soth Africa for vehicle based recreational use(up to 2 wks in ME deserts and coasts).I lived in the Middle East and the tent was
used almost weekly for all that time.Cannot recommend it highly enough.Pluses;space/light/cool for shade and rest in the day/warm at night/no noise/quick n easy to erect/very durable..Downs;weight only.Only suitable for vehicle based trips.Those of you who run groups should check them out,good daytime bases. |
any more contributions on the desert camping topic?
lets keep it alive and healthy...! |
Where can you buy a Christy tent from? I've tried searching the web but to no avail....
Thanks, Andrew. |
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Link should be:
http://www.cristys.co.za/ |
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As regards two bikes, Ive slept under a poncho in Europe and attached one side to my bike and the other side Ive pegged down with tentpegs - 45' lean-to. They arent really designed to be flat-topped shelters..... (or waterproofs for motorbikes) |
In the desert I use a very cheap (US$ 15) Dome tent with the plastic poles. It is very comfortable as it protects me from all creepy crawlers as well as the early morning mist that can wet you all over. I do not use the pegs, but to support the tent from wind I use plastic bags filled with sand and place them on the four corners inside the tent. No wind can remove the tent.
------------------ http://buhaisi.webhop.net |
Amazingly, this thread has now been going on so long that since posting the original message, I've bought a tent and completed the trip for which it was intended! Thanks to the person who recommended a Khyam: I bought a cheap second hand one (£70) on ebay and it was brilliant. It was so cold that not having a tent at all wasn't an option, so i was very pleased i got one. Being able to put it up so fast and on my own when it was really cold in the evenings was a bonus, and ditto taking it down the next morning. The only problem I found is that sand tended to get into the joints making them very stiff - and it also needs pegs to be at its best, which is an issue in sand. But for the pleasure of looking smug while everyone else wrestles with poles, it can't be beaten.
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