Quick erect tents...anyone use one?

[Discoed]

I have a Kyham biker and as others have said it's no quicker to erect than a standard tent and it's not the best in terms of quality.

I have just retired a 1990's Pheonix Phunnel as the proofing has now expired and the taped seams have failed,




its been replaced with an MSR

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Constantly debated with myself over tents and cost. Bigger dome type are hard to erect single handed but with 2 can be very quick as they will stand without guys/pegs.

In the end having once tried a quick erect I found either too bulky/heavy or impossible to put away [pop up type] or lacking rain resistance [pop up/festival tents].

So I settle for a flysheet pitch first tunnel tent with a decent enough porch that once the flysheet is up everything is inside in the dry. Equally I can pack everything including tent inner and porch groundsheet away in the panniers inside the tent and the only thing left standing is the flysheet with 2 pegs holding it up. I can flick the poles off the retainers from inside and in 5 minutes its packed away on the bike.

Some of the quick pitching is down to how you pack your stuff. If I know it will be wet I always have the outer flysheet and poles ready to come off first without any other unpacking, even that saves time. If you have a few linked fibreglass poles keeping them apart from each over stops them getting tangled.

If you aren't over fussed about cost a tunnel with alloy poles is much lighter but an extra cost of over €200 hurts the pocket. Easy to carry a spare fibreglass pole segment.

[rodyorkabr]

in last months magazine- there was an excellent article by Mike B about quick erect tents. Well worth getting the magazine

[Moorso]

Have been using the 2 man Slummit tent for a few years now, and in all sorts of weather here. Roomy, really easy to put up and, once mastered, just as quick to fold down. I don't find the pack size too big....it fits in my waterproof Overboard bag that sits on the pillion seat.
If the weather is supposed to be adverse, you're advised to wrap the guy rope once around the pole, which I have done.

[exrm193]

in last months magazine- there was an excellent article by Mike B about quick erect tents. Well worth getting the magazine

just found it...cheers. They were just normal 2 man tents though....not quick put er uppers!

[briantheb]

Have owned a Kyham Biker for a number of years now and although its relativly easy and quick to erect periodically the material in the porch area gets pinched while packed away and there are now a number of near identical two hole damage points. Has anyone else had similar problems ?

[catcitrus]

I've never seen the advantage of the biker version--but have one of the last "igloo" versions which simply pulls up from the middle. It sort of works but is far too bulky for the bike--typically I use a ripstop 3 man Blacks Octane Tunnel--with a vestibule that is the same size as the sleeping bit--and it packs away in half the length, weight and so on of the Kyham. I also use a Big Agnes copy which is slightly smaller, but still a 3 man. I carry a Robens tarp with aluminium poles--its 3m by 3 m and I can stand under it--its the first thing to go up and the last to come down--allows you to pack, cook, dress and so on in the dry. By the way, the 3 hoop Blacks Tunnel goes up outer first , or all in one--and requires just 4 pegs to get it spaced out, then insert the three hoops --and its up--then secure with extra pegs , guys and so on--its all about practice and experience to work out what works well for you. Typically you get what you pay for.

[Chasbmw]

I have a Vaude MKIII, its very quick to erect, around 5 mins, depending on how hard the ground is.

The poles provide an external frame and you quickly clip the tent to it.

Light weight, long lasting, good in high winds and best of all, no phaffing with threading poles into sleeves.

Just about see what I mean in this photo



i did try a Khayam once, too big and far too heavy

[deksawyer]

I have a Vaude MKIII, its very quick to erect, around 5 mins, depending on how hard the ground is.

The poles provide an external frame and you quickly clip the tent to it.

Light weight, long lasting, good in high winds and best of all, no phaffing with threading poles into sleeves.

Just about see what I mean in this photo



i did try a Khayam once, too big and far too heavy

You said 3 mins in your previous reply!!

I'd like to try one of these - what is the current version?

D.

[waynecoluk]

I often think about pop up tents. If they could make them slightly smaller, as in when they are packed, they would be perfect for the bike. For summers only obviously. I always find it a chore putting up a tent if you've been riding for 8-10 hours.