![]() ![]() Long-distance thru-hikers in particular are often concerned with minimising their pack weight, and for that reason sometimes carry single-skin shelters propped up by trekking poles that weigh just a few hundred grams. This means – generally speaking – that you can safely consider slightly bigger, heavier tents that will allow you to live more comfortably, fare better in bad weather, last longer, and possibly cost less too. On a bike trip, you have a two wheeled, pedal-powered vehicle to carry your gear, rather than shouldering the burden yourself. The single biggest difference is that packed weight and volume is usually less important for cyclists. How Do Tents For Cyclists Differ From Tents For Hikers & Backpackers?īefore we start listing off the best cycle touring and bikepacking tents, I feel it’s important to explain how the priorities for cyclists differ from walkers, and how that might affect your choice of tent. Know what kind of bike trip you’re going on? Great! Read on… Perhaps read my posts on the what, where, when, who and how of cycle touring. If you haven’t asked them of yourself, now’s the time to do so. Are you planning a nice, fair-weather ride, or will all-season, winter or high-altitude mountain use be involved?Īs I mentioned, there are a few tried-and-tested tents for cycling adventures that have proven themselves on a massive range of journeys.īut if you want to delve any deeper, you’ll find there’s no real ‘best tent for cycle touring or bikepacking’ until you know the answers to the basic questions above.Do you plan on staying mostly at nice campsites with perfect pitches, or wild camping in the woods after dark?.Do you have racks and panniers to take bulky and heavy loads, or are you bikepacking with frame luggage, handlebar harnesses and fork cages alone?.Are you a heavyweight touring couple who like plenty of living space and room for luggage, a minimalist solo weekend warrior, or somewhere in between?.Are you investing for a long-lasting tent for a transcontinental bike tour, or angling for a bargain for a short summer adventure?.Inspect the camps of larger groups of riders and you’ll start to see common themes emerging in tent choice and design.īefore you go any deeper into tent research for a cycle tour or bikepacking trip, then, take a moment to ask yourself: ‘Best’ means nothing outside the context of your bike trip. Given that, it’s natural to look for recommendations from the community when choosing a tent for cycle touring or bikepacking.īut before you get bogged down with what other people think is the best tent, here’s one important thing to remember: We cycle tourers and bikepackers sit on the margins, and are lucky if we get more than a quick mention in the product description. Which of these tents is right for your upcoming two-wheeled adventures? The truth is that you’ll be lucky to find a tent designed specifically with cycle tourers or bikepackers in mind.Īnd why the industry bias towards people with backpacks rather than bicycles? Simple: the market is much bigger. Instead, you’re left to browse the hiking, backpacking and mountaineering tent selections, which are filled with ultralight tents, freestanding tents, 3‑season and 4‑season tents, double wall and single wall tents, tents with or without awnings or footprints, tarp tents that don’t even have a floor – and at prices from next to nothing up to hundreds (even thousands) of pounds or dollars. Perhaps the biggest challenge in choosing the best tent for your cycle tour or bikepacking trip is the fact that there’s no recognised category of tent for two-wheeled adventures. Last updated on June 13, 2022, adding new retailer links to several tents in this list. ![]()
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