Hiking [cycling] tent... LEJOG!

"I usually find that a two man tent is more like a one-man tent!"- you have hit the nail on the head with this comment.

A few years back I did a bit of bush walking and purchased a cheap two person dome tent (about $60.00 worth from memory) , it served me very well for many years, it kept me dry in some really wet times and is still in good nick. I could kneel in it and get changed without any great difficulty, its only downfall was it did not have a vestibule but being "two man" I did have room inside to store my pack etc. Weight wise its 3.2kgs (I just weighed it) . I often looked at the high tech lightweight tents but could not really fault what I had.
Just my tuppence worth..
Regards Alanc

It all depends, we did a lot of bushwalking and a fair bit of cycle touring before kids. $500 or $600 on a two man tent seems extravagant, but sleep in it for 100+ nights, have complete confidence it will withstand a dam good wind, snow, or torrential storm, maybe pitch it fly only, or inner only; and it all starts to play it's part. Don't over look a good quality tent if you want to do it for a few years. Our tents are going on 7 years old and still going hard.

I'd look at something you can sit up in, has at least one decent vestibules so you put your dirtier/wet gear, and cook in if needed. If going to norther Australia something that allows decent air flow if possible.
Don't get one that relies on your bike as part of the tent, if you feel like an evening explore you have to drop the tent to go.
Single skin tents are ok and light, but you have to be careful with condensation, as plenty of your gear ends up wet in the morning. If you get a mesh inner this helps to keep your stuff of the outer where the condensation is.
For two people get one with twin vestibules, that way you both have our own space and entry point. Not even a bad option for one really, yes a bit heavier but you have room to spread out when your tent bound due to weather. And yes you have the room to share if required. Check out a Macpac Celeste, 2.5kg and bomb proof.

Hi Royce,

I thoroughly recommend the Macpac Microlight for a very good 1-person tent.

Solid 3-season (mine's weathered some decent storms no worries), 1.5kg and has a decent vestibule space, which is often lacking. Only a single pole, so setup is very simple. Not a huge amount of space inside but enough for a sleeping bag and some extras.

I've done a heap of cycle touring and remote trekking through Australia and NZ over the past 10 years or so and this has been my favourite.

http://secure.macpac.co.nz/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/tents/tents-trek/microlight-1.html

Good luck,

Tristan

Plenty of info at this user test site: click me

I'd strongly advise that if camping in temps around 25 or over you get something with 2 doors for flowthrough ventilation.

Google up Heinz Stucke ,met him on the Tanami last year ,has been cycling round the world since August 1960 , what he dosn,t know about tents suitable for pushbike touring would not be worth knowing.