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hi piers and welcome to ukcs  i cant advise you on the choice of tent but this is quite a common thread their was one on earlier in the month i have had a quick look for you but my eyes are giving up on me and my tieping is bod.check out the back cat of threads or hopefully someone can find it for you i believe that their are a lot more solo campers than people think good luck and happy trails

p.s. dont forget the camping abroad message board in all forums 

Thanks - I did see the previous post (i think) in fact reading it again now.

I thought my requiremnents were quite specific, in particular regarding the weight issue.  I will search through the posts thought but thanks for the reply and the welcome to the forum.

Piers

Hi & welcome to the forum Piers

Sorry, I don't know a lot about 1/2 man tents, but if the manufacturers allow the same amount of space per person as they do in larger tents, then I would suggest that you defo go for a 2 berth. A lot of people on this forum have found that what is supposed to be a 2 berth inner won't even take a double airbed, so I fear that if you buy a 1 berth tent it will give you just enough room for a roll mat and you'll have to sleep on your side all night - no space for clothes, shoes, toiletries etc.

You say that you don't want to spend a fortune, but it may help if you give us an idea of your maximum limit. Meantime google a few specialist light-weight tent makers like Robens, Robert Saunders, Terra Nova, Jack Wolfskin, Wild Country, Vaude and Vango.

Do you want to be able to stand up in the tent - this will mean an increase in the size and weight, but worth it if you are going to stay in the same spot for a while. If you are jsut biking, staying over night and then moving on, then a smaller tent will obviously work.

One thing I would recommend for a hot countries like Spain and Portugal is a double skinned tent, where the inner can be used without the flysheet acting as a mozzie net and letting lots of air in. These are generally inner pitch first, but with small tents it is not really a problem if it is raining, you can still lay the flysheet over you and erect very quickly the inner.

Finally given your M/C equipment, which is bulky you are going to need a 2 man tent.

If you don't want to spend too much have a look at the small Colemans and Easy Camp tents, Gelerts and Vango Deltas. £50-80 should get you something good. More money is just buying you greater weather protection (not need in Spain and Portugal) and less weight, but the same packsize - and it is size that you need to watch more than weight.

Thanks for the advice, no doubt you  will see a number of 'Please Help' type requests from me.

Piers

Hi

Thanks for all your advice - finally ended up with a Gelert Nakina 2 man tent for £18, new  :)

Thanks for all your advice though,  if and when i get get into this camping lart I will upgrade. 

Thanks

Piers

Hi Piers,

just back from my first m/c camping trip, & have a couple of tips which you my care to consider:

1) 12v socket - charge 'phone/satnav/camera/radio whilst on the move (i also used it for airbed pump). Ciggy lighter extension lead from Maplins, £2.99 -cut off plug, add in-line fuse, wire straight to bike battery.sorted.

2)Pacsafe rucksac security 'cages' - sort of expanding wire bags that will fit over your panniers/tankbag/topbox (these are SOOO easy to pop open when locked!) & padlock to bike - loads on ebay.

3) Ortlieb drysack - shove anything/everything in - bone dry in the worst storm, & used with Pacsafe, great for leaving boots/lids/jackets etc in padlocked to 'bike.

4) don't use bungee cords, get half a dozen of those little straps from camping shop or halfords. much more adaptable & can act as a compression strap.

5) gaffer/tank tape and zip cable ties. amazing what broken things you can bodge up with these!

hope this helps

please do a write up on your trip when you arrive safely back...

steve