Hi,
Looking for some advice re tents, but not the usual compact, lightweight, gram shaving.... i'm looking at something to bikepack with the family- kids (aged 9 and 5) and possibly my better half, if i can persuade her.

So far i've looked at 3 person tents such as the MSR Mutha Hubba(pricey) tunnel tents like the Wild Country Blizzard Compact 3 (pricey) and the Nature Hike Opalus3 (lower cost but a bit heavier)
These would suit me and the kids and have reasonable porch space. But no space for a fourth.

Other option i'm looking at is a 4 person tarp tent. I looked at the Alpkit Tarpstar 4 (mixed reviews - lack of guylines and flimsy carbon fibre pole?)
This led to;
DD hammock, SuperLight - Pyramid Tent - Family Size tent https://www.ddhammocks.com/products/dd_ ... ze?c=tents

I've got no experience of this style of tent. It's got the space for 4 to sleep, has tie out points, an aluminium pole, is budget friendly, but has no real porch space (although most of the places i'm thinking of going with the kids will have trees nearby for a tarp to be setup at the tent entrance). Also could i replace the aluminum pole with a custom carbon fibre to save some weight? Is it even worth doing, what are the disadvantages of this given the 180cm pole length?

What do/have others used for family bikepacking/camping trips for 3+ persons? Any advice appreciated.

I used a Roberts version like that ( with ground sheet / all in one ) with me and 2 kids its 2.1 m squared iirc so claims can take 4.it has raised sides.
Its ok assuming you go in good weather as its a single skin and i also used a tarp to leave front door open / extend the space

If you want to make me any sort of offer on mine you can have it as its never getting used again. Paid about £130 ( half price iirc) for it many years ago and might have only got 5-10 days use .

For expensive my 3 man seirra designs suite is a great tent and will survive storms, has a vestibule , weighs 1.5 kg ( not for sale ) but you wont get 4 of you in it.
I dount you can get a trully decent 4 man tent you want to bikepack with ( you could not 10 years ago when I was looking but things might have changed

Martin B wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 4:14 pm[...]
This led to;
DD hammock, SuperLight - Pyramid Tent - Family Size tent https://www.ddhammocks.com/products/dd_ ... ze?c=tents

I've got no experience of this style of tent. It's got the space for 4 to sleep, has tie out points, an aluminium pole, is budget friendly, but has no real porch space (although most of the places i'm thinking of going with the kids will have trees nearby for a tarp to be setup at the tent entrance). Also could i replace the aluminum pole with a custom carbon fibre to save some weight? Is it even worth doing, what are the disadvantages of this given the 180cm pole length?

What do/have others used for family bikepacking/camping trips for 3+ persons? Any advice appreciated.

I was going to suggest a large mid for 4 p.
If you think you need more sheltered space, you could always use a tarp pulled over the mid, if you think you need it after a first couple of trips.

You can get carbon poles for large mids, will save about 50 - 80 g. Off the top of my head these come to mind, but I'm sure there are more options:
https://hyperlitemountaingear.com/produ ... 6802189357
https://locusgear.com/en/products/locus ... arbon-pole
Then there's also Ruta Locura, but the hardly ever seem available (in Europe).

I was also going to suggest a pyramid ... I also make quite a few carbon poles for them too. Generally on a one-off basis to suit the requirements of the user

Thanks for the replies so far.

Lazarus- thanks for the offer on the Roebens. I'll have a think about it and might be in touch, although i'd probably be wanting an inner to protect from the midges.

Stu, if I go for a pyramid i'll be in touch about a custom pole.

If anyone has any experience of using the Alpkit Tarpstar4 or the DD hammick verion i'd be keen to hear about it.

I’ve used a 4 person mid when doing this with the family and it worked really well touring with the kids. I’ve not used the alpkit mid, but as long as it is big enough for 4 I would assume no issues. I notice that ours can get a bit drafty as it has an all net inner-fine in the summer and in sheltered spots, but can het a bit chilly in a stiff breeze!

I've used a Terra Nova Voyager for this. Girls sleep happily in the tent whilst I kip in a bivvy bag somewhere close.

My wife, declaring herself to be outdoorsy, proves not. So be it.

I realise you're asking about a single shelter for all three/four of you, but I've done various camping trips with my two kids and generally works best - and is more enjoyable for everyone involved - with two shelters. Kids share a small two person tent and I kip under the Gatewood cape. I've done three of us in an MSR Mutha Hubba when they were about 6 and 8. Was fine but a bit of a squash tbh.

Obviously every child is different and some may want to be in with their parents at night, but once they're about 5 I reckon most enjoy the independence of having their own domain. And the parents appreciate a bit of their own space just as much.

If I were doing a two adults and two children trip I'd go for a lightweight mid or tipi as the family hub so you can all gather round together if you want to and a small 2 person tent for the kids.

Had a few WC tents...

I have a WC Blizzard (pre compact), it's a great little tent. Have slept in it with the Mrs and our 2 dogs and it's survived a night of really terrible weather with no issues. The porch is excellent. (Jeez they have got expensive). Was bought to replace a Hoolie ETC and save a bit of weight but the Hoolie was also excellent and we camped in it for a few weeks in the USA.

I've also got a Zephros 1 compact I should probably move on. Bought for motorbike touring but after smashing myself up* on my first trip the idea kind of lost it's appeal

*1 night in the tent followed by 9 in hospital

JackT wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 10:48 am I realise you're asking about a single shelter for all three/four of you, but I've done various camping trips with my two kids and generally works best - and is more enjoyable for everyone involved - with two shelters. Kids share a small two person tent and I kip under the Gatewood cape.....

If I were doing a two adults and two children trip I'd go for a lightweight mid or tipi as the family hub so you can all gather round together if you want to and a small 2 person tent for the kids.

I hadn't really considered that option. Worth exploring, certainly as they get older and bigger, and if one of them is tired and grumpy they can pop off to their own tent (it'll probably be me )

restlessshawn wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 11:36 am Had a few WC tents...

I have a WC Blizzard (pre compact), it's a great little tent. Have slept in it with the Mrs and our 2 dogs and it's survived a night of really terrible weather with no issues. The porch is excellent. (Jeez they have got expensive). Was bought to replace a Hoolie ETC and save a bit of weight but the Hoolie was also excellent and we camped in it for a few weeks in the USA.

I've also got a Zephros 1 compact I should probably move on. Bought for motorbike touring but after smashing myself up* on my first trip the idea kind of lost it's appeal

*1 night in the tent followed by 9 in hospital

Thanls for the reply. Sorry to hear about your motorbike accident. Hopefully you're all good now. I sold my motorbike after a few low speed off involving gravel/diesel. Decided it wasn't worth it.

WC tents are very pricey, that's when I stumbled across NatureHike which seem a bit more reasonable.

gecko76 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:24 pm My wife, declaring herself to be outdoorsy, proves not. So be it.

My wife, although outdoorsy, has this idea that 'camping' should be like the family caravanning holidays she had as a kid.

I did persuade her to do an overnight family cycle to a youth hostel this year which she enjoyed. I think if the kids and I go off and have fun camping then she'll want to join in. I've got few overnighters planned already, as i'm angling for a family cycle touring holiday in the Netherlands in 2-3 years... let the brain washing commence

Martin B wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 1:58 pm
Thanls for the reply. Sorry to hear about your motorbike accident. Hopefully you're all good now. I sold my motorbike after a few low speed off involving gravel/diesel. Decided it wasn't worth it.

WC tents are very pricey, that's when I stumbled across NatureHike which seem a bit more reasonable.

A sheep literally leapt out of a hedge in to my front wheel, 8 broken ribs and a collapsed lung. All good now. Still biking but it's taken the shine of it tbh

The porch on the opalus is so big the kids could sleep in it if you add a ground sheet

Big Agnes salt creek sl3 is only £199 on SP

https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pr ... id/3087020

Just a bit over 2 kilos isn’t too bad for a spacious 3 man tent