Have done a search on Google and on here, but I thought I'd ask in a specific thread in case there are any tents that I haven't looked at. Would prefer something that will compact down quite small, but, having said that, one which doesn't cost the earth.

1 man? 2 man? Budget? Weight limit? Anything in particular you're looking for? The cheap as chips Aldi 2 man tent is good for the money...

If your budget stretches into ultralight territory, without needing a mortgage, then the Trekkertent could be a very good option, being more of a tarp tent, although last I heard they're getting like rocking horse poo to find

I now use a Quecha Ultralight, though the name is a con, it turned out to be 2kg for a very roomy 3 person tent, split between my partner I'm only carrying 1.2kg the size of a 1.5l bottle, not the lightest but easily liveable for longer trips

I highly recommend the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo. Great tarptent and light, easy to put up, has kept me dry in some torrential rain, and it kept out the Montana Mosquitoes really well!

As already said, much depends on what you actually want.

The lightest option is likely to be something other than what people generally think of when the imagine a tent. As Gabriel says, the SMD Lunar is a very good option but it's a hybrid so doesn't have a removable inner which some people don't like. The Trekkertent Stealth is another lightweight contender, it's very versitile, although you won't get one 'off the shelf' as they're made to order.

Luxe produce some interesting stuff, something like a MiniPeak could be ideal and sometimes crop up secondhand.

There's loads of options ... just need to narrow it down a bit first

+1 for the Lunar Solo

Hi,

Preferably it would be a one man tent and under the £200 mark. Was looking at the Trekkertent Stealth and the Tarptent Contrail.

Was looking at the Trekkertent Stealth and the Tarptent Contrail.

Similar in size and shape but the Contrail doesn't have a removable inner. Both work very well but I think the Stealth has the edge IMO due to versatility and smaller packsize. Luxe SilRocket is similar.

If it was me I'd go with the Trekkertent Stealth, and I did. It's fantastic. Lightweight, compact and very versatile.

You won't be disappointed.

I use Eureka Spitfire solo with footprint.
Can be pitched with/without inner or inner only and its less than £100 if you shop around.

Anyone tried the likes of the Terra Nove Saturn hooped bivi? Seems quite an acceptable compromise between a bog standard bivi and one of the above lightweight tents.

Personally (and others may disagree) hooped bivi's seem to offer the worst of both worlds.

Not the space you'd get from a tent, and not the versatility of a bivi bag/tarp.

Ive said this before, but its always worth repeating

Chew wrote:Having a bivi setup isnt about any weight saving its more about being connected with your surroundings. Once you're zipped up in your tent you could be anywhere, but if you're out biving its the little things. Waking at 3am to see the stars, or at dawn to see the sunrise before you turn over for a few more hours.

Yes theres probably a bit more hardship at times, but its worth it for those magic moments.

Personally (again) I'd be looking at a tarp tent. You get all the benefits of being 'connected with your surroundings' from biving, but you also get the advantages of increased protection and ease of pitching of a tent.

Not sure how to link to it, but there's a guy selling a ZPacks Hexamid Solo cuben tent on the Facebook outdoor gear exchange group for £195. Apparently it weight just shy of 430g!!!!

Try and add yourself, or join the group or whatever.

Got to agree with Chew ... They generally all appear heavy for the space provided and still nowhere to cook, undress or store wet gear. The principle always seems sound but I then imagine using one on a wet night after a wet days riding and the shine soon dulls.

andrewjlennon wrote:Anyone tried the likes of the Terra Nove Saturn hooped bivi? Seems quite an acceptable compromise between a bog standard bivi and one of the above lightweight tents.

I've got a Terra Nova Jupiter, which i actually quite like. I just think of it as a bivi bag but the hoop gives you a little more headroom with the option of having the front open, no-see'um mesh, or fully closed.
Usually used the mesh & if it's started raining, or if i want to block out the sunrise & have a longer snooze, i've just zipped up the solid flap. There's also enough room inside to store a bit of kit.
Never tried it, but could be possible to use without the hoop like a normal bivi bag.

It's definitely not an alternative to a tent or tarp for room though.

A lot depends on the weather & what you're trying to achieve, as explained in 'Bivi Only?' thread..