Carrying Tents

[danielgroves]

Ok, I know most people on here prefer to use a tarp, bivy-bag, or combination of the two. This, however, is not always my preference. Particuarly in the winter I would rather use a tent, and the tent in question is a Terra Nova Laser.

So, my question to those of you who have/do use tents, is how you duo carry them? My current plan is to sling it in my AlpKit bar harness behind my dry bag with my sleeping bag, thermarest, etc. Thoughts?

The last thing I want is for anything to vibrate, move, etc and cause wear on the tent fly.

[Richpips]

I carry the tent on the bars, with the pegs and poles seperate in my frame bag.

You are right to be concerned about the metal bits abrading. I've worn through my pole bag in a couple of places.

[atk]

Definitely carry the pegs/poles separate to anything material. Went on a test-ride with tarp/poles/tents despite not actually sleeping out... I had the poles in a bag between the toptube and framebag, pegs in little pouch in the framebag and the tarp/lines stuffed into the end of a drybag with sleepingbag/bivvy etc/

[danielgroves]

Hmm, I did have the poles in when I did LeJog recently, but that was all tarmac so I wasn't too worried. Took the pegs out though.

The tent has a carbon rode at each end, they're a pain in the arse to remove

What about general movement within the harness? For example, anyone experience abrasion from the straps? I'm somewhat aware that riding off-road with the tent in this configuration is going to have a lot more movement than when I was doing LeJog and only riding on the road.

[voodoo_simon]

I've carried my tent in my pack or on the bike, but kept to poles out. Stored them between the dry bag and my handlebar harness, so the poles stuck out just below the brakes

[TheBrownDog]

Ive used my TN Laser Comp bikepacking a few times and left the carbon stays in but made sure it was rolled nice and tight. I carried it in a separate dry bag behind the seat. This was before I got a Wildcat seat harness but I think it would work fine in there as well. The pole and pegs actually fitted into my backpack. Havent had any issues with abrasion from the straps since using a Wildcat bar harness, but if you're just strapping a dry bag with your tent in it from the bars you will want a bag like the Alpkit Xtra which are really tough.

[99percentchimp]

If its the small summer bag and Luna Solo then the tent goes across the bars in an Alpkit tent bag. In the winter the larger sleeping bag goes on the bars and the tent goes in a Revelate Viscatcha (just stuffed in). Tent poles and pegs go in the frame bag ordinarily. I'm more in the tent rather than tarp camp too!

[ScotRoutes]

Tent (Scarp 1) goes in a Revelate Sweet Roll on the bars. The wee end poles are non-removeable but the whole thing gets wrapped up together and I've had no issues whatsoever.

[Sussex Paul]

I've got a laser as well. The whole thing goes in my framebag, but in separate bags, so the poles (including the two carbon fibre end poles) in the pole bag that came with the tent, the pegs in a small bubble wrap pouch that they came in from alpkit, and then the flysheet & inner both stuffed in the tent bag.

[danielgroves]

Well, it looks like a Revelate Saltyroll is the perfect length to take the tent with the two carbon rods in place. I'm thinking I'll probably order one of these as it'll be a lot tougher than the standard tent bag, and should offer extra protection for the tent. This should let me mount it in front of of or behind my existing appkit dry bag if need, too.

Thanks all.

I've got a laser as well. The whole thing goes in my framebag, but in separate bags, so the poles (including the two carbon fibre end poles) in the pole bag that came with the tent, the pegs in a small bubble wrap pouch that they came in from alpkit, and then the flysheet & inner both stuffed in the tent bag.

Tried this, the two carbon end poles are too long. Going to move the other poles into the frame bag though, and pegs are already living in their.

[Sussex Paul]

Tried this, the two carbon end poles are too long

On mine, the Laser Photon, the end poles split in two so they fit in with the others.

[danielgroves]

On mine, the Laser Photon, the end poles split in two so they fit in with the others.

Ah, that must be a new feature then – mines the original laser.