How did I choose my Motorcycle Camping Tent?

[@hillonwheels8838]

Thanks! This is a greatest series I have watched on KZbin yet. Great job Mark. The only suggestion I have would have been to show the storage bag the tent comes in, and fill them with rags or cardboard to make it easier to see it's pack size. Also you are the first person I have ever donated to.

[@BikerBits]

Holy Crapa Dooley! Thanks heaps mate really appreciate it. Great to hear you like the series and have found it useful. Yeah I agree I should have included the pack sizes, as it would have also been useful for people. Thanks again your a bloody top bloke! 👍👍👍 Cheers... Mark

[@hillonwheels8838]

@@BikerBits I'm just glad that I am in a position today that I can help someone that I have been watching for years now. I remember when you first got Max and that made me want a DR for myself and wish I could come to Australia to do an epic ride with your group. Keep up the great content and I will keep watching and will try to help out a bit more. Cheers from Michigan USA.

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

Have a look at Mark's video a while back where he demo's the Howqua 2 & 3. He shows the bag dimensions, weight etc & puts up the tents for comparison.

[@hillonwheels8838]

@@Free_Ranger_CT110 I remember that and he has also shown most of the tents in the bag they came in in previous videos. I was thinking for someone who has not watched any of his videos and was searching this topic it could have been nice to have it included. Then again if people have to go looking at the back log of videos for the individual tents shown they may end up as a new subscriber. We can only hope for Mark so that way he can afford to keep making videos for us.

[@ShaneRead-gk5fn]

Keep the trivia going. My wife's first bike was a Honda Shadow 400. Now rides a Shadow 750. Rides whatever the road is, dirt, bitumen, gravel etc. She just rides within her skill set. Cheers and keep up the good work.

[@stevenjohannesen88]

Excellent description of what you like and don’t like, a lot of thoughts about how to manage your equipment etc, love ya work, cheers from Geelong ❤️🦘🦘🦘🇦🇺

[@gregweeks4980]

You are trying to make me want to camp. You are making it sound fun, but no hammocks. Although when I camp, I typically go to the forest. My wife and I always took the dirt bikes and would camp and ride. Plus cooking outside is fun. Thank you for trying to drive me nuts. "Texas" in the nut House

[@6226superhurricane]

i bought the howqua 2 off you a couple of years ago didn't mind paying an extra $20 because your review video helped me decide what i wanted. i've used it in everything from snow and rain to the simpson desert and it's been great. enough room to take the gear off the bike and store inside no problem.

[@BikerBits]

Good Onya mate! 👍

[@maxflight777]

*Spot on Mark* … I camp a lot and I agree with you. I have three Hilleberg tents .. I utterly Love them. But Mark you are correct, a design with vestibules on each side is best ! (Motorcyclists, unlike hikers and walkers have more “clobber” .. helmets and gloves” … *you need two vestibules*

[@stormtrooper2170]

Mark. Your choice is wise n practical. I agree with you..👈👍

[@bushpigtrent]

Great video Mark. I think the Lone Rider ADV tent will be your unicorn tent.

[@David.Jones..]

Hey Mark, a lot of great information there. Thanks for the effort of putting all those tents up and showing the differences👍

[@steve_poole]

Hi Mark, great video. Another thing I looked for when looking for a tent was the pole length when packed. A lot of the tents had 500mm+ poles but I wanted them to fit inside my bags. Just another tip for those looking for a tent.

[@colbowen5504]

Mark, that's a brilliant piece of common sense. Your comments are the absolute dogs bollocks! Love the show, keep up the good work. Col (UK)

[@peterdawson7775]

Nailed it Mark!

[@Besty66]

Everyone has their own favorite set up. Mine works well for me ... I have a 3-man dome tent which gives me lots of space. I feel claustrophobic with anything smaller. It weighs around 3kg and it pitches all in one. I don't use a stretcher, I simply put a foil sheet on the floor, put my air mat on top of it, I put a thin fleece blanket on top of that and finish off with my down sleeping bag. If it's really cold I use a good ol' fashioned rubber hot water bottle as well. It may not be everyone's choice but after trying a few different set ups this is how I find my sweet spot for motorcycle camping.

[@davidmatthews3093]

Your chosen tent looks good but… When I moto camp I like to be comfortable after a day travelling. I prefer a tent with a vestibule that I can actually sit in so I can get out of the weather if I need to so I always choose a tent that I can put my chair in and sit out of the rain. I totally agree with you about not going over the top and needing a huge tent so you can stand up in so have tents where the roof I’d a few above my head height when sitting in my chair. I tend to choose between two of my tents, the cheaper one is a dome tent and the other a tunnel tent. The dome tent is a Coleman Darwin 3+ and the more expensive one a Wechsel Outpost 3. The Wechsel is the best tent by far. It packs down as small as my smaller tents and is no heavier than the other 3 man tents. It has a lot of comfortable space for living and sleeping in and if necessary I can pack up the inner tent in the dry under the tunnel and pack the wet flysheet separately. You may have noticed that both my favoured tents have the number 3 in the title and are sold as 3 person tents. In reality they might be comfortable for two people and are perfect for one motorcyclist and their gear. I went cycle camping last year and took a two person dome tent without any vestibule with me. It was too small even for that trip without lots of bulky protective clothing and boots.

[@TheIdlesurfer]

I think the hooped bivi has a role. I've got a Snugpak Ionosphere. I use it with a light sleeping mat and bag as an emergency back up when I don't plan to camp. It gives you the ability to basha up for the night, or if you're broken down, somewhere to shelter overnight. But for a camping trip, I'm totally with you. 2 man tent. I like a free standing tent. Agree with vestibules. I don't want my stinking boots in with me.

[@davidcauchi2837]

Hello Mark, Thanks for a great video about Adv Tents..what to look for, the practical application and choice...each to their own...I ended up buy a 3 man tent from you the Howiqa 3, I wanted the extra room, I use the Helenox Cot with a self inflating mattress because being an older man I need some comfort... Good practical information on Tents...our home on the road... David...Adelaide...Tiger 900Gt & Street Scrambler....

[@FULLPELTAdventures]

Great Stuff Mark, the video will be very helpful to many bikers. Definitely 2 man tent Minimum, and both sides entry with vestibules are a bonus.

[@BikerBits]

Thanks Pete! 👍

[@maxflight777]

Utterly agree ! I have three Hilleberg tents .. I utterly Love them. But Mark is correct, a design with vestibules on each side is best ! (Motorcyclists, unlike hikers and walkers have more “clobber” .. helmets and gloves” … you need two vestibules

[@billcotton1551]

You are correct about the condensation in a bivvy style tent! You wake up as wet as if you slept out in a rain storm.

[@inhardinated]

Great review as always brother! Literally just got back from our ride to the Flinders and I seriously wish I would have watched this first. Now just have to convince the missus it's not too late for a last minute Christmas prezie!

[@rogerdepretto440]

Brilliant Mark great value.😊

[@BlazeOnMoto]

Nice movie Mark👍 As I camp a lot with my motorcycle I have went through many tents during last year's and my conclusion is that two best tents for motorcycle trips are: MSR elixir 2 and Naturehike cloud up 2 if someone likes only one entrance. Check them out as they are brilliant 👍 Also traveling with that bed what you have is not so good option as doesn't isolate you from the ground and is huge! Better option is mattress with good isolation for example Big Agnes rapids SL wide. Sleep comfort is much better that that foldable bed. Cheers 👍 🤘🤘🤘

[@megamindtvsydney3967]

This is what I’m deciding now mark .

[@MicahBell_1860]

I have the Oztent 2man dome tent. Perfect for me. I use a self inflating mat & sleeping bag. Once I take my bags out of my Electra-Glide panniers & tour pack, my helmet is stored in my tour pack. My muddy boots are in 2 plastic shopping bags so no mud is in my tent. I am 5'4" so length is not an issue for me. If one of my children or a girlfriend come with me, I will need a bigger tent. Maybe a 4 person with a vestibule or awning? Also have a trailer now so might think of a rooftop tent or something?

[@gumbysenduro6546]

Fantastic Mark.

[@identitybiker]

Pack up size as well as how well you can repack the tent are both valid shows

[@byroncrump4390]

A work around in getting the stretcher into the one man tent is to assemble it already in tent

[@jamesschneider3828]

Exactly. I've seen him doing this another time or two. Makes no sense to not assemble inside the tent if the floor pan can fit it but not assembled first.

[@davidmatthews3093]

@@jamesschneider3828It’s not that simple as you still have to slide the poles in the sides. That’s OK if you can use the open doorway but impossible if the doorway is like the one shown.

[@chainsawversustree]

MacPac Duolight two person is what I use and it’s perfect. So much room I store everything alongside me laying down boots under vestibule.

[@henryhartley9993]

Great video Mark....

[@billweegink27]

I got me the dinosaurs head 3 just yesterday. Because i agree with your opinions.They would probably sell more of the with that name too, I reckon.

[@davidmorphett8997]

Mark , it was on your earlier review that I bought the same tent you favour . I noticed you discontinued stocking and purchased one from Snowy's . I set the tent up in the backyard and had a test out . Love it . Really easy set up and pack down with a travel bag that is super easy to pack the tent back inside . A mate and I are entered in the Shitbox rally next May and on my / your recommendation we have 2 in our EF Falcon to keep us out of the elements for 10 days + . As you have mentioned we will add some sturdy pegs and a couple of ground tarps to protect the base floor and help with a cleaner roll up . Top Stuff mate and cheers for all the reviews . Legend

[@BikerBits]

Great stuff mate! 👍

[@meinekleineweltreise]

Wow, great video and good points Mark! 👍 The Howqua2 seems to be an interesting tent an I love this side entrance. For me the most important thing of a “motorcycle” is set up time. That’s why i just use tents with implemented inner tent for my motorcycle trips. My Hilleberg Nallo2 just takes me 2 min. to set up. And even in heavy rainfalls my inner tent stays dry while I’m setting up the tent. Great video!

[@threeboardsfour]

I've done a fair few nights in a hammock (mosquito jungle hammock) and it's an entirely different set up to tent camping. Even with a large tarp and a seperate mesh hammock to put your gear in underneath the sleeping hammock it packs to half the size and weight of a tent and you don't need to take a chair, you can just sit in the hammock. I would say that hammocks are far more comfortable to sleep in, but with the modern range of inflatable mats there's less in it. Getting a good lie in the hammock takes a bit more practice and thought than just lying on a sleeping mat. The tent does give you a more contained and private area, and you don't need trees. Ease of use is probably a tent, but the best nights sleep I've had camping has been in a hammock.

[@GravelTravelsAustralia]

Good honest review.

[@Drewww71]

Great video Mark. Very informative, you covered every angle!

[@cliff1551]

Spot on mark ,, that tent looks good 👍👍

[@whitedrguy6503]

I am chuffed with my Lone Rider ADV tent, bit on the expensive side but has everything I need in a tent. Large twin vestibules, the footprint is rectangular so it is basically a side entry tent, the ends are almost vertical to a point, it is free standing, the fly can go on first then clip in the mesh inner if it is raining or vice versa. The vestibule is big enough to take both my panniers in one side and use the entry vestibule for cooking or boiling some water for a cuppa in the morning and not have to sit outside. On a trip of any length the weather can change so being out of the elements with some practical features is a bonus, even having 2 separate dry bags for the inner and outer fly so as to keep the inner dry from either rain or condensation. A good dome tent is definitely my choice, but most of the good ones are definitely on the expensive side, my Lone Rider was $650, but others are on the high side of $800, question is, where do you draw the line.

[@BikerBits]

Everyone draws the line differently and that's the fun of life! 👍

[@mikeerny4208]

Hi Mark, great presentation of various options for bike tenting. With the Howqua style from my experience is a critical issues is getting the peg in the ground to hold up, Flinders ranges (eg belt the screw driver into the rock hard ground first) and threading the pole through the tent sleeve in the dark. An excellent freestanding modified dome is the Spartan 2, similar $ and weight, has opening both sides with vestibules, pole configuration is unique to give more vertical wall and which I see one of the riders on the Pooncarie Mungo ride used. Got to agree the most critical part is just getting out there and using what ever you have. Cheers, enjoy your work.

[@anthonydendle4768]

Well done mate great video it explained heaps for me cheers 👍

[@SimonBrisbane]

A big tent in cold weather is not a problem because you’re not gonna heat up the air in a small tent. You’ll be relying on your mattress and sleeping bag to keep you warm. If anything a bigger tent is better in the cold because it provides more air volume and surface area to dissipate condensation. Getting wet is one of the worst things you can do in cold camping conditions. Of course a big tent is heavier and bulkier to carry which is it’s biggest disadvantage.

[@paulbourgoin2436]

great video Mark .. fun to see that we have very similar camping gear ... It's always a better camping experience when you have good shit.. makes all the difference!!

[@PubRunner]

I use an Explore Planet Earth - Spartan 3 man tent and it’s fantastic. It has a fly. The best thing is is that when it’s packed up it fits in one pannier on my Royal Enfield Himalayan. I chose the 3 man so there was a bit more room and my wife can come with me occasionally. 😊

[@tangoreal9098]

I have been using the same style tent for 15 years Magellan Kings Peak 2. Just recently upgraded to a free standing tent. First run coming up in a couple of weeks riding the southern TAT. The REI co op2 very similar. I hope it performs as well in the storms as my previous tent.

[@RoadDogSteve]

Good info. I use a Lynx 3 tent... I usually camp for a few days at each stop.... I appreciate the extra room.... thanks for the video

[@gonegliding2966]

For the last number of years, I've been using a Blackwolf mantis 2 tent, Exped 9 down sleeping mat and a Blackwolf -8 sleeping bag (synthetic). compact and light. Good video Mark!

[@DanielSmith-vp5vn]

Nice work mark. I have landed pretty much where you have. Great advice.

[@matthewvelo]

Great video Mark. I've been using an ultralight 2 person hiking tunnel tent for my motorbike camping (because I use it for hiking) and agree that side openings are a lot easier than a single entry. Nothing like crawling out of a tent in the morning to get you off to a bad start to the day.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

Great video Mark, you bring up some good points along the way. Well worth watching through and not skipping about.

[@alanbuller3371]

Great information Mark. The other relevant piece for some people is how small it packs down. Especially if you are trying to fit it into a side pannier. Great series of videos. Loving it!

[@BrewCityRider]

Great job on this tent vid Mark...I appreciate the effort. I also agree with you on the hammock versus tent summary.

[@TheGravelBadger]

Brilliant mate, really useful! I’ve been camping for as long as I remember, but still you reminded me of a couple of tips that I had not thought of when choosing my next tent! Ok now armed with all that knowledge, I’m off to find it. Cheers mate! Great stuff

[@johnpagejr.7628]

Great advice about tents Mark. I bought one of those big tents and I agree they are just to big. I realized after using mine that it also takes way to long to set it up and take it down. You could drowned in a bad rain storm before you could get that monster tent set up. LOL

[@jimmcallister8907]

I bought a Zorali Highland 2P tent 18 months ago. Great tent, 2 vestibules, light & compact - 2.8 kgs. I recently spent 3 weeks travelling to Cape York, with or without fly is sensational. Downside.. expensive! But I can fit my Helinox cot & gear without dramas, including being able to sit on the cot & not touch the ceiling..6 foot tall.

[@jimmcallister8907]

Thanks for the content & down to earth commentary!

[@BikerBits]

Great stuff mate! It's great when you find a tent that works great for you 👍

[@dynamadnessadventures205]

I have the Howqua 3 I purchased of you guys it’s bloody awesome tent. Ride safe

[@BikerBits]

Good Onya mate! 👍

[@chriscopeland1318]

LOVED IT

[@MOTODANS]

Hey Mark, Great vid. I agree with you regarding all. One thing to consider is how the tent pitches i think most of your tents if not all are inner first? For me it has to be all in one pitch or outer first, if its pissing down with rain not having your inner tent up first is a great thing. Had a coleman tatra 3 for 7+ years now geat tent for 2 person moto camping and have bee using the Lanshan 2 trekking pole tent for the last 3 years when i am solo.

[@BikerBits]

G'day Dan, yeah a great point! 👍

[@christophermcreynolds6001]

Great review as always . Keep up the good work.

[@gregdavis3246]

Hi Mark, I have a Hike Lite Huon 2 Person Tent like you use to have.

[@michaelandrade1213]

Great video

[@MVDBR]

Good stuff mate very good info. I prefer the dome tent now as you say no pegs needed is a massive bonus. I get the desire for the vestibule but fuck it I just hang boots over the bike and chuck the rest inside 😎 cheers

[@russellflesser6902]

Mate a good comparison video, but you left one out. The old Army Hutchi or what you would call a tarp. Also the option of not using a tent/Hutchi at all and just using a ground sheet folded over you at night (if it's not raining). I have been doing this for decades and never had any problems. It's such a shame to shut out the stars, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. Keep on keeping on.

[@adv-moto-rider7216]

Good insight for some beginners, Some Hammocks have the Tarp built in i ride with a few that love them as well, I'm like you prefer the ground started with a cheap Denelli until i found my Perfect tent 4 season and ticks all the boxes I'm 6'3 and fit in easily. BushBuck Horizon 8000 classed as a 2 man but more like a 1.5 man great for the single rider.

[@CHUNKYNUGGET666]

Great video mate, definitely something I’m looking into👍

[@Rcoops-ov3nn]

Hi thanks for the vid. I bought a 2 man tent, then I bought a cot. Same problem - I couldn’t get it in the tent! Then light bulb moment- put the assembled cot in the tent through the door before erecting the tent!!!

[@BikerBits]

Bloody Brilliant! 👍

[@realcundo]

Great video! My preferences are very similar to yours, although I don't have to deal with spiders and critters as you do so I ended up not packing the inner tent and just camp using the outer shell. Less faff and I don't care if it gets wet when I need to pack it in the morning. I'm using an old Vaude Mark III, I don't think they make exactly the same model anymore, but it's easy to pitch up and move and rotate unpegged, has 2 vestibules, plenty of space and ventilation options. It's rated for 3 people although it's a squeeze even for 2 people. Or maybe I take too much stuff with me!

[@rodneywright3370]

Without the inner tent, you leave yourself vulnerable to insects etc.

[@bugman5337]

THANK 👍YOU 👍 Bloody Brilliant 🙏🏍🏍

[@lindsaymillard2881]

Great video. Shame they aren't stocking the 2 man and 3 man tent and your link is not working to check them out else where. Was looking at buying the 2 man tent of you.

[@BikerBits]

outdoorconnection.com.au/products/outdoor-connection-howqua-2

[@veetwotls]

Zempire Zeus 2 man & Triology 3 man excellent for us tall people either will fit in the top of my GiantLoop Great Basin or GiantLoop Tillamook dry bag or enduristan tornado bags medium size & up

[@jimfreind3856]

Well done, luv it.... Question.... I have a Howqua 3 , is there much difference in the set up and comfort level between the 3 and the 2 ? Thanks for your thoughts .

[@BikerBits]

Exactly the same except bigger!

[@jimfreind3856]

@@BikerBits , awesome , I got the 3 so it could double up for camping with my lady , but wondered the the 2 would have been better for the bike travel... thanks

[@john0270]

That green single entrance unit, what tent is that???

[@cliffspicer6555]

Great video as usual. I'm in Canada so a different environment of course than Australia but I love a hammock setup. It can be expensive compared to a tent but are hammocks used in Australia with moto campers much?

[@BikerBits]

From my experience it would be about 2% of moto campers using hammocks.

[@stevenjohannesen88]

Love the biro & paper, just a tip , I wish u would use the system of memory assistance, in future vlogs, 🤣, ❤️🦘🦘🦘

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

How did I choose my moto camping tent? By watching a biker bits video way back It's a Howqua 2.

[@BikerBits]

Nice one! 😃👍

[@mrgrumble072]

Thanks

[@BikerBits]

WOW... thanks heaps mate! I really appreciate it and your a bloody top bloke 👍👍 Cheers... Mark

[@jamesschneider3828]

When motorcycle camping I beleive you should always buy a one person extra size to fit your gear inside. If solo riding use a 2 man. If sleeping two you need a three man tent and if you are staying more than one night in a single location use a tent that is big enough to live comfortably in inclement weather if your forced to spend a good part of the day inside. If you don't do that that claustrophobia can easily force you out.

[@jeeves6490]

Contents are intents.

[@UncannySense]

is it worth the extra $100 on top for alloy poles over cheaper fiberglass...? There are couple of oztrail tents at Snowys, the hiker2 and nomad2 which seem to tick the same boxes as the outdoor connection Howqua2...

[@BikerBits]

That's a personal question that only you can answer, but I would say this. If I didn't want to pay an extra $100 for the Aluminium poles I would have no problem at all with using the fibreglass ones! 👍

[@jeeves6490]

I like my swag, throw a 3x3 tarp over the lot and I have somewhere to keep my paraphernalia.

[@Paora42]

Hammocks, yes they have their pros and cons, however the best night sleeps will be had in them. Ive been down this whole moto-camping track too and am sold on the good nights sleep that the hammock will provide.

[@bryanfleming9226]

Vegetables are always good

[@cointector]

Just bought the howqa 2 after watching one of your videos. Just wondering what size was your helinox cot ? Cheers mark

[@BikerBits]

Helnox Cot One - Regular 👍

[@cointector]

Cheers mark

[@join9330]

Mark why didn't you fold the bed before you put it in the tent 🤣

[@CHUNKYNUGGET666]

Is that doable? My first thought too😂

[@Ed00032]

Put the tent on top of the stretcher

[@_vain_]

My thoughts were before putting up the tent place the bed inside the tent while its all loose. That way you should be able to push it in wiroom to spare. Once on you can then stake it down. Sounds good in my head lol. Otherwise another great video. Lots of ideas, thanks fir all the help.

[@brettricho1]

Naaa.. give me my MSR hubba hubba any day! 😊

[@bullymac68]

Couldn’t do the hammock. The posture alone would kill me. I need to be FLAT!

[@threeboardsfour]

You can get flat in a hammock with a diaganol lay and they can be really comfortable, but they're not for everyone.

[@buckmeredith1720]

Not many trees in the desert to hang a hammock.

[@SilkyS1LK1ESilk]

do you have to many tents ? ;)

[@colinherrington1965]

What is bloody Hammick ? 😆

[@Gator1699]

Fuck me drunk Oztrail cot tent 3 doors and a air vent a canopy out the front off the ground store stuff under it and in it very quick to set up and down use as a seat when cooking no drama 13 KG strong bag fit on my Nmax 125 scooter in front of top box and seat with straps. Carhoonga

[@rickracine9758]

i think you miss the whole point at least from your Y T description of your vid cause you need to fit your bike,motorcycle ,ebike thats it should be about cause if you really think about it any tent will do, nothing to do with motorcycles