Bikamper bicycle tent?

[Zen]

I don't have one but hammocks have a pretty good rep.
DebW has one and they get raves on the C&O Canal group site.

[DebW]

I love my hammock. Quite comfy. It's tarp camping off the ground, so no crawly things to worry about, and no hard wooden platform under your back. I made my own, using directions you can get from the book sold on this site: www.speerhammocks.com. You do have to worry about keeping your backside warm, so either a foam pad inside or quilt-like insulation outside and underneath. Here's a picture of the cocoon-like insulation I made for the outside of my hammock.

[Jolt]

I love my hammock. Quite comfy. It's tarp camping off the ground, so no crawly things to worry about, and no hard wooden platform under your back. I made my own, using directions you can get from the book sold on this site: www.speerhammocks.com. You do have to worry about keeping your backside warm, so either a foam pad inside or quilt-like insulation outside and underneath. Here's a picture of the cocoon-like insulation I made for the outside of my hammock.

Looks comfy! I ordered a hammock with attached bug netting from Amazon; it was on sale and seems like it should be decent to try. Only bummer is that I looked at the weight of the whole system (hammock, tarp, stakes/guylines) and it's slightly heavier than the tent I have. However, that tent is very cramped and hard to pitch on the platforms without it sagging, plus the platforms are uncomfortable. I'm thinking the extra few ounces are a reasonable trade-off, though just tarp camping on the ground would be over a pound lighter and that would be nice...but then there's the possibility of random critters in one's sleeping bag or waking up in a puddle if it rains. With the foam pad in the hammock, do you just use the regular kind you would use on the ground? Seems like it would be awkward... That quilt thing you made looks pretty cool but how hard are they to make?

[DebW]

Looks comfy! I ordered a hammock with attached bug netting from Amazon; it was on sale and seems like it should be decent to try. ... With the foam pad in the hammock, do you just use the regular kind you would use on the ground? Seems like it would be awkward... That quilt thing you made looks pretty cool but how hard are they to make?

Closed cell foam works well inside, preferrably wider than you'd use on the ground. Some people use Thermarests, but they don't conform to the hammock and can pop our from under you. The Hennessey's are quite popular and work very well. Some companies make underquilts to fit them. For a top-entry hammock without permanent bug netting, a wide sleeping bag with an opening at the feet can be used like my homemade cocoon.

[bikerbarb]

The best tent I found is the Big Agnus. I got the 2 person. My son is using it now in Japan and it comes with 2 vestibules and he puts his Bike Friday in oneside and panniers and other gear in the other. it only weighs 4 lbs. When I went over and travelled with him for a couple weeks, I brought along a larger attaching vestibule that has a pole and extends the tent so that I fit my regular size bike in (with the front wheel removed) along with his bike. With 2 of us and all of our gear it was cozier, but definitely comfortable and dry and very light weight. He has come to love the tent and I know I'll never get it back, so I told him it could be his graduation present! The only problem is that he needed to get a new stuff sack for the tent as the very light weight fabric of the one it came with ripped from bungies. This is not a cheap tent, but a great investment, esp. if you camp anywhere you find yourself, not just in campgrounds and want to keep your bike safe and dry. (and with REI 20% coupon and dividend, it brought the price down.) Here's a picture: http://www.rei.com/product/748015

[Geonz]

Thanks for the reflective insulation idea... makes me want to go buy a car, almost! Steep and Cheap had a one-person sierra design tent on sale (something like http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=19 but I suspect something they're discontinuing, since I got it more cheaply than that).


I like the bike trailer turned tent idea here:

http://www.tonystrailers.com/mobileshelter/article.php