Bikepacking Tents

Vargo, makers of the titanium BOT bottle/pot, among other titanium camping gear, just released its first tent. The Vargo No-Fly 2p tent is a freestanding shelter that’s fairly lightweight for its size…

“It’s not you, it’s the tent.” Most of us will agree, bikepacking as a couple is best done with a three-person tent. After 11 years, Skyler finds his ideal couples bikepacking shelter in a unique tunnel tent design, the Tarptent Cloudburst 3. Read the full review…

Having an ultralight and packable shelter doesn’t have to mean crawling into the cavelike confines of a bivy or succumbing to the potential exposure of a tarp setup. The MSR Carbon Reflex 1 is one of the lightest, fully featured solo tents available. Read on to find out how its its lightweight materials, carbon poles, and minimal design held up while bikepacking the Oregon Timber Trail…

Well loved by long distance through-hikers, California-based Tarptent is known for its broad range of minimal and lightweight shelters and tents. We take the freestanding Bowfin 1 on our travels and see how it fares for bikepacking, testing it in a range of locations, from balmy Lake Tahoe and blisteringly hot Baja California, to Bolivia’s blustery Altiplano…

Cass and his family crew take a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 on tour through Baja California, Mexico, where it provides the perfect capsule for star gazing and beach camping. Read on for the full review, strip lighting and all…

On the hunt for an incredibly ultralight tent but not willing to sacrifice features like bug mesh, vestibules, and multiple doors? The NEMO Hornet Elite 2P is as light – or even lighter – than some of the most tiny one-person shelters we have seen, but offers increased liveability and doesn’t skimp on clever features.

Tarping, the mustache of the backcountry camping world. There’s no denying that at one time it was a popular style. And for years after it was looked upon with misunderstanding and distaste. But, it’s back. And I assure you, it’s here to stay. In this review of the Big Agnes Onyx UL we discuss the ins and outs of tarp camping as well as the specifics of the tarp in question.

Keen to try a tarp but fearful of critters, ticks and things that go bump in the night? The Six Moon Designs Deschutes is an ultralight solo tarp that’s easily transformed into a more conventional tent, courtesy of an optional bug net. We take one into the wilds and live to tell the tale…

If you are looking for a shelter to minimize packing space — and seal out things that crawl, bite, or just plain scare the hell out of you — the Nemo Gogo Elite might just be the best non-bivy option on the market. But then again, maybe not if you’re afraid of small spaces…

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 is a minimal, pyramid-style shelter, constructed in the US from top grade cuben fiber and rated for four season mountain use. But given its eyebrow-raisingly high price tag, is it really worth the investment? After using it for several months, bikepacking across both the Bolivian Andes and the Georgian Caucasus, here’s why we think it is…

Miles tried a lot of gear during his first year bikepacking. He also explored a new route in Ontario, learned to sew, and found a new addiction. Read his year [of gear] in review…

The new HV version of the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 is a significant reboot of the original. Having lived in the old Fly Creek UL1 during countless solo bikepacking trips, I was stoked to check out the new model but suspicious of the “improved” moniker that came with it. As we all know, newer isn’t always better…