Welcome to my comprehansive, long-standing, annually updated guide to choosing a tent for your cycle tour or bikepacking trip. If this is your first visit, I’m glad you’ve found us!
In this detailed post, an active member of the global adventure cycling community with 19 years of riding experience (that’s me!) will walk you through:
- the general qualities a tent for cycle touring or bikepacking should have (and why),
- how the finer details of your trip plans and travelling style might affect which specific tent you choose,
- why the tent you’d choose for backpacking, hiking or car-camping might not be the same you’d take on a bike trip, and
- mini-reviews of the most popular tents being used right now, along with guidance on where to find them.
A quick FYI: as with all my writing, the goal here is to help get more people (you!) out exploring the world on two wheels, and to do so impartially. I’m not sponsored by anyone – I do this for the love of it, and I have no interest in becoming an “influencer” or commercialising this blog, as I make a living in other ways.
But before we get going, there’s one important thing to know:
There’s no established category of commercially-made tents specifically for cycle touring and bikepacking.
If you’ve already spent some time researching, you’ll have noticed that most tents seem to be marketed towards hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, or a spread of outdoor pursuits which might include cycle touring or bikepacking, rather than specifically for bicycle travellers and bikepackers.
You might find the occasional exception to this rule, especially with now we’ve hit peak bikepacking.
For example, MSR launched the Hubba Hubba Bikepack in 2024. But it turned out that this was just a classic Hubba Hubba with shorter pole sections, a different bag, and a higher price, rather than a tent designed from the ground(sheet) up for cyclists.
And the tent market is a crowded one. Walk into REI or Decathlon or any other big outdoor gear retailer, and you’ll find a huge range of tent options, from ultralight shelters through to heavyweight family tents, freestanding domes to tunnels and teepees, tents with ventilation and bug-mesh or with snow cowls and snow stakes, double-wall and single-wall tents, tents with or without awnings or footprints – and at prices from next to nothing up hundreds of pounds or dollars.
And why are people with backpacks and motor vehicles so well catered for, rather than those riding bicycles? Simple: the market is much, much bigger. It’s about profit. We bicycle travellers still sit on the margins, and we’re lucky if we get more than a quick mention in the product description.
Here’s another important thing to remember:
‘Best’ means nothing outside the context of your bike trip. Every ride is different.
So before you go any deeper into researching the best tent for a cycle tour or bikepacking trip, take a moment to ask yourself:
- Are you hunting for a cheap tent for a short overnight bike adventure close to home, or investing in a long-lasting tent for a transcontinental or round-the-world ride?
- Are you a heavyweight tourer who likes plenty of living space and room for luggage, or a minimalist/racer going fast and light, or somewhere in between?
- Do you have racks and panniers to take bulky and heavy loads, or are you bikepacking with limited-capacity frame luggage alone?
- Do you plan on staying mostly at nice campsites with perfect tent pitches, or wild camping opportunistically in diverse terrain?
- Are you planning a fair-weather ride in good weather, or will you encounter winter temperatures, strong winds, high altitudes, or other extreme conditions?
As I mentioned, there are many tried-and-tested tents for cyclo-camping adventures that have proven themselves on a massive range of journeys.
But if you want to delve any deeper, you’ll find there’s no real ‘best tent for cycle touring or bikepacking’ until you’ve asked yourself the questions above.
If you haven’t answered them, now’s the time to do so. And if you’re struggling to find clear answers, perhaps my introductions to the what, where, when, who and how of adventure cycle touring and bikepacking will help!
One last thing. I once rode the length of England with no money (long story), sleeping in a discarded supermarket tent I found at the local recycling centre. Another time, I pedalled off-road through a stormy Mongolian springtime with a high-end German tent costing hundreds of Euros. And before that, my wife and I shared a spacious 3‑person freestanding tent as we traversed the campgrounds of Europe.
The point? On each occasion, the tent I was using was the “best” tent for the job – but mainly because of the circumstances, not the tent itself.
Got a clear idea of what kind of bike trip you’re going on? Great! Read on…
What Type Of Tent Is Best For Cycle Touring & Bikepacking?
I’ve spent a long time (too long, probably) keeping an eye on the community trends over the last couple of decades I’ve been exploring the world on two wheels.
And I can tell you with confidence that the most popular kind of cycle touring or bikepacking tent for a solo rider is a freestanding, double-walled, 2‑berth, 3‑season tent in an inconspicuous shade of green, weighing 1–2kg (2–4 pounds), striking a balance between comfort, durability and weight, strapping neatly to a rear rack or a handlebar harness, with room inside for the rider and the most valuable bits of their luggage, and space in the awning for more. (The bike itself can stay outside.)
For a couple or pair, it’s the 3‑berth model of the same tent.
And for a solo ultralight rider, it’s the 1‑berth model.
If you asked me to pick just one range of tents that ticks all of these boxes, it would be MSR’s Hubba Hubba range, which is available in 1‑, 2- and 3‑berth models.
(Click here to skip to the details, photos, and retail links for the MSR Hubba Hubba range).
I’ve used and abused many tents in the Hubba Hubba range over the years, including a 2014 2‑berth Hubba Hubba NX, a 2012 1‑berth Hubba, and a 2010 3‑berth Mutha Hubba HP. They’re heavily patched-up with seam seal and repair tape, and not quite as waterproof as they used to be, but I still use all of them regularly (see the photos above).
If you don’t have any highly specialised requirements, you’ve got a bit of cash to spend, and you’re looking for a top-quality tent you can simply grab and ride out the door with, the MSR Hubba Hubba is what I’d recommend.
As a bonus, being of the free-standing variety of tents, they’re extremely easy to pitch, making them ideal for newcomers to frequent camping in varied conditions.
How Do Tents For Cyclists Differ From Tents For Hikers & Backpackers?
Before I start listing cycle touring and bikepacking tents, I’ll briefly explain how tent-buying priorities for cyclists differ from, say, long-distance hikers, and how that might affect your choice.
The first big difference is that packed weight and volume is usually less important for cyclists.
On a bike trip, you have a two wheeled, pedal-powered vehicle to carry your gear, rather than shouldering the burden yourself. This means – generally speaking – you can consider bigger, heavier tents that will allow you to live more comfortably, fare better in bad weather, last longer, and possibly cost less too.
Long-distance thru-hikers in particular are often concerned with minimising their base pack weight, and for that reason sometimes carry single-skin shelters held up by carbon-fibre trekking poles that weigh just a few hundred grams. Unless you’re hoping to win an endurance bikepacking race, you probably won’t be sharing this obsession. (But in case you are, there are suggestions below for ultralight tents for bikepacking too.)
A second difference is that cyclists often camp close to roads, as well as in the backcountry.
This brings with it slightly different priorities when it comes to visibility.
Many hikers prefer to be as visible as possible in remote landscapes in case of needing assistance. Cyclists just as often want the opposite: to be able to wild camp (or stealth camp) undetected, close to civilisation when necessary. For that reason, the colour of the pitched tent often factors into the buying decision.
This is less of a concern for remote, off-road riding in wilderness areas where you’re going to be a long way from people. But because trips like this often involve road sections too, both cycle tourers and off-road bikepackers are served best by tents suited to both scenarios.
A third, although marginal, difference is that hikers have the ability to pitch ultralight shelters which use trekking poles for structure.
If you’re on a bike, some of these minimal shelters may seem to offer a lightweight and packable solution for a bikepacking expedition. But you’ll have to buy/make/bring an additional set of poles to set them up. These poles will have no other use, which adds bulk and cancels out the weight savings. If reducing your luggage is really your top priority, consider using the bike itself to support a tarp shelter, or use a bivvy bag.
The Best Cycle Touring & Bikepacking Tents For 2025
To the tent listings!
The following tents come specifically recommended for cycle touring and bikepacking, and have been extensively road-tested by the community over decades of riding and millions of miles.
Models in this list come from a variety of manufacturers worldwide, so whether you’re reading this article in the UK or Europe, the USA or Canada, Australia, or elsewhere, there’ll be options here you can find locally, as well as online.
Some of these recommendations are inspired by my conversations with other highly experienced riders who have spent countless miles and years road-testing these tents. Others frequently appear in trip reports and receive unanimously positive reviews from real-world users. The listings are fully updated to reflect the latest models and prices for the 2025 season.
We’ll start with low-budget tents for short and simple trips, move on to the most popular tents in the mid-range for general cycle touring and bikepacking service, and work our way up to the most durable lightweight tents for world-ranging rides of months or years.
To finish, we’ll look at a few minimalist tents suited to the weight and pack size restrictions faced by the currently trendy niche of ultralight bikepackers with frame luggage alone.
For each tent, you’ll find links to manufacturer’s websites where you can get detailed, up-to-date. Wherever appropriate, I’ve included links to online retailers in the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada (affiliate links are marked with an asterisk (*) – read my affiliate policy here; short version: it helps cover costs!).
These are not the only tents that’ll do the job. In fact, the tent you already have in the garage/basement/attic/storage unit might be perfectly adequate, as you don’t really need any of this fancy gear anyway.
But I can promise you the listings below represent the very best of what the global cycle touring and bikepacking community is using today.
Wild Country Zephyros Compact 2
Summary: Mid-budget heavy duty classic for all weathers
List price: £260
Availability: UK stores + worldwide delivery
Wild Country is the budget marque of the premium British manufacturer Terra Nova. The 1.9kg Zephyros Compact 2 takes inspiration from Hilleberg’s popular but expensive Akto. It requires staking out at each end, but you get a lot of interior space for a reasonably low weight and with a single pole supporting a single-pitch structure.
The “Compact” tag was added to the name in 2020, and the tent updated in 2021 with shorter pole sections, resulting in more convenient 30×16cm packed dimensions for handlebar harnesses and small panniers.
There’s also a 1‑berth version which weighs in at 1.6kg, but in my opinion – especially given the small awning – the 300g you’d save isn’t worth the loss of interior storage space for your gear. (If minimising weight is your top priority, you’re probably looking at other tents anyway.)
- Buy the Wild Country Zephyros Compact 2 in the UK direct from Terra Nova, with worldwide delivery available.
- Exclusive to Tom’s Bike Trip readers: Get 15% off all full-price Wild Country and Terra Nova products when you use the voucher code TOMA15 at checkout.
- The Wild Country Zephyros Compact 2 is also available online or in-store in the UK from Go Outdoors (with a discount for members), or from Snow + Rock and Cotswold Outdoor.
- Try eBay.co.uk for second-hand offers.
- Wild Country tents aren’t found in stores outside of the UK.
Alpkit Ordos 2
Summary: Good value fast-and-light wedge tent for British weather
List price: £220
Availability: UK stores + worldwide delivery
Direct retailer and manufacturer Alpkit have made a splash in the UK bikepacking and cycle touring scene with their Ordos ultralight 3‑season wedge tents, among other products. I used one on a traverse of the central highlands of Armenia, and I’d still be using it if it hadn’t later been trampled by a herd of cattle.
With 2- and 3‑berth models available and a choice of a red or green rainfly, the lightweight Ordos tents – just 1.4kg for the 2‑berth and 1.7kg for the 3‑berth in their most minimal configurations – are roomy, practical, well-ventilated, easy to pitch, and reasonably priced, doing best in warmer weather.
The classic wedge design echoes classic tents such as the Vaude Hogan UL from Germany (see below) and Big Agnes Seedhouse. It’s not quite freestanding but close enough for most real-world scenarios on soft ground, requiring a minimum of four anchors for a good pitch.
The most recent versions of the Ordos feature shorter-section collapsible poles, making the 42cm-long pack shape and size slightly more handlebar harness-friendly (though still not as friendly as other tents in this list).
REI Co-Op Half Dome 2/3
Summary: Durable free-standing all-rounder from America’s favourite outdoor cooperative
List price: $299/$399
Availability: US stores + worldwide delivery
If your tour is beginning in the USA, and you need a new set of camping gear or don’t want to fly it out there with you, you’d do well to head to the nearest branch of REI upon arrival.
Their freestanding Half Dome series, available in 2- and 3‑berth versions, was one of the most popular cycle touring tent among Stateside riders in my most recent survey of cycle touring and bikepacking tents.
REI is a well-known outdoor co-operative manufacturing top-rated gear and selling it without the third-party mark-up, so you get a lot for your money. Sign up as a lifetime member of the co-op and you’ll also get 10% of your spend back in store credit at the end of each year, as well as free delivery and various other benefits (membership pays for itself with a single purchase at this price point).
At 5 lbs 12.1 oz (2.6kg) for the 2‑berth model and 6 lbs 13.7 oz (3.1kg) for the 3‑berth, these are by no means the lightest tents on the market. They make up for this with increased durability and living space, and a significantly lower price than their ultralight siblings. This is about getting your priorities right: while a fully-loaded rider won’t notice the difference; bikepackers counting ounces might want to think harder.
The half-mesh inner can be pitched fully freestanding for warmer weather and stargazing, with the rainfly needing just a couple of additional stakes.
Drawing on decades of heritage and with a long track record of happy users, expect plentiful headroom, excellent build quality and one of the best warranties you’ll find in the industry.
(Note that the ultralight Quarter Dome series previously recommended here has been replaced with the Flash series, which is still too new to recommend with confidence.)
- Buy the REI Co-Op Half Dome range online in the USA from REI.com with worldwide delivery), or in-store from one of 132 retail locations.
MEC Spark UL 1/2/3
Summary: Canada’s take on the ultralight freestanding dome
List price: CA$450/550/650
Availability: Canada
Looking for a locally available tent for a trip originating in Canada? Upgraded for 2025, the Spark UL range of tents from Canadian gear retailer MEC (Mountain Equipment Company, formerly Mountain Equipment Cooperative) comes in 1‑, 2- and 3‑berth versions at a very low weight for the price – the 1‑berth version weighs just 979g packed.
With a familiar looking freestanding dome-shaped design similar to the MSR Hubba Hubba and the REI Half Dome, the 2- and 3‑berth models each have two doors and two vestibules for easy access to extra storage for panniers and other luggage.
And because the Spark UL range is designed, manufacturerd and sold direct by Canada’s largest gear retailer, each model also works out considerably cheaper than similar tents from better-known brands, and is covered by MEC’s ‘rock solid’ guarantee.
- Get the MEC Spark UL tent range online in Canada from the MEC website or from any of their 26 retail stores.
MSR Elixir 1–4
Summary: Roomy, heavy-duty, cost-saving Hubba alternative
Availability: Worldwide
List price: £250–380 / US$270–490 / CA$350–635
If shaving grams and ounces is not of utmost importance, and you’re looking to save money, but you still want a quality tent from a reputable brand, the MSR Elixir range is a very good bet (click for Europe/USA/Canada manufacturer webpages).
These tents have a very similar freestanding dome structure and a range of 1- to 4‑berth variants – similar to the much-loved Hubba Hubba range (see below) but for significantly lower prices. Why? They’re considerably heavier: 2.77kg compared to 1.76kg in the case of the 2‑berth Elixir versus the 2‑berth Hubba. That’s almost 60% more weight, although we’re still only talking the equivalent of a 1‑litre water bottle. For a fully-loaded rider carrying a tent on a rear rack, that’s a marginal difference, though the 51cm-long packed size will exclude it from many bikepacking handlebar harness setups.
Slightly more spacious than the Hubba Hubbas, and with a more complex pole structure, you can expect the Elixir tents to last even longer than their more expensive brethren. As such, they’d be an excellent choice for fully-loaded riders heading off on long-haul trips where maximum durability is key.
UK/European markets get a choice of green or grey rainfly while North Americans are, for unknown reasons, stuck with grey.
- Buy the MSR Elixir range in-store or online in the UK from Go Outdoors, Snow + Rock, Cotswold Outdoor or Ellis Brigham. For second-hand offers try eBay.
- Buy the MSR Elixir range online in the USA direct from MSR, or from REI who have 132 retail locations. For second-hand offers try eBay.
- Buy the MSR Elixir range online in Canada direct from MSR, or from MEC who also have numerous retail locations. For second-hand offers try eBay.
MSR Hubba Hubba 1/2/3 LT/NX/Bikepack
Summary: Lightweight freestanding global all-time favourite
Availability: Worldwide
List price: £385/445/650 / US$470/550/630
In the 12 years since I first published this blog post, the MSR Hubba Hubba range (Europe/USA/Canada webpages) has probably been the all-time most recommended series of tents among the global community of cycle tourers and bikepackers, as mentioned in the introduction. (That’s why it has spawned a thousand cheap Chinese imitations.)
Riders love the generous headroom, the inner mesh pockets, the vast luggage awnings, and the low packed volume and weight.
The range features 1‑, 2- and 3‑berth models (all three of which are pictured above) and has been updated several times over the years as tent technology evolves.
In 2024 the range was slightly expanded with the addition of “Bikepack” editions of the 1- and 2‑berth tents (but not the 3‑berth), almost identical to the regular models but with shorter pole sections, a packed size and shape better suited to handlebar harnesses, a dark green rainfly, and a slightly higher price tag.
The MSR Hubba Hubba range aims to strike that finest of balances between weight, comfort and durability. In other words, they’re neither the lightest, biggest, nor longest-lasting tents in this list, but you’re unlikely to find fault with the end result.
By the way, if you’ve been looking at buying a Hubba, you might be wondering what the difference is between the NX and LT versions.
Simple: the Hubba Hubba is the long-standing name of the tent series, NX refers to the 2022 update still available in Europe, and LT is the 2025 update for the North American market. Differences between versions are slight: a few grams of weight, the choice of rainfly colour, and the proportion of mesh to fabric in the construction of the inner tent.
If you live somewhere where you do have a choice of rainfly colour, and you’re riding in temperate climes, I’d generally recommend green for more inconspicuous wild camping.
A solo fully-loaded cycle tourer might go for the 3lb 4oz / 1.5kg, 2‑berth Hubba Hubba, which may also suit those bikepacking in pairs. This is my personal go-to tent for most scenarios.
Couples with a full luggage setup will probably prefer the spacious 1.7kg, 3‑berth model. This is my and my wife’s preferred tent when we ride together.
Ultralight solo bikepackers will likely go for the 1‑berth Bikepack edition with a minimum packed weight of 2lb 13oz / 0.93kg. I took an older version of this tent down the US West Coast a few years back and wrote this review.
There has in the past been a 4‑berth variant called the Papa Hubba, but it isn’t part of the current range.
Expect MSR tents to last many years if well looked-after, with top-quality weatherproofing, well-designed ventilation, superb build quality, and super-easy setup, with a variety of pitching options for different climates, including inner-only and fly/footprint-only. If you do encounter difficulties, warranty repairs or exchanges can be requested from MSR’s service centres in WA, USA and Ireland.
- Buy the MSR Hubba Hubba range in-store or online in the UK from Go Outdoors, Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, or Ellis Brigham. Try eBay for second-hand offers.
- Buy the MSR Hubba Hubba range online in the USA direct from MSR, or from REI (also in-store) or eBay.
- Buy the MSR Hubba Hubba range online in Canada direct from MSR, or from MEC (also in-store) or eBay.
Vaude Hogan UL
Summary: European lightweight all-weather mountain wedge tent
Availability: EU
List price: €500
Another tent that has stood the test of time, German brand Vaude’s classic Hogan UL 2‑berth tent was, back in 2007, my first real high-quality tent. I rode across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Mongolia with it for four years, so I guess you could say I’ve put it through its paces (read my very outdated original review here).
At 1.9kg it’s not the lightest tent in this list, nor is it truly freestanding, but it is extremely durable, waterproof, with a decent-sized porch and a nice natural shade of green available for the fly.
As with other wedge-shaped tents, it’s a little more sensitive to side winds than tunnel or geodesic (aka: dome) tents, so you’ll do well to be mindful of wind direction when pitching.
- Buy the Vaude Hogan UL online in many EU countries direct from Vaude.
- Vaude doesn’t currently have an official distributor in the UK, USA or Australia, and its Canadian distributor doesn’t sell tents.
Terra Nova Voyager
Summary: Liveable long-haul all-weather British classic
Availability: UK
List price: £740
A British design that’s been on the scene for decades, the semi-freestanding classic Voyager is a long-term favourite among round-the-world riders originating from the UK, in part because Terra Nova don’t feel the need to change or discontinue perfectly good tents. This has allowed the Voyager to build up a second-to-none reputation. It’s the tent I would have bought at the start of my first round-the-world cycling attempt if I could have afforded it!
With a packed weight of 2.15kg, lightness is not the Voyager’s top design priority – but instead, you get top-class construction and weatherproofing, loads of liveability, and extreme durability for years (decades!) of riding.
The Voyager’s inner tent can be pitched fully freestanding, so in good weather you’ll also be able to take advantage of its part-mesh construction for ventilation and views of the night sky.
- Buy the Terra Nova Voyager online in the UK direct from Terra Nova.
- Exclusive to Tom’s Bike Trip readers: Get 15% off all full-price Wild Country and Terra Nova products when you use the voucher code TOMA15 at checkout.
- Try eBay for second-hand offers.
- As with their sibling brand Wild Country, Terra Nova tents are not easily found outside the UK.
Hilleberg Nallo 2/3/GT
Summary: Unmatched tunnel-style palace at a price
Availability: Worldwide
List price: £1,050–1,290
The most desirable (and expensive) tents for long-haul trips for which durability is the key consideration have for decades been those in the Nallo range from Swedish tentmakers Hilleberg.
They’re not the most lightweight, nor the best choice for hot climates, but they do have an unmatched reputation for quality and longevity. Hilleberg have long resisted following the trend for ever lighter and more flimsy materials: these tents are among the most tried and tested in the world and will last – literally – for year after year of daily pitching.
The Nallo range follows the “tunnel” design with the inner and outer tents attached before pitching. This is preferable for stability in high winds and makes for a drier pitch in wet weather, at the expense of the ease and speed at which some of the geodesic dome-style tents can go up.
The Nallo 2 (2.4kg) is recommended for solo heavyweight tourers, with the Nallo 3 (2.7kg) delivering luxury on-the-road living for couples and pairs. The GT version of each tent features an extended vestibule for storing luggage or cooking in poor weather, adding a few hundred grams to the packed weight and marginally raising the price.
Other Hilleberg tents often seen on the road include the lighter 1.7kg Akto for soloists and bikepackers, and the freestanding and spacious 3.3kg Allak 2 for couples and heavyweight tourers. The Swedish brand makes excellent winter tents, with the 2.4kg Soulo standing out.
- Buy the Hilleberg Nallo range in-store or online in the UK from Ellis Brigham or Tiso, or online from UltralightOutdoorGear.co.uk or AlpineTrek.co.uk. Check eBay for rare deals and second-hand offers.
- Buy the Hilleberg Nallo range online in the USA from Public Lands or eBay.
- For other global dealers see Hilleberg’s list of authorised dealers.
Ultralight Bikepacking Tents
The following tents are included in this list as examples of shelters that have either been developed with bikepacking in mind (rare) or crossed over from thru-hiking circles (common). They’re the lightest and most packable shelters you can get.
The range of minimalist tents and shelters serving this niche has only grown with the rise of bikepacking, so consider this a sample of the kind of options you’ll find if you start digging deeper into this market. It is certainly not an exhaustive list: for that, you’ll have to visit a specialist bikepacking gear blog.
You’ll find some of the lighter tents from the list above – such as the Alpkit Ordos 2 or the MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack 1P – making their way onto bikepacking kit lists, possibly in stripped-down form.
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo
Summary: Single-pole single-skin minimal shelter
Availability: USA, UK
List price: $202/£310
Weighing just 740g / 26 oz (that’s the same as a full, standard-sized cycling water bottle), the single-pole, single-wall Lunar Solo relies on being staked out and requires you to supply your own pole (it’s designed to be used with a trekking pole). It’s never going to be as comfortable as a double-wall tent with a geodesic structure – but if you’re OK with that, it’s difficult to imagine a more minimal shelter that isn’t a bivvy bag. Many similar designs exist from other manufacturers.
- Get the Lunar Solo direct from Six Moon Designs in the USA, or from Ultralight Outdoor Gear in the UK.
Terra Nova Starlite 2
Summary: Handlebar-strappable premium ultralight tunnel tent
Availability: UK
List price: £790
Launched in 2018, the Terra Nova Starlite series, available in 1‑, 2- and 3‑berth options, was one of the first British tents specifically designed with bikepacking in mind.
Aside from striking a great combination of weight and weather-resistance, the 2‑berth Starlite 2 weighs just 1.5kg and, thanks to its relatively short pole sections, has a packed length of just 29cm. This means it’ll harness nicely to your bikepacking rig’s handlebars using the stuff-sack’s integrated webbing loops (or fit inside a small pannier).
Some might consider its non-freestanding tunnel design a negative, but in the type of climate and terrain it’s designed for, staking it out really shouldn’t be a problem if you choose your pitch carefully. Once up, it’s as roomy as you’d expect from a tunnel tent, and very stable in high winds. That the optional footprint extends to cover the awning floor is a nice bonus.
- Get the Terra Nova Starlite 2 in the UK direct from Terra Nova.
- Exclusive to Tom’s Bike Trip readers: Get 15% off all full-price Wild Country and Terra Nova products when you use the voucher code TOMA15 at checkout.
- Try eBay for second-hand offers.
- Read my long-term review of the Starlite 2 here.
- As previously noted, Terra Nova products are hard to find outside of the UK.
More Tents For Cycle Touring & Bikepacking
If that’s not enough of a selection, try the following recommendations from readers of this blog:
- Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 (USA, $550)
- Decathlon MT900 Trekking Tent 2P (UK/Europe, £220)
- Durston X‑Mid Pro 1 Superlight Tent (USA, $550)
- Macpac Minaret 2P (New Zealand, NZ$900)
- Marmot Tungsten (Worldwide, $250)
- Nordisk Telemark 2 (Denmark, €750)
…and there’s plenty more in the comments.
I have also happily cycled the length of England with a Tesco Value tent I rescued from the local household recycling centre, because remember: you don’t actually need any of this fancy gear.
Which tent(s) have you successfully used on tours or bikepacking trips? Let us know in the comments.
Bogged down in research for your next big bicycle adventure?
I wrote a whole book to help with that. How To Hit The Road is designed to be read at your leisure, making planning a bike tour simple and achievable, no matter the length, duration or budget. Available globally as an ebook or paperback.
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