{"id":191070,"date":"2022-11-11T14:36:31","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T14:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=191070"},"modified":"2022-11-11T14:36:31","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T14:36:31","slug":"5-things-you-want-to-consider-when-choosing-between-a-tarp-and-a-tent-for-your-bikepacking-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2022\/11\/11\/5-things-you-want-to-consider-when-choosing-between-a-tarp-and-a-tent-for-your-bikepacking-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things You Want to Consider When Choosing Between a Tarp and a Tent for Your Bikepacking Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re a lifelong bikepacker or you\u2019re new to the field, figuring out your setup is an ongoing process. Determining which shelter is best for bikepacking will be part of that process. There\u2019s no right or wrong answer, and each option, whether that\u2019s a tent or a tarp with hammock or without, will have its pros and cons.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The debate could go on forever, but we\u2019ve provided a list of considerations to start you off\u2026<\/p>\n

1. Protection from the elements<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is really the sole purpose of your shelter, everything else you consider will only serve to make life easier. So of course you want to give it some thought. Depending on where you\u2019re riding will determine the weather conditions for your trip. The shelter you choose will be, hopefully, keeping you safe and comfortable every night of your trip. Therefore you want to ask whether you\u2019ll need certain levels of protection from the elements. Will it keep you warm, or maybe you\u2019ll need protection against bugs and small animals.<\/p>\n

A tent will likely keep you warmer and if you\u2019ve got a 4-season tent then you can be mostly reassured that you\u2019re protected from snow. A tarp on the other hand will have more airflow, making it cooler but you\u2019ll avoid condensation. If you were to combine a tarp with a hammock then you could be protected against damp or muddy ground. Of course if there aren\u2019t going to be many trees on your trip then a hammock won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

\"Bikepacking\"<\/a>
When sleeping in a hammock, you might feel cold coming from below, so consider using it with an ultralight mat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Weight and size<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Weight is a big consideration for your shelter and its components. It\u2019s less important on a bikepacking trip if you\u2019ll mostly be riding, but if you anticipate plenty of hike-a-bike then you\u2019ll be wanting to cut the weight where possible.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of high-end lightweight tents on the market<\/a> but it\u2019s possible that utilising a tarp set-up with your bike wheels will cut down weight considerably. There is the advantage of not carrying poles too which will add weight and bulkiness to your setup. Carbon fibre poles are the lightest and most durable tent poles you can get, so if you\u2019ve got the cash then you can splash out on these.<\/p>\n

3. Location<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Will you be able to find appropriate places to set up your shelter? Are there any locations which limit your pitching opportunities? For example, if your setup consists of a hammock and tarp, then you\u2019ll need trees. This likely won\u2019t be much use if you\u2019re bikepacking across the desert.<\/a> Where there are trees, are your straps big enough to fit around the type of tree you\u2019re likely to come across? Maybe the trees are too weak to withstand the weight of a hammock and person. You want to consider these factors before you arrive at your camp.<\/p>\n

Of course tents have their drawbacks too with regards to a location. With a tent you want to find flat and relatively dry ground that is capable of holding your stakes. With a tarp, this isn\u2019t as crucial. It\u2019s even less so if you\u2019ve got a hammock as part of your setup.<\/p>\n

4. Bike and gear storage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Depending on where you\u2019re camping, you may want to be able to see your bike. I don\u2019t recommend taking it into your tent with you and risking your groundsheet. Whatever you choose to do, you need to have enough space for your bags and of course space for yourself too.<\/p>\n

The best option in a scenario where you want your bike close by is to use your wheels as part of your shelter. This can be easily done with a tarp – though you might want to practise at home first. You then need to ensure you have plenty of space to store your bags too.<\/p>\n

You may be somewhere wild and remote so it\u2019s likely your bike will be completely safe outside of your tent but it\u2019s certainly worth considering.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Comfort<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This factor could be personal preference but you\u2019ll want to ask how comfortable you can sleep in your chosen shelter. If you\u2019re only heading out for an overnighter, then you may not be too concerned by having a sound sleep and waking up feeling well-rested in the morning. But if you\u2019re going to be peddling for a while, then you want to ensure that each night you\u2019re getting good quality sleep.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, your bike setup will be personal to you. It\u2019s not the same for every person. Hence why it\u2019s a bit of a lifelong process. It may change with time, and it\u2019ll definitely change with the seasons and location. Whatever you choose, enjoy it. Find the beauty in sleeping outside even if you\u2019re shivering in your tent or lying awake listening to the rain hammering down. There\u2019s a reason we have these adventures, even if it doesn\u2019t always feel like it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re a lifelong bikepacker or you\u2019re new to the field, figuring out your setup is an ongoing process. Determining […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":191071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[328],"tags":[1280,4875,6751,6752],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-191070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-mountain","tag-bikepacking","tag-bikepacking-tips","tag-tarp","tag-tents","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Things You Want to Consider When Choosing Between a Tarp and a Tent<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re a lifelong bikepacker or you\u2019re new to the field, figuring out your setup is an ongoing process. 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