Mountain Bike Bag Pack
Guide to Buying an Ultralight Tent
Why Choose an Ultralight Tent?
Ultralighttents are increasingly popular, but why? People ask why people are prepared to spend extra on less, when it is not exactly a home-from-home. This is answered in the high-levels of research and technical innovation that goes into every aspect of these tents’ design. The level of technological developments in ultralight tents shows true testament to the dedication of outdoor manufacturers such as The North Face, Terra Nova, Wild Country, MSR, Mountain Equipment, Vango and Vaude to make the best tents available.
Increasingly, people are enjoying the pleasures on the outdoors in more and more ways. This means their doing more outdoor sports and more styles of camping, which means they require different technologies. Ultralight tents are meeting these needs, by serving one fundamental need for several groups of people: ‘if it’s going on my back, I want it to be light!’
Ultralight tents are perfect for mountain marathons, adventure racing, mountain biking, backpacking and more. They’re the ideal combination of minimal weight and stability, allowing people to go ‘higher, wilder, faster and further’ than before.
Above: MSR Hubba HP Ultralight Tent
Design Features of an Ultralight Tent
Ultralight tents have never been so technically advanced. Here is a break-down of features to look out for when shopping for your ultralight tent:
- Ultimately, ultralight tents must weigh less than 2kg (4.4lbs)
- Flysheet vents – improve airflow and ventilation (reduces condensation especially in single-skin ultralight tents).
- Variable airlflow vents – control the warm and cold air exchange inside the tent and help to reduce condensation and stuffiness in the morning!
- Ultralight aluminium or alloy tent poles (sometimes DAC featherlite poles – see below)
- Unique pole configuration to maximise space at the least weight, often resulting in innovative tent designs to allow for sleeping, cooking and gear storage.
- Is the ultralight tent 1 or 2 skin? I.e. does it have an inner and an outer tent, or just an outer?
- How many seasons will you realistically need it for. Usually when shopping for ultralight tents, the more seasons it can withstand, the more weight you will be carrying in your backpack.
- Can the ultralight tent have it’s outer flysheet used as a tarp and footprint (groundsheet protector) alone or does it need the inner too? This can be extra helpful for ultralight weight / minimalist backpacking.
- Know your weights. Minimum weight is usually the inner tent, flysheet and tent poles only. Packaged weight usually includes the inner tent, flysheet, tent poles, tent pegs, tent stuffsac, pole bag, peg bag, guylines and repair items.
- Is the tent’s inner or outer pitched first? In wet spells it’s always an advantage to pitch the outer first!
Fittings of an UltraLight Tent Every item of an ultralight tenthas extremely lightweight properties combined with strength. For instance all of 2007/2008 models of The North Face Flight Series tents utilise a proprietary MicroClip to secure the canopy to the poles. These strong, ultralight clips employ a camming action to lock onto the pole and hold it securely in place. The result is a lighter weight clip with improved strength and holding power.
Flysheets
Many ultralight tent flysheets use a rip-stop nylon inner and outer to sustain a variety of conditions. Rip-stop nylon is a light-weight nylon fabric with inter-woven ripstop reinforcement threads in a crosshatch pattern, so the material resists ripping or tearing.
Tent Poles
Ultralight tents and lightweight tents must consider the weight implications of every item that they use, although the better manufacturers will not skimp on other design features as a sacrifice. An example is if the use of lightweight tent poles, that naturally need to be lightweight but also need to be strong, flexible and have durable fittings. The point here is that simply because they are lightweight, you do not miss out on other important features.
DAC Featherlite SL Tent Poles
Introduced in 2002, the new Featherlite SL Aluminium tent poles were designed with two main objectives: to offer a high strength-to-weight ratio and to be manufactured to slide quickly and easily through tight pole sleeves typical of lightweight and expedition tent construction. The result is an ultralight expedition tent pole that has an even higher strength-to-weight ratio than the original Featherlite pole, and one that works well with The North Face expedition tent sleeve construction. This new design includes an insert tube with a thinner wall than the main tube giving added strength to the sleeve joint. This construction detail eliminates excess weight and is balanced by a small strengthening tube at the joining position.
DAC Featherlite Poles
Found in some of our ultralight tents, DAC Featherlite poles are up to 15% lighter than aluminium poles of comparable strength. Additionally, Featherlite poles are less susceptible to failure because pole linkages are based on extrusion instead of glued-in inserts. Without the extra insert piece, there is less chance of breakage.
Powerflex 7001-T6 alloy tent poles combine strength and flexibility and are often used too.
Tent pegs
Most lightweight tents come with lightweight alloy or aluminium tent pegs, which are often perfectly strong enough and light enough for most, but you can now buy titanium tent pegs for those people to shave every gram off their pack weight.
Groundsheet protectors / Footprints
Groundsheet protectors (aka footprints) are designed simply to protect the base of your tent. These are a great investment as it’s certainly cheaper to buy a hardwearing footprint than buy a new tent because the groundsheet has split on a rock that you didn’t see. They are often used by minimalist campers too, where they simply use the outer of their ultralight tent as an ultralight tarp and a footprint to sleep on. Click here for more weight saving tips!
About the Author
CheapTents is a specialist camping equipment shop that caters for a wide range of outdoor activities. Owned and operated by the Adventure Centre, a company based in the heart of the north west with over 20 years in the outdoor leisure industry.
Mountain Biking : How To Pack A Water Bag
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Deuter Bike Bag I $15.9 Deuter Bike Bag I |
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Deuter Bike Bag II $20.9 Deuter Bike Bag II |
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2011 GT Avalanche 2.0 Disc Mountain Bike $599.99 2011 GT Avalanche 2.0 Disc Mountain Bike. The GT Avalanche 2.0 may be a mid-level mountain bike, but considering how this bike rails, you won’t have to worry about being stuck in the middle of the pack. The triple triangle aluminum frame is lightweight and responsive, the 100mm travel fork soaks up bumps to help keep you in control, and the 27-speed Shimano drivetrain gives you all the gears you need to get up to speed and maintain your momentum over all kinds of terrain. And when you need to slow things down, you’ll appreciate the reliable performance of the powerful Tektro Hydraulic disc brakes. |
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2011 GT Stomper 20" Kid’s Mountain Bike $269.99 2011 GT Stomper 20 Kid’s Mountain Bike. Honey, I shrunk the mountain bike! GT took their renowned quality, technology and design chops and compressed them into a highly capable, 20 kid’s mountain bike. Scaled down for 8-12 year-old riders, the GT Stomper 20 is equally at home stomping on hard pack, crushed-gravel trails or neighborhood sidewalks and pavement. |
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Kenda Small Block Eight SRC/UST Mountain Bike Tire $47.99 Kenda Small Block Eight SRC/UST Mountain Bike Tire. The Kenda Small Block Eight SRC/UST Mountain Bike tire by John Tomac shares the same award-winning knob shapes as the Kenda Nevegal, but with smaller knobs across the tire. The result is a better bite for your buck. Tubeless technology and Kenda’s Dual Tread Compound make it one of Kenda’s fastest rolling tires. Perfect for hard-pack riding and racing. |
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Keen Springwater Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Keen Springwater Mountain Bike Shoes. Get comfortable performance ON and OFF the bike in these Mountain Bike shoes from Keen. |
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Dakine Amp 12L Hydration Pack $64 Dakine Amp 12L Hydration Pack. Built to tackle the twists and turns of the most demanding trails, the Dakine Amp 12L is the perfect hydration pack for the Mountain Bike junkie. |
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Ritchey Comp Mountain Bike Seatpost $49.99 Ritchey Comp Mountain Bike Seatpost. This mountain bike seatpost is lightweight and extremely functional! |
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Adidas Berm Mountain Bike Shoes $29.99 Adidas Berm Mountain Bike Shoes. These Mountain Bike shoes offer flat pedal performance and style. |
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2010 CamelBak L.U.X.E. Women’s Hydration Pack $49.99 2010 CamelBak L.U.X.E. Women’s Hydration Pack (Discontinued Style). All women mountain bikers will appreciate the L.U.X.E.’s combination of innovative features, premium materials and aggressive design. With super-secure overflow storage and incredible stability, this is the women’s mountain bike hydration pack by which all others are judged. |
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Shimano SH-MT31 Mountain Bike Shoes $29.99 Shimano SH-MT31 Mountain Bike Shoes. These mountain bike shoes are designed for a wide range of riding styles such as commuting, touring or casual off-road cycling. |
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Continental Traffic Mountain Bike Tire $39.99 Continental Traffic Mountain Bike Tire. Cruise through traffic on the road OR ride with confidence on the trail, thanks to this smooth and comfortable Mountain Bike tire. |
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Shimano SH-MT60 Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Shimano SH-MT60 Mountain Bike Shoes. On-road commute or off-road escapade, these Mountain Bike shoes handle any cycling adventure you put in their path. |
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Shimano SH-M086L Mountain Bike Shoes $89.99 Shimano SH-M086L Mountain Bike Shoes. Whatever your off-road cycling pleasure, these Shimano Mountain Bike shoes will keep you comfortable through and through. |
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Fort Traverse Mountain Bike Shoes $39.99 Fort Traverse Mountain Bike Shoes. Urban style meets rugged good looks in these Mountain Bike shoes built for road, trail or indoor cycling. |
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TimBuk2 Sam’s Tote Pack $35 TimBuk2 Sam’s Tote Pack. Part tote, part pack and totally unisex, this bag is truly versatile! Modeled after the bags used by farmers in Vietnam’s rice paddies, this TimBuk2 bag can be carried as a tote or strapped on as a pack. |
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2010 CamelBak Magic Women’s Hydration Pack $44.99 2010 CamelBak Magic Women’s Hydration Pack (Discontinued Style). Perfect for the mountain bike enthusiast, the women’s specific Magic hydration pack offers the highest water volume and cargo capacity you can get with an external fill feature. |
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Park Tool Mountain Bike-3 Rescue Tool $24.99 Park Tool Mountain Bike-3 Rescue Tool. Small and light enough to slip into a pocket or seat pack, the Mountain Bike-3 from Park Tool multi tool contains 22 tools, each carefully selected for nearly any repair on the road or trail. |
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Panaracer Rampage 29er Mountain Bike Tire $34.99 Panaracer Rampage 29er Mountain Bike Tire. If there’s dirt, the Panaracer Rampage 29er Mountain Bike Tire will go berserk! |
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Sidi Giau Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Sidi Giau Mountain Bike Shoes. Perfect for Mountain Bike club riders, amateurs or casual racers, these mud-shedding, mountain bike shoes go the distance in training and racing. Molded heel cup, padded tongue with fit relievers and three Velcro straps for a power-enhancing fit. |
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Geax Street Runner Mountain Bike Tire $22.99 Geax Street Runner Mountain Bike Tire. Run the streets on your mountain bike with the Geax Street Runner Bike Tire, also great for the trainer. |
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Adidas Hematoma Mountain Bike Shoes $59.99 Adidas Hematoma Mountain Bike Shoes. These sturdy Mountain Bike shoes built for extreme off-road or downhill riding have a dirt-worthy secret. They’re actually comfortable! |
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Shimano SH-M161G Mountain Bike Shoes $139.99 Shimano SH-M161G Mountain Bike Shoes. If you’re serious about trail riding, then you need Mountain Bike shoes with an uncompromising fit for stability, resilience and power. And that’s just what you’ll get with these competitive, off-road performers. |
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Fort Dartmoor Mountain Bike Tire $19.99 Fort Dartmoor Mountain Bike Tire. With the Fort Dartmoor Mountain Bike Tire you can dart down the trail with greater speed and cornering confidence than ever before! |
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Fort Carve Mountain Bike Pedals $44.99 Fort Carve Mountain Bike Pedals. Carve your way through the trails with this rugged mountain bike pedal! a href=/images/performance/web/PDFs/50-3160 Forte Carve Pedal_INST.pdf target=_blankClick for Instruction Manual/a |
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Fort CM220 Mountain Bike Shoes $49.99 Fort CM220 Mountain Bike Shoes. Lightweight, traction-hungry and ready for the trail. These dual-strap CM220 mountain bike shoes are equipped with all the high-end features you need without the high-end price tag. |
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Lake MX235C Mountain Bike Shoes $139.99 Lake MX235C Mountain Bike Shoes. Boasting a lightweight carbon sole, full-grain leather upper and rubber tread with Mudstuds, the MX235C Mountain Bike shoes are perfectly equipped for cross-country riding. |
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Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire $49.99 Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire. Ready for cross-country races, marathons, tours and mountainous trail weekends, the all-around Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire is the perfect pick for your next extreme ride! |
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Adidas Marathon Mountain Bike Shoes $34.99 Adidas Marathon Mountain Bike Shoes. This mountain shoe will let you test your endurance on your next epic trail ride. |
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2011 CamelBak M.U.L.E. N.V. Hydration Pack $114.99 2011 CamelBak M.U.L.E. N.V. Hydration Pack. CamelBak has taken the M.U.L.E. and optimized it for even more comfort by including a new N.V.I.S. back panel which draws the pack away from your back. Equipped with super-secure overflow storage, incredible stability, weather-resistant features, 854 cubic inches of cargo space and 3+ hours of water supply, this is the mountain bike hydration pack by which all others are judged. Now featuring the new 100oz Antidote Reservoir — the ultimate cure for dehydration. |
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Chris King Mountain Bike Bottom Bracket $134.99 Chris King Mountain Bike Bottom Bracket. Ready to take on the most challenging conditions you can deliver on the mountain bike, the Chris King bottom bracket with external cups bring unparalleled quality to the Mountain Bike world! |
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2010 Mavic Pulse Mountain Bike Shoes $59.99 2010 Mavic Pulse Mountain Bike Shoes. Is your finger on the pulse of all the local mountain bike races? Then these race-ready Mountain Bike shoes are exactly what you need to get started. |
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Kelty Cache Hauler Pack Bag Only $94.95 Kelty Cache Hauler Pack Bag Only |
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Sidi Sierra Mountain Bike Shoes $99.99 Sidi Sierra Mountain Bike Shoes. Perfect for cruisin’ down the trail or pedaling around town, the Sierra Mountain Bike shoes are a favorite of mountain bike enthusiasts. Three Velcro straps, shaped heel cup and higher volume last give you a great fit. Fiberglass-reinforced sole with mud shedding tread provides excellent traction on or off the bike. |
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2011 CamelBak H.A.W.G. N.V. Hydration Pack $114.99 2011 CamelBak H.A.W.G. N.V. Hydration Pack. The perfect choice for all-day mountain bike rides on the most extreme terrain. Redesigned, fully ventilated, N.V.I.S. back panel is geared for your epic escapes. Outfitted with 1120 cubic inches of storage, 100 ounce reservoir, excellent compression, super-stable design and weather-resistant features, the all-condition CamelBak’s H.A.W.G. N.V. raises the bar over any other cycling hydration pack. Now featuring the new Antidote Reservoir — the ultimate cure for dehydration. |
