Before ANYONE says anything, no my bike will never see the inside of this tent. Ever. I suspect it would die of shame if I ever trundled it into the so called bike compartment. There again I will put one caveat on that statement, if its pouring down and I need to fix something on said bike I will push it in. Right, now that's taken care of I will carry on.
Main reason for buying it is because my dear girlfriend has put up with spending countless nights in a Vango Banshee 300 without complaint, but it's the getting dressed in the morning. I am just so fed up of the fight....
I got it for £100 and had convinced myself it would fit in a side pannier.....then maybe the top box. Within two seconds of opening the bag it came in I knew it would fit in neither. It was bloody huge! Just one of the groundsheets was bigger then my Banshee. Fortunately I had a waterproof 65lt holdall kicking about and it slips in there with ease along with both sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and most of our other camping gear. This then takes the place of the top box so in effect we actually have a bit more spare storage capacity.
Bearing in mind I hate faffing and my whole life is based on the concept of being a minimalist this tent is a huge departure for me. I just spent a month camping/touring Spain and Portugal and everything fitted in the top box just to give you some idea.
Anyway, the tent.
Solo it takes 15 minutes of grunting pulling and pushing to set up totally and 15 mins of the same to take down. It's a cheaper version of it's previous incarnations having fibreglass poles (heavy) and not quite as good ground sheet material. The whole tent weighs 9.5 kg but I have no intention of carrying the thing more then ten feet so that isn't really a concern. For one person it really feels like major overkill but for two on an extended tour (we are doing the Pyrenees, France, and Italy in a couple of weeks) I think it might just stop a few arguments and deliberate elbows in the groin area. And you can stand up to put your pants on! (I have always lived "Commando" so doing this outside was only rarely an option). I must admit I don't know if I would trust it in a major thunderstorm but that's what hotels are for. The main downside for me is because she flies out (she even throws up on a roundabout) I have to lug this thing over there and use it before we meet up....and on the way back. I am beginning to miss my Banshee already........sigh.