Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

[chiroptile]

Hey, guys.. Quick question here.. I recently purchased a Timberline SQ 4XT tent that I am taking along on a bicycle tour. There will be three of us riding, and the trip is going to take close to three weeks.

Now, I've read that if you want to gauge your tent's comfortable capacity, you take the number of people it's designed to sleep, and subtract one. I've also read that you take that number and divide it by two.. So, I guess the jury is still out. Just about every personal review of the tent I'd read mentions that the reviewer shared the tent with one other person, and everything was peachy, while using it as anything more than a two person tent would be pushing it.

I was wondering if any of you have experience with the SQ 4XT sleeping three adults comfortably? My concern is that three weeks straight riding during the day, then piling into the tent night after night will start to get very cramped at some point. Cabin fever is the last think anybody would want to develop on a bicycle tour.

Thank you in advance

[LITTLEfish]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Always get a tent that is designed to carry one more than you intend to bring along.
That's my rule of the matter anyway.

[renodesertfox]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Littlefish is correct in his summary of the correct size of a tent to purchase. But also keep in mind that you and your companions will be camping and touring by bicycle, which requires one to limit the amount of space and could add a few more ounces to your already established gear-load. Space in a tent might not be veasible. It's totally your call. Back in my youth when I bicycle camped weight and space contributed heavily on what I would carry or not. And by the end of everyday's peddle I and my companion where happy with just space for us each. The extra gear we carried were spare parts for the bikes(tubes, patches, tool-kit). Would be nice if on your return to let us know how your trip went and include some photos too, if you'd like. Welcome too, to our humble little forum!

[chiroptile]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Thanks, guys.. Yeah, I was more worried about the getting crowded part than weight. My friend and I did Montreal - NYC last year. Had a little two person Apex 2 tent. While it definitely fit the two of us, it was definitely very cozy.. And, after a full day in the saddle, you want some space to yourself to stretch. Also, I'm a pretty restless sleeper, which didn't help my friend's case any. The Timberline weighs in at around 9 pounds. I figured if we spread the tent between three riders, that's three pounds each for something with room to breathe (according to the 4-1=3 formula anyway a nice rain fly, and a sturdy frame. Also, our ride this time will be NYC - Athens, GA. Which shouldn't be too hilly.. I will definitely take pictures along the way. I have a couple from last year if you'd like to see..

[chiroptile]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Mmm.. As you can see, I'm not too good at this photo thing yet..

[renodesertfox]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Your photos are great! Thanks for sharing!

[surmisez]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Love the photos! Thanks for sharing!

[chiroptile]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

I thought they would come out as clickable thumbnails.. But looks like you need a magnifying glass to see them.

[renodesertfox]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Not on my machine, I just move my cursor over an image and click on it and the small thumbnail image is tranferred into a larger image. You can also link an image to this site through flicker/facebook/photobucket, etc. Most of the time if your browser is set up, linking an image is just copy and paste.

[surmisez]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

Not on my machine, I just move my cursor over an image and click on it and the small thumbnail image is tranferred into a larger image. You can also link an image to this site through flicker/facebook/photobucket, etc. Most of the time if your browser is set up, linking an image is just copy and paste.

Same here. I just click on the first photo and then I'm able to click on [next] to go through each one shown. The pop-up box is not unlike the pop-up's on shopping websites that allow you to zoom in on the item you're looking at. :D

[GlitterHiker]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

The pics are great! ... Are those Ortlieb panniers? I'm doing a bike/camp event this fall, and need to invest in panniers.

[chiroptile]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

I guess the ipad browser doesn't support this photo format. Thank you. The front panniers are Ortlieb Front Rollers.. They came in very handy for hauling food, water bottles, toiletries.. More of the utilitarian stuff.. I found that if I started packing clothing in them, the space would fill up very quickly. The panniers on the rear are Seattle Sport Rain Riders.. REI actually has a great deal on them right now. You can get a pair for a hundred dollars from their outlet vendor online. They are very roomy and completely waterproof.. Let me know if you have any questions regarding cyclocamping.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

That tent is very similar in looks but about 1/4-1/2 bigger in sq ft to the $10.00 pup tent I used to cycle camp with.
Worked beauteously for 2 joined at the hip adults and 1 toddler back in a decade I don't wanna discuss...OK...let's just say the toddler is now in his mid '30's...LOL.

It was allll about the weight for me back then and the less I had to hump the better.
I won't discuss the overall merits or disadvantages of yer new tent cuz I don't know it and haven't done one of my copious note taking comparisons of denier, overall weight, materials blahblahblah.


Oh yes your question about how many people is realistic in a tent.....I use the manufacturer's thunk and divided in half but I'm a serious car camper now.
I will say that the easiest way to know if your party will be comfy in the tent WITH gear is to give it a tryout in the backyard since you've already got the tent.

I must say I like your last year's idea of throwing a tarp over the bikes. We only did that when the sky opened. Used a lighter weight poncho to accomplish the task.

Gosh you're making me long. Altho I suspect this would be a moment where my mind is willing but the bod is laffing it's arse off at the rest o me......

[tplife]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

The Timberline SQ 4XT tent Timberline SQ 4XT tent is a classic design, updated with aluminum poles. Probably its best feature is the wind integrity of A-frame designs when all staking points and tiedowns are used, and the vestifule and fly are virtually full-coverage. Denier fabric strengths are spot-on for tents this size. It's downfall is its dated shape, poor use of interior space due to the sloped walls. This is a roomy tent for two plus gear, but cramped with three. At close to $300 there are better options with more vertical space from other brands. That said, there are certainly worse tents to squeeze three people and their gear into.

[GlitterHiker]

Re: Timberline SQ 4XT comofrtable for three?

@chiroptile - thank you! I'm heading over to REI right now. In a few weeks, I'll take you up re cyclocamping questions. I actually will have it easy; the tour I'm doing is through Adventure Cycling and it's supported.