Going on a road adventure with your favorite pedal-pusher in tow? Leave the heavy, old camping tent at home and hit the road with the Topeak Bikamper, a single-person portable shelter that uses your bike’s body in place of conventional tent poles.
Small enough to fit into your bicycle’s pannier when folded down, the tent can be strung along without adding much heft to your gear – an important consideration during leg-abusing, long-distance cycling trips. Since it sets up using your wheel and bike frame, you’ll have to take the front of the bike apart, so make sure you have your tools on hand, as well.
The Topeak Bikamper has three main parts – a 45D ripstop nylon canopy, a 70D ripstop nylon fly and a 70D taffeta nylon floor. Each part is seamtaped to ensure a waterproof seal. For ventilation and stargazing, it integrates three mesh windows, so you don’t feel so trapped inside the single-person space.
Both 26-inch mountain bikes and 700C road bikes should work with the tent, although you need to remove the front wheel to set up. The tent will use the saddle and handlebars to strap onto, with additional stakes, fork anchor and cords included in the package. While it isn’t the fastest shelter to put up, we doubt it’s all that inconvenient if you’re planning to retire for the night after an entire day of punishing your crotch.
Your days of being the overburdened bike tourist with a tent taking up half the space in your rucksack should be over with a Topeak Bikamper in tow.