If I'm traveling someplace & plan on just spending the night someplace on the way I'll take my bivi tent. Say on the way to WFO, not spending any time really camping or hanging out on the way. Just stopping, set up the tent, sleeping, getting up & going. Works great for that. If I'm doing anything more than that, I take a larger tent. I've got a cheap Sportsman's Guide bivi that packs to less space than a pair of shoes. Works well from dry to light rain, but unless you can find a really good spot, is a pain for heavy rain. Just not enough room getting in & out to really stay dry in a heavy rain, and no place to hang out in if you want to wait. I carry a big zip-lock bag to put it in if I have to pack it wet. Of course, packing the poles & tent separate gives you lots of options.
Bingo, that's exactly what I'm looking for one for. Thanks all of you, I was looking for just what I'm getting, personal experience.......more?
I spent months trying to figure out the best "tent" setup (for me anyway).
I finally settled on a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2. I also got their ground cloth specifically made for this tent. This tent is *very* light and packs very small yet two people can still sleep in it. It is one of the few 2-person tents that will fit in the FJR hard bag. This is an *excellent* backpacking tent as well. I am 6" and have plenty of room in the tent. I use one side of the tent for "me" and the other side for my gear. I literally can put all of my gear in the tent - Aerostich Roadcrafter, the Motofizz, bags, tank bag, helmet, boots, etc. This works out great on cold rainy nights.
That being said, I usually carry the tent in a medium Motofizz bag that I put on the back seat. The medium Motofizz will hold the Seedhouse SL2, my Cats Meow sleeping back, my REI 3/4 lenth air pad, a sheet, couple of towels and a small laptop, LED headlight, etc. You can jam some more stuff in the sides the top area if you want. I then use the side hard bags for clothes, food, extra gear, etc.
I can basically be gone for as long as I want with this setup - days or even weeks. I am only "laundry" limited but can do that on the road if needed or simply throw my t-shirts away and buy some new ones at Walmart or Target. I can set this tent up by myself in just a few mintues even in the dark or rain. It uses clips and you can set it up without having to get "inside" the tent like some other models. This is great for me becuase it allows me to keep the inside dirt/sand free while setting up.
The main drawback to the Seedhouse SL2 and their ground cloth is - you guessed it - cost. High tech materials that pack small, are featherweight, yet have room for two people 6"+ aren't cheap.
Here are some pictures of my setup taken last weekend up in West Virginia:
