Planning on doing some motorcycle camping but don’t have a tent yet? There’s a ton of different options out there, and it can quickly get confusing.
I’ve put together a list of the best motorcycle and biker camping tents below to help you figure out which one is best for you!
The most important thing to remember when choosing a motorbike tent is: size! Everything you take with you has to fit on your bike, so make sure you don’t choose a one that is awkwardly too long (some tents can be up to 2 metres long when packed!).
For this reason, the best tents for motorcycle camping are hiking tents, as they are compact and light. My recommendations below are mostly hiking tents.
However, while hikers are usually worried about size and weight, we tend to focus just on size when doing motorbike camping.
Let’s get started!
| Companion Pro Hiker 2 | Zempire Zeus | OZtrail Nomad 2 | MSR Hubba Hubba NX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Pick  |  | Best Value  |  | |
2 people | 2 people | 2 people | 2 people | |
3.01 m² | 3.10 m² | 3.38 m² | 2.54 m² | |
100 cm | 110 cm | 105 cm | 100 cm | |
2.7 kg | 2.57 kg | 2.15 kg | 1.76 kg | |
8.8 L | 14.8 L | 10.1 L | 10.4 L | |
3,000 mm | 5,000 mm | Not stated | 1,200 mm | |
1 year | 3 years | 2 years | Lifetime |
Best Motorcycle Camping Tents Australia
Companion Pro Hiker 2 Lightweight Tent
Our Pick
The Companion Pro Hiker 2 is a great choice for a motorcycle tent. It is much loved for its excellent build quality and workmanship. Set up is very simple too, which is a big plus.
The compression storage bag allows it to pack down to a cylinder of just 45cm long by 14cm diameter. Considering how generous the sleeping area is and the high degree of waterproofing on the fly, it is amazing that it can pack down to such a small size.
For a tent this good, it is very affordable and comes with a 1 year warranty.
Unlike cheaper but more flimsy products, you can expect to get plenty of use out of this tent. It is best for those who want a good balance of price and quality, and who will be doing some light to moderate motorbike camping.
It only comes in a 2P variety.
Zempire Zeus
Runner Up
The Zempire Zeus Hiking tent is an excellent biker tent for those who will be camping in more extreme weather and want a tent that will hold up, but don’t want it to cost an arm and a leg.
It is built to withstand severe weather conditions, evidenced by a 5,000mm waterproof rating on the fly, and 10,000mm rating on the floor!
It is very easy to set up - even 1 person on their own can have it up in about 5 minutes. The build quality is great and it comes with an excellent 3 year warranty.
You can expect to get plenty of use out of this tent.
The major downside of the tent is the packed dimensions. At 58cm long and 16cm in diameter, it is the largest tent (by packed volume) on the list. Have a think about how you’ll attach it to your bike before locking in a purchase.
OZtrail Nomad 2
Best Budget Motorcycle Tent
On a budget and need something that can get the job done?
For just $80, the OZtrail Nomad 2 Hike tent is the cheapest tent on the list and incredible value. It is slightly smaller than the Companion Pro Hiker 2, yet half the price, and it even comes with a 2 year warranty.
It packs down to 45cm long and 15cm diameter, which is almost identical to the Companion Pro Hiker.
Unfortunately, some people have commented that despite taking good care of the tent, the poles snapped after just a few uses. Your tent breaking down on you is the last thing you need if you are halfway through a trip, so bear this in mind if you decide to go with the OZtrail Nomad.
Overall, this tent is loved for its excellent value.
It comes in 1P and 2P varieties.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX
Best Premium Biker Tent
This is the Rolls Royce of motorcycle camping. It is made from a ripstop nylon material that is highly waterproof, yet not overly coated to ensure that it is flexible and resistant to tearing or damage.
It has a sleeping area that is spacious for 1 person and can fit 2 people well enough. Despite this, it weighs only 1.76kg and packs down as small as the Companion 2 Pro Hiker.
All of this is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, which is very rare when it comes to tents. Tents are high wear items that see plenty of action in the elements so manufacturers are typically very hesitant to offer long warranties.
Unfortunately, all of this means that this tent is far more expensive than the others that I have listed here. If you want the best of the best and budget isn’t an option, get the MSR.
It comes in 2P and 3P varieties.
What To Consider When Buying A Motorcycle Camping Tent?
Think you’ve found the motorbike tent of your dreams? Hold up a sec and check off on the items below to make sure that you've thought of everything.
Tent vs. Swag
Tents aren’t the only option when going motorcycle camping. Swags are small, typically 1 person canvas shelters that are built for Australian conditions.
Swags are easy to set up, have a mattress included and are typically made from durable cotton canvas. However, they are also bulkier and the sleeping is quite tight, especially for bigger guys.
Tents are roomier when set up yet lighter than swags. The parts (fly, poles etc.) can be separated into many bags to distribute over your bike, which means it can fit around your other gear. However, they are more fragile and can be difficult to set up.
If you think a swag might be better for you, check out my list of the best motorcycle swags in Australia.
Tent Size/Dimensions
How many people will be sleeping in your tent? Remember that most 2 person tents can comfortably sleep 1 person with gear, or 2 people at a squeeze without much gear. Consider upgrading to a 3P if you have 2 people and a lot of gear.
Packed Dimensions
Everything you take with you has to fit on your bike, so make sure that the packed dimensions of the tent you choose are nice and small. 45cm long by 15cm diameter is pretty standard for motorcycle/hiking tents.
They typically come with a compression bag that will help you reduce the volume of your tent, and keep it dry while it’s packed away.
Weight
Weight isn’t so important for us, as the bike is doing the heavy lifting for us. However, if you need to carry your tent quite far from your bike to where you end up setting up your tent, consider going for a lighter tent.
Season Rating
Some tents are more suitable for certain weather conditions than others. This is typically expressed with the ‘season rating’. 2 and 3 season tents tend to be for mild to moderate weather, whereas 4 season units are suitable for use even in cold conditions.
All tents in this article are rated for 3 seasons, meaning that they can handle everything other than mid-winter conditions. Have a think about the conditions that you’ll be going camping in before you make your purchase.
Waterproofing
Storms are unpredictable in Australia, with sudden, unexpected downpours very common. You don’t want to be woken up at night with water dripping on your face, so make sure that you choose a tent with a decent waterproof rating.
Ratings range from 1,000mm (the lowest rating that is considered waterproof), all the way up to 10,000mm. The Zempire Zeus has an outstanding 5,000mm waterproof rating for the fly and 10,000mm for the tent floor.
Note that the OZtrail Nomad 2 doesn’t have a waterproof rating, which may mean that it will struggle in wet conditions.
Ventilation
We all know how brutal and unforgiving the Australian sun can be. Tents can act as greenhouses, trapping in hot air. Make sure that the one you choose has some vents and windows to let the hot air escape, otherwise you’ll be in for a hot and sweaty evening.
Ventilation can also prevent condensation forming on the inside of your tent.
Setup Time
If you have been hiking all day, the last thing you need is a long and arduous tent set up process when you reach your rest stop. Thankfully, the ones I have listed above are all very easy to set up, even if you are by yourself.
Warranty
A warranty lets you sleep easy knowing that your tent is covered if it is defective in any way. It is also a good sign that the manufacturer has faith in the quality of their product, and that they stand behind this quality.
The MSR Hubba Hubba NX comes with an incredible limited lifetime warranty which you can read more about here.
The Zempire Zeus and the OZtrail Nomad come with 3 and 2 year warranties respectively.
Build Quality
Poor build quality means a painful tent setup experience, higher risk of accidental damage, as well as frustrating and flimsy pegs, poles or zippers. Cheaper tents naturally have poorer build quality, as the manufacturers save on material to keep costs low.
A few people have commented that the OZtrail Nomad is of poorer quality than the others on this list.
Summary
When you weigh up price, quality, size and all of the other factors that make up a tent, I think that the Companion Pro Hiker 2 is the best motorcycle camping tent Australia.
It has a generous sleeping area, highly waterproof fly, good build quality and packs up to a very small volume. To top it off, the price is very affordable.
If you want something that’s a little better quality and has more waterproofing, check out the Zempire Zeus. It’s an awesome tent with a top notch 3 year warranty. Only downside is that it’s a touch larger when packed up than the other options.
In terms of a budget option, the OZtrail Nomad 2 is the cheapest tent on the list. It is a similar size and weight to the others, although the build quality is reportedly lower and the waterproofing ability is unknown.
Finally, the MSR Hubba Hubba NX is the bees knees when it comes to a motorcycle tent. Rugged, durable and ready for anything, this tent is super light and super strong. However, you might need to redraw on your mortgage to afford it!
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
This is a great review, thank you. One important factor you omitted is country of manufacture. I’m only interested in buying tents that are not made in China. Can you recommend any please?
Hi Simon, I had the same concerns. The good news is the Companion Pro 2 is made in Bangladesh.