Best Motorcycle Camping Tents

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4 Best Motorcycle Camping Tents in Australia [Our Picks]

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
Companion Pro Hiker 2
Zempire Zeus
Best Value
OZtrail Nomad 2

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

Companion Pro Hiker 2

Our Pick

Pros
  • 45cm L x 14cm D packed
  • Generous sleeping area
  • 3,000mm waterproof fly + vestibule for extra space
  • Handles wind and rain like a champ
  • Excellent build quality
  • Straightforward setup - less than 10 mins
  • Compression storage bag included
Cons
  • Only a 1 year warranty
  • Internal ceiling just 100cm - can just barely sit up

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

Zempire Zeus

Runner Up

Pros
  • Very easy to set up - 5 minutes on your own
  • 5,000mm waterproof fly!
  • 10,000mm waterproof floor!
  • Great build quality
  • 3 year warranty
Cons
  • 110cm internal ceiling (although this is the highest on the list!)
  • More expensive at $300
  • 58cm long when packed

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

OZtrail Nomad 2

Best Budget Motorcycle Tent

Pros
  • Decently sized sleeping area
  • Packs down to small size
  • Excellent value at just $80
  • Plenty of internal pockets
  • 2 year warranty
Cons
  • 105cm internal ceiling
  • Waterproof rating not indicated
  • Poles are reportedly quite flimsy and prone to snapping

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

MSR Hubba Hubba NX Hiking Tent

Best Premium Biker Tent

Pros
  • Only 1.76kg
  • Packs down to small size
  • 1,200mm waterproof rated fly
  • 3,000mm waterproof rated floor
  • Great build quality
  • Limited lifetime warranty!
Cons
  • 100cm internal ceiling
  • Very expensive

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.

Motorbike in front of tent

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!


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

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.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on the best out there, comparing products in total, and reading hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of our research is to help figure which product is right for you, the user. We systematically go through all of the available options on the market to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

Here’s a full list of the options we considered for this article. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

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.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

  • 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?

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