More on thread than what follows below:
@Hillbilly Castro has some threads on his homebuilt bicycle campers.. very, very usefull stuff.. kind of amazing, actually : )
hopefully i'm not misunderstanding.. i thought at first it was setting your tent up that was the bitch, since you sound like you're on a bike..
that's how i wrote what's below..
if it's just *being* in a tent that's a drag, well.. that's tougher..
anyways, just a general FYI:
if setup is the bitch, something that might be of use, if you have a bike & can manage to pack it functionally, is a 'pop tent'..
i haven't seen any newer configurations that erect (2 seconds, no shit, i have one i've been using for years) AND recompress as quickly as the classic 'U' type, but the fuckers are GREAT!!!
from wikipedia, in the article "Tent" (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent )
"The
pop-up tent is a recent innovation. This type of tent is equipped with built-in very flexible hoops so that when the tent is unpacked, it springs into shape immediately, and so is extremely easy to set up. Such tents are usually single-skinned and are generally aimed at the one-season or children's end of the market; their high flexibility makes them unsuitable for use in windy situations. After use the tent is packed down into a thick disc shape."
the reference is not entirely accurate; these tents have rainflys (takes a few moments more to deploy), and should not read "one-season or children's" but "are generally of temperate season design. Smaller versions are suitable for children's use."
for a general look at the geometry of various versions, look here:
https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-pop-up-tents
i can't vouch for their assessments, but the pics and descriptions are fair.
models 10 & 4 are typical of "toss & erect".. just throw the fuckers in the air, & they come down almost ready to use, like something out of a Jetson's cartoon.. no fucking shit..
model 7, by coleman *looks* about the same, but never used one exactly like it..
also.. even though this review site says so?
they DO NOT, by any means, fit easily "into" a backpack..
they stow exactly like a 2 & 1/2 foot frisbee, so think more along the lines of stowing a beach chair.. heavier than a bivy tent, for sure, but maybe not that much, but for deployment in 100% darkness or 100% rain?
the fuckers CANNOT be beaten..
def worth dicking around with, to get carriage right..
one last thing, however... recompressing these things is a ***bitch***
pain in
the fucking
ASS
until you learn the secret fucking rain dance..
after you learn
the
seeeecrettt fuckinggg godddamned Rain Dance
(which is actually pretty simple, but takes 4 or 5 fucking hours)
the rest is easy..
if you go this route, be prepared & give yourself a 1/2 day with instructions, to learn.
may take more time to learn than you would ever actually spend in the field (though probably not), but after you know how to, it takes about 30 seconds to pack it, if she's coming off a dry, clean night, with no rain fly.. add a minute to shake & stow the fly.
good luck!!