What Tent?

LongLensPhotography

LongLensPhotography

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I am thinking to buy a tent; never had one before

Ideally:
* light (2-3kg if that's realistic?)
* wind- and water-proof
* suitable for slightly colder weather (ie. on Snowdownia :cuckoo:)
* not too big, but suitably comfortable for 1.85m tall person
* not too expensive considering fairly low use. I don't think I'll take in on Mont Blanc or Norway in the winter.

Next / first use might be in Yellowstone, so I could in theory buy from a shop down there. Or here?

I might consider used if they much cheaper or better than I'd get new?

Thanks.
 
being a short @rse, never had a problem with tent length. I would suggest you visit a GO or similar as they often have a lot of tents set up on display.
 
Go outdoors had some huge discounts on some of their tents, was posted on hot UK Deals. Have a look on hukds website to find the deal (I'm on my phone so can't atm)
 
Depends on your budget, but your criteria will be met by some tent.... so whats not too expensive? :thumbs:

Then you decide on

inner vs outer pitch
tunnel vs dome
single vs twin skin
size(comfort) vs weight.

I was quite impressed with a Vango at the budget end, consider Terra Nova or Hilleberg at the higher end. I've got one of each, one for high, one for car and one for far :lol:
 
Get a hotel room/lodge.
 
AndyB1976 said:
Depends on your budget, but your criteria will be met by some tent.... so whats not too expensive? :thumbs:

Then you decide on

inner vs outer pitch
tunnel vs dome
single vs twin skin
size(comfort) vs weight.

I was quite impressed with a Vango at the budget end, consider Terra Nova or Hilleberg at the higher end. I've got one of each, one for high, one for car and one for far :lol:
Click to expand...

I have very little idea what the above mean :nuts:
What are necessary features vs expensive extras?

On the Huh said:
Get a hotel room/lodge.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's an option in many wild places particularly when you want to do milky way, star trails and sunrise
I stayed in hotels last year in Switzerland and to be fair I might have instead done a couple daytrips to North Wales - that's how little impressive stuff I saw
 
As suggested above, go to a large outdoor shop where you can see/try a few.
Personally I would go for something with separate inner and flysheet (outer), preferably one where you pitch the outer tent, then hang the inner tent inside. This has the advantage of not getting your inner tent wet if you have to pitch it in the rain. I had one that was the other way round, which made it a bit easier to put up but not good in a downpour.
Other things, such as dimensions and shape, are really down to your own preference and the only way to find out is to try a few.

You have a large Go Outdoors in Bristol - I think they have quite an extensive tent display. Worth visiting even if you end up buying from elsewhere.
 
I'm the same height and found most of the "Hiking" tents to be too small (remember they need to be long enough for you at a point at least 10" from the floor otherwise toes / head hit the inner tent).

Have a look for tents rated for D of E expeditions, I ended up with a Vango Halo 300, it weighs 4Kg but it's got plenty of room for me and my kit :thumbs:
 
strumstrum said:
are you going to be hiking with the tent or driving to site and setting up base?
Click to expand...

Ideally driving, but I can't rule out a one off exception

Elastoman said:
You have a large Go Outdoors in Bristol - I think they have quite an extensive tent display. Worth visiting even if you end up buying from elsewhere.
Click to expand...

thanks - will do :thumbs:
 
as recommended get out and check out your options even if you purchase elsewhere..

2 options I would be looking at is a small hikeable tent with a tarp as the porch for when you drive and set up camp EG

Tarp2_0.jpg


or something with a porch built in but heavier and probably no option of hiking with.

[youtube]OtpY4WMg6Fg[/youtube]

who knows, we are 2 adults and 3 kids now so I am out of the loop with hiking camping even with us being not traditional family campers IE we like secluded places and camp with the bare minimum.
 
I've got a really nice vango banshee, weighs about 1.5-2kg big enough for 2-3 people, packs up to a small sleeping nag size and can be put up and down single handedly in about 5 mins once you get the hang of it. The best part is the price is only about £100
 
daugirdas said:
I have very little idea what the above mean :nuts:
What are necessary features vs expensive extras?
Click to expand...

A lot is down to personal preference much like camera brands etc but I'll summarise

inner vs outer pitch
Outer pitch is flysheet up first then you crawl inside an attach the inner. More often than not these are pitched 'as one' unit. The inner tent effectively hangs loop n toggle style which tends to a less taught inner.
Inner pitch first the poles support the inner independantly which gives a taught inner and a sense of more space - less chance of billowing inner in wind. Flysheet usually clips or ties to this.

tunnel vs dome
This trade off is generally strength and weight against size. Tunnels often have more space with fewer poles and a lower weight. Geodesic domes have more poles, more robust design but comes with a weight penalty.

single vs twin skin
More specialised tents have one skin rather than a twin (flysheet & inner) primarily as a weight saving. Twin skins tend to deal with condensation, venting and mozzy/midgie control better than single skins.

size(comfort) vs weight
Taking all the above into consideration. My tents are all at least two man for my single trips. The Vango (Omega 300) is a three man to take the fishing bed but only use this car based. My other tents are tunnels, semi and fully geodesic domes.
 
Have a look at some fishing tents, there made to last! I have one from a company called jrc but there are loads and loads on the market.

Well worth a look
 
I've got the Vango Banshee 300 and it fits everything easy, I'm not as tall as you so you might want to check the dimensions. It weighs less than my camera with the 70-200 attached!
 
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