3/4 Season tent under £300

[EasyCrank]

Hi all,

I posted a little while back in the Cafe but the day has come and I need to click purchase by the end of today to make sure my choice tent arrives in time.

I'm after a 3-4 season lightweight tent for under £300. I've been looking at a few but would really like to hear some personal experience before shelling out £300.

Those currently on the table are:
- Lightwave T20 Trail
- Vaude Taurus Ultralight 2
- Terra-Nova Competition 2

If anyone has any experience with these, or has any other recommendation, it'd be very much appreciated.

 

[doog]

I have a Vaude Taurus Ultralite 2.

Pro's : light and easy to assemble in a hurry.
Porch : Ideal, (but small) can carefully cook in it in inclement weather but struggle with the porch zip getting stuck on numerous occasions.

Cons : Im 6' 2" and bottom of bag makes contact with inner causing wet sleeping bag. Has a big vent that reduces condensation but wouldnt want to try it on really cold nights.

Also got a hole in my outer once but couldnt fix it on tour as the material wouldnt let anything to stick to it .Vaude sent me a kit afterwards (silicone)

 

[Crankarm]

I have a Vaude Taurus 2 Ultralight. I would say it is more 3 season than 4. Four seasons means cold cold weather which is NOT fun when cycling imho.

My tent has been fine. I split the poles and inner when packing in my panniers. It has been pretty good. I am not 6'2" but 5'8". Really easy to pitch and take down. It is self supporting so you can sleep in it with only pegging out the corners of the groundsheet really necessary and the guys each side of the fly sheet.

 

[Profpointy]

I've stayed in a Vaude, albeit not owned and was rqther impressed. It was their external frame model, where the tent kind of hangs underneath. Despite seeming a tad flimsy it stood up to some fairly bad whether in the alps (summer) at 6000 feet for 3weeks, so certainly passed any sensible 3+ season test. Fairly lightweight if you had to carry it, and very very easy to put up - and inner & outer go up together which for me is important.

These days have a couple of Hillebergs but these are a good bit more money again - nice though

 

[bikepacker]

I have used a loaned TN competition 2 for a couple of nights last year and was not impressed. Very small for a 2 man tent and not at all waterproof on the seams. I believe they do not come seam sealed.

For my very lightweight short tours I have a MSR Carbon Reflex which is a much roomier tent and you can get them for around the price you state. Also second hand ones occasionally come up on ebay and outdoor forums for around £200,

As most already know my main cycle camping tent is a Hilleberg Nammatj 2GT which is much more expensive and heavier but in my opinion very hard to beat.

 

[P.H]

Without wanting to appear rude, those are three very different tents and for them to be on the same short list indicated to me that you haven't yet decided what sort of tent you want, something it's better to do before getting down to specific models.
For example the comp 2 is half the weight of the T20, that isn't achieved without compromise, if you really want the low weight, forget the T20, if you're happy to carry more weight replace the comp with the Zephyros 2 which is the same design in slightly heavier and probably more robust materials, it's also £180 cheaper!
criteria I'd decide before going any further;
Weight
packsize
Sleep longways or across the door
Headroom
Porchsize
How much mesh
single or multiple doors
tunnel or cross pole design
Pitch all in one or inner first

 

[andrew_s]

I have used a loaned TN competition 2 for a couple of nights last year and was not impressed. Very small for a 2 man tent and not at all waterproof on the seams. I believe they do not come seam sealed.

Hardly any tents that are made out of sil-nylon are seam sealed - even Hillebergs.
Tape won't stick, so the manufacturer would have to seal the seams the same way you do - put the tent up, paint the sealant on, wait for it to dry and pack it up. I expect they take the view that the extra cost would be counter productive, given that most well made seams don't leak despite not being sealed. It wouldn't look pretty in the showroom either.

 

[LimeBurn]

Vaude Taurus here too - fantastic tent for the money although I dont use it for bike touring I have used it quite a bit for mountain walking and its nice and light, packs down small, the only issue I've had with it is that in really high winds the tapered end can collapse in on itself if not pitched perfectly - easy fix is to just shove your rucksack down in to the bottom of the tent though.

 

[bikepacker]

Without wanting to appear rude, those are three very different tents and for them to be on the same short list indicated to me that you haven't yet decided what sort of tent you want, something it's better to do before getting down to specific models.
For example the comp 2 is half the weight of the T20, that isn't achieved without compromise, if you really want the low weight, forget the T20, if you're happy to carry more weight replace the comp with the Zephyros 2 which is the same design in slightly heavier and probably more robust materials, it's also £180 cheaper!
criteria I'd decide before going any further;
Weight
packsize
Sleep longways or across the door
Headroom
Porchsize
How much mesh
single or multiple doors
tunnel or cross pole design
Pitch all in one or inner first

I know exactly what tent I want and for what occasion, having spent around 600 nights in a tent in the last ten years gives one a great insight. Having said that it doesn't stop me trying out others when the offer is there. The TN was loaned to me to try out, which I did and wasn't terribly impressed. The other two I use for various types and lengths of tours.

 

[P.H]

I know exactly what tent I want and for what occasion, having spent around 600 nights in a tent in the last ten years gives one a great insight. Having said that it doesn't stop me trying out others when the offer is there. The TN was loaned to me to try out, which I did and wasn't terribly impressed. The other two I use for various types and lengths of tours.

I was replying to the original post, I doubt he has your experience. Would you when looking for a tent have those three on the same short list?

 

[bikepacker]

I was replying to the original post, I doubt he has your experience. Would you when looking for a tent have those three on the same short list?

Sorry Paul, as you posted under my thread I thought you were referring to me.

 

[cnb]

Laser comp..Worst tent that i have ever owned..If that helps

 

[Yellow7]

I use the MSR Hubba Hubba and works really well. It's a two man tent but would be a tad tight on space with two and panniers so best as a one man. A door and (porch area) both sides, packs down reasonably well, light, never leaks. Available in yellow/mustard and now green.

At campsites i've met several other cyclist's with them.

 

[nappadang]

Just from a personal experience point of view (please don't bother giving me a hard time) I've had nothing but bother with Vaude tents. I owned a Hogan which I had the misfortune to spend some of my least memorable nights on the fells, in late winter, early spring.
I now use a Terra Nova Quasar (above your price bracket, I know) but Terra Nova Produce a far superior product, which imo.
Do they still produce the Voyager? Brilliant little tent that weighs nowt when shared between two. though space is a little limited it is bomb proof, weather wise.