Anyone else got any more views on 2000 HH? I had the idea that I had read somewhere that 2000 is perfectly/adequately waterproof but that a higher figure is handy to allow for degredation in use. Any truth in that?
By the by one of the participants in this thread is now enjoying I think a pretty cheap tent I sold him.
I do tend to think that at sale prices there is no desperate need to ever spend more than £200 for a two or three person tent.
I know nothing about HH measurements, other than the higher the number, the supposedly "better" the waterproofing.
Having said that,
Decathlon do not use a HH measurement on their tents and they get pretty good reviews.
I'm also of the opinion that these measurements, I presume, are done "under scientific conditions" which may be very far removed from the reality of use.
On top of that, while a material may have a certain amount of waterproofness, that's not terribly relevant if the seams/stitching/glueing are of a poor standard. Nor is it terribly relevant if the door is badly designed and every time you open it you get soaked in water.
The more I read about camping gear (or anything to do with this wonderful hobby), the more I wonder about the power of "Marketing". The urge for manufacturers to have the highest HH rating, the lowest weight rating (often achieved by excluding groundsheet and pegs!) and all the other bells and whistles that they prattle on about. I've just become very cynical about the whole thing. There seems to be an underlying, subtle message that without the ultimate, the best gear you're going to be doomed to a miserable adventure.
And that's just not true.
The important thing is to have a good think about what you want, as the user.
Forget the stats at the start and figure out where and when and how you plan on using your tent.
Figure out which design suits you best - again based on where, when and how.
Figure out how much you can comfortably carry in terms of weight and volume.
Figure out how much you can spend, or how long it'll take to save up.
Then see a model in the flesh. Get in and out. Crawl around. If you can, pitch and depitch(?).
Then hunt down a bargain
Of course, one of the best ways to figure all that out is to get out there and try it!
And for me, a cheap tent is the perfect way to start the process! You never know, it may become the perfect tent!
Having gone from a cheap tent that gave many nights of excellent service in some appalling conditions to a far more expensive tent that just doesn't feel right, I'd have no problems in recommending a series of cheap tents to someone starting out. Use to end of life and replace.
