Tents? whos using what? Pro and con
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xilios
Veteran
- Location
- Maastricht, NL
We use the Jack Wolfskin Tundra III, a three person, three season tent, very stable, plenty of space to wait out a storm, and room enough for all our gear and cooking also.
A bit heavy at nearly 5kg, but we don't mind a bit more weight for more comfort.
An added bonus is the side intrance directly into the sleeping area with mosquito netting, great for warmer temperatures.
A bit heavy at nearly 5kg, but we don't mind a bit more weight for more comfort.
An added bonus is the side intrance directly into the sleeping area with mosquito netting, great for warmer temperatures.
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
We use a Hilleberg Nammatj 3GT. It is large enough for all of our kit (for a world tour). there is enough space for my OH who is 6'0" to sit up in any part of the tent (something he could not do in the Hilleberg Nallo 3GT we looked at) and for us to be stuck in it all day if the weather was too extreme for us to be sensibly cycling (which it was on several occasions). It came it at betwenn 3.3-4kg depending on what 'extra's' we carried. As for price, well it was expensive, but we were planning on living out of it for 3-5 years, so from that point of view we were not worried, we were more concerned with reliability. It also fitted onto the bike without much issue, had very good ventilation including mossie nets & importantly for us, was 4 season and good in snow.
You must update us with a wee review thread on your return! I use this combination, with the half inner and find it spacious, airy (and adjustable, by changing pole height), and I like being able to get the bike indoors. On the downside, it's a hexagon (tricky shape) and not freestanding (needs the pegs to get into the ground). Not the lightest at the price, 1.7kg all-in, but it maybe is lightest (though not cheapest) for the dimensions.
Two things to experiment with:
1. the height of the string thing holding the inner to the apex - having it shorter makes things tauter and gives more useable space. I aim to have the inner almost off the ground until I get in.
2. Set-up technique - I used to use a string measuring from a centre point to set out the pegs in a regular hexagon. Lately, I find easier, faster, better results from just throwing the outer onto the ground and pegging in a loose hexagon, with a once-round after "raising the canvas" for minor adjustments.
It comes with 6 v pegs but I was glad of another 6 Ti skewer pegs, for different ground conditions. 42 grams well spent!
It's a tent you really appreciate if you decide to sit out a heavy rain day.
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
Me too
We have a Hilleberg Nammatj 3gt as an indestructible allround tent. But at 3.8 kg plus footprint it is heavy. For something lighter in anything other than the winter I think the Hilleberg Anjan 3 is great at 1.9 kg (a porch would be unnecessary). The new Vaude Power Lizard sul 2-3 p is even lighter at 1.4 kg, but clearly less robust and less comfortable.
Willem
Willem
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
I've actually got an old Eureka tent (Hobbit?) that I've done really well with. Things I like:
i. insect no-see-um netting for great ventilation
ii. packed size 15cmx35cm (so I can easily put it in a pannier if necessary)
iii. free standing -I don't actually need to use pegs
iv. on an evening without rain, I can take the rain fly off and the top is just insect netting -I've gone to sleep looking at the stars (a nice luxury in life)
v. great waterproofing (don't know if that's a function of the tent design and material or more me being careful at the seams doing the waterproofing)
vi. it's a 2 person tent. It means I can bring all my bags in and still have reasonable room in it.
vii. nice vestibule you can put your shoe in and they'll still keep dry
iix. really good value at the time I bought it (~130 US Dollars)
Downsides?
i. It's old, and sooner rather than later I'm sure I'll have to replace it.
ii. because of its design (like a triangular tube), as it's getting older, the material has stretched, causing the sides to hang in a bit (can't say it bothers me though)
iii. I think it may be a little weightier than other tents though I can't say I've noticed a difference.
iv. aren't made anymore (I have to question why on this one!)
v. no windows
vi. can't stand up in it
vii exiting and entering means you have to crouch down.
iix. it's 3 season (though I don't go touring in winter, so no big deal there)
All in all, I'd definitely recommend it -if they were still made, and for the around the price I paid, it would be top of my list. But.... since it's not made anymore, what would I look for in my next tent? Here are my priorities:
-freestanding (I've camped where pegs are a pain to put in)
-must be 2 person (I like being able to put stuff in my tent).
-must have good ventilation and insect proofiing
-must have decent waterproof performance (I'll bet there's nothing more miserable than trying to sleep when you are getting wet!)
-small packable size (while I actually carry my tent on a rack, it's nice if you can put it in your pannier when you lock the bike up so you can just take the one pannier that has all the expensive stuff in it (e.g. sleeping bag, tent, air mat, etc ) leaving that other pannier with just dirty sweaty clothing.
-value -as I can't nor would spend a load of money on a tent based on the touring I do.
-must be of reasonable quality (subjective I know) and be simple to erect.
While I wouldn't absolutely rule out a single skin, it seems that they have trouble with condensation, and at the price point I have, they don't seem to be a viable option. While it would be nice to have a lighter tent, I think so long as the tent isn't inordinately heavy, that's low down on my priorities (if weight is a problem, all I have to do is look at my beer belly!).
i. insect no-see-um netting for great ventilation
ii. packed size 15cmx35cm (so I can easily put it in a pannier if necessary)
iii. free standing -I don't actually need to use pegs
iv. on an evening without rain, I can take the rain fly off and the top is just insect netting -I've gone to sleep looking at the stars (a nice luxury in life)
v. great waterproofing (don't know if that's a function of the tent design and material or more me being careful at the seams doing the waterproofing)
vi. it's a 2 person tent. It means I can bring all my bags in and still have reasonable room in it.
vii. nice vestibule you can put your shoe in and they'll still keep dry
iix. really good value at the time I bought it (~130 US Dollars)
Downsides?
i. It's old, and sooner rather than later I'm sure I'll have to replace it.
ii. because of its design (like a triangular tube), as it's getting older, the material has stretched, causing the sides to hang in a bit (can't say it bothers me though)
iii. I think it may be a little weightier than other tents though I can't say I've noticed a difference.
iv. aren't made anymore (I have to question why on this one!)
v. no windows
vi. can't stand up in it
vii exiting and entering means you have to crouch down.
iix. it's 3 season (though I don't go touring in winter, so no big deal there)
All in all, I'd definitely recommend it -if they were still made, and for the around the price I paid, it would be top of my list. But.... since it's not made anymore, what would I look for in my next tent? Here are my priorities:
-freestanding (I've camped where pegs are a pain to put in)
-must be 2 person (I like being able to put stuff in my tent).
-must have good ventilation and insect proofiing
-must have decent waterproof performance (I'll bet there's nothing more miserable than trying to sleep when you are getting wet!)
-small packable size (while I actually carry my tent on a rack, it's nice if you can put it in your pannier when you lock the bike up so you can just take the one pannier that has all the expensive stuff in it (e.g. sleeping bag, tent, air mat, etc ) leaving that other pannier with just dirty sweaty clothing.
-value -as I can't nor would spend a load of money on a tent based on the touring I do.
-must be of reasonable quality (subjective I know) and be simple to erect.
While I wouldn't absolutely rule out a single skin, it seems that they have trouble with condensation, and at the price point I have, they don't seem to be a viable option. While it would be nice to have a lighter tent, I think so long as the tent isn't inordinately heavy, that's low down on my priorities (if weight is a problem, all I have to do is look at my beer belly!).
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
I currently have a...
..highlander glen orchy tent.
Pros: cheap, compact pack size, door on each side
Cons: not enough head room, not quite enough leg room (I'm 6'3"), no porch.
By far the best thing about this tent is having a door on each side.. no more sweltering from 6am on hot summer mornings, just open the sides up and wallow in the cool breezy shade for as long as you like.
It could do with being 6" higher, and 6" longer... and pitching it inner first isn't ideal for all weathers.
if anybody can point me in the direction of a 2man, two door tent that's a tad bigger/better than this... I'd be eternally grateful
..highlander glen orchy tent.
Pros: cheap, compact pack size, door on each side
Cons: not enough head room, not quite enough leg room (I'm 6'3"), no porch.
By far the best thing about this tent is having a door on each side.. no more sweltering from 6am on hot summer mornings, just open the sides up and wallow in the cool breezy shade for as long as you like.
It could do with being 6" higher, and 6" longer... and pitching it inner first isn't ideal for all weathers.
if anybody can point me in the direction of a 2man, two door tent that's a tad bigger/better than this... I'd be eternally grateful
xilios
Veteran
- Location
- Maastricht, NL
For us it just came down to comfort vs € vs weight. If we were going on a world tour than we would consider the Hilleberg or Helsport tents at +/- € 900.00. Proven by many world travelers (just check out crazyguyonabike.com).
But for Euro tours one can get a really nice tunnel/dome tent for about a third of that price.
As far as the weight goes, well it's just a couplde kg's heavier, just imagine your riding the The Karakoram Highway with several days of supplies
Serriously though, we just think comfort is/should be peramount. We never tour in winter, so no need for a four season tent, it then becomes a matter of price vs weight.
Depends on your budget, but touring around Europe it's difficult to justify +/- € 900.00 for a tent.
But for Euro tours one can get a really nice tunnel/dome tent for about a third of that price.
As far as the weight goes, well it's just a couplde kg's heavier, just imagine your riding the The Karakoram Highway with several days of supplies
Serriously though, we just think comfort is/should be peramount. We never tour in winter, so no need for a four season tent, it then becomes a matter of price vs weight.
Depends on your budget, but touring around Europe it's difficult to justify +/- € 900.00 for a tent.
Bodhbh
Guru
Lightwave Trek T0, 1 man tunnel tent approx 1.8kg here: http://www.lightwave.uk.com/products/tents/trek
(not a very illustrative photo, but only one I have handy)
It's about 7years old and still going, although I've had to reproof the groundsheet with silicone in the last couple of years as it started bleeding water. It was bought for hiking and didn't really know what I wanted anyway but it's been okay. I'll probably run this down to it's last legs, but when I get another I'll most likely get somethign bigger that's a more amenable to spending time in when not sleeping.
Pros:
Small footprint - easy for wildcamping, pitching behind hedges, corner of fields etc. Has proved pretty solid. Very snug in the cold.
Cons:
Small footprint - can just about sit crosslegged in it. Getting in and out needs some flexibility (not so good after I put on a few pounds). Inner pitch first.
(not a very illustrative photo, but only one I have handy)
It's about 7years old and still going, although I've had to reproof the groundsheet with silicone in the last couple of years as it started bleeding water. It was bought for hiking and didn't really know what I wanted anyway but it's been okay. I'll probably run this down to it's last legs, but when I get another I'll most likely get somethign bigger that's a more amenable to spending time in when not sleeping.
Pros:
Small footprint - easy for wildcamping, pitching behind hedges, corner of fields etc. Has proved pretty solid. Very snug in the cold.
Cons:
Small footprint - can just about sit crosslegged in it. Getting in and out needs some flexibility (not so good after I put on a few pounds). Inner pitch first.
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
After quite a lot of research, we have also ordered a new lightweight tent this week and settled for a Vaude Power Lizard SUL 2-3 Person tent which comes in at 1.35kg total weight with all extras. The reason we went with this one and not somethings slightly smaller is that my OH is 6ft0 and finds sitting up in smaller tents difficult coupled with our exped down mat 7's. This particaular tent has the same internal height clearance (105cm) as our Hillebery Nammatj 3GT (too big/heavy for 1 person namely me when I continue on our JOGLE alone) and has plenty of internal floor space for 2 people (230cm or 7ft6inch length by 140-150cm wide (4ft 11inch). It's a new tent this year to the Vaude range (as is the 1-2 person version of the same tent), so it will be interesting to see how it fairs up next month for 3 weeks whilst cycling a west coast & islands JOGLE (LEJOG in reverse).
Anyone looking for useful information all in one place on a range of lightweight tents may find this website quite useful - though not necessarily the cheapest to purchase from.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
Basically you've summed it up. Superb in every respect bar price !
I am delighted with mine, a nallo 2 & kaitum 2 gt - happy with both, but a lot of dosh. Kind of good value, but still ...
i think with hindsight I'd buy a kaitum 2 (non Gt) and use it for both "heavy" & "light" purposes rather than getting 2 - though the gt porch is good.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Likewise, going for the same.
