Tent help

[Bluegum Mic]

Howdy!

I'm a newby though I've lurked on this forum for sometime. I'm from good old Sydney town and most of my walking is done close to home in sydneys north and the blue mountains. I have done quite a bit of walking on and round the OL track and am planning a trip to freycinet in the new year plus also doing some walking down in kosi around march for a week.

I'm currently looking to add a three man tent to my collection. Whilst it will be good to have a bit more elbow room for hubby and I, we also often wind up a party of three for multiday walks. We also have a toddler who hopefully can start to join us in the coming years.

I'm fairly tight on budget however I'm looking for something that can handle a bit of wooly weather along with fairly compact.

At the moment I'm tossing up between the vango spirit 300, the black wolf hornet and the marmot limelight 3p. If anyone has any experience with these tent and can offer some feedback good or bad it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers mic

[HitchHiking]

Although I have not used any of these tents I as Im sure a few othere here are very partial to the tunnel design that the Vango Spirit has and that vestibule space looks fantastic. My pick of the 3 mentioned no doubt.

[Bluegum Mic]

Thanks hitchhiking.

My only reservation with that tent is the fly is only 40D thick. However I've looked at some other ranges of tent like mountain hardwear etc and even in their expedition range they have some 40D flys. I would have though at this thickness it would have been easier to tear if a small branch fell on it/high winds (although it is silicon coated ripstop).

[blacksheep]

if it is 40D high tensile nylon, has a high thread count or better again, has a siliconised finish 40D is fine for flysheets...
one tent you should consider is the Macpac Citadel. We didn't range it last year and boy did we hear about it!! This is a popular tent, with a very generous vestible...I don't have stock for another few weeks (so not on the website yet), but here is a link to another retailers image/ description.. http://www.outdoorfair.de/epages/611918 ... ac-Citadel (of course BWT crew don't pay 629 euros...you'll pay much less if you ask...)

Last edited by blacksheep on Thu 14 Oct, 2010 6:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Bluegum Mic]

Thankyou for explaining that blacksheep. I've just looked and they use a 6.6 nylon yard with a 240thread count which they say is very high. And it's silicon coated.

That's a nice looking tent there. Yes 600+ euros is definitely out of the budget

[HitchHiking]

Thanks hitchhiking.

My only reservation with that tent is the fly is only 40D thick. However I've looked at some other ranges of tent like mountain hardwear etc and even in their expedition range they have some 40D flys. I would have though at this thickness it would have been easier to tear if a small branch fell on it/high winds (although it is silicon coated ripstop).

Yeah 40 D with a sil coating or impregnation should give you no trouble. Sil is great in the high UV of Australia too. I have seen people making camping hammocks out of a single layer of uncoated 30 d nylon and having no issues.

[Bluegum Mic]

Another I don't mind the look of is the WE iexplore. Any experience/thoughts on this tent. Cheers for your advice
Mic

[Drifting]

I'd have a look at http://www.tarptent.com

[blacksheep]

That's a nice looking tent there. Yes 600+ euros is definitely out of the budget

how does $750 AU sound?

[mountnman]

I own a Black Wolf Hornet, and while it is bomb proof (almost!), it is a very heavy 3.8kg. Other than the weight, it is a brilliant tent. Large vestibule, storage hammock inside, plenty of room, but heavy!!!

[Franco]

"I'd have a look at http://www.tarptent.com'

Maybe not. (but thank you for the suggestion...)
TT has the Rainshadow , a 3 person shelter better suited to 2 adults and a child or three minimalistic adults than an average backpacking trio.
There is also the Hogback . This does sleep 4 adults so three would have good space inside for gear, but as it is (like the Rainshadow) it is really meant for camping in sheltered areas.
The Hogbacks that are shipping out now already have most of the bits to take one extra crossing pole (at 90 degree to the standard one) or two intersecting crossing poles .
That will add some extra wind resistance but the kit is not ready as yet.
Franco
[email protected]
BTW, I could make either work in most places as long as snowfalls are not on the menu, however I would not suggest them to most bushwalkers used to 4 season type tents.

[Drifting]

"I'd have a look at http://www.tarptent.com'

Maybe not. (but thank you for the suggestion...)
TT has the Rainshadow , a 3 person shelter better suited to 2 adults and a child or three minimalistic adults than an average backpacking trio.
There is also the Hogback . This does sleep 4 adults so three would have good space inside for gear, but as it is (like the Rainshadow) it is really meant for camping in sheltered areas.
The Hogbacks that are shipping out now already have most of the bits to take one extra crossing pole (at 90 degree to the standard one) or two intersecting crossing poles .
That will add some extra wind resistance but the kit is not ready as yet.
Franco
[email protected]
BTW, I could make either work in most places as long as snowfalls are not on the menu, however I would not suggest them to most bushwalkers used to 4 season type tents.

Durrr- you're right. No 3-person alternative there, otherwise IU would have bought one and saved a bit of cash. We need a 4-season hogback, like soon!

[Bluegum Mic]

Thankyou!

Sorry. Yes I meant to post sooner. I've been a busy bee. I'm most appreciative of everyones feedback.

I had a look at the tarp tents. They look fantastic. I'm thinking of one of them when I retire my two man in the next year or two.

Whilst the primary use of the three man will be three season hiking, I also snowshoe, ski and snowboard (expensive hobbies too aaaagghhhhh). So I want the three man to be able to stretch to 4 season.

I know I know I'm asking a lot from one tent. Not too pricey, good quality, compact pack size, 4 season and reasonable weight. Gosh im dreaming.

I really liked the hogback and it certainly fit the bill but in the end I was able to put a few of the WE tents up in store and I really like the i-explore. I took a look at the first arrow and i-shadow (along with the marmot, vango, mont and msr- though out of my price range) but the i-explore really fit the bill. The only thing it wasn't was light. At 3.5kg she ain't the lightest tent but I figured it will be split between 2-3 people so a reasonable compromise in the end for what's a solid roomy tent.

Thankyou again for your help and also for showing me the light with the tarp tent. I have a feeling one of those might be joining my ever growing collection of gear in the near future

Edit: oh and I promise to give some feedback on the tent once I hit the trail...now I just have to wait a couple more months whilst i finish rehabbing my newly reconstructed knee.

[Bluegum Mic]

I own a Black Wolf Hornet, and while it is bomb proof (almost!), it is a very heavy 3.8kg. Other than the weight, it is a brilliant tent. Large vestibule, storage hammock inside, plenty of room, but heavy!!!

Thanks for your feedback. I was very tempted by this tent but they didn't have one in stock as I like to get my paws on them to have a play. I'm sure they would have ordered it in but the WE tent was only $50 more and I was really happy with it.

Thankyou blacksheep for your kind offer (I apologise I only just saw your post with price). Gosh where I have I been the last few days. In my defense I've had a sleepless sick toddler on my hands. Now this mum has a raspy throat too. Booooooo