Tent recomendations

[rupert]

Wondering if I could get some advice on a tent. These days I'm an infrequent walker who enjoys Tasmanian walks with my daughter, and very occasionally my partner.
The trouble is that, as my daughter's getting older, we're starting to do walks where we really should be taking a tent. Therefore I'm in the market for a tent which may never be used, but if it does, will be expected to perform. Size; a comfortable two and three at a squeeze.
Any suggestions? I don't want to break the bank but I also don't want to break my back carrying it! I'm also of the opinion that if we get benighted and the snow's coming down, I seriously doubt I'll be fussing over how much I spent on the tent! There must be other's who've gone through this process for quite similar reasons.

[JohnM]

Inexpensive, light AND capable of standing up to a Tasmanian winter?

I reckon you can have 2 out of 3.

How much are you prepared to spend?

[rupert]

Point taken John M, but that's really the essence of my query. I don't know how much I should be looking at spending.
I'm not sure I'm really looking at "capable of standing up to a Tasmanian winter". There must be a world of difference between a tent that's regularly used and relied on in harsh conditions and one that'll get you out of trouble should the worst befall? We're not looking at intentionally undertaking long treks in winter but I think it sensible to have a fall back option should the weather turn nasty or we simply take longer than anticipated.

[Moondog55]

Well I'd hazard a guess that the only candidates would be pyramids/tipis.
Megamid--/--Megalite type tarps

[rupert]

Interesting suggestion Moondog. Reminds me of a army surplus shelter I had many years ago. I found it to be a very versatile system.
I don't think it suit my purposes here though. I'm imagining a day up on the plateau where it's unexpectedly started to rain at lunchtime, the whole walk is getting bogged down, it's starting to get gloomy and we decide to put up the tent, rather than risk a descent in the dark. The absence of floor would be keenly felt as the only flat spots will be muddy. Of course, carrying a ground sheet would solve that one, but there goes your weight advantage and the mozzies would still get in.
I think I'm prepared to pay a bit more and carry a bit more for something that seals up tight.

[Son of a Beach]

Inexpensive, light AND capable of standing up to a Tasmanian winter summer snow storm?

I reckon you can have 2 out of 3.

How much are you prepared to spend?

Fixed.

[Franco]

Rupert
A way to save bulk and weight is to use a trekking pole supported tent.
A typical design is the pyramid or duo-mid and you can add a floor or a bug inner to most of them.
Since I am with Tarptent , I would suggest you take a look at the StratoSpire 2.


This was designed to avoid the pole in the middle bit, to have a dedicated inner and to minimise the footprint.
Under 1.1kg including 6 pegs, works better with 8 (2 extra for the included guylines)
Very versatile having an integral pitch (inner and fly up together or either separately)
For Tassie weather you have the benefit of two rain protected entry points , those are also very large vestibules.
It can take three 50cm wide mats.
You can set it up in 2 minutes or so without having to practice or needing a degree in tent erection.
Here are a couple of my videos on this :


I have tested mine under heavy rain a few times, works well.
Franco

[ninjapuppet]

We're not looking at intentionally undertaking long treks in winter but I think it sensible to have a fall back option should the weather turn nasty or we simply take longer than anticipated.

I face this situation all the time when attempting long mountaineering routes expecting to return in a day, or about to turn multiday walks into a single long day. I just take a bivy with me.

My MLD bivy is under 300g but i paid huge dollars for it. main consideration was that it had to pack tiny because it was intended for emergency. commercial bivies around 600-800g will end up heavier for the two of you compared to a lightweight tent

[Nuts]

If you don't intend to plan on using it then light as possible. I'd agree with Franco though what about just a separate tipi style fly and groundsheet (at least the groundsheet will get used for other things)?

[Moondog55]

Rupert the scenario you describe is exactly why I first bought a Megamid.
Emergency shelter for myself and 3 kidlings, When I considered the weight/strength versus bulk versus cost the cheapest shelter solution for 4 people was the tipi.
At the time the Megamid just happened to be the cheapest.
Given the fact that my kids all carried there own packs ( mainly and almost all the time ) they had clothing and emergency gear with them ( big orange garbage bags, spare jumper, long-johns - you know the mantra ) shelter from wind and rain was the only real consideration, with a little practice I could and can get it erected in about 3 minutes.

I still have my original Megamid and I'm saving for a newer model, but now the scenario covers grand-kidlings.

[rupert]

The great thing about starting this thread is that it has provoked discussion within the family as to exactly what we want from a tent. In light of this, and after perusing the various tent threads presented here, I'm leaning towards a mid range three man (whoops, person!) tent that will also be used for overnighting trips.
The Ferrino Prodigy 3 seems to be a reasonable option. 3kg, $350, seems to fit the bill. A bit heavier than a Megamid or the StratoSpire, but on lightly laden day walks the extra weight's not going to kill me and we'll also have a tent for more serious walks.
Does my choice seem reasonable. Anyone know anything bad about the Prodigy?

[ninjapuppet]

... we're starting to do walks where we really should be taking a tent. Therefore I'm in the market for a tent which may never be used

... and so you're planning on carrying a full geodesic dome for that purpose, just in case?
I'm sure that ferrino is a great tent. looks bomber! Should be able to handle the conditions you're worried about.

[Rico]

Hi Rupert,

The Ferrino Prodigy is a very sturdy tent, definitely suitable for windy weather or storms. Also it has an integral pitch and you can use the fly on its own. This means that when you decide to carry the tent "just in case" you have the option to leave the inner tent home and use the fly as shelter, saving a lot of weight. Not suggested if there are mozzies around
You'll find the large vestibule ideal for storing your wet gear on a rainy day, including your backpack.
Also it comes with 2 year warranty, which is a nice piece of mind.

The Ferrino Prodigy 3 seems to be a reasonable option. 3kg, $350, seems to fit the bill.

Bushwalk forum members get 10% off all Ferrino gear, so it will end up being a bit cheaper then that. Just use the discount code "BUSHWALK" when you check out. You'll need to buy it directly on our site to get this discount.

Rico

[rupert]

... we're starting to do walks where we really should be taking a tent. Therefore I'm in the market for a tent which may never be used

... and so you're planning on carrying a full geodesic dome for that purpose, just in case?
I'm sure that ferrino is a great tent. looks bomber! Should be able to handle the conditions you're worried about.

I hear what you're saying ninjapuppet! I started the thread on exactly that basis, however internal family discussions were along the line of; "well, if we get a tent I'd like to do some overnight walks with it". I realised myself that, given Tasmania's potential for quite abrupt weather changes, if I was going to carry a tent for emergency use, it needed to be up to the job. I'm not going to cart it along on every day walk, only when there's a risk of being benighted or in areas where unexpected weather changes can drastically alter walking conditions.
I also realised that the gulf between an emergency tent and a proper tent wasn't as great as I expected, both in price and weight.

[blacksheep]

consider the warmth too. Some of the lightweight tents posted above are light because the inner is mostly lightweight no-see-um mesh. The warmth your body creates passes straight out, as do any breezes pass in.
You said initially that you wanted a tent that was suitable for winter conditions, and for use with your your daughter. In my opinion comfort is an important factor here- you want her to love the experience. I feel following some of the reccomedation here may not be in due consideration of what you want to experience . Sometime 150gms of extra weight is more than worth it...don't choose a breezy , mesh inner is my advise.

[sthughes]

consider the warmth too. Some of the lightweight tents posted above are light because the inner is mostly lightweight no-see-um mesh. The warmth your body creates passes straight out, as do any breezes pass in.
You said initially that you wanted a tent that was suitable for winter conditions, and for use with your your daughter. In my opinion comfort is an important factor here- you want her to love the experience. I feel following some of the reccomedation here may not be in due consideration of what you want to experience . Sometime 150gms of extra weight is more than worth it...don't choose a breezy , mesh inner is my advise.

Yeah I'd second that, a tent with a solid inner (instead of mesh) can also allow you to carry a lighter sleeping bag as the tent is much warmer. If just an emergency thing it's not such a big deal, but if you plan to "live" in it a bit in cooler conditions then it's a worthwhile consideration. That Stratospire would appeal to me if it wasn't mesh. Also the solid inner helps stop condensation on the inside of the outer from coming in and wetting your sleeping bags.

[Nuts]

I'm not sure how that stratosphere (can't imagine it anywhere near as strong as a 5/6 sided tipi??) does it but the go with tipis is to just buy one big enough so you don't touch the sides. The base can be pegged into the ground to adjust airflow.

AMK have come out with cheap breathable bivys for emergency use.

The problem with cheap tents is that there is always something lighter (and likely better) available as soon as some free $ (or strong winds) arrive..

[icemancometh]

For more than one a bivy isn't suitable as emergency

More effective to have one of these: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en ... 9,r:6,s:14

or

a windsack
http://www.hilleberg.com/home/products/ ... ndsack.php

at 3kg, the tent becomes a lot more than just emergency...now on those trips where you might not need it, you'll leave it behind then may regret it...as opposed to something 1/6 the weight and size

[Rico]

Yeah I'd second that, a tent with a solid inner (instead of mesh) can also allow you to carry a lighter sleeping bag as the tent is much warmer. If just an emergency thing it's not such a big deal, but if you plan to "live" in it a bit in cooler conditions then it's a worthwhile consideration.

True, a solid inner is nice to have in cooler weather, but it is also limited in its use, as you know if you tried to sleep in a solid inner tent with two other people in a warm night... they become a sauna! If it's very cold you can just bring a warmer pijama, but if it is too warm, sadly you cannot turn on the air conditioning in a tent Also you are going to carry the extra weight every walk, when you need a warmer tent, and when you don't need it.

Rupert is looking for only one tent to use with his family in different weather conditions. He needs a high quality tent that he can use in the widest possible situations, very light but still comfortable, and with a strong structure to keep his family safe in case the weather becomes really ugly. A solid inner in my opinion limits the flexibility of use. As long as the fly is able to stop wind and water from coming in, a inner mesh is a more suitable option in this case. Of course when Rupert and his daughter will want to experience camping on a glacier, they will need to look to specialised gear for that specific environment.

Also I never stop to say to everyone, most of the heat your body lose is because of the contact with the cold ground. A warm pad is more important then a solid inner, and a $5 closed cell pad from Kmart will do just fine. They are bulky and ugly, but they are lighter and warmer then most of the fancy ultralight self inflating mats in the market (including mines ).

Rico

(disclaimer: I sell solid inner tents, and I have more models coming in. Plus I sell both cheap and expensive bivys, I am not trying to push my products here, in my opinion a strong lightweight tent with a full canopy to block the wind is the best choice for Rupert)

[Nuts]

For more than one a bivy isn't suitable as emergency

No? what if they are separated?
Whatever is carried, some thought to everyone having some form of shelter (even a groundsheet)?
The either/or thing makes sense, something to always carry rather than too heavy to bother with on day walks?

[icemancometh]

For more than one a bivy isn't suitable as emergency

No? what if they are separated?
Whatever is carried, some thought to everyone having some form of shelter (even a groundsheet)?
The either/or thing makes sense, something to always carry rather than too heavy to bother with on day walks?

but once you have a couple of people, a bothy or even a tent is more weight efficient and you can share body warmth

[Rico]

at 3kg, the tent becomes a lot more than just emergency...now on those trips where you might not need it, you'll leave it behind then may regret it...as opposed to something 1/6 the weight and size

I agree with you. But here we don't have a hardcore hiker trying to walk a hard route, we have a father going hiking with his young daughter and his wife. Can you immagine them trying to survive in 3 tiny bivys with no space for their gear or to get changed in something dry? I love to sleep in my bivy when I travel solo or with a friend that snores, but I'd never want to do that when I am with my family, especially in an unplanned emergency overnight when they may be scared as well.

Rico

[icemancometh]

at 3kg, the tent becomes a lot more than just emergency...now on those trips where you might not need it, you'll leave it behind then may regret it...as opposed to something 1/6 the weight and size

I agree with you. But here we don't have a hardcore hiker trying to walk a hard route, we have a father going hiking with his young daughter and his wife. Can you immagine them trying to survive in 3 tiny bivys with no space for their gear or to get changed in something dry? I love to sleep in my bivy when I travel solo or with a friend that snores, but I'd never want to do that when I am with my family, especially in an unplanned emergency overnight when they may be scared as well.

Rico

I didnt' suggest the bivy, I suggested an emergency group shelter that is light so it would get carried. Doesn't matter how good a shelter is if it's not there when you need it!

Sounds like he is now after a camping tent instead of an emergency shelter in which case it's a different story

[Franco]

I'm not sure how that stratosphere (can't imagine it anywhere near as strong as a 5/6 sided tipi??)
Well the SS2 happens to be a 6 sided duo mid with two sides supported by the Pitch Lock corner.
That coupled with the two supplied guylines give 4 strong anchoring points , so I happen to think that it is better suited in strong winds than many mids.
You can't get any leverage from just pegging a corner onto the ground, you can however from those corners.


Now of course the point here is where do you stop ?
I see Rupert ending up with a Bibler Bombshelter, you know ...just in case. (add the vestibule to this one)
Franco

[Nuts]

Ha, so it is.. Perhaps (like many TT's) it just 'looks' a bit complex & flimsy.. It seems to have a lot of high surface area(?) to gain space.

[Stibb]

Franco, do you know if a solid inner is in the pipe for the Statospire?
Disregarding the mesh inner (which disqualifies it as a Tas winter tent), which one would be better in bad tassie conditions (wind, rain, sleet), Scarp 2 or Statospire 2?

Looks like a flimsy tent to me but then I know next to nothing about tent design...

And wouldn't Scarp 2 be an option for the OP? A lot lighter than 3kg...

[Rico]

And wouldn't Scarp 2 be an option for the OP? A lot lighter than 3kg...

I really like the Scarp 2, but it is not a 3 person tent

[Stibb]

No, you're right, but this is what he asked for in the first post

Size; a comfortable two and three at a squeeze.

[rupert]

Thanks for all the input. It's very valid point that at 3kg the tent won't be carried all the time. I too considered this. I've had to do some hard thinking about exactly what I require here, which is why I'm grateful for all the input.
One thing I realised is that in all my years of walking, I've never encountered conditions that prevented me returning to the car, unless I already thought there was a possibility, even if it was faint, of this occurring. I've no doubt that it's possible that a two hour return walk to visit a waterfall can go pear shaped enough that you're stranded but, in my experience, you slog it out and walk out. If it really came to the worst, we'd have to move into emergency mode and fall back on space blankets and plastic bags whilst waiting to be rescued. It'd have to be pretty severe or involve personal injury for this to occur and I doubt that I'd be carrying a tent, even a really light one, in this circumstance.
The more likely scenario is a much longer walk running into problems, either weather or track related. These are the situations I'm looking at and for these I'm quite happy to carry a 3kg tent, just in case.
Another point I realised was that if the conditions did get nasty enough that camping was the best option, I'd want a tent that was every bit as good, or better, as one I'd chose for an overnight trip. On a planned overnight trip,especially with family, you choose your camp spot, you do your best to ensure good weather, it's all nice and controlled which is not the case if you get caught out!

[Moondog55]

Valid point Rupert but the thing I noticed with the Megamid was how often I took it as well as the "Proper" tents when I went bushwalking with my kids.
as well as it's use as a group shelter ( it can hold more than 6 in a pinch ) we used it to allow the kids to dress standing up and was a wet weather haven for cooking and eating, I went so far as to sew on a strong loop so we could attach an extra flysheet to connect the tent to the Megamid and have contemplated connecting 2 in line with a huge tarp between them for Easter family gatherings.
A tipi of any reputable make is a valuable addition the the camping arsenal