two person hiking tent recommendations?

[RSD]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good two person four season hiking tent? Or advice on how what to look for when selecting one? It will be for use in Tassie in winter.

[Franco]

I will not recommend you one but some suggestions...
To have one tent that covers all seasons you need to compromise.
So if you get one that holds a lot of snow and really high winds you end up with a heavy and possibly too hot summer tent.
The ideal summer tent isn't going to be any good in the deep of winter...
Most will disagree but just think of your clothing, works the same way... (or close enough)

Your size matters. The ideal tent for me (at 172cm) maybe too small for you...
(works the other way around too)

If you are experienced in setting up tents and or picking good sites you can get away with lighter tents than others that are not.


A thick mat eats up linear floor space (in all but tents with vertical walls) . Some people sleep curled up. Some do that on top of a really thin mat..
So a person that is 172cm may find that he cannot fit comfortably inside a tent that one at 180cm does...

BTW, a 4kg tent split in two is 2kg each, however a 2kg tent is still half of the weight regardless if you can or cannot physically split it..
(just in case... you carry the 2kg tent and give your mate 1kg of your food , then you will be even)
Lastly a great tent for 2 climbers up on a ledge will be far too small for two campers below.
Franco

[RSD]

To have one tent that covers all seasons you need to compromise.
So if you get one that holds a lot of snow and really high winds you end up with a heavy and possibly too hot summer tent.

This tent will be for winter usage in Tasmania.

The ideal summer tent isn't going to be any good in the deep of winter...

Even in summer you want a decent tent in Tassie - I've seen it snow on a bushfire on Boxing Day there.

Your size matters. The ideal tent for me (at 172cm) maybe too small for you...

I'm 183cm, SWMBO barely hits 150cm

If you are experienced in setting up tents and or picking good sites you can get away with lighter tents than others that are not.

Given the way that the weather can turn nasty very quickly in Tassie I would prefer to have a tent that is suitable for less than ideal sites - much better to be able to pitch it quickly on a less ideal site than having to look for a better site and then pitch it in driving rain.

A thick mat eats up linear floor space (in all but tents with vertical walls) . Some people sleep curled up. Some do that on top of a really thin mat..
So a person that is 172cm may find that he cannot fit comfortably inside a tent that one at 180cm does...

Neither of us sleep curled up so one that suits my 183cm should suit her as well.

BTW, a 4kg tent split in two is 2kg each, however a 2kg tent is still half of the weight regardless if you can or cannot physically split it..
(just in case... you carry the 2kg tent and give your mate 1kg of your food , then you will be even)

I will be doing the carrying of the tent due to SWMBO's small stature, less weight is obviously better but I'm OK with about 4kg of tent.

[Franco]

OK
How about design likes /dislikes ?
For example
front/side entry,
freestanding or not,
integral pitch (fly and inner up together) or not important
dome/tunnel/pyramid preference
fabric preference
and as I think of it colour...
Franco

[RSD]

OK
How about design likes /dislikes ?

front/side entry

I would prefer front entry with a vestibule at each end.

freestanding or not

Prefer freestanding

integral pitch (fly and inner up together) or not important

Integral pitch would be nice but isn't absolutely essential

dome/tunnel/pyramid preference

I have no real preference here, the other factors including weight will probably decide this in the end

fabric preference

I don't have enough knowledge of the various fabrics so I'm going to need guidance on these - obviously fabrics that are highly waterproof would be the go for Tassie.

and as I think of it colour...

Something highly visible - if something should go wrong then a tent in a colour that doesn't blend into the surroundings is obviously going to help you be seen/found.

[sthughes]

Hilleberg Kaitum or Allak (or Nallo if you get on well)
One Planet Goondie 3 (or Goondie 2 if you get on very, very well!)
Tarptent Scarp 2 (with crossing poles and ground sheet)

For only occasional use I'd go the Scarp 2, if for regular use (or you're rough on gear) the Hillebergs or One Planets.


Edit: Front entry/dual vestibules/high vis means Kaitum (in red) - easy.

Edir 2: Oops not free standing

[sthughes]

MSR Holler or Mutha Hubba HP - not strictly 4 season but should be good enough with optional guys?

[norts]

Also WE First Arrow,& Macpac Olympus Tunnel tent, integral pitch, front and back vestibule.

Roger

[sthughes]

I could be wrong but I believe with the new Olympus they have ruined them by deleting the rear vestibule, making it an entry/exit only? The old Olympus was great - was a lot like the Hilleberg Kaitum.

The First Arrows are very tough (although I must say advertising them as 3 person is bollocks!)

[frenchy_84]

The Nallo 2 has only one vestibule but apart from that it ticks most of the boxes.

[ninjapuppet]

Youre happy with carrying about 4kgs?

Then it sounds like the mountain hardwear trango or north face ve 25 are the traditional choices

[ninjapuppet]

Oops on the double post. Those 2 tents suggested should do the job. Totally overkill in my opinion though


or if freestanding isnt really a big concern for you, how about one of those new roger caffin tents?

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=64979

[Stuntman]

Exped Orion - seems to tick most of the boxes

[Gusto]

Oops on the double post. Those 2 tents suggested should do the job. Totally overkill in my opinion though


or if freestanding isnt really a big concern for you, how about one of those new roger caffin tents?

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=64979

That's impressive.

[Franco]

or if freestanding isnt really a big concern for you, how about one of those new roger caffin tents?


Small details...
The 3 season version is due out in spring 2014 . If that sells than the 4 season version will be produced later on...
Franco

[RSD]

Given that
a) it's Tassie - glorious one minute, pissing down the next
b) the minimal room in the 2 person tents
c) not much of a weight increase

I'm thinking that we might be better off getting a three person tent so as we can store the packs inside completely out of the weather - it wouldn't be hard in Tassie to have water flowing through a vestibule. Any suggestions for a three person, four season tent? Would want one with a very waterproof floor.

[ninjapuppet]

Youre happy with carrying about 4kgs?

Then it sounds like the mountain hardwear trango or north face ve 25 are the traditional choices

both of these can come in 3 person configurations.

VE 25
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/equipment-tents/ve-25_2.html

Trango 3
http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-hardwear-trango-3.1-tent-3-person-4-season-mhw1052

both can be obtained very cheap on the 2nd hand market around $300-400 in good as new condition.

[frenchy_84]

Hilleberg Nallo 3 with optional footprint that covers the vestible. I have the Nallo 2 and have no issues with it in rain etc

[Nuts]

Frenchy, your blog, man of few words??

Nallos good, where 'in Tassie in winter' RSD? A true winter tent will be not so useful in WA, not the best outside of winter in the mountains??

[Mountain Rocket]

A true winter tent will be not so useful in WA, not the best outside of winter in the mountains??

I was under the impression the tent was going to be used explicitly in Tasmania's winter months.

[Nuts]

I'm of the view that a tent such as Nallo is not entirely 'necessary' in Tassie (even in winter). It gets the tick in most tassie tent topics but would be the last tent i would choose for anywhere/anytime other than the mountains in winter. Of course RSD may really mean Only Tassie in winter/ multiple ridgetop walks.. but (eg) I wouldn't buy one if it was just the OLT or sth coast one off.. (i'm guessing many would..)

RSD notes needing a good tent in summer in Tassie so probably doesn't look at it from the same angle (a 'good' tent being a winter tent I presume?) but anyhow.. just another question (and view)..

[roysta]

If you are talking winter but freestanding isn't absolutely crucial, the Nallo 3 with a footprint.

[RSD]

It's for winter use in Tassie as already stated, including areas like the Walls of Jerusalem etc. It will also be used for some fly fishing in the lakes as well from August onwards. We may buy a summer tent as well for fishing use - provided SWMBO doesn't outfish me during the early part of the season.

We've talked it over and have decided that freestanding is a must for us which rules out the Hillebergs unfortunately - we were looking seriously at a Kaitum 3.

[frenchy_84]

Why must it be freestanding? you will have no trouble pitching non freestanding tents in the areas mentioned. Even on rocky camp sites like on Anne shelf camp you can manage to pitch a non freestanding tent easily enough.

[RSD]

Why must it be freestanding? you will have no trouble pitching non freestanding tents in the areas mentioned. Even on rocky camp sites like on Anne shelf camp you can manage to pitch a non freestanding tent easily enough.

The only spot back home where we can set it up to let it air out/dry out after a trip isn't suitable for a non-freestanding tent.

[sthughes]

Perhaps?
http://www.moontrail.com/black-diamond-squall.php
or
http://www.oneplanet.com.au/goondie/goondie-3-30d.html

Everything else seems to be more in the 4-5kg mark, which I think is just getting a bit nuts for normal use in Tassie.

[Strider]

Why must it be freestanding? you will have no trouble pitching non freestanding tents in the areas mentioned. Even on rocky camp sites like on Anne shelf camp you can manage to pitch a non freestanding tent easily enough.

The only spot back home where we can set it up to let it air out/dry out after a trip isn't suitable for a non-freestanding tent.

Do you not have a washing line?

[RSD]

Do you not have a washing line?

No.

[Strider]

Do you not have a washing line?

No.

Bugger!

[Nuts]

It's for winter use in Tassie as already stated, including areas like the Walls of Jerusalem etc. It will also be used for some fly fishing in the lakes as well from August onwards. We may buy a summer tent as well for fishing use - provided SWMBO doesn't outfish me during the early part of the season.

We've talked it over and have decided that freestanding is a must for us which rules out the Hillebergs unfortunately - we were looking seriously at a Kaitum 3.

Hilleberg are good quality, but yes, Kaitum isn't freestanding. Saivo is but you may also consider their Allak (or Staika), both 2 up but the double entry/vestibule will feel bigger (especially for over 6') than Nallo style and with more usable vestibule space.. The other European brands might have similar suitable options.