Bushwalk Australia

Hi all,

I'm a newbie seeking some advice on a tent purchase. I've done a lot of car camping and have recently been doing a lot of day walks and am looking now to do some overnighters with a view to getting out on the Cape to Cape and Bibbulmun.

I currently have a tent that is ok if conditions are good when it comes time to pitch. It's 2.1kg, has a decent sized vestibule and has been fine for use in car camping. It packs small enough to carry. A major problem with it is that it's freestanding with the skin, for want of a better word, comprised entirely of no-see-um mesh sown to the floor/ground sheet. The fly then attaches to this structure. It is not possible, or at least not remotely straight forward, to pitch this tent when it is raining without getting the internals soaking wet.

I've had a look at several in the $300- $400 range (which I'd like to stay in if possible), but most seem to have one problem or another. I won't be in the snow but will be in rain and strong winds at times so a solid, well designed, 3 season number will do it. Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers

Just noticed the unanswered post McWade.

You could try the Tarptent Stratospire or Notch - both integral pitch shelters within your price range. They can also be used with trekking poles for more stability and to save weight.

The Aarn Pacer tents are integral pitch and backpackinglight.com.au have them for a good price. There's a thread about them on the forum and they get a good rap.

... and welcome to the forums !

I'm also considering the TT SS or Notch. Though leaning towards the SS for the extra internal space.

How many people are you hoping to accommodate?

look through the recent posts there are couple at least that are people asking pretty much what you're asking with all the responses

Dale wrote:\They can also be used with trekking poles for more stability and to save weight.

and here i was thinking that a couple of tent poles would weigh less than a couple of walking poles

frenchy_84 wrote:

Dale wrote:\They can also be used with trekking poles for more stability and to save weight.

and here i was thinking that a couple of tent poles would weigh less than a couple of walking poles

Save ADDITIONAL weight would be more accurate.

Also, alternative poles for such shelters are reportedly nowhere near as strong as their trekking cousins.

frenchy_84 wrote:

Dale wrote:\They can also be used with trekking poles for more stability and to save weight.

and here i was thinking that a couple of tent poles would weigh less than a couple of walking poles

Cute - of course trekking poles only save weight if you already use them for walking, and as Strider points out are stronger than the 'supplied' tent poles.

Dale wrote:
The Aarn Pacer tents are integral pitch and backpackinglight.com.au have them for a good price. There's a thread about them on the forum and they get a good rap.

... and welcome to the forums !

Late this afternoon I spoke to the people at Backpackinglight and the AARN Pacer 1 tents are no longer available, Backpackinglight have run out stock, apparently AARN has stopped making the current model Pacer 1 and is going to bring out a improved version of the Pacer tent sometime next year.

Tony

Tony wrote:

Dale wrote:
The Aarn Pacer tents are integral pitch and backpackinglight.com.au have them for a good price. There's a thread about them on the forum and they get a good rap.

... and welcome to the forums !

Late this afternoon I spoke to the people at Backpackinglight and the AARN Pacer 1 tents are no longer available, Backpackinglight have run out stock, apparently AARN has stopped making the current model Pacer 1 and is going to bring out a improved version of the Pacer tent sometime next year.

Tony

Thanks for this Tony. Might be worth waiting for!

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for the replies. Apologies for not responding sooner, I've been super busy with work and since posting have discovered, quite unexpectedly, that I'm going to be a Dad soon for the first time.

I'm leaning towards holding off for the new model Aarn Pacer when it arrives. The tent only needs to accommodate 1. The tent I'm currently using is an Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2. It's been good but is a pain to pitch in rain without getting the internal space wet and is a little bulky in the pack. I've tried using walking poles and have found them difficult to get accustomed to but after a few spills on pea-gravel lately and suffering on long stretches of soft sand I now see their value and will be going that way.

Thanks again for the replies.

Clint