3-person tents

[Justin1970]

Hi everybody.
Am looking for a 3 person tent for walking and also sea kayaking overnight trips (and a bit of vehicle-based camping).
Was keen on a Macpac Citadel but they're no longer manufactured and don't pop up on ebay that often.
I think i remember black sheep saying there may be a replacement at some stage but not sure.
I have a Macpac Stellar that has proved bulletproof so would love to see a 3-person from macpac built to a similar standard.
However, until such a tent arrives i have broadened my search and was wondering if anybody has feedback on the Exped Venus III? Or another brand that may fit the bill?
Cheers,
Juz

[Drifting]

Go for a Hilleberg Nallo 4- it's palatial for 3.

Most 3 person tents only really fit two, so be careful when you're buying one, and check the widest and narrowest points on the floor. Some, like the Wilderness Equipment First Arrow, are specifically advertised 2/3, but I have no idea how you'd possibly fit 3 in there.

[DonQx]

Hi there,

We've got an Exped V3. Bought it primarily for extended motorcyle camping touring, like a 7 week trip Tas-Darwin-&back. May also use it for sea kayaking and short-distance overnite walks.

Excellent quality (on par or maybe even a little bit better than Macpac methinks).

Huge tent, great vestibules. Integral pitch & outer tent overhanging inner a real bonus if the weather is soggy.

In my books a bit too heavy for walking (~4.8kg? ... not entirely sure, too lazy to check now).

Hilleberg also has a good range of largish tents, worth checking out, top quality & very light relative to size.

Cheers,

a.

[Ent]

Hi

I have two tents claiming to be three man. The MD Kaon which is a three pole dome weighing in at 2.6 kilograms and a Hilleberg Kaitum weighing in at 3.0 kilograms.

The MD Kaon is designed by a Caffè latte camper for a headline low weight but pretty cramped on vestibule space (no way can three 75 litre packs fit in the vestibules without seriously blocking the accesses), condensation trap (no vents in the fly), draughty (low mesh door that can not be closed off), and no ability to cook in. Also the tent is like a lot of three man tents more "standard" height man rather than the over six foot brigade. Also it is inner then outer pitch which might not suit some people in extreme wet weather. A three pole dome design should be quick to pitch but the designer used open mesh pole sleeves so you are forced to feed the pole through carefully to avoid snagging it. The floor is very light weight but with care it has not yet failed. In all a tent designed to impress on specifications but fails when used in the field. Also a pole failure would compromise the outer layer and it needs to be seamed sealed to avoid leaks. The interior is suicide grey which matches the occupants' mood on a wet morning with wet packs, damp sleeping bags and cold breakfast.

The Hilleberg Kaitum is a three pole tunnel design that like most tunnel designs takes a bit of practice to quickly pitch but has been designed by someone that ideal holiday is twenty days trekking in the far north of Sweden with two mates in summer so they can go back in Autumn, Winter and Spring for the same length of time. For extreme mountain climbing there is a ultra tough version but that comes at the cost of heavy weight and smaller dimensions. It is a multi-pitch design so any configuration is possible but for inner only you will need to get the optional pole holders, very cheap and light to buy and carry but unless you are walking in hot climates I would not bother with them. Unless you are seriously over 2000mm (above 2100mm at it has 2200mm of effective floor length) it has plenty of length and it can handle three abreast of such individuals. Under the Hobbit rating system it could take at least five sleeping cross ways so maybe home for seven little Australians? The two vestibules are huge and one can comfortably hold three large packs thus leaving the other for easy access and cooking. The fly is ventilated and the inner can be fully closed off. You can cook in it because Hilleberg acknowledges that is what you need to do in lousy weather. The optional ground sheet is worthwhile considering, not so much to protect the floor but to turn the huge vestibules into clean space. The bright cheery yellow interior can make any weather feel good and has been deliberately designed that way as a suicidal Swede is common in the short winter days so the tent is designed to cheer up snow bound occupants. The pole sleeves are external and extremely robust and the tent has not required seam sealing and not a drop has snuck in. Sure it cost a lot but an unhappy Hilleberg owner is a rare beast. The wonderful thing about the Hilleberg tent range is all the above comments apply across there range as they design their tents to hold the number of packs as well as people and use the same attention to detail in their construction. Basically a tent designed by a person to use themselves to pursue their passion for bush walking rather than by a designer to make money. Only downside apart from cost is it is looooooooooong so unless you are consider the Nallo which is better suited to the under 6'2" masses.

Life is too short to be miserable so consider the cost as the privilege of sleeping in a Hilleberg Hilton.

Cheers Brett

[Justin1970]

Thanks everyone. Will look more closely at the Exped and Hilleberg options.
Cheers,
Juz