Bushwalk Australia

I am looking for a 3 man tent to take my 2 teenage boys along the Overland track. Considerations are the ability to handle high wind, rain and some snow loading, but not weighing a tonne. I had thought about the WE I Explore, WE I Shadow and even the Vango Tempest 300. Does anyone have any experience with these, or any feedback?

The I Shadow would be very 'cozy', I wouldn't go that way. The I Explore is a similar design to one of my tents and I find it quite good, although the vestibules aren't huge for 3. but ok. We tent's I have seen are always good quality.
I Have heard mixed reviews of Vango stuff and would probably avoid due to the single vestibule and low height at the rear, but looks ok.
Depending how deep your pockets are Hilleberg make a couple of nice 3 man tents in the Kaitum and Keron. Otherwise 4ish season 3 man lightweightish tents are a little hard to come by.

I've heard the Vango tempest hold up in the wind and just prior to our drop in the dollar, I could pick one up for about $200.

Taureana has a Vango tent- I'd ask her about them.

I'd be looking at 4-man tents, as most three man tents are too small for three men- I think they maybe should be called "The Male Munchkin" tents.

I have a Coleman Phad X3, part of their extreme range, which until recently being cancelled, was sold by many of the local outfitters to people doing the OT. It will fit three people at around 6 foot, snugly, and has a nice big vestibule. Mine's for sale if you are interested.... New they were only around $240, and it's a pretty nice tent. Weighs around 4kg, and is an internal pitch design.

I just went through this myself- we needed a three man tent with a bit of room, as one of the "men" is a 6yo girl who consumes more space than a burly lumberjack. I bought the Phad- found it barely roomy enough though a bit too short, and we decided to upgrade to a Hilleberg Nallo 4GT. Now that is one serious tent- absolutely awesome. Never a drop of condensation, cool in the Summer and warm in the Winte. But oh man was it expensive!

If I were you, I'd be looking overseas, and they have a far greater range. http://www.moontrail.com, http://www.backcountry.com, http://www.rei.com, http://www.rockcreek.com are all places I've gotten gear from and found to be dependable.

Make sure that the tent will fit 3 50cm ground mats side by side, or else it will run the chance of being too small.

The Hogback by Tarptent would be an awesome choice, and it weights nothing, but it's only a 3-season tent, and the manufacturer is a bit hesitant about its suitability for Tassie. You could ask him though- depending on what season you were planning on. http://www.tarptent.com

Here's a range of trhings, but I don't personally know anything about them.

This'd be my choice, if you were going to use it again.

http://www.moontrail.com/tents/hilleberg_nallo4.php


http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0593M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0046M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0403M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0004M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0308M.html

I don't think the Vango tempest would comfortably fit 3- check some of the sites it's sold on and have a look at the foot print.

Ok, it sounds like 3 man tents are not the go. What are my options in a 4 man?

See the above links. Or maybe two, two man tents? Might be more flexible and cheaper.

Other than the OT, where are you going to be hiking?

Surely a separate tent for the boys would be better.

I have no doubt that by the end of the OT you'll all be ready to slit one another's throats if you're sharing tent space all the way.

Working on what NNW has said, you could go for two Tarptents Scarp2 tents- one for the boys and one for you and the excess gear. Then, when there are only two of you interesting in taking a walk you've got a light tent, 2 man tent.

Are the tarp tents capable of handling a bit of harsh weather?

The Scarps are a genuine 4 season tent. There are a couple of reviews here somewhere.

Brett and Corvus tested one out last week or so, compared it to a Hilleberg, and quite favourably.

gisborne612 wrote:Are the tarp tents capable of handling a bit of harsh weather?

G'day gisbourne612,
I have only just acquired my Scarp 1 and used in in benign conditions so far but got it for harsh 4 season conditions ,check out Chris Townsend on Google re Scarp
for a good honest review in pretty adverse conditions and I dont think he had the 4 season Fly.
For me so far so good with space performance and ease of set up.
corvus

The Nallo 4 Gt mentionjed would have to be the least weight for the most space, and strong... As a bonus, the weight would divide neatly between the two of them