aTENTtion: advice wanted!!

Warthog

Warthog

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Reliving bike trips whilst sat at my desk....
I fuggin hate my job!!

OK, now that I have that off my chest on to my question.

As some of you may know I'm planning a trip to Argentina in September. Presently we have a average 2 man tent by Eurohike: cheap, cheerful and does the job, but packs down to 60cm x 20cm and weighs about 4kg.

My dad has offered to buy us a tent.

So I need suggestions to suit the following:
It needs to pack down smaller thanabove
It needs to weigh less than above
It needs to be easy to set up (dome preferably)
It needs to be 2 man
It needs to have one of those sort of corners off to the side for storing stuff.

Any suggestions ( not too dear if possible, but anything considered)

Cheers
 
Basically, it sounds like you're after something a bit more specialist than the bog standard small tent. Alas, you get what you pay for.
If you really want lightweight and small, look at http://www.robertsaunders.co.uk/ they are the bees knees in small lightweight tents. Alternatively, if you want the cheaper end, go to a large tent display shop like CCC Outdoors in Coventry and see their selection.
 
They're not the cheapest, but both North Face and Mountain Hardware do some excellent 1/2/3 man tents. I've got a mountain hardware 3 man that comes in at less than 3 and a half kg, and it's old so they probably do better ones now. Although it's extra weight, I'd recommend a footprint sheet to protect the base of the tent. Very happy with mine - easy to put up (even in mad Swiss mountain weather), no real maintenance required. I think I bought mine in Snow and Rock, but they're probably cheaper on the net.

Cheers,
Matt
 
Terra Nova and Robert Saunders for sure.

Remember to pack an additional heavier groundsheet (polythene or the likes) - these lightweight tents have groundsheets that are very easily holed with stones. I know it kind of negates the light weight of the tent, but you may be able to justify it's inclusion if it has other uses?

Al :D
 
Vaude - very good
Macpac - also very good.
I've searched for years for good tents and the ease of putting up along with quality/durability of those two are excellent.
Always look for tents that put up inner and fly all in one easy operation - there are loads of good mountain tents out there, but very few of them meet this criteria.

Nearly forgot - avoid Khayam like the plague. Heavy loads of pegs and can't take a gale without collapsing.
 
Trail Magazine is doing a reveiw on those this month. I don't have a copy to hand, but it might be worth wandering into Smiths to read a copy. :thumb

Alternatively, give Les at TravelDri a ring to have a chat about Exped tents - if I didn't already have a tent, that's where my money would go.
 
Excellant hotels, and only a few quid a night. Why camp.

Eric and Shaun ( two of my customers) come back about month ago after a couple months on their GS's. Good cheap Hotels/apartments everywhere, no need to rough it. They'll advise you :thumb
 
In S. America I would never bothered camping...

Loads of hotels/pensiones everywhere, will usually provide you a parking space and you get to meet the people who run them!

Are you going to Brasil as well???
 
Not Brasil, only Argentian and Chile this time!!

Not discounting hotels and we will use them plenty, but we'd like to rough it a bit. Its the closest to a real adventure I'll get and a few nights under the stars will be nice experienced.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
I work for Khyam so I am a bit biased and I agree that the pegs are awful and the tents are heavy due to the quick erect system, but as for collapsing in a gale, all I can say is it can't have been erected and guyed properly. Anyway, we at www.khyam.co.uk have a new product for this year called a pocket tent, packs very very small and the two man version only weighs 2.2 kilo's, I am taking four of these on my trip to Norway in June, they don't have any poles at all, just throw the straps over your bike, a wall, etc and peg the other side, the inner needs to be put in when erected but then stays in forever and the best thing is, the pocket duo is £40.
 
dperuk said:
I work for Khyam so I am a bit biased and I agree that the pegs are awful and the tents are heavy due to the quick erect system, but as for collapsing in a gale, all I can say is it can't have been erected and guyed properly. Anyway, we at www.khyam.co.uk have a new product for this year called a pocket tent, packs very very small and the two man version only weighs 2.2 kilo's, I am taking four of these on my trip to Norway in June, they don't have any poles at all, just throw the straps over your bike, a wall, etc and peg the other side, the inner needs to be put in when erected but then stays in forever and the best thing is, the pocket duo is £40.
Click to expand...


Think yer site is up the spout there?? Loadsa text, but only a couple of pictures - no product pictures?
 
Not sure what your budget is but take a look at the Terra Nover LaserLarge series - they are very light and have a great porch size - between £200 and £300 mind. I just bought the new 2006 backpacking tent from millets for £40 - 2.8kg, small pack size, flysheet first pitch, 2 man, nice size porch, fire retardent.
 
Its been a while but here's an update.

Firstly, though, thanks to all for all the advice!!

We finally decided on a Robert Saunders Mountain Trek. Not the lightest, but sturdy, well-made and cheaper than the more known brands a la Blacks and Cotswolds...

V chuffed :thumb
 
Vango TBS Micro 250.

Packs up to 40cm x 10cm dia. and weighs very little. Only one pole to put up and the ineer stays attached to the outer, so it's very quick to put up. And they are cheap.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
 
Just done a quick search and found this:- http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http:...3-JAAAAAAAAAAA&sa=X&oi=froogle&ct=result&cd=2

It actually says thay pack to 45x17cm, but it is very easy to pack it smaller, just by the way you roll it up. Mine fits inside the smallest BM system pannier and will also fit into the BM topbow with loads of room to spare for sleeping mat and sleeping bag.

They really are very well made tents with lots of good feature, when I was looking for a tent, i couldn't believe the prices of some that were recomended on this site, and none of them pack as small as the Vango.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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