New (to me) backpacking tent from Terra Nova

[Morety]

Terra Nova Pioneer 2: This one's been out a while but was recently replaced by the Terra Nova Pioneer Lite, so some good deals to be had on a new one if you can find the last of the Mk 2 (2022 onwards) Pioneer Compact 2. This weighs about 1,9kg without the bags, just rolled up in my backpack with poles in one of the side pockets. I managed to snag mine at close on half price, never used, new in its original packing.

It's a free standing semi geo poled design using two poles, the upgraded version (mine's a 2023 model) using top spec DAC poles (8.7mm) and a decent set of pegs compared to the originals which bent like pipe cleaners!

Very durable and very well made with a decent heavy denier groundsheet and sil nylon flysheet. Ventilation is excellent (zero condensation so far) as is its abilities to stand up to a real battering in high winds. I intend using it for bike trips, camping and for backpacking. Obvious comparisons will be made with the newer WC Helm Compact and Helm Elite tents from the same stable, but I got mine way cheaper than a new Helm elite 2, and comparing both, (looked at the helm elite an our local camp shop) the Pioneer is clearly a cut above in quality, in fact there's no comparison even if the helm tents have some design advantages (like the twin vestibules). If on a tight budget, the Helm 2 is still a cracking good alternative.

If you can't find a new old stock one of these, there's always the newer Pioneer Lite but the catch is it costs £550 with the footprint and is currently out of stock (I was informed they are still in their current line up and they may get more made up with the newer ones coming with the same DAC poles as my mk2 Pioneer compact), or a little more spendy, the excellent Southern Cross 2 at £800

 

[Udders]

Happy camping!

 

[Morety]

Had my first camp out in it. No way you could get 2 people into it but it was fine with just me. Impressed with ventilation....was out in overcast conditions that cleared and turned very cool overnight and there was a very heavy dew next morning. Inside of flysheet was damp but inner tent was completely dry. Temps dipped to low double figures but tent was warm and cosy, and despite a brisque breeze it didn't flap about annoyingly and thanks to the high vents, no breeze came into the inner tent low down (I had pegged it out with the flysheet tight to the ground. Pockets at foot end would be better up at the head end and could do with a rethink as they flop open on one side if you try and store anything bulky in them, but I can forgive it that as no tent is perfect. Took literally 5 minutes to set it up plus a few more minutes adjusting guy lines. Easy to get in and out of and plenty of headroom which I like. Weight in the backpack was a none issue. Carry bag dispensed with and ultralight dac poles stashed in side pocket, tend bundled into base of pack. Tent dried out very quickly next day and despite fly being damp, no additional sag apparent (no adjusting guys needed) which must be something to do with the weave they use in the 20D Sil Nylon, I've seen other sil Nylon tents sag and touch the inner with just dew on them, but not this one. Highly recommended, and my new favourite tent I think. Newer Lite 2 version can still be bought at RRP simply by buying inner, outer and poles separately (£550 total) direct from Terra Nova, despite no complete tents showing in stock presently.

 

[Udders]

A small micro fibre cloth is handy to give the tent a wipe over with to get rid of most water.

 

[Morety]

A small micro fibre cloth is handy to give the tent a wipe over with to get rid of most water.

Yes, I usually carry one for that reason.

 

[Barnoe]

ive been looking at the Southern Cross 2.
Really like the layout, the 2 doors giving many options and can change as wind does.

I have a flagged garden and a free standing tent means i can put it up to modify, clean and dry off if necessary.
still light enough for hiking with too.

I did fancy the Lanshan pole tents but users complain they are cold and draughty which put me off.

 

[G&T]

I have the Terra Nova Voyager, bought around 25 years ago as it was one of the lightest (1.75kg I think) for high mountain wild camps. The taping has now failed a bit, but fine as I only consider fair weather days. A brilliant tent.

 

[Morety]

I have the Terra Nova Voyager, bought around 25 years ago as it was one of the lightest (1.75kg I think) for high mountain wild camps. The taping has now failed a bit, but fine as I only consider fair weather days. A brilliant tent.

View attachment 541191

If you send it off to Terra Nova, they can replace the taped seams for you. Probably worthwhile, along with a gentle clean of the flysheet and some new DWR applied?

 

[Morety]

When I got back from my trip, I weighed the tent inner, outer and poles/pegs. Came to under 1.8Kg with bags removed so looks like mine is one of the latest versions prior to the "light" version.

 

[Northern jock]

I’m a little obsessed with pack weight and for a few years I’ve had a Scarp 1

Scarp 1+ – Tarptent

A weather-proof pod with low fly edges, double walls, and generous living space –you’ll sleep warm, dry, and secure whether pitching on Mt. Rainier or biking across the Scottish Highlands.

www.tarptent.com

I bought one of these last year to save a couple of hundred grams, packed weight about 1kg

X-Dome 1+

The X-Dome 1+ combines our innovative X-Mid floorplan with a freestanding tent pole structure to create unprecedented spaciousness, stormworthiness, and simplicity for an ultralight tent. It is the ideal freestanding shelter for any solo hiker.

durstongear.com

Both capable of surviving most Scottish weather if put up properly, as are most decent tents. The £50 festival tents are best kept away from the high hills.

I have a heavier one that comes on bike trips, about 2.5kg, Marmot Limelight 2, plenty room for me and my kit

 

[Udders]

Durston do make some nice well thought out tents.

 

[Barnoe]

I’m a little obsessed with pack weight and for a few years I’ve had a Scarp 1

Scarp 1+ – Tarptent

A weather-proof pod with low fly edges, double walls, and generous living space –you’ll sleep warm, dry, and secure whether pitching on Mt. Rainier or biking across the Scottish Highlands.

www.tarptent.com

I bought one of these last year to save a couple of hundred grams, packed weight about 1kg

X-Dome 1+

The X-Dome 1+ combines our innovative X-Mid floorplan with a freestanding tent pole structure to create unprecedented spaciousness, stormworthiness, and simplicity for an ultralight tent. It is the ideal freestanding shelter for any solo hiker.

durstongear.com

Both capable of surviving most Scottish weather if put up properly, as are most decent tents. The £50 festival tents are best kept away from the high hills.

I have a heavier one that comes on bike trips, about 2.5kg, Marmot Limelight 2, plenty room for me and my kit

Whats you honest opinion of the X dome?

I nearly pulled the trigger on ordering one last week with a footprint.
Before i did i decided to watch a few youtube videos.

I watched this and it put me off.

Ive moved my attention to the Southern Cross 1 now.

its been a bugger deciding, this all started with a Lanshan pole tent, then Durston X mid.
But i hate being cold so wanted something less draughty.

I was going for a multi day hike this weekend, but ive put it off while i get a tent.
So will just be a day hike for now.
Just bought a new backpack the Osprey Atmos AG 65, so needs testing

 

[Morety]

Southern Cross 1 would be a much stronger tent imho. Short of paying more for a Hilleberg Soulo, the Southern Cross is a bit of a no brainer, if a little heavier. TN have upgraded their latest DAC poles to 9mm ultralight (similar to the Soulo); their anchor system and guys have been re-thought and strengthened and the 2026 model is 28% roomier than the outgoing model. If buying new now and I hadn't already got a Pioneer 2, the Southern Cross is the one I'd pick.

 

[Northern jock]

Whats you honest opinion of the X dome?

I nearly pulled the trigger on ordering one last week with a footprint.
Before i did i decided to watch a few youtube videos.

I watched this and it put me off.

Ive moved my attention to the Southern Cross 1 now.

its been a bugger deciding, this all started with a Lanshan pole tent, then Durston X mid.
But i hate being cold so wanted something less draughty.

I was going for a multi day hike this weekend, but ive put it off while i get a tent.
So will just be a day hike for now.
Just bought a new backpack the Osprey Atmos AG 65, so needs testing

I suspect she’d have struggled with any tent. Whichever you buy I’d go for the solid inner option if there is one, a lot of tents have a mesh inner which might be fine in California summer but not in a lot of Europe.

Always hard to decide but there are as many opinions as there are tents

The Scarp with optional crossing poles and solid inner is a very strong tent, as I’m sure are your other options

 

[Barnoe]

Whichever you buy I’d go for the solid inner option if there is one, a lot of tents have a mesh inner which might be fine in California summer but not in a lot of Europe.

Agree with this.

Many tents have lots of airflow to stop condensation, but at the same time it doesnt retain any heat and lets cold air in, up on the mountains in Scotland its going to be freezing and I'm not talking about winter either.
What you save on the tent you then have to spend extra on your sleep system.

I slept up on the mountains above Glencoe about 5 years ago in September.
looks lovely down below with mountain bikers riding the slopes. I took the lift up and wandered off.

I learned a lot about my kit that night... i was freezing and got no sleep whatsoever lol
I had an Outwell earth 2 tent at the time which was great but the poles kept snapping, after a season i stopped using it.

 

[Morety]

I suspect she’d have struggled with any tent. Whichever you buy I’d go for the solid inner option if there is one, a lot of tents have a mesh inner which might be fine in California summer but not in a lot of Europe.

Always hard to decide but there are as many opinions as there are tents

The Scarp with optional crossing poles and solid inner is a very strong tent, as I’m sure are your other options

I suspect relatively few people actually choose to camp in near freezing conditions in the UK unless their bag is mountain camping over 4 seasons, where a solid inner prevents some of the drafts but condensation can be a problem with some. For most though, a decent outer pitch first, three season tent capable of standing up to strong gusts will tick more boxes for a majority of UK backpackers where our climate is more likely to be wet and windy. I'd rather be dry and have decent ventilation and carry a really good sleep system than use an inner pitch first or solid inner tent. There's a few good options as mentioned above (Southern Cross and Hilleberg) but also if some extra weight can be managed, some very robust tents like the Varde 1 & 2 tents (strong but I wouldn't want to pay that much personally nor deal with that extra weight). At the budget end there's also tents proven to take a battering that can be double poled, like the Helm which has been incredibly popular (every other tent I saw in the Lakes this year seemed to be a helm!). MSR does a few interesting options too although their QC seems a bit suspect these days, and Vango's new higher end range have apparently been wind tested and seem very robust for similar money to the mid priced Terra Nova options, if a bit heavier.

 

[Barnoe]

I suspect relatively few people actually choose to camp in near freezing conditions in the UK unless their bag is mountain camping over 4 seasons, where a solid inner prevents some of the drafts but condensation can be a problem with some. For most though, a decent outer pitch first, three season tent capable of standing up to strong gusts will tick more boxes for a majority of UK backpackers where our climate is more likely to be wet and windy. I'd rather be dry and have decent ventilation and carry a really good sleep system than use an inner pitch first or solid inner tent. There's a few good options as mentioned above (Southern Cross and Hilleberg) but also if some extra weight can be managed, some very robust tents like the Varde 1 & 2 tents (strong but I wouldn't want to pay that much personally nor deal with that extra weight). At the budget end there's also tents proven to take a battering that can be double poled, like the Helm which has been incredibly popular (every other tent I saw in the Lakes this year seemed to be a helm!). MSR does a few interesting options too although their QC seems a bit suspect these days, and Vango's new higher end range have apparently been wind tested and seem very robust for similar money to the mid priced Terra Nova options, if a bit heavier.

Sometimes you don't intend on sleeping in freezing conditions though.
The day can be lovely then at night with no cloud coverage, the temp drops significantly to close to or below zero.

Same with the wind, ive gone to sleep in calm conditions only to be woken at 2am with the tent flapping and had to go out and check pegs.

the UK weather really is a test for tents.... and us!

For this reason i would never buy a summer only tent for UK camping, you could end up in a flash flood and severe gales.
Always buy a 3-4 season strong tent just in case shit hits the fan.

Weather is nicer in the USA but they have other issues like Snakes and Bears..... think i like the rough weather better

 

[Morety]

Yes, I've been there frequently but in the past I neglected the importance of a really decent sleep system which makes using any 3 season tent bearable in the conditions you mention. You do end up carrying a little extra weight but it's worth it to remain warm. The pioneer is a very well vented 3/4 season tent. I wouldn't use anything else now. A mate has the UL Lanshan 2 and raved about it until caught out on Dartmoor in wet and windy condions....it proved less than reliable for those conditions. He woke soaked through due to condensation, the tent fly once wet sags onto the inner and the wind whips through it without the solid inner, which really still doesn't make it a true 4 season option. Fine for more sheltered lowland camping, but wouldn't be my choice for the hills.