1-2 person 4 season tent selection?

[findbuddha]

Looking for some advice on tents. I’m looking for (preferably) one tent to do it all but will get 2 if necessary. Most of my camping will be in SE QLD, but I’m setting my sights on the following trips:

• Overland track
• Milford / Routeburn tracks
• Annapurna circuit / EBC

I know there are huts / teahouses on the above but I’d like to have the option of using the tent when needed/preferred.

I am tall (6’4”) so need a tent with good length and internal height. Other than that requirement my preferences are:
• 1, 1+ or 2 person
• Freestanding or ‘self-supporting’
• Integral pitch
• Light weight
• Possibility for through-ventilation

The following tents have hit my short list. It seems like a bit of an odd variety at the moment but it’s hard for me to know what level of 4 season I will need.

• TT Moment / Dual Moment
o +Light
o +Cheap
o +Integral pitch
o +Mesh and solid inners available
o –Less durable floor
o -? Not windproof enough

• TT Scarp1/2
o +Lightish
o +Cheap
o +Integral pitch
o +Mesh and solid inners available
o +Scarp1 can fit 2 if necessary
o –Less durable floor

• OP Goondie 2
o +Mesh and solid inners available
o +Choice of fly weights
o +Durable floor
o –Inner first pitch

• Exped Venus II UL and Extreme
o +Integral pitch
o –Getting heavier and more expensive

• Hilleberg Rogen
o +Integral pitch
o +Hilleberg quality
o –Hilleberg price

• Hilleberg Allak or Kaitum
o +Integral pitch
o +Hilleberg 4 season quality
o +Slightly more spacious
o –Hilleberg price
o –Getting heavy

Thanks!

[north-north-west]

The floors on the Tarptents are solid enough and a Tyvek footprint will help protect them while adding very little to the weight.
If you can afford it, my personal choice would be one of the Tarptents for your local walking and the Kaitum for the Alpine stuff. You can always split the load with the heavier tent if you're going to be sharing it with someone.

[Scottyk]

Tents are about the most discussed item on this forum and so the search function will certainly help you out.
All of the tents you have listed are ok, maybe if you have some specific questions about a tent that would help.

[Joomy]

Consider the Big Sky Chinook 2P.

[Drew]

• Overland track
• Milford / Routeburn tracks
• Annapurna circuit / EBC

I know there are huts / teahouses on the above but I’d like to have the option of using the tent when needed/preferred.

Bases on my experience walking the 3 Passes and EBC last year (October), I think you'd be mad to camp. It's too *&%$#! cold! Most days we finished walking by early to mid afternoon. Most days the clouds would roll in by early to mid afternoon too. You can then spend the arvo lazing around in the teahouse (where it's still usually cold but at least comfy). The fire normally comes on about 5pm and then it's nice and toasty inside. There would be a few amazing spots to camp (not so much on EBC route as on 3 Passes) but you'd probably be in your sleeping bag at 3 or 4pm and remaining in it until you start walking the next morning! Plus there's the added weight of not just the tent but mat, stove, pot, food... No thanks.

Still, each to their own!

[RonK]

I've been in quite a few camping treks in Nepal, and I've not found tenting any worse than a cold stone teahouse. If you go there in October you'd better be prepared for cold.
That said, it's rare to see private tents. Tea houses are relatively inexpensive, and any surely the essence of trekking is to meet the locals and experience the culture.

[weeds]

Mate.......every bit of Bushwalker gear does
You head in.....so much to research.

We ended up with Goondi 2.

Out of interest what's the Benefit of be able set up the outer first?? Is it for if one chooses mesh inner??

We considered TY, OP and Exped

[Avatar]

Marginal benefit in my view. Others will disagree.
You can set up the tent in rain and keep the inner dry.
Also just set up the fly for a rainy lunch stop.
Which fly and inner did you get?

[weeds]

We purchased a G2 and a G3

G2 with solid inner and the lighter outer.

G3 with mesh inner and heavier outer. Our thoughts are for When it's just the two of us for summer, more room, mesh only.

Breaking the G2 in the weekend after next.

[north-north-west]

Marginal benefit in my view. Others will disagree.
You can set up the tent in rain and keep the inner dry.

If you've ever been hit with a major storm and needed to get out of the weather as quickly as possible to protect your personal safety, you'll understand. Integral pitch is quicker, it gives you the option of separating the inner for packing if the fly is wet, and keeps the inner dry when pitching. Keeping as dry as possible is one major factor in avoiding hypothermia.

[johnrs]

Hi FB
Tenting is not that common on Annapurna or EBC walks.
Its busy around the villages and space is owned.
In NZ the weather can be extreme and people tend to hut it.
The tent platforms on the OT are mostly sheltered

So in this instance you will be carrying a tent that will be used infrequently
or in less extreme situations
And you are tall.
So if you use walking poles a TT Stratospire 2 might suit,
and be cool enough for SE Qland???
John

[Franco]

No tents allowed on the Milford Track.
I did part of the Annapurna Trail with the Tarptent Contrail but only because the rest of the group had booked tent space and were using the typical 1" poles A frame tents. Only saw groups using tents, not individuals (yes you need to pay for the space, probably more than staying inside a lodge)
I would not use most of those tents at EBC. (including the Scarp...) but the one on your list that I would is not the tent of choice here apart maybe in winter.

[RonK]

On the Annapurna Circuit it would be all tea houses. But tea houses are usually cheap if you eat there as well. Camping will cost more if you bring your own kitchen crew.
But I have camped in some remote and stunning locations in those old tents. There are four memorable and completely isolated camps on the Dhaulagiri Circuit, three more on the Kangchenjunga Circuit.

[findbuddha]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Sorry for my late-night/half-asleep/lack-of-specific-questions post. I have read as many threads on this forum as I can, but it can be hard to translate other people's experiences to my needs

Point taken about the NZ and Nepal treks re. tents. I'd still like to carry some form of emergency shelter though, and I'm not sure whether I'd go for a tent or lightweight bivy.

Thanks for the Stratospire suggestion johnrs, but I don't currently walk with poles.

The Big Sky Chinook 2p looks fantastic in terms of functionality, but I'm a bit concerned by the lack of reviews and questions of supply. I'll look into it further. The other tent I considered for the list in my post was the MSR Hubba Hubba NX but I felt it was probably more on the 3-season side of things?

Q: Are any of the following tents NOT adequate for the OLT ('3-season' Tas conditions)
- TT Moment DW (Solid Inner)
- Exped Venus II UL
- Hilleberg Rogen
- MSR Hubba Hubba NX (I might as well ask)

[icefest]

Q: Are any of the following tents NOT adequate for the OLT ('3-season' Tas conditions)
- TT Moment DW (Solid Inner)
- Exped Venus II UL
- Hilleberg Rogen
- MSR Hubba Hubba NX (I might as well ask)

If by OLT you mean "camp next to the huts" then they're all fine.

If you mean "do the OLT and camp away from the crowds - preferably on hills" then they might suffer in the wind.

[findbuddha]

Thanks for all your replies everyone . I ended up taking a bit of a leap of faith and purchased a Big Sky Chinook 2p. The staff at backpackinglight.com.au were very helpful over the phone and I'm very happy with their service. I wouldn't have been comfortable purchasing directly from Big Sky.

The tent itself has been excellent so far. I've taken it out for a night at Twin Peaks at Girraween. My comments:
[*]Light enough, without feeling like I'm sacrificing comfort or safety.
[*]Pitches well both with and without the optional 3rd pole
[*]I don't feel hugely confident about the clips used to secure the outer to the intersection of 2 poles (see photos)
[*]Along the bottom edge of the doors there is no mechanism other than the zip and velcro to secure the door (ie. there's no loop to attach to the vestibules peg)
[*]The tension of the crossing pole lifts the vestibule ends of the outer up and towards the head end when the doors are open (see above issue), this is countered by the attachment points of the optional groundsheet

There was a decent amount of condensation the night I had it out, but I had none of the ground-level ventilation points rolled up, and 2 large adult occupants. Pretty much nothing came through the inner.

I'm happy to answer any questions I can about this tent, there's not much information available about it on the net.

Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/otN5GGMbxwwF5tbw8

[Gadgetgeek]

By point three, do you mean the little buckles? My suspicion is that if they were over-strained, the buckle should release before tearing anything, but that's just a guess. If it is a worry though, I'd add a couple of little zipties to your repair kit, that way you can still secure that attachment point if the buckle fails. Of course that would mean sliding the pole all the way through to take down/set up but in that case, still better than having a section sitting slack. Anyway, looks really good, glad you came up with something you like!

[findbuddha]

Thanks!
Yeah, the little buckles... but the webbing that they are attached to is a loop so I guess I could do what you are saying without the zipties.

Looking forward to taking it out next weekend

[Joomy]

Ah, so you bought the Chinook. Very cool. I am constantly eyeing off the Mirage and the Chinook. I suspect that I will eventually end up with both.

Have you weighed it yet?

[findbuddha]

No sorry, haven't weighed it yet.

[Joomy]

Would you? I'd be interested to know how accurate their listed weights are.

[findbuddha]

Hi Joomy, sorry I don't own scales so had to use a family member's. Keep in mind these weights are from a cheap pair of bathroom scales so likely not accurate.

2.3kg including: all 3 poles, the optional groundsheet, guylines, an extra (~100g) stuffsack, but no pegs. YMMV.

[farkewie]

We just got a Kaitum 2, love the tent!! Our first trip was to the slow, could not have been happier.

Any questions, let me know.

[ErichFromm]

Love that picture - makes me feel like heading to the snow right now.....

[stry]

We just got a Kaitum 2, love the tent!! Our first trip was to the slow, could not have been happier.

Any questions, let me know.

DSC_0206.JPG

Love the size and placement of those vents !! Nammadj appears similar, I think.

[clance]

Thanks for all your replies everyone . I ended up taking a bit of a leap of faith and purchased a Big Sky Chinook 2p.
I'm happy to answer any questions I can about this tent, there's not much information available about it on the net.

Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/otN5GGMbxwwF5tbw8

Hi findbuddha,
I just took the same leap of faith - still waiting on delivery, would love to hear how your going with the Chinook now.

Specifically;
how small does it pack down?
How weather proof is it?
What's it like in high wind?
Are you still happy with it?

Any info would be great because like you said it's hard to find reviews about them

Thanks in advance

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