HELP- Choosing a decent tent on a budget !

[Tyler]

Ok, so I'm looking for a decent hiking tent but not wanting to spent more than $200 if possible
My requirements are: mainly one person, two at a pinch.
less than 2.5kg
3 seasons but capable of decent rain
Good vestibule size
Sheltered entry if raining
Small packup size and quick set up

Thanks !

[JohnM]

You want a lot, for not much money.

However, Macpac have a pretty big sale on right now, and have the Nautilus 2 person 3-season tunnel tent on sale from $400 to $200.

They make good gear.

(The 'mainly one person, two at a pinch') is a bit difficult to be honest. You really should choose. A one-person tent that meets your description will be needlessly big and heavy for one person, and very uncomfortable for two. Pick now, either 2 or 1, and go from there, would be my advice.

For instance, if you settle on 1 person (but two huddling in it in an emergency) then you could go for a Macpac Microlite and save yourself 800 grams.


Here's the Nautilus:

http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gea ... -tent.html


Here's the microlite:

http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gea ... ght-1.html

The world is full of tents, and the internet is your friend. Good luck in your hunt.

[wayno]

mountain designs also have a sale on, you'll have to check with them for more information on what they are discounting on various tents, the online info just says up to half price off

[Tyler]

OK, so taking your advice into account it would be a one person tent i want.
also i've been looking at a few of the Tarptents http://www.tarptent.com/index.html, specifically the contrail. Does anyone know of these or have any experience with them ?

Thanks

[doogs]

Try Eureka! Tent, they specialize in reasonable tents at a budget price. Steer clear of the ones with fibreglass poles as they can splinter quite easily.
Re: tarptents -If you PM Franco he will tell you all about it as he sells them.

[JohnM]

Tarpents are good. But keep in mind they're Ultralight tents. We're talking 700 grams here: and that comes with a certain price: namely, you have to be comfortable in a minimalist shelter. Many people are good with that, but a lot aren't: they want the 'security' that a 'proper' tent gives them.

This is more emotional than anything. Tarptents and the like are more than adequate in bad weather (IF you pitch them properly), it's really just how comfortable you are psychologically. When you said under 2.5kg I assumed you were cool with a heavy one-person (that's pretty heavy now for a solo shelter).

Tarptent is a good choice. Eureka! is a good entry level tent, but they're POLES apart in philosophy. Personally I'd rather a tarptent than a substandard 'proper' tent. Didn't think you'd get a TT in Australia for $200 though?

You can always look at something second-hand. You get some pretty good bargains if you're prepared to wait a bit.

[ignavus davus]

Mountain Designs neutrino 1 (1.5Kg) is on sale at the moment for $200 or for half a kilo heaviers and an extra $70 you can get the Positron. These are quite good tents and, for the price you want to pay, the best you'll find IMO. I have a positron as well as a Macpac minaret; the positron isn't in the same league for quality but still often gets used as it is 400g lighter, packs much smaller and feels a bit roomier (perhaps because of it's dome shape). The minaret is stil my favourite though - bombproof and superbly made. The grey on the MD tents is a bit dull too. The major downside to the MD's is that they are inner pitch first - means the inner can get wet before the fly is on in pouring rain, although I've never actually had this problem (probably because I normally take the minaret if he forecast is not good).
Dave.