Advice on 2 person 3 season tent around 2kg or less

[bertie]

I know this topic seems to come up fairly often, and I have read some of the other threads related to this. In the interests of not hijacking someone else's thread, I'm hoping I'm not offending by starting a new one.

Anyway, this is what I'm looking for:

• A tent that can sleep 2 people but is light enough for solo hiking use. I currently have a 1 person tent, which I'm hoping this tent can replace when that 1 person tent gets retired.
• Dry set up and entry. In practice I'm guessing this means an integral pitch or a fly first pitch. Fly first with a footprint would also work, but I would prefer not to need a footprint. Also a bathtub floor is a must.
• Mosquito proof.
• Around 2kg packed weight maximum. This is not a hard limit, but 2.5kg would definitely be heavier than I want. If I need a footprint for a dry set up, then I'm including its weight.
• Durable for Australian conditions below the treeline. I doubt I'll use it in desert/sand conditions, but almost anything else is possible. I would prefer something more durable (up to around 2kg as specified above) rather than shaving grams off.
• I would really like to avoid designs with a single side door (single front door is ok, 2 side doors are better).
• I'm pretty sure I want a double wall design. I don't want to have to worry about brushing against the single wall and don't want excessive condensation.

Hopefully my wants here are achievable. Based on my criteria, these tents are the ones that have made my list:

• Tarptent Double Moment
• Mont Moondance 2
• MSR Hubba Hubba NX
• Hilleberg Anjan 2 (or maybe 3)
• Wilderness Equipment Space 2

Are there any others that I should consider?

My thoughts on the tents on my shortlist:

Tarptent Double Moment:
Likes

• Designed around fly first pitch.
• Specified weight of 1.5kg! (Is this for real?) By far the lightest on my list.
• Made in USA (rather than Asia). Quality is hopefully better because of this.
• Reviewers seem to say it is durable.

Dislikes

• Have to seal seams myself (or pay USD $30 to get them to do it).
• Have to order from the US (high postage costs, warranty and repair hassles).

Mont Moondance 2
Likes

• Australian designed (so hopefully better suited to Australian conditions).
• Reviewers seem to agree it is fairly durable.
• Freestanding.
• Repair kit included.

Dislikes

• Pushing my weight limits.
• Need extra footprint to pitch fly first. I have heard that people can do it without, but that seems complicated and is "unofficial".

MSR Hubba Hubba NX
This seems very similar to the Moondance.
Likes

• Fly first pitch without footprint is supported.
• Freestanding.

Dislikes

• Seems to be the least durable of the ones on my list (based on my subjective reading of the internet).

Hilleberg Anjan 2
Likes

• Integral or fly first pitch supported. Generally seems quite adaptable.
• Seems quite durable (with qualifications as I'll go into with dislikes).
• Stands up to lots of different weather conditions.
• I'm (perhaps irrationally) positively disposed to the tunnel design.

Dislikes

• The price. $300 more than any other tent on my list. I'll pay it though if I know I can get it back in increased longevity.
• Bad talk on the internet about zipper durability and inner tent elastic connector longevity, coupled with questionable customer service responses from Hilleberg. I know some people expect things from their tent that are not promised, or don't look after their gear properly, but these failures seem to be widespread (though many other posters say the zippers are fine). This doesn't seem right for a tent this expensive. And I don't think it's practical to add daily brushing of the zippers to a busy hiking/climbing/canyoning schedule.

Wilderness Equipment Space 2
This one seems very similar to the Moondance except it's cheaper and heavier. Probably a bit too heavy for what I want.


That is what I have so far. I would appreciate any suggestions, advice, and corrections (I have never seen any of these tents in action, just read about them on the internet) you can offer.

[Stroller]

I went through all this last year and I ended up buying the three man tarp tent. I used it on a two month cycling tour. I also bought the inner thing which is essential if you expect condensation and a third pole which i would say is also essential. It still weighs no more than 2kg. I liked having all the space. It took me quite a while to learn to be good at putting it up though it is simple enough and i could it put it up in the dark quite easily. What the struggle was getting the poles to go through the tubes easily when the fabric was wet. There seems to be a knack to doing this. Also one night my tent got blown away with me in it and so next time i will have to make sure i take some extra nylon rope for tying to trees further away.

Its an expensive tent and i thought the guy who runs the show might be a bit of a miserable sod to deal with if you have any problems because he didn't answer a query i had before i bought the tent becuase it was one of those hard questions.

I don't think having to do the seals yourself should be a deciding factor if everything else is good though i admit it is a bit of a job and i didn't do it properly before i left but only becuase i was having motivation and weather issues before i left. I eventually got it sealed during my trip but had to outlay a bit more for stuff and really do need to do it all again to make sure for next time. But it was wonderful to have a roomy tent.

Check again with the model you were looking at becuase they don't have two layers and you might need to buy the tent inner separately as i did. There's quite a lot of clever little elements to the design of the tents in order to make it as light as possible. If you want to know more, phone up frank who lives in Melbourne. He seemed impartial and helpful. He's listed on the tarptent site i think as a local contact. I was lucky that when i bought it the dollar was quite a bit better than it is now but there's not much you can do about that. Other people who have this brand of tent seem to be happy with theirs.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 23963&v=AA here's a photo my tent in the snow in Japan.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 446403&v=x and another pic.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 39533&v=4W this one shows the pitching system better. and you can see that the tent sags between the poles. This happened always when the tent was a bit damp. But the tent is so roomy it didn't matter. It has two large doors. To its credit, although the tent collapsed in the wind overnight, it survived me dragging it across the grass to the gazebo with everything inside it with no holes. It was the middle of the night, i was tired and just wanted to go back to sleep. So when i got to the gazebo i just crawled back in the tent in its collapsed condition and went back to sleep.

I spoke to Frank in Melbourne about the zip issue that you read about with Hilleberg. He seemed to think that the zip issue is more of a matter of people not taking care of their zips. I learnt from this that you are supposed to clean your zips iwth a little brush regularly. Something i never new before.

[Stroller]

I went through all this last year and I ended up buying the three man tarp tent. I used it on a two month cycling tour. I also bought the inner thing which is essential if you expect condensation and a third pole which i would say is also essential. It still weighs no more than 2kg. I liked having all the space. It took me quite a while to learn to be good at putting it up though it is simple enough and i could it put it up in the dark quite easily. What the struggle was getting the poles to go through the tubes easily when the fabric was wet. There seems to be a knack to doing this. Also one night my tent got blown away with me in it and so next time i will have to make sure i take some extra nylon rope for tying to trees further away.

Its an expensive tent and i thought the guy who runs the show might be a bit of a miserable sod to deal with if you have any problems because he didn't answer a query i had before i bought the tent becuase it was one of those hard questions.

I don't think having to do the seals yourself should be a deciding factor if everything else is good though i admit it is a bit of a job and i didn't do it properly before i left but only becuase i was having motivation and weather issues before i left. I eventually got it sealed during my trip but had to outlay a bit more for stuff and really do need to do it all again to make sure for next time. But it was wonderful to have a roomy tent.

Check again with the model you were looking at becuase they don't have two layers and you might need to buy the tent inner separately as i did. There's quite a lot of clever little elements to the design of the tents in order to make it as light as possible. If you want to know more, phone up frank who lives in Melbourne. He seemed impartial and helpful. He's listed on the tarptent site i think as a local contact. I was lucky that when i bought it the dollar was quite a bit better than it is now but there's not much you can do about that. Other people who have this brand of tent seem to be happy with theirs.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 23963&v=AA here's a photo my tent in the snow in Japan.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 446403&v=x and another pic.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 39533&v=4W this one shows the pitching system better. and you can see that the tent sags between the poles. This happened always when the tent was a bit damp. But the tent is so roomy it didn't matter. It has two large doors. To its credit, although the tent collapsed in the wind overnight, it survived me dragging it across the grass to the gazebo with everything inside it with no holes. It was the middle of the night, i was tired and just wanted to go back to sleep. So when i got to the gazebo i just crawled back in the tent in its collapsed condition and went back to sleep.

I spoke to Frank in Melbourne about the zip issue that you read about with Hilleberg. He seemed to think that the zip issue is more of a matter of people not taking care of their zips. I learnt from this that you are supposed to clean your zips iwth a little brush regularly. Something i never new before.

[Franco]

Check again with the model you were looking at becuase they don't have two layers

I assume you meant the Double Moment.
It is in fact a two wall/layer tent that sets up, as Bertie noted, fly first (in fact fly and inner together)
You can add or take down the inner from the inside, something that can be useful for cooking under rain and or putting the inner away dry when the fly is wet.
The inner of the DM has a breathable bur water resistant top (roof area) the rest is mesh.

As for warranty repair hassles, depending on what it is, you might have to send it back to the USA but repairs there do happen pretty fast.
Not sure how long it takes to have a tent repaired locally but I would expect the difference to be in days.

[Strider]

What about Exped?

http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-cat ... rettyPhoto

One Planet also make good tents.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Kingsleythelost]

My favorite tent the One Planet Goondie doesn't get a mention and think it would fit perfectly.

Three if not four seasons, Lightish around 2kg, Australian made, Strong and a good size. Personally experienced flash flood rain and 100+kph winds this tent did not miss a beat.

It is worth a look.

[Franco]

One Planet is an Australian brand, however the Goondies are made in China.

[Stroller]

Franco is that really a 3 season tent?

I stand corrected on the other matter. I think you were the person i refer to as Frank. You can see i and my tent survived my trip to Japan if you remember our discussion.

[Strider]

Nothing wrong with made in China. I've seen plenty of Asian manufactured tents with better build quality than my Tarptent.

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[Franco]

Yes, that is a 3 season tent , obviously not weatherproof if left like that...

the vent cover can just be seen in this photo.
Side guylines (guyout points on the pole sleeve) should be added to avoid the tent wobbling in the wind.
(same for all single hoop tent and most tunell too)

This is a TT video clip comparing tyhe DM with another two TT shelters.
Henry Shires the designer and presenter, is 5'10"

[Chris-Toms Outdoors]

Hi Bertie,
Can I throw you a curveball.

Helsport, Norway Quality
Reinsfjell Superlight 2.
Weight 2kg including pegs
2 vestibules, 2 doors, great ventilation.
http://www.helsport.no/reinsfjell-superlight
Our Price: $1215

Ringstind 2
Weight 2.05kg including pegs
Single pole design. 4 season.
http://www.helsport.no/ringstind
Our Price: $715

I am importing Helsport for my store. They offer a real alternative to Hilleberg. The bulk of our stock doesn’t arrive until March but some tents maybe available sooner. Helsport Tents are very well regarded in Scandinavia but you won't find many english reviews because they haven't pushed out into the english language markets like Hilleberg have.
Cheers
Chris

[Moondog55]

The Helsport Varanger Camp has been on my wishlist for more than a few years now; I doubt if I will ever be able to afford it tho

[Chris-Toms Outdoors]

The Helsport Varanger Camp has been on my wishlist for more than a few years now; I doubt if I will ever be able to afford it tho

This is one of the tents that we will be importing, complete with stove There is nothing else like it on the market and I think it's an awesome piece of kit. I can't wait to use one for some of our store group trips within the snowy's. The 8-10 Varanger Camp complete with inner and floor will be around $1680. I worked out the final retail price on the stove yet as i haven't got the final freight costs on the stove component.
Cheers
Chris

[Jax]

Hey, I have had the MSR Hubba for about a year now and it is an excellent tent, it is virtually the same as the 2 person version MSR Hubba Hubba.

It can be pitched there different ways that I'm aware of you can use the rain coat and footprint, or just the raincoat and of course with the fly and rain coat.

It is about 1.7 kg with the footprint and if you added the gear shed it would become 2kg. The Hubba Hubba would be a comfortable tent for two especially if it is rainy or windy as it is a sturdy tent and with the gear shed your packs will not get wet.

[slparker]

Franco,
Do you have tt 2 man tents available for view in melb? Im specifically looking at the dm i think.

[Franco]

Hi,
No I don't any longer.
I am near Creswick now. (north of Ballarat)

If you haven't done so already, take a look at the 3D clip at the end of the DM "slide show"
You can see there how two 6' people fit inside it.
https://www.tarptent.com/double-moment.html

[johnrs]

Hi Bertie
The Wilderness Eqipment Second Arrow goes 4 seasons at just under 2kg.
Bomber tent and well ventilated so good for intermediate as well as cold climate use.
John

[bertie]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I did end up purchasing the tarptent double moment, and it has performed well so far in light rain. It can sometimes be a bit tricky to get the bathtub sides of the inner to sit up off the ground, but I'm sure I will get better at that. I'm also finding that it is hard to fit 2 people inside plus have 2 ~60L packs stay completely out of the rain in the vestibules. Stroller, how did you have the tent pitched (ie. how many pegs, any extra guys) when it got blown around?

The Venus 2 is heavier than I want, but it would probably be shortlisted if I was looking at a 4 season tent.
The Goondie, like most tents, is an inner-first pitch, which I dislike if it is raining when I set up.
The Reinsfjell Superlight 2 is even more expensive than the Anjan 2, which was already pushing my budget. I can't find pitching instructions for the Ringstind 2 (to see if it is integral, fly-first, or inner-first), and it is already at the larger end of my weight and price tolerances.
The WE Second Arrow looks like it would have been a good candidate, though it is at the higher end for price.

[stry]

The Ringstind 2 is integral pitch.

I know because I have one languishing in the Classifieds due to lack of interest I cant help with the weight, but if reading the thread (sorry can't do links, but search will find it easily) piques your interest, I can certainly help with the price

[bertie]

If I hadn't already bought something, I would definitely be interested. Unfortunately for both of us, I'm not looking any more. For any who come to this topic later, I believe this is the thread: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=20883