Victoria high country tents

[Rumboz]

Hi all, I'm a noob when it comes to hiking/ backpack camping and I need your help deciding on a tent. I'm going hiking in the high country in July this year, it's a backpack trip and being that time of year it's going to be cold. I'm from brisbane, so I have not hiked/camped in this kind of condition before.

The tents I'm looking at are:

Black wolf isopod $244.00
https://www.snowys.com.au/Hiking/Hiking ... 74&id=3215

And

Msr elixir $380
http://summitgear.com.au/msr-elixir-2-t ... oCpRjw_wcB

The one thing that is putting me off the black wolf is that there is not much mesh and I'm guessing that I'll get a bit of condensation in there, but it's only $244.

The msr is much lighter and has a lot more mesh in it, I'm leaning more towards the msr then I am the blackwolf.

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Chris

[paul_gee]

There are people here better equipped to answer than me - I don't know all that much about '4th season' camping. However, if you're camping above the treeline in the middle of winter a tent with the shape and strength to take a dumping of snow is important, and a full nylon inner might be useful from a comfort point of view. Also put plenty of thought into your sleeping mat and sleeping bag choices - these will be where you derive your comfort and warmth.

Either way, I would always recommend an MSR (or even a Mont) if your budget stretches that far. They're top quality and will last you many seasons.

(Disclosure: I work for Snowys and we stock both the Black Wolf and MSR tents you link to, and Mont.)

[neilmny]

Hi all, I'm a noob when it comes to hiking/ backpack camping and I need your help deciding on a tent.I'm going hiking in the high country in July this year, it's a backpack trip and being that time of year it's going to be cold. I'm from brisbane, so I have not hiked/camped in this kind of condition before.....
Chris

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum.
If by "high country" you are refering to one of the Alpine National parks and/or above the snow line there is a lot to learn about survival and safety in those places in the snow season first.
Search will help you find a heap of info on tents for alpine conditions which are extreme and generally require a high quality (expensive) 4 season tent.
Do a lot of research before you choose anything.

[north-north-west]

July in the High Country is a bit of an advanced start for a relative novice, although it does depend on exactly where you're going.

Double wall tents generally breathe well through the inner, whether it's solid or mesh. The important thing is that the fly has adequate ventilation. Any tent that is suitable for a southern alpine or sub-alpine winter is likely to be a bit of overkill for Queensland, assuming that's where you'll be doing most of your subsequent walking.

Still, if those are your options, I'd lean to the MSR - they're good tents.
As Paul has said, the mat and bag are the most important issues for warmth (plus a good set of lightweight thermals for camp use) provided whatever tent you choose is strong enough to cope with the conditions. You can get snow fairly low down, even in July.

[Rumboz]

Thanks everyone for the reply's, there is 4 of us going on this trip, 2 of them are very experienced in backpack camping/hiking they have done a lot in New Zealand, we will be in mostly in the tree line i would say in the Alpine National park.
I'm just buying the same stuff they have, but the tents they have are out of my price range, both have 'Mont Epoch Tents' but my budget is around the $3-350 mark.

As foe sleeping bags was going to get a blackwolf vertical limit 950, it's a -15c bag
http://www.leisuregear.com.au/blackwolf ... t-950.html

Sleeping mat im still working out..... any suggestions?

[Moondog55]

That's a very heavy sleeping sleeping bag and like others here I think the temperature rating is optimistic
Sea to Summit mat in insulated double layer for sure Plus a cheap CCF as well
Understand that the treeline can be quite wild, snowgums are a pretty lousy windbreak
Snow camping needs a totally different tent and no mesh or minimum mesh
The Epoch is a good tent and suitable for the expected conditions
Could you simply hire one for the week>?
No real point in spending $700-$900- for a tent to use only once

[north-north-west]

*&%$#! heavy bag. And I too, would question the temp rating - 950gm of 650 loft down, that would not be comfort rating.

MD's right. Hiring would be a better option.

[Hiking Noob]

Wow, that is a heavy bag.
-10deg comfort rating, 1.2kg $349- http://www.globewalker.com.au/down-slee ... 0-climber/

[Rumboz]

Wow I'm glade i posted this before i when out and spent my money! , I'm hoping to make this trip a yearly thing, as will as hoping to go to New Zealand so I'm wanting to buy a tent.


I feel like this is a big subject anyone know a good shop that i can go to, to help me out with this stuff? As in a proper hiking/camping shop? Because the advice i got from anaconda is looking to be not the best.

I'm in Brisbane and happy to travel, I will be in Sydney in march as will.

thanks everyone for all your help

[Rumboz]

With hiring a tent, do you guys know where i can do that? any links or phones numbers?

[Moondog55]

With hiring a tent, do you guys know where i can do that? any links or phones numbers?

While I have never hired I know the staff at Bogong are reputable and honest

http://www.bogong.com.au/

The hire rates are fair

[Hiking Noob]

Don't go to Anaconda unless you are shopping seasonal sales, they stock many home brand lines that they can sell at 50% off and still return a profit and sales on decent brands are usually pretty rubbish. I don't see the point in paying retail at what looks like a warehouse with staff that know less than I do and I know very little.

Mountain Designs is my only decent local store and I was informed they will be returning to being more of a hiking/outdoors store rather than aiming to sell what resembles hiking gear to urban hikers.

[Moondog55]

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=16056&hilit=Snow+101

[Rumboz]

Yea good point Hiking Noob, I'm going to talk to Globalwalker about a sleeping bag and other things, just need to nail down a tent. Been looking at spending more to get into the better msr ones, push the bugget out to $500. Also going to talk to K2 as there in Brisbane.

Thanks Moondog55 for the link, did not find it in my search.

[sambar358]

I do most of my backpacking in the high country during winter and often get some light to moderate snow dumps....my tent is a NZ-made Macpac Minaret that I've had for years and it's been great. A nice roomy and very weatherproof shelter for one really...but will accomodate 2 at a squeeze....but really a luxurious one person shelter. These are 4 season rated with a breathable fabric inner but good fly ventilation and double thickenss doors with fabric and mest for some extra airflow. Not too weightly at around 2.5kg.....and the "pitch as one" feature allows you to get it up in about 3 minutes if a fast-pitch in bad weather is required. Used Minarets are often listed on Gumtree.au for around $250-$300 so keep an eye-out on there for a lightly used one.

Bag.....or more correctly "sleeping system"....bag & mat. Don't skimp here......good down bags cost serious $$$ for a reason...quality and warmth with minimum weight and bulk penalty. Look for one with a Comfort Rating (rather than the Extreme) that covers the temps that you'll encounter at night.....likely negatives down to -10C or colder. Broadly-speaking......a good goose down bag with an 800+ loft rating and 900g or more of quality down rated to -15/-20C or so. Then a winter rated insulated sleeping mat with a high R-rating.....Exped Downmat/Synmat, the equivalent Thermarests like the NeoAir or to Sea to Summit insulated mats. Then some warm sleeping attire to use in the bag.....thermals and a beanie if needed. Personally I don't skimp on my tent, bag & mat and I'm quite happy to lug a kilo or a bit extra in the pack if that means that I stay dry, safe and warm when I'm in the mountains and Mother Nature is in a bad mood ! Cheers

s358

[johnk1]

Well said sambar358. I agree with the extra weight to stay dry, safe and warm. Macpac Minaret is a great tent. I had one for years. Now I have a Macpac Olympus. Have been very happy with both in some very foul weather.

[sim1oz]

We hired a Mont Firefly from Bogong Equipment in Melbourne for our first multi-night snowshoeing trip at Mount Sitrling, a few years ago, to decide whether we enjoyed it, or not. Then we went ahead and put the money in to buy a solid 4-season tent - in our case, a Hilleberg (aka The Palace). We normally packwalk pretty lightweight with a tarp or tarptent so our 'snow' tent is much heavier but well worth it. For snow, we always take our insulated inflatable mattresses plus foam mats for extra insulation and as a precaution in case of air leaks. For sleeping bags we each take our down sleeping bags (rated -12c and -7c) plus a rectangular synthetic which we open up as a quilt over the two of us. Hiring makes sense the first time so you can decide what sort of shelter system and sleep system work for you. You'll need to find out where you can hire from that is convenient - possibly not from a Queensland store since the demand may not be there. As said above, stay safe, dry and warm!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I use a BIG space blanket as a tent floor insulator/condensation barrier , an Exped down neg. 9( comfort rating ) sleeping bag , an Exped inflatable synmat .My W.E. 4 seasons tent (and snow pegs) weigh quite a bit but have passed the white winter camping test. A MONT balaclava made of a quick drying synthetic fabric is very useful when snow camping. Merino under gloves and ice breaker merino thermals , top x 2 and bottoms , a down vest and goretex jacket and pants all come with me on back country snow shoe camping /hiking trips in the snow. The tree line is no refuge from icy windy and foul weather in the snow. If you don't have the right gear you will become wet , cold and miserable and hypothermia is a real risk then.

[Stew63]

*&%$#! heavy bag. And I too, would question the temp rating - 950gm of 650 loft down, that would not be comfort rating.

MD's right. Hiring would be a better option.

We bought 3 of those BlackWolf 950 bags (for the kids) a few years ago - we got them on sale (new) online for ~$220 each and yes they are really heavy and from that respect not good for hiking/skiing. We were on a budget and had to equip 3 kids simultaneously with bags for snow/winter - if I had a spare $2000 lying around at the time of course I would've got much better/lighter bags. However - we've used them many times above the tree line, in mid winter, in the snow with temperatures down at -8C including a wicked blizzard near Howitt/Magdala once and the kids were toasty warm - so warmth wise they are fine and from our experience with them -10C would equal a comfort rating I reckon. (They all use BlackWolf inflatable mats together with a foam mat underneath with these bags.) Would I recommend them though - no only because of the weight. If you only had to buy one bag - this is not it - spend extra and get a good bag.

[jakeyarwood]

You could also consider a quilt (or two) for your sleeping system instead of a traditional sleeping bag. I hear many people use two quilts as an effective means of keeping toasty warm at night whilst keeping the pack weight down. Here's an article by a company whom also manufacture awesome quilts (I own the Prodigy and it's real great) -
http://www.enlightenedequipment.com/blo ... old-temps/
See the quilt I mentioned here - http://www.enlightenedequipment.com/prodigy/

[damoprz]

EE have a very long wait time at the moment, so probably will not work if you need it by July. Cumulus ship from Poland, make good stuff and will be here much quicker.

[north-north-west]

Or one of the forum's own underclingmike's quilts, which are damn good value and beautifully made.

[jakeyarwood]

Good point damoprz!

Mike's quilts do look awesome NNW, perhaps the OP could pair one of Mike's down offerings with a synthetic one from Simon at Tier Gear? He's based in Tassie and his work is quality.
See Mike's forum thread here: viewtopic.php?t=21674
And Simon's top quilt here: http://www.tiergear.com.au/11/online-sh ... -top-quilt

[damoprz]

Or one of the forum's own underclingmike's quilts, which are damn good value and beautifully made.

Mikes Quilts look amazing. It would be great to see more UL gear made locally.