Lightweight tents

[mattmacman]

Hey guys im as you may know i have posted MANY tent topics however i have narrowed down the specs and features i want and why i want them!
Im looking for a tent that pitches as one (integral pitch)
Lightweight but not super UL ~Under 1.5 kg
Roomy one person/ small two person
DURABLE!
Easy pitching
Small packsize
Im currently looking at the
Golite Eden 1
Exped Vela 1
Vango force ten range (i noticed the general opinion towards this tent is bad, can someone point out why?)
Has anyone experienced these tents?
I considered UL tents such as the Vaude power tokee however the durability seems to be limited from looking at specs and the cost ... the cost =O

[Area54]

I used a Vaude Power Lizard on a recent 5 day bikepacking trip in the Otways, pretty happy with it overall. Withstood some strong winds on one night camping on an exposed bluff (by choice) to test exactly that, estimated 30-40km/hr winds, with higher gusts? Very simple setup, I would say the durability of the tent is fairly good given the lightweight nature of the fabric - treat it accordingly and will give years of faithful service.

While in Melbourne I checked out the Terra Nova Bivvy tent at backpackinglight (no association) and was impressed, would be a perfect tent for summer trips here in QLD.

[Andy1912]

(deleted)

[mattmacman]

How come a topic about mugs can get over 45 replies but all i can get is one !

[corvus]

How come a topic about mugs can get over 45 replies but all i can get is one !

Perhaps we are all "mugs" in need of more walks and lets face it persiflage is better when we are discussing anything to do with food or drink
corvus

[corvus]

Matt ,
Perhaps the Tents you are looking at are not widely used by forum members,check out a Scarp 1 if it fits your budget.
corvus

[photohiker]

How come a topic about mugs can get over 45 replies but all i can get is one !

Because while the subject is broad, you then limited the discussion to just a few tents. I read it, but I kind of felt that you had already made up your mind...

If you want a <1.5kg 1-2 person tent, it will be made from lightweight materials. As far as durability is concerned, you're asking a lot and not specifying what your criteria are. We're not talking about quality heavy duty canvas here...

[Birdie Claws]

Lightweight but not super UL ~Under 1.5 kg
Roomy one person/ small two person

What about the MSRs I posted up for sale? Seems to fit your criteria. And prices are negotiable.
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7590

[mikethepike]

Because while the subject is broad, you then limited the discussion to just a few tents. I read it, but I kind of felt that you had already made up your mind...

Yes I think that photohiker's comment may be close to the mark. I have used a Sierra Designs 1 man tent for several years now. It weighs under 1.3 kg including pegs and poles and a selling point for me was its good ventilation-minimal condensation as reported in a Wild tent survey. In that respect it is excellent and it is good in strong winds if fully guyed. I am very pleased with the design but if it's raining when putting it up, the floor and inner has to be erected before the fly can go on. You need to make a footprint for it. Keeping the floor reliably waterproofed has been a bit of a concern for me but it seems OK now after a second reproofing. It is also well priced I think.

[mattmacman]

Looking back i guess i have narrowed it, however i did that deliberately because in the past i have opened numerous topics and gotten nowhere due to being side tracked ! I have looked at the tarptents, i just feel that they dont have the features i am looking for,especially that id like a built in floor not a detachable one. And i like the traditional tent 'feel'. Cheers all and if ILUVSWTAS's thoughts on the vango are good i think its a winner!

[Stibb]

I have looked at the tarptents, i just feel that they dont have the features i am looking for,especially that id like a built in floor not a detachable one.

AFAIK scarp 1 has integral pitch and is actually under 1.5kg in contrast to your first 2 options (Don't own any of them just looking at specs). So what if there is an option to pitch separately. That is a bonus not a negative IMO.

And i like the traditional tent 'feel'.

(traditional canvas A-frame has great "feel" but that's about it)

if ILUVSWTAS's thoughts on the vango are good i think its a winner!

I'll let ILUV repeat himself about Vango although a simple search would make it un-neccessary

[randal]

Dear Mattmacman, I've had quite a few "Rumbos" tonight so this may not come out quite right, And I think I would really rather discuss the type of mug my rum tastes best in! But, your getting close, the right tent is all about "feel" and what feels good for me may not feel the same for you. Tents are an emotive thing!! They can be like women! And this is where rum is imporytant, but now we are back to the best type of mug!!! - gooodnight.

Last edited by randal on Mon 12 Sep, 2011 7:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mattmacman]

<3 Cheers randal, didnt think anyone understood how i felt towards tarptents, lovely summary though! To be fair Stibb ILUV had the Superlite (lighter material) but point taken, and for me pitching the floor seperately is a NEGATIVE!, secondly the mesh inner isnt for me i like a nice breathable material not a sand collector!

[ILUVSWTAS]

I cant speak lowely enough for Vango. Worst company in the market.

[Nuts]

No mention of the Hillberg Akto Matt... You want something tougher than the usual lightweight offerings and fabric inner..

[Franco]

Mattmacman
Have a look at this video , you may get a better idea of what the Scarp is all about...
http://www.tarptent.com/scarp1.html#videos
Franco

[Stibb]

and for me pitching the floor seperately is a NEGATIVE!, secondly the mesh inner isnt for me i like a nice breathable material not a sand collector!

Couldn't agree more but it does not apply to Scarp...
If you don't like 'cos it does not have the feel (not feminine enough? ) I'm not gonna push it but it would be a shame to dismiss what seems to be a great tent because you think you have to pitch it separately and not aware of the solid inner option.

[mattmacman]

In short Stibb, the tarptent isnt ideal for my location period (now do i do a full stop??? =) I will check out the Akto further was just looking for a smaller packing tent.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I have an Akto. It's awesome. at 1.5kg it's slightly on the heavy side, but is a very solid tent!!

[mattmacman]

How do the fiberglass rods do? Im very interested in the akto!

[Birdie Claws]

Didn't you have cost in consideration when you were choosing your tents? The akto is expensive, and while its a great tent, unnecessary for conditions in the majority of Australia. Hell, I've been using my TT moment throughout winter and I have no complaints; all a tent's supposed to do is to keep the wind and rain off you, whereas warmth aquired through a good sleeping bag.

With regards to the fibreglass poles the Hillberg has, I'm not sure about the Akto, but my friend ninjapuppet posted a story of someone's Hillberg Jannu being flattened in 150kph winds. He himself had his tentpoles break.

Just saw a video of Chris's jannu getting ripped out in some strong winds. Theres alot more flapping in his video than what I had noticed when my tent poles broke, so I assume he didnt pitch it as taut as I had mine. Or mabye his stakes loosened up abit in the soil while I had mine set up in mountaineering anchors. I'd rather replace tent poles than have to stitch up some fabric.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cd55mtWI94

Interesting that Chis mentioned that only the akto came out alive.

Source:http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5101

Then again, are you really going to plan to go places with 150 kph winds?

[Dale]

<3 Cheers randal, didnt think anyone understood how i felt towards tarptents, lovely summary though! To be fair Stibb ILUV had the Superlite (lighter material) but point taken, and for me pitching the floor seperately is a NEGATIVE!, secondly the mesh inner isnt for me i like a nice breathable material not a sand collector!

I also like to avoid sand collectors. I've camped on some lovely sandy beaches with two different Tarptents (the brand)and collected no sand. However a forum member did raise an issue with using a Tarptent on the Larapinta and waking each morning to a red sandpit. So assuming the bath tub floors are properly raised, then maybe the red dust is a bit more unforgiving and you need a tent with a higher floor.

So Matt not trying to sell you on Tarptents just thought I'd point this out for anyone else that stumbled across it Mind you, the Tarptents are great - have you thought about one ?

Attachments

Tarptent Sublite poorly pitched on the Colo River near Canoe Creek.

Picture 094 (Medium).jpg (83.21 KiB) Viewed 8253 times

Tarptent Squall2 - elsewhere on the Colo.

P1000793 (Medium).JPG (100.76 KiB) Viewed 8253 times

[Franco]

Common guys, yes I get the joke but Mattmacman does not like the brand so there is little point about going on about it.
Franco

[mattmacman]

Well im looking at (against and with suggestions) the Vango helium 100 (this is going to make me unpopular, not this is also not the tent that ILUVSWTAS had he had the superlite model so durability may be better), WE Tectite UL 1 (on sale at mainpeak 40% off) and the tarptent contrail (less of a contended just considering it).

[Franco]

Based on your original comment "easy to pitch" and the shape/type tents you prefer, IF you are considering TT I would suggest the Moment.
I find the Contrail very easy to do but I am the World record holder for pitching that and several other TT shelters (also the only one stupid enough to bother...) but some have had problems doing it.
The Moment is hard to pitch wrong..

(The external pole is for the freestanding mode, not normally needed )
Franco

Last edited by Franco on Sat 17 Sep, 2011 8:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Dale]

Did you consider the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 ? Double wall shelter coming in at 1kg. Won some awards has great reviews.

http://www.journeymantraveller.com/2010 ... e.html?m=1

[mattmacman]

I have considered all of the big agnes tents however i just feel that the tent lacking integral pitch is a large floor (for my conditions) and the large amounts of mesh on some of them.

[Orion]

If it were me I'd choose the TT "The Moment".

Good value, simple to set up, well designed.

[etrangere]

If you dont want a lot of mesh avoid the TT tents and go for the MSR Hubba HP or Hubba Hubba HP

[mattmacman]

Considering akto, Helium 100 (against reccomendation =) and Golite eden 1 however am looking into Hubba's and tt's.