Bushwalk Australia

I'm planning to walk theSouth coast track to Port Davey in SW Tas in December this year. I have most of my gear sorted but I'll need a new tent for the trip. I currently have a Macpac minaret that is on its last legs and after reading the various opinions on this forum have come to the conclusion that the minaret is now too heavy and probably overkill for my needs. I've used the minaret for nearly all my walking and like it except it is too hot in summer.

The tent that I need will have to cope with me (173 cm {5'8"} and slim) and ideally my pack in the South coast track conditions. My companions will share their own tent.

Future uses will probably be the same as current uses (for my minaret) walks in Tassy like the overland track/WOJ/ Ben Lomond all in summer (although I'm thinking western arthurs if my mates like the South coast walk) and similar spring-autumn walks in Vic. I occasionally snow camp as well when x-country skiing although it's more of a bivvy close to huts and civil;isation (and I can always hire a tent for backcountry if I need to).

I like simplicity... I have used the macpac microlight that a mate lent me and I'm thinking of this tent to fulfil my needs - I've used it in cold damp conditions a couple of times and, although small i found it easy to erect and livable for a few nights, my main concern is robustness in strong winds. It looks okay for snow with it's steep sides but i realise it's not a 4 season tent. I'm happy to build a snow block wall with a snow shovel when snow camping so it's more for occasional wild weather and snow dumps that I'm concerned about.


I'm not that interested in a tarp as I'd prefer a tub floor and mozzy net... I also hate setting up a 'hootchie' style shelter unless it's too hot for a tent.

Anyway after reading this forum I'm thinking of the Microlight or a tarptent scarp 1 or a one planet goondie. I've yet to see a scarp 1 or a goondie 'in action'.

Any ideas would be appreciated, especially comparisons or usefulness of the above.

If you've got hiking poles I like my aarn pacer. Very sturdy. Its a solid inner but I also had a mesh inner made for summer use. I have a feeling they are bringing out a new model soon so you may be able to pick up a bargain

I've owned the Goondie 1 and the Microlight, a regular walking mate has the Scarp 1.

The Scarp is the most spacious for length and width, but is limited for headroom.
The Goondie has much more headroom than the Scarp, but is not as wide (still ample for one person however).
The Microlight is very cramped inside compared to either of the others.
The Goondie would be the toughest in wind, or the Scarp if you add the extra crossing poles. The Microlite is pretty stable too as long as you have very good pegging points.
In snow the Microlite will survive fine, but will sag a lot, making a cramped tent even smaller and a poor nights sleep ensues due to having to constantly bash snow off when it pushes the tent onto your face. The Goondie and Scarp (with crossing poles) will take a lot of snow no probs, without interrupting sleep.
The Microlite has the best materials and workmanship, followed closely by the Goondie. The Scarp is let down in this area in my opinion.
The Goondie is not integral pitch, the others are.
The Goonie is easiest on tent platforms.

In my opinion it is Goondie or Scarp, I would never consider a Microlite. I like the Goondie most as it is the simplest, I can sit upright comfortably, it's spacious enough and it's made to last. But if you ever want to fit two people sleeping, the Scarp has the width and dual vestibules to do it, and with the crossing poles it can take a beating and is also free standing - shame about the depressing colour.

There are others that are also good.
Hilleberg make the Akto, Unna and Soulo - all great one man tents with there own pluses and minuses.
MSR make the Hubba HP which is fantastic, but not as good in high wind.
Terra Nova make the Laser series which are very good for their weight, as long as you have a fairly short seated height and a pair of ear plugs when it gets windy.

Any of the non-free-standing ones will take lot of wind, but in stong gusty wind tend to flap incessantly!

The lack of integral pitch and difficulty of access to vestibules were the deal breakers on the Goondie for me. Oh and the price.

Tarptent build quality does leave a bit to be desired. The monofilament on my top vents began to protrude through the fly fabric recently. An email to Henry Shires got a response suggesting to put a dab of silicon on it. If I had bought this tent new I would be disappointed with that after sales service (the silicon worked BTW). Some of the stitching on one of my inners also runs off line a few times, and I can see light through the stitching in the corners of the bathtub floor.

However, the Scarp is a $315 tent and is extremely practical and functional, but can require some personal tweaks. Whereas the Goondie is a $500 tent that looks and functions (basically) like every other tent produced during the last 20 years, but you'll probably never have to touch a thing on it.

P.S. The dual vestibules are the best feature of the Scarp. Definitely not just for when sleeping two.

Thanks, guys, (no pun intended) for the lengthy and considered replies.

Strider wrote:However, the Scarp is a $315 tent and is extremely practical and functional, but can require some personal tweaks. Whereas the Goondie is a $500 tent that looks and functions (basically) like every other tent produced during the last 20 years, but you'll probably never have to touch a thing on it.

To be fair, a Scarp 1 with crossing poles and a ground sheet to protect the very thin floor will set you back $411 delivered to Australia. A Goondie 1 can arrive at your door for $424 (of which $38.55 is GST!).

I do agree that the dual vestibules and integral pitch of the Scarp are great, and that accessing the second vestibule on the Goondie is troublesome if you have a very large pack.

The design of a Scarp is great and I would own one but for the very thin floor. I am not sure what the hydrostatic head (HH) pressure rating is but they are thin.
I own a Microlight and I am 180cm tall. I like the tent but I think I am about on the limit for length to lie down and not be pushing on the interior when sleeping. The thing I really like about Macpac is they have a tub floor with fabric rated to 10,000mm HH which is great when you end up camping in a puddle or worse a flowing creek!
If they made Scarp with a heavier floor I would buy one.
Scotty

Scottyk wrote:The design of a Scarp is great and I would own one but for the very thin floor. I am not sure what the hydrostatic head (HH) pressure rating is but they are thin.

1200mm is the closest equivalent apparently. Mine is fine in puddles and/or flowing water and Tarptent have a very low (if any) return rate with the floors.

Tyvek footprint is 136g

Hi I used my Hubba hubba last year and although we had good weather, there are a lot of places to pitch a tent up which is sheltered on the south coast track. I lent a friend my microlight on the same trip which is also good but does not have as much room as the Hubba Hubba for the same weight (2kg's plus or minus 1 or 2 hundred grams).
If they made the Hubba Hubba with a little more solid and higher tub floor and less mesh I would be saying its the ideal tent for most camping but have reserves about anything more than light snow in the HH.

MartyGwynne wrote:If they made the Hubba Hubba with a little more solid and higher tub floor and less mesh I would be saying its the ideal tent for most camping but have reserves about anything more than light snow in the HH.

They do, the HP version. I love mine
http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/msr_hubba_hubba_hp_2_skin_2_person_tent_high_performance_version.html

Got to add my plus for Scarp 1 which will sleep two adults (top to tail if needed) add the cross poles and you will have a freestanding integral pitch tent to rival many for four season use yes, the floor may be thinner than some however I have in the last forty years or so have always used a (ground sheet) whether it was black plastic or whatever in all of my tents
including the Microlite.
corvus

Thanks for the replies, especially as this topic is very similar to others open at the moment. I'm now considering the hilleberg akto as the akto has had some great reviews from every reviewer, so I'm considering this one as my number 1, scarp 1, OP goondie or microlight as number 2...

I'm going to borrow the microlight again to get a feel for it. I'm limited by access to viewing these other tents but I'm confident enough to buy the akto online. The problem with online is the variety of reviews not particularly reflective of the SE Australian experience. I appreciate the comments about the microlight's bombproof floor (reviewers of the microlight in the UK, of all places, also reflect the good wet weather performance).
thanks again for the input.

Heaps of good Akto/Scarp comparisons out there. The Akto usually wins out on build quality, but the Scarp on all other aspects.

I'm taller and fatter, otherwise i'd choose the Akto, you could add a couple of crossing poles if it wasn't up to the job but that seems just odd

Bugger... and I htought I had it sorted as akto as number 1....

The scarp website was confusing, I understand that the cross poles to make the tent more snow/wind resilient but am confused with the other variables in the design... i reckon I need to see one.

slparker wrote:Bugger... and I htought I had it sorted as akto as number 1....

The scarp website was confusing, I understand that the cross poles to make the tent more snow/wind resilient but am confused with the other variables in the design... i reckon I need to see one.

If you are in Hobart you are welcome to check out mine.

Sorry, no, all good tents. Iv'e only owned the Akto and would have likely kept it if I was your size (was my thoughts). It does stand to reason that similar weight to smaller size (for the Akto compared to some others) translates to sturdier build?

re Scarp :
"The scarp website was confusing, I understand that the cross poles to make the tent more snow/wind resilient but am confused with the other variables in the design... "
Not sure what you mean there.
There are two options with it. You get the fly with a mesh or fabric inner (some get both)
It is $315 with the solid (fabric) inner or $325 with the mesh inner

BTW, keep in mind that I know the product so I look at those options already knowing what they are.

Pole guylines :
In my opinion they should always be used except for in a very protected area.
I usually test them by tripping over them once or twice a night. Not recommended when you are not wearing shoes on rough ground.

The Scarp only needs the crossover poles if you want freestanding or are expecting heave snow. I have stopped using them if I am just expecting strong wind, I do however always guy mine out from the centre arch now, therefore needing 2 extra pegs/guylines.

I have never used the 3 season mesh inner in Tasmania as I find in hot weather I open the vestibules for a nice draft, see pics for my standard setup.

stepbystep wrote:I have never used the 3 season mesh inner in Tasmania as I find in hot weather I open the vestibules for a nice draft

But do you sleep with the inner doors rolled up also? Even with the vestibules open, you can only get so much draft through the mesh on the solid inner.

Strider wrote:

stepbystep wrote:I have never used the 3 season mesh inner in Tasmania as I find in hot weather I open the vestibules for a nice draft

But do you sleep with the inner doors rolled up also? Even with the vestibules open, you can only get so much draft through the mesh on the solid inner.

Sometimes 1, sometimes both open, sometimes just partly open inner or partly opened vestibules, if I was camping low for a few days where warm weather was expected I'd use the mesh inner for sure.

Step by step:
The scarp looks good, I like the box ends and vestibule. What keeps the box ends tensioned? Is it the guy at the end or is there an upright strut at the end?
Also where is the distributor in oz? (thanks for posting the photos, too)

Franco:
The website offers 'mesh or solid, or both' as options... What the? i could only conclude that they were options of a insect mesh or a fabric interior or both? presumably two inners? I get the pole option, extra poles sounds sensible, although I note stepbystep's option of guying the pole.

Strider:
Thanks for the offer, I'm in Victoria at the moment, if I make it home before I head down for the walk I'll PM you to see if the offer is still there.

slparker wrote:Step by step:
The scarp looks good, I like the box ends and vestibule. What keeps the box ends tensioned? Is it the guy at the end or is there an upright strut at the end?
Also where is the distributor in oz? (thanks for posting the photos, too)

There are 5 struts and 3 guys at each end.

Have to add another + for Scarp.
An added bonus, the wife enjoys it, gotta be on a winner.
Like SBS only use the crossovers if it cuts up really rough, generally get by by doing likewise and adding the side guys if necessary.
Davo1

The website offers 'mesh or solid, or both' as options...

The problem is that the Scarp 1 product page does not have a photo of the two inners (the bit Americans call "tent")
You can see the mesh inner in the Scarp 2 product page.
So the "rain fly" is the same but you can buy either inner or both.
The inner stays attached so you set the shelter up as one , but it can be separated/attached when the tent is set up .
Unlike many tents , the "rain fly" is the part supported by pole and struts, the inner just hangs inside.


I am 172cm tall, so the exposed mesh inner shot should give you an idea of the usable room inside.
I am in Port Melbourne so if you like you coupl pop in and have a look
(I can't sell you one. You need to buy from TT USA)

awesome, cheers Franco - next time I'm in melb I'll look you up (probably in the next few weeks)

Are you a retailer? (not of tarptents, but in general)

Hi
No, I just look after TT from home. I do seam sealing and general enquiries. No sales.

Sorry to dig up an old thread guys! Would the OP (slparker) be interested in selling the used Macpac Minaret??

You wouldn't want it.... It's 20 years old, some small tears

Pm sent mate.