Don't Laugh : $14 tent and its great.

[commando]

Three minute set up and very comfortable in high winds, 40 knots tested.
Its labelled as 2 person tent but really is a one person lightweight tent.

[ribuck]

Thanks for posting - but you can't call it a "lightweight tent" without posting a gram count.

[Son of a Beach]

How does it handle torrential rain?

(I'm seriously considering buying a few of these for an annual kids camp that I help out with. Although I might go for the 3 person version, assuming 2 will fit comfortably after pandemic issues settle down eventually.)

[Moondog55]

Where's the link to the purchase site?
50 years ago such tents were state of the art for ski touring buy I never owned one.

[Son of a Beach]

I just googled it and found it on the Big W site. Although it looks like the current Big W version has the door at the end instead of the side, and is a different colour. Still $14 though.

[gayet]

From Big W

Product Features:

Comfortable for two people
Base size: 195cm x 120cm, 90cm High
Compact and easy to erect
Convenient to carry
Build-in screen door
Plenty of ventilation
Waterproof PE Floor

Product Contains:
Carry Bag
Tent
Pegs
Poles
Instructions

No weight given

Attachments

[crollsurf]

How does it handle torrential rain?

(I'm seriously considering buying a few of these for an annual kids camp that I help out with. Although I might go for the 3 person version, assuming 2 will fit comfortably after pandemic issues settle down eventually.)

Until the water starts flowing "out" over the Waterproof floor, they handle the water brilliantly. The small entrance is a genius design to stop you floating out of your tent in the middle of the night.

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I have a 4 man version which looks very similar that I picked up for $20 from Coles. Weighs only 2.2kg including the carrybag. Never been game to use it outside of the backyard though.

[Franco]

Thanks for posting - but you can't call it a "lightweight tent" without posting a gram count.

the 3 person version (of the same design/configuration) is 2.9 kg so I would guess around 2 kg for the 2 person.

Last edited by Franco on Fri 07 Aug, 2020 12:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[wildwanderer]

Looks similar (but different entrance) to this 1.45kg kmart tent. So the big w might weigh about the same.
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/2-pers ... nt/1679803

I reckon these tents are great for the occasional trip when when you can easily evac to car.

However i wouldnt trust it for a wilderness trip especially with fibreglass poles on a tent costing $14. I doubt it would hold up to driving rain either. There would be leaks through the door etc.

Commando I reckon you were brave being in it during 70km/h winds. If those fibreglass poles shatter it wont be pretty.

[Franco]

Commando I reckon you were brave being in it during 70km/h winds. If those fibreglass poles shatter it wont be pretty. quote
This is a video of the Rab Superlite in 70-80km wind.
It has a much lower (more wind resistant) profile and uses 8.84 mm aluminium poles . (eVent fabric)
Fibreglass poles would need to be at least 14mm or so to be of similar strength.

[commando]

We were camped at Cumberland River Campsite near Lorne which is protected from the wind other than a pure southerly
which it was... 40 knots continuous straight from Antarctica through the rock gates opening funnel of the site gusting 50 knots
the tent was deforming and thought we would be blown away. I didn't list the seller as that's free advertising. Google found it.
Its a tent which performs remarkably in strong winds at a disposable price.

[commando]

Tent Proving Grounds. We were camped there to do some abseiling as it used to be a rock climbing area
but all rope activity is now banned.

[Lamont]

We were camped at Cumberland River Campsite near Lorne which is protected from the wind other than a pure southerly
which it was... 40 knots continuous straight from Antarctica through the rock gates opening funnel of the site gusting 50 knots
the tent was deforming and thought we would be blown away. I didn't list the seller as that's free advertising. Google found it.
Its a tent which performs remarkably in strong winds at a disposable price.

That brings back a crack-up memory boyo.
I used to visit the Cumberland Caravan Park very frequently most week ends through Autumn, Winter and Spring (surfing Kennett, Wye, and everywhere in between down to Castle Cove) was almost always empty, through the eighties and always had my little dome tent that looked pretty much like yours.
Bought from the place that was at the top of Elizabeth St in Melbourne for $99. Two levels- all the tents were set up. What was it called? Anyone?
The pole cracked one night- man was there some deformation from the wind tunneling the other direction-down the gorge. Williwa style. As good surfers we knew the wind strength back to front and it was easily 40-50 kms. Gusts stronger. Took a hell of a belting until it finally broke (split type thing).
Cumberland Caravan Park and that area is a hell of a wind channel/tunnel.
Used a good heavy bandaid on it. No jokes. As dumb surfers that was all we had and forgot about it. Wonder if that thing had the same fibre type as yours?
Took it after that to NZ for four weeks car camping and slept in it for all of the twenty eight nights. Rain wind hail. Then took it to Europe where my Mum slept in it every night for four weeks. Left it in England only because after a year of travelling through Europe we wouldn't be moving much again-it was still functioning perfectly. Guessing now it would have weighed about the same as this one. Maybe around 1.5 -2 kg mark.
Wish I still had it.
ps -Saw many climbing rescues -seemed like every second visit someone was stuck on the rock face.

[Ms_Mudd]

No laughing here- I am all for not spending a bomb on gear if it can be helped.
Nice find.

[Al M]

Cheap, cute and effective for certain conditions. Condensation on the inside pooling can be an issue when present.