Bushwalk Australia

Hey all!
The gear-buying rabbit hole is well and truly entered.
My old tent has served me extremely well, and I've used it literally to the point where i leant it to a friend and it fell apart on him.

Now. It's time to upgrade.
However, I can't afford something like an Akto.

Don't really plan on doing proper snow camping, however am planning on this being a tent for many years of future exploration which will include the Alps track, and the every-changing Tasmanian conditions.

With a budget of about $400, is it worth investing in a 4-season?
Or are there solid 3+ seasons which when put up well, and looked after, will brave the elements?
I'd love a tent where in clear weather it will be freestanding with just meshing.

Cheers, looking forward to leaching the wealth of experience and passion, and adding as my adventures grow!

nom.

One Planet Goondie 1? MSR Hubba?

Thank you Strider - those are the two which initially came straight to mind.

Lots of brand name freestanding tents out there in your price range. Personally, I would get a 2 person tent so you have more room and it need not be heavy either. If you take a look at Campsaver.com, they have a whole range of tents with your specifications and price range ($US) (see list below). Free shipping to Australia if you spend US$400:

MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent - 2 Person, 3 Season
$399.95 Now only: $319.96

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 Tent - 2 Person, 3 Season
$349.95 + FREE GIFT

Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum Tent - 1 Person, 3 Season
$499.95 Now only: $349.97

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 Tent - 1 Person, 3 Season
$319.95 + FREE GIFT

MSR Elixir 2 Tent - 2 Person, 3 Season
$249.95 Now only: $212.46

MSR Hubba NX Tent - 1 Person, 3 Season
$349.95 Now only: $297.46

MSR Carbon Reflex 1 Tent - 1 Person, 3 Season
$399.95 Now only: $339.96

Mountain Hardwear Tangent 2 Tent - 2 Person, 4 Season
$449.95 Now only: $337.46 + FREE GIFT

Anyway too many to list.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=21164

Good value and I trust Francos judgement
Not for winter in the snow but from what you say I don't think you need a dedicated Alpine tent

Moondog55 wrote:http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=21164

Good value and I trust Francos judgement
Not for winter in the snow but from what you say I don't think you need a dedicated Alpine tent

I believe he wrote he wants a freestanding tent.

Thanks all - such quick responses.
The list is growing and shrinking and growing and shrinking.

At the moment I am playing around with:

MSR Hubba + Hubba Hubba
Big Agnes Copper Spur
Terra Nova Laser Competition
Tatonka Koli Cocoon 1p [$299.50 (rrp $339)] (http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/tatonka ... AT2401.208)
Vango F10 Helium 100 1p [$299.50 (rrp $490)] (http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/vango-f ... FTE-HEL1-J)

Am thinking the Hubba is a tad small.
The Tatonka is a tad heavy
The Terra Nova looks incredible - but have read a few reviews that it breathes quite poorly.. so that may be a decider.
Can't find much about the Vango.

Then of course, at the back of my mind is the Atko.
How much better, really, is it?

Have you thought about the scarp 1? Tf you get the crossing poles and solid inner you have both a light summer tent and a bombproof winter tent.

icefest wrote:Have you thought about the scarp 1? Tf you get the crossing poles and solid inner you have both a light summer tent and a bombproof winter tent.

Not freestanding (the crossing poles aren't the best).

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Oo. Yes. That has come up in my searches.
Looks pretty epic.

Thanks for reminding me - It's going on the list.

Strider wrote:

icefest wrote:Have you thought about the scarp 1? Tf you get the crossing poles and solid inner you have both a light summer tent and a bombproof winter tent.

Not freestanding (the crossing poles aren't the best).

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Really? That's a bugger. Is this your personal experience? I haven't found others with a similar experience.

Thanks Strider. I forgot about that.

Does it have to be free standing aNomaly?

Here is a comparison of the Scarp and Atko (which is well worth reading): viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4091

Yes I have a Scarp 1. It is freestanding with the crossing poles, in a sense. But if this is a priority a true freestanding tent will much better fit your expectations. It's not really a bugger. The crossing poles are to support the structure of the tent rather than to make it easier to pitch.

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Plus one for the Scarp 1 with crossover poles

aNomaly wrote:The Terra Nova looks incredible - but have read a few reviews that it breathes quite poorly.. so that may be a decider.

This is just my personal experience, but . . . I had one. Used it once - open flat grassy ground, perfectly calm. The fly tore while I was pitching it. The inside was saturated the next morning from condensation. It's also tiny inside, felt so cramped - and this was supposed to be the two man version! The supplied pegs are useless. As soon as the fly was replaced (under warranty) I passed it on. Worst tent I've ever slept in.
Yet I know some people who've loved theirs. Takes all sorts I guess.

icefest wrote:Here is a comparison of the Scarp and Atko (which is well worth reading): viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4091

'Content removed by poster.' Good times.

north-north-west wrote:

icefest wrote:Here is a comparison of the Scarp and Atko (which is well worth reading): viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4091

'Content removed by poster.' Good times.

Yes Ent/ Brett was a good read with interesting albeit at times overly long posts ,pity that such a verbose and opinionated poster had such a thin skin as to need to delete all of his posts( however he missed his quoted ones)

As a person who likes my Terra Nova Competition 1, but only for cold and relatively extreme conditions I suggest that the basic design of the Akto/Enan/Scarp/Terra Nova Comp/and several others provides a clue as to a relatively optimum design for quite lightweight tents that can handle relatively severe conditions - single transverse hoop pole etc. The individual featuring of the different models/manufacturers is what differentiates them and allows the purchaser to hopefully find a version that suits their specific requirements.

icefest wrote:Does it have to be free standing aNomaly?

It doesn't necessarily have to be freestanding - I was just thinking that it may be a good call, in case I have to camp on designated shielding platforms.

At the end of the day, Two candidates remain:

MSR Hubba Hubba
Scarp 1

aNomaly wrote:At the end of the day, Two candidates remain:

MSR Hubba Hubba
Scarp 1

Think through of a rainy day pitch... And you'll be down to 'one'! Congrats.

Just make sure you get a Tyvek footprint for it.

I have a practically new (used twice in the backyard) Mont Moondance 2 tent for sale, looking to sell it for $400 has an extra Mont Compression Bag.
Is in perfect condition, selling due to going to a much lighter tent.

It's the tent in this video and not the current one, end ropes are the only thing different I believe.
http://www.mont.com.au/blog/the-mont-moondance-2-tent/

Also just remembered this thread as well:
http://fatcanyoners.org/bush-guide/mont-moondance-2/

Look it up, see if it might suit & get in touch if interested.

Thanks for the offer, Supertramp.. It had come up in my search, but am thinking whilst I'm forking out the cash, I may as well go lighter.

No worries, keep us update as to what you decide on.

P.s. The Zpacks tents look amazing

Dear Anomaly
There is a thorough review of the Vango helium 2 in the review subforum in this gear section.
Its only 210 cm long internally so best if you are under 180cm, otherwise a nice tent,
along with the Mont.
You might get shredded in a Stratospire in alpine Tasmania.
John

johnrs wrote:You might get shredded in a Stratospire in alpine Tasmania.
John

John have you used a stratopire? They are surprisingly awesome in wind, and reports are that they do quite nicely under light snow. We have used ours a lot in the last couple of years in the Victorian high country. Having had it out in crazy winds where other tents were collapsing, and we slept, we are confident in wind/rain storms. Is tassie weather really that different than Vic high country? I think the OP was looking at the scarp though - which is rated four seasons.

Yes Sandbar
And I ended up using it as a bivvy bag.
80k+ gusts over a sustained period in an alpine environment.
Great in most situations on the mainland.
Dangerous in exposed alpine Tasmania.
John

Thanks all for your help and advice.
For those playing at home, after much deliberation and muttering pros and cons under my breath, I've gone the......

Scarp 1

An epic tent for many epic adventures ahead

You won't be disappointed. It's a great tent!

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