Lightweight family tent: GoLite Shangri-La 5, Nemo Pentalit

[WestcoastPete]

Gudday

I'm a Dad! It's pretty cool, but what about tents? We're going to NZ in March for a week in one spot. We're already taking a whole bunch of paraphernalia, and we hope to camp a whole heap more still, so we'd like something that packs up to be small and light. We'd like to be able to stand up in it too, even if it is only in the middle of it. The GoLite Shangri-la 5 looks awesome, and the Nemo Pentalite looks similarly good, but both are out of production. I might put a wanted ad out for either, but maybe there are other options. I reckon the Luxe Sil Octopeak F8 looks pretty great.

Do you have any advice on these things?

Ta

[Moondog55]

NO more Go-Lite so scratch the ShangriLa unless you can find one S/H and they are attracting a premium because of it so yes the Octo looks OK
What will it cost landed in OZ?

[Bluegum Mic]

Ive currently got the nemo pentalite and its an amazing shelter. As Moondog said though its no longer in production but I picked mine up second hand from the bpl forums. Ive also had the shangri-la and I prefer the pentalite over it. I currently also own the luxe sil hexpeak as my solo tent and they are great. I think the octopeak would be great and there is a company in NZ that stocks them (as well as backpacking light in Melbourne has some of the range).

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[simonm]

I have the Shangri-la 5, which I think I bought off Mic?? It's a nice tent and I may consider selling it as it would then motivate me to finally make my own mid - maybe.

[Moondog55]

How many people? As there is also the Luxe Megahorn tipi

[stry]

Being in one spot for a week suggests that the tent will remain pitched during the day.

None of the modern crop of plastic fantastics, that I am aware of, tolerate UV very well, so you might consider some sort of inexpensive, sacrificial fly over the top of whatever you choose.

[Moondog55]

Or in addition to the factory DWR use the Nikwax Solarproof as well, cost is about the same but the Nikwax only lasts a season in full sun; then again a cheap only lasts that long too

[WestcoastPete]

Yeah cool, as I mentioned in my post, I am aware that the SL5 and the Pentalite are out of production which is why I linked to the Luxe Sil Octopeak. The basic concept of the tent seems pretty good to me, and it's good to hear that people who have them seem to like them.

We're three. My wife and I, and our brand new baby. He'll be 3 months when we go to NZ, but we'll camp more than just this trip, and one day there'll probably be another addition to the family. Yes, this tent will be exposed to UV a bit this time around. Maybe we'll have a tarp to put over it or can pitch amongst some shade, but I'm not going to give too much consideration to UV for a UL tent like this. I accept it is one of the cons of these things.

[Moondog55]

There are lots of ways of doing the fixed camp thing. Camping with young kids is a recurring topic too.
What-ever you finally decide on I always recommend a big LW tarp in addition as a shaded/protected play area. Car camping can be luxurious but a large tarped area is well worth it for kids

[WestcoastPete]

I went to Paddy Pallin to buy some straps and saw they stocked Nemo tents. Had a rummage around and what do you know; a Pentalite! There was no inner wedge obvious though, but they found one when I enquired. Totally stoked! It was pretty expensive though and I said so, so they gave me a 15% discount. What a score!

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[benjabimon]

A close friend of mine has the Shangri-la 5 and loves it, and for the 3 of you it would be luxurious. I don't know about the claims to fit 5 people, but for your needs it would be spacious - you could probably do tent angels when inside it. After borrowing the same tent all I would say is take extra pegs and guy lines if you want to set it up properly for maximum stability. The same friend also said that her tent wetted out after a few days of crazy rain in NZ, so following Moondog55's advice and giving it an extra waterproofing treatment would probably be a good idea. That is if you decide to go with the Go-Lite.

[WestcoastPete]

Gudday
The GoLite Shangri-la 5 looks awesome, and the Nemo Pentalite looks similarly good, but both are out of production.

NO more Go-Lite so scratch the ShangriLa unless you can find one S/H and they are attracting a premium because of it so yes the Octo looks OK
What will it cost landed in OZ?

Hmmm...

What a score!

That is if you decide to go with the Go-Lite.

Hmmm....

[Bluegum Mic]

Well done. What a score. I love mine. And to find the wedge as well. Wahoo!
Ive had a full inner made for mine by Evan from Terrarosagear. He's done an amazing job.
Happy trails and here's mine 'glowing' the other week


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[WestcoastPete]

Nice one. Evan's a top dude as well eh.

FWIW, PP had another Wedge for a Pentalite that I saw. Without tents, they might struggle to shift it so on the off chance you're after one, you might be able to get a deal.