[Closed] 2-person backpacking tent - anything better value than Alpkit?

See recent thread on Chinese tents such as Lanshan 🙂

Naturehike Star River II

I met a lady with one of those - we were camping at a beach on Orkney.
She had to take the tent down and leave once the wind got up (prob 25mph). She said that wasn't the first time this had happened.

My pal and I were fine
I have a Terra Nova Zephyros 2 and he has something cheap.

GoOutdoors OEX stuff might be worth a look? I have one of their one man tents for small overnighters and it's been great.

She had to take the tent down and leave once the wind got up (prob 25mph).

Fair enough. Ideally I'd like it to stay up in a decent breeze (2 season up high/3 season low level).

Are the Chinese ones copies of other brands?

That Zephyros looks like a 1+ tent rather than a true 2-person.

Zephryos type tents will always be better in strong wind because they are so much lower. I like to be able to sit up in my tent though.

I've used mine near the top of Helvellyn and Blencathra in winter with no issues as long as you put it up properly with guy ropes.

Cheap, light, strong - pick 2 though really innit

Star river II is a Big Agnes Copper Spur clone which is very similar to an MSR Hubba Hubba NX. I have a real MSR Hubba NX and a Star River II and the SR II is just as good.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/trekking-tunnel-tent-trek-900-ultralight-2-person-grey/_/R-p-323505

I have the 1 man version, well made and very light

The Zephyros one I have is the 2 man XL UL (so extra large, ultra light). you pay a bit more but get more space for the same weight (about 1.5kg). You can sit up in it.

It's OK for two folks, you don't have to be a couple! perfect for one person - palatial!

It's worth trying to find one to try out in the shop - Go Outdoors have big enough space to have a few on show from the enormouse palaces down to tents like the MSR.

When we got ours (Big Agnes Copper Spur) we were also considering an MSR. A friend had the one person version so put it up in our living room(!). At which point I discovered that I couldn't sit up in it without scraping my head against the inner. The two man version was the same height so it got discounted.

Then there's things like how easy they are to put up/take down - some can be a real faff if you haven't used them before. A lot of tents now have colour coded tabs and pole ends just for this reason. I don't think any use red and green but if you were red-green colourblind that's something to watch out for.

The Alpkit Jaran 2 is their version of the Copper Spur and the MSR Hubba Hubba, 500g heavier than the Ordos but quite a bit more room since the internal walls are near vertical rather than sloping in. Also two door so if one person wants to get out in the night there's less chance of disturbing the other.

That Zephyros looks like a 1+ tent rather than a true 2-person.

That's the case for pretty much every tent, is it not? If you want a 2-man tent with room for 2-mansworth of gear then what you want there is a 3-man tent.

Here y'go, or look at some of the other Luxe tents on that site.

If you do opt for the likes of a lanshan 2, and it doesn't suit, you'll pretty much get your money back on ebay.

Vango. My three man cost less than £100, weighs 2.5kg, and fits on my bars. It's roomy for two people plus bags, three is very tight.

I started a tent thread in the summer albeit for cycle touring but might be something useful within this...

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/tents-id-appreciate-some-advice/

Trekkertents. I have a custom one. £300 1.2 kg and huge for two people

That’s the case for pretty much every tent, is it not?

It was more the floorplan which showed two people in it lying top to tail rather than side by side. I'm sure my lad and his prospective fellow camper could manage...me and the missus toured Europe in a Phoenix Phreeranger. 🙂

I have a friend with a 2 man Zephryos and it's defo smaller than my 2 man SR II. I don't know about the XL UL one mentioned above, think it was just a regular one my friend has.

Two porches either side is good for various reasons imo. We normally stick bags one side and use the other for cooking gear/shoes etc.

This seems a better option (from the Alpkit catalogue at least)

https://alpkit.com/products/jaran-2

Anyone had one of these?

EDIT: Missed Whitestone's comment on it. Thanks.

I'll look into some of these other options, thanks.

Silly question but is it a 2 person tent for using with 2 people? If so I'd not get too stressed about the weight. If it's a 2 person tent used for 'luxury' solo use some time then it is far more of a concern.

Tents are a world of compromise......headspace often comes at the expensive of poor aerodynamics and doing less well in a blow. A 4 season fly that goes right down to the ground can induce condensation problems. Pitch outer first for easy pitching in the rain often means a slightly baggy inner that is easier to touch to the fly with your feet. Bombproof often means heavy. Lightweight often means a groundsheet that needs careful handling.

In a 'don't recommend what you own' I think I'd be tempted to go Vango - not the last word in anything but a great balance of weight and robustness, great VFM and normally pretty idiot proof. There is a reason half the countries DofE groups sleep out in Vangos.

I'd agree with that. My (rarely used) car camping tent is a Halo 200. I wouldn't want to carry it by myself, but split between two it'd be ok, and it's a very liveable design.

Silly question but is it a 2 person tent for using with 2 people?

I imagine so most of the time, but occasionally just himself. So I'm looking for something around the 2kg mark in case he ends up having to carry the whole thing.

Vango Force Ten with cotton fly.

It's what I used when I were a lad for backpacking and what every 15 year old should have to go through.

That said they don't make 'em as heavy as they used to. Nothing beats carrying that wet cotton flysheet off the mountain.

It’s what I used when I were a lad for backpacking and what every 15 year old should have to go through.

In that case, any recommendations for a 160-man shoebox int'middle of road?

Bikester were discounting Big Agnes tents recently. I got the 3 man Seedhouse - really nicely put together and gets good reviews.

A bit fuller answer. As above tents are always a compromise. I have had many backpacking tents over the years but the custom trekkertent drift I have now although compromised is the best for my needs. Its a two man inner in a 3 man outer which took a fair bit of tinkering to make it work well but now I have it sussed its great. the basic tent is 1.2 kilos as it uses walking poles for poles and we are carrying them anyway ( and I have superlight CF poles)

Outer is hexagonal 3m across. Inner is 2.4m x 1.2 m. Two of us can sit up in it easily. It has 4 doors so is very flexible in use and with the larger outer there is enough space to get under the outer and take your waterproofs off without getting into the inner. Extended porches are well worth it in my view and need not add much weight

Disadvantages are the groundsheet is very thin but I always use a footprint anyway and I suspect it will be flappy in high winds

greatest thing about it is I can have the outer pitched in a minute - literally so very good if it raining - you can then fit the inner and unpack in the dry

Its a small scottish business as well which I like to support

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48741912073_811cfc6aa4_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48741912073_811cfc6aa4_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hga3jn ]IMG_1135[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

They also do smaller / lighter tents

http://www.trekkertent.com/home/

Another Decathlon owner here. Their 2-person backpacking tent has been superb on this year's bikepacking missions. About £110 IIRC.

We’ve got the decathlon one mentioned above and also an OEX phoxx 2. Both good but would go with the Decathlon out of the two. Pitches all in one with only one pole and prefer having the asymmetrical layout with the larger recess on one side as it’s more useable.

Thread dredge but Alpkit have just emailed about this: https://alpkit.com/products/aeronaut-2?utm_campaign=584086_Espresso%2030th%20March%202021&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alpkit%20Ltd&dm_i=57MB,CIOM,2VTCG1,1FKEZ,1

Think Vango have done this before with the F10 Hydrogen but not at this price point.

Was going to mention Decathlon although nothing can beat my old Vango Storm 200+

Approx 2kg per person if split to carry, but it’s a bombproof and cavernous windcheater with lots of venting options and two exits/entrances.

If you see one used VGC snap it up.

You asked for light, so Decathlon Quickhiker 3 (split to carry)? Only thing is availability, no idea if they are restocking soon?

I always find 3 person or 2.5 person (300 or 200+) spaces work better for two, so I’d be checking the Alpkit Ordos 3 if looking that way. ymmv

https://www.weirdosonbikes.com/product/aricxi-ultralight-two-man-tent/

@nostrils, I've just spotted that - it looks great! I've got an Easton Kilo which is ultra-light (about 1.2Kg, plus footprint) and I've loved, but a) it's bright yellow so definitely not stealth and b) although it's survived quite a lot of nights with me (and sometimes also my son) and the bike(s), it feels a little bit _too_ light for me. I love the robustness of Alpkit's stuff and we have a Vango Airbeam 4-man tent which was a revelation, so a lightweight airbeam bikepacking tent seems like a brilliant idea to me. May well pre-order, especially if I can get the Kilo up on eBay next time it's £1 listing weekend. 🙂

Vango, Can't go wrong at the money. Always held up well to years of use.

Hmm, that Alpkit is light for an inflatable tent.
I guess we're all carrying a pump anyway.

I have a Terra Nova Quasar which must be over 20 year old easy, an amazing bit of kit, still like new, lend it out to my kids for camping, overnight fishing, etc, still cuts the mustard.
Also, used a Pheonix Phreak? About 25 years ago, the only tent left standing when everyone else on our Duke of Edinburgh expedition was chasing their Vangos up some windy Highland valley.

Hmm, that Alpkit is light for an inflatable tent.
I guess we’re all carrying a pump anyway.

I’ve just changed my order from an Ordos 2 to the Aeronaut so I’ll give a review when I get it!

👍

I’ve just changed my order from an Ordos 2 to the Aeronaut so I’ll give a review when I get it!

Great stuff. I did take a peek so would be interested to know especially how it gets on with condensation/venting

I'd narrowed it down to a Trekkertent Stealth or the new Lanshan Plus then just happened to look on the Alpkit site the other day and saw the Aeronaut and now there's a third option, probably the front runner if the estimated weight proves to be right.

I’ve just changed my order from an Ordos 2 to the Aeronaut so I’ll give a review when I get it!

Please do. I was looking for a review on you tube but there seems to be nothing on it.

I'd be interested to see if you ,instead of rolling back the outer door, maybe suspend it outwards, by using some cut sticks and a couple of guy ropes, just to provide a rain shelter for cooking at the front.

Really not liking the look of those new alpkit tents. Low ends and saggy inners are not a great combo. They might be great or they might not. Like a lot of alpkit stuff!

Trekkertent Stealth

I can vouch for the quality of these but you certainly wouldn't be able to get a new one for the summer.

I have this Terra Nova tent, that they've got £100 off, from £250 to £150: https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/sale/tent-sale/zephyros-2-xl-lite-tent/

2 man, extra-large (so actually usable for 2 folks) and ultra-light - brings the weight down a bit.
Quality seems good to me, stands up to rain and wind well and doesn't get any condensation. Easy to put up and goes up all together so doesn't get wet on the inside if it is raining.
A very usable 2 person tent, large sized and doors on each side. 1.7kg
Absolutely palatial if you're on your own!

Thread revival 🙂

Wondered if @jodafett had got his Aeronaut yet and could give us a quick review?

I’ve been meaning to come back to this thread! It finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. This is my first small tent so nothing to compare it with but I think it’s brilliant. I bought the Aeronaut 2 which is slightly over 1.7kg with the separate footprint and all the bags. It all fits completely into a 7l saddlebag. It took just under 4 minutes to pump up the beam with a (rubbish) mini pump. I reckon I could have it up in well under 10 minutes. Plenty space for 1 person. Two people would be comfortable as well I think but no room for kit. There is a little porch area but it’s not massive. The door could possibly be propped up as there’s a toggle in the bottom corner but you’d probably have to bodge something to do it. All in all I think it’s great but not used it in the wild yet.

Edit - still can’t post photos!!

Any updates from aeronaut owners? A friend of mind got one. He's used it twice, and is now sending it back because both times he had puddles of condensation on the tent floor by morning. First time he wondered if he hadn't pitched it quite right and sagging was the cause. Second time I was camped next to him and it was all nice and taut. Still puddles. Not big ones, but that's no good. Alpkit have offered to refund 75%, which personally I think is uncharacteristically bad service from them. Not sure if it's materials or design, but I certainly wouldn't recommend...

Inflatable tent in windy conditions would give me the fear.

A friend of mind got one. He’s used it twice, and is now sending it back because both times he had puddles of condensation on the tent floor by morning.

I've had that in a TNF VE25, normally lack of ventilation, the moist warm breath just hits the cold inner tent and condenses. Just need to sleep with more vents open.

Depends on the tent but at the start of August we vacated a campsite because of the wind and the airbeam style ones were holding up better than the GRP pole ones

Depends on the tent but at the start of August we vacated a campsite because of the wind and the airbeam style ones were holding up better than the GRP pole ones

Interesting that no one really makes a 3/4 season airbeam backpacking tent, as the weight benefits would be good (apart from the need to carry a pump, so perfect for bikepacking). For exposed camping at height, I can't really see it working.

It was more the floorplan which showed two people in it lying top to tail rather than side by side. I’m sure my lad and his prospective fellow camper could manage…me and the missus toured Europe in a Phoenix Phreeranger.

I've still one of those and recently got a new pole (the elastic wasn't) and pegs and put it up in the back garden - my Missus couldn't believe it was a 2-man (many times with my pal, both of us over 6 foot). But, I can sit up in it, and been goretex means no issue when 'touching' the outer.

Intend to try a bike-packing overnighter, just need some other odds/sods.

Never seen this thread before. I just bought a new tent, the zephyros 2 has always annoyed me tbh, just too small to sit in. Served me well(I've had it for about 7/8 years I think), and it was just a case of un pinning the inner if you wanted to sit up(when there's no midgies.) but still the inner sit up was restrictive.

Wanted something with a bit more space, went for the naturehike mongar2, basically just a copy of the MSR hubba. Seems decent and spacious and I like the idea of the different configurations, just got it, so not tried it out in anger yet. might this weekend.

Did think about the lanshan 2 pro, but tbh, didn't really fancy the single skin and i never carry walking poles on a bike so seemed a bit of false economy in that respect. Plus I couldn't be arsed taping and waterproofing it either. 😆 I also wanted freestanding.

The gore-tex version was the Phreerunner. Here's mine in 2015, since binned because the membrane was delaminating and the porch PU coating had completely gone:
[img] [/img]
I binned a modern copy of the Phreeranger today (seams pulling apart) after taking delivery of...my next tent.

Regarding condensation above: flattish, low angled roof panels, they're bad for it however much ventilation you rig up.

me and the missus toured Europe in a Phoenix Phreeranger.

Us too. Definitely a tent for two very good friends.

Phreeranger?

http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/25-phoenix-phreeranger-replica-complete-tent.html

Inflatable tent in windy conditions would give me the fear.

Nope. They distort then spring back ime, which is uncomfortable and slightly worrying at first, but better than... alloy poles in the same conditions which can just fail catastrophically when bent beyond a certain point.

I'd be more concerned about punctures generally, even though folk like Vango have been honing the design / technology for a good few years now - I exploded one of the early ones at a very hot 24/12 a few years back, which was embarassing.

i am looking for a good single man or a smallish 2 man tent, that is good for someone 6ft 4''

not many around it seems. i had a alpkit ardos 2. it was very good, apart from the entrance at the end. a side entrance would be better.

I have one of these, but not used it much yet:

Vango F10 Helium UL2

Plenty of space for me at 6ft, but wasn't paying top much attention to how much spare headroom I'm afraid.

It is small and light, and no issues so far, but not thoroughly tested...

Here y’go, or look at some of the other Luxe tents on that

Just been using this new last Xmas only used really from this summer due to lockdown. LAN Shan Teepee tent, huge, tall, remarkable good in wind (camped near top of pen y Fan last night, weather was shite), goes up inner and outer or outer only and light at around 1.5kg

Nope. They distort then spring back ime, which is uncomfortable and slightly worrying at first, but better than… alloy poles in the same conditions which can just fail catastrophically when bent beyond a certain point.

Ah, that'll by why all the top manufacturers have them in their 3 and 4 season range, be brilliant for summit camps! 😂

That Lanshan tipi looks like a clone of the old GoLite SL3. They were surprisingly capable:

https://flic.kr/p/fn5vxX

But, under certain conditions, the vents allow wind and rain to blast in, creating a refreshing 'power shower' effect. Doesn't happen often, but when it does...

Yeah the vents are a bit curious....I will be using it as a summer tent so hopefully it'll be ok. Seams need doing to as the dog was getting dribbled on the other night, had to put my jacket over her

Re: condensation. In some conditions you'll get condensation no matter what tent or how or where you pitch it. Most times however it's down to poor site selection and erection technique (quiet at the back there!)

Putting the tent up on long grass or vegetation or on waterlogged ground will increase the risk as will being near water in general. Pitch somewhere where there's likely to be a breeze and align the vents so that the breeze helps airflow through the tent and the risk will be much less.

As for "flexible" tents - I had a Terra Nova Supernova tent. One winter way back in the 1980s we were camping in a "sheltered" spot in Torridon. During the night the wind kept flattening the tent and then the poles would spring back. Quite unnerving to have the tent whack you in the face! Those were alloy poles and are still in use.

Good advice re: condensation, but when the inevitable does happen you can make managing it easier by careful choice of tent design. Having used a lot of tents I now avoid models that have large areas of flat/shallow angle fabric; they just dump condensation onto your inner tent (or your kit, if it's single skin). Other factors need considering, too, of course (packed pole length, porch space/location, footprint size, inner/fly first pitch, etc).

aye the nature hike mongar 2 is a dinger of a tent.

I was going to camp here, but shat it from being too close to the tide, and not wanting to end up in sea about 2am at high tide. (turned out would have been fine, but still was wise to shift, just incase!)

[img] [/img]

So camped here instead. Did enjoy the fact you can open the fly sheet right up for panoramic views.

[img] [/img]

fits in the wee saddle bag I've got there, poles in the rucksack.

[img] [/img]

All in all a good addition to my 1/2 night camping raid set up! 😆

Just hope it's waterproof. 😆

Good tents those Joe, my mate got sent one to test, and he's a bit of a tent nerd, loves it.

Ah, that’ll by why all the top manufacturers have them in their 3 and 4 season range, be brilliant for summit camps! 😂

What do you think happens when an airbeam-type tent gets hit by high winds? Generally four-season and altitude tents are all about creating a rigid structure with a wind-cheating shape, but that doesn't mean airbeams are useless in other applications.

I once spent a few hours in a mad Pyrenean storm - on a campsite - where our ancient Ultimate Peapod tunnel tents survived because its fibreglass poles were flexible enough to deform in the wind. The alloy poled tents around us were trashed because their poles failed catastrophically under the same load. MSR uses composite Easton Syclone poles for the same reason see this video where, to be fair, the Easton alloy poles bend out of shape rather than actually snap:

My personal experience is that airbeams do a similar sort of thing. I'm not saying that airbeam tents are better in all respects, just that all else being equal, they may be better in high winds than you think.

I have an airbeam tent, but it's a big family job, where I can see the benefits over big long poles, where the heavier weights and sail like shape will trash poles in high winds.

But we're talking small backpacking tents here, and airbeam tents ain't exactly ten a penny in that sector are they?.

ancient Ultimate Peapod tunnel tents survived

I’ve still got my Peapod! Can’t face getting rid of it, but it’s well beyond its prime. Great tent!

But we’re talking small backpacking tents here, and airbeam tents ain’t exactly ten a penny in that sector are they?.

No, they're niche. But just because something's niche, doesn't mean it doesn't work and it's interesting that there's an ultra-lightweight Vango tent using the tech as well as Alpkit's new backpacking tent. Nemo had a bivy using an air tube ages back which Mike Hall used on his round the world trip.

All I'm saying is that they're actually deceptively good in high winds. On the flipside, conventional poles are a reliable, proven technology that's not going to puncture and fail catastrophically through random user error or hedgehog attack and is trusted by users.

Something can work, even if it has drawbacks, and still be niche.

Shirley rule 1 of lightweight backpacking tents is to pitch them somewhere where they're not going to be subjected to properly high winds? They're not built for it being 'lightweight backpacking tents'... If you want highly resilient, try the heavy duty stuff designed for it but lightweight is not something they can be accused of...

We've just returned from a couple of weeks bike touring using our venerable (2011) Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 - a 2 person backpacking tent. It's quite small (obviously), very light (1.5kg) and (probably) wouldn't stand up to a gale but for ~3 season bike/backpacking for 2, it's ace.

Now, bad and good news. It might not sound like a ringing endorsement but after 11 years the taping has started to delaminate a bit though its not leaking - yet. The fabric and everything else is still A1. Big Agnes have warranteed the tent immediately no questions asked which I think is astonishing Customer Service. I've had other tents and all manner of mountain gear where the taping failed after a few years and it's rare (IME) to get so little aggro for such a decent result.

So I'll happily recommend Big Agnes if you want American designed, self supporting, fully tensioned, lightweight gear that lasts well enough for the genre and is decently supported by the manufacturer.

It won't last a 1000 years and withstand Hurricane Hilda but you probly want stone for that...

Fair enough BWD mate.

Shirley rule 1 of lightweight backpacking tents

I wasn't aware we had rules, though that was just the roadies! 🙂

Aye, I do try to camp in suitable locations, but I also like to get as close to summits as I can, and have had wind change directions unpredictably overnight before, so I like to have a tent that can take a wee bit of wind.

Used the Hubba Hubba NX for the first time at the weekend, Very impressed so far. Already had a 1 person MSR Freelite, but wanted something a wee bit bigger for either camping with the missus, or just to have a bit more room to bring everything inside in shit weather. The HH can be pitched outer first too, which is ideal in such weather. No summits though, was too claggy!.

https://flic.kr/p/2miYTi6

The gore-tex version was the Phreerunner.

My mistake, it is the Phreerunner I've got.

And definitely 3-4 season - just needed care with the venting of the 'inner', ie zips ajar.

Another MSR vote here, I opted for the elixer 2 man for solo backpacking/climbing trip through S and N America where I wanted to be able to comfortably get all my kit inside. It has very fractionally less height at the sides than the Hubba due to using two crosswise poles rather than a yoke system but I preferred the simplicity and the more durable fabric. It lasted daily use on that 6 month trip and still holds up now 3 years on for weekenders in the UK. I think for a traditional tent I wouldn't bother going lighter as sometimes you need to pitch up on rocks. If I did go lighter it would be full on ultralight teepee type deal like a six moons or something. Met a bikepacker in Argentina with one who rated it highly.

Bloody hell this tent buying malarkey is hard! Just want something reasonably portable for me and the boy to do the odd night or two out and most probably sometimes just me and will likely be hiking with it a bit but not miles and miles.

So Vango Scafell+ (the one with the porch) or the Naturehike Mongar Superlight? Is the Mongar waterproof? That is my main concern :).

Or the Berghaus Cairngorm? Looks a nice option too

Have a look at Luxe hexapeak, with the double inner. Nice and light, and by all reports, bloody good in the wind, I really fancied one but all reviews say anyone over 6' is too tall. Backpackinglight sell them, Bob is very helpful too btw.

dannybgoode
Is the Mongar waterproof? That is my main concern :).

Does seem to be going by that, haven't tested it myself yet, will report back when I do get rain. I reckon it'll be fine though.

btw don't btw the purple yin, my god that's ugly. I really like the grey yin for the natural light and brightness inside the tent.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/trekking-tunnel-tent-trek-900-ultralight-2-person-grey/_/R-p-323505?mc=8586318

Been really happy with mine.