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The gf and I are planning a lengthy (60 day+) European tandem tour next summer.
We did a test tour this weekend, loading up pretty much what well be taking next summer, including my Vango Tempest 200 tent that I normally use for solo touring, and surprise surprise, it was rather cramped with 2 people and 3 panniers of stuff, that's before we even started trying to get changed or sort kit!
So, we're in the market for a new tent!
I've been searching the Internets for a few hours and narrowed it down to a few options, but all my favourites all seem to be USA only or discontinued!
We're after sitting hight of at least 110cm, plus two vestibules, also free standing would be a bonus but not 100% needed, also sub 3kg is a must, lighter the better (while still being robust enough for 3 months of touring) Also sub £300 would be ideal!
So far I have found...
MSR Mutha Hubba - looks good and seems to be available but not the lightest or in budget
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 - nice and light, but one vestibule and not available in the UK
Marmot Limelight 3p - looks great but no longer available
So STW, what would you recommend!
One in stock here.Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 - nice and light, but one vestibule and not available in the UK
this one comes with porch
MSR Mutha Hubba - looks good and seems to be available but not the lightest or in budget
TBH I think lightness is often over valued when considering tents. The mutha Hubba is hardly heavy.
What would put me off it that a mate has one and says that the large side panels catch the wind and push the outer onto the inner causing condensation to come through.
Avoid wildcountry/terranova.
Once a go to tent is now a poor immitation with poles that are not fit for purpose and crap not interested customerservice to boot.
Not impressed.
Had one pole fail+ tear the fly sheet after 3 uses
They repaired it as my cost...i wondered if i was using it wrong.
How ever i treated it with kid gloves and after a further 1 week of benign camping striking and pitching daily and it was cracking from the pole spigot crimps. Pisspoor design choice.
Hubba hubba seemed to be popular - do bare in mind euro hubbas are different to us hubbas - they have longer splash skirts on the euro model to cope with the rain.
These keep popping up in adverts/their email. Any good to you?
https://www.alpkit.com/products/ordos-3
Agree about avoiding wild country,had one for years and it was great so replaced it with another wild country for a 6 week cycle tour,pole snapped on 3rd night and another not soon after,thank god for zip ties,rubbish poles,avoid.
[url= http://www.force-ten.co.uk/gb/tents/224-f10-mtn-2.html#.WdJt7mhSyUk ]F10 MTN2[/url] ?
I've got the Baltoro2, which looks similar but is from about 15 years ago. There are numerous quasar clones that do much the same job I suspect*. I have ignored at least two of your criteria though.
for 60 days (I am assuming 60 pitches) I'd be wary of a super light tent.
*edit, such as the Alpkit Kangri thats a chunk cheaper.
Agree about avoiding wild country,had one for years and it was great so replaced it with another wild country for a 6 week cycle tour,pole snapped on 3rd night and another not soon after,thank god for zip ties,rubbish poles,avoid.
It's not just the poles. I returned 3 WC/TN tents due to stitching coming undone after a few uses. Fortunately Cotswold took the returns without question. A friend was less fortunate with his TN tent, stitching came undone after a weeks use, the shop sent it back and TN said it had been misused but that they'd repair it for £50.
A friend was less fortunate with his TN tent, stitching came undone after a weeks use, the shop sent it back and TN said it had been misused but that they'd repair it for £50.
To which the answer is "prove it" on a week-old product.
Acweeks use and week old are different things in tent world normally.
To which the answer is "prove it" on a week-old product.
My suspicion is that they've done the maths spoke to the lawyers and decided that covering all the warranty claims would bankrupt them. Shortsighted to my mind as there's been a real loss of faith in them as a brand.
Hi
I would recommend Robens Kestrel or slightly larger, more stable, free standing Robens Raptor. You can get the Raptor for £250 on Ebay. Excellent tents and 2 vestibules make them ideal for 2
Have a look at Lightwave (T20 Trail XT, I think) - that's where went when we couldn't justify a like for like replacement for our 20 year old Hilleberg Namatj. Not regretted the decision yet....
Just had 10 days in my skyledge 3 . Dealt with wind and rain well . Fair bit cheaper than your budget . Clips on inner a bit fragile but otherwise I would recommend
Gonna look at all suggested!
Anyone got any experience with the Big Agnes Blacktail 3? Seems to be a good balance of weight and price while meeting all my criteria, but not a huge amount of reviews!
Time to wheel out my stock response whenever anyone recommends Lightwave...
I had one and it was hands down the worst tent I've owned or even used. And the customer service was pretty much non-existent.
Not everyone's experience I know but I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole now.
The alpkit tents are well thought out and they stand behind their procucts
Thanks for all the suggestions, Price being a pretty major factor I have ordered the tents that I have shortlisted so far in order of preference, taking into account price, size, weight and what the reviews say! Let me know if you'd change this order (or add something else to the list?) I have discounted anything too expensive, low or small in the list.
[u]Big Agnes Blacktail 3 - £250 - 2.6kg - 2 vestibules[/u]
Gets great reviews, looks quite tough as not silly lightweight and is pretty large with 2 ok sized vestibules, also looks available in the uk at the moment.
[u]Marmot Limelight 3p - £310 - 3.0kg - 1.5 vestibules[/u]
Looks huge internally so nice living space, some bad reviews but those appear to be due to bad pitching. Not UK available so needs to be ordered from the US. Also weight seems to be a bit optimistic too
[u]Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 - £340 - 2.2kg - 1 vestibule[/u]
Only one larger vestibule and one door, also quite light so questions about longevity? Also a bit out of budget unless I can find a bargain!
[u]MSR Mutha Hubba - £391 - 2.3kg - 2 vestibules[/u]
Very out of budget but can be found used in budget also questions about waterproofness in the wind
[u]Alpkit Ordos 3 - £280 - 1.6kg - 1 vestibule[/u]
Too small really and only one vestibule, seems to also get wet getting in and out which isn’t great!
[u]Mountian Hardware Skyledge 3 - £340 - 2.3kg - 2 vestibules[/u]
Too small and out of budget, also seems to be US only.
How about a Tipi style tent e.g. Nigor WikiUp 3 (lots of cheaper alternatives these days)?
1 pole so super lightweight. Only issue is the lack of vestibules (on the smaller ones) but they are often more roomy inside and can accommodate kit easily enough.
Doesn't fit all of your brief, but quite often when a 'touring' tent question gets posed, the Quecha ones from Decathlon seem to get a good mention.
They do a 3-man or a 4-man:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/quickhiker-ultralight-3-hiking-tent-3-man-grey-id_8245651.html
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/quickhiker-ultralight-4-hiking-tent-4-man-grey-id_8243148.html
I've spent a wee while looking at Youtube tent videos recently, and I'm not sure what I would go for. I currently have a Macpac Minaret Mountain tent which has been brilliant, but it's a bit smaller than you're looking for. The MacPac Olympus would be really solid. They have great ground sheets, can be erected outer first or with outer/inner together, and they're easy to pitch. The only downside is that they're not free standing, but it's not always a problem.
For two-up use, I think dome tents with two vestibules are comfortable. I used to have an Ultimate Phaser Dome, but the Hilleberg Staika is a similar design. The only problem is that the Hilleberg is expensive! However, there must be a cheaper equivalent, and they're an inherently strong, free-standing design, and with a rectangular inner.
I think some of the American tents are too compromised for UK use, and I also think you can go too light for reliable/regular use.
How about a Tipi style tent e.g. Nigor WikiUp 3 (lots of cheaper alternatives these days)?1 pole so super lightweight. Only issue is the lack of vestibules (on the smaller ones) but they are often more roomy inside and can accommodate kit easily enough.
Well that's just opened my eyes to a whole new world of tents, I know it's not at all free-standing but kind of thinking that's less and less necessary
Luxe Trailpeak is now looking like a contender, 2.5kg, large living space, well within budget. Now just to try and find a review as they seem to be pretty rare!
You will struggle with sitting up height - unless you take a hit on weight. seems a metre is the limit of height before you need more / bigger poles.
Helsport Riensfell
http://www.helsport.no/reinsfjell-superlight
Lightwave Hyper (you do have your own 'door'...)
https://www.lightwave.uk.com/products/tents/hyper-tents?product=product4
Jack Wolfskin Skyrocket or Yellowdome
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/jack-wolfskin-skyrocket-iii-dome-tent-D1412257.html?channable=e15806.ODIzNDlfOTg&colour=98&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq8Gr-cLU1gIVYbXtCh3kgA3OEAQYASABEgLD-vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds