A few questions about tents...

CnaG

Hello!

I have, as the title thread would suggest, a few questions about tents. I don't know an awful lot about them, so I thought I'd ask here, where there are likely to be a few experts. If I'm posting in the wrong place, please do feel free to point me in the right direction

The last time I was camping I borrowed my brother's pop-up one man tent. It was easy to put up, but I found that it leaked water if anything touched the sides of it and there was no cover thing like other tents have to stop that happening. Plus, this year there is more than one of me going camping. So, basically, I'm looking to invest in a new tent.

My first question is: what do you think I should be looking for in a new tent? I won't be using it often (once, maybe twice a year for no more the 5 days at a time but in Ireland where the weather isn't exactly dependable). I would like it to be durable, I would definitely like it to be water and windproof and it'd be great if it'd fit on the back of my bicycle. I have no idea what shape to buy though, which is easiest to assemble, if there is a difference in weight I should be worrying about, etc, so any advice here would be great.

My second question: how much should I be spending on a new tent? I have a budget of about 100-140 euro to work with, though if people think I should be spending more for better quality or whatever, I can. I've seen tents for about 30 quid in tescos, but I presume these are the type of ones which get left behind at oxegen. Tescos also has a 6 person tent for €80. I've been eyeing it, but I don't know if it'd be a good or a poxy investment in the long run. What do you think? :cool:

Third question: where would you go to buy a tent? Tescos, Argos, the Great Outdoors or elsewhere? (I've just exhausted my list of stores which I think sell tents, so any other suggestions would be brilliant!) My other problem is I need it by next thursday so I'm not sure ordering one online, or searching around for second hand tents is feasible.

That's about it really. Again, thanks for any advice you can offer

Tabnabs

http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/ are a good online store with very good shipping rates to Ireland.

I also found a wealth of information at http://www.thecampingforum.co.uk/forum/

And finally, great tent reviews here at http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/

Millets have (or had) an excellent sale and 53 Degrees North also have some good prices at the moment. Pick a tent that looks good, read the review to see if others agree and then buy in person or online.

Donny5

CnaG wrote: »

My first question is: what do you think I should be looking for in a new tent? I won't be using it often (once, maybe twice a year for no more the 5 days at a time but in Ireland where the weather isn't exactly dependable). I would like it to be durable, I would definitely like it to be water and windproof and it'd be great if it'd fit on the back of my bicycle. I have no idea what shape to buy though, which is easiest to assemble, if there is a difference in weight I should be worrying about, etc, so any advice here would be great.

First, the essentials. You want a tent with a seperate rain-fly. That's the essential, as all modern tents work by keeping an otherwise water-permeable fabric taut, the same way an umbrella works. By having a seperate rain fly over a mesh inner tent, with a 5-10cm gap in between, you get three major advantages:

1. You and your gear are much less likely to touch the outer wall, thereby letting rain in.
2. Moisture you exhale throughout the night condenses when it hits a cold surface. With a single wall tent, it condenses and then rolls down onto your groundsheet, and you can wake up wet, even on a dry night. With a seperate fly, it condenses there and rolls off onto the ground.
3. Depending on the type of mesh covering the aeration vents, the inner tent can provide bug and midge protection. For Ireland, it is essential that you can a tent that can keep midges out. Midges are sub-1mm, so you need a very fine mesh to be sure. Avoid this advice at your peril.

It should also have a built in, not seperate groundsheet and a Hydrostatic Head of at least 1500mm, for summer camping. 2000mm+ would be preferable in Ireland, and the higher the better is the rule. For winter camping in Ireland, look for 3000mm+. Hydrostatic head describes how waterproof a tent is, measured as the height of a column of water which the fly can withstand before leaking.

That's the universal stuff, after that it's all about compromises. Basically, you can have any two of the following: good, big, light and cheap.

Lots of tents are designed never to be carried farther than 20m from a car. All those 6+ man tents with a porch you can stand in are useless for carrying on foot or a bike. You don't want a tent that weighs over 5Kg. 3Kg would be better, especially if you'll be hiking anywhere. You want the smallest tent that can fit you and your gear comfortably, with a small porch for cooking if it's raining. If you'll be alone, a two man tent will do. If you'll be sharing it with someone, you'll need at least a three man tent.

The type doesn't really matter, except that the smaller the footprint, the easier it is to find somewhere to put it up. Don't buy a pop-up tent. they're handy, but they don't pack down small and they don't seem to last.

CnaG wrote: »

My second question: how much should I be spending on a new tent? I have a budget of about 100-140 euro to work with, though if people think I should be spending more for better quality or whatever, I can. I've seen tents for about 30 quid in tescos, but I presume these are the type of ones which get left behind at oxegen. Tescos also has a 6 person tent for €80. I've been eyeing it, but I don't know if it'd be a good or a poxy investment in the long run. What do you think? :cool:

€100 should be more than enough to get a decent 2-3 man tent. There are certainly bargains to be had, mostly online. The bricks-and-mortar shops in Ireland are way overpriced for the most part. The best place to look at for advice on individual tents are online reviews, like Dyflin said.

CnaG wrote: »

Third question: where would you go to buy a tent? Tescos, Argos, the Great Outdoors or elsewhere? (I've just exhausted my list of stores which I think sell tents, so any other suggestions would be brilliant!) My other problem is I need it by next thursday so I'm not sure ordering one online, or searching around for second hand tents is feasible.

Since you need it in a week, you can try the places you mentioned, and also Basecamp on Middle Abbey Street, and the Outdoor Adventure Store, on Upper Liffey Street, who have this tent I've been looking at for a while. It might be a bit small compared to Tesco's 6-man tent, but it's light and small enough to carry on a bike, anyway.

ipodrocker

i got an Vango Alpha 200 2 man tent in 53 degrees north for 23euro reduced from 50 euro and its perfect had good head froom and plenty space to store everything you have and it also has a porch for cooking and a mesh net to keep the insects out etc..

and its weights a mere 2.75kg so its very light for carrying while hiking etcc...

CnaG

Thanks all, I'm about to go buy my tent now. I'll let you know how I get on

CnaG

So I ended up buying this tent:

http://www.vango.co.uk/tents/tempest-200.html#

in 53 Degrees North for €140.

I was seriously considering buying the Vango Alpha 200 for €23.25 but opted for the posh one at the last minute. It's great - it only weighs 2.65kg and it's quite roomy inside. Well, compared to the pop-up disaster from last time

My brother will probably use it during the year, on mountains and the like, so hopefully it'll hold up as a good investment. There is one slight problem with it though. When I took it out of the bag I noticed that there is a slight tear of the material along one of the seams on the inside tent (we're talking a tear of maybe one and a half/two inches) near where it connects to the flysheet. Will this be a problem do you think? There's a repair kit with the tent. I really should bring it back though. Hmm.

Ok, I think I'll call them in the morning. I might end up in the 23 euro tent after all if they don't have another of my ones in stock!

DavyD_83

CnaG wrote: »

There is one slight problem with it though. When I took it out of the bag I noticed that there is a slight tear of the material along one of the seams on the inside tent (we're talking a tear of maybe one and a half/two inches) near where it connects to the flysheet. Will this be a problem do you think? There's a repair kit with the tent. I really should bring it back though. Hmm.

Bring it back! unless its a really long trip to the shop or you just don't have the time before your trip.
A tear of 2 inches will only grow. Could be slow, could be fast. Obviously better to start out with no holes at all where possible. And you definitely should not have to crack out the repair kit when you get your tent home from the shop.

CnaG

I did bring it back the next morning before I headed off and the floor staff and manager were great. He offered me three choices:
1) a full refund if I returned the tent
2) some money back if I wanted to keep the tent (which I did) or
3) a new inner tent once they have them in stock

I opted for option 3. The rip didn't make much of a difference in the meantime. The tent was perhaps a little tricky to put up (I had some difficulty getting the material taut on it) but I'm sure it'll be easier with practice.

The best part was, of course, that I didn't get wet at all at night. Now to find the perfect sleeping bag

feck sake lads

for your perfect sleeping bag try alpkit pipedream 400 down excellent bag or just email tem and they will advise you great to deal with.;)

Mitch Buchannon

feck sake lads wrote: »

for your perfect sleeping bag try alpkit pipedream 400 down excellent bag or just email tem and they will advise you great to deal with.;)

Have to agree with feck sake lads - Alpkit do some lovely gear and at very good prices. I have bought a few bits off them and they have been fantastic to deal with.

Valmont

I've had a one-man mountain hardwear tent for three years and have brought it all over the place in all sorts of conditions. It's still in great shape and only cost me 80 euro.