2 Person tent for wild camping - suggestions needed please

[Leigh Robinson]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I intend to go wild camping and will be needing a tent (or shelter of some sort). We will be hiking around places like scotland and wild camping in various places.

I am looking for a tent that pitches quickly, weighs little and is very discreet (green), and wont be a problem if being put up in the rain.

I am looking around and the closest I can find is:
http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Gelert_Mongoose_2_Single_Pole_Backpacking_Tent.html

and:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....741636&cguid=a967b17e11f0a0aad424e404ff6f43d0

I wondered if you guys had any better/alternative ideas?

 

[Globetrotter.uk]

Have a look here

http://www.mountainwarehouse.com/Tents/1_2_Person_Tents/sc1408.aspx

they have a shop in cambridge

 

[drewdunnrespect]

leigh

why not buy a tarp thats say 4.5 X 4.5 and sling two hammocks under it

 

[alpha_centaur]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I intend to go wild camping and will be needing a tent (or shelter of some sort). We will be hiking around places like scotland and wild camping in various places.

I am looking for a tent that pitches quickly, weighs little and is very discreet (green), and wont be a problem if being put up in the rain.

I am looking around and the closest I can find is:
http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Gelert_Mongoose_2_Single_Pole_Backpacking_Tent.html

and:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....741636&cguid=a967b17e11f0a0aad424e404ff6f43d0

I wondered if you guys had any better/alternative ideas?

Whats your budget


If you can go a little bit higher there's this it's not too heavy once you split it up
and its nearly indestructable and it comes in green

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/VANGO_SPECTRE_200_TENT__2008_.html

or

If you've got money to burn you can buy the tent I want

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/Products/FT/PID-Terra+Nova+Laser+Tent-783043.aspx

 

[mjk123]

>>why not buy a tarp thats say 4.5 X 4.5 and sling two hammocks under it

This assumes that the camping spot:
a) has trees
b) that are suitably spaced apart
c) and that his girlfriend is happy in a hammock

From the persective of weight, a one-man tent plus mat plus sleeping bag is more or less the same as hammock plus tarp plus insulation. But when you're two up, and the ground permits, then a tent is lighter.

 

[Leigh Robinson]

Vango Spectre 200 Tent [2008]
Thats a pretty nice tent. It has to be a tent so it can take all sorts of locations and be relatively comfortable for me and the lady.

Its difficult to choose as there are many out there and each with benefits/issues.

 

[redandshane]

So far the Vango is your best option probably well worth the extra money
I use Gelert tents and own a Nakina plus and a Solo
The Nakina plus is fine on my own with my kit inside and plenty comfy and well used but I honestly wouldnt be inviting any one else in
As for the Solo I can barely fit without my kit but thats a test for warmer weather
And i must resist the Vango
There are better options if you spend more
? Golite but that is spending a lot more

 

[Nonsuch]

Vango Spirit 300+. A nice bit of extra space and a huge front porch that you can both sit in and cook, while still packable, Green too

 

[Claudiasboris]

You'd probably struggle in those little ones. There's no room for kit inside and at least one doesn't seem to have kit storage in the bell (such as it is).

Light and small is good for carrying but you've got to think of comfort when using it.

Vango tents have an excellent pedigree so, while I don't know the type that others are talking about, you probably won't go wrong with it (so long as it ticks your required specifications).

Hope that helps.

Claudiasboris

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Although the smaller tents look good, when it does rain for a few hrs, during daylight, then you have to think about comfort. Where will you put your wet jacket and trs ? So get a bigger Vango tent with a porch or two, then you can lay out the wet kit outside the inner. You can also brew up in the porch and that will help dry/warm up the kit. A small army basha would be good to extend across the porch for wet weather and shade.

Nick

See mine on the left.

 

[rik_uk3]

Back to reality, forget tarps, hammocks, if your wild camping you need a tent. Remember, tent sizes quoted are often not you you get in reality, most two person tents are really one person, so I would strongly suggest you go for a three person tent.

Something like this at under £100
http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Vango_Omega_350_Lightweight_Tunnel_Tent.html

Yes it ways about 10lb, but if there are two of you that should not be an issue, good sized porch.

Look for a dome with a porch area, very imoportant when the weather is against you and prices start at about £30. The colour is not vital, even green tents show up at a distance.

These are new, I know nothing about them but at the price they may be worth going for?

http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Vango_Juno_Tepee_300_Wigwam_Tent.html

 

[big_swede]

I only use tents in mountainous areas, for other uses I prefer tarps, lavvus or natural shelters. Bear that in mind.

A two man tent will be enough for two people. Me and two friends did a 10 day skiing trip with a two man tent, with big abside (vestibule). No problems, our gear was stored in the abside. You won't need a three person tent. Comfort during rain is a bit strange argument. Won't you be outdoors because of rain. Are you guys made of sugar?

I prefer tunnel tents. And one thing I look for is a big abside, and that the inner and outer tent can be raised at the same time, so the inner doesn't get wet if it's pitched in rain. Dome tents are too heavy considering the pros the offer.

Me and a friend co-own a hilleberg nammatj 2 GT, but I suspect that might be a bit over your budget. This kind of tent is one of the most versatile there is. From the atlas mountains, to Otto thorell land there have never been a problem for us. Big vestibule allows one to cook and relax in shelter, and the sleeping area is big enough to be used as a social area too, if you're snowed in or so.

For more economic alternatives, Tatonka has a few cheaper models. Cheaper means heavier in this case. Tatonka Alaska 2 was the one we used on our skiing trip. I think you will see that spending a little bit more on the tent will give you a lot more comfort. Both when carried and in use.

All that said, during my first mountain hikes without my parents, me and a friend used a sh1tty festival dome tent, and we managed fine in rain, gale and sleet. But it was a pain in the rear to get out in the rain and wind to cook. And we were pretty wet some of the time.

 

[Rob Tangtent]

Go lite Hex 3
all the way

 

[w00dsmoke]

Back to reality, forget tarps, hammocks, if your wild camping you need a tent.

As someone who camps year round in tarps and hammocks in Scotland, on the west coast and up north I totally disagree with that sweeping statement!

A decent tent gives you security in knowing you can camp almost anywhere without thought for the context however, with some thought and skill, you can and I have been perfectly happy under a tarp in a hammock, or bivi bag and tarp or two poncho's.

I like tents, indeed I have many, but most tents are condensation traps so I prefer under a tarp anyday but if needed I do enjoy my Bison Tinde 8 and my heavy but almost bombproof USMC issue Eureka Combat Tent, it's like a limpet!

 

[ESLRaven]

After reading an extensive discussion on another thread about quality versus cost etc I think this is perhaps a good time to suggest consideration is given to the durability of some of the tents previously posted.

I've got a Terra Nova Ultra Voyager, similar to this:

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/Brand/Terra_Nova/Tents/Superlite_Voyager_Green.html

Now they are a LOT more expensive when compared to other suggested so far, but when you compare the years of use you get the cost per year is much lower.

My tent was £240 12 years ago, and so far I haven't even bent a peg! The cost per year is now below £24 - and it has been used several times every year. I've seen others with £50 tents that have only lasted 1-2 uses.

I think the other comments previously posted about space are really worth considering though. My Voyager is really great - but it's a squeeze for two especially with big rucksacks and after several nights the lack of space could be really tiresome.

I think a good compromise for space and weight is available from several tunnels tents - from Jack Wolfskin (they come in neutral browns) or Hilleberg (nice green colour) - and I'm sure others as well.

Outdoors Magic is another good website with lots of reviews from experienced users - have a look on there as well.

Hope that helps!

 

[Prophecy]

I reckon the Vango range are the way to go.

Rather inexpensive, but mostly perform well.

 

[big_swede]

bergans does some really good models that are quite cheap too. The series is called compact. The Tatonka alaska is available at tamarack.

 

[hammock monkey]

it might be an idea get a plain net (from army surplus or where ever) and hide the tent during the day, its great to be able to confidently leave it while you go off exploring!
use local scrub carefully tucked in, dont want any thorn holes in the tent

in my experience the best plan is to make sure the lady is as comfy as possible, get her a thicker sleeping mat, best bag you can, decent food and drink etc...it all helps

 

[alpha_centaur]

[...]when you compare the years of use you get the cost per year is much lower.

My tent was £240 12 years ago, and so far I haven't even bent a peg! The cost per year is now below £24 - and it has been used several times every year. I've seen others with £50 tents that have only lasted 1-2 uses.[...]

Then again I've used my £40 Eurohike tent (with upgraded pegs) for more than 5 years now. To date it hasn't leaked, been blown away or been broken or destroyed by the element. In this time I've seen expensive tents expire. So an expensive tent is not necessarily a good buy.

I replaced the pegs because they were really heavy. My £40 tent now weighs in at sub 2kg which isn't too bad for the money.

 

[rik_uk3]

As someone who camps year round in tarps and hammocks in Scotland, on the west coast and up north I totally disagree with that sweeping statement!

A decent tent gives you security in knowing you can camp almost anywhere without thought for the context however, with some thought and skill, you can and I have been perfectly happy under a tarp in a hammock, or bivi bag and tarp or two poncho's.

I like tents, indeed I have many, but most tents are condensation traps so I prefer under a tarp anyday but if needed I do enjoy my Bison Tinde 8 and my heavy but almost bombproof USMC issue Eureka Combat Tent, it's like a limpet!

The guy is going camping with his girlfriend, so forget the tarps and hammocks and take a tent. Just because someone is a member here does not mean they use or indeed like sleeping under tarps, I for one don't, for me a tarp is for cooking under etc, but thats only my opinion.

I used a tarp this weekend as a cook shelter, Vango Force Ten as a kit shelter and slept in my Hex, not a bushcraft camp this was for stovies