Anyone got a Highlander Forces 2 tent?

[Gotte]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-Forces-Two-Man-Tent/dp/B0029F1YCW

I've read it's a bit heavy, and comes with Fibreglass poles which snag (though could be replaced?), but has a great design.
Anyone here got one and can comment?

 

[chris_r]

No, but 3.5 kg is a quite heavy. I've been looking at tents recently and like the look of the Vango Banshee 200. It costs a little more, but at only 2 kg I think it's worth the extra.

Edit: BTW, I have a two man tent that weighs 3.5 kg and I've never used it, purely because of the size and weight of it. It'll do for introducing my lad to camping in his grandparents back garden, but it's not going any further afield than that. My tarp and bivi weigh 1.36 kg.

 

[Gotte]

I'm constantly looking at tents, and am yet to find one that fits all my criteria - well, one that fits my criteria and is less than £100, which is about how much I have to spend. It's not a fortune, I know, but it's my budget.
I want one which pitches outer first, is some sort of dome (I want to be able to pitch it on concrete, if necessary - it's for cycle touring, so that sort of thing could happen), is green or at least so neutral as to not stand out in undergrowth, is less than 2.5 kg, is 1 meter high, so I can sit up, has some sort of porch, ideally one I can cook in, and has poles which have sections short enough - roughly 18 inches - to fit in a pannier (so I can have all my shelter stuff - tent, mat, sleeping bag - in one pannier which I can take with me if I have to leave the bike somewhere).

I know it's all a trade off, and it's difficult to get everything you want. I know that I'll probably have to compromise on at least one criteria, maybe two. One I'm happy with, two, well, hmmm....

I have a little one man tent, which is okay, but a bit claustrophobic for a long tour, and too low to sit up in. I'd have to take a tarp with that one, so there goes lightweight. It's also not self supporting, so there goes another criteria.

I also have a Northface Tadpole - an older one, which is really good, except the groundsheet is a bit porous and it's a light blue, and the poles are too long for my pannier. I can get a tarp to fit it as a fly, though the porch would need sorting out. That keeps it just under 2.5 kg, but it's also inner pitch first. I could get poles with shorter sections, but that would cost me about £90.

I also have a Vango Juno 300 tipi, which, without pole and with lightweight pegs comes in about 2,2 kg. It's dark enough blue to blend in in undergrowth, but it needs pegging down, and it's also the bulkiest of the tents I've got. I really like it, but it's not really practical.

I have heard generally good things about the Highland Forces 2, so long as you get new poles and pegs, and so long as the stitching is okay (apparently they have quality control issues).
From what I read, they are pretty bombproof and the design is really good - giving good inner space. it's outer pitch first, and has a decent porch. It's also pretty cheap - maybe worth a punt for the price alone. But, yes, pretty damn heavy - (which I don't mind if it means it's bombproof).

Anyway, I may still get one. I'll let you know, if I do.

 

[basha]

I've got a Forces 2. I think it is a pretty good tent for what I paid for it.

However, unless they've changed the design, it pitches inner first. The poles go through sleeves on the inner and the fly is tied to the poles and pegged down.

Don't be put off though, it is made with strong materials and a h/duty zip. It is a pretty solid budget tent. I'd certainly consider replacing the poles with alloys to eliminate the snagging and reduce the weight, but alloy poles aren't cheap.

 

[Berk]

Gotte, for cycle touring could you not lash the tent across your rack? It's what me and my lady did in January when we went camping on our bikes, and worked nicely. I know that makes it more difficult to just pick up and carry, but it frees up some space in your panniers and is handy for grabbing first thing when you settle for the night.

 

[Gotte]

Thanks for that. Berk, yes I could, and have done in the past, and you're right, it does free up valuable space. I suppose I've being picky with that criteria - but I have a really nice Ferrino 1 man bivi tent that fits in my pannier, and it just makes for such a neat and easy solution I suppose I's just like the option in my ideal tent. The Northface Tadpole compresses really well, and if it weren;t for the length of the poles, would fit in a pannier with my sleeping bag and roll mat.
The more I look at the design of the forces 2 the more I like it. With alu poles and lighweight pegs, I figure I can shave a kilo off the weight. And from what I understand, the design, while basic, and being inner pitch first (which I can probably also live with), is really good, being stable, sturdy and roomy. Here's a review:

http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Gear-Reviews/Search-Results/Tents/Highlander-Forces-2/