Bergans v Helsport

[ex-member BareThrills]

Right then.

Ive had a Lavvu in mind for a while now and have already ordered a stove. Time then to buy something big to stick it in. A few non bushy items will be going on fleabay and hopefully this will provide a budget of up to £1,000

I have narrowed it down to a Bergans Lavvo 4-6 or a Helsport Varanger 4-6. I will be getting an inner and floor as Mrs Thrills has said she could be persuaded to use it but only if suitable bug exclusion protection is provided. One question i have is what issues are there with using a stove with the floor and inner fitted? Is it possible?

So the Bergans is a lot cheaper but why? Im assuming its stove compatible as ive seen Shewie do it with his! What makes the Varanger worth the extra?

Any info or comparisons / advice appreciated.

 

[treefrog]

I have the Helsport Varanger 4-6 with a stove, inner (not used it with much) and floor. The floor can be separated by velcro tabs and rolled back out of harms way.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Bergans with frontier stove.

 

[Shewie]

Is that yours John?

Paul, I don't think Bergans do an inner for the Lavvo, you might have to try and shoehorn another brand in if possible. They do the separate floor and a midge screen to put behind the door.

I've only just ordered mine last week, and the Helsport stove instead of the Frontier. I've ordered the floor but plan to roll it back halfway or put a zip in for the stove area.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Cheers Shewie. I guess i could just get a mossie nest and stick the Mrs in that The little one isnt bothered by much so she'd be happy kipping in the open with me. I have this image in my head with a roaring fire and lots of reindeer skins.

Be interested to hear your experiences John if that one is yours. Any issues you've come across?

 

[bigroomboy]

I've got a helsport but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. A one thing I have picked up is that you may need bigger than you think? by the looks of it the bergans has more useable floor space due to the mini walls. floor is not sewn in to helsport varanger so some bugs could get in but unlikely, finnmark has bathtub floor. I'm interested in peoples opingions that bergans does look very good!

 

[Twodogs]

The top hat on the veranger is fitted with loads of adjustment from inside , loads of mosie protection plus it sold as been best in test by some magazine or other,,,,


For family use as Bigroomboy stated a bit bigger that a 4/6 maybe usefull ,


I did enjoy mine and may replace it one day , have a day out to Oslo and buy one tax free not a big saving but good fun

http://www.xxl.no/villmarksliv/lavvo

Cant help with the Bergans

Twodogs

 

[abominable_scouse_monster]

And here I am stuck with my £20 polish surplus jobbie, I have Lavvo envy and 25 day's to go till payday!!!! this is going to drive me nut's. Has any one ever tried scratch building one?

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Nah thats not mine but someone who goes to the Northwood meets and he seems happy with it.

 

[treefrog]

Mrs Thrills has said she could be persuaded to use it but only if suitable bug exclusion protection is provided.

If I was buying a Lavvu with this criteria I would probably get the Helsport Finnmark. It's initially expensive as you buy the outer/inner together and it has a 'sewn-in-groundsheet'. My other half has always been a bit nervous about bug protection (despite my reassurance that all insects go home at night )
I have had my Varanger for about 9 yrs now and it has been a fantastic tent, but if I had to replace it it would be with a Finnmark, as it is a little bigger and comes complete with an inner and floor. http://www.helsport.no/en/product/TENTS/XTREM/Finnmark
Having owned a Lavvu, I couldn't see myself using anything else . I even have a lavvulight for lightweight trips !!

 

[SimonM]

I have 2 Helsports...the Porsanger 8 - 10 and the Lavulight.

Both get used regularly, neither has an inner tent or groundsheet. For a groundsheet, I just use a blue tarp from B & Q under my bed area.

I did buy a second hand stove for the Porsanger, but TBH didn't get enough use from it, so wouldn't replace it.

I am considering getting a greenhouse heater tho, just to raise the inner temp a little....20hours + from 1 fill of paraffin, which I take anyway for the lamp, any thoughts on this?

Simon

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

If I was buying a Lavvu with this criteria I would probably get the Helsport Finnmark. It's initially expensive as you buy the outer/inner together and it has a 'sewn-in-groundsheet'. My other half has always been a bit nervous about bug protection (despite my reassurance that all insects go home at night )
I have had my Varanger for about 9 yrs now and it has been a fantastic tent, but if I had to replace it it would be with a Finnmark, as it is a little bigger and comes complete with an inner and floor. http://www.helsport.no/en/product/TENTS/XTREM/Finnmark
Having owned a Lavvu, I couldn't see myself using anything else . I even have a lavvulight for lightweight trips !!

Im coming to this conclusion too and it still has a cutout in the floor for a stove. I cant seem to see how flexible the floor is though in terms of does the cutout go all the way to the door. The thing i have at the back of my mind is finding enough flatish space to pitch it in the woods and clearing all the brush would become a chore. A sewn in ground sheet might not be as flexible as the varanger would be when its just me using it.

 

[treefrog]

In German, but shows off the main features. Putting it up is childsplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deFxI2mwVNo

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

So the inner is permanent too then. Not sure thats the way to go. The floor looks good mind.

 

[Twodogs]

The Finnmark is a fantastic looking tent but its a bit specalized i.e full on arctic the varanger is more of an all rounder and will be a lot easyer to dry out allways a problem with bigger tents .

That said I would still like a finnmark

Twodogs

 

[treefrog]

So the inner is permanent too then. Not sure thats the way to go. The floor looks good mind.

I would have thought they could be separated for drying and can't see why the outer only could be used. May be worth dropping Tony at Tamarack an Email/phonecall.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Cheers guys. lots of food for thought there. Im still no further forward but im very encouraged by a 9 year old varanger still going strong. I think it if it was just for me, id go for the Bergans and i like the side walls on that model to make more use of the space. Finmark does look great and the bathtub floor is a winner for Mrs thrills. Varanger 4-6 feels like the right buy but may be cramped for 3 with gear but im worried about anything bigger being a sod to fit in the woods and dry etc.

Thanks for all your input, ill sleep on it

 

[Shewie]

Hope you don't mind me throwing this one in Paul ..

Does anyone know if a brazing/soldering mat or houeshold fire blanket would be sufficient to protect a nylon groundsheet from melting under a Helsport stove? I've seen welding blankets too if they'd be suitable?

I thought I could stitch four or six of those cheap 300 x 300mm soldering mats together and use that? I know they'd stop sparks but how would they cope with a constant heat?

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Hope you don't mind me throwing this one in Paul ..

Does anyone know if a brazing/soldering mat or houeshold fire blanket would be sufficient to protect a nylon groundsheet from melting under a Helsport stove? I've seen welding blankets too if they'd be suitable?

I thought I could stitch four or six of those cheap 300 x 300mm soldering mats together and use that? I know they'd stop sparks but how would they cope with a constant heat?

Not at all mate ive been thinking about the same thing. I found this which is half reasonable in price. If you do go down the sewing route ive got some good kevlar thread you can have.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2m-x-1m-C...490?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27cab7bc62

 

[Shewie]

Not at all mate ive been thinking about the same thing. I found this which is half reasonable in price. If you do go down the sewing route ive got some good kevlar thread you can have.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2m-x-1m-C...490?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27cab7bc62

That's a good find mate, might have to invest in one of those