Tent for the lower Himalayas

[tim_n]

How do you fancy using this as a tent in the lower himalayas:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3402052.htm

Then some sensible recommendations on sleeping bags and tents at a fairly low cost that will do the job.

(I wish I was joking) Also if any of you have any helpful hints on how to achieve a safe return, tips whilst there and anything on achieving spiritual enlightenment feel free to comment. I shall pass on.

 

[rg598]

It kind of depends on what you mean by "the lower Himalayas". Assuming you stay below the snow line and are not doing any serious climbing, it will be very similar to any other backpacking trip. A friend of mine is doing the Annapurna circuit this year. He is using just his regular three season backpacking gear. Also, in the area, they have a lot of huts and lodging for people traveling through there. It is possible to do the whole trip without needing a tent at all.

I'm not sure how the current Everest scandal has effected things there.

 

[Old Bones]

There is a reason why 'Himalayas' & 'Argos' are not often in the same sentence...

Seriously, I'd get something better.Much better. Your spending a fair amount of money http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/may/24/trekking-in-the-himalayas-nepal-everest just getting there, and you want to get the best out of the experience - that tent is possibly just about suitable for a festival (its even got the word 'festival' on it)in the UK, August, if there isn't much rain (and popup's are a PITA anyway). And its camo - possibly not a good idea in Nepal.

Head over to Outdoor Magic to ask for some suggestions.If rg598 is right, and 3/4 season kit might be usable, perhaps something like the Zephros or a tent from the Force 10 range? Personally, I'd want something as tough as the Alpkit Zhota (down to £350), but its got to work in possibly lots of different conditions, and be relatively light. Thats going to be nearer a £100 tent. See what you can borrow - you never know.

There are a couple of kit lists here: http://himalaya-alpine.com/about-us/travel-information/himalaya-trekking-gear-list/ & http://www.acethehimalaya.com/desti...rna-base-camp-and-tent-peak.html?op=Equipment

As far as the sleeping bag, again, get the best you can reasonably afford. Being cold is just horrible, and being cold where you've got the same problem for at least a week or more is much worse. Remember you've got to carry your kit, and the mantra is: 'you can have it cheap, you can have it durable, and you can have it light - chose any two'.

You don't need to spend a fortune, and it depends on the sort of conditions you expect to have. This came up on a thread on OM a while back about a bag for Everest Base camp, where someone asked a similar question http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/gear/-12-sleeping-bag/28041.html - and someone said they had used a £50 bag usually bought by cadets. My reaction was that the person had been lucky not to freeze their n**s off, and the bag was really heavy. For synthetic (assuming down is out of contention on budget grounds), something like the Mountain Hardware Lamina 0 might do well - currently £145 but hunt around for deals, etc. Thats the sort of level I'd be looking at. As you'll see in the thread, someone suggests renting a bag - thats a good idea, since for much the same price as buying a rubbish bag, you can rent a good one. Spme companies sell off ex-hire bags as well http://www.expeditionkithire.co.uk/stock-for-sale.html

Think about £110-150, to be realistic. For about £150ish, you might get a really good deal on down bags, like this one http://www.climbers-shop.com/10899040/products/rab_ascent_700_xl_sleeping_bag_special_offer.aspx

Joe Brown has the same price (and they both have the very decent Rab 900 for £165 - more base camp than foothills, but good kit). Synthetic is going to be heavier, but dont spend less than £100ish - your just going to end up with something which weighs a ton, or is really cold, or both. The extra £50 you might spend is probably how much you'd be willing to spend an hour if it gets really cold and your bag isn't warm enough. Although I dont think my Snugpak has ever been as warm as it should be, you could do well with something like the Crysalis 5 - about £89 on the net in some places http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/Snugpak_Chrysalis_5_Sleeping_Bag/, and while bulky, gets decent reviews http://www.mudandroutes.com/archives/reviews/snugpack-winter-sleeping-bag-review
Frankly, its really an Osprey 12, just not green.

Check out Outdoor Magic's Bargain thread, since all sorts of deals come up, and their sales pages. Ebay isn't a bad bet, but check online prices first. Just because its on Ebay doesn't mean its going to be cheap. There is also the fabled Rab factory shop, and use things like the 10% you get off the first time you use the Cotswold EXplorer card (which free), and all those weekend only flash sales.

Dont forget a decent sleeping mat, it can really help. Alpkit arn't doing any at the moment, but something decent and light will mean a warmer nights sleep.

There is a thread about Everest Base Camp here: http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/travel/kit-for-everest-base-camp-trek/9444.html - which might be useful.
The kit your taking is critical - you've got to rely on it, and if it doesn't perform, your going to be very uncomfortable, at best, so its worth paying a bit more and spending more time researching and looking for the stuff that will do the job, so that you get the best out of the trip.

I can't help with spiritual enlightenment, but hopefully you'll sleep well, not carry too much on your back, and really enjoy it - and of course come back safe and well!

 

[Bluffer]

I'm not sure how the current Everest scandal has effected things there.

The trekking routes have been completely unaffected by the tragedy, in fact Nepal has opened up loads more peaks recently.

One exped used helis to lift their summit teams above the uncrossable icefall; and expeds from the Tibetan side have continued unaffected.

Below 3500m you'd be fine in a cheap tent, you'd be pitched in a teahouse garden in any case, so your fallback option would be literally on your doorstep... tentstep?

 

[mrcharly]

Those popup tents are awkward to carry, damp (crappy single skin) and don't stay up under any sort of a wind.

Argos has stocked some good one-man tents in the past, but no more (I have one of the aluminium-poled tents, it is pretty good).

 

[baggins]

another thing to consider is the UV resistance. even in the himalayan foothills the UV index is much higher than here and it will seriously degrade any cheaper materials. if you're planning to use the tent in the future, i'd seriously look at spending your money on a decent tent.

 

[oldsoldier]

Here in the US, that would be considered a toy, suitable for kids sleeping in the backyard. If you plan on living out of it for a week, that's likely not what it will hold up to. Its trash, just waiting to happen. Buy once, cry once. This tent, you'd be crying every night, my guess.

 

[para106]

Depends on the time of year really , mate. We did Annapurna Base Camp last November - shorts & factor 30 during the day & -10 degrees at night below 3000m. Above 3000m you could still manage without a fleece during the day but it was -15 at night. On the last day before base camp there was a blizzard so it was -10 during the day with windchill & -25 at night. A foot of snow during the night, got up at 0530 for the sunrise, as you do, & it was still -20. We stayed in Teahouses - maybe tents are warmer, I wouldn't like to chance it though. Teahouses are about £3 a night for a clean bunk.

We changed into Buffalo pile strides & down jackets for the evening meal & weren't over warm.


I took a Mountain Equipment Titan 850 & the wife an Alpkit 1000 thingy & we were bloody glad we did!! Once you're up there there's no kit to be had so don't undergun or you'll be miserable.

As for spiritual enlightenment try the Khukri Rum or Bagpiper whiskey - it worked for me.

Namaste

 

[ozzy1977]

If I was going I would be taking my hilleberg nalo 2 gt

 

[treadlightly]

I went up to about 10,000 ft last year (snow line was 13,000 ft) in the Himalayan foothills and kipped out in an ordinary cheap two man tent provided locally. It was fine but the weather was good. This was April and the night temp went down to about 3-4c while it was in the early 20's during the day.

It all depends how high you're going and how long you're there I guess.

You can see the tent and a few other pics here

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106516&highlight=himalayas

 

[Fabianne Scott]

I found helpful tips to rid of altidude sickness while trekking/hiking.

Altitude Sickness and How to Get Rid of It - Tips to Rid of AMS

Altitude Sickness is a concern while trekking, and here are tips on how to Get Rid of Mountain Sickness to enhance an enjoyable journey.

www.nepalhikingteam.com