Tent recomendation.

[Woody girl]

Not for myself. A friend has decided that she wants to camp on lundy next spring to see the puffins.
I've passed on some of my old kit to help her out, but she's not sure what tent to get.
She is a novice, so something easy to pitch, preferably outer and inner put up together, and then she just has to peg out. It's an exposed island campsite, so needs to be sturdy. Also plenty of room, as further trips (if she likes it) will be with a large dog.(red setter). She is 5' 6" tall and shall we say cuddly.
Max about 2kg weight, but lighter would be appreciated.
Also need to be budget friendly.
Tall order perhaps but any experience, advice, and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I'm on the verge of recommending the robens starlight 2, but not sure as I don't own one myself, wondering if there is anything better out there. Thanks.

 

[Tengu]

A Vango Force Ten.

You KNOW it will be windproof.

But...No porch.

 

[Woody girl]

A Vango Force Ten.

You KNOW it will be windproof.

But...No porch.

Great tent, yes it's bomb proof, but its not budget friendly. We are looking £200 or less if possible.

 

[Chris]

Great tent, yes it's bomb proof, but its not budget friendly. We are looking £200 or less if possible.

You can get them for £200 or less on ebay if secondhand is an option?

 

[Flecktarnmann]

Convince her to not need any space in the tent and then the Dutch army bivvy would suffice

 

[Ozmundo]

Alpkit Tarp star. The 1 gives you a porch the 2 doesn’t. Same tent two different inner options. May depend where the dog will be happy. £180. 1kg. You do need your own trekking pole as well though.

Set up usually inner first peg out corners and lift with pole to tension it. And then put fly over the top. With practice it is possible to add an inner afterwards, probably less fiddly if using the 1 inner. Probably can pitch inner and outer together but I’ve never tried that.

Another option might be the DD Pyramid. £97. And then get a cheap mesh inner from AliExpress for £20.

I have been on Lundy and seen the campsite blow away…

 

[Tengu]

Can get second hand...and if looked after, can resell to get money back?

 

[Woody girl]

Alpkit Tarp star. The 1 gives you a porch the 2 doesn’t. Same tent two different inner options. May depend where the dog will be happy. £180. 1kg. You do need your own trekking pole as well though.

Set up usually inner first peg out corners and lift with pole to tension it. And then put fly over the top. With practice it is possible to add an inner afterwards, probably less fiddly if using the 1 inner. Probably can pitch inner and outer together but I’ve never tried that.

Another option might be the DD Pyramid. £97. And then get a cheap mesh inner from AliExpress for £20.

I have been on Lundy and seen the campsite blow away…

I have the DD pyramid, took it to k's and put it up in the garden.
Disaster! Didn't want inner first, wants all in one pitch, dog took out the pole in first ten minutes and collapsed the whole thing on top of her, hysteria ensued as she became panicked not able to find the pole and re instate, dog panicked too.
I feared for the tent! Luckily, no damage.
So that's a decided NO.!
A cup of tea later, she wants a porch, no more than two poles and all in one pitch. Possibly a three man to have room for the dog and gear. Realises that she may have to get a heavier tent.
So back to the drawing board.
I'm thinking a decent tunnel tent would suit. With that criteria, any other recommendations?

 

[Tengu]

I have a Vango tunnel tent, all in one pitch, but three poles.

cant recall which one

 

[Stew]

If she wants fast pitch and low pole count - Vaude Hogan. The pole is a cross, all elastic linked. No pole tube - elastic that wraps round the pole so peg out the outer, pole in the corners, wrap elastic. Done.

 

[Ozmundo]

Oh dear. If your friend wasn’t so stressed it sounds like a plot for a sitcom episode starring Victor Meldrew.

At least on Lundy you can ask the Warden really nicely to take your heavy kit up the hill in the Land Rover. On my handful visits I’ve always caged a lift.

I had an old model Coleman tent, a bit like the Bedrock 2, I think the inner and outer clipped together so you could put the poles through and pop it up in one go.
I can’t remember the name. Just thinking it might be worth a hunt on the second hand market.

I have happy memories of the force ten, just heavy beast for some ten olds to drag accross Bodmin.

The Instant model is £160, I assume it’s weighty though.

 

[Stew]

If she wants fast pitch and low pole count - Vaude Hogan. The pole is a cross, all elastic linked. No pole tube - elastic that wraps round the pole so peg out the outer, pole in the corners, wrap elastic. Done.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Woody girl]

Oh dear. If your friend wasn’t so stressed it sounds like a plot for a sitcom episode starring Victor Meldrew.

At the time I was worried for the tent, and was too busy extracting human and dog, but after a cupa we did have a giggle about it.
I think her expectations are a bit unreal to be honest. I camped happily with a similar size dog in Ireland in an old 2 man ridge tent. My dog was much more chilled than hers though. He's rather excitable and bouncy.
He wont be going to lundy , but she plans to take him on other trips, so it's important he fits happily in the tent.
Your coleman sounds a possible fit. I'll have a look at that brand.

 

[Woody girl]

Pardon our interruption...

Fancy that for myself!!!!!

 

[bearbait]

The Golite Hex3 is pretty good tent and fast to set up; just one pole (or none at all: use your hiking pole or suspend from a tree or a line). Can set up inner and outer together, or just one or the other. No longer made but you / she may find one second-hand somewhere.

I was using mine just a couple of weeks ago in the Chilterns and it must be getting on towards 20 years old now. Not heavy use but still in good nick - and waterproof!

 

[Nice65]

Vango Nova, or Scafell Plus. Both 3 man, plenty room for the dog, lots of porch and on the Scafell lots of indoor space. Just up the pegs, if they’re like the bits of bent coat hanger that came with my Banshee they won’t hold a tent down on Lundy. Seeing both at under £200, good time of year for tent buying.

 

[Ozmundo]

According to

Best Value Wild Camping Tent by far - Chris Waldron

Looking for the best value tent for wild camping? Before you buy ANYTHING, let me tell you what your tent needs to capable of and more importantly...

chriswaldron.co.uk

the Banshee can be pitched all in one (with practice).

Looks quite a nice tent for the money and the 300 might be useful for the hound. 2.8kg.

 

[Laurentius]

If you are talking Vango, the Vango blade is not bad in my opinion, you can pitch it in one, just thread the single pole through and you are done.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Agree with the comments above ref Vango. I'd suggest the Banshee 200 is a budget, bombproof, easy to pitch and practical tent with ample room for one person, Red setter and their kit. Being 5'6" I reckon she'd also be able to sit up quite comfortably in it.

I've had a few tents over the years and my old Banshee 200 is the one that I wish I'd kept hold of.

The Vango Helvellyn 200 is another option to consider. It'll be heavier, but will come with more living space and the semi-geodesic structure to give more strength.

 

[Woody girl]

I have a vango alpha 300, which I took down to her today. We put it up in the garden and she loved the space, but wasn't Impressed by the inner first, then flysheet construction.
Still, we found one online for a measly £63, so that's what she is going for. I thought the helvellyn would be the best buy, but she's gone for the alpha, as it's much cheaper, if heavier.
So thanks guys for all your suggestions.
I've decided I may go with her to lundy, so we will have matching tents, though hers is blue,...and mine is barbie pink!!!!
It was bought as a kind of joke, when I mentioned to an ex boyfriend I was rather sick of constant army green, in a fit of pique, while he bought me a new green water bottle.
Asked what colour I'd prefer, I just said pink! thinking it was a silly joke. I ended up with a complete pink outfit, from spork, boots, waterproof jacket, to a maglite, and the nickname lady penelope.....
Anyone less pink than me, you'll not find!
Luckily we both have a sense of humour.
Anyway, the tent conundrum is now hopefuly solved. So thanks for the suggestions. I may even buy a new tent for myself from that list . Havnt decided for definite, but the alpha is majorly heavy for me to backpack.