Ok, my first impression was that it was probably made out of orange-skins and maybe something for the bairns to play in.
But then again, I am something of a tent snob!
I never cease to be amazed by some of the confections being put on the market at exorbitant prices, justified by claiming ground-breaking scientific innovation. In most cases it's the same old materials and construction methods put together in an innovative, eye catching, space-age sort of way... like fishing lures designed to lure fishermen.
Rucksacs are another of my pet hates, you know that conglomeration of straps, buckles and gizmos you can't figure out and would never use anyway. I recently bought an Alpine Lowe rucksac from a guy for £40. He'd paid about £200 for it, although it's designed for a man of 6'+ and he was about 5'4", it's the most uncomfortable article I've ever wasted money on.
I've heard some mates talking about the Tiger Paw, although I never paid much attention. I doubt if theirs are made of orange-skin though, which brings me to colour.
If anyone is old enough to remember the original Black's of Greenock Force Ten, they were most certainly... ORANGE! :yikes:
They were also amazingly difficult to see when looking down from the hill and scarily camoed on moor and autumn woodland, particularly so with bracken in the area.
My mate tried to dye his and ended up with a hideously streaky brown, green, khaki and blue monster which frightened the children. But there were times at night when 2 young men almost gave up hunting for the thing. The old Force Ten was also heavy, but they were almost indestructible and there were many hardy souls who humped them over every corner of Britain and beyond.
When the first lightweight F 10's came out I bought one immediately... and guess what, it was ORANGE! :yikes: In the mid 80's I replaced that tent. The current one is green!
By the time Vango changed hands in about 1990, sales of the Force Ten had fallen away. The new owners advertised that they were re-inventing the models, making super-featherweight options. What they did was used cheaper less durable fabrics, claimed they'd made huge improvements, doubled the price and sales rocketed, as those who saw the Force Ten as old hat rushed in droves to buy something of a far lesser quality for far more money and 20 grams less weight.
The mind boggles!
Graiman, thanks for the pointer. I'll check Argos out to see if they're still in stock and will buy one for my daughter. She asked recently to borrow my tent to go to T in the Park. Oh, how I laughed!
Ray Britton, it shouldn't surprise me that someone here would approach what is, to any-one's mind, a cheap tent in the innovative way you have and done the work on it. Ingenious!
Once again, I'm most impressed by the lot of you! Oh, and thanks for the demo!
A word on groundsheets.
This tent has a 2,000 HD groundsheet. This means that, when new, the fabric/waterpoofing can take the pressure from a 2 metre column of water before it leaks. It doesn't really work like that though, as leaching will occur at pressure points when you're lying, in particular kneeling, on damp ground.
To put this into perspective, the two tents I use most often, an original design Force Ten Featherweight @ 10,000 HD, and a VauDe Taurus @ 15,000 HD, will still leach dampness unless de-camped and repitched every few days in damp weather.
Last year I had the groundsheet replaced for the second time in 25 years on the Force Ten, as sharp gravel and pine needles have penetrated the fabric over time.
At 2,000 HD, the fabric will be thin enough to be penetrated by any twig, pine needle or sharp gravel/sand! You must prevent this, or your tent will have completed its lifetime in short order!
They're selling "Footprints" to fit particular tents! This is a spin-off benefit of the "lightweight" scam, as the retarded and arithmetically challenged fork out £50-60 for a piece of groundsheet with some substance to it.
Millets sell sturdy 6' X 9' groundsheet for £12, but any piece of heavy duty poly does. Cut it to size and fit eyelets if you wish, but I simply lay it after the tent is up.
Scottish Mountain Gear will make a footprint for £10 and will do a replacement groundsheet, bungees/guys inc, for £60. The tent has to be worth it, though.
http://www.imagescotland.com/scottishmountaingear-home.asp
Thanks again lads, you brightened a grey Sunday morning in Fife!
Cheers.
But then again, I am something of a tent snob!
I never cease to be amazed by some of the confections being put on the market at exorbitant prices, justified by claiming ground-breaking scientific innovation. In most cases it's the same old materials and construction methods put together in an innovative, eye catching, space-age sort of way... like fishing lures designed to lure fishermen.
Rucksacs are another of my pet hates, you know that conglomeration of straps, buckles and gizmos you can't figure out and would never use anyway. I recently bought an Alpine Lowe rucksac from a guy for £40. He'd paid about £200 for it, although it's designed for a man of 6'+ and he was about 5'4", it's the most uncomfortable article I've ever wasted money on.
I've heard some mates talking about the Tiger Paw, although I never paid much attention. I doubt if theirs are made of orange-skin though, which brings me to colour.
If anyone is old enough to remember the original Black's of Greenock Force Ten, they were most certainly... ORANGE! :yikes:
They were also amazingly difficult to see when looking down from the hill and scarily camoed on moor and autumn woodland, particularly so with bracken in the area.
My mate tried to dye his and ended up with a hideously streaky brown, green, khaki and blue monster which frightened the children. But there were times at night when 2 young men almost gave up hunting for the thing. The old Force Ten was also heavy, but they were almost indestructible and there were many hardy souls who humped them over every corner of Britain and beyond.
When the first lightweight F 10's came out I bought one immediately... and guess what, it was ORANGE! :yikes: In the mid 80's I replaced that tent. The current one is green!
By the time Vango changed hands in about 1990, sales of the Force Ten had fallen away. The new owners advertised that they were re-inventing the models, making super-featherweight options. What they did was used cheaper less durable fabrics, claimed they'd made huge improvements, doubled the price and sales rocketed, as those who saw the Force Ten as old hat rushed in droves to buy something of a far lesser quality for far more money and 20 grams less weight.
The mind boggles!
Graiman, thanks for the pointer. I'll check Argos out to see if they're still in stock and will buy one for my daughter. She asked recently to borrow my tent to go to T in the Park. Oh, how I laughed!
Ray Britton, it shouldn't surprise me that someone here would approach what is, to any-one's mind, a cheap tent in the innovative way you have and done the work on it. Ingenious!
Once again, I'm most impressed by the lot of you! Oh, and thanks for the demo!
A word on groundsheets.
This tent has a 2,000 HD groundsheet. This means that, when new, the fabric/waterpoofing can take the pressure from a 2 metre column of water before it leaks. It doesn't really work like that though, as leaching will occur at pressure points when you're lying, in particular kneeling, on damp ground.
To put this into perspective, the two tents I use most often, an original design Force Ten Featherweight @ 10,000 HD, and a VauDe Taurus @ 15,000 HD, will still leach dampness unless de-camped and repitched every few days in damp weather.
Last year I had the groundsheet replaced for the second time in 25 years on the Force Ten, as sharp gravel and pine needles have penetrated the fabric over time.
At 2,000 HD, the fabric will be thin enough to be penetrated by any twig, pine needle or sharp gravel/sand! You must prevent this, or your tent will have completed its lifetime in short order!
They're selling "Footprints" to fit particular tents! This is a spin-off benefit of the "lightweight" scam, as the retarded and arithmetically challenged fork out £50-60 for a piece of groundsheet with some substance to it.
Millets sell sturdy 6' X 9' groundsheet for £12, but any piece of heavy duty poly does. Cut it to size and fit eyelets if you wish, but I simply lay it after the tent is up.
Scottish Mountain Gear will make a footprint for £10 and will do a replacement groundsheet, bungees/guys inc, for £60. The tent has to be worth it, though.
http://www.imagescotland.com/scottishmountaingear-home.asp
Thanks again lads, you brightened a grey Sunday morning in Fife!
Cheers.
Last edited:
