Super Lightweight Tents

[Wildfisher]

Nowt wrong with the Argos Pro Action, but at 2.2KG for one man it?s looking pretty heavyweight by modern standards. It?s an old design now.

This one is for Corsican Dave I suppose ? what?s the best / best value one man tent, 1KG or thereabouts with a ? decent sized porch?

Any recommendations?

[Wildfisher]

The Terra Nova Laser Competition is the current front runner. Weighs under 1 kg.

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/Product_Type/Tents/1_Person_Tents_Bivis/Laser_Competition_GREEN.html

Pricey, but you can get it  for under 240 quid if you shop around.

[Fishtales]

What about the new one, the Elite.

http://www.springfield-camping.co.uk/Terra+Nova/Laser+Photon+Elite/594/pc

http://www.gear-zone.co.uk/terra-nova-laser-photon-elite-pid5647.html

[Wildfisher]

I was a bit concerned about the porch area in that one  Sandy, it's about 1/2  as wide as the "Laser Competition". That  first link you posted  appears to have the wrong dimensions, but the second one is correct. It's also  got 1/2 the hydrostatic head, but whether or not that makes any real difference or not I don't know. With the "Laser Competition" I'd save abut 1.2KG over the Argos. It's like  we were saying when out the last time. Every kilo saved is a kilo more grub you can carry. No rush to buy though, I'd like to see what's available, but  a guy I work with reckons the Terra Nova tents are very good.

[corsican dave]

go-lite for weight, but you'd need the mesh/bathtub inner for the uk. i've used a hex 3 for years and you couldn't fault it for packed size, quality or space. massive. the shangri-la 3 looks to be the latest model. single skin isn't an issue, but groundsheet and insect mesh is!!

if you want bomb-proof, terra nova are the way forward, but you'll pay for it. i've got a single skin goretex gemini, which is incredibly strong and light (considering), but i don't think you'll get much change from ?700 now :shock: the lasers are very lightweight, but really cramped for space. if you were to buy one "do everything" tent, then the quasar is it. but it's not super-light... :roll:

hiileberg are a manufacturer worth a look. once again, not cheap.

also, if hooped/geodesic poles aren't securely held in sleeves, i would avoid them. had a very bad experience with a supposedly bomb-proof mountain hardwear expedition tent once.

basically; good quality, lightweight and cheap are mutually exclusive terms. you can have any two (ie cheap+lightweight) but not all three!  :

[Wildfisher]

Cheers Dave, I'm more confused than ever now!   :?    :lol:

It's looking more and more like  it has to be a Terra Nova   :

[Malcolm]

Anyone here remember Saunders tents? Well they're still going. They along with Phoenix used to make the best lightweight tents about 20 years ago both were much beloved by people who would do the Karrimor and other multiday events. Well they are still going!

http://www.robertsaunders.co.uk/pages/frame.html

[Fishtales]

They are all still in the 2Kg range Malcolm.

This one from Vango at just under 1 Kg looks good.

http://www.cheaptents.com/acatalog/Product_Catalogue_Ultralight_Tents_28.html#vangoheliumsuperlite100

(Under ?200 from here http://www.springfield-camping.co.uk/Force+Ten/Tents/Helium+100+Superlite/1865/pc)

or the two man Vaude Power Lizard for the same weight on the same page.

[StuDoig]

Anyone here remember Saunders tents? Well they're still going. They along with Phoenix used to make the best lightweight tents about 20 years ago both were much beloved by people who would do the Karrimor and other multiday events. Well they are still going!

http://www.robertsaunders.co.uk/pages/frame.html

Just who I was about to suggest!  I had the mountain trek for years and really rated it - on ballance I prefered it to friends Quasars or the F10 Baltoro which I have at the minute!  They often do deals around the time of the OMM and similar events as well if you are in no hurry to buy.

Found the service to be excellent too - I had a pole snap when I was away (fixed for the trip with the included repair kit) but when I got back they sent a complete set up to replace it and offered to repair any tears in the outer or inner that had resulted.

THough unfortunately I find you can get any two of cheap, light and strong easily but never really all three!  (unless you are jammy like a mate who found one in good nick in a charity shop).

Cheers,

Stuart

[corsican dave]

i have a phoenix phrontrunner which is just over a kilo. yes, you have read that correctly  :shock: big enough for two just, or certainly one plus kit. was my mountain marathon tent and we used it for cycle touring and the corsican high level route. single skin goretex again

since it's no longer available, i didn't mention it. but for those on a nostalgia trip i'll see if i can sort out a photo... :lol: it may even make its' way to crask.

i didn;t know saunders were still going, but they were certainly right up there with the best.