horizon wrote:http://www.robens.de/en/Products/tents/trail/voyager-2ex
If you look on the right hand side of the page it gives wind tunnel test results:
Max 168 km/h
Avg 160 km/h
Isn't that enough?
On the other hand the Osprey, the (much) more expensive but lighter tent has the following results:
Max 160 km/h
Avg 140 km/h
Any thoughts?
Much like riding your TT bike on a turbo in a wind tunnel, the Real World turns out to be a bit more complicated than that...
The main problem with very high winds isn't only a tent sitting there taking it in an optimum situation where it's been perfectly pitched, but actually getting it pitched (or struck) without damaging it. There is the point between flat on the deck and fully pitched (or vice versa) that makes everything more vulnerable to ripping and snapping, and this can be made more festive by having uneven ground and/or stony/sandy soil you can't get the pegs in to properly etc.
There's also getting in and out which will put a lot more strain on door areas (particularly the zips) than just sitting there buttoned up.
And while many (most?) tents have an optimum wind direction which is how they tend to be pitched for wind testing, and most of us pitch tail-to-wind by choice, sometimes a pitch won't let you, and/or the storn tracks over during the night and the wind direction changes substantially.
Which is not to suggest that the above tents won't take a proper blow, but in actual use they probably won't do quite as well as the above suggests.
Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...