Quasar tent replacement

[Des49]

I should be able to arrange to see some of these tents at a dealer next month to get a good feel for what the options are.

Hugely recommended. Crawling around in a pitched example (preferably after seeing how easy it is to pitch) is much the best way of making a tent choice IMHO.
Pete.

I will be in the UK first week of June, travelling Portsmouth - Taynuilt - Carlisle - Portsmouth. A lot to cram in and will try to get a couple of decent rides in. But also will plan to pass by Keswick on the return leg and have been in contact with George Fisher and will drop by to see some tents.

Stock seems low with respect to the Allak, but they hope to have both green and sand in by early June, so hope the timing works out. Can also look at some tunnel options too.

[Des49]

A beautiful site for the night! Makes me want to get out there for sure.

Thank you all for some great thoughts and tips in this thread. I look forward to getting the chance to see some physical samples and coming to a decision in the next few weeks.

[pjclinch]

I hardly think one person travelling by bike breaking camp on a near daily basis is somewhat niche in this forum.

I will tell my pal Audrey (who spent some months touring overseas with a Kaitum 2 on her own) that she got it all wrong and her tent was hopeless and continually stopped her using it by virtue of its awkward dimensions.... odd that she never mentioned it...

The Kaitum clearly isn’t satisfactory in this regard due to its preposterous length and 48 peg outs.

Ohhhhh, I didn't realise we were talking about the Kaitum GTGTGTGTGTGTGT (I think that's about how many extension hoops it would take to get to 48 pegs, and would be a bit on the over-long side)

However, where I can see benefit is when things get a bit frosty with the missus, opposite ends of the tent can be taken.

Or, in an Allak, you can take a side each... Surface areas are not very much different, so overall difficulty in finding enough space isn't that much different. They're both good tents, choose according to your own criteria, if one was clearly better than the other, "the other" wouldn't be in the line.

Pete.

[PhilD28]

Another tent worth a look at is the Terra Nova Southern Cross 2, I’m embarrassed to say I also have one of these. This is a very good stable tent at a better price than the quasar with similar room but is lighter.
It’s a clever design with an external frame that goes up very quickly. I did a 3 month tour using it a couple of years ago. Compared to the quasar I preferred the twin side doors and porches and it was noticeably lighter for a solo trip. It has plenty of room for 1 and ok for 2 but the inner is a bit floppy compared to the tight inner of a quasar which I found a bit irritating.
In summary, I like the tent a lot, the way it pitches and how it feels in bad weather. I prefer the Staika but that brings with it a weight and price penalty.
Of course there’s no such thing as a perfect tent for all situations, it’s always a compromise. For instance, next week I’m headed off on a two month bike camping trip through Europe with my wife and because most of the time will be in southern/mid France and I’m expecting warm weather I’m taking my Big Agnes tent, it’s 1/2 the weight of the Staika, larger and much cooler. I’ve no doubt as I travel through parts of northern Europe it will be a bit too cool but thats to be expected, always a compromise.
The Southern Cross is definitely worth putting on the possibles list.

[Des49]

The Southern Cross is definitely worth putting on the possibles list.

Thanks will check it out.

Have a great trip to Europe.

[PH]

Hi,
I need to replace my Winter Gear/Wild Country Quasar tent. It is one of the first ones, I have had it from the mid eighties. It has been a remarkable tent that I have always had full confidence in, whether in a mountain storm or in a coastal gale.

Which tent do you have? I thought the Quasar was Terra Nova and when they recycled the design for a Wild Country it was called something else. If you've had that use from the cheaper WC range that really has been remarkable value.
The Allak is pretty much my dream tent, if it ever made it onto a shortlist it'd be hard to dislodge it, but if you've been happy with the WC version of the Quasar, it's four times the price. We all have different criteria, two of mine are free standing and sleeping across the door, I didn't appreciate how much difference these things make to me till I tried them and now wouldn't consider a tent that didn't offer this. If you do end up looking for a like for like replacement for the Quasar you might also consider the Alpkit copy.

[PhilD28]

Early Wild Country tents from the 80's such as the OP's Quasar were top of the range tents (the more recent Terra Nova range are similar although in my opinion not as good). It was later that they downgraded the spec of Wild Country to be a cheaper version of Terra Nova. But early WC tents were definitely superb quality much better than their recent offerings, I have two from the 80's that are still going strong and show no signs of failing despite many many multi month trips.

[PH]

Early Wild Country tents from the 80's such as the OP's Quasar were top of the range tents

That's interesting, something I've learnt today

[Des49]

Hi,
I need to replace my Winter Gear/Wild Country Quasar tent. It is one of the first ones, I have had it from the mid eighties. It has been a remarkable tent that I have always had full confidence in, whether in a mountain storm or in a coastal gale.

Which tent do you have? I thought the Quasar was Terra Nova and when they recycled the design for a Wild Country it was called something else. If you've had that use from the cheaper WC range that really has been remarkable value.
The Allak is pretty much my dream tent, if it ever made it onto a shortlist it'd be hard to dislodge it, but if you've been happy with the WC version of the Quasar, it's four times the price. We all have different criteria, two of mine are free standing and sleeping across the door, I didn't appreciate how much difference these things make to me till I tried them and now wouldn't consider a tent that didn't offer this. If you do end up looking for a like for like replacement for the Quasar you might also consider the Alpkit copy.

My Quasar is one of the very earliest ones. Purchased in 1984 or 85, I finished university in 85 and got the tent in my last year or so. A friend in the climbing club had a Quasar which impressed me on trips and I got mine with some of the last money I had.

The label on my tent actually says Wintergear and Wildcountry in smaller letters. A bit sketchy on the history but Wintergear started things off, then brought by Wildcountry still in the mid ish eighties, then this became Terra Nova a lot later in the 90s. Terra Nova then started a budget range that became Wild Country, not the same quality as the original Wildcountry gear in the 80s.

[PH]

A bit sketchy on the history but Wintergear started things off, then brought by Wildcountry still in the mid ish eighties, then this became Terra Nova a lot later in the 90s. Terra Nova then started a budget range that became Wild Country, not the same quality as the original Wildcountry gear in the 80s.

More thanks, really has been an educational lunchtime

[Des49]

But early WC tents were definitely superb quality much better than their recent offerings, I have two from the 80's that are still going strong and show no signs of failing despite many many multi month trips.

My experience too. Very well made, but I have tried to look after my tent too, always pitched it on a footprint (one of those bright orange survival bags people were encouraged to carry around with them years ago!), kept it clean, well dried before storage. Though do roll it very tight and compress this with a strap when trying to save space in a pack or pannier, this may not be the best thing I suppose.

[pjclinch]

The label on my tent actually says Wintergear and Wildcountry in smaller letters. A bit sketchy on the history but Wintergear started things off, then brought by Wildcountry still in the mid ish eighties, then this became Terra Nova a lot later in the 90s. Terra Nova then started a budget range that became Wild Country, not the same quality as the original Wildcountry gear in the 80s.

I've never been exactly sure where WinterGear came in but Wild Country was originally a builder of climbing gear, particularly famous for the "Friend", the original spring-loaded camming device that allowed climbers to place reliable protection in parallel cracks for the first time. Also their "Rocks" chocs were (and still are) pretty ubiquitous.

As often happens, they started to branch out and I imagine that's the point where they took on WinterGear, which AIUI they retained as a sub-brand for their more specialised offerings (such as a Quasar with snow valances as standard, which a pal had). After some time Wild Country split the business and spun off the bits now known as Terra Nova, keeping Wild Country for the climbing brand (which is still going).

Some time later TN re-introduced the Wild Country name as a not really anything to do with the other Wild Country sub-brand of lower budget tents. I don't know whether the climbing Wild Country and camping Wild Country/Terra Nova are still related in any way.

Pete.

[Des49]

... Wild Country was originally a builder of climbing gear, particularly famous for the "Friend", the original spring-loaded camming device that allowed climbers to place reliable protection in parallel cracks for the first time. Also their "Rocks" chocs were (and still are) pretty ubiquitous.

Yes, remember the Friends well. I could never afford any and always looked on with envy to those with a selection of Friends hanging off their harnesses. Brings back a few distant memories

[nsew]

I hardly think one person travelling by bike breaking camp on a near daily basis is somewhat niche in this forum.

I will tell my pal Audrey (who spent some months touring overseas with a Kaitum 2 on her own) that she got it all wrong and her tent was hopeless and continually stopped her using it by virtue of its awkward dimensions.... odd that she never mentioned it...

The Kaitum clearly isn’t satisfactory in this regard due to its preposterous length and 48 peg outs.

Ohhhhh, I didn't realise we were talking about the Kaitum GTGTGTGTGTGTGT (I think that's about how many extension hoops it would take to get to 48 pegs, and would be a bit on the over-long side)

However, where I can see benefit is when things get a bit frosty with the missus, opposite ends of the tent can be taken.

Or, in an Allak, you can take a side each... Surface areas are not very much different, so overall difficulty in finding enough space isn't that much different. They're both good tents, choose according to your own criteria, if one was clearly better than the other, "the other" wouldn't be in the line.

Pete.

I was cycling this Bourgogne road (non “cycle route”) yesterday evening and thought of another benefit of the Kaitum’s length. Spray CONGRATULATIONS AUDREY along its side and use for a fly-by. I settled here for the night as the region is forested bog with abundant bramble. In the morning, released the 6 stakes and spun it around (no need for a banksman or waders) to allow the mornings welcome sun (2*c) to remove the remaining condensation. Knocked a brew up.

[pjclinch]

I was cycling this Bourgogne road (non “cycle route”) yesterday evening and thought of another benefit of the Kaitum’s length. Spray CONGRATULATIONS AUBREY along its side and use for a fly-by.

Who's Aubrey?

I settled here for the night as the region is forested bog with abundant bracken. In the morning, released the 6 stakes and spun it around (no need for a banksman or waders) to allow the mornings welcome sun (2*c) to remove the remaining condensation. Knocked a brew up.

Parked here for the night, struggle finding the space, but we managed somehow... To allow the morning's welcome sun we didn't bother getting up at all, we just opened the other door...


Maybe our different courses are best served by different horses?