Dome shape tent with good vestibule storage, suggestions please?

[Carlton green]

Like that ?

Yes.

I think that the original post should be changeable (by you, ‘cause it’s attributed to you) in a similar way and that that would change the thread tittle.

[Cowsham]

Like that ?

Yes.

I think that the original post should be changeable (by you, ‘cause it’s attributed to you) in a similar way and that that would change the thread tittle.

I don't think I can cos it was the mod that moved it ie there's no edit button.

[slowster]

I don't think I can cos it was the mod that moved it ie there's no edit button.

You should be able to do it now.

[Sweep]

On what seems to now be the title of this thread.

Robens Lodge 2.

[pjclinch]

Not a very big palace -- it's not even 90cm headroom inside. £920 cheapest price I can see it at and it looks very similar to the £149 Vango scafell 300 + at 3.3kg which has more room in it. ( 1m inside )

"Looks very similar"...
From a picture rather low quality PU coated fly sheets look similar to high quality silicone coated alternatives that have several times the tear strength and significantly lower weight as well as better UV resistance.
You pay for performance rather then looks.

Perhaps the Lightwave T20 hyper https://www.lightwave.uk.com/products/t ... t=product2 would be more to your taste, with a more porch-centric configuration, lots of headroom and the stronger and lighter, albeit still at higher cost than you've been looking at but a lot lower than a Hilleberg.

On headroom in general, if one is particularly tall sat on the ground then you'll need more than shorter types, but clear space over one's head means the tent as a whole will catch the wind more (effectively it's a little weaker in a significant blow) and be a little cooler in winter (more space for convection currents and greater radiating area). Not necessarily good things.

Pete.

[pjclinch]

Purchasing rule of thumb (extended version, as learnt at school of life): you don’t get what you haven’t paid for, but just ‘cause you’ve paid for it doesn’t mean you’ll get it.

I am a tightwad, to me Vango is a premium brand .

The rule of thumb is fair, but some of the things you might pay for are potentially useful for someone like Cowsham. Lighter weight and higher strength, longer lasting more reliable poles, for example.

He has a 7 year old tent where he's worried about it's reliability, I have an 18 year old tent where I'm not. Paying extra for a bunker class tent one can confidently use on an 8000m peak would probably be a waste, but better poles and a bit more strength at lighter weight for someone worried about poles and total weight makes sense.

Pete.

[Carlton green]

On headroom in general, if one is particularly tall sat on the ground then you'll need more than shorter types, but clear space over one's head means the tent as a whole will catch the wind more (effectively it's a little weaker in a significant blow) and be a little cooler in winter (more space for convection currents and greater radiating area). Not necessarily good things.

I can see that head space really helps the occupant to move about more comfortably inside yet I also see how taller tents catch the wind more. How do you live comfortably in low height tents where you haven’t enough height to even sit upright on the ground?

Purchasing rule of thumb (extended version, as learnt at school of life): you don’t get what you haven’t paid for, but just ‘cause you’ve paid for it doesn’t mean you’ll get it.

The rule of thumb is fair, but some of the things you might pay for are potentially useful for someone like Cowsham. Lighter weight and higher strength, longer lasting more reliable poles, for example.

He has a 7 year old tent where he's worried about it's reliability, I have an 18 year old tent where I'm not. Paying extra for a bunker class tent one can confidently use on an 8000m peak would probably be a waste, but better poles and a bit more strength at lighter weight for someone worried about poles and total weight makes sense.

Pete.

A further rule of thumb is: ‘I don’t need the best but I do need at least good enough, affordable, and reliable’ . Knowing what ‘at least good enough’ actually is can be a bit of a problem; generally - when circumstances allow - I find it better to slightly overbuy, slightly overbuying builds in a margin of safety against errors of judgement and unanticipated events.

Seven years of good use out of an ‘affordable’ tent doesn’t seem too bad to me - I might not have always thought so, but it’s a decent return on investment. Life’s a learning exercise, and then we die leaving some possessions behind that have many decades of life - possibly even human lifetimes of it - left in them. As I grow older the term ‘it’ll see me out’ gains significance and another seven years (of it or even reasonable health) is no longer taken for granted.

[Cowsham]

I have an 18 year old tent where I'm not. Paying extra for a bunker class tent one can confidently use on an 8000m peak would probably be a waste, but better poles and a bit more strength at lighter weight for someone worried about poles and total weight makes sense.

Pete.

Has the HilleBerg ever been in +50 MPH wind and rain?

[Jezrant]

I have a Helsport (Norwegian) older than pjclinch's Hilleberg that's stood up to worse than that. One time I remember in the Highlands, mates in other tents were all flattened during a hooley in the night. Mine was the only one that survived the storm. Didn't get much sleep but stayed dry! Campsite looked like a bombsite next morning. My Helsport is a tunnel, though, and vestibule on the small side. Super light and unbelievably strong. Those Norwegians know a thing or two about how to make a good tent for harsh conditions. Wasn't cheap but best tent I've ever owned by far. Outer needs regular reproofing now.

[Cowsham]

The omega could possibly do another 7 years after my £30 fix ( replacing the cracked bits --- which were still OK but didn't chance using them again ) but reliability wasn't really the issue as it survived the storm where many others on camp didn't. ( the devastation in the race paddock was on the news ) The fabric on the Vango is still perfect but the main issue is weight / packing size on bike and do I really need as big a tent?

A smaller bedroom area with more porch and headroom to sit out atrocious weather would be ideal.

I wonder has anyone on here had any experience of this type of thing https://amzn.eu/d/2QCZyvc

[pjclinch]

I have an 18 year old tent where I'm not. Paying extra for a bunker class tent one can confidently use on an 8000m peak would probably be a waste, but better poles and a bit more strength at lighter weight for someone worried about poles and total weight makes sense.

Has the HilleBerg ever been in +50 MPH wind and rain?

Yes.
They're serious expedition tents. Even the lightest (Yellow label, 3 season) are designed to take serious flak.

They cost a lot because they're very reliable, with the money spent to make them that way. They're never the lightest because the design choices are for reliability and usability over lightest possible weight.

Pete.

[Carlton green]

I might even stay with tunnel tents and thought about getting an omega 250 which is a bit smaller and lighter ( but not that much lighter.) Trying to aim for under 4kg -- I'll miss the space -- drying my clothes in the vestibule last year was required as the TT was a bit of a washout and cold unlike 2023 when it was absolutely perfect weather.

The tent is 7 years old so has done well and would probably have done another year without fixing the small cracks in the ends but I don't take chances when over there cos there's no other accommodation -- TT is fully booked years in advance.

You currently have the three person omega 350 and seem to like it a lot. Opting for the slightly smaller and slightly lighter two person omega 250 would seem like a good choice - maybe there are better choices, but it’d still be a good choice and something you can justifiably have confidence in. At the moment new omega 250’s seem hard to find, but some second hand ones have sold on eBay for affordable amounts … worth a try and then a trial?

[pjclinch]

I can see that head space really helps the occupant to move about more comfortably inside yet I also see how taller tents catch the wind more. How do you live comfortably in low height tents where you haven’t enough height to even sit upright on the ground?

I wouldn't know, I have plenty of room to sit upright on the ground! 90 cm is the minimum full height in a Kaitum 3 (at the doors), it goes up to 105 in the middle, well over my head sat down.
I'm 173, my wife is 178. We have plenty of space taking an end each. A pal who's quite a bit taller than me has an Akto which has a 90 cm listed headroom. He likes it a lot as far as I can tell.

Another rule of thumb, crawling around the actual thing tells you far more than a design diagram. I described the K3 as a palace because it genuinely has lots of usable volume.

A further rule of thumb is: ‘I don’t need the best but I do need at least good enough, affordable, and reliable’ . Knowing what ‘at least good enough’ actually is can be a bit of a problem; generally - when circumstances allow - I find it better to slightly overbuy, slightly overbuying builds in a margin of safety against errors of judgement and unanticipated events.

And that's why I stress you don't need to spend Hilleberg prices to get a worthwhile improvement over an already decent tent.
But there are worthwhile improvements to be had. Reliability is a spectrum, not one of either Rubbish or Bombproof. Similarly for longevity, ease of pitch, livability, space at given weight and so on.
This is much like bikes, where "this has drop bars, 700c wheels and disc brakes" doesn't mean you have something you'd find a world champion on, might mean it's a BSO or any number of variably competent and priced examples in between.

Pete.

[Cowsham]

The one thing I don't particularly like about the Naturehike Massif 2 ( I gave link to up thread ) is that the bedroom area is just a fly screen type material with a bath tub ground sheet sewn on. Also the netting is quite low ie not anywhere near the fly sheet so limiting headroom in there. The porch area is very good and with it being a hot tent I can see the appeal.

I do like the snow skirts although I'll probably never use them for snow camping but I'd imagine they'll keep a bit more heat in the tent at night.

[pjclinch]

I do like the snow skirts although I'll probably never use them for snow camping but I'd imagine they'll keep a bit more heat in the tent at night.

A fly that goes right down to the ground is a two edged sword. Yes, it makes the tent warmer, but on the other side it's also far more prone to condensation.
You choose, you lose.

Snow valances aren't as common as they used to be even on technical mountaineering tents. If there's plenty of snow you can just dig the whole thing in and you can get small clip-on ones to attach to pegging points if you want to add rocks and/or snow to your pegging.
Permanent valances always add weight and bulk though, and if the fly goes to the ground that's all you need to stop cold wind blowing under.

Pete.