Cycling UK Forum

Oooh...

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/produ ... p?PageID=1

It (Vaude Power Lizard) looks like a pretty close equivalent to a Terra Nova Laser Comp.
Similar weight, more room to squeeze a second person in (though still not room for 2 standard mats without overlapping them), no pole hood thingy to play with, proper attachment points for pole guys, costs more.

You'd really need to find someone using one to make a fair judgement, so you could talk to a user, crawl inside etc.
How stable in windy weather? How easy to put up in windy weather? Does it flap noisily in the wind? Is there space and clearance to cook in the porch? With your panniers in there as well? Is the groundsheet so thin you'd end up always carrying a groundsheet protector? Any drips in the rain? Condensation?

Other similar tents to look at are the Hilleberg Akto (like I use), and the Tarptent Scarp 1

You might see one at this event: http://www.backpackersclub.co.uk/. It is being held at Bath Racecourse on April 24th and as Backpacking Light will be there as exhibitors, there will probably be one on display. It's a great opportunity to see over 100 lightweight tents in the flesh and chat to members about ultra-lightweight gear etc. Non-members are very welcome to wander round.

Second the attending of the Backpackers AGM exhibition. Well worth a visit just to see the lightweight equipment.

Yes I would have liked to go to that but as I didnt find out until now, I am already booked that weekend.

andrew_s wrote:Other similar tents to look at are the Hilleberg Akto (like I use)...

Just had a browse around for the Akto - looks good. I'd formed the impression that Hilleberg tents were very good & that you paid for the quality, but I see that not only does the Akto get great reviews but that it's available at about the same price as the Lizard - comes with a 5 year warranty, too
Got any comments about using your Akto, Andrew?
BTW, I'm using a TNF Tadpole at the mo' but its coming to the end of its life, really - split pole, and general wear & tear... been good though.

Andrew, Your suggestion about the Tarptent Scarp 1 is very interesting. I really like the look of this tent and, if possible, want to see one in the flesh. Henry Shires seems to have taken the Akto and "improved" it in a number of innovative ways ( http://www.tarptent.com/scarp1.html ).
Do you have any experience of it?

It's not only that the design of the Akto is outstanding but the quality of the materials used is also superior. I don't think that you can do better no matter how much you spend, and that opinion seems to be shared by experienced light-weight climbers and walkers as their magazines will evidence.

I've no experience of the TarpTent - just reading the blurb and a few reports.
Try searching in the OutdoorsMagic forums

The Akto is about 500g heavier than the Laser Comp, but at least you don't have to start with adding another 100g or so by replacing the supplied pegs with proper ones or adding extra guys like you do with the Laser Comp. The groundsheet is also substantial enough that a footprint isn't generally necessary, though I often use one, as much for the porch floor as for groundsheet protection.

I find it quick and easy to put up, even on my own in a 30mph wind (not tried worse). It's nice and stable, and not too noisy. I (6'1") find the height OK for sitting, but some people find it too low. Maybe they don't slump like I do, or perhaps they have the pole-base cord adjusted too long. There's room in the porch for my 4 panniers and cooking at the same time. The door top vent is well positioned for cooking, but a clothes peg or similar to encourage the flap to dangle outside is useful.

There's better ventilation than most small tents, but even so there's often a fair bit of condensation on the inside of the fly. This isn't really a problem as drips just roll off the inner, but I often have to wipe it off with a j-cloth before taking the tent down. It's probably that the increased radiative cooling due to the relatively flat outer offsets the better ventilation. If you leave the upwind end vent open in over 30mph wind, rain will blow in underneath the overhang and hit the end of the inner hard enough to spray in by a foot or so. The vents can be opened or closed from inside the tent. It won't take much snow before the outer sags onto the inner - you'd have to keep on kicking the roof to knock it off.

It's easy enough to separate the inner from the outer for separate packing. If you do, it's a crawl around inside job to hook it back again when pitching. The footprint would make this nicer. It also clips in place, and can be left in place when pitching or taking down the tent. I don't generally bother separating the tent. The whole thing just goes in the tent bag, and is packed in an Ortlieb Roller, with the poles diagonally across the back. I only pack wettable stuff in the same pannier - waterproofs, gas canisters etc.

The only mod I've made is swapping the black line-locks at the door end for glow-in-the-dark ones so that I can tell which end is which before unrolling the tent when pitching in windy weather. I've also customised the peg selection so that I have something reasonably good whatever the ground (sand/snow excepted). There's a drip from the lower end of the door-top vent, but it misses the inner so I've not got round to getting the seam sealant out yet.

Alpkit will have a decent tent ready for the summer. (hopefully)

It sounds ideal for cycle touring and will have the following features:

1. Pitch fly and inner all at once so the inner stays dry
2. Porches either side
3. Can be pitched with the inner only for hot conditions
4. Aiming for a price of £150 or less
5. Weight only 900g all in.
6. Packs down small.
7. It’ll be a two man tent

I was looking at the Tarptent Notch but I think I'll hang on and see what the Alpkit tent is like.

Hilleberg are also bringing out a new lighter version of the Nallo, should be in the shops from April.
http://hilleberg.se/product/anjan-2?forumid=456710

I've got the Tarptent Moment. It's pretty good, easy to mod as well. Weighs in at around 950g with sealer on the seams. Wish I'd got a 2-man though, extra space for me to spread out!

The single skins take a bit of getting used to. Mainly setting it up in the right place and direction so you get ventilation. Stops the misting. When it's cold and raining there's not much you can do. The rain makes it worse as it hammers the tent making the condensation drip from the inside all over my down sleeping bag

Easily fixed with a quick dry face cloth and a wipe down on the inside once or twice in the night. There's also an inner attachment you can get with the moment to protect you from the drips. I bought mine prior though.

Oh and the ground sheet is often real thin. So be careful. I've now cut an old PVC bike bag down to size for a single, and put it underneath to stop punctures. So the weight begins to add up.

Can put it up in just over a minute though. Feed the pole in. Put in peg one, pull tight, put in peg two. Adjust, done!

wow bealer, your tent sounds like a living nightmare!

It's not so bad. Not like that every time, only once in a while during bad weather.

Any tent is like that when it comes to condensation. Just with a single skin you don't have an inner to protect you. The one bonus is mine dries real quick so never smells of damp.