Tent bargain?

[bigjim]

Just recieved a Coleman Kraz 1 from Marshalls Leisure for £39 delivered if anybody is looking for one. Well pleased

[bikes4two]

If you look on eBay you might be lucky and get a new one for even less? (starting bid price of £20).

Spec is:
- 1 person tent
- Headroom: 95 cm
- Flysheet fabric: Polyester ripstop, 4 000 mm PU coated, taped seams, UV Pro.
- Inner tent fabric: Polyester breathable and no-see-um mesh
- Groundsheet: Nylon, PU coated 5 000 mm, taped
- Poles: Aluminium 7001-T6
- Compact carry bag, 2 way compression
- Inner first
- Reflective guyropes
- Carry bag type: 2 way compression with V-shape
- Carry bag size: 44 x 15 cm ø
- Weight: 1.65 kg

[Barrenfluffit]

The reviews on ukcampsite are mostly scathing. With £40 to spend there will be quite a lot of choice and I suspect many "festival" type tents would be better value if carefully chosen.

[bigjim]

My 6' mate toured France with his last year and had no problems. We had torrential rain as well at times. I was impressed at it's performance, and quality, thats why I bought one.
.
The "scathing reviews" http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Coleman-Kraz-X1/94 are two in total, one said he didn't like the way it looked? Errrr ok. The other said he could not move at 5'. Ridiculous. The third review was full of praise for it. A lot of reviews should be taken with a pinch of salt. I often see bad reviews of good tents written by people who have no idea how to erect or use a tent. For a lightweight, quick pitch, water and windproof shelter in a stealth colour, alloy pegs and poles for £39 it'll do me fine. You won't find a festival tent with that weight,quality and price. The tent without the too big bag, booklets and repair kit comes in at 1.5K.
Oh and Marshalls do a ten day free return. I was looking at the Gelert Solo which is £30 with fibreglass poles and steel pegs but the same weight. However it's a bit too small for me at 14 stone and 6'2" but I have room to spare in the Kraz and can also sit up.
But everybody to their own. Tents are such a personal thing.

[slowpeddler]

Hi All,
For what its worth, I've tried cheap tents and they are not worth it. Buy a good one and you will be will be well rewarded. My Coleman fell apart after 2 tours.

I know what its like to be hard up so sympathise but in the long run (cost per night) a good tent is always worth the extra. For info, I use a Vaude, bought at half price in the Cotswold winter sale.

John

[bigjim]

I'm starting to regret posting this. I was just pointing out something that IMO could be useful for somebody looking for a decent bit of camping gear.
Along comes comes Mr negative who totally unfairly dispages it and then up pops another who says cheap tents are no good and you need an expensive one like his. Jeez. Lesson learn. Don't bother, too many lurkers out there.
By the way, try telling this guy http://ultralightcycling.blogspot.co.uk/who travels all over the world with his £17 tent that cheap tents are no good.

[al_yrpal]

Jim,
Don't fret, I am a Coleman fan, I have an Avior, the quality of Coleman's materials, manufacture and design is first class. So please bear in mind that you may have some silent appreciation. Don't let the negative attitude of a few discourage you for pointing out a bargain in future.

Al

[Penfold]

Another vote for cheaper tents here:

I own a Pro Action (Argos) Hike Lite one man jobby. Cost me £24 from Argos and its the dogs do-dahs (IMHO)

You can still get them off e-bay at a decent price although the nice bright Orange colour puts a few off

Some reviews here:
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Pro ... e-Lite/497

If it works who cares if it's under £50 or doesn't have some designer name on it.

[irc]

Another Argos Pro Action 1 owner here. About 120 nights in it so far on two tours in the USA. It needs a zip repaired but otherwise bombproof and easy to erect. It will stand at a pinch with a peg at either end.

I've now also got a Laser Competition which is far lighter. It's a better backpacking tent. It takes more good peg points though so the next time I'm in America I'll take the Argos as it pitches faster and takes less pegs to pitch which makes life easier pitching in sandy areas in the west.

The Laser (on sale) was 6 times the price of the Argos. Better? Well only where light weight is critical. Other than weight the Argos is a better tent.

[Tacascarow]

The best tent I've ever used was a Vango force ten.
Nylon fly, cotton inner & aluminium A frame.
Not a tent I'd want to cycle tour with, although I bet there are some here who have, & possibly one or two that still do, but I'd happily backpack it if I still had one.
I doubt many of the tents produced now, regardless of price, will have it's longevity or reliability.

IMHO ultra light tents are a little like ultra light bikes.
The technology used is geared more towards performance than longevity.
We don't consider touring on a carbon fibre racing bike to be a good idea. but try to shed as many grammes as possible off (IMHO) the second most important piece of gear after the bike.
Regardless, when I camp I share with two Jack Russell's so I'm not going to spend hundreds on a tent.
Something you don't get with cheaper tents, is a guarantee worth anything. I don't know about the more expensive models, but I doubt they cover destruction by terrier.

IMHO it's horses for courses. If your style of camping is summer camp-sites you don't need to spend a lot of money.
If your into wild camping, in the more remote & exposed climates, then spending a bit more is wise.

[rapidfire72]

The Coleman Kraz 1 tent, is one I do fancy. For the price, it looks good. I'm walking the Crosses Walk next month and looking for a simple tent and the color looks like the part for a spot of wild-camping.

I must admit, i do have the Laser Comp, but for the price, it does have it's down-side.... Condensation, I get it every time.

Look on the bright side, Jim. Nothing wrong with Coleman tents, that I used to have the Viper or Cobra at one time.

Nothing wrong with cheap tents, I had a £10 tent for the York Cycle Show last year and believe me, it was 100% waterproof, to my amazement.

I may get a Coleman Kraz 1

[simonineaston]

One of my camping chums has a larg-ish Coleman, which she's really pleased with - she says it has the perfect combination of size and features for her and her Labrador. It's not the highest build quality and leaks happily in heavy rain, but she loves it and it was cheap.

[cjs]

Don't bother, too many lurkers out there.

I would argue the opposite.... - do bother - some responses can be a bit annoying but on the other hand there is a wealth of good opinion, bargains and pointers on the forum that in my case, have steered be well...

Most of my kit has been researched here and I well pleased... so keep the informed posts coming...

Incidentally Al_ypal, mostly as a result of your posts on your Coleman - thankyou - I picked up in July this year an Avior X3 for £69 from Outdoor Experience and it suits me very well (6'4" & a duff back 'n knees so the entrances and size are good ) Build is good, weight is not an issue for ME, and all in all is more than fit for purpose..

[BeeKeeper]

As an alternative Amazon are doing good deals on Gelert Solos at the moment - £29.00 post free. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00322QRQE/r ... pe_vfe_dt1

[bigjim]

Just noticed the used Kraz 1 went for £38 total on e-bay. Good sign if I decide to sell in the future.