is this tent any good?

[patpalloon]

Looking for a solo tent and this one on Amazon is reduced. Is it any good?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yellowstone-Matterhorn-1-Tent-Green/dp/B00AOLGD1U/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1384373828&sr=1-2

[cjs]

Depends on the use and your expectations...

That appears to be the going price for the tent...

It is light by comparison to others..

Hydrostatic head is 2000...

I think that a HH 1000mm measurement gives sufficient resistance to light showers and 2000+ should be OK for heavy rain but if also there is strong winds then a bigger HH value would be better.

I'm sure it will be fine in fair weather for the occasional use on good dry ground if the size suits you - but avoid Ireland and Scotland unless a high pressure is guaranteed to dominate with accompanying light winds and wall to wall sunshine ....

[pjclinch]

Looking for a solo tent and this one on Amazon is reduced. Is it any good?

"Good" requires context because tents are always compromises. Ideally you want something very light and low packed bulk that's spacious and incredibly strong when pitched, but that's typically not possible.

One of the factors in that ideal mix is "spacious" and googling for some dimensions shows it's rather on the small side. The point is 90 cm, and it's a point so real headroom is a fair bit less than that. So unless you are short and don't mind not really being able to sit up straight, not so good. The porch space is pretty hopeless which means no cooking inside without considerable risk, and that means pretty hopeless in the rain unless you're living on cold food or don't mind getting soaked when cooking (that'd worry me far more than the HH figures).

But for £22... a pretty good deal. However, I'd be inclined to stretch the budget beyond, say, one new tyre's worth and you'll get something in that you can be more comfortable in and that has decent storage and (if need be) cooking space.

Pete.

[simonineaston]

At that price, you are almost certainly looking at a product that has more compromises than most. Everything in and about it will be chosen for cheapness... something sometime will under-perform. Having said that, my expedition experiences began in winter, in a tent from Woolworths which was a) very cheap and b) served me very well. Maybe I was lucky.
If £22 is your top budget, go for it - just don't expect it to behave like a tent costing 20 X as much.

[patpalloon]

Looking for a solo tent and this one on Amazon is reduced. Is it any good?

But for £22... a pretty good deal. However, I'd be inclined to stretch the budget beyond, say, one new tyre's worth and you'll get something in that you can be more comfortable in and that has decent storage and (if need be) cooking space.

Pete.

Any recommendations? Gelert Solo or Hi Gear Soloista? I don't mind spending a bit more money, say up to £60. I want something light and compact for the bike. I won't be camping all the time, will stay at some hostels and b and bs. Need something for France and Spain in May/June and Ireland and Scotland in summer.

[pjclinch]

I'd go along to a shop selling tents and ask them to put up the ones you're interested in. Crawling around inside and deciding if you'll be happy or think you're in a coffin is a good way to decide.

Pete.

[patpalloon]

I'd go along to a shop selling tents and ask them to put up the ones you're interested in. Crawling around inside and deciding if you'll be happy or think you're in a coffin is a good way to decide.

Pete.

That's a very good idea, thank you. Only trouble is the Yellowstone is only on amazon.

[fluffybunnyuk]

I have to say I just bought a Vango Mirage 300(3man) for £50 ish reduced from £180 because it was used by Nearly New Tents(amg-group vango's sales arm) for photography. Have a look for them on ebay they have a few good offers on. I'd say on a bike weight isnt important ( provided its not mega heavy 4kg+) but packing down size. The Mirage weighs in at a fairly hefty 3.5KG but I honestly cant tell the difference when its strapped to my bike compared to a lighter 2kg tent. Sleeps like a dream though, keeps the wind out, and pops up in 3 minutes, without needing to be guy roped if im in a hurry to get in out of some rain. Short of a full geodesic its perfect for me. So my top tip is buy a good tent at a highly reduced price. Dont skimp on getting a poor tent.

A good reason to get a smaller tent is its easier to heat up alone. 2man so you can get your kit inside too. I just don't like waking up and thinking I'm buried in a coffin which was how I felt trying a 1man tunnel in the shop...

I remember reading here that someone said you can have any 2 of 3 qualities for a tent I just don't think weight is too important in a tent. I'd say look for a Vango Banshee 200 going on the cheap someplace(my summer tent).

Emma

[andrew_s]

Going on the budget, I'll suggest this Karrimor at £35
http://www.fieldandtrek.com/karrimor-x- ... 012-783044
Still pretty small, but at least not so coffin like and has a bit of a porch

A bit more, and there's this Vango at £60
http://www.fieldandtrek.com/vango-blade ... 013-783081

[andrew_s]

I remember reading here that someone said you can have any 2 of 3 qualities for a tent

"Light/Strong/Cheap - pick any two" applies to lots of things other than tents, but with a tent you also have to consider "spacious" (just to make things more complicated).

[patpalloon]

Cotswold Outdoor do this one-man tent at £99:

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/wild-country-tents-zephyros-1-tent-71110048?id_colour=98

[PH]

Cotswold Outdoor do this one-man tent at £99:

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/wild-country-tents-zephyros-1-tent-71110048?id_colour=98

I think that's a considerable step up from your original option. It's still a bit small for my liking, but many people don't mind that, the advice to try before you buy is the best you'll get.
Wild Country are the budget part of Terra Nova, the Zephyros is pretty much identical to the Laser tents in design, economies have been made on the materials. The lasers have been around a long time and have a good reputation.
If you're starting to look around the £100 mark, there's no reason you shouldn't end up with something you like that will last many years. A bit heavier than the top end tents and not really suitable for extreme conditions, but for most of us something that's more than adequate.
http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-s ... ght-tents/

[Barrenfluffit]

I also bought a mirage 300 but am a bit more mixed on it. The free-standing and interior space is good. The door design is poor, the porch small and the interior door zip is badly positioned and desperately lacking a second zip (so you can get in from either side). The netting is a small panel rather than the whole door so in hot weather you have to choose between heat or bites. The pegs are rubbish. I've had to make minor repairs and the poles have bent. There's more but its written up elsewhere on here.

[fluffybunnyuk]

Sorry to hear that barrenfluffit. I do have to agree with you though. I bought replacement pegs immediately(titanium), and a plastic groundsheet to go under the tent. I got a double door zip sewed in (seamstress) so it opens from both sides.

I think with any tent you buy at a cheapish price its a compromise, and knowing how to make those compromises work( if you can) can make or break a tent.I dont really use the porch for anything except shoes since theres more than enough room inside for kit. I actually found it quite chilly camping at -4 deg c and had to close up all the vents into the tent to help, didnt get any condensation though. No poles problem interestingly their thicker at 9.5mm in the 300 than the 8.5mm 200 ones, but will report back if I have any problems this year with them. But im planning on replacing the poles anyway with a quality set.

[pjclinch]

I think with any tent you buy at a cheapish price its a compromise, and knowing how to make those compromises work( if you can) can make or break a tent.

Yes, though I'd say a tent you buy at any price is a compromise because you're trying to get as big and spacious, easy to pitch and unbreakably strong married to a tiny footprint that weighs and bulks nothing when packed. You can get nearer to that if you're not cutting corners, but you are still after an impossible end-product. If a non-compromise tent was possible then the premium brands would have a tent (singular), not a big range...

Pete.