is this tent any good?

[Barrenfluffit]

I've also seen expensive tents with features that work poorly, missing very simple improvements or materials that failed after modest use. Not big expensive overhauls just a sense of being underdeveloped. Users shouldn't be replacing zips on their new tents, doing simple modifications or immediately replacing components.

[pjclinch]

I've also seen expensive tents with features that work poorly, missing very simple improvements or materials that failed after modest use. Not big expensive overhauls just a sense of being underdeveloped. Users shouldn't be replacing zips on their new tents, doing simple modifications or immediately replacing components.

While I agree for stuff that's just Plain Crap it's not always that simple. Pegs are probably the most obvious example, and I think it was the late Robert Saunders once observed that the main reason to ship a tent with pegs was because not doing so would be like getting a battery toy with no batteries for Christmas rather than it was a great idea from the tent usage point of view. No matter what pegs you put in they won't be right for someone's job, and you've also got the problem of there's no such thing as the best way to do X. Guylines, for example... Lots of people chuck standard guys and put on their own preference: I retro-fit Hille's which I like, but other people prefer Dyneema, despite the differences we all think it's the best, and so on.

So I think it's reasonable to replace components. Something like a zip isn't as mad to replace as you might think. There's a spectrum of very high quality zips from lighter and more fragile to heavier and stronger, and which is the right one depends on your usage. Chunkier zips do better in sandy places, for example, but not many tentmongers are at the point where they can offer 3 different options of zip gauge on every fly.

In other words the ability to provide options has a way to go before we're at the sort of place the car industry is. Assuming I'm not in a hurry I can order up a car with an amazing range of minor fettles and even track its progress through the factory as it's built, but if I want a tent it's generally This One or That One and off to a customiser if I want it changed. I imagine this will change in time, but not yet.

Pete.

[patpalloon]

I got the Yellowstone Matterhorn from Amazon and my first impressions of it are very good. It's a good size, light and compact but seems good build quality.

[andymiller]

Pegs are probably the most obvious example, and I think it was the late Robert Saunders once observed that the main reason to ship a tent with pegs was because not doing so would be like getting a battery toy with no batteries for Christmas rather than it was a great idea from the tent usage point of view. No matter what pegs you put in they won't be right for someone's job, and you've also got the problem of there's no such thing as the best way to do X.

This is one of my favourite bugbears. I really really wish that tent manufacturers would all agree not quote the weight of the tent without the pegs so they don't end up sending out useless pegs simply for the sake of saving a few grams off the headline weight.

[pjclinch]

The ideal situation (translation: what I'd like to see!) would be a tent is shipped with enough serviceable pegs for a full pitch and the weight quoted as x.y Kg, plus n pegs weighing z Kg. The pegs could optionally be exchanged for others at purchase, with price of the standard set accounted for (i.e., if I want to replace some alloy Ys with titanium Ys I'll pay more, if I want to go for skewers made of cheese or I'll just use the pegs I already have I'll pay less). And if I want to buy a few spares of the standards then the price will be a relevant fraction of the full set.

But for the time being I suspect we'll be buying pegs we don't want and/or which aren't quite right for our particular needs...

Pete.

[foxyrider]

Nearest to quoted weight i've had was my Vaude P{ower Lizard Ul - including pegs and bags it was under 10g above the quoted weight.

[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

I tried this tent properly for the first time and the answer is NO. The quality of the tent and flysheet seems ok, but the tent poles are poor quality and one split on the first use! You can't get replacement poles from the manufacturer. I may be able to get one and cut it down to the right length, but I'm probably best binning the tent and getting a decent one. You get what you pay for I guess!

[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

I tried this tent properly for the first time and the answer is NO. The quality of the tent and flysheet seems ok, but the tent poles are poor quality and one split on the first use! You can't get replacement poles from the manufacturer. I may be able to get one and cut it down to the right length, but I'm probably best binning the tent and getting a decent one. You get what you pay for I guess!

Decided on this one: reduced from £90 to £64 at Go Outdoors:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-blade ... nt-p261660