Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
For the money I was very happy with our Vango Spirit 200+ which meets your price and weight criteria. The two of us had plenty of room for luggage and under-cover cooking (with care of course).
Without my stoker, every trip would only be half a journey
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
bikes4two wrote:For the money I was very happy with our Vango Spirit 200+ which meets your price and weight criteria. The two of us had plenty of room for luggage and under-cover cooking (with care of course).
But how much was 'the money'? The cheapest I have seen the Spirit 200+ is £205 including postage, as I said the almost identical new Vango Pulsar 200 is available for pre-order from about £140 and I paid £80 including postage for the Coleman which is very similar and is good enough for me.
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
will follow this thread with interest.
Haven't seen the Pictor up close myself but on first sight, and as a Vango Spirit owner, I think my money would be on the Coleman. I only got my Vango fixed for free (it was technically just outside the guarantee though hadn't been overused) after some serious "assertion" on my part.
If the Coleman had gone I would have been able to buy another and still be in pocket and have a load of spares to boot.
Look forward to your field-tests niggle
Haven't seen the Pictor up close myself but on first sight, and as a Vango Spirit owner, I think my money would be on the Coleman. I only got my Vango fixed for free (it was technically just outside the guarantee though hadn't been overused) after some serious "assertion" on my part.
If the Coleman had gone I would have been able to buy another and still be in pocket and have a load of spares to boot.
Look forward to your field-tests niggle
Sweep
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
Bumping this thread with a couple of photos I've just taken for someone.
It's the Luxe Mini Peak I mentioned earlier in the thread - £120, 1.5kg, loads of porch space (and surprisingly bombproof)
You can even get the bike in with the wheels attached if you drop the inner and use the secondary door...
It's the Luxe Mini Peak I mentioned earlier in the thread - £120, 1.5kg, loads of porch space (and surprisingly bombproof)
You can even get the bike in with the wheels attached if you drop the inner and use the secondary door...
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
Oo, ah, yes- forgot to report back on the Coleman 
I used it for two nights during last Easter 'wild camping' on the dunes on the North Cornish coast. On the first night I had to put it up in the dark with only my Magicshine headlight providing the light, so it took a while to put up, especially as I had to undo all the factory knotted guy ropes. However it was quite straightforward really, just fiddlesome.
The first night was windy and there were a couple of short sharp showers and the flysheet did flap a bit, but I don't think I had pegged it out quite perfectly taught. There were no leaks and it stayed up fine, the flysheet does have a bit of a gap round the bottom, more so round the porch area, but it was cosy enough, not too breezy and yet condensation was not an issue either.
On the second night I was able to make sure it was perfectly pegged and tensioned, using the flysheet tensioning straps whilst it was dry, and when damp with due there was not much noticeable sag, and no poles broke either. However it was a warm and still night so not that informative except to say that the ventilation was adequate.
The porch area is everything I had hoped for and cooking in it is fine. The two doors work well and it is quite nice in good conditions with them both open. I notice the 3 man version has a rear door as well, which must be awesome in hot conditions.
I used it for two nights during last Easter 'wild camping' on the dunes on the North Cornish coast. On the first night I had to put it up in the dark with only my Magicshine headlight providing the light, so it took a while to put up, especially as I had to undo all the factory knotted guy ropes. However it was quite straightforward really, just fiddlesome.
The first night was windy and there were a couple of short sharp showers and the flysheet did flap a bit, but I don't think I had pegged it out quite perfectly taught. There were no leaks and it stayed up fine, the flysheet does have a bit of a gap round the bottom, more so round the porch area, but it was cosy enough, not too breezy and yet condensation was not an issue either.
On the second night I was able to make sure it was perfectly pegged and tensioned, using the flysheet tensioning straps whilst it was dry, and when damp with due there was not much noticeable sag, and no poles broke either. However it was a warm and still night so not that informative except to say that the ventilation was adequate.
The porch area is everything I had hoped for and cooking in it is fine. The two doors work well and it is quite nice in good conditions with them both open. I notice the 3 man version has a rear door as well, which must be awesome in hot conditions.
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fluffkitten
- Posts: 16
- Joined: 13 Dec 2013, 9:20pm
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
DaleFTW wrote:Bumping this thread with a couple of photos I've just taken for someone.
It's the Luxe Mini Peak I mentioned earlier in the thread - £120, 1.5kg, loads of porch space (and surprisingly bombproof)
Been thinking of buying one but I keep reading that the inner is only mozi proof and not midge proof which is a worry. Also not sure if you get the pole with the tent or as an extra, the pole isn't cheap.
You can even get the bike in with the wheels attached if you drop the inner and use the secondary door...
Great illustration of the space in there.
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Slow Loris
- Posts: 152
- Joined: 19 May 2014, 1:27pm
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
+1 for the Luxe Mini Peak - I'm a very happy user. It's been on two trips of 10 - 14 days so far and performed well in some windy & rainy conditions. It's a breeze to pitch (for my first outing it was put up in the dark - and stayed up!) It's a niggle that the pole is extra and if you already have a walking pole you can save some pennies by buying an adapter, but I find the tent pole folds up smaller. I would also recommend buying longer pegs as those included are short and appear flimsy so I didn't trust them. Despite those extra costs, overall I think it's great value for money - spacious, versatile and a very good weight for the size. I love the teepee style, it makes me smile whenever I see it pitched.
Regarding midges, I believe some users in Scotland have found it midge resistant but it's not proven. I can't comment yet but I'm hoping to take it to the isle of Arran at some point so will probably bring extra netting. Previous hiking trips have shown me to be a walking buffet - on a bike I'll be meals on wheels
In another thread I'm sure someone mentioned that they used their Mini Peak with an Ookworks bathtub floor and a midge net - anyone find this a better set up?
Regarding midges, I believe some users in Scotland have found it midge resistant but it's not proven. I can't comment yet but I'm hoping to take it to the isle of Arran at some point so will probably bring extra netting. Previous hiking trips have shown me to be a walking buffet - on a bike I'll be meals on wheels
In another thread I'm sure someone mentioned that they used their Mini Peak with an Ookworks bathtub floor and a midge net - anyone find this a better set up?Slow Loris
Energy sparingly used
Energy sparingly used
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
The pole is an extra £25, or get a carbon fibre one for £more. I bought it primarily for the walking trips I was doing at the time, so just used a walking pole. Wasn't until I started touring more on the bike I bought the pole.
It must be said though, if I was buying today, I'd buy the Sil-Nylon version - http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/bushcraft/WF106.html
Re: Midge. I read online that the inner wasn't midge-proof; I don't know whether I was just lucky or the inner did it's job but I never had a real problem while using it. But because of those reports, I never quite trusted it and always treat it like it wasn't. After a while I chopped the mesh off the inner and just used it as a bathtub floor with a DIY midge net draped down if I ever felt the need (I did plan on getting a bespoke bathtub/net from Sean at Ookworks but could never bring myself to spend more money on the tent).
I wrote some words about it here - http://daleftw.tumblr.com/post/78982515 ... ce-january
But I am currently using (albeit a lot less than I would like at the minute) this tent - http://daleftw.tumblr.com/post/78639875 ... s-it-was-a
I keep meaning to ebay the Mini Peak - Fly, new (secondhand) full inner, pegs - but just not quite got round to it.
It must be said though, if I was buying today, I'd buy the Sil-Nylon version - http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/bushcraft/WF106.html
Re: Midge. I read online that the inner wasn't midge-proof; I don't know whether I was just lucky or the inner did it's job but I never had a real problem while using it. But because of those reports, I never quite trusted it and always treat it like it wasn't. After a while I chopped the mesh off the inner and just used it as a bathtub floor with a DIY midge net draped down if I ever felt the need (I did plan on getting a bespoke bathtub/net from Sean at Ookworks but could never bring myself to spend more money on the tent).
I wrote some words about it here - http://daleftw.tumblr.com/post/78982515 ... ce-january
But I am currently using (albeit a lot less than I would like at the minute) this tent - http://daleftw.tumblr.com/post/78639875 ... s-it-was-a
I keep meaning to ebay the Mini Peak - Fly, new (secondhand) full inner, pegs - but just not quite got round to it.
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fluffkitten
- Posts: 16
- Joined: 13 Dec 2013, 9:20pm
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
Thank you DaleFTW and Slow Loris for the info.
Considering some of the threads on backpackinglight in the USA and on Outdoor Magic I'd be a bit careful with Oookworks at present.
Considering some of the threads on backpackinglight in the USA and on Outdoor Magic I'd be a bit careful with Oookworks at present.
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Slow Loris
- Posts: 152
- Joined: 19 May 2014, 1:27pm
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
I should have mentioned that my Mini Peak is the sil-nylon version. I had wanted the original as I liked the idea of two doors, but it was out of stock. Having seen DaleFTW's comments, I'm pleased I went for the sil. It's a shame that it's now showing as discontinued on backpackinglight.co.uk.
Thanks, fluffkitten, for the Ookworks tip - I've just googled recent comments and I now know to avoid.
Thanks, fluffkitten, for the Ookworks tip - I've just googled recent comments and I now know to avoid.
Slow Loris
Energy sparingly used
Energy sparingly used
Re: Tent with a large porch, <£200, <3kg?
I'd be taking comments on those forums, especially BPL, with a huge pinch of salt.
In fact, I'd be more inclined to buy something from Sean now that he's pissed BPL off.
In fact, I'd be more inclined to buy something from Sean now that he's pissed BPL off.