Seems a well regarded brand, SP have these for £175 which is a great price for a sub 1kg tent! Will I hugely regret it? Looking at doing a 5 night trip in Wales so it will probably see some rain!
I have bought a Big Agnes Seedhouse a few years ago whilst out in the US and my venerable Tadpole started leaking. Quality is first class, they're light and very quick to pitch. Downsides; mesh inner so chilly in cold/windy weather, they pitch inner first so you'd better be quick in the rain and the porch is a bit small and slants over the inner so rain can blow in if/when you unzip.
I'd have another if I was buying a US style tent and that price is a bargain when compared to a Laser Comp which is our equivalent 1 man backpacking tent.
Someone asked a similar question on the Bearbones forum (Bargain alert thread, I think). The advice was to check the hydrostatic head as it seemed very low.
American tents look ok but I can't help thinking they are made to be used in a different climate to ours. Focus seems to be on ventilation and the flysheet/inner design is that the inner can be pitched standalone as if you are in California for example you are pretty much going to be using it as bug netting without the rain fly.
That's a good price for that tent, the cheapest I see it elsewhere is £263.
Agree with the comments about American tents, they've always been like that - the North Face VE24 expedition tents had a fly that started 4" off the ground!
If you want something similar but designed for UK conditions then look at the Trekkertent Stealth 1 (or 1.5 if you want a bit more room) http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/3-stealth.html UK made, 570g but you need to add poles (£58 for carbon poles from Stu at Bearbones) and pegs as it's designed and sold to be used with trekking poles. I don't have one but know some who've taken them on rides like the Highland Trail.
Yeah, I know nothing about tents, but a quick google confirms that HH value is extremely low! Probably fine for a drier climate (as suggested). Will confine search to Euro/UK tents!
Having said that, the **** it money-no-object tent I was looking at (Hilleberg Niak) only has a HH of 2000mm. Is that likely to be adequate for potentially multiple rainy days? All the cheaper, heavier but UK designed ones in Go Outdoors tend to have a HH of 3-5k
EDIT: ta, have heard good things about Trekkertents on here (specifically the Phreeranger but I’ll check out the stealth too!)
I'm inclined to think the hydrostatic head numbers for a flysheet are a bit Top Trumps... I've been out in the rain in my Seedhouse lots and it's no tea bag. Certainly you need higher hydrostatic numbers for things you're gonna put pressure on, like groundsheets or the knees of ovies but in rain, you'll have no bother with that flysheet.
Yeah, the website I was looking at suggested that seams, zips & door design were also very important for staying dry!
The groundsheet also has the same low HH. I found a review suggesting it’s not a problem unless you camp on already wet grass, in which case you need the additional footprint to avoid getting wet. It doesn’t add much weight but is another £60.
Also that light weight will come from using much thinner = less long lasting fabric on things like ground sheet. My Terra Nova Solar Minor may weigh 1600gms but its getting on for 15 years old.
Not seeing that as a major negative as you have to compromise somewhere so at that price a few years use would be ok I think. Ability to withstand rain is the main thing I’m worried about! Was looking at TN tents before, but all the reports on here of dodgy qc and poor customer service in recent years means I’ve totally discounted them.
1200mm HH? sounds a bit grim that.
I'd allow yourself another 4/500grams!
Fair enough , what I was saying is the waterproofing could degrade much more quickly if the fabric isnt built for a rainy environment. Didnt know about TN QC issues - will look into that when replace mine
If you're thinking of the Hilleberg Biak why not consider something like the Zpacks Duplex?
Who is selling at that price please?
Sport Pursuit. You have to register to view stuff which is why it doesn’t show up on google searches, but it’s a legit site
agree it sounds bad on paper but maybe the poster above is correct and it’s all a bit top trumps? Found a few reviews of people saying BA tents are fine in the Highlands in pissing rain. Not actually found anyone yet saying they got wet in one!1200mm HH? sounds a bit grim that.
not easily available in the UK as far as I can tell from a quick google? Don’t really want to spend Hilleberg money anyway, although if it really were the best thing ever then I could stretch to it. Ultra fast pitching time definitely a bonus!If you’re thinking of the Hilleberg Biak why not consider something like the Zpacks Duplex?
Someone asked a similar question on the Bearbones forum
That was me! And following the response I didn't buy one!
Not owned a fly creek (though have used one) but I own a copper spur ul 2, that is around 7 years old now and still holds up fine.
I also own a string ridge, which is their 4 season mountaineering tent.
Yes on paper the hydrostatic head is low, but I’m based and regularly use mine in Scotland and has been issue free. Have used with and without extra ground sheet in wet fields with no problems. If you can get one it’s good (but I also use one with all Hilliberg tents I’ve had too).
The fly fly creek is a compact tent, good for lightweight overnights. But if doing multi day I prefer the copper spur (even the 1 man version) as the layout with porches is better for access and storage.
If you're bikepacking then also consider the volume when packed. The Fly Creek is given as 10x48cm - the length seems a bit long to me but it might be that's the length of the pole sections and if you split these out then you'd be able to pack it smaller. I've a TN LaserComp and it's a bit like that.
are you talking about multiple nights in the same spot or packing up & moving on each day? If the latter & can’t really see the advantage in having extra space?But if doing multi day I prefer the copper spur (even the 1 man version) as the layout with porches is better for access and storage.
i’d already seen that one browsing online actually! Looks good for the price (significantly cheaper than the Hilleberg), outer pitch first sounds good too. Not a brand that gets mentioned much but reviews seem good!I love my Nordisk Telemark UL2.
I also have a Nordisk Telemark 2.
Fantastic tent, very sturdy for just over 900 grams. Just big enough for two, perfect as a comfortable one man option. Less flappy than a lot of the tents I looked at, the corner poles make it really easy to pitch tautly.
Fits nicely into a large alpkit possum frame bag 😊
I just got one of these from SP - it was too good a price to miss.
For the Yukon River Quest part of the mandatory kit is a free-standing tent so my Terra Nova Laser that I use for TD did not meet the specs.
I had narrowed the choice of free-standing tents down to the MSR Hubba or this Big Agnes.
Can't give a 'been in the Somme' report yet, but just during opening the BA and putting it up in my kitchen, I'm glad I chose the MSR first as the fly is sooooo thin and there is less space for kit as the footprint is tapered.
At this price its cheaper than in the US, and they delivered when they said they would.
Are you saying you’re happy with it? Or is it going back in favour of the MSR?
Confused.com... 😉
You can't have too many tents. I'll keep it 4 sure. At the price its a steal,( I also got a BA down jacket as it was such a good price) but I will continue to use the TN most of the time in the UK as it pitches both layers at the same time so you don't get the inner wet when pitching in the rain. The MSR will be in second place and the B Agnes third place.
These are all good tents,