new 1-2 man tent

Do you have a decathlon nearby, always been impressed by their tents.

I’ve been very happy with my MSR Elixr 1. Plenty big enough. I’d imagine the 2 man is very generous for space 

 

I like the Wild country Helm Compact 1 a lot but Im put off by the apparent fact that a few years ago it retailed at £160 ish and now cheapest price is £230 ish.

no idea on the helm compact 1 but itll take alot to get me to buy another wild country product again due to their shocking after sales service. 

my experience with the same tent mirrors this guys  ( we are not the same people) 

https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/gear/wild_countryterra_nova_tent_fix_it_or_bin_it-644015

worse still i paid for the repair - and the same damn thing happened again - only this time i was touring in canada. - cracks and ultimately pole failure emanating from the material stress of the dimple used to hold the spigot into the pole - Lots of duct tape on every spigot got me through the next 3 weeks. - By comparison my vaude taurus ultralite lasted 6 months of being up and down every single night and some horrible weather before one of the poles got a small crack in and vaude got new poles to me very quickly via their network. 

TN / WC used to be a very well thought of aftersales department and one of the reasons i bought the hoolie 2 but not long before i bought my tent the big old VC machine got hold of them. 

Fairly sure it was recommendations on STW that led to me buying a Naturehike Cloud Up 2. Unsure on longterm durability but seems OK in use to me. LINK on Amazon. Plenty long enough for me to sleep in at 187cm.

Posted by: trail_rat

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my vaude taurus ultralite lasted 6 months of being up and down every single night and some horrible weather

We can confirm. + it's a warm tent so we can take lighter sleeping bags. 1.7kg with the minimum of pegs. Best cycle camping tent I've ever owned but a bit heavy in a back pack.

We also have a 860gm two-man MSR for walking in Summer which is flimsey to say the least. In a wind it taps us on the nose as we sleep but pings back up again, and so far it hasn't torn or broken a pole. If weight and bulk are a priority and the weather forecast not too bad it gets used.

We've had three decathlon tents. Functional, on the heavy side for the volume, very good initially but aged quite quickly with tape seaming peeling off after a few years. The Vaudé is still fine after 14 years of regular use.

We bought a Ferrino when a 1kg Hellsport failed mid tour. 1550gms, mesh inner so cold at night, no structural failures but the tapes have peeled off. Similar quality to Decathlon but lighter.

I got the OEX Bobcat Ultralite and am really pleased with it.  Good size porch, super light, and the tall side entry means you can sit on your bed with your shoes on and be ''half in half out" ideal for sorting your kit, checking out the view, chatting or tending to your stove (as opposed to crouching or laying down and peeking out through a narrow doorway and having to decide between staying in, or getting out out)

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thanks spooky, I've watched a few Bobcat youtube videos and it looks a bobby dazzla.  I might have a serious look at it

OP I am looking for a cheapish tent and have been considering the OEX Phoxx 2. Curious as to why you are looking to replace yours.

Requirements/design for campsite comfort camping and camping out in the hills are quite different.

But, for the latter, budget friendly option take a look at fjern gokotta in sport pursuit.

I have the 2 person version and it's brilliant for the price.

Bear in mind pitches inner first and there's a lot of mesh - so better for good conditions.

I got mine from Go Outdoors, currently £189 plus £5 to get their membership prices. (on the google search results it shows the non-member price of £280)

Just double check the length considering your height, I'm 5'11" and its plenty for me but I can't remember if I stuffed a dry bag at the base of my bed or if I was using the full length.

I got the bobcat and the bandicoot mixed up - was looking at that instead.  I like the 'semi geodesic' design for wind

cletus - the Phoxx 2 is great, and I can fit in okay, but I can never get the fit or tensioning quite right

Big Agnes ?

I see theres a number on Sports Pursuit at 'reduced' prices I say reduced, but they always put the RRP which means nowt really, but their prices are usually a bit better than others. You'll probably save 30 quid or so on new price

I like the look of the Blacktrail 2.

Leaning more towards campsite than backpacking as it's rather weighty, we have a Vango Tryfan which is good for the option to open big end vents and let a breeze through when it's hot as well as having doors on 2 sides.

Interesting thread. Has me thinking whether I need to buy a lighter tent than my current Hilleberg Akto (1.9kg incl. footprint) for a hike I have planned this summer.  The issue is, to get anything robust will be pretty pricey!!

I am acutely aware that erecting on stony/rocky ground will be an issue unless it’s a ‘Y’ or ‘X’ pole domed type 🤔

I have an MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepacking 2, which is a great tent.  Probably a bit spendier than you're wanting, but I really rate mine.  1.4kgs and the poles are quite short when folded, which makes it great to fit in small bags.  It comes with a fitting system for a bike as well, which I'm not convinced by, you'd be better off using a proper bag IMO.  But for what you want to use it for it's great.  Genuine 2 person tent with a very low weight.  

Lanshan 2 Pro?? Packs away very small, 900g-ish, though you'll have to add 2 poles of some description, and seam seal it. £141 if you order direct from 3FUL, delivered in 2 weeks.

At 5'10" on a full sized airbed, I've got loads of room lying end to end, more if I go diagonal. A thinner sleeping pad would make it cavernous.

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Cheers, will investigate further.

Sea to Summit also on Sportpursuit look ok.

I think mines a vango helium ul2. It’s a 2 person tent bought for me to use solo as I’m 6 foot 4 inches. Very happy with it. I think it was £250 claimed weight is 1.2 kg. Just put it on the kitchen scales and got 1.5kg including spares and bags.

 It’s not free standing but is outer pitching first. The correct compromise for me.

It is so much less annoying that my Alpkit soloist

https://www.vango.co.uk/f10-helium-ul-2

Alpkit ordos 2 here.

fits me at a huge 6ft 4''

goes up in less than 5 minutes. weighs not much more than a bottle of wine. packs small enough to go on my bars.

Durston X-mid? Can be had for under £300 inc shipping and duties. 

I like the Lanstan 2 pro but have no walking poles. I'm not ready to cross the trekking pole rubicon just yet, despite my achilles issues 🙂

Posted by: ampthill

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I think mines a vango helium ul2. It’s a 2 person tent bought for me to use solo as I’m 6 foot 4 inches. Very happy with it. I think it was £250 claimed weight is 1.2 kg. Just put it on the kitchen scales and got 1.5kg including spares and bags.

 

 It’s not free standing but is outer pitching first. The correct compromise for me.

 

It is so much less annoying that my Alpkit soloist

 

https://www.vango.co.uk/f10-helium-ul-2

I have one of these too, although mines an older version.

Great bit of kit, fits me, a big bag and a small child or wee dog. Deffo wouldn't fit 2 adult humans unless they want to spoon all night though!

Super easy to put up, outer goes up first which is a big bonus in the Lakes where it rains all the time.

Only real complaint (not sure how relevant it is to the newest version), mine has a black outer and a lumo orange inner. Impossible to sleep in once the sun comes up in summer, not a problem if you like getting up at 6am latest but no way can I stay in it after the sun has been on it for a few hours. The orange glow seems to defeat eyelids pretty handily too 🤣 

I really like my Wechsel Bella tent - it's lasted thousands of miles and months of continuous use in all kinds of conditions. Goes up and down super quick and easily.

Having said that, if I was buying a new tent I'd get a Durston X-Dome.

very very good support from vango over the years for us - the wife runs a fleet of them for DOE groups . 

Scafells , omegas and banshees . 

Not light but hardy against the kids and with good back up and spares availability from vango.  

I actually use a banshee 200 if i need a tent - but its absolutely a 1 man tent. even 1 man and a dog would be a push. 

I've had a look at alpkit ordos 2 , and encouraged that it fits ton at 6'4".   Id counted out alpkit as I've got a Viso 3 and the material is a bit thin (for a campsite tent) but with UL its not as much of a consideration.

Might dive into the reviews, plus I've got alpkit vouchers to use.  Not checked the latest on alpkit is it surviving?

Also looked at the Otimos X lite nomad and very impressed, but it seems I'll be touching cloth at 6'2.5"

Posted by: fingerbang

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I like the Lanstan 2 pro but have no walking poles. I'm not ready to cross the trekking pole rubicon just yet, despite my achilles issues 🙂

I've got one of the Lanshan 2s, and for the most part I've used walking poles, but I've just ordered some of these for when I'm on the bike. Going to get a couple of end caps for them though to protect the tent a bit, something like a rebar cap should probably work ok. Really like the size of the Lanshan, and packs down v small. Seam sealing was a piece of cake too. https://durstongear.com/products/z-flick-tent-pole

Posted by: fingerbang

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I like the Lanstan 2 pro but have no walking poles. I'm not ready to cross the trekking pole rubicon just yet, despite my achilles issues 🙂

I have carbon poles from here
https://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/product-category/shelter-sleep/

**can't see the latest post cos of all the crappy advert clutter in the bottom third of the screen**

ended up buying a Wild Country Halny Elite 2 for £214.  despite the WC negative experience above.  220cm long seemed good and impressive weight and pack size.  Although checked on Alpkit just after I bought and they're now doing a tent sale

I went with a Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 person but the bikepack version with the shorter poles so it fits on the bars of a gravel bike.  Not used it yet, this weekend on Dartmoor will be its maiden voyage.  A Sportpursuit bargain, although still over £300 for a tent so not sure that qualifies as a true bargain.