MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Have been using an old but excellent Wild Country 2 man something or other for ages.
UV and time have caught up and it's due a replacement.
So, smallish pack size, lightish, 3 man, not crazy money.
The Decathlon Ultralight appeals, [url= https://www.decathlon.co.uk/quickhiker-ultralight-3-hiking-tent-3-man-grey-id_8245651.html ]linky,[/url] as does a couple of the Vangos, Banshee and Helix.
Any other suggestions?
Gets used in windy and rough weather.
Prefer under £200 if poss, the Wild Country cost about that in a sale, but I believe their customer service isn't what it used to be.
Thanks in advance.
If you're splitting the pack between two then I'd say Vango Halo 300. Excellent tent and I used the identically designed 200 for years. Self-supporting, alloy-pole geodesic, easy to use with or without inner. Strong, spacious, taught pitch, with all-important dual-exits. No condensation problems. Feels like a proper sturdy base-camp set-up at a budget price. I realise it's not light or small-packing but for two offers a lot in comfort and is by far the sturdiest (and quietest) vinyl tent I've used. A good night's sleep in mad weather is worth a couple of pounds in weight to me 😉
Obv too heavy if backpacking solo.
Vau De Space Explorer.
It's an old design - I bought my first one in 1990, but it can be pitched in one - big plus if you have ever tried to pitch a typical two skin mountain tent in a screaming blizzard. The poles can be doubled up in an external sleeve for extra strength and it's pretty light and packs small.
The snow valances can make it a bit sweaty but they roll up to allow air to circulate.
Mine have been up to 21,000 feet and only once due to user error over tensioning a pole sleeve did it snap a pole.
I rang Vau De, sent it back and it was returned with a full new set of poles, the sleeve tear mended and fully cleaned and reproofed. total cost: Zero!!
https://www.trekkinn.com/outdoor-mountain/vaude-space-explorer/10246/p
How often are you three up? At that cost, you will be over 3kg (not a problem, my uber light one man is 1kg...)
The classic Trisar:
http://www.uttings.co.uk/p120019-wild-country-trisar-3-tent-green-44tr300/#.WPNPzIgrLIU
The brilliant, if snug for lanky folk, Taurus:
http://www.uttings.co.uk/p113820-vaude-taurus-3p-tent-chute-green-11499-459/#.WPNPtojyvIU
I also want to see one of these:
https://www.simplyhike.co.uk/products/WildCountry/Helm3Tent.aspx
I love the Halo - bombproof, amazing space, low cost for reasonable quality, lasts well. However, it is not light at 4KG.
The last few Vango's I have had up with the DofE lot also had some design issues in venting lacking or (really) small for a 3person tent...That said, I am still a vango fan.
^ venting with the Halo (if design is still the same) is literally the best I've found. Two close-able vents in the apex, and two massive opposing double-inner-doors (outer flaps made of full-cover mozzie-mesh) so you just unzip the inner-door/s from the top to reveal however much mesh you require for venting. If that's not enough you can also can (by degrees) unzip either or both of the outer-porch doors from either top or bottom. If no rain and blistering hot you simply unzip by and tie the outer (porch) doors out of the way altogether and so have complete movement of air through the opposing inner mesh-doors. These features (with its self-supporting pitch-in-one design) for me make it the best smaller tent I've used by far. Need to replace the old one as the UV finally got to the outer. Would be good to source a new fly as the rest is still perfectly fine (if a bit grubby) after 6 years of heavy use.
^ venting with the Halo (if design is still the same) is literally the best I've found.
I agree.
It is some of the newer models that Scouts and Boy's Brigade here have boufht from Vango.
We had four Helix 300's out last week - Halo's were nearly dry on fly, damp only down sides, the Helix were soaked with condensation. They only have vents at the front - none at rear, so no through flow...
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matt_outandabout - Member
How often are you three up? At that cost, you will be over 3kg (not a problem, my uber light one man is 1kg...)
Never three up, but we would like a bit more room than the current one gives us - we have the odd rest day if the weather is really bad - age innit?
🙂
Usually split the tent between the pair of us, so as long as it's lightish, that's fine.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, time to go and have a play with a few.
Discount on Halo 300 that might be of interest https://www.tauntonleisure.com/vango-halo-300-tent-cactus-2017/p16203
A long time since I've slept in an msr, but they are/were superb tents, Elixr3 should be a good one.
http://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/MSR-Elixir-3-Tent-sku51148101.asp
The new Wild Country Helm looks a similar size to the Vango Halo. Similar price (on offer) and lighter too.