Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => General Chat => Topic started by: Mourneman on January 23, 2012

Title: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 23, 2012
Want some advice on buying a new tent,anybody know of any bargains out there?would prefer something under 2 kg & one man,was actually thinking about the gelert solo,cheap & according to some reviews,pretty hard wearing ,anyone used this tent?
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Spud on January 23, 2012
Heres some info john, http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2724.msg29031#msg29031
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Rumblebum on January 23, 2012
Hi John, yeah a few of the gang have them. Lenny, Whorya and i think Kayakgirl picked one up.

For their money id say they would be hard to beat.

There should be a couple of 1 man tents at our camp on saturday night, the gelert and il have my Zephyros 1 along for its christening. Dave may have his tera nova laser conquest with him but we can only look at it and drool lol.

Have you a price limit?
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 23, 2012
Price limit,cheap as I can,even free will do ;D,sounds good about looking over some at the camp
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Kayakgirl on January 23, 2012
You can have a look at mine.. As long as you bring some sloe gin to christen it.. Lol
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: whoRya on January 24, 2012
That Cobra isn't a bad shout.  It is only 300g more than a Solo, with a lot more space.  Incidently the 2 man tent Rumblebum and I usually split equates to 1.8kg each.

The Gelert Solo comes with steel pegs that weigh about 300g.  You could lighten it up with some lighter pegs e.g. some of the Alpkit ones.  One point I would say is that the Solo has fibreglass poles which have broken in some reviews I have read.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Rumblebum on January 24, 2012
I found this on field and trek that may be of some interest, though i dont know anythin about this tent.

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/karrimor-x-lite-1-tent-783203
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 24, 2012
can't find the gelert solo in stock anywhere ,although the scout shop in belfast stocks the gelert mongoose,which although is a 1 kg heavier ,has extra room for kit,& can be used for 2 people
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LennyJ1 on January 24, 2012
can't find the gelert solo in stock anywhere ,although the scout shop in belfast stocks the gelert mongoose,which although is a 1 kg heavier ,has extra room for kit,& can be used for 2 people

Here you go

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gelert-Solo-One-Man-Tent/dp/B00322QRQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327416611&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gelert-Solo-One-Man-Tent/dp/B00322QRQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327416611&sr=8-1)
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 24, 2012
Cheers Lenny,do you know if I can pick it up anywhere in Belfast,I've sourced somewhere local that's selling the mongoose 2 man which is over a kg heavier,but is 2 man & has two doors,-RRP £63.99 I found it at £49.99
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LennyJ1 on January 24, 2012
Nowhere local but it is free delivery
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 24, 2012
yeah but like most things ,free postal until then find out you live in that far off tropical island
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LennyJ1 on January 24, 2012
Amazon dont charge to send to the UK
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: AdamMcC5 on January 24, 2012
Considered the banshee 200? Its 2kg but packs down really small into a small stuff sac, and it has a really good amount of room for kit aswell
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 24, 2012
Hmmm banshee had a good name,do you know anywhere doing a deal,Jackson s in Belfast have the 200,red banshee for£89.99,don't think there's muchb out there cheaper
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: AdamMcC5 on January 24, 2012
Yeah im really impressed with it, really good room for 1 man and rucksack, really had no room when i tried out the gelert solo. i got my banshee for 80 delivered to the door

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Vango-Banshee-200-Tent-Volcano-2011-2-person-tent-/200684383449?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_HikingCamping_Tents_JN&hash=item2eb9b8acd9

theres a deal on ebay for one. if you need any info on them then just ask, but i definately would recommend it over the solo
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 26, 2012
Bought the gelert mongoose from the scout shop today,£50.00,not bad,ok it does weight 2.8 kg but shared between two its ok,does allow for some extra room form kit
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: AdamMcC5 on January 26, 2012
Nice tent you got yourself, read reviews about it having a good amount of room. Has the scout shop many tents in? Was in about a month ago but didnt see much
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 27, 2012
The new websites pretty good,so check it out first,then phone through to the shop,they for some reason keep the tents on the stair case which is out of bounds to customers,the website price was £64.00,but when I phoned yesterday a staff member told me all the tents were reduced because the high season was over,anyway called int the shop today lifted up my tent ,got to the till,"that will be £64.00 please",don't think so mate I replied ,there's a discount on all tents until february,of course he had to go & check,"sorry sir,£50.00 please" so rule of thumb,phone first check on stock,get a quote,get a name!
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Craigy123 on January 30, 2012
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LICHFIELD-TREKLITE-200-2-PERSON-TENT-NEW-/330678429793?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D200684383449%252B200684383449%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5984017881781217359

Just a thought. Lichfield is the cheaper brand of vango. we used to sell Lichfield tents and they were to nearly the same spec as the vango versions, just different colours and branding. 20 quid...worth a look?

This is the same tent as the banshee!!! I just bought one. For £20 its not a lot to lose is its rubbish. Still looking at my coleman cobra though.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 30, 2012
looks the job alright,can't go far wrong for twenty quid
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 30, 2012
Funny one- The wife came home the other day & caught me setting up the tent in the kitchen,not impressed ::),It was pouring down outside ;D(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6792301859_48ab9cac7e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70169151@N05/6792301859/)
DSCN0714 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70169151@N05/6792301859/) by shannaghan (http://www.flickr.com/people/70169151@N05/), on Flickr
not the sort of goose you would normally serve in a kitchen
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on January 30, 2012
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LICHFIELD-TREKLITE-200-2-PERSON-TENT-NEW-/330678429793?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D200684383449%252B200684383449%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5984017881781217359

Just a thought. Lichfield is the cheaper brand of vango. we used to sell Lichfield tents and they were to nearly the same spec as the vango versions, just different colours and branding. 20 quid...worth a look?

This is the same tent as the banshee!!! I just bought one. For £20 its not a lot to lose is its rubbish. Still looking at my coleman cobra though.
here's the two tents together
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6792334367_289f17d5a3_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70169151@N05/6792334367/)
Lichfield Treklite 200 - 2 Person Tent new brand (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70169151@N05/6792334367/) by shannaghan (http://www.flickr.com/people/70169151@N05/), on Flickr(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6792334155_b31981b4fd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70169151@N05/6792334155/)
products_image1-2547 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70169151@N05/6792334155/) by shannaghan (http://www.flickr.com/people/70169151@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: whoRya on January 30, 2012
The Gelert Solo comes with steel pegs that weigh about 300g.  You could lighten it up with some lighter pegs e.g. some of the Alpkit ones.  One point I would say is that the Solo has fibreglass poles which have broken in some reviews I have read.

Sorry Kayak Girl, it wasn't meant to be a prophesy!
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on January 30, 2012
i'm very tempted by the lichfield tent, i already have the matching rucksack, but is there space for an 11th tent  ???
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Kayakgirl on January 31, 2012
The Gelert Solo comes with steel pegs that weigh about 300g.  You could lighten it up with some lighter pegs e.g. some of the Alpkit ones.  One point I would say is that the Solo has fibreglass poles which have broken in some reviews I have read.

Sorry Kayak Girl, it wasn't meant to be a prophesy!

Yeah I thought it was a tad bijou!! There is nothing like waking up with a fly sheet lying on your face..
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: wee gaz on January 31, 2012
i have always used lichfield and never had problems , love them .alloy poles no fibreglass to snap in cold. says fibreflex poles on bag but came with alloy , happy days £40 (fox 2model )
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on February 02, 2012
well i went and bought the lichfield treklite 200, i just fancied trying out a side opening tent, it arrived today and now i want to go camping this weekend  ;D

note: they're sold out now
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Spud on February 02, 2012
Another one for the collection Liam!  :) enjoy!
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Al Fresco on February 02, 2012
If you dont like it Liam I will swap it for a brand new Gelert Rocky 2 lol as I was too slow of the mark ordering one.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on February 02, 2012
I already have one of them  ;D  my rocky2 is my forest tent (tough as nails), the treklite will hopefully be my new summit tent (light as feathers)
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Al Fresco on February 02, 2012
Worth a try lol ;D
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on February 02, 2012
Emailed Gilert this morning seeking some advice about pitching the Mongoose,just in case i was getting it wrong,just came across a full email send two hours later from my query with downloadable instructions about the tent ,also that if i needed any spare's or repairs i need only ask & they would be happy to assist,can't say better than that,Well done Gilert ;D
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Kayakgirl on February 02, 2012
I received replacement poles and pegs yesterday from Amazon.. I was very impressed with the service.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Craigy123 on February 03, 2012
My treklite arrived yesterday. I'll let you know how it goes soon. Liam can you put a little review on too.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on February 04, 2012
put the inner up today in the office (with heavy batteries in place of pegs) seems to be a good tent, alloy poles & pegs, even has an attachment bag for hanging stuff from the ceiling (took me a while to figure out what it was for  ::) ) quite wide near the top, for a 2 man tent, you might actually get 2 men in it  :o  anyone for a donard summit camp saturday night  ;D
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on February 04, 2012
Donard summit camp ;D,keep me posted :D
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Craigy123 on February 04, 2012
I'm gonna replace the pegs Laim. They are very soft. I think investing in some titanium ones would be good. at least I'll have them then. A little worried about the block of sponge, maybe water will travel down it? we'll see.
 
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on February 19, 2012
last night was my first night out in the Lichfield treklite 200 so here's my review

Very light at 1.9kg, and a bargain at only £20 (now all sold out).

Was easily put up (with a little help from Matthew) and i like the clip in system for the fly sheet. It is a very taught tent so not much flapping about in the wind. I thought the pegs were quite good, although the ground wasn't too hard so not much force needed to get them in. Alloy poles feel strong enough too.

Now the flysheet sits a couple of inchs off the ground, and the inner tent it a fine mesh to save on weight so you could spit through it, or more importantly the wind just blows through it so you feel the wind blowing across your face during the night. It didn't rain but i imagine it could splash a bit into the tent with the high ground clearance of the flysheet. As such it doesn't retain any heat whatsoever, compared to my Rocky2 which managed to remain 2 deg higher than the outside temp in similar conditions.

There is a pocket on either side of the tent so handy for stashing torches phone etc, also has a handy attchment to create a series of pockets across the ceiling, but you end on banging your head off these every time you sit up  ;D  as for sitting up, its on the edge of acceptability for me, i certainly couldn't cope with anything lower, and as for width i wouldn't like to try sleeping with 2 in it except for emergencies and courting  ::) although at the shoulder position it has a bit of extra width were you might just manage to stash a rucksack, but not 2.

The porch area is minimal to non-existant, and when you open the flysheet door the top of the tent sligtly overhangs the bottom of the inner door meaning your get drips of water (or in my case snow) falling into the tent.

So to summarize, its a great 2 season tent for 1 person who has to carry it a few miles. Maybe good for a mountain marathon when you don't mind roughing it a bit with 2 people.


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20hen%20mountain/treklite200.jpg)


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20hen%20mountain/P1120700s.jpg)


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20hen%20mountain/P1120698s.jpg)
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Craigy123 on February 20, 2012
Great review, thanks. Would it be worth while getting someone to retro fit some snow flaps along the bottom to help with the wind issue? Looking forward to getting mine out for the Moyle way and maybe the Easter camp. I might bring a bigger one and a friend.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on February 20, 2012
Very good review liam,craigy123 may have a good point about the retro fit!
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Craigy123 on February 20, 2012
My thinking was even my grand mother could stitch a few lengths of nylon to the bottom which I doubt would add much weight but may significantly improve on wind blocking and heat retention.
http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/catalogue.asp?sID=3 (http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/catalogue.asp?sID=3) Would this work? Maybe get a couple of eyelets pressed in at the corners for pegging down?
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: wee gaz on February 20, 2012
i see you have the chair on ANOTHER summit. you know the 1 you dont take to summits to save weight haha
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on February 20, 2012
Quote
i see you have the chair on ANOTHER summit. you know the 1 you dont take to summits to save weight haha

ah yes, also brought the large tripod for the camera too, but with the lightweight tent i could add some luxuries, and hen really isn't much of a hike up anyhow  ;D

Quote
Would it be worth while getting someone to retro fit some snow flaps along the bottom to help with the wind issue?
i don't think it would make much difference as thats only half the issue, the other have being the spit through inner mesh, i suppose i could gather rocks and line them up the windward side of the tent for a bit of protection though

and i nearly forgot to mention the most annoying thing about the tent, the foam block that sits above your head to provide separation of the inner and outer sheet, it constantly rubs with the slightest breeze and sounds like a mouse scratching the tent  >:( , i lasted 5 minutes of that and had to get out of my cosy sleeping bag into sub zero temps to throw a sock on it to dampen the noise, i would have done it even earlier but it took me 5 minutes to think of the sock idea  :D
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: whoRya on February 20, 2012
The mesh seems to be a regular feature o the cheaper tents.  I wasn't sure it would have made that amount of difference, but I can imagine with the height of the gap that it could become a bit blustery.
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Rumblebum on February 20, 2012
Ha ha ha, im sayin nothin lol, all i can do is laugh :D :D
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Mourneman on February 20, 2012
i would have done it even earlier but it took me 5 minutes to think of the sock idea  :D

Or did it take you five minutes to 'finish' with the sock? :P
flip me nearly soiled myself :-X
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: LandyLiam on February 20, 2012
i would have done it even earlier but it took me 5 minutes to think of the sock idea  :D

Or did it take you five minutes to 'finish' with the sock? :P
flip me nearly soiled myself :-X

it was one i had prepared earlier  ::)
Title: Re: Tents
Post by: Craigy123 on February 21, 2012
My new titanium pegs from alpkit just arrived. I taped the to my desk in case they float away.  ;)