To start this topic I am going to tell you a short but painful story that may help you aid me choosing a tent. Well it all starts back to when I was 16 and my dad forced me to do the Mourne Marathon with him. We were very inexperienced for such an event and consequently were ill-prepared and naive. To put on my backpack I had to lie on top it, put my arms through the straps and someone had to pull me up. It was that heavy! We brought far too much and the fact that everything we did pack was so heavy and bulky didn't help matters either. We where even exempt from equipment checks to many peoples amusement.
Anyway it turned out to be one of the most difficult things I have ever done and subsequently I've been hooked on mountain marathons since.
Though with being a student and having no money due to rent, booze, socialising and the likes I had always stuck to the same equipment. But only until about 2-3 years ago with being in full-time employment I finally had been able to save up some money. The boots I had always worn were the wrong shoe for marathons, they where hiking boots, completely bald with huge holes in the sole - stones and grit and water always came through - but I had stuck with them, if not due to being skint, then out of loyalty. But they were the first piece of equipment to be replaced.
After plenty of research into equipment I realised how much I've been in the dark for all them years. The first purchase I made was a pair of lightweight innov-8 mudclaws 330. WOW! They were so light, fast and gripped amazingly. I couldn't believe how much difference having the right equipment caused. I was always proud of the fact that I had heavy equipment as it felt like a challenge and thats what I enjoyed, the accomplishment. But these new shoes where to start a whole new level of joy and freedom. I could now go further, see more stunning views and experience a lot more.
I then went on a spending spree, sacrificing a holiday and cutting back on luxuries. I had obtained an event race jacket and goretex trousers for waterproofs, technical high wicking baselayers, pocket rocket stove, alpkit ti mug, OMM race backpack etc. It honestly felt as if I wasn't even carrying anything compared to before and really enhanced my experience of being outdoors.
At the time my tent was a two man Coleman which weighed around 3.8Kg and packed to the size of my new backpack, roughly 32L. It was time to change. I was only looking to buy a tent for marathons and there wasn't a huge choice. 99% of people recommended the terra nova laser as the best tent to get. After sweating about how much the tent cost I took a leap and just purchased it. Self-hating followed the next few days as I couldn't believe I spent that money on a tent, until the tent actually arrived. With so much excitement I rushed out to the garden to erect my new soulmate. I grinned from ear to ear for the next week with how happy I was with it.
I kept all my new gear in a big brown box in my dads garage to make sure it was all together and safe. About 3 weeks later I was preparing for a trip up the Mournes. I wasn't camping over and I didn't want to get my new love damaged so I left it in the brown box with a few other bits and bobs I had gathered up over the last few months. After a tiring outing I left the backpack in the garage and thought to myself I'll clean it and pack it all away tomorrow. Next day came, time to pack the gear away... wheres my brown box? I contacted my dad, he said he cleared out the garage of all the junk. So wheres my brown box then? There was a brown box with nothing really in it that I chucked out he told me. So there you have it. A virgin terra nova laser that I only erected twice in my garden sent straight to land fill.
Out of pure disappointment I have stuck with my 3.8Kg Coleman ever since. But to seriously take up wild camping and have a better experience with marathons I am going to have to open my heart once again to allow a new tent into my life.
The only problem I am finding is the painstaking large amount of choice for lightweight tents now. I love the fact the terra nova laser competition 2 has 2 doors, so I can nosey out either side despite the weather, but is still expensive. Force 10 helium 200 looks good, has the same design as the laser, is alot cheaper, but is it as good? The same goes for the zephyros 2, though they have a lite version coming out soon which could be tempting. Then there is the TN solar competion 2, apparently got great reviews, meant to be sturdier than the laser, more spacious and same weight. TN voyager superlite, slightly heavier, but a lot more spacious again, more comfort, bulkier pack size though. The list goes on.
Basically I am looking help to buy a lightweight tent, preferably under 1.5kg, room enough for 2. The more durable it is the better. It will be used for wild camping and marathons.
Also are the lighter/more expensive tents less durable than the heavier/less expensive tents e.g laser competion 2 vs zephyros 2. And would they cope with mountain top winds well compared to the solar competition. For the money of a tent I really want to get it right. Increasingly though I think someone will need to hold me by the hand and pick a tent for me!
Think i exaggerated when I said short story
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Topic: Tents - too much choice! (Read 22505 times)