backpacking tent

On Sun, 9 May 2004 19:59:30 +0100, "idris" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Looking for a two man backpacking tent.

Would a North Face Tadpole23 be a good choice?

Can't afford a Hilleberg Nallo2.

Gerald

Have a look at a Coleman Cobra 2 £69.99 An amazing tent for
the price. Most of the other tent manufacturers take
advantage of the "must have the names" brigade and over
price their products. Coleman sell a lot more than the rest,
so can keep their prices down.

Sleeps2 Flysheet: Rip Stop Polyester 75D, 185T Fabric,
5000mm PU coating Polyurethane coating on polyester flysheet
repels water to keep you dry Taped seams prevent water from
seeping through Covered zips avoid water leakage Reinforced
stress points to help your tent last longer Features the
Variflow system as explained below: Controls tent air flow
and temperature by regulating the intake of cold air through
2 triangular mesh intakes positioned at opposite corners of
the tent The triangular mesh intakes are covered with an
elasticated shutter which can be opened and closed by means
of a control cord inside the tent Flysheet and inner are
both made of fire retardent materials Inner tent: Breathable
nylon 190T and 'no see um' mesh Groundsheet: nylon 190T,
7000mm PU coating Loft pocket Comes with a heavy duty PVC
carry bag PLUS a nylon bag Repair kit provided Packsize only
57 x 18cm Weighs only 2.4kg

Norman

idris said:

Looking for a two man backpacking tent.

Would a North Face Tadpole23 be a good choice?

Can't afford a Hilleberg Nallo2.

Gerald

Like quite a few newish lightweight tents (mostly the
American ones?), I think the tadpole uses alot of mesh on
the inner. This gets the weight down and helps with
condensation but might make the tent a bit colder, perhaps
more draughty inside. I don't know for sure as I haven't
used any of them.

Dean

idris said:

Looking for a two man backpacking tent.

Would a North Face Tadpole23 be a good choice?

Can't afford a Hilleberg Nallo2.

Buy two Argos Pro-Action 1 man tents. ;-)

Paul
--
wilderness-wales.co.ukwilderness-wales.co.ukOpen ↗
wildwales.fsnet.co.ukwildwales.fsnet.co.ukOpen ↗
photosig.comuserphotosOpen ↗

"idris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for a two man backpacking tent.

Would a North Face Tadpole23 be a good choice?

Can't afford a Hilleberg Nallo2.

Gerald

I've been enjoying the rather 'sane' going on's on this
ng, while also researching my next tent. Admittedly, y'all
talk funny, and sometimes I have no idea what you're
talking about...

Anyway, for some time now I've been waffling as to whether
to sell the farm and get a Hilleberg. That aside, I was
amazed to see a 'euro style' coleman (which I think of as a
NAmerican 'brand'😉! It really does bring me to wonder why
there's still such a difference between the two sides of the
ocean - tunnel vs. dome. I've even seen nice euro-ish tents
- Marmot (Mach2), MH (mountain wing), and TNF (Rainer) - but
they all seem to flop over here (no pun intended). Is it
just the rainy clime vs sunny skies phenomenom? I'll grant
that the very reason I'm shopping for a tunnel is because
I'm tired of setting up in rain! Maybe we're obsessed with
self-supporting tents over here - or just too lazy to
properly stake-out our tents? Funny thing is, for years I
pitched my TNF Mountain a-frame, and I never really thought
it was that big a deal. I still spend just as much time
fussing over additional stakes to pull the fly on my
geodesic taught and away from the inner.

Go figger' a

"Dean" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Like quite a few newish lightweight tents (mostly the
American ones?), I think the tadpole uses alot of mesh on
the inner. This gets the weight

down

Quoted message said:

and helps with condensation but might make the tent a bit
colder, perhaps more draughty inside. I don't know for
sure as I haven't used any of

them.

I've got a tent where the inner has large mesh panels at the
head end and smaller ones at the other. I've camped in it in
high winds and have only noticed the odd very light draught.
Nothing to make me think it's a bad choice in that respect.
If you have a full mesh inner it might let condensation
drips off the underside of the flysheet in more easily but
I've yet to experience any condensation in it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Looking for a two man backpacking tent.

Quoted message said:

Have a look at a Coleman Cobra 2 £69.99 An amazing tent
for the price. Most of the other tent manufacturers take
advantage of the "must have the names" brigade and over
price their products. Coleman sell a lot more than the
rest, so can keep their prices down.

I have a Coleman Cobra 2, and it is indeed an excellent
tent, especially considering the price.

I would definitely recommend it.

Regards,

Michael S

Seconded. Regards, Kenneth.

"Michael S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Looking for a two man backpacking tent.

Quoted message said:

Have a look at a Coleman Cobra 2 £69.99 An amazing tent
for the price. Most of the other tent manufacturers take
advantage of the "must have the names" brigade and over
price their products. Coleman sell a lot more than the
rest, so can keep their prices down.

I have a Coleman Cobra 2, and it is indeed an excellent
tent, especially considering the price.

I would definitely recommend it.

Regards,

Michael S

"Kenneth Miles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Seconded. Regards, Kenneth.

"Michael S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Have a look at a Coleman Cobra 2 £69.99

I have a Coleman Cobra 2, and it is indeed an excellent
tent, especially considering the price.

I would definitely recommend it.

Regards,

Michael S

Thirded Mark

"Stuart Robinson"
<[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Sorry to butt in on this thread (I've been reading this
group for about 3 months now!); is this cobra2 tent
acceptable for snow/drizzle/winter conditions?

There's a brief review of a the cobra 2 along with a few
other 2 man tunnel tents in this month's tgo mag. Mr.
Townsend doesn't rate it much for wet weather mostly due to
mesh panels and inner first pitching and being less stable
than others in the test but none of the others are in the
same price bracket.

Stuart Robinson said:

AndyP said:

There's a brief review of a the cobra 2 along with a few
other 2 man tunnel tents in this month's tgo mag. Mr.
Townsend doesn't rate it much for wet weather mostly due
to mesh panels and inner first pitching and being less
stable than others in the test but none of the others are
in the same price bracket.

Cheers I'll have a look at that.

Stu

--
Stuart Robinson

Strange, IME I have found most tents can cope with heavy
rain and wind if erected properly and with the addition of
some stones placed strategically on the tent pegs. Erected
edge ways on to the prevailing wind or in a sheltered spot
is an additional safe move. Most folk only sleep in their
tents and generally with the weight of people on the
groundsheet it would take a strong wind to destroy a tent.
Tents are more vunerable if empty, thus if left up some
thought needs to go into the selection of the pitch site.

I have used Vango Mk3, Saunders BaseCamp, Army Surplus
ridge, Terra Super Nova and Cobra tents where the prices
have varied from over £400 down to the Cobra at a penny
short of £70. Never been wet in any of them. All have had
their wind durability tested and passed. When windy, the
noise inside a tent can be disconcerting and tends to give
the impression of a much stronger wind force than is
actually present.

I suppose it is a bit like any other purchase, you make your
choice, pay the bill and suffer the consequences if you make
a mistake.

Norman

"Norman" <[email hidden].> wrote

Quoted message said:

Strange, IME I have found most tents can cope with heavy
rain and wind if erected properly and with the addition of
some stones placed strategically on the tent pegs.

True enough I think. I always do a bit of tent watching on
campsites if it's particularly windy and having seen
expensive tents fairing worse than cheaper ones alongside
them it's obvious that good pitching is more important than
just buying a good tent. The fun you can have when you're
snug and cosy in a camper van betting that the tent on the
next pitch won't spring back up next time its pole gets
flattened to the floor is tremendous by the way.

Stuart Robinson said:

Sorry to butt in on this thread

No need to apologise.

Quoted message said:

(I've been reading this group for about 3 months now!);

Well that's okay then.

Quoted message said:

is this cobra2 tent acceptable for snow/drizzle/winter
conditions?

After quite some experience in these matters I'm of the
opinion that British winters aren't that harsh (Scotland
possibly excepted - I'll defer to greater experience of
matters further north). Most half decent tents will do in
winter conditions;

Disclaimers;

1. In strong winds, pitch in a reasonably sheltered
position. The very best tents might be able to stand the
worst of a winter gale, but at least give a cheaper tent
a fighting chance by pitching in a sheltered spot. It's
not that hard to find a pitch out of the wind.

2. Cold. In cold weather it's going to be cold. Doesn't
matter what tent you've got, it won't keep out the cold.
The wind yes, but not the cold. Tents don't come with
central heating. Tents don't keep you warm, they just
protect you from wind chill. Good sleeping bags and warm
clothing protect you from cold. Pitch your tent in a
sensible spot, eat a nice hot curry and get in your thick
down sleeping bag. Nothing could be more pleasant. Wear
some earplugs if the howling wind bothers you.

Quoted message said:

... I'm also looking for a tent you see... and would like
to reassure my partner she won't freeze! (she's not
conviced on this whole walking/camping thing yet).

Buy her an expensive expedition grade down sleeping bag and
she'll never complain. Well she might actually complain that
it's too hot...

It'll cost you though.

Paul
--
wilderness-wales.co.ukwilderness-wales.co.ukOpen ↗
wildwales.fsnet.co.ukwildwales.fsnet.co.ukOpen ↗
photosig.comuserphotosOpen ↗

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

2. Cold. In cold weather it's going to be cold. Doesn't
matter what tent you've got, it won't keep out the
cold. The wind yes, but not the cold. Tents don't come
with central heating. Tents don't keep you warm, they
just protect you from wind chill.

I think a tent will warm up from your body heat to some
extent if there's not much airflow through it. I remember
putting mine up indoors for the first time. After lying in
it for a bit pretending I was up a hill somewhere there was
quite a noticeable difference in temperature when I got back
out. A small tent should be warmer than a large one.

AndyP said:

I think a tent will warm up from your body heat to some
extent if there's not much airflow through it. I remember
putting mine up indoors for the first time. After lying
in it for a bit pretending I was up a hill somewhere
there was quite a noticeable difference in temperature
when I got back out. A small tent should be warmer than a
large one.

Not many drafts in the living room mind ...

--
Andy Howell Birmingham, UK

AndyP said:

Quoted message said:

Tents don't keep you warm, they just protect you from
wind chill.

I think a tent will warm up from your body heat to some
extent if there's not much airflow through it.

Yes, but the airflow is the whole point. Without that the
tent gets very soggy inside.

Quoted message said:

A small tent should be warmer than a large one.

Yes, I've noticed that, but the extra heat doesn't make a
lot of difference in sub-zero conditions.

Paul
--
wilderness-wales.co.ukwilderness-wales.co.ukOpen ↗
wildwales.fsnet.co.ukwildwales.fsnet.co.ukOpen ↗
photosig.comuserphotosOpen ↗

"Andy Howell" <andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think a tent will warm up from your body heat to some
extent if

there's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not much airflow through it. I remember putting mine up
indoors for the first time. After lying in it for a bit
pretending I was up a hill somewhere there was quite a
noticeable difference in temperature when I

got

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

back out. A small tent should be warmer than a
large one.

Quoted message said:

Not many drafts in the living room mind ...

Just one of the many advantages of camping indoors. Don't
see why people feel the need to go out in the wilds to enjoy
their hobby.

AndyP said:

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. Cold. In cold weather it's going to be cold. Doesn't
matter what tent you've got, it won't keep out the
cold. The wind yes, but not the cold. Tents don't come
with central heating. Tents don't keep you warm, they
just protect you from wind chill.

Quoted message said:

I think a tent will warm up from your body heat to some
extent if there's not much airflow through it. I remember
putting mine up indoors for the first time. After lying in
it for a bit pretending I was up a hill somewhere there was
quite a noticeable difference in temperature when I got
back out. A small tent should be warmer than a large one.

By way of cossetting a wife who wasn't too sure about
camping I lit a candle lantern in the tent half an hour
before we retired to bed, and zipped the whole tent up. Made
quite a noticeable difference.

BTW, wife pleasantly surprised that sleeping on the ground
didn't hurt and that she was quite warm enough (thermarest
and 3-season down bag, wearing clothes in bed) even on the
night when dew froze solid on the outside of the tent.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
["]http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

On 24/5/04 12:32 pm, in article [email hidden], "Chris

Malcolm said:

BTW, wife pleasantly surprised that sleeping on the ground
didn't hurt and that she was quite warm enough (thermarest
and 3-season down bag, wearing clothes in bed) even on the
night when dew froze solid on the outside of the tent.

That's it - you're set for life mow :-)

--
Andy Howell Birmingham, UK