I have just taken my Orchy 500 (2009 model) out on its first trip to Sussex and the other couple with us had a Orchy 600 (2008 model). The poles are thicker and the tent the 600 is wider and not as dome shaped. The 500 is noticable smaller than the 600 i.e. I would say its at least half a metre narrower if not more. The 500 poles are thicker at the bottom and thinner in the middle hence giving more support at the sides of the dome.
We had a mixture of weather from windy and rainy to sunny and the tent performed fine. The wind shifted too to come along the back corner and side of the tent hence not ideal position for wind and the tent was fine. The only thing we did is buy some proper pegs for the guys and key pitching points on the tent as the pegs that come with it are not great. I went round the tent the morning after our storm and all seemed fine - no issues at all and the tent does seem solid - i.e. exerting some force at various areas the tent doesn't buckle.
Larger tents do catch the wind more for obvious reasons and you could notice the wind much more than my previous smaller dome tent. If I was going to camp somewhere I knew the weather was really bad I wouldnt take a large tent full stop as your asking for problems - in those weather conditions you need a tent closer to the ground. You cant always predict the weather but im happy with how this tent performed in bad weather and would feel fine in any future storms with it.
I would suggest that if this is pitched correctly and the guys are pegged at the correct angles (the guys of the main dome should follow the lines of the poles, the guys off the front porch pole should be out towards the front of the tent, the guys at the back of the tent (off the bedroom) should be towards the rear) then this tent is as solid as any other tent of this size.
Post last edited on 01/09/2009 12:51:51
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