Quote: Originally posted by BlueC on 13/5/2009
Thanks for all your input here folks - it's interesting to hear your thoughts on this. Anyone wishing to defend fibreglass construction? Any more in the "steel" camp?
Right now I'm seriously leaning away from fibreglass construction because I fear I'd only do the same as mrneillees and end up being dissatisfied and flogging it after a couple of uses.
Hartley Hare, that Cabanon Biscaya 440 looks like one serious tent! Bit outside my price-range though :)
Colorado, Carolina and Minnesota are front runners for me now.
Hi BlueC
When you mention the Colorado do you mean the Outwell or the Vango?
If it's the Outwell then, although it has steel poles, personally I don't think it performs very well in the wind. It's not too bad if you're backside into the wind but any kind of sidewind and there is a lot of strain on the guys as the fibreglass roof poles allow the side to be pushed over when they flex. The design of it is such that it is in no way self supporting relying totally on guys.
A couple of years ago all four steel poles down one side bent in the same place, sheared and snapped in a bad storm. Admittedly it was extreme weather and 80% of the tents on site were flattened in the space of ten minutes but goes to show...even steel poles will bend/snap given the right conditions/poor design.
So I wouldn't discount fibreglass no. Personally I would go for a canvas or polycotton as these invariably do better in bad weather.
After that storm I decided to get a tent the same shape / material as the few that were left standing....hence the tent in my profile pic. I did however bother to get replacement poles for the colorado... as a fairweather tent it gives me loads of space for long trips and I can put it up on my own.
If it's not the Outwell Colorado please ignore the above!
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Topic: Steel vs Fibreglass construction
