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Topic: Canvas? Lightweight?

Caligula

23/6/2016 at 3:08pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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The two don't immediately go together, but for those that insist on marrying the two, have a look at the Polish Army Lavvu, also reviewed with pictures on site.
Then add, "dirt cheap" to the mix.

They work, very well, but think in terms of 1 man tent?

Hacksaw Bob

23/6/2016 at 3:16pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Various tents

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keai7

23/6/2016 at 3:59pm
Location: Zurich
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Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 23/6/2016
The two don't immediately go together, but for those that insist on marrying the two, have a look at the Polish Army Lavvu, also reviewed with pictures on site.
Then add, "dirt cheap" to the mix.

They work, very well, but think in terms of 1 man tent?

Exactly what I have been hunting for 2 weeks now. Is there truly no family tent that ticks both the boxes? I guess it would be too much to throw "inflatable" into the pot?

PaulaMB

05/7/2016 at 1:28pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Outfit: Albatros-Safir 7-Trisar 3-Octapeak F8

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I think there is ..... our tentipi is canvas and relatively lightweight but of course it is £££££££ - but for us a tent that we will keep forever.

My husband is so sold on it that he thinks we should buy the Onyx light (not canvas) for cycle touring but I am not sure I am ready to go down that route yet (a lot of money when I prefer hostels and B&Bs every other night).

Caligula

13/11/2016 at 2:28pm
Location: Suffolk
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Indeed as PaulaMB says there are family tents of canvas/polycotton, but they do cost, such Robens Fairbanks but we are out of backpacking realms?
What about F10, legendary design, still being made in polycotton? Or BCT Taskforce?

2nd hand /vintage, again F10's are available; I use a 50 year old Blacks Good Companions, or just on my own, the Lavvu. Of air beam canvas tents, I know nothing, except that they do exist...........

Ewen c

13/11/2016 at 3:17pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

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Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 13/11/2016
Indeed as PaulaMB says there are family tents of canvas/polycotton, but they do cost, such Robens Fairbanks but we are out of backpacking realms?
What about F10, legendary design, still being made in polycotton? Or BCT Taskforce?

2nd hand /vintage, again F10's are available; I use a 50 year old Blacks Good Companions, or just on my own, the Lavvu. Of air beam canvas tents, I know nothing, except that they do exist...........

Karsten is the ultimate canvas inflatable but not light. They also do fishing bivvy tents which are lighter.
I have backpacked with a force ten mk3 but wouldn't now and especially wouldn't with a wet force 10. Double the weight.
I was looking at the BCT taskforce tents, even got material samples but it doesn't hack as a family tent due to headroom. I ended up with a Dutch pyramid and will probably end up with a hernia to go with it....

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Caligula

16/11/2016 at 8:57pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Trying to bring it closer to back pack-able canvas or polycotton tents: another slightly lighter but again very expensive option might be an ESVO Eskimo?

Going cheap, some people have linked two lavvus with a tarp.
Heavier (away again from back packable?) a 3metre bell tent?

Caligula

20/11/2016 at 10:33am
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Developing this a bit further, does anyone here go backpacking with military surplus gear (such as the lavvu, discussed above) but also using surplus sleeping bags, rucksacks etc?

The advantages are that some quite excellent gear is available for peanuts, but the downside may be it does come out heavier and bulkier.

For example to kick things off:
The US ALICE pack (circa £40)
The Czech Army Bedroll (£10-£15)
M90 pattern winter sleeping bags(British and Dutch Military)(£20-£25)
Swedish Army LK series rucksacks (£13-£30)
Polish Army Lavvu tent (£20)
Dutch Army pup tent (£35)...... and so the list goes on.

Are people finding the efficacy and cost outweighs the weight penalties to use this stuff?

Ewen c

20/11/2016 at 11:18am
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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I have the Soldier 95 arctic sleeping bag and the Dutch M90 winter bag with clip on bivvy bag. I do not use them for backpacking because of the bulk. They take up half a 60 litre rucsac.The military do bombproof but they don't do lightweight. A dutch army issue hooped bivvy is the dogs proverbials though.
I would recommend any of the Berghaus military issue rucsacs. They are completely different in terms of quality compared to civvy Berghaus bergens. Berghaus like karrimor are cheap tat these days except for the aforementioned.
There is also a lot of rubbish floating around looking for a Walt or a Bear Ghrylls wannabe. Just put a bag or tent in desert camo with the tag military or special forces on it and someone is going to buy it as a bug out bag or think they can backpack with it. Some of these are
the most anatomically imperfect things out. They make the old A frame canvas bergen look like a modern ergonomical masterpiece........

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

eel28

03/12/2016 at 11:17am
Location: Letchworth Garden City
Outfit: Conway Cruiser

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I have one of these, well at least I did have a whole one until some mice took an interest in one half as it was drying in the shed!

Anyhow, I did get to use it twice. The first time I used it straight out of the bag and found it rather cosy even just for myself.

The next time I used it, I used three adjustable washing line props to create a teepee shape and draped the tent over that. After a bit of fettling to get it to fit, it made the whole thing feel so much bigger inside. Obviously not such a good plan for backpacking though!

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Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional

Caligula

10/12/2016 at 11:14am
Location: Suffolk
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Did you try just TWO poles, and hang the tent within?
Marvellous!

kavsak

17/12/2016 at 3:05pm
Location: Hertfordshire
Outfit: Six Moon Designs Deschutes Tarp + feet

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For those who might be worried about the weight, the Luxe Sil HexPeak ticks all the boxes. 1.4kg for a genuine 2 man version. There is also a 4. Not sure if bigger are available.

BackpackingLight.co.uk or Luxe.de are the only suppliers as far as I know. Not ridiculously expensive either.

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If you don't need to wear ALL of your clothes at least once to keep warm, you've brought too many.

Caligula

26/12/2016 at 9:55pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Quote: Originally posted by kavsak on 17/12/2016
For those who might be worried about the weight, the Luxe Sil HexPeak ticks all the boxes. 1.4kg for a genuine 2 man version. There is also a 4. Not sure if bigger are available.

BackpackingLight.co.uk or Luxe.de are the only suppliers as far as I know. Not ridiculously expensive either.

Looks nice, but its nylon...........

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