Just bought a Soloist in their sale , under £120 with added footprint. Set it up in the house, seems pretty good quality and easy to put up. For the small size and weight is roomy enough and I can sit up inside. Taller people than 5'8" likely to need the XL.
Also got sleeping bag and light inflatable mat in the sale as well.
All seems well made and good value.
Nice enough weight but inner first pitch which is a faff when it rains. Still at that price I wouldn't be complaining.
------------- 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
True, but It is very quick to pitch so shouldn't be too much of a problem unless absolutely teeming down!
Also I got it with the footprint, so could pitch outer first using the footprint then hook the inner inside.
I've managed fine with inner first geodesics & a MSR Hubba even in pouring rain. I normally use 'all in one' tents where inner & fly can go up together. In winter the fly is normally wet with condensation & I still pack it all up together & the inner is then wet for the next night. A quick wipe with a buff or similar if it's really bad is all that's required. I rarely need to. Never had an inner first tent be any worse. I use down gear in the tent - not a problem.
Fly first means a waterproof place to put your gear as soon as the fly is up. In the morning you can take the inner down in the dry and stow it separate from the fly.
I usually find fly first better in the wind as well.
It is all a matter of personal taste.
------------- 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
The Vango is quite heavy at over 3.5 kilos, at that weight you might look at the Vango omega 2.5 a great tent with a two side door opening, one fully with mesh outer door, plenty of space and very stable, stands up to heavy weather. Alternatively you could opt for the much lighter but smaller Force-Ten-F10-Xenon-UL-2-Tent at just over two
KG, better still get the shorter version at under two KG, I've the older Force Tent nitrolight 200+, exquisite in its design plenty of room and for weight incredible space, downside is you can see thought it so be careful when using the light at night. To my mind best mountain tent out there, very rigid and stable
A real 2 person but lighter than my one man. Solid inner better suited to UK/Ireland weather. Fly first, fly only or inner only. 4 season and lots of space in the vestibules.
I'm keeping the helium but will get rid of other 1 and 2 man tents.
Now to wait for delivery and the customs charges
------------- 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
I finally got my Dan Durston xmid 2v2 with the solid inner. I did have to pay a rather large sum to customs and revenue but it was worth it.
It weighs 1.2 kg and is a true 2 person tent, not a top to tail or 1.5. Material is sil poly and an inner more suited to our weather with less mesh and more solid parts to deflect wind. Vestibule are a good size and it has two entrances and two vents. Zips are waterproof and all stressed areas are reinforced. There are loops for extra guys and for extra pegging points. It stands up with only the 4 corners pegged out. The doors are rolled up and held I place by magnets and the mesh looks midge proof.
I did replace the corner pegging points with longer guys to suit a more varied pitch and will also put longer shock cord on to the loops for the inner attachment to the trekking poles. This is due to the design of my Poles.
I will be taking it up the hills next week to test it out but I did do a test pitch to attach the inner etc. It went up in less than 5 minutes.
Unfortunately I have exceeded my limit for photos so will put a review up with photos there.
Post last edited on 04/08/2022 13:38:41
------------- 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
------------- 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
------------- 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