Blacks Streamline Tent Reviews and Details

Tent Reviews: Blacks Streamline

Tent and Awning Reviews Index > Other > Blacks Streamline Reviews

Current Model?
Berths:
Weight:
RRP on date added:
Bedroom inners:
Living area groundsheet:
Pitching Style:

Discontinued
2 (more 2 berth tents)
4.00 KG

1
N/A
Fly first

Average User Rating:

8.33/10 from 3 reviews

Viewed: 6090 times

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3 Reviews of the Blacks Streamline

By: TimMul Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2001 Rating: 9 from 10

Had mine from new (1981) and used it last in 2016). I like the practicality of the tent. What appealed to me (back in 1981) was that you could put the outer up before the inner, unlike ridge tents and thus you could erect this quickly and get you and your gear inside if it was raining. Also, the groundsheet was (sewn in) of a thicker, better quality than the previous tent I'd owned. I liked the fact that you could guy line the sides of the tent out to prevent the tent flapping about in the wind (or like my previous ridge tent, blowing in and out in winds). It has a decent sized front area for cooking etc in and especially good is the fact that you can unzip either sides of the front of the tent depending on the direction of the wind, or roll up the centre section leaving the two sides in place; its very versatile and I haven't seen any equally versatile system on new tents (though I haven't looked that hard!) Also the flysheet colour blends in well when camping off the beaten track. It isn't overly heavy for either backpacking or cycle camping. Ive seen the pics of the tent where the inside has been erected first - I have always put the outer up first, then unrolled the inner into position on the ground inside the tent, pegging it down and kneeling on the inner whilst pegging it down, attaching the rear rubber suspension to the back pole, hooking the side straps to the rings on the inside of the flysheet and finally attaching the two rubber suspensions hooks to the top of the two vertical front poles.

In 1981 I wanted a Vango Force 10 and this Blacks tent was sort of a second choice (I couldn't afford the Vango). However, I recently picked up a Vango from a car boot sale and whilst it is exceptional quality, its bright orange and weighs a ton, so for me, in buying the Blacks Streamline, I inadvertently made the right choice.

To me, its, practical, versatile, well made from decent materials, not too heavy and the outer colour dosent advertise your presence. All in all a well made, well designed tent.

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By: Kwacker Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2001 Rating: 8 from 10

I have now received and examined the tent.

The tent and flysheet fabrics are very good quality being very strong. However the coating on the flysheet is breaking down. This is shown on one of the photos. If you see this pattern on a flysheet it will not be suitable for use in heavy wind driven rain. The force of the wind stretches the fabric which opens gaps between the fibres and allows the water to be blown through. Usually you can reproof the fly to keep out ordinary rain but you will probably have to frequently renew the proofing.

There was something radically wrong with the tent suspension system when I got the tent. Either there was something missing or the rubber rings were not correct for the suspension. As supplied the rubber rings were fixed to the aluminium tent O rings. There was an S hook at the other end and this hooked over the pole spikes. The makers literature said that the outfit could be erected first but the arrangement meant the S hook had to be fitted to the pole spike before the flysheet was put over it. The arrangement meant erection was very difficult. The tension on the poles was abnormal causing the poles to slip off the stub plates and embed themselves in the ground.

I went into my fittings box and found three rubber rings which I though would work. I prefer to be able to drop my tent whilst the fly is left standing so I got a loop of tape, fitted the ring through it, fitted an eyelet to the looped tape and then fitted an S hook to the rubber ring. The eyelet was to fit over the pole spike and the S hook to attach to the aluminium tent O ring. However the O ring would eventually fail and you would need tools to fit another rubber ring and it would not necessarily be the right size or tension for the tent. I then got straps with buckles and fitted eyelets to them. This meant that varying size o rings with different tensions could be fitted to the straps which could then be adjusted to tension the tent correctly.

When you erect the outfit the flysheet hides whatever is happening inside. When I originally erected it the rear suspension had snapped and I did not know until I looked between the tent and fly from the open front. The tension had been that great that the rear pole had twisted so that instead of being vertical it was sloping.

I made some temporary guys so I could erect the tent and check the suspension tension. It works fine and providing you had a spare O ring could be repaired in the field without tools. Ideally it should have an S ring fitted but in an emergency you could loop the O ring onto the tent aluminium O ring.

The tent is adequately guyed and looks as if it should withstand wind from any direction however this is based solely on my examination of it and is not based on seeing it in those conditions.

The tent is also well ventilated. There is a permanent vent at the top of the door. The outer doors can be left open with inner gauze doors being left shut to keep insects out. There is a triangular opening at the back of the tent to allow access to a small storage area and to improve through ventilation. However, the flysheet has no ventilation at all so moist air from the tent is likely to condense badly on the inside of the flysheet.

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By: Kwacker Reason: Other Made in: 2001 Rating: 8 from 10

I will leave a full preview after I receive the tent. In the meantime the tent was made in 1979 and 1980 but shortly after that Blacks stopped making their tents and sourced them from the far east.

I started lightweight camping in the 1950s with a Blacks Tinker tent. During its use I came up with a tent design very similar to the streamline. I have bought the streamline to see whether my design was practical.

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Manufacturer's Description

Classic Blacks canvas tent, which sleeps two. Dated from the 1970s - only in production for about a year.

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