Replacement tent

Paul said:

For several years, my wife and I have been using an ageing Saunders
Jetpacker plus for our annual long walks in the Pyrenees and Alps. This has
served well and, although tiny, has the advantage of weighing only 1.7kg.
The time has come to find a replacement. We would like something with more
interior space without too much of a weight penalty.

Saunders Spacepacker Mk 1 is an obvious start. Same basic materials as
the JetPacker but a single hoop which gives you both space to sit up /at
the same time/ and a good size porch with two doors each so you can
store kit and not stand in it when entering or leaving.

And its quoted weight is 1.9 Kg. Mine weighed 1.8 on the kitchen scales
with everything included.

The Mk2 has bigger porches but is heavier. The SP+ Mk 1 is bigger
overall but is a bit heavier as a result.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

I have viewed threads on other sites regarding the weight of tents and
it appears that the weight shown is maybe not as accurate as it should
be.

I have not tried weighing gear before, other than on courses weighing
my loaded sack, and just wonder how accurate they actullay are. Maybe
it is time to test weigh gear?

www.caledoniahilltreks.com

Lindsay said:

I have viewed threads on other sites regarding the weight of tents and
it appears that the weight shown is maybe not as accurate as it should
be.

I have not tried weighing gear before, other than on courses weighing
my loaded sack, and just wonder how accurate they actullay are. Maybe
it is time to test weigh gear?

How much does a tent weigh... seems obvious, but is it? Aside from a
natural variability due to variability in the fabric supplied and the
tolerances to which it's cut, exactly what one weighs is subject to some
fiddling, some justifiable and some not.

Anyone who doesn't include pegs at all and doesn't point that out is
basically lying, but do you include the number you'd use to peg out for
a serious storm, or just the basic number required to pitch? The two
can be quite different, and both are reasonable to quote. If you
include pegs, do you use heavy snow stakes or very light skewers? The
latter are lighter so give a better number, and are the best thing to
use in stony ground, but they're useless in other applications... Also,
do you include spare pole sections and the like?

The key thing, I think, is find out exactly what the manufacturer means
when they tell you what a tent weighs...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Light Wave Trek G1

We sell them in the shop and I am the proud owner of one. It's the best
bloody tent I have ever seen/put up. Weighs about 1.9kg and will sleep two
quite happily. Lovely quality and very very nice piece of kit.

Rich
"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For several years, my wife and I have been using an ageing Saunders
Jetpacker plus for our annual long walks in the Pyrenees and Alps. This
has
served well and, although tiny, has the advantage of weighing only 1.7kg.
The time has come to find a replacement. We would like something with more
interior space without too much of a weight penalty. The Terra Nova Laser
Large would seem to fit the bill perfectly at 1.79kg. (The Laser looks a
little too cramped and unstable). Does anyone have any experience of this
tent?

Alternatively, we looked at the Mountain Equipment Dragonfly. This looks
like an excellent tent but it would cancel out all the work we have been
doing to reduce our pack weight - The Dragonfly is almost 0.5kg heavier
than
the Jetpacker. Incidentally, I have noticed that the Dragonfly has been
variously advertised as weighing 1.95kg and 2.1kg. Does anyone who has the
tent know the true weight? Not much difference, I know, but every gram
counts......

Your thoughts much appreciated

Paul

Paul said:

Alternatively, we looked at the Mountain Equipment Dragonfly. This looks
like an excellent tent but it would cancel out all the work we have been
doing to reduce our pack weight - The Dragonfly is almost 0.5kg heavier than
the Jetpacker. Incidentally, I have noticed that the Dragonfly has been
variously advertised as weighing 1.95kg and 2.1kg. Does anyone who has the
tent know the true weight? Not much difference, I know, but every gram
counts......

The Dragonfly looks good to me; Peewiglet has been using one.

But have a look at the Helleberg Nallo. This is a superbly built tent, is
lightweight and has more than enough room for two. I regularly use mine in
the Pyrenees and find it just about perfect!

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:50:46 +0100, "Paul" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Alternatively, we looked at the Mountain Equipment Dragonfly. This looks
like an excellent tent but it would cancel out all the work we have been
doing to reduce our pack weight - The Dragonfly is almost 0.5kg heavier than
the Jetpacker. Incidentally, I have noticed that the Dragonfly has been
variously advertised as weighing 1.95kg and 2.1kg. Does anyone who has the
tent know the true weight? Not much difference, I know, but every gram
counts......

I've got the Dragonfly - the standard rather than extended porch
version - and I know it weighs 2.1kg (without repair kit) because I
weighed it myself.

I like it very much indeed. I've just used it for a 2 weeks solo
backpack across Scotland. It was stable and spacious, and a breeze to
put up. The anti-condensation design worked very effectively. I've
also used it for weekend car-camping expeditions 4 or so times now,
and I've not had a condensation problem on any occasion, even though
I've had some very still nights.

Naturally it's a matter for you, but if the tent is the only component
that's increasing in weight then how much difference d'you think 400g
is really going to make, spread between 2 of you?

Best of luck with whatever you choose :-)

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 19:24:37 GMT, Andy Howell
<andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

The Dragonfly looks good to me; Peewiglet has been using one.

But have a look at the Helleberg Nallo. This is a superbly built tent, is
lightweight and has more than enough room for two. I regularly use mine in
the Pyrenees and find it just about perfect!

Seconded. If I didn't have the Dragonfly then I'd have looked very
closely at the Nallo. It seems to win most 2 person tent awards going.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:46:38 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

I've got the Dragonfly - the standard rather than extended porch
version - and I know it weighs 2.1kg (without repair kit) because I
weighed it myself.

p.s. I should have pointed out that a friend of mine has the extended
porch version. I've only used mine solo, but he's used his with
someone else, and he reckons that if two people are going to use the
Dragonfly then the extended porch is the way to go.

Based on my own experience, I suspect that's right. You could manage
with just the standard version, but the porch isn't enormous and you
might struggle to accommodate to packs. If you do go for the extended
porch then it'll be heavier than 2.1kg - I'm not sure by how much.
Check the Nallo again...

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:50:55 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:46:38 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>
wrote:

Quoted message said:

If you do go for the extended porch [Dragonfly] then it'll be heavier than 2.1kg
- I'm not sure by how much. Check the Nallo again...

Best compare the porch dimensions as well as the weight. My Mk1 Nallo2
is a great tent for backpacking but the single porch isn't
particularly generous for two if you're on an extended trip with large
packs.

Al
--
[This space intentionally left blank]

Paul said:

Thanks very much for all your replies. Both the Dragonfly and the
Spacepacker look good bets. The Nallo is too expensive. However, I keep
coming back to the question of weight. This year we will be tackling part of
the Pyrenean High Level Route and will need to carry ice axe and crampons
which adds to the load. I really don't want to add any unnecessary weight
which is why I'm seriously considering the Laser Large (only fractionally
heavier than my current tent - the Jetpacker plus). Check out:
ttp://www.outdoorfocus.co.uk/low_alloy_tents/Terra_Nova/lasers/Terra_Nova_La
serlarge1_info.htm

Paul, what time of the year are you doing the HRP? You should be OK without
an axe at the height of the summer.

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

"Peewiglet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 22:47:25 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>
wrote:

NB: for the avoidance of doubt - it was the Laser Large 1 that they
reviewed.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

Thanks, that's really very helpful - much appreciated. But still not
decided! The problem is that you can so rarely see tents pitched in the
flesh before buying. It seems a really hit or miss affair.

Thanks again

Paul