UKH

So planning a winter trip on a budget. Needs to be geodesic, and hold up to low temps/high winds (xc skiing in the arctic).

Shortlist:

Simond Makalu: https://www.simond.com/makalu-s2-tent-id_8319673

Pros- Cheap, has a snowskirt, lightweight.
Cons- small interior. Only semi-geodesic.

Berghaus Grampian 2: https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/246609-berghaus-grampian-2-person-tent-d...

Pros- with sale even cheaper than Simond. Fully geodesic.. Slightly larger too (10cm).
Cons - doesn't have a snowskirt. 1kg heavier!!

Any other suggestions?

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:
I'll sell you a second hand ortik jetstream 2 in good nick apart from one replacement pole for a hundred.

Pros: snowskirt, fully geodesic, fairly bombproof.
Cons: Can't reasonably be described as light, hard to get spares as company seems to have disappeared.

In reply to davidbeynon:

Interesting tent design! Appreciate the offer but this is one of those things I'd kinda prefer new. Out of curiosity, how did you break the pole?

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

It was the standard fatigue failure and split at one of the joints that all aluminium poles suffer from. Unfortunately the company had vanished and getting a spare section was difficult - 20 inch dac featherlite poles aren't common on european tents.

It also turned out that DAC have very slightly changed the inner radius of their 8.84mm featherlite pole sections so I had to get an ultra quasar pole and cut to length rather than just buy a single section. On the plus side it left me with lots of spares for the other poles.

The main reason I am considering letting it go is that I have a toddler and no real chance of going on the sort of trips that require a geodesic bomb shelter for the next few years. My camping is moving in the direction of tipis and civilised family sites with cake shops.

In reply to davidbeynon:

The horror, the horror.........

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

http://www.huskyeu.eu/extreme-tent-fighter-3-4-red-723

Anyone tried Husky tents? This breaks my budget by £50 but looks pretty nice. Heavy though but tonnes of room... Ahh someone please invent the perfect tent so I don't have to make pros and cons lists!!

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

Husky bump

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

I've used the Simond one. Was cert impressed. They also do a 3 man fully geodesic one.
The berghaus one is just a blacks tent with a berghaus badge stuck on it.

In reply to Andypeak:


Agreed. I have the Blacks Octane 3 tunnel tent. There's a Berghaus branded one that's almost identical.

It's not a bad tent, though; decent enough design, materials & build. I'd prefer that it had a rear vent to allow a through-flow of air. I had my doubts about the 'perpendicular style' pole hoops, as I'm sure pre-bent sections must be weaker (stress concentrating points).

https://m.blacks.co.uk/product/yellow-blacks-octane-3-man-tent/112872/
https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/tents-camping/tents/3-person-tents/br:be...

In reply to captain paranoia:

I was looking at that tent when deciding between tunnel/geodesic, the porch looks awesome for cooking in.

Regarding the two brands - it is interesting what covering up the logo with your finger when looking at the product does to your brain when browsing products.

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:


Storage, wet kit and cooking; yes, it's great. I wouldn't fancy sleeping 3 in it, though; I use it as a spacious solo tent for DofE supervision and camping trips.

In reply to Andypeak:

Can I ask what conditions you used the Simond in? ie did it get tested? Thanks

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

Not what it is designed for. Held up to strong wind and rain pretty good though

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

Would imagine condensation in the Simond an issue with those valances.

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:

Found the Husky Fighter for a really good price so ordered that. It's a little heavier, but has way more room inside and is fully geodesic.

Will report back on it's functionality!

In reply to purplemonkeyelephant:
Yeah please do. Have been following this thread with a mind to buying a new tent so would be interested in your thoughts about the husky as it does look good. What was the cost in the end of I may ask?

In reply to NaCl:

https://m.alza.co.uk/sport/husky-fighter-3-4-green-d4847128.htm

Got it here for around £190 delivered. I don't know the company but it's paid via PayPal so hopefully I'm covered either way.