Thread: Tents

Originally Posted by Awaian

thanks GravelBen, most of the time it's not raining so hard when we camp I guess. I'm basing my (new) expectations on the tent I have which needs the poles threaded thru sleeves on the tent before the fly can be thrown over the top. 4poles to thread and not as quick as clipping on.

AFAIK sleeved poles are stronger than clipped as they spread the force more evenly, and even if a pole does break then as long as it doesn't rip through the sleeve the tent can mostly stay up. Clips are generally quicker and easier, but not as strong which is why a lot of alpine tents use sleeves instead.

I have sleeved and clipped tents so a bit of experience both ways.

Had this one for 10+ years but it doesn't get used often now:

Lake Dumb-bell by Ben, on Flickr

Fairydown Assault - solid as alpine tent which has stood up to plenty of 'interesting' weather, but a heavy beast at 3.6kg. 2 sleeved poles with crossovers and one that clips across sideways, then fly over the top. Definitely a bit slower and more awkward to put up, but I still never got the inner very wet before putting the fly over it. After a while you learn the best process to do it relatively quickly. A good feature of this tent (and some others) is having two doors and vestibules - heaps of gear storage and no need to climb over your mate to get out for a piss in the middle of the night.


This one does most of my trips now:

Campsite below Bruce Peak by Ben, on Flickr

Mont Bell Chronos 2 - simple dome structure but with some clever geometry to widen the headroom. Innner clips up to the poles and fly goes over the top, with a decent sized vestibule out the side. Only one vestibule and door, but good ventilation on the other side as well. Not a full 4-season alpine tent like the fairydown, but plenty strong enough for most backcountry use - probably 4 season below the snowline and 3 season above it. It can also work as a lightweight mode with only the groundsheet, poles and fly (from memory around 1.5kg instead of 2.4kg normal weight) for good weather trips, but rain would blow under the edge of the fly using it that way in a storm.

I don't have any photos of them up without the fly that I can find.

Also had plenty of nights in Macpac Olympus and Minarets, fast easy-pitch design (thread poles through sleeves, peg one end down, stretch it out and peg other end) which keeps inner and fly together. Main downside of the tunnel design is being more directional for wind resistance, toe into the wind they're solid but a side wind can buffet them a bit. Plus they don't stay up without pegs/guy ropes to keep tension, the structure isn't self-supporting. Also some people don't like crawling in from the end instead of the side, but thats no big deal really. Minaret is a bit small for two blokes to share unless they're pretty comfortable with each other mind you.

Originally Posted by GravelBen

Also had plenty of nights in Macpac Olympus and Minarets, fast easy-pitch design (thread poles through sleeves, peg one end down, stretch it out and peg other end) which keeps inner and fly together. Main downside of the tunnel design is being more directional for wind resistance, toe into the wind they're solid but a side wind can buffet them a bit. Plus they don't stay up without pegs/guy ropes to keep tension, the structure isn't self-supporting. Also some people don't like crawling in from the end instead of the side, but thats no big deal really. Minaret is a bit small for two blokes to share unless they're pretty comfortable with each other mind you.

Yep. I have a 26 year old (replaced the floor 18 moths ago) Macpac Exodus. Same pitch design as the Olympus and Minaret, but not a tunnel tent. Big enough for two, but only one vestibule, entry , but it is via a side door.

Originally Posted by Maxx

Yep. I have a 26 year old (replaced the floor 18 moths ago) Macpac Exodus. Same pitch design as the Olympus and Minaret, but not a tunnel tent. Big enough for two, but only one vestibule, entry , but it is via a side door.

Got a minaret as well and bloody happy with it. Yes needs pegs to stay up but doesn't need many and on a good day have it all up in under 5 minutes. Yes it's a small 2 man but I find it perfect for me and all my gear. Pack and contents fits next to where I sleep. Spent a few windy nights in it and yet to lose confidence in it staying up. And 9 times out of 10 I don't even bother putting the guy roles up

Just got a new minaret myself since macpac are having their sale. $450. 2260gm all good to go after seam sealing, thats everything including the small spares kit. Without the inner would be around the 1450gm mark for summer missions.