GTS OWNERS CLUB

Maver · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject: TENTS

TENTS

What tent to buy? It’s a question I’m often asked so I thought I’d do a little guide to help with the decision making.

Quality: - there are 2 ways to look at tents,

1/ cheap tent for the weekend from woollies for a tenner, leave it behind, usually just a single skin so not ideal as if the skin of the tent is touched moisture comes thru…. Also have been know to have the odd bit missing, not ideal if not checked before departure.

2/ expensive tent, look after it and make it last a season or two, maybe three or more, generally better quality and more waterproof than a cheap throwaway tent.

I look at it like this, I’m 300 miles from home, it poured with rain all the way here, it’s still raining and will do all weekend, what do I want to be in, a tent for a tenner from woollies or something designed to keep the elements out and me dry?????

Size:-

We’d all like lots of room but that comes at a price in a bigger pack size to put on the scooter and haul to the rally and back. To keep the weight down I tend to go for what are classed as backpacking or adventure tents although in 3 & 4 man tent sizes some small family style tents are good for our purpose.

1 man: - these are SMALL! Generally low to the ground too, just enough room to sleep in very little room for gear and remember, we have our bike helmet, jacket & trousers to store in it all weekend.

2 man: - I would say this is the minimum size for a solo scooterist camper with his gear, should be fairly light to transport too.

3 man: - Lots of room for one man and his gear, good enough for 2 to share. Only slightly bigger and heavier than the same model 2 man tent.

4 man: - A palace!! Good for 2 sharing but at a price of a heavier pack size and weight.

Pitching style:-

Inner first: - as the name suggests the inner section of the tent is put up first and the outer waterproof cover is then put over the top, fine if it’s sunny but not so good in the pouring rain.

Outer first: - the outer waterproof skin of the tent is put up first then the inner part of the tent is hung or clipped to it. At least the skin keeps you dry while you fit the inner.
All in one: - both inner and outer go up together, this is the most convenient and is a feature of most high level backpacking tents.

Other things to look at: -

Hydrostatic head : this shows how waterproof a tent is, basically it is a measurement of how tall a tube of water is over a section of the fabric of the tent before it leaks thru, some tents go as high as 3000mm or even more.

Groundsheet material: -usually nylon, again has a waterproof rating like the tent skin some as high as 5000mm or more.

Ventilation: - seems strange that we’d need it in a tent, but without ventilation the tent will keep the condensation produced by your body’s heat collect it on the inside of the outer skin and drip it back on you like indoor rain, let’s keep the water out, so open those vents!!

Packed pole length: - this is usually what dictates the longest measurement of a packed tent, the shorter the poles break down to the smaller your pack will be.

For the past few seasons i've been using a Coleman Epsilon now updated and called the Avior, i use a 2 man version(X2), Gav uses the 3 man version (X3) as does nicey......

specs for Avior X2:-
* Sleeps : 2
* Bedrooms : 1
* Length : 302cm
* Width : 145cm
* Height : 105cm
* Weight : 2.45kg
* Pack Size: 40x15cm

spec for Avior X3
* Sleeps : 3
* Bedrooms : 1
* Length : 312cm
* Width : 210cm
* Height : 118cm
* Weight : 2.95kg
* Pack Size: 37x17cm

Both Avior tents:-
* Doors : 2
* Windows : 2
* Flysheet fabric: Polyester ripstop, 4 000 mm PU coated, taped seams, UV Pro
* Inner tent fabric: Polyester breathable and no-see-um mesh
* Groundsheet: Nylon, PU coated 5 000 mm, taped seams
* Flame Retardent
* Poles: Aluminium 7001-T6
* Double Front entry Zipped Doorway (Centre Section can be fully Front Opened)
* Carry bag type: 2 way compression with V-shape
* All Sleeping compartments have double zipped Inner mesh doors - For Insect Protection
* Ropes and pegs included
* Tent Repair Kit.

Gav also has a Coleman Phad X3 as does Monty, this i feel is a step up from the Avior and has the benefit of a larger porch area with groundsheet so you're not entering the sleeping area immediately but have the chance to get out of wet gear therefore keeping the bedroom area dry, as with the Avior, the porch is also a convenient area to store gear. If i was buying a tent to replace my Avior X2 i'd go for a Phad X3

Coleman Phad X3 spec:-

Flysheet: Polyester ripstop, 4000mm Hydrostatic Head PU coated, taped seams, UV PRO
Inner Tent: Breathable polyester and no-see-um mesh
Groundsheet: Nylon, 5000mm Hydrostatic Head PU coated, taped seams
Poles: Aluminium 7001-T6
Configuration: 1 room and porch area
Capacity: 3 Person
Pack size: 44 x 18cm
Weight: 3.95kg

Coleman Phad X2 spec:-

Flysheet: Polyester ripstop, 4000mm Hydrostatic Head PU coated, taped seams, UV PRO
Inner Tent: Breathable polyester and no-see-um mesh
Groundsheet: Nylon, 5000mm Hydrostatic Head PU coated, taped seams
Poles: Aluminium 7001-T6
Configuration: 1 room and porch area
Capacity: 2 Person
Pack size: 42 x 17cm
Weight: 3.45kg
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darklord · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

Very informative ! I will follow your advice.
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Vespa 300 super BSA Bantam, pushbike

Maver · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

aviors are still available but it seems everyone is out of stock of the phads, i suppose it shows how good they are if they sell out Wink

i'll keep checking the camping shop sites to see if they come back into stock or if they are updated with a 2009 model (probably just be a colour change Wink

)

look to pay about £90ish for an avior x3 and about £120ish for a phad x3 Cool

if you're unsure about what you want come and find the Broadsmen on a rally, we have both styles so you can check them out for suitability Cool

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Maver · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject: Blacks Octane 1 Tent

Blacks Octane 1 Tent

not seen one of these in the flesh but it is very very similar to a coleman viper that i use sometimes, the viper is no longer made and this is the only alternative i can find.

this and the viper are 1 man tents so therefore SMALL and not alot of room for storage BUT on the plus side pack size is small and light.

The Octane 1 is a high performance, 1-person double skinned, tunnel tent with an aerodynamic shape suitable for mountain use in high winds. Utilising aluminium poles it is extremely light and easy to carry. It has a 30D ripstop PU siliconised flysheet with a 3000mm hydrostatic head and a DWR Hypalon® coated 10000mm groundsheet which makes it suitable for use at all altitudes. Another technical feature utilised in this tent is ‘one end closed’ pole sleeves for quicker pitching.

* 1 person technical/performance tunnel tent
* 30D ripstop PU siliconised flysheet with Fully taped seams
* 3000mm hydrostatic head
* 1 door
* 1 compartment
* Groundsheet with DWR Hypalon® coating
* Lightweight alloy poles
* Closed end pole sleeves
* Steel pegs

£130 expensive but quality is Wink

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ChevySoul · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject:

Quechua tents from Decathlon stores

T2 Ultralight

This is the tent I use. Have used it for 4 seasons in all weathers, never had a problem. Loads of room for one person.
£69

T4 Ultralight Pro

This tent is ideal for 2 or 3 people, again with lots of room.
£119

Both these tents pack up very small, less than 40cm long.

Check out the web site:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/
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Rally Division

nicey · Inspector Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 302

yeh one very small person Laughing

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NORWICH BROADSMEN SC

ChevySoul · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject: