Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => Camping It Up => Topic started by: MercuryKev on 15 April, 2008, 07:39:46 pm
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Further to my earlier post about sleeping bags, I am now in the market for a tent. I think I need to trade up from my £10 Lidl model.
It will be used for cycle camping, May-September, in Scotland and should be a 2 berth. I'm thinking about a budget of £100. So what do you recommend?
I've seen a Coleman Avior X2 for about £75 - any good?
Thanks for your help.
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Shouldn't this be in Knowledge ?
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You may possibly be right - I think I should have really posted it in OT Knowledge - Mods please feel free to move.
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As the proud owner of two old-style Argos pro-action tents, I would have to recommend them. That's if you can find one ebay. They normally retail for around 25 pounds. They have made something of a furor in the hiking community, even inspiring their own internet owners club. The new version looks something like this (http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=argos&catalogId=1500001001¶ms=adref%3DGarden%2C+DIY+and+leisure-%3ECamping+and+caravanning-%3ETents&productId=1500152539&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FProductDisplay%3FstoreId%3D10001%26catalogId%3D1500001001%26productId%3D1500152539%26langId%3D-1&cmpid=FG13P&keyword=Pro+Action+Hike+Lite+1+Person+Tent&langId=-1&engine=froogle&referrer=FG13P&storeId=10001), but costs a lot more. The old version was green rather than orange.
I have two of those, the interior zip has gone on one though. The second made it's debut on PBP near Loudeac while the first remained at SQY. One cost me £25, the other £15. Bargains.
Here's two in Scotland, one mine, one Jon Senior'.
(http://www.mseries.plus.com/scottour/tn/DSCF0018.med.JPG)
Do we have a camping board ?
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Ooops, noticed the requirement for a two birth tent and deleted my post. Here it is again for the sake of history, since I have been quoted.
As the proud owner of two old-style Argos pro-action tents, I would have to recommend them. That's if you can find one ebay. They normally retail for around 25 pounds. They have made something of a furor in the hiking community, even inspiring their own internet owners club. The new version looks something like this (http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=argos&catalogId=1500001001¶ms=adref%3DGarden%2C+DIY+and+leisure-%3ECamping+and+caravanning-%3ETents&productId=1500152539&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FProductDisplay%3FstoreId%3D10001%26catalogId%3D1500001001%26productId%3D1500152539%26langId%3D-1&cmpid=FG13P&keyword=Pro+Action+Hike+Lite+1+Person+Tent&langId=-1&engine=froogle&referrer=FG13P&storeId=10001), but costs a lot more. The old version looked the same but was green rather than orange. Avoid anything with the same name that looks different, there was a really poor quality tent made in the same name.
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I have two of those, the interior zip has gone on one though.
The exterior zip went on one of mine, now replaced :)
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Did you replace it yourself ? Who/where replaces tent zips ?
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I gave it to my dad and he replaced the zip. He's a demon with a sewing machine, an old electrical Singer from around 1960 ;D
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Where did you get the zip from ?
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Not sure about that, will ask.
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Point North near Holyhead do fabrics and accessories for outdoor and boat stuff, including seam sealant: http://www.profabrics.co.uk/
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Point North near Holyhead do fabrics and accessories for outdoor and boat stuff, including seam sealant: http://www.profabrics.co.uk/
Thanks for that link redshift, my VauDe MKII needs it's seams resealing, though the groundsheet is also not waterproof any longer
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You could probably pick up groundsheet material from them too. :)
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Thanks for that link redshift, my VauDe MKII needs it's seams resealing, though the groundsheet is also not waterproof any longer
I've got one of those and bought it about 5 years ago. :thumbsup:
Very pleased with mine although it's not had as much use as I'd guess yours has. :'(
H
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If I had £100 to spend on a tent I'd only go cycle touring once a year and spend the £100 on a few nights in a B&B. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Noodley, the only problem with your plan is that B&B proprietors frown upon guests playing with fire, whereas within the camping community such behaviour is positively encouraged :evil:
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B&Bs? Much less fun...
Butterfly may be along in a minute with some good advice.
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How about this? (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lightweight-Two-Person-Tent-Lichfield-Viper-2_W0QQitemZ270226141503QQihZ017QQcategoryZ36118QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Worth watching. (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/North-Face-Tadpole-23-Tent-2-person-camping-backpacking_W0QQitemZ260230212704QQihZ016QQcategoryZ36118QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
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Have a look at the Vango (http://www.vango.co.uk) range of tents, they seem to do good value in that kind of price range.
I like my MSR Zoid 1. You can get a Zoid 2 for two people but the cheapest I've seen one for is about £160.
Avoid single skin tents with sewn in groundsheets. Completely useless in Britain, you'll be covered in condensation. Single skin where the condensation is allowed to run to the ground should be alright but a double skin is best if you want to use it outside of the summer months.
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My local Lidls both currently stock 2 berth tents for £19.99.
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Have a look at the Vango (http://www.vango.co.uk) range of tents, they seem to do good value in that kind of price range.
I've been trying to get hold of a Vango Tempest 200 after being recommended one. ('bout 80 quid) Every fecker on the interweb is out of stock though >:(
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Worth watching. (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/North-Face-Tadpole-23-Tent-2-person-camping-backpacking_W0QQitemZ260230212704QQihZ016QQcategoryZ36118QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
That's what I've got (North Face Tadpole 23) and I'd recommend it. Its fairly spacious, but still rather lightweight. Though I suspect that one will sell for quite bit more than £100, I think I got mine new but slightly damaged in the shop for £150 or so.
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have a look at these tents at www. holidaypartner.com/camping_equipment .
i would reconment the sprit 2 peson tent as it is pretty much the same as my french made jamet tent. it is within your buget . hope this helps :)
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Well, I took the plunge an bought the Coleman Avior X2. There were a number of reviews on the net and they seemed fairly positive. The fact that Amazon had it for £63, with free postage, also swung it for me. I'll let you know how I get on.
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Bit late but pricey 4-season tents like TNF Vango, Hilleberg and Terra Nova can sometimes be found on eBay. Here's one for slightly more:
ebay link (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TERRA-NOVA-SOLAR-1-MINT-CONDITION-NOT-USED-N-R_W0QQitemZ300216844380QQihZ020QQcategoryZ36118QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
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Well, I took the plunge an bought the Coleman Avior X2. There were a number of reviews on the net and they seemed fairly positive. The fact that Amazon had it for £63, with free postage, also swung it for me. I'll let you know how I get on.
I've bought the X3 and it looks excellent although I've not yet used it in practice apart from a test erection in my back garden. (did I really just say that?)
Quality is superb and I like the way the inner tent is already fitted inside the outer. The ventilation system looks good too, there is a semi rigid "bar" which can be attached with Velcro to hold the vent open and it also has adjustable ventilation in the interior.
I really should do a review once I get to try it out properly.
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Someone on the CTC forum is selling an unused Vaude hogan 2 for £75+P&P. Bit of a bargain.
linky (http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=12492)
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urban_biker and MercuryKev, have you had a chance to try your Coleman tents yet?
I'm looking for a tent to share with my girlfriend in Iceland this summer. We need something that will stay up if most of the pegs come loose -- some campsites have ground so hard that it's difficult to hammer pegs in (guy lines can be tied round rocks). It will also need to stand up to a bit of wind and rain.
Craig, does your North Face Tadpole meet these requirements? (I don't think it needs any pegs)
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I've used the avoir x2 once since I bought it (camping next to Craig as it happens). It was easy and quick to put up and it held up to a whole night of rain, with no issues at all. However, if I was camping with another person, I'd get the x3, cos it would be a bit cramped inside.
The tent pegs are square cross section alloy. Pretty tough and probably able to bash into hard ground.
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I'd get a forty quid festival tit from Millets. They're startlingly good compared to Tentes Of Olde. And then spend the rest on some good sleep mats.
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I have two of those, the interior zip has gone on one though.
The exterior zip went on one of mine, now replaced :)
Mine has the same problem. I bought a £20 lidl tent (2 berth) as a quick replacement. I'll see what the seamstresses in Dock Street can do.*
..d
*Yes there are, and they have a shop. Not that sort of seamstress..
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I brought a Vango Beta a year or two ago, at the time it seemed the best all rounder judging from opinions and reviews. I went for the larger 4 berth 450 so that if we had bikes etc we could stick 'em inside. I've never used it though so I can't say if it's actually any good.
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Decathlon tents , if you are near one , are worth considering.
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I'm looking for a tent to share with my girlfriend in Iceland this summer. We need something that will stay up if most of the pegs come loose -- some campsites have ground so hard that it's difficult to hammer pegs in (guy lines can be tied round rocks). It will also need to stand up to a bit of wind and rain.
Craig, does your North Face Tadpole meet these requirements? (I don't think it needs any pegs)
Yes, the Tadpole stands up without pegs just fine. Except for the porch which would collapse in, but you could probably hold that out with rocks or similar.
I've used it for camping in a variety of weather in Scotland, and its coped fine with the wind and rain. Though you have to make sure the outer is on fairly tight, else it can touch against the inner a bit in winds.
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I thought £20 for a Lidl 2 man tent was cheap until I went into Tesco at the weekend. £7.99 for their value one!!!
(My old tent filled with water last bank holiday, and that cost me much more originally. I wondered whether the Tesco Value tent might not actually be an upgrade :-[)
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Here's an action shot of my Argos Pro Action tent a couple of weeks ago.
(http://www.robshields.org/~rshields/2008/05/pro-action.jpg)
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Errr tis not worky bob
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Errr tis not worky bob
Thanks, dyndns.org deleted my account (again) >:(
It should be working now.