It's the dogs On top of a mountain in a gale force 8 heavy rain in the middle of worst summer We were backpacking in Wales when the strom hit and boy it hit It rain for 12 hours soild winds at over 70mph got to say never had a problem Being so light we did wonder if it would stand up to all the weather which was being thrown at, well it did and we have got to say on that day it saved our live's 10 out of 10
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 Oooooohh I have one of those... Lately I have begun to wonder though.... what with a flapping tail and all. Did you apply the the extra guys to the rear end? The fly and the inner tent seem to blow together at the drop of a hat - did it not get at all wet inside? How was it for condensation?  - A bit of a shame really - I spend a lot of time wild camping but have never taken the time to really get to grips with my Taurus Ultralight. I think I have always considered it 2- 3 season which is why I dont take it out much. Perhaps I will look again.
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 We were in Glen Derry at the end of Feb in some atrocious winds, with a Superlite Quasar, an Akto and a Taurus Ultralight. The tents were pitched for 24 hours in it. The first two handled it fine, rock solid. The Vaude rear-end flattened repeatedly and although the tent stayed upright it wasn't much fun to be in. I think Scott wedged his pack down the foot end in the end to try to keep it off his sleeping bag. (He's bought a Nallo 2 now!)
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Yep I know someone who wedges his pack at the back - and mine had a flappy tail end. However - I complained to Vaude and said the thing wasnt fit for purpose. They sent me some extra guys for the rear and it seems a bit more stable now - but 4 season? Well ted fod - tell us all about it then...
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 Definitely, emphatically, not a 4 season tent. My youngest son has one of these, we were camping last Thursday by Sergeant Man and the wind got up to about a force 3 about 4.00am. At breakfast time, his Taurus Ultralight did not look like a tent I'd want to be in when things get really gnarly. Not that the materials or construction are poor.... ....it just wobbles a lot and the foot end does flatten a bit. Good points: if you shop around it's not bad value and is lightweight for the size and internal space.
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I had this conversation with VauDe UK LotC They said that it was intended as an ultralight tent and is inteded as such - so there is always compromise, and therefore isnt intended to to take a blow. In other words they were saying it is a 2/3 season tent. The only difficulty is, that although it is 'nice' - it still weighs about 2kg which is lightweight - but hardly ultralight or MM type equipment!!!! Perhaps it should be renamed the Taurus Lightish 2 season.
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Another downside of flappy tents is that they tend to be colder internally. Joe spent Thursday night freezing his nuts off. 
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 no grandchildren for you then LoTC 
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Not if the IVF (In VauDe Fertilisation) plan involves a Taurus Ultralight, Rog!
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I did know a girl who had a real thing for tents...
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Errr..you mean she used a bivibag instead of a Femidom? 
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 I've got to disagree with some of you guys. I bought one of these in the sales last September with a view to using it as a 2 person tent. After using it solo I felt it was just a bit too cramped for 2 and I flogged it on ebay.
Anyway, the rear end of the tent would flop all over the place in anything above a moderate breeze. I always carry some nylon string, so I made up 3 guy lines for the rear end and 2 for the front pole and it was absolutely rock steady with these fitted. I had it pitched high in the Carneddau during the wild squally weather we had at the end of September. There are several taped loops along the ridge pole and the front pole, all of which could potentially have guy lines fitted, the thing could be virtually bolted to the floor if necessary. I even tried it with the ridge pole omitted and there was still enough space at the front of the tent to be able to cook, dress, sleep etc. I've had an akto for 3 years and I'd pitch this in the same spots I would the Akto, with no hesitation. FWIW, my verdict: very stable with extra (very necessary) guy lines fitted, a bit cramped for 2 but some could manage, great solo, but heavy for a solo tent by today's standards, porch a bit too small.
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 There are several causes of the floppy rear end: The first is that you havent tensioned it properly. The second is that you are in weather which is way worse than 4 season. The third is that you havnt pitched it right. You should pitch with the wind blowing parralell to the length of the tent, usually entrance facing the wind. Even in extreme weather the stability can be improved greatly with extra guys, the addition of which make this tent very formidable!
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 Lord of the Crinkles wrote (see) Definitely, emphatically, not a 4 season tent. My youngest son has one of these, we were camping last Thursday by Sergeant Man and the wind got up to about a force 3 about 4.00am. At breakfast time, his Taurus Ultralight did not look like a tent I'd want to be in when things get really gnarly. Not that the materials or construction are poor....
The third is that you havnt pitched it right. You should pitch with the wind blowing parralell to the length of the tent, usually entrance facing the wind.
have you ever camped in the hills? if so can you honestly say the wind has stayed in the same direction all night..... ummm.
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When you say something is 4 season, you should not take it literally as that meaning that it can cope with every kind of weather all year around, but that it will cope with the average weather encountered in winter, autumn, summer and spring. There are obviously going to be days in all of these seasons where there will be bigger than average storms, that the tent may not with-stand, does that mean it isnt suitable for all-season use? The 17th of July would fall in summer, in-case you are wondering. With the comment on wind direction, your point is fair, the wind does move. However.... In the hills/mountains there are often features which channel the wind and that if you pitch in the right place you can ensure that the wind stays fairly regular. I would also bet that not pitching into the wind has been a reason for several of the complaints about the rear collapsing. However I can't deny that your point does stand about changing direction and could account for a collapse.
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| Edited: 19/07/08 21:45 |
Mr Crinkles said a force 3. Is that the fifth season then?!? as for 4 the rest of your waffle ... the only wind that stays fairly regular around my tent is produced by beanfeast and if anything that keeps the tent up and only flattens its fellow occupants.
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| Edited: 19/07/08 22:50 |
