Gear

Hi there

Looking to get a new tent for all year round wild camping. Sometimes with a mate or by myself .Iam looking for easy to pitch and good in the wind. It's down to two Tera  Nova Voyager  & the Marmot Grid Any suggestions please.

Thanks

Isn't the Grid only available from Cotswold ? (according to my local store).

If that's still the case, and you are set on one of the 2, then I would go for the TN Voyager - - British Based Company and probably better backup in case of future problems. 

The grid may be discontinued if it doesn't sell as well as Marmot hope......

Cotswold's exclusivity right finished Jan 09... from Feb 09 the tent will be avalible from other retailers... both marmot and  terra nova have exhalent uk after saless service in my experiance

The main diferances as far as im aware (and iv only slept one night in the grid) is that the Terra nava is about half a kg lighter but i found the grid had better ventalation and was Outer pitch first.

For me, it is the outer pitch first that gives the gri the edge... it meens you can pitch/pack the tent in heavy rain with out getting the inner wet... in my book a small but significant advantage.

Bottom line, both tents are great... but I think that unless weight is a really inportant to you, the Grid has a slight advantage,  espeshaly if the incresed compotision drives the price down.

I actually bought the grid in early decmeber and used it for a 9 day bicycle ride from john o groats to lands end.  The outer pitching first was of course very useful as it rained almost constantly so I can vouch for that being a definite plus point.  I did find that I had to pull it into shape quite a lot and make several adjustments once it came to getting the inner in, if you know whta i mean.  Ventilation, as Mr Parker says, is good...there aren't really any faults!

Oliver

 Hi 

If the GRID and Voyager aren't your only considerations , and you are looking for more space and strength I would give the Lightwave G2 Ultra a look as well. I don't know the Marmot, but have compared with Voyager. The headroom is not quite as good as Voyager, but it is longer and wider (225*140 at front) . It is also stronger since you can velcro flysheet to poles poles and attach guys in 7 places. It also has an arch pole at the front and is inner first - which helps give it a tight pitch. Inner first will be slower but Ive never had a great problem . It also pitches fairly close to ground to keep weather out. It weighs in at around 2.4Kg and will be more expensive - around £380? Proch is around same size and single double ended zip gives enough options.

Got to be honest, the Grid's an absolute cracker. If you leave it later in the season, you can pick up a bargain too. Paid £240 for my Grid Plus in green.

 I do like Terra Nova, really good tents, and owned a Quasar Endurance for many years. Bought the Marmot when I wanted a little more space, simple.

I was up at 1.30am repairing the pole on that Akto - the tents nearer the pub were hardly moving as they were sheltered by the rock outcrop.  Where I subsequently pitched I could have let go of my tent while pitching & it would not have blown away.

Trip account

Last years

Last year in Feb was pretty wild too.  Had about a foot of spindrift between fly & inner on leeside!  See the tent in BG pitched to left nearer carpark - 1st pic in 2nd link.  That's where I eventually pitched after repairing my pole on the 6th Jan - hardly a breeze there!

Where you one of the musicians in the pub?

Rosswm wrote (see)

Last year in Feb was pretty wild too.  Had about a foot of spindrift between fly & inner on leeside!

Just found a pic after I took the tent down last year.

Come on James!  Driving me mad here!   I want to know if I've clocked an OM'er! Were you in the pub? 

From memory the muso's were staying in the pub, there was the group of 9 I was with & 2 lads with a Freelander (flat battery Sat morning) watching Fools & Horses on a tablet but I thought they'd kipped in the motor?

Rosswm wrote (see)

Come on James!  Driving me mad here!   I want to know if I've clocked an OM'er! Were you in the pub? 

From memory the muso's were staying in the pub, there was the group of 9 I was with & 2 lads with a Freelander (flat battery Sat morning) watching Fools & Horses on a tablet but I thought they'd kipped in the motor?

Cryptic!  An alias?  That means I was likely drinking with you at Tan Hill!  Got you narrowed down - 3 new faces to me - one in an Akto, one in the TN Comp & one in a tent I didn't see!    

Rosswm wrote (see)

Cryptic!  An alias?  That means I was likely drinking with you at Tan Hill!  Got you narrowed down - 3 new faces to me - one in an Akto, one in the TN Comp & one in a tent I didn't see! 

& a hang-over!

Aye - got you pegged!