I am just starting to get very interested in all the gear available after failing at an intended 90mile 5 day hike last year carrying a 5.5kg tent, enough food to feed my entire extended family (joke) and using a women's rucksack... I am searching for a suitable tent for me and my wife and am currently considering the Robens Summer Breeze/wind: http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Robens_Summer_Wind_Poleless_Tent.html
Obviously no space for kit, but could I not use a bivvy bag outside for our rucksacks? I had a look around and not much mention of it on OM forums. Of course I could go for:
Is condensation really such a problem in a single-skin? Used to camp in canvas army bell tents when I was younger and had no knowledge of inners' existence...
Does anyone have any recommendations to quiet my confused & throbbing head?
Sorry well it would be potentially anywhere in the uk, mostly when I expect reasonable weather although I do love the rain so I won't be avoiding it...! (probably not winter) I am also considering the wild country duolite, and was wondering how easy it is to get hold of the tourer flysheet if I ever wanted to 'upgrade'...
Rather than having a problem of leaving kit outside the tent in a bivvy bag, due to lack of tent space, might I suggest you instead consider carryin a three man tent, or a two man extended version maybe. That way you can briing the rucksacks of kit into the tent too with you, where you really need your kit to be. Remember you can then split the weight of the tent between the two of you carrying part of it each, so it will not be too much weight shared then between the both of you.
I can understand your desire to reduce the weight of your tent after hauling a 5.5kg monster but I think you're going to the other extreme with the Robens Summer Breeze. At 2.2kg for a single skin with no poles, it's not particularly light. A Vango Spirit 300 weighs 3.25kg, will sleep 2 in major comfort, has no condensation problems (a major issue with a single skin) and has a big porch to hold all your kit. At just over 1.5kg per person, this is a very reasonable weight.
Downside is the cost; c£260 vs. £130 for the Robens. However, the Vango will give years of (undoubtedly) more comfortable nights, be stronger, more versatile and easier to pitch.
You mentioned the Duolite, which, although a fair bit smaller than the Spirit 300, is a good weight at only 2.4kg. Terra Nova is also a reputable manufacturer. I'd say it is a better choice than the Summer breeze.
BTW the Vango is just one suggestion. There are, of course, plenty of other lightweight double skin tents to choose from.
Personally, I'd avoid any single skin tent due to condensation issues...and there are plenty of very good conventional tents around at a reasonable weight and price.
As for keeping gear outside. Mmm, on a public campsite....probably not. Wild camping - nearly always and all I use is a bin bag or rubble bag to stuff my pack into for weather protection
Canvas tent outers are different to synthetic ones because, as far as I remember, they absorb water, which causes the threads to swell and so become pretty waterproof, unless you touch the fabric. Water (condensation) just sits on the surface of synthetic materials and eventually just drips or runs off, unless there is plenty of ventilation. ime single skin shelters are ok if you can avoid touching them or use a waterproof sleeping bag cover, but that adds cost and weight.
Thanks for all the opinions guys, I will not have to worry about where to put my kit anymore as I bought an octane 3 on the spur of the moment yesterday! walked into Blacks to have a look around, was browsing the tents when I noticed a ridiculous tag on the octane 3 - they had marked it down from £219 to £119 - I took it over to ask if it had been defiled in some way but he (looking confused) put it through the till and it came up as £199, they had a 20% sale and someone had marked it down wrong - the guy told me he would honour it if I bought it there and then but would put it up to £199 if I left the shop!
A little heavier than I was looking for but we will live in luxury!
Hi there BeechComber, welcome to OM.
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