Off to Patagonia in Feb next year for a month or so, doing the usual locations - Torres del Paine etc (but no further south than that) and wondering about the climate/tent standard I require.
I've got a decent 2 manner - fine for 'proper' Scottish stuff but loath to take it on the road where ultimately I will be leaving it down the line in Aus.
Was thinking of getting something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Camp-Star-Explorer-Tent/dp/B0037KCZP8 (easy camp star 200) which I won't care if something happens to it/have to leave it behind.
However, will it hack it in Patagonia where I know it gets a bit windy now and again?
I would take extra guys with me for sturdiness but wondering if anyone has experience of the climate down there and what their recommendations would be.
Equally has anyone used that Easy camp one - does look a bit of a festival tent but I know their range is better than they look initially ?
However, will it hack it in Patagonia where I know it gets a bit windy now and again?
That'd depend on how windy it gets while you're there.
What I'd look at is the consequences of failure in your proposed camp ground: if you're 3 days from anyone and there's nothing much in the way of shelter and it's pretty cold then it's a whole lot more serious having your tent knocked over than if you just have an unpleasant night and trog down to the nearest village the next day.
I've got a decent 2 manner - fine for 'proper' Scottish stuff but loath to take it on the road where ultimately I will be leaving it down the line in Aus.
Why not just post it home when you're done with it? It seems a bit odd having a decent tent but not using it on a big trip. Wouldn't it make more sense to use it on a big trip because it's decent, and thus has much less chance of failing and ruining the big trip?
However, will it hack it in Patagonia where I know it gets a bit windy now and again?
I've read a review of the HB Staika, a fairly robust bit of kit, being used in Patagonia. One night was sufficiently windy that they felt the need to collapse it and use it as a bivi instead. That sounds moderately alarming to me. Not necessarily typical, though
I've got a decent 2 manner - fine for 'proper' Scottish stuff but loath to take it on the road where ultimately I will be leaving it down the line in Aus.
Some things to consider...
1. How does the cost saving of a cheap tent compare to having your holiday somewhat spoilt if that tent disintegrates at 2am in driving rain when you're a day's hike away from civilisation?
2. How much would you have to pay to ship an expensive tent home? Not quite sure why you feel the need to abandon it, but I'm sure you have a good reason!
A month camping on the other side of the world seems like a reason to invest in a high quality tent to me, and if you end your trip minus a few hundred pound's worth of tent there's a good chance you'll have got your money's worth, no?
Thanks for the quick and thoughtful answers, what you are both saying makes sense.
The patagonia camping was going to be in the middle of a ROW trip - I was going to abandon it in Aus before heading to China to travel light as possible over there as I plan to mostly use hostels etc.
My (initial) reasoning was that the Easy Camp one was small and light - I will travelling through Uruguay to start with and trying to keep weight/pack size to a minimum.
I did the Paine W early in the season (the circuit was still closed). Given my tent was a single skin (=paddling pool), i ended up not using it at all. Slept at the free camps, in the shelter/cooking area (3 walls + roof, if you're lucky) - foam mat, 0C bag and ALL my layers. was ok.
I guess i was lucky. On other treks the weather was so shit i was thankful the shelters had doors (well, that they even existed) else i'd be chasing my tent over Argentina. When the weather is good, any tent....or even no tent...is fine. When it turns...well, when i'm going back, i'm taking the Akto!
If you're just going to do the usual trek or two, you can hire gear in Fitzroy and Paine. It won't be amazing, it might cost the same as the one you linked to, but you wont have to carry it at all before or after. You might even bump into someone else trekking with a decent tent and join them - they'd appreciate splitting their load!
Just back from month there, inc Isla Navarino. Took Hilly N2, with double poles and guys. Needed them twice, but would have been ok as standard - but then it's a strong tent. I really question why take a crap(?) tent for such a serious place. But many campsites are in trees and sheltered, and many campsites have bunkhouse sort of things. On TDP and Fitzroy, you can only camp in designated sites.
I agree with all the comments above. Take something good and enjoy the peace of knowing you'll be ok. Then send it back.
For info, you can camp anywhere in IN, and this was our preferred place. Saw no-one for 5 days! The crowds elsewhere were not to our liking... You'll find the campsites very busy then so try to arrive early. At one, we came back to find a tent so close to mine it was actually pitched on top of my deliberately short guyline.
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