Gear

If i was solo, i would rather pitch a tunnel in high winds than a geo.

That case where thee geo pole  snap happened when the nallo survived undamaged was almost certainly down to the flex of the nallo design over the stiffness of the quasar geo design I'd say.

Also there are tunnel tents that are really tough. I have been looking at some force10 titan tunnel tents. with fully guyed out titan and the TBS pro internal straps it looks very tough indeed. It is designed for high mountain and arctic I think.

Another thing with  some tents designed for serious use they canbe used with double poles. IIRC some of the nallo ones canbe used like this. I guess for arctic use you'd want say a kerlon GT with double poles. Not sure where I heard or read that but could have been a podcast interview with someone at Hilleberg or on their website.

This pic shows a Macpac Mineret in the foreground, 2 TN Voyagers & at the back a 3 pole tunnel but I can't remember if it's the Westwind, Phunnel or Olympus. It was very windy.

 All performed well.  I was solo in the Mineret.  It got a little pinched as the snow piled up through the night but I had plenty room to avoid where the fly pressed against the inner.

I've been near buried in a geodesic with little affect on the tent,

If i was solo, i would rather pitch a tunnel in high winds than a geo.

Implementation dependent.  I'd much rather pitch a Hillie geo in high winds that a Lightwave tunnel.  I'd also rather pitch a Hillie tunnel in a high wind than a Quasar.  But then Hillie design to pitch by one person in mittens in a blizzard, and that's reflected in how easy it is (and the price tag...)

Pete.

one thing i'd add is that when you see a tent used in an Artic or Antarctic environment - especially on the TV - you want to be careful in assuming that that particular tent is really the same tent you see in the Cotswold catalogue. it may look the same, but it may well be a 'special job' built by the manufacturer with perhaps different materials or construction techniques.

if it's a Hillie it's the same.  They do some level of customs, but it's things like solar panels and big logos rather than anything fundamental to the strength.

 my own view, perhaps old fasioned, is that while a very good, well placed tunnel tent is likely to be as strong as a geodesic, it is unlikely to be as strong if the wind veres 90 degrees, or you aren't able to be as choosey with your pitch,

A typical geo will also be much better end-on.  Especially in places like the UK big winds are caused by depressions tracking through at a fair rate.  If the centre is close to where you set up when you pitch camp then it's entirely normal for the wind direction to change through a big angle overnight, yet tunnels are still used successfully in these situations.

or you have heavy snowfall and don't want to nip out every two hours to get rid of the snowman on your roof.

It's an issue, but an overstated one.  In my Spacepacker (single hoop) I'd just give the side an occasional kick when I came to and that was enough to clear things.  In practice you'll need a lot of continuous snow to be an issue so it's more a problem for a base camp tent.

Pete.

Ross - Was that the older version of minaret? IIRC there were a few design tweaks at one point. Always like that tent.

I think it all comes down to getting a lot more tents so we can be covered for all eventualities. Or in other words...MORE GEAR!!!

However, back to the original question... in the UK for wildcamping in say a Glen or valley (most likely in the Lakes) would the vango spectre be expected to cope ok with typical winters. Assuming I am sensible and pitch it somewhere more sheltered-ish (say the drumlins near Black Sail Hostel)), avoid nights with severe gales and heavy snow predicted, etc. I know I'd prefer to have a nice Hille or even a minaret but a spectre200 is the best I can manage at the moment.

Although I might know of someone with a Macpac Minaret who might lend it!! Hint! Hint!!

 Nice photo Ross!!!!

However, back to the original question... in the UK for wildcamping in say a Glen or valley (most likely in the Lakes) would the vango spectre be expected to cope ok with typical winters.

Aye.  Overall layout is quite like a Spacepacker only with two extra poles and what looks like more effective guying.  I've used a SP as a Scottish winter tent, including surviving (albeit very uncomfortably) a night high on the Ben in a gale (would've been a blizzard but it was sleet rather than snow, I would guess about Force 8...).

Pete.

Wow, that's a very impressive photo. As for lending the Minaret, I'm intending to get a lot of use out of it this year so would struggle (plus I dread to think of the postage costs for you especially with insurance!). Honestly I think you'll be fine with your spectre so long as you're sensible with it.

If you're really set on a Minaret (more gear after all ) then there're some on clearance here, which is the same place I got mine from (also on clearance) a few years back. Assuming the one in Ross's photo is the older type then the only significant difference that I'm aware of is that the door on the old models had zips on both the left and right hand sides effectively allowing you to open the left, middle or right panels to suit wind/rain. The modern version (including mine) has a zip which runs from the top of the left panel, over the middle down the right panel (as you're facing the tent) which allows you to open the middle panel or the right panel - not the left panel independently. I'm assuming this was done to save weight, and also because the asymmetric porch layout makes opening the left panel a bit pointless unless you unclip the front left of the inner first.

Old style:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/reviews/tents/two-person/macpac-minaret/538.html

New style:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-news/macpac-minaret-tent--up-for-grabs/3218.html

That is not a bad price Matt. What does annoy me about that link is the floor area and not length and width dimensions. Area is not as usefull as dimensions!! Especially if you are tall and need the length.

Actually I will resist. I think I have a source of two minarets from some people I've known for a while. I used to carry a tent 2.6kg so the published 2.4kg is not too bad for two

Prob take the Spectre anyway as it is good enough I reckon. It has taken a good blast before in the valley in Wales but it was a real storm with gusts about 65mph according to the forecast for the valley I saw. A friend in a cheapish geo winter tent had a difficult night I was drunk I mean I was asleep the whole night!! Although the hangover despite a good sleep made me look worse than she was without any sleep. Good tents are worth getting even if cheap liek the Spectre. I'm glad some think it is good enough as I'd like to give it an outing in the hills.

The Spectre's guying is actually good. EAch pole is guyed from each side of the tent poles. Also the fly has a ladder lock on the fly at each pole on one side that can really cinch down the fly onto the poles. They also pull the fly out a little to get some venting but not enough for wind blown rain or snow I think to get in. Same at the pointed ends of the tent. All in all the fly can be pulled out nice and tight to minimise risk of flapping. The only annoying thing is the inner always has wrinkles in the groundsheet. No matter how flat the pitch and how I pull on various guys or pegging points it never smooths out. Not a problem as it has a high HH so should last even if it is used slightly wrinkled.

TP wrote (see)

Ross - Was that the older version of minaret? IIRC there were a few design tweaks at one point. Always like that tent.

Yep, it's the older one.  I had a Vango Hurricane Alpha before it - another solid tunnel tent.

The new version is same height on both hoops with the inner slanted into the porch & a modified door.

I had a flysheet made out of the newer Macpac polyester(?) fabric about 8-10 year ago  - I took it out for only the 2nd time  a couple of weekends back to give it a go.  The old fly is still pretty good & will be going back on.  This is the new fly below.  Pretty unique but not totally - I know someone else who did the same!