Phoenix Mountaineering Ltd Tents

I am still the proud owner of a Phoenix Phortress tent and Phoenix Phreak tent.

After 24 years use,  I am looking for replacement A pieces. These were plastic, circular and with the Phoenix logo.

Does anyone know

1. who made these plastic A pieces and if they are still available
2. if Phoenix replaced these with metal versions
3. of or have any spares which I could buy?

I would love to hear from folks who are able to help with the above, or want to share their memories of these great tents. I still love using my Phortress, but dread the day when the flysheet has degenerated.

Regards to you all.

I doubt you can get the plastic part but you could make an equivelent wire one like used on the Ultimate tents.   Good to hear 2 great classics still going strong.

See my post in this thread 3 posts from bottom of page for pics of the A-piece (& further up for Phreak & Phortress pics)

My Phortress & the apex from my Tramp.  Click the word 'thread' in my post above - some pics there too

There was also a fix posted by Waldo as follows:

I still have the link as mentioned but made a spare from "two" pieces of rod joined at the top by a simple 6mm. bolt and wingnut. I can adjust the A poles to any width I want

A trip last year using the Tramp:

Link

It's possible a classic Force 10's A-piece would fit.  Still available from Vango, drop them a line and they'll probably send you details.

Pete.

Spiritburner

Thankfully I have relocated your message and great advice. I so love the pictures of your Phortress and Phreak. Classic, stylish and absolutely bombproof.

Hampton Works make a very similar A piece, but needs some adjustments as it is difficult to fit the A piece at the top, with the bottom end of the poles in the ring next to the spacer tape. 

How do you asemble the A poles? Perhaps I am doing something wrong? 

I bought my Phortress in 1983, from a fellow student at University. His mother worked in the Phoenix Mountaineering factory. So wish I had bought more of this fantastic kit at the time, but making up for lost time.

 How recent are your photographs and where were they taken?

Dunno about those Hamptons bits but a bent soft ali tent peg may suffice short term.  Bend it round a metal bar to make the coil. I fit the apex before putting the spikes through the o-rings.

The black & white pic is my mates Phortress - the pic is up on Kinder, March 1981.  The Tramp is on the camp site at the Ugly House Ty-Hyll, North Wales, January 1983 & the Phreak is at Llyn y Cwn in the Glyders, July 1984.  I used to live in Nottingham so spent more time in the Peak & Wales then.

The picture of the Phortress above is at the campsite at Rothiemurcus near Aviemore, February 2008.

Hi there,

I am also a proud owner of a Phoenix Phreak tent. Unfortunately I have succeeded in loosing the complete set of tent poles. As this tent means a lot to me, I want to replace them. It seems impossible to just simply buy replacement poles, so I will have to get them manufactured. Would anybody please be so kind as to write me the thickness and length of the poles? (aluminium version) And perhaps even the weight? I might aswell try and get lighter poles made while I am at it.

Greetz from Germany

Tobi

Tobi - I may have a set that will do for A frame & one of the uprights - let me get back to you later today.

You could always contact Pete Hutchinson at PHD.  Phoneix used to be his company but his wife got it in the divorse.

Alan Waugh, Ken Rawlinson & Pam Sandford were the directors of Phoenix.  I don't recall any involvement with Pete Hutchinson (who was Mountain Equipment in the Phoenix era)

Spiritburner, you are probibally right.  I was pretty certain that Pete was involved at some point though. I'll ask the person who told me as they told me that the information had come from Pete himself???

hi,

i have a phoenix phortress sitting here in front of me with all the poles and "A" bits intact, considering its age its in great condition. i used to use it climbing in llanberis in the uk.

i am looking to sell it as it has spent most of its time in storage over the last dozen years or so, it was a great tent and is still in great condition. i bought a north face dome tent 10 years ago and that i have been using that since as it is bigger and easier to erect... but i do prefer the look of the old A frame phoenix.

it's yours for 50 dollars, plus postage ? 

Ok seems I posted and it came out blank

Thankfully we have the edit button back

Was saying I am lucky enough to be the proud owner of 3 phoenix tents the Phor 4 and the phreeranger and phreeranger EB plus 2 Phoenix phreeloader bivi Bags and they are all going strong still.

phoenix in IMHO made some of the best tents ever made and it is so sad to see them no more and knowing that replacements will only get harder and harder to find. I also own a few phoenix ski jackets and can attest to wringing out my ski boots and salopettes at Rossendale multiple times in a day when teaching in what could only be described as torrential downpours and yet these jackets kept me dry not even that damp from sweating. Vango taking control was bad and I just wish someone would start making these tents again the Phreeranger/Phreerunner in modern lightweight materials would be fantastic and still a class leading tent.

But maybe we could look at having a retro section on the forum for not just Phoenix but all makes ( but nnot going to be the one who starts the thread for that well known crampon company  ).

So what is everyone elses opinion would a retro section work? I know one member was talking of a retro meet with 80's or older gear but all welcome even if only modern gear but that post seems to have died but this could be a great annual meet and an incentive to try and find the oldest the whackiest or down right demonic looking gear from bygone era's

I'm still thinking of a meet - I'm not a collector of vintage gear (outside of stoves) as such but I've replaced my early, long gone gear with equivelent replacements & I do know folk who'd be up for a meet.  Winter meet at Sykeside always appeals - got to be able to breakout the old duvet jacket!

Hi

Ive just bought a Phreak so am keen to learn any setting up info you may have. As for the pladtic bit - give a product called Polymorph a go. It is an easily moulded plastic that may well do the job. I use it for moulding fishing plugs etc. etc.

E-mail me for more info and any guidance3 you may have.

Cheers

I too have a Phreak and love it, but a lot of the tape has lifted from the seams.  Any ideas about repair?  

Pull it off & seam seal it maybe?  The earlier ones weren't taped & I never had leakage.