ultimate equipment tents.

I am still using my Peapod .. at this moment it is pitched at Gaping gill awaiting my return on Friday for the GG winch meet !

The only leak is where the elastic loops are attached to the fly for rolling up the door ... any ideas how to stop this ?

 Mike, clean around where the rubbers are attached very  thoroughly and seal around with silicon seal or seam seal. Seal both inside and outside for a good seal.Cheers

I still have my Phaser dome and use it occaisionally. One aspect I always liked was the name tags sewn into the seams. Inside in the rain you knew the names of all who had worked to keep you safe and dry.

Inside in the rain you knew the names of all who had worked to keep you safe and dry.

You get this on current Hillebergs, with each tent apparently put together by a sngle person.

Pete.

There were several names on mine. Unfortunately the name tags have faded away. Mostly female. It is still a fantastic design for cycle camping. It often became the focus for cards and joviality as with the inner down we could get half a dozen sitting in it.

Yup, a detachable inner is a Great Thing IMHO, and another thing I like about Hillebergs, and quite a few Saunders designs.  Six for fondue in a Spacepacker was a bit of a squeeze, it has to be admitted, but my old Snowcat comfortably took 8 for breakfast on one rainy occasion with the inner down.

We take our HB Kaitum 3 outerwith attached footprint for group party space on paddling trips while we sleep next door.

Pete.

Talking of Spacepackers I slept in my recently purchased mk1 model 3 nights last week, the versatility of the porches is excellent but at 5'10" or thereabouts the inner is pretty small even for solo use IMO. I don't mind the inner being close to my face but it's very easy to push the inner into contact with the fly especially at the foot end, the inner/fly separation at the apex is very good but poor at the ends. I much prefer the Quasar for 2 person use.

The Spacepacker was pretty advanced in it's day but underneath the modern looking fly it's essentially a very small ridge tent. It is a very taut design though and I'm still trying to decide if it's going to be my winter tent, at under 2kg it isn't unreasonably heavy and it has excellent storage space under the fly but against that it has a pretty large footprint and requires a large amount of pegs (16 IIRC), the alternative is to simply use the Phreeranger.

If the truth be told I prefer longitudinal single hoop tents rather than Laser/Akto/Scarp transverse designs, I think they're a more logical design giving more sitting up/lying down space and a short cross pole provides good porch space. I'm seriously considering a Tarptent Double Rainbow which provides close to the Spacepackers porch versatility but with increased headroom. I'm toying with the idea of using it as a fly for a Phreeranger inner tent or a modified/own design inner based on the Phreeranger which should result in a all up weight of under 1.5kg.

I much prefer the Quasar for 2 person use.

Well, it's back to the old problem of where do we put the compromises.  We much prefer the Tarra (slightly lighter than a Quasar and otherwise a similar layout aside from a fair whack more porch space) for two once we're at the campsite, but if we've got to carry it anywhere far by foot or bike then we never use the Tarra but do use the Spacepacker.  Out of the boats, where the weight and bulk is a non-issue, we use the Tarra.

Our more common default these days is the Kaitum 3 which lighter than a Quasar/Tarra, considerably more space than a Quasar/Tarra but retains the twin-entrance versatility and loses the claustraphobia inherent in squeezing the two ofus into theSpacepacker.  The SP+ is probably better suited if you're using it is a basic 2 person tent.

Pete.

Peter Clinch wrote (see)

I much prefer the Quasar for 2 person use.

Well, it's back to the old problem of where do we put the compromises. 

Indeed Peter compromise always comes into it, the porches on the Quasar aren't as versatile as the Spacepacker although they're still pretty good as they are the full double zip type rather than the single 'J' zip found on IIRC the Superlite Voyager. I wouldn't even contemplate taking a Quasar solo although I suppose there are tents in the Quasar style that are lighter than my Wild Country Quasar and close (withing 1/2kg) to the weight of the Spacepacker.

I think my ideal tent design would be a Phreeranger EB double (porches on both sides) which is why I'm drawn to the Double Rainbow.

Hugh Westacott wrote (see)

Ultimate also made a very light single-skin one-person tent, which i no longer possess and whose name escapes me, that I used on Pennine Way trip.

There's a Single Skin multi coloured tent in an old Ultimate brochure I have, it's called the 'Challenge'

The stablemate to the tramp 2.This one of mine is over 20yrs. old and still used. Cheers.

This takes me back. I have a 2 man Peapod that served me well for a number of years although it did need a little extra support in extreme wind and snow. The last time I looked at it the outer had become very brittle which made me suspect that it would no longer perform. I must give it a try sometime.

I also have an Ultimate Mountain King bag that I still use in early autumn and early spring between the extreme winter and summer sleeping bags.

I recall that Ultimate equipment was pretty highly regarded during the Eighties. Cant remember what I paid, it will not have been cheap but these two items certainly owe me nothing.

I too have a Hobo, in fact only just now have I removed it from my attic to see what condition its in, and I am very surprised to say that its remarkably 'new like' !

 I used it extensively in the 80's and 09's, and stored it away for various reasons. I'm just getting back into things now that I've more time on my hands and this is going to be the first thing in my pack thats for sure. I cant believe its in the condition it is in... Wow.

I did look after it when I used it, and there are no tears or punctures, either in the groundsheet or flysheet. I've checked the whole thing out and all stitching is intact, plus I've tugged at the various areas that get most of the buffeting from the wind and its all still strong and secure. All original lightweight pegs with it too !

 I'm well chuffed. I was thinking of purchasing a new lightweight one man bivvy/tent, but theres no need. Its light enough for what I'll be doing... Whoohoo.

I'll be pitching it in the garden as soon as the weather clears a little, to give it a proper weather test, so I'll take some snaps and post them.

Aye thanks waldo.

 I have some Nikwax spray already handy. Picked up 5 bottles of the stuff last year for 50p each. Also had eight tins of nikwax boot wax too for 50p each... sounds crazy I know but there was a cheapo sports shop that was closing down and I just happened to walk in when they were putting the price tags on... definite case of being in the right place at the right time methinks.