New lightweight tents for next year plus an ace-looking set of entry-level tents from German brand VauDe.
We caught up with the guys from VauDe UK at the Kendal Outdoor Retail Show yesterday and got a quick early look at what's new from the brand in tentage for spring 2013 including new lightweights plus an interesting range of four new entry-level tents.
Light Stuff
Tents like the Power Lizard, Hogan SUL and the brilliantly named Power Ferret are right there in the mix with the lightest tents on the market using ultra-lightweight 20 denier fabrics and VauDe's unique taping systeme - edges need to be taped to avoid fraying - along with the Powerframe system which clamps the tent positively onto the poles to maximise strenght.
Next spring the Power Lizard family gets a new addition in the shape of the Power Lizard SUL 2-3P, a 1400g tent that sleeps two people normally, but three at a pinch for occasional use. It shares the same lay-out as other Power Lizards, but is simply larger and would make a really luxurious lightweight tent for a pair.
Construction is the familiar single-arch lay-out with a single entrace and vestibule, a 20D Nylon fly, siliconised on both sides and Power Frame technology. It'll sell for £440.
The other new addition on the lightweight side of things is a new Hogan SUL 1-2P, a 1250g lightweight based on the classic two-pole Hogan design. At a claimed 1250g, it's a little weightier than the equivalent Power Lizard 1-2P, but it's a sturdier, more aerodynamic design, which is why it's designated as a three-season rather than a two-season model. Same 20D double-siliconised fly fabric, DAC T6 poles and so on. Price £350.
New Entry Level Tents
Alongside the lightweights, VauDe also has a range of four new entry level tents priced between £170 and £250 depending on design and complete with some very neat design touches including rip-stop face fabrics and anti-snag zip baffles. They're all about decent quality at a reasonable price and in the flesh they look impressively well made and nicely detailed.
The Campo 3P is a three-person inner-first pitching dome tent with plenty of internal room , decent-looking venting and a 70D polyester fly fabric with PU waterproof coating. At 3900g it's on the edge of what most people would be happy to carry, but should work just fine as a compact car camping unit. Price will be £170.
Next there's the Arco 2P, two-person tunnel tent, which like the Campo is a three-season designated tent with a Polyester fly. It pitches all as one, making for rapid erection, is nice and long for general roominess or compatibility with very tall folk and weighs a total of 3.2kg. Looks very roomy inside thanks to well-cut panels which give a steep-sided shape for more useable volume.
There's also a three-person version with more room again and a weight of 3750g. The 2P will sell for £180.
If you're looking for an affordable mountain tent, the Taurus 2P may be worth a look. At 2850g it's reasonably light, and uses a combination of a cross and ridge pole with angled poles at the foot area optimising internal space. It looks great value for money at £210 and getting into backpackable territory.
Finally, the Odyssee L 2P - that spelling is correct, honest - is VauDe's entry-level, three-pole, semi-geodesic design for more strength again. It's tougher again and the distinctive cross-over pole design at the front should give plenty of space to go with the strength. At 3150g it's not extraordinarily heavy either and it'll have a price tag of £250.
Finally, there's also a very neat guyline tension adjuster, which allows you to wrap the guy round it, fishing reel style, for packing. Nice.
All the above tents available in early 2013. Current VauDe range at www.vaude.com.
