OUTDOORSmagic
CampingandLeisure_tent_24-06-08 AD
 Home » News > Gear featuresSunday 6 July 2008 | Help  
Prizes to be won!
Click below to enter
Free weekly newsletter!
Join OUTDOORSmagic now
Members can use the forum and gallery, receive a weekly newsletter and are eligible to win great prizes!
why join?  
Travel Partners
Travel Partners
Exodus
Explore!
Inghams
eVent technology
eVent
TGO Magazine
Gallery Rated Image
WastwaterNorthEnd.jpg
by Paul Holroyd
 GEAR FEATURES 04 / 12 / 07
 

Gearblog: Geodesic v Tunnel

Gear features in association with
eVent Fabrics

If you've always assumed that geodesic tents are tougher than tunnel designs, you might find this interesting.

David Reese was part of Alastair Lee's team filming footage for PSYCHE on Skye earlier this year when a storm hit. The day before, the rest of the team had questioned David's choice of a Lightwave T1 Trek tunnel when everyone else was using geodesics.

Ten hours later though and the Lightwave was the only tent left standing and arguably saved the lives of four people.

David describes the 'insanely strong winds with gusts' as 'resembling waves of a tsunami from hell'. Those gusts destroyed two geodesics while the third had to be supported from the inside after one of the poles snapped and tore a hole in the fly-sheet fabric.

You can get some idea of just how bad things got from this YouTube clip filmed from David's tent. Bear in mind that things later got even worse than this...

To be fair, the tent in the clip was around 12 years old and well-used, so the stitching and fabrics would have been weaker than a brand new tent of the same design.

Okay, so it's hardly a scientific study conducted in controlled conditions, but when was the last time you went camping in a lab? There's a school of thought that says while geodesic structures may be more rigid and inherently stronger, in really savage conditions, the ability of a tunnel tent to deform more easily may actually absorb the force of the wind more effectively while a geodesic may fail catastrophically.

Several years ago I survived a savage storm in the Pyrenees, sheltering inside a humble Ultimate Peapod tunnel tent. Pitched side on to the wind direction, the Peapod distorted to the point where it was half its normal height, yet it never actually failed. Meanwhile the campsite around us was littered with the remains of various supposedly stronger tents. Equally, my long-time favourite Macpac Minaret has performed flawlessly in all conditions.

So what am I saying? Not that tunnels are 'better' than geodesics, but that a well-made tunnel design can be extremely effective and that maybe the likes of Macpac, Lightwave and Hilleberg with their preference for tunnels have a point.


Gear features in association with eVent Fabrics
Bookmark thisPrinter friendly version
Want to send this article to a friend? Please join here
 

Discuss this article, 1 of 133 messages, read more:
alan bellis 
Posted: 09/09/07 18:01:36 36

We all love our tents (hopefully) each one for different reasons and uses, so lets see why you bought  them? there pros and cons, do you think they are all justified? and who`s got the most?

I`ve got 4, I`ll now try to justify why...

EASYCAMP RIMINI , A roomy 2 person campsite type, bought to get `er indoors, outdoors, lots of room in porch for the kitchen sink etc, and nice windows to watch the rain,and it looks good. One of the glassfibre poles did split, but some glue and tape seems to have sorted it.

NORTHFACE ROCK 22 A good allrounder, like the 2 doors and porches, just the right size for a double airbed, lots of pockets, easy to pitch in 5 mins. A bit too much mesh for cold nights, a bit to heavy at ...
Read more...

Related articles:
Gearblog - Much Too Bright Enough?
The latest LED headtorches may have a near 100 metre range, but do you really need all that light?
Gearblog - 17 January, 2008
How Berghaus became coutouriers to Hannibal Lecter and other developments.
PSYCHE Now Available On DVD
Al Lee's Kendal double award-winning film is now available in shiny disc form.
Gearblog - 5 November, 2007
Confused by the new Gore-Tex fabrics, here are a few questions answered.
Gearblog - 20 September, 2007
What happens if you wear a baselayer top with a heavy pack? Now there's an answer...
Gearblog! 23 January 2007 - New Gore-Tex...
It's goodbye Gore-Tex XCR and hello Gore-Tex Pro Shell later this year. So what's it all about? We're not entirely sure...
Gearblog! 6 November 2006
Is the new über-technical and super specialised Berghaus Big Wall range aimed at so small a niche that no-one will ever buy it and if so, what is it for?
Gearblog! 26 October 2006
Solved in a single day, the two great gear issues that have dogged my existence for years, nay, decades - how a man in a van sorted hoods and pants in one delivery...
Gearblog! 21 September 2006
We promised faithfully not to tell you about two bits of new as in 'not in the shops yet' kit until they're available, but we couldn't resist a sneak peak at the e+LITE in action and a rapid Talon testette.
Gearblog! 1 September 2006
The lighter clothing gets, the more vulnerable it seems to be to abrasion damage from packs, so maybe it's time for a clothing-friendly pack design? The editor muses...
Gearblog! 18 August 2006
The latest in our occasional Gearblog series, what did racing through a quagmire on a mountain bike teach us about kit and what on earth happened to that cat's eyes?
Gearblog! 13 June 2006
I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles through breathable waterproof shell fabrics, so what does it all mean and what on earth am I talking about?
Gearblog! 27 April 2006
A tale of two soft shells including the first drizzle-specific, fast-movers' jacket we've come across from The North Face and something rather neat from Swedish brand Haglöfs.
Gearblog! 30 March 2006
Musings on a Gore-Tex launch on the Atlantic island of Tenerife plus Brasher's new Supalite XCR lightweight boot and what it means, or not...

Members Logon
Email:
Password:
forgot your
password?
Article search
Sponsored Articles
WILD LANDSCAPES : UNDER THREAT?
sponsored by The John Muir Trust

The Mighty Zambezi
sponsored by Guide Dogs

Paramo Product of the Month - Fuera Peak Windproof
sponsored by Paramo

Support our partners

VOTE
What mapping sytems do you use (in addition to printed maps)
Mapping software (e.g. Anquet)
GPS
Both mapping software and GPS
Neither- just printed maps
Not even printed maps

 Send to friend | Join Now ^ Top of Page
About OUTDOORSmagic
- About Us
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions

Subscribe to OUTDOORSMAGIC RSS news feed.
Contact Us
- Support
- Advertise with us
- FAQ
- Retailers: free site review
Affiliates
- Take our news for free
- RSS Feed
Magicalia Digital Publishing
Cycling
- BIKEmagic
- RoadCyclingUK
- SheCycles
- LondonCycleSport
- Visordown
- ProTourNews
Outdoors
- OUTDOORSmagic
- FISHINGmagic
- GOLFmagic
- TheMainSail
Lifestyle
- ThinkBaby
- Gardening.co.uk
- AVReview
- ThinkCamera
Hobbies
- ModelFlying
- MilitaryModelling
- ModelBoats
- GetWoodWorking

- Full Portfolio
© 1999-2008 Magicalia Ltd.