Tent advice

Well, I said a kiss Des, I'm not going that far!

Interesting. I run Schwalbe Marathons on most my bikes and they have
the reflective sidewalls. Every little helps etc.

I can't even use their online shop?

Well, here's another thought, I could ask my mate who runs a cycle
shop if he knows of a UK distributor who might be interested in taking
some of their products on (assuming they don't want to themselves,
niche security product etc)?

 

We have used a 2/3 man Khyam for years. We just put a sheet of heavy
gauge plastic folded up to fit under the standard groundsheet, mainly to
protect against puncture by sharp stones.

Our Khayam has been through some pretty rough weather without doing an
arachnid impersonation. SWMBO does occasionally have a problem pitching
it single-handed though if there is much of a wind blowing.

I miss our old Vango Force10 - it mean't what it said.

For bike use I still favour my old Lichfield Viper ridge tent (without
any actual ridge pole). You pitch the outer first and so can keep the
inner dry. These modern double skinned domes are good, but I like to be
able to leave a really good gap between the inner and the fly sheet if
heavy rain and wind is expected. Plus being fairly streamlined, you can
pitch it head in to the wind.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Scraggy

<nods>

S'troo.

 

The problem was those locking elbows. IIRC they were spring
loaded to snap open when the joint area was de-stressed
(straightened), making putting the tent down nice and easy.
In the very heavy, gusting wind, I assume one or two of them
unlocked. The tent then lost structural integrity and the
others followed. When I returned to it the next morning[1]
some of guy ropes and the elasticated loops connecting the
inner to the outer had been torn off. I did repair it, but
never really used it again. Gave it to a someone as a
'festival' tent shortly after.

One or two of my older, crustier mountaineering friends,
still insist on using their old Vango ridge tents. I
can't get on with them, I like the improved headroom you
get from modern geodesic tents.

The major pain (with both my geodesics) is that you cannot
pitch the outers first, or even, alone.

Modern (quality) geodesic tents are (if put up properly)
as taught as a drum, you really don't need large air gaps
between inners and outers. They're probably more aerodynamic
than a trad ridge tent too.



[1] I spent the rest of the night in my knackered old
ex-securicor transit van. With a couple of other tent
'refugees' and a load of mountain bikes.

 

I had doubled up on both Thermarest and doss bag, and was toasty. I'm
contemplating experimenting with some sort of inflatable mattress, as they
seem to be very good at smoothing out surface irregularities.

 

snip>

I've had to mop water out of my Quasar after pitching it in heavy rain
but once the outer is on it's never leaked.

They 'feel' solid when you sit in them when the weather's shit but if
I had to find a fault with mine it'd be lack of headroom in the porch
means you have to either cook outside or risk burning the tent down. I
go for the risk burning the tent down approach when I'm using a
Trangia but outside when the multifuel incendiary device is being
used.

They're a bit expensive if you're only buying it for occasional use at
winter rallies and I'm seriously considering taking something cheaper
this time.

 

The one I've got is fine but it does need pretty much a whole pannier
http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Coleman_Quickbed_Large_with_Integrated_4D_Pump.html
but does smooth the ground out since you'll be around 4" up.

 

Given the likely fires, flying embers, drunken railwaymen, catherine
wheels etc. I'm wondering whether I should take my Khyam or not. OK,
it's not a very-very expensive tent but it was about 150 quid IIRC. A
cheap 'festival' tent cost a lot less (30 quid I think) and if snow
decended could just be dumped.

So... will the Khyam Igloo be significantly warmer than a cheap
'festival' tent?

 

The other downside is that you WILL get a puncture. This will mean at
least one uncomfortable night and more if you've lost the repair kit.
Also the repair kits IME don't really work and you'll end up throwing
the thing away. I'll never buy another one again. [1]

[1] I now have a camper van

 

I've a couple of Force 10s for sale, unmung email addy if you're interested.

 

<snip>

Oh no I didn't.

<Is that allowed out of panto season?>

 

<put your hand up if you think it is>

 

On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:09:54 +0100, Pete Fisher

Rapido?

We have a Confortmatic and haven't been in sufficient wind to upset
that as yet? Quite noisy (in a nice way) when it rains though. ;-)

 

That's why I bought the three man version for winter use.
The much larger porch means I can use a multifuel stove
without too much fear of instant death.

Yep. I'd not be too happy taking a really expensive tent to a
festival/rally. You'll just have to do it dog style and just
take a tarp. I'd be seriously impressed if you managed that
at the 'phant.

 

<Pensively starts to raise hand>
..
..
..
<thinks better of it>

 

<emailed>

 

Oh yes I did, but though I miss it, I don't really have occasion to use
one these days. Too big to go on a solo, and too small for the
occasional family outing.

I would still have my old one if I hadn't re-proofed the canvas too
liberally on the last occasion that I did.
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

This is a 1982 Elaime (French built and later badged as Casitas). It has
only impeded traffic on British roads once in my ownership on its way
down to Folkestone.

It now resides at the 'chateau' where it acts as an overspill bedroom
and has also had two week long stays in the Pyrenees.

Exceedingly light and not much wider than the Octavia, so it is possible
to make progress in a respectable way. It also has the advantage of
being charged as only class 1 through autoroute tolls.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I wouldn't say so and can't ever see us being so no. The Rapido folds
down into what looks like and tows like a 6' goods trailer but turns
into warm and dry 5 beth box when you get where you are going.

With all the problems with the wife's back (1 op so far), new knee and
other age related arthritic aches and pains she is finding camping
more and more difficult and this is a compromise between that and the
(less desirable to us and a sign that we really are old) alternative,
b&b or hotel. This has no toilet, shower, heater or fridge and no more
of a cooker than you might take with you in a tent. It's just warm and
dry and a bit more comfortable than sleeping on the ground (see tent
thread / airbeds etc).

Can't tow it behind the bikes / cycles though so it's still camping
while we can.

Likewise (especially here). ;-)

 

Ah, this 81 French built Rapido seems of similar heritage then Pete.
;-)

Had I still got the 2L Sierra the only restriction would be the towing
speed limits but this 1.9D non turbo Rover struggles a bit when towing
up steep hills. Mind you I do keep well over under such circumstances
and as people can see over it it's not a difficult combination to
overtake. On the flat I'm rarely at the front of any queue. ;-)

Nice. We find our Confortmatic is too interesting as it seems to draw
people over to chat as soon as we start putting it up. I still think
it's amazing how a 5 berth van (2 x doubles + 1 x hammock) can fold
out of such a small trailer, especially as it's all rigid (no canvas).
More so that it's over 25 years old and still going strong.

Ours is about 350kg so I'm not sure if that would be considered
exceedingly light but it was originally advertised as being towable by
a 2CV so it must be!

Handy. Also handy that we can store ours in a single garage and they
can even be put over onto their sides onto a sort of dolly and with
the wheels off take up even less room.

We still treat ours very much like camping as it has to be pitched
(it's not a pop-up) and has few fancy features. It also paid for
itself on our first trip. ;-)