What sub £500 two person/2p tent for UK & EU backpacking?
- Thread starter wtrfall
- Start date
WilliamC
Thru Hiker
The Stealth 2 narrows along its length so it's only that wide at the front. Check on the width at the back or your pads might overlap.
FOX160
Thru Hiker
I would stay away from mesh inners with 5”bath tub floors as will be drafty and uncomfortable on an uneven pitch which will disturb your sleep, our inner is an hybrid with 10” bathtub floors with mesh but the fly lays 3” from the floor so no drafts or winds have come in or woken us up which also means we have no need for a heavier solid inner.
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DuneElliot
Section Hiker
No issues whatsoever with the Duplex in wind and rain. I was in a DOOZY of a storm in Utah (and another in Wyoming but less violent). I was worried for sure at the time but even as the wind (in the midst of hail and thunderstorm - think tornado weather) hit some super-intense levels (the kind that flatten trees) it stood up to it. I had to re-tighten some guylines just a little after it was over, but everything was still intact and in good shape (except the dog food).
I'd be interested in selling the Li but it isn't in immaculate condition even though it's only seen about 7 nights of actual camping...PM me and maybe we can reach a deal.
wtrfall
Backpacker
Hd8ekownio24ugh5
Thru Hiker
I wonder what the strongest winds people have encountered with their Duplex-seeing as it has been mentioned. I have the green 'heavy' DCF version in 40- 50km wind and only had to tighten a guy and was also using the zpacks sticks. Anyone had winds above that. Ps I read gixers account/trip.
DuneElliot
Section Hiker
I'd say the storm I was in had gusts in excess of that as well as pretty sustained wind in the same range. I also had the .74 but used trekking poles. I know several people who have used them through the crazy windy desert sections of the PCT...and that wind is no joke
Hd8ekownio24ugh5
Thru Hiker
Yep, I had the sticks as an unexpected cold change (temp dropped 15 degrees Celcius in half an hour at 2 am) came through on an overnighter. The gusts would have been a wee bit stronger as well. Plus I had the full 120cms height sticks. Was a tad windy in there!
Went home and cut 2 cms off the sticks. I just love the simplicity of that thing. Taut pitch in the blink of an eye as well. Interested to know how the Tt goes for you. No Phreeranger any more?
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tallest of pauls
Section Hiker
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DuneElliot
Section Hiker
Yep, I had the sticks as an unexpected cold change (temp dropped 15 degrees Celcius in half an hour at 2 am) came through on an overnighter. The gusts would have been a wee bit stronger as well. Plus I had the full 120cms height sticks. Was a tad windy in there!
Phreeranger ended up with a broken pole the first night out with it...before I even used it. It's my one fear about poled tents, so Marc was kind enough to let me return it and get the Drift instead....which was actually the tent I had originally been looking at because of the Duplex similarity...I miss how quick and easy that tent was to set up, and the silpoly will be so much nicer to be able to stuff in the stuff sack to pack away rather than having to fold and roll like you have to do with DCF).
Hd8ekownio24ugh5
Thru Hiker
Ta for that. That's a bugger on the PhreeRanger. Integral pitch on the Drift?
I am seeing sil/nylon on the Drift-custom poly fly?
wtrfall
Backpacker
I’ve been chatting with Marc from Trekkertent and he’s able to make me a Drift 2 in DCF for around my budget, although for a double wall the weight saving is only about 150g from the regular silpoly so not really sure if it worth it for my needs (850/900g down from 1.04kg).
He can make a single wall Drift 2 in DCF for 700g but I think I’m leaning more towards double wall for UK use. Decisions decisions!
He can make a single wall Drift 2 in DCF for 700g but I think I’m leaning more towards double wall for UK use. Decisions decisions!
Clare
Thru Hiker
Would that be hybrid? Ie with net side walls but no net roof? Like the duplex
wtrfall
Backpacker
“The double walled Drift as standard has solid fabric sloping roof/end panels and mesh side panels. The dcf one in the photos had mesh sloping roof panels at the customer's request with just a 30cm strip of solid fabric on the sides above the bathtub to take the windchill off.”
To quote Marc!
To quote Marc!
wtrfall
Backpacker
That’s referring to the double wall, I don’t know about single wall specs. I’m going to assume it’s the same as the duplex (but a bit heavier)
WilliamC
Thru Hiker
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Clare
Thru Hiker
I was wondering what the 700g dcf set up that you were offered was.
wtrfall
Backpacker
It wasn’t that specific. I’ll post all the info I have from Marc here incase anyone stumbles across this thread in the future (bear in mind I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to tent specs)
Trekkertent DCF 2p
DRIFT
“We have made a few Drift 2's in dcf, these were double walled tents weighing 850 to 900 grams depending on spec. These cost £560 plus postage.
A 2 person version of the Drift 1 dcf (single walled tent) would weigh about 670 to 720 grams depending on spec and cost £520 plus postage.’
STEALTH
We have made a number of Stealth 1.5's in dcf and we are making a Stealth 2 for a customer in dcf next week, this costs £495 + shipping, I dont have the exact weight for it yet though.
All the tents are tested to at least 60 mph winds, although the Drift with its larger panels and wind profile has a bit more fabric movement than the Stealth and may need more pegs in very strong winds. The Drift is a more comfortable tent than the Stealth for longer trips though, more spacious, easier access and 2 adults can easily sit up at the same time, each having their own vestibule.
The double walled Drift as standard has solid fabric sloping roof/end panels and mesh side panels. The dcf one in the photos had mesh sloping roof panels at the customer's request with just a 30cm strip of solid fabric on the sides above the bathtub to take the windchill off.
Best Regards, Marc’
He also sent me some images of a custom 2p DCF drift that I could post at some point if helpful.
Trekkertent DCF 2p
DRIFT
“We have made a few Drift 2's in dcf, these were double walled tents weighing 850 to 900 grams depending on spec. These cost £560 plus postage.
A 2 person version of the Drift 1 dcf (single walled tent) would weigh about 670 to 720 grams depending on spec and cost £520 plus postage.’
STEALTH
We have made a number of Stealth 1.5's in dcf and we are making a Stealth 2 for a customer in dcf next week, this costs £495 + shipping, I dont have the exact weight for it yet though.
All the tents are tested to at least 60 mph winds, although the Drift with its larger panels and wind profile has a bit more fabric movement than the Stealth and may need more pegs in very strong winds. The Drift is a more comfortable tent than the Stealth for longer trips though, more spacious, easier access and 2 adults can easily sit up at the same time, each having their own vestibule.
The double walled Drift as standard has solid fabric sloping roof/end panels and mesh side panels. The dcf one in the photos had mesh sloping roof panels at the customer's request with just a 30cm strip of solid fabric on the sides above the bathtub to take the windchill off.
Best Regards, Marc’
He also sent me some images of a custom 2p DCF drift that I could post at some point if helpful.
island
Summit Camper
I used the Stratospire Li for the HRP recently.
This was for two people: 6'2" and 5'6".
The xlite large/wide pad fits next to the xlite women's pad really well.
Great to each have your own vestibule/door.
Loads of space in the tent for sleeping and sitting up. Loads of space for gear in the vestibule.
Used in a range of conditions and always worked extremely well. The last night we camped on a windy ridge. Knew it was gojng to be windy but wanted the view. Tent didn't flap much, slept well, great views in the morning.
Packs up easily and pitches easily. Light, strong, spacious. I'm a fan!
It does have a big footprint but wasn't an issue really. Always found somewhere to pitch. Didnt always find an optimal pitch but wasn't a massive problem.
I ended up buying a slightly larger volume pack so I could carry it. Went vertically in the bottom of the pack with my quilt vertically next to it. Food bag horizontally on top then clothes bag on top of that. Was fine.
Are you going to split the tent or carry all of it?
This was for two people: 6'2" and 5'6".
The xlite large/wide pad fits next to the xlite women's pad really well.
Great to each have your own vestibule/door.
Loads of space in the tent for sleeping and sitting up. Loads of space for gear in the vestibule.
Used in a range of conditions and always worked extremely well. The last night we camped on a windy ridge. Knew it was gojng to be windy but wanted the view. Tent didn't flap much, slept well, great views in the morning.
Packs up easily and pitches easily. Light, strong, spacious. I'm a fan!
It does have a big footprint but wasn't an issue really. Always found somewhere to pitch. Didnt always find an optimal pitch but wasn't a massive problem.
I ended up buying a slightly larger volume pack so I could carry it. Went vertically in the bottom of the pack with my quilt vertically next to it. Food bag horizontally on top then clothes bag on top of that. Was fine.
Are you going to split the tent or carry all of it?
wtrfall
Backpacker
I'll probably carry it all, but not sure yet. I really want a Strat Li now!
Do you have any photos to show how bulky it is when it's compressed and packed down? Would be super helpful.
I'm getting a 40L pack (Atom Packs Atom+), although I could request it's made larger as I don't think production has started. Have a quilt, pillow, new stove system etc. that pack down fairly small, so unsure if the size will be an issue or not.
FOX160
Thru Hiker
That’s was my question I had asked Marc regarding the possibility of raising the floor to 10” and Marc offered this free but would add approx 40grams for silpoly and 10grams for the dcf.
From my experiences taken from 5”bathtub floors in single wall tents, the closest to perfection (for myself) is the Yama tents with the fly pitching much lower than the bathtub floor, we don’t have drafts, they would have to climb 10”.
Rather than the Zpacks and others that have the top of the bathtub floor attached to the bottom of fly, being no matter how low you drop the fly the bathtub floor will always be at the same level, so when it is windy/drafty I was always cold or disturbed my sleep.
Agree with @WilliamC the modded Drft dcf 1/2 would be a serious contender to the Duplex and considering the Trekkertent dcf for myself.
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WilliamC
Thru Hiker
Given Marc's willingness to customise, I would say that a DCF Drift is a superior choice to the Duplex.
DuneElliot
Section Hiker
I'm guessing so...if you mean they're separate inner/outer but pitch together. I emailed Marc about what the website says...they make the Drift in Silpoly only (or DCF if requested) not silnylon due to the large panels and sagging of silnylon when wet.