My first tent - What should I get?

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harok11a

Ultralighter
I live in South Wales and hike a lot. I am normally out every weekend. Over the last year it's been mostly Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire, Lake District, etc... I would like to get a tent so I can go on overnight trips and will potentially do a few long trips this year.

I am 190cm (6ft 3) and a side sleeper. I would like space in a tent and not to be crammed in too much. I am also likely to be a fair weather user and will try and avoid strong wind/heavy rain. Obviously with our ridiculous unpredictable weather that's not always possible!

I hope to keep the tent fairly light, but don't want to go full ultralight and have too many compromises as it is my first ever tent.

Can anyone advise a tent that would be good to try for a first tent? Budget isn't a major factor.

Thanks
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Tarptent Moment DW ( solid inner) sounds like it could tick the boxes. Depends on what you mean by space.

But if you want more space, can't go wrong with the Tarptent Scarp 1. Long enough and wide enough for 2 people occasionally.

Or Hilleberg Niak or Anjan2 maybe.
 
F

fqjiopjq28fq

Ultralighter
If you hike with poles, maybe the Dan Durston Xmid 2p. Space for 2p inside and two large vestibules. It'll be a palace for 1 person and of course gives you the option to take a friend. Not ultralight, but light. Info here but is out of stock as of now: https://drop.com/buy/drop-x-mid-2-person-tent-designed-by-dan-durston It may be available on Amazon. Import only from the US, so taxes fees, takes a while to get through, etc. There is a 1p version if you want that, but the inner / sleeping area isn't that wide and you are restricted by poles on either side. Either one of these is a great option.

Another option that's recommended on here and I really like the look of but haven't tried is the Hexpeak V4A: https://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/shelters-1/WF129-138.html Again another trekking pole tent, this time only one pole though (but it has to be a long one or buy their particuar pole). Again, lots of lovely space, light but not ultralight.

These are both trekking pole tents, it migh tbe a good idea to first decide if you want a trekking pole tent vs freestanding or dome design. Obviously pros and cons to each.
 
F

fqjiopjq28fq

Ultralighter
Oh, another thing with the Xmids (or at least the 1p I have) is that the door zips are not water proof just water resistant and they are not covered by a flap. Nothing you can do about that. Also, the stitching attaching said zips is not sealed and you would need to do that yourself if you want (not a big job).

This only matters depending on how much rain you have obviously.
 
Rog Tallbloke

Rog Tallbloke

Thru Hiker
This 1/2 person mid is good for taller people. I'm 6' 8" and it's long enough for me. Reasonably light and very reasonably priced too.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000287516389.html
Hd93daa8e135e4db9bf396203d630884dJ.jpg
 
R

Rickyboyd

Summit Camper
I had a duplex. Don’t seem that popular on here but I loved it. (In fact changed to a triplex when the other half started coming out more) light weight, ridiculously easy to pitch and take down, small pack size. DCF is great when wet. Just give it a shake and it’s dry. So much space for one.

wouldn’t use it high up but you stipulate fair weather.
 
H

harok11a

Ultralighter
vaguehead said:
Oh, another thing with the Xmids (or at least the 1p I have) is that the door zips are not water proof just water resistant and they are not covered by a flap.
Click to expand...

That seems like a strange omission. I'd try to avoid rain, but our UK weather can be incredibly unpredictable!

I believe the Xmid 1p is too narrow for me. I'm a side sleeper and the inner on the 1p is very narrow, even compared to other 1p tents.

The 2p is interesting, mainly due to weight, pack size, space, and it's not ridiculously expensive in the UK. I guess the main negative is it's footprint size is big.

Mole said:
Tarptent Moment DW ( solid inner) sounds like it could tick the boxes. Depends on what you mean by space.

But if you want more space, can't go wrong with the Tarptent Scarp 1. Long enough and wide enough for 2 people occasionally.

Or Hilleberg Niak or Anjan2 maybe.
Click to expand...

I'm a side sleeper and have never had a tent of my own before so I believe a wider inner is sensible. I'm also 190cm tall and don't want to be crammed into a tiny tent!

Hillebergs are definitely interesting, but perhaps a little heavy whilst I'm looking for a lightweight non-winter tent. Maybe they'd be an option for my next tent if I enjoy it!

I've been looking at TarpTent. They have a lot of options that could perhaps work. The StratoSpire is the main one I was looking at, but I know very little! I'll keep researching their options.
 
H

harok11a

Ultralighter
Rickyboyd said:
I had a duplex. Don’t seem that popular on here but I loved it. (In fact changed to a triplex when the other half started coming out more) light weight, ridiculously easy to pitch and take down, small pack size. DCF is great when wet. Just give it a shake and it’s dry. So much space for one.

wouldn’t use it high up but you stipulate fair weather.
Click to expand...

The Duplex is perhaps a little too ultralight for my first tent and UK weather? I'll take more of a look into it though.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Well. Anything under 2 kg for a 2 person poled tent, is considered "lightweight" by common standards.

But if you mean a trekking pole supported tent, then under 1.5kg is "lightweight" for 2p.

Obviously ultralight is a lower weight again!

The Moment,Scarp and Notch are all longer inside than the Stratospire, but the Moment and Notch are narrower/lower at each end ( like many similar lightweight tents.)


Another for you to look at might be the Nordisk Telemark 2. It's very light and roomy.

Personally I don't rate the pitch at the foot end. It's badly supported and often floppy where rain or snow pools from what I've seen, and the 15D Fabric is flimsy
 
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R

Rickyboyd

Summit Camper
harok11a said:
The Duplex is perhaps a little too ultralight for my first tent and UK weather? I'll take more of a look into it though.
Click to expand...

I used for around 3 years in the Peaks, lakes, snowdonia etc and couldn’t grumble. Used my triplex to do the WHW and great glen way too.

No problem with rain and light wind. I think the worse weather I had either out in was the triplex in a particularly gusty night at Loch Etchachan. it survived but I didn’t like it.

Good as a spacious, fair weather and lightweight tent however. As per brief.
 
Robert P

Robert P

Thru Hiker
vaguehead said:
Oh, another thing with the Xmids (or at least the 1p I have) is that the door zips are not water proof just water resistant and they are not covered by a flap. Nothing you can do about that. Also, the stitching attaching said zips is not sealed and you would need to do that yourself if you want (not a big job).

This only matters depending on how much rain you have obviously.
Click to expand...
I've used my X-Mid 1 extensively in the rain and wind and never had any issue with water ingress through the door zips. To be honest I've not looked closely but even if a little water seeped in then it would only drip in the porch, not the inner
 
F

fqjiopjq28fq

Ultralighter
Robert P said:
I've used my X-Mid 1 extensively in the rain and wind and never had any issue with water ingress through the door zips. To be honest I've not looked closely but even if a little water seeped in then it would only drip in the porch, not the inner
Click to expand...

The first time I used my Xmid I had water ingress through the door zip. I'm not sure if it dripped on my stuff or ran down to the bottom of the fly.
 
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F

fqjiopjq28fq

Ultralighter
harok11a said:
That seems like a strange omission. I'd try to avoid rain, but our UK weather can be incredibly unpredictable!

I believe the Xmid 1p is too narrow for me. I'm a side sleeper and the inner on the 1p is very narrow, even compared to other 1p tents.

The 2p is interesting, mainly due to weight, pack size, space, and it's not ridiculously expensive in the UK. I guess the main negative is it's footprint size is big.



I'm a side sleeper and have never had a tent of my own before so I believe a wider inner is sensible. I'm also 190cm tall and don't want to be crammed into a tiny tent!

Hillebergs are definitely interesting, but perhaps a little heavy whilst I'm looking for a lightweight non-winter tent. Maybe they'd be an option for my next tent if I enjoy it!

I've been looking at TarpTent. They have a lot of options that could perhaps work. The StratoSpire is the main one I was looking at, but I know very little! I'll keep researching their options.
Click to expand...

I don't believe the zips not being water proof or having a covering flap is an omission, I think it's reasonable design choice for the US market. If you're in the US and you want a tent like this you're going to be doing some miles and you'll probably be doing them in places that aren't that wet. It makes sense not to have a flap, which adds hassle and weight, when a water resistance zip does the job most of the time. I believe quite a few tents do this nowadays (in the US).
 
Robert P

Robert P

Thru Hiker
vaguehead said:
I don't believe the zips not being water proof or having a covering flap is an omission, I think it's reasonable design choice for the US market. If you're in the US and you want a tent like this you're going to be doing some miles and you'll probably be doing them in places that aren't that wet. It makes sense not to have a flap, which adds hassle and weight, when a water resistance zip does the job most of the time. I believe quite a few tents do this nowadays (in the US).
Click to expand...
Interesting, on the tents I've had with a covering flap (but standard zip) the flap is not secured closed so the wind can open up the flap and drive rain in the zip under some conditions, so there are pros and cons to both approaches (unless both waterproof zip + cover). Personally I don't store anything in a tent porch that I care about getting wet so a bit of ingress would not be a big deal for me, but I can see it could be a pain if there is significant leakage and you want to keep the porch dry.
 
F

fqjiopjq28fq

Ultralighter
Robert P said:
Interesting, on the tents I've had with a covering flap (but standard zip) the flap is not secured closed so the wind can open up the flap and drive rain in the zip under some conditions, so there are pros and cons to both approaches (unless both waterproof zip + cover). Personally I don't store anything in a tent porch that I care about getting wet so a bit of ingress would not be a big deal for me, but I can see it could be a pain if there is significant leakage and you want to keep the porch dry.
Click to expand...

Yeah, personally I'd prefer a flap + current water resistant zip and deal with the extra hassle. But even in the UK I think the current design is fine. My old MSR Hubba has a fly that doesn't go to the ground so when the rain goes sideways the inner and corners can get wet.

I guess there are more examples out there.
 
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Shewie

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
If outer zips aren’t over the sleeping area does it matter if they’re not waterproof?

I only pitched my X-mid once before I sold it so can’t remember where the outer zips were in relation to the inner.
 
Rog Tallbloke

Rog Tallbloke

Thru Hiker
vaguehead said:
I really like the A frame on that and the fancy porch configuration if you have 4 hiking poles. Expect it's really strong in the wind.
Click to expand...

I had it pitched closer to the ground than the photo shows, and found it's very stable in strong wind. The fly only option is very light too. 490g plus 8 pegs and the A-frame pole extension.
 
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