Thanks for those comments Will and Harty. The Vango Halo is on my list of tents to look at.
Merry Christmas,
Geoff

I like the Vango Force 10 tents and when I was looking for something strong, but still lightish in weight, I was recommended to look at the Vango Nitro+ tent. It has a spacious porch area for wet biker gear and also more tie down points for use in rough weather. The super light Heliums, etc. lack these tie additional tie downs.

The Vango tents I think are only 210cm internal length so (being tall) I went with something a bit longer inside. Also, being in Germany, it was difficult to see the tent in the flesh so to speak.

I still have a Vango Force 10 MkIV (cotton) and that has been out in some dreadful Scottish stormy weather, but never had a problem with it. I was even able to get replacement springs for the pole sections recently, even though the tent must be 30 years old or so. Makes a change being able to get spares for such an old bit of kit.

Grey Beard

The force ten is a legendary tent - famous in the UK for being used as a punishment for the bad kids on school trips - you can carry the tent!

They are also pretty much fireproof, as has been demonstrated at least once with an exploding MSR.

Your right about the weight, but I have carried it with climbing gear to some climbs in Arran on the slabs (Glen Rosa?). But it's a great tent, solid ground sheet and no condensation problems. Mine is even heavier as it has a snow valence fitted.

I did see one MkIV have a broken ridge pole one fierce night wild camping night in Glen Etive in Scotland. My tent was right next to it, but I had storm guys on it, so it survived the night. Not sure I slept so much, as kept expecting the tent to take off!!

Grey Beard

Jeez, carrying a rack two ropes and a Quasar up to Cloggy (Snowdon) nearly wiped me out - you must be built like a brick sh*thouse!

I have the Vango Omega 350 (3 man Tent), I went for the 3 man as I will be having a pillion with me & I got the 2011 version as the inner ground sheet has a inner skirt raised up so water don't get in, 2010 don't have the raised skirt,
It has ally poles & the wait is 5.5kg the Vango Bravo is very similar but has fiberglass poles. I like the idea the tend has its own stuff sack, & a inner sleeping area, 2 doors, I was surprised at the amount of tent pegs I got 30 and not your flimsy things these are good quality pegs, the omega & bravo both also have a tension band system so if in very bad weather or windy can tighten these for extra strength.

I know quite a few people have used this tent even the D of E recommend this tent, I think looking at the wait over space (irrespective of the 250, 2 man or 350 you would be pleasantly surprised on the amount of internal space!
I have 2 standard Givi Panniers & a Otleib roll bag, all of that went into the
porch / cooking ,(wet weather), area & me and my pillion still had room to sit about with out going into the sleeping area.

I suggest you seriously go have a look at this model.

FYI I decided 1 day when I had only got the tend 2 days prior to put it up but as it was raining i decided i would put it up in the living room, all I can say was WOW I was supprised how big it is & how small it went down too.

When I got mine I got it from a firm called outback trading (a really good fast service, & a good price, i asked how he could do it so cheap as they are a small independent)

Outback Trading -

Thanks for all that info Selous. I'll definitely check it out.

Geoff

I've just heard that Les will be at The Ace on Sunday for the Overland and Adventure day with a range of Exped Tents including an Auriga if you want to see them in the flesh.

If you've got questions on tents Les is the man to speak to.

m

Ridge poleless
 

The best tent, ever, was the Black's Good Companion which didn't break ridge poles because it has none :thumbup1:

Good Companion Standard Tent Reviews and Details 1

Hard to find nowadays I expect.

Thanks Matt. I'm going there and I spoke to Les at Excel to confirm he'd be bringing some tents. I'll look out for you.
Geoff

Good Companions, Wow, that takes me back a bit! Actually so does the talk about Vango Force Tens as I still use my Mk 4 regularly. I bought mine in the mid 70's and I know of two older ones that are still in regular use, one of which, a Mk 5 bought in 1970, is the oldest one Vango are aware of.

Yes they're heavy (slightly less if you have the nylon flysheet) and no, I wouldn't like to go backpacking with it but for bike use they're fine. Quite a few other tents have gone through my hands in the meantime but the Force 10 just keeps on going. Def gets my vote for the best tent ever.

See you there :-)

m

Hilleberg tents are very good.

I dont think you can buy a really good 4 season tent for only 200-300 quid.

I own a Hilleberg Kaitum 3 and that is a very good 2 person tent. Folds small, light weight, very spacy inside, can be pitched extremely fast by only one person.

Redverz
 

I just bought a Redverz Exhibition 11 tent, haven't had a chance to put it up yet..
3 season, you can stand up in it and most importantly you can park your bike in it! And it only ways about 6kg's, you can fit a double mattress in there and its a fairly small pack size, all for about £350.
Check out www.redverz.co.uk
Looks perfect to me!

Hope you went for the green one! That yellow job will attract the midges and mosquitos like no-ones business!

I can attest to the room it has

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6...6cdc66c7b5.jpg

Stace and I did a little 'testing' last year at the Adventure Travel Film Festival.