Cheap or expensive tent?

[Digby]

What's the difference between a cheap tent and an expensive tent for a beginner? What about the really expensive tents? What should you look for in a first tent for backpack camping in the UK summer?, USA summer?, tropics?, Scandinavian winter?

[Survivaldon]

Digby,

The 2 main differences between inexpensive and expensive tents are:

1. Quality of materials used to make them.
2. Overall weight & durability of the tent.

I have tested just about every tent on the market, coleman, white stag, northface, etc.

The best tent I found is made by Hilleberg, a Swedish tentmaker, www.hilleberg.com (http://www.hilleberg.com/)

They make a wide variety of tents. The model that I own is: Keron 4 GT (http://www.hilleberg.com/Catalog/keron_4_gt_403811.htm)
It's a 4 person / 9 lbs 7 oz tent. It's a 4 season tent and very comfortable
to pack alone or with a partner and one of the best tents available for demanding situations, especially in variable and inclement weather.

Specs on the Keron GT 4 -
The Keron GT is an excellent choice for everything from arctic expeditions to base camp mountaineering to cycle touring to car camping - anytime you want maximum usable space, but don’t want to pay a penalty in excess weight. In addition, the Keron GT has a deserved reputation for its highest quality materials and craftsmanship, its proven, weather-beating design, and its dual entrances. Little wonder then that it is a favourite of hardcore users like Scandinavian dog mushers, long distance arctic expeditions and military special operations units.
The hallmark of the Keron GT models are their extended vestibules, which range from 2.4 m²/26 ft² in the Keron 2 GT, to a whopping 3.4 m²/37 ft² in the Keron 4 GT: room aplenty (and then some) for socializing, food preparation, or extra equipment. In fact, you can park two bicycles in the Keron 4 GT’s vestibule! And both the extended and the “regular” vestibules boast an adjustable vent, placed so that they will function even if the tent is dug down into deep snow. If you need even more space temporarily, take advantage of the detachable inner tent: while the tent is set up, disconnect the inner from the front pole and collapse it. This creates a giant floorless space that’s perfect for gathering or gear sorting. When such a space is no longer needed, reattach the inner.

On long trips, two or three people will find the roominess of the Keron 2 GT and Keron 3 GT a welcome boon, and for winter trips the Keron 3 GT offers two people palatial comfort in a sub-5 kilo/10 pound package. The Keron 4 GT is, frankly, enormous, and can easily provide enough space for four adults and all their gear – or for three, heavily-laden adventurers seeking extra room. Indeed, it is all the extra room in the GTs that also makes them outstanding four season, general use tents, whether that means rambles in the mountains and forests, coastal jaunts, or base camping in your local recreation area!

Keron is the Sami word for grouse. Another variation of the word is Kiruna, a town in the very far north of Sweden.

FABRICS:
~Outer tent: Kerlon 1800.
~Inner tent: water repellent and venting nylon.
~Heavy duty ground sheet with PU coating and high bathtub-style sides.

CONVENIENCE
~Two very roomy vestibules, each with an entrance. The extended vestibule has a side entrance doubled with no-see-um mesh.
~Linked inner and outer tent pitch (http://www.hilleberg.com/extras/tunpitch.html) simultaneously -and can be easily taken apart for separate use.
~Full height in the entire inner tent.
~Vertical entrances in inner tent.
~Clothes line and four inner pockets.

VENTILATION:
~Two adjustable vents (http://www.hilleberg.com/extras/gen_vent.html) in the outer tent with mesh. Vents can be closed with snowproof panels and can be operated from both inside and outside.
~Inner tent entrances are fully backed with mesh.
~Side entrance in the GT-vestibule has mesh.

STABILITY:
~Pole sleeves with only one opening, with room for double poling.
~a href="/extras/poles.html" onClick="return pu2('poles');">adjustable pole tensioners with room for double poling.
~Adjustable peg loops.
~Strong double guy line (http://www.hilleberg.com/extras/guy.html) attachments and double line runners on all pole sleeves on both sides.
~Guy lines with line runners on vents.

Inner tent can be used separately. Pitching requires extra pole holders (http://www.hilleberg.com/extras/poleholder.html) – see accessories.

Keron GT
http://www.hilleberg.com/details/keron-gt-skiss.gif



Included with every tent:
Poles and pole bag, pegs and peg bag, spare pole section and repair sleeve, instructions

Technical Specifications
(Minimum weight is limited to inner tent, outer tent and poles, while packed weight refers to the complete tent, including all details.)



Model





Pole Length PegsMin. Weight Packed WeightInner (sq ft)Vestibule (sq ft)Height InnerKeron 2 GT293 cm22 pro pegs7 lbs 11 oz9 lbs 30.126 + 1338"Keron 3 GT328 cm22 pro pegs8 lbs 6 oz9 lbs 14 oz36.630 + 1442"Keron 4 GT368 cm22 pro pegs9 lbs 7 oz10 lbs 2 oz47.336.6 + 17.244"

[Ollie]

Looks impressive :)

As I think I've mentioned before, one of the things I look for in a tent is how easy it is to put up - I don't mind if it's a bit cramped, as long as it's dry and I haven't had to spend hours cursing, trying to 'get those bloody poles through the outer'. At the end of a long day I want to be tucked in ready to sleep nice and early, preferably with a bedtime story... or is that too much to ask for? :D

Ollie

[jbgraham]

I would tell a beginner that the price of the tent usually is reflected in the strength of the fabric and poles, the quality of construction and where it was made. Most beginners will be camping in less than extreme conditions and may have limited budget, and they don't need such a bombproof expedition tent. Also, most of the lower cost tents are made in China, and though the quality of Chinese made textiles has been inferior in the past, that is not really the case now. It may be that someone wishes to favor more expensive European and North American textiles in order to oppose job flight, but I'm afraid they really would be tilting at windmills, and the gesture could be quite expensive if applied to all their purchases.

[Survivaldon]

I understand what your saying JB, but....I have witnessed people out in the field with "cheaper priced" tents, only to be frustrated at the fact that they have torn the floor from walking on it or that a zipper has failed and such.

I have used the cheaper tents under "normal" camping conditions (anybody that has ever been with me on any type of excursion can tell you that I am very festidious about caring for my equipment) and I have had them fail after only a few days to week of use.

I too, have been witness to scenarios where after having equipment, like a tent, fail that person did not want to repeat that experience again.

The main reason why I post about the type of equipment I do is merely due to the fact that I test many many pieces of various types of equipment i.e.; tents, sleeping bags, stoves, water purifiers/filters, boots, clothing, etc., and I am giving my unbiased opinion.

I would rather see someone spend a little more and enjoy their experience in Mother Nature, then to hear that they had a horrible time due to something that they had with them that failed. I wish I had had the value of a knowledgable person with experience in what worked and what didn't back when I was on my own trying and buying my first gear. It was trial and error and many dollars spent to find the proper gear, as well as, gear that would last for more than one season or usually part of a season. Especially without needing to be repaired or patched on the trail! Duct tape only holds for so long. :D

Also Digby asked about the "more expensive" tents and tents that can be used for all 4 seasons too. I am just trying to give him the knowledge of my experience! Besides there are not many of the "cheaper" priced tents that you could or would want to use in winter. The Hilleberg can and has successfully been used for many winter expeditions all around the world!

Digby wrote:
What's the difference between a cheap tent and an expensive tent for a beginner? What about the really expensive tents? What should you look for in a first tent for backpack camping in the UK summer?, USA summer?, tropics?, Scandinavian winter?

After all, you wouldn't try hiking around the Grand Canyon or Highlands of Scotland with $10 hiking boots would you?....You get what you pay for! JMHO :)