And now these on sale:
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These are really good prices.
Hi Ian
Any ideas as to what the issues where because l boughht 1 this month and planning to use it next week overnight Tugela falls
Hi,
Iām not sure if theyāve sorted out the issue.
Have a look at the two vents.
The āoldā version had no means to keep these vents open, and wind or wind and rain would have blown them closed. The result would have meant heavy condensation. Some folk did complain bout this after using the tent.
CUM referred it to the factory, and they removed all the tents from stores, and sent them back to the factory.
With you having only purchased it a month ago, I assume that the issue is sorted.
l checked it out and they have some small stand there but its definately not gonna hold the vent open with heavy rains or winds.
Hello All
What an amazing thread, essentially the only advice independent available on the South African web (that I can find).
Iām looking for a roomy one person tent that will be suitable for an Orange River Trip in April, but will be good to handover to my son (16 yrs) for self-sufficient 5 day āsnowā hikes in the Cederberg with his Scouts group.
Iāve read through every post and appreciate all the insights, which Iāve narrowed down to the following:
- Vango Helvellyn 200
- Cloud Up 2 Ultralight 2P Tent (Upgrade)
- Cloud Up 2 Ultralight 2P Tent (Upgrade) 10D
- Spider Ultralight 1P Tent
Iām seriously tempted by the Helvellyn 200, over the Cloud Up 2, as it strikes me as a better tent but itās a +/- 800 grams heavier and packs a little bigger. I donāt mind another 1kg, but it is equivalent of 1l water or food on a 5 day hike. Is it worth the extra weight?
The other tent on my radar is the Ultralight Spider, but I read above itās cold and probably wouldnāt suit Cederberg winter.
Or perhaps Iām missing something?
Any guidance welcome. Thank you!
Hey Joe which is also the beginning of a Hendrix song I cannot vouch much for the Cloud Ups but can for Vango tents having owned one for over 10 yrs, theyāre tough and their water heads are usefully impressive.
Best to compare the details of venting options, fabric strength, guy-lines strength and glow in the dark from torchlight (useful), toggle durability, depth of bathtub ground, replacement poles availability etc.
Or put another wayā¦this will be your shelter, your last defence against what nature has in store, weight is just one small factor, the real devil is in the details of construction and durability.
Note that the NH CU tents are not semi geodesic whereas the Helvellyn is, meaning greater wind resistance and durability. The other genius of the Helvellyn is the ability to pitch inner and outer together, bam in one go - great for pitching in heavy rain, ie pitch/prep at home, then pack it up and voila. It can also be pitched outer only for a lightweight summer optionā¦not sure NH CU can do any of this (confirm for yourself).
I have two tents - a Vango Mirage 300 and Robens Chaser 3XE (brought in), Vango weighs around 3.6kg and the Robens 1.8 -ish. The weight saving is a real boon, truly. But the Vango still offers greater security and durability.
Remember unless space age tech is being used eg Cuben Fibre, youāre just buying thinner weaker fabric and thinner poles. If you were going to save 1.5 kg and upwards Iād say yeah maybe the NH but at 800gm the peace of mind of a superior tent is worth it.
Also, waking up in a white tent could be nasty, Iāve slept in a yellow tent before, and red, horrid to wake up in, like being turned into sausage meat, or peed on. The Vango is green outer and orange inner, makes for a pleasant environment, and more hide and seek in the environment.
I would go for Helvellyn.
Edit:
Oh, and after day 1 youāve already eaten 500gm or more of food, things get lighter as we go alongā¦
And, If your son will use it for snow hikes I reckon the Vango will shed snow better, you need a proper structure to deal with snow
Anybody in ZA using a Lanshan 1 trekking pole tent?
The separate tarp is only for shade and light rain. Was trying out a few different setups in my garden. The Lanshan is super light and nice when the weather is not windy. Thought it is a no brainer as I already have two trekking poles. Thus most of the weight is saved by not having to carry tent poles. It is available on Amazon ZA and not expensive. Going to UK this year and was seeking a light weight and smaller option to help with packing efficiency.
I have a MSR tent for rough weather and have used this the last few years. Some Kway tents before. MSR have been holding up well and we have done some nice hikes abroad with it. Most memorable trip was a few nights wild camping in Yosemite. It was super cold and somehow in our group we were short a sleeping bagā¦ I gave up my bag for the lady and used only my bag liner and an emergency blanket with some jackets covering me. But to this day I believe the MSR Elixer played a big role helping to prevent hypothermia (And spooning with my mate).