UKC

Apologies for the Trail / Stumbler & Bumbler style topic, but needs must....

I need a replacement tent. I've had an old Vango since, errr, 1994 or something and it's finally falling to bits. I rated it very highly - a tall dome with a hexagonal footprint and an extra bit of storage space inside as well as the traditional 2 man rectangle area. So I'm looking for a new one.

Important:
Up to £180-ish.
Decent headroom inside - really important.
Semi-geodisic at least, must not rely on tensioned pegging.
Outer first pitching ideally.
Reasonably easy pitching.

Not so important:
Weight.
Porch size.

I've seen a few options:
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/vango-halo-300-tent-d1412221?id_colour=98
Looks a good size but a very large footprint.

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/vango-sierra-300-tent-d1412243?id_colour=
Also looks good, smaller footprint but actually getting to a weight that is heavy.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/oex-cougar-2-tent-p322022
Managed to have a look at this pitched in store, surprisingly good headroom due to shape, footprint style is very similar to old Vango, extra triangle for storage inside is useful, but some concerns about build quality if it's GoOutdoors' own brand.

Any thoughts / ideas / suggestions??

In reply to Fiend:

I've been planning to get a new tent with very similar requirements....have looked at a fair number and will be buying the Halo 300!

In reply to Fiend:

Rock & Run had a MSR tent half price sale out last week. Not sure what's left, but well priced.

b

In reply to Fiend:

http://www.rockrun.com/deals/msr-tent-sale

Asgard solid but over budget somewhat (220)

b

In reply to Fiend:

I've had a Vaude Taurus 2 for about seven years and it's taken everything it's had chucked at it, including being pitched side-on to a gale at Sligachan. Great ventilation, stands up with just two poles in, porch nothing special but useable for cooking or for a big pack. Negatives: thin groundsheet, but I got a separate footprint. Headroom-wise is sit-upable at the porch end only, but that's more down to how the inner drapes down as opposed to how tall the tent actually is.

I'll be gutted when she carks it.

In reply to Fiend:

I've just got one of these,

http://www.millets.co.uk/tents-camping/164995-peak-3-3-tent.html

very small pack size,

In reply to broady:

That's not semi-geodisic at all!

ben b - cheers but nothing suitable left in that sale.

Monkey puzzle - cheers but that's not a big 2 man tent, I think they had one pitched in Cotswold and it's too small for me.

In reply to Fiend:

Have you seen if Decathlon have anything suitable? If you are trying not to spend silly money, their tents are well worth a look. Will you be carrying it far? i.e. is weight important? Alpkit do the Ordos 3 that I looked quite seriously at getting last year, but I think they have gone up in price a bit now and are about your budget, but it does look light for a tent of that size.

In reply to TobyA:

Good call with Decathlon, will check.

Carrying - 50m from car to pitch maybe?? But I do prefer more compact kit if possible.

In reply to Fiend:

I've got the OEX Cougar.

Had it for about a year now. It's been bombproof, easily withstanding 60mph winds in the Lakes last Easter. I chose it because it's big for a 2 man tent, and it has enough height to be able to sit upright in (I'm about 6ft).

The pack size isn't great, but you mentioned you're not too bothered about that anyway. It does stuff away into 2 drybags (included) which is pretty cool, it means you can easily share the load if you're backpacking with a mate. It's not the longest tent, but you could sleep diagonally if your on your own if you're taller than 6ft.

Build quality is great. It's not so much "own brand," more an "exclusive brand," so is developed independently and sold through Go Outdoors stores.

In reply to Christoofar:

Cheers man, will feed that into the decision-making machine.

In reply to Fiend:

They do a three man one too, for not much more