UKC

I’m looking for advice on one man tents (not bivvi bags) if anyone has any? I am looking to use it in winter environments temps to -20 and wet environments (UK).

Important issues for me are:
1. weight
2. can the outer be put up to for a simple shelter without the inner being used
3. venting (lots off)
4. stability
5. ease of use

If anyone has any recommendations I really would like to hear them.

Models I have in mind are:

Hilleberg Akto
TNF solo 12
MSR Microzoid
REI Roadster UL
Sierra Designs Light Year CD
Terra Nova 1 man range

Look forward to your thoughts

Iain

In reply to IWL: I have a Hilleberg Akto which I bought about 4 years ago. I have used it a lot, winter camping & long summer expeditions. I think it's a great little tent, very easy to put up, the inner and the outer go up together. Very stable and probably the feature I like the best a really good porch, which is important if you are cooking in the tent in bad conditions.

In reply to Mike Bradford:

I too have an Akto and love it. It is dead easy to put up and will stay up in very bad conditions. I have 100% confidence in the tent. I use it for pack packing and used it for 2 weeks car based camping when mountain biking in Chamonix.

I am 1870mm (6`2") tall and can sit up in it. The porch is very large and easily holds all my gear.

However it isnt perfect but no tent I could find was. Due to the door not being vertical when I get in or out when it is raining some rain will come into the porch area.

I have also experienced some condensation on the inside of the inner tent.

Hilleberg make the best tents, I will not buy any other make.

In reply to JWB:

Another one for the Akto- had mine 4 years now. Have taken it loads of places. Lightweight, roomy, easy to pitch.

Great tent- I'd go for it over the Terra Nova ones simply because its a hilleberg and totally agree with JWB. After using Hilleberg tents another makers tent would have to be extremely special for me to consider it.

Think Hilleberg are like the Arcteryx of tents. Expensive but worth it for the thoughtfulness of design.

In reply to IWL: Get an Atko. I have had one for seven years, used all over the shop, wind and snow in Ladakh, pissing down gale in Torridon, daft heat in Pakistan, never a problem. I once saw one at Glasto. That I wouldn't reccomend.
Best bit of kit I own.

In reply to IWL:
I own a macpac microlight which is a great little tent: very sturdy, you can pitch the inner or the outer only if you wish, roomy, easy to pitch. However, if I had been able to justify/raise the money, I would have gone for the Hilleberg akto.

In reply to IWL: Just buy an Akto, you'll never regret it! C-:

In reply to IWL:

Have your looked at the USA company Warmlite, the 2R climber tent comes in at 0.95kg. I am looking at getting one for races and alpine stuff.

http://www.warmlite.com/

Just beware the naked people!

In reply to IWL:

Have a TN Solar - no longer made but similar to Macpac Microlight. Outer can be pitched independently. Very stable in strong winds and good space.Heavy by modern standards and looking to get a replacement. Atko looks good but pricey and hard to find, no-one seems to have one in stock. LAser Comp is another alternative which is cheaper, much lighter (1kg) but obviously not as stable or long-lasting.

A friend has at Atko and is plagued with condensation problems, be interested to hear if anyone else gets problems with that too.

In reply to IWL: Akto!!!!!

In reply to IWL: These are brilliant if you can find one. Mine's stood up to howling gales with an impressive degree of dryness inside. The 'cylq' one has a really slippy, shiny, water repellent flysheet which absorbs no water at all. Roomy too.
http://www.agk67.dial.pipex.com/zr0cylq.html

In reply to IWL: ive got a mounatin marathon (north face tent) it has sttod up to loasds of abuse is really light can be put up with only inner or onlu outer is reall ysmall and light and at push two can fit in

http://www.wildtrak.com/product.asp?id=28

hope that helps
matt

In reply to JB:
Atko looks good but pricey and hard to find, no-one seems to have one in stock.

I know somewhere that does...!


No more than with any one man tent, and even less when I have the vents open.

C-:

In reply to CarolineMc: Was going to suggest a TN Solar as mine seems pretty good, no problems in some 6 years of use in Scotland, the Alpes & the Pyrenees but apparently they don't make them anymore, shame.

In reply to JB:

>A friend has at Atko and is plagued with condensation problems

We're in England, the country whose weather trashes jackets and tents faster than a volcano could!! Condensation is pretty much a way of life over here, and the Hillebergs are by far the best at dealing with it! After having used many tents that drip on me in the early hours, I now wouldn't change my Hilleberg!!

In reply to IWL:

No-one using Saunders tents these days? I've got a 10 year old Jetpacker which is tiny, light Under 1 kg), stable, and you can use the outer without the inner which makes a great bivvy shelter in summer.

In reply to blueshound: I was unfortunate enough to have to use a load of saunders tents on expedition last summer. I spent most of the time using broken ones to patch up the others. Ended up having to buy a load of new tents cos we were plagued with broken zips. They used to be one of the best but I'm sorry to say they have been overtaken now. C-:

In reply to IWL:
Been using a Laserlite since they came out, no problems. AFAIK Terra Nova have since started making an even lighter version - LaserComp. Pre-assemble into the bag and it ends up being ridiculously fast to pitch, which is nice when it's weeing it down. Never had too many issues with condensation.

In reply to IWL: I have the Terra Nova Lazer Comp, which I went for as it is the lightest thing I could find. I really can't complain about it - it stands up to the wind and rain as well as anything else I have ever been in and I have had no problem with condensation.

I haven't tried the Hilleberg to compare but I don't think you can go wrong with the Terra Nova.

G

In reply to IWL: I have a Terra Nova comp. at only 850gs its extremely light, got enough room for me and gear and a big enough porch to cook in. I've had it in gale force winds with the included storm guides and its fine.

In reply to IWL:
Go-Lite Hex with a half-tent groundsheet and a Rab Survival Zone bivvy bag.

Using my trekking poles as tent poles, this weighs a bit less than the Akto, but has an awesome amount of space. We have had six people in it to play cards. Ample room for two people. It is not possible for me to stand up in it, but there is still loads of room to get changed, hang my wet jacket from the pole, cook my dinner with the door closed but no fear of fire...

But in midge season I would use the bug-proof inner.

In reply to IWL: Another recommendation for the Akto not had it long, but it's consistently performed in all condition. It's also large for it's weight and is rated for 4 seasons.

In reply to JB:

Akto Condensation.

I have only used 2 tents, a single skin for 20 years and recently my Akto.

The single skin used to get condensation on the inside even with the doors open in certain conditions.

My Akto gets condensation on the inside of the OUTER especially when there is no wind. I presume this will occur in all double skin tents.
What does concern me more is the occasional time I have had light condensation on the inside of the INNER. However when this occured other people in double skins tents experienced the same.

From the answers so far there is only one choice.....Akto!

In reply to IWL:

Cheers guys, really helpfull. Thanks

In reply to IWL: here are my thoughts... Marmot EOS 1 tent, plus I am selling it if you like...

I have an Atko in addition to at least 10 other backpacking tents from Black Diamond, Walrus, MSR, etc. I also do most of my backpacking in Colorado and the desert southwest where humidity is not a problem. I like the design and quality of Hilleberg tents for the most part, but condensation is DEFINITELY a problem. I invariably wake up with a wet sleeping bag in the Atko, even with all vents wide open. I've never had a condensation problem with any of my other tents.

In reply to smithy: