UKC

I'm really in two minds about what sort of tent to take to Iceland this summer. I know it can get ferocious weather and a solid tent is preferable.. But I also notice lots of folk make do with fairly standard 3 season tents. 

Anyone been and would you be happy with a fairly standard 3 season tent (like MSR Hubba Hubba)... or do you think you have to beef it up to a 4 season tent in case of the crazy Icelandic winds. 

It's a 1 week, off road ride in the South of Iceland in August. The route does pass huts, but hope to mainly camp. Thanks

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

I've been to Iceland twice in June and my Hubba Hubba was absolutely fine. The first time rain and snow was more of a problem than wind. 

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

Only been once and found the weather very changeable. Rain, sun, wind, calm repeating almost hourly.

Was fine in a Hilleberg Akto

Lovely place, enjoy it.

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

A few years ago I spent a lot of time thinking about what tent for some walking in Patagonia, Lofoten, Greenland and Iceland.  I was mainly worried about the potential for high winds in making a decision.  The MSR Hubba Hubba was high on my list but in the end went for a Lightwave t10 raid

https://www.lightwave.uk.com/products/tents/lightwave-tents

It stood up really well to everything thrown at it. Whilst down as 4-season I think they are between 3 and 4 season.  Not the biggest tent so if you want some more comfort I would go with something a little bigger.

But from all the research I did a Hubba Hubba would have been fine.

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

Have you looked at the Durston X Dome?

They do a version with a shorter section pole set for bike packing.

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

It’s just luck of the draw how a turbulent wind hits your tent. I did an Icelandic trip in a Terra nova Voyager (so three season), late September, on one windy night three NSR hubbas suffered broken poles, and the cheaper festival tents on the site also suffered, while the voyager was fine. A cheap Italian ??Ferreo/ferrino?? also survived next the voyager.

It has put me off the wish-bone MSR  design, but I can’t say that is a fair conclusion given the adjacent cheap tent surviving.

Personally I’d go with a decent three season tent, rather than lug a four season around. If it’s bad weather retreat to a hut, or if on campsites with large 4x4s (which is common) ask to pitch in their Lee.

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

If you already own the MSR I wouldn’t buy another tent. It’ll be fine - maybe not the optimal, but unless you get a really gusty windstorm it’ll stand up.

In reply to ScraggyGoat:

Good advice thanks.  Might take my voyager as they are bombproof... but its heavier (2.5kg) than I wanted to take really... we did wonder about retreating to huts if it gets bad...

In reply to TMM:

That looks a really interesting tent ... thanks

In reply to TMM:

Just watched a video of someone trying to use one of these in windy Scottish conditions and it was a shambles and broke. So maybe not 😆

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

I've used my old Voyager in 70+ mph winds and a proper Scottish blizzard. We had to dig it out in the early hours and one pole had a permanent bend as a result but if I was worried about strong winds it would be my choice. (My much lighter Alpkit Ordos has been flattened by much lighter winds).

In reply to angry pirate:

Ha, yes I think I'll resurrect my old voyager! 

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

I've been there twice and the majority of the tents I spotted were Hilleberg or Vaude.

You could get away with a lesser brand or you might not, it all depends how lucky you are with the weather.

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

Most of the YouTube failures relate to the launch tents which used Easton poles where the ferrules were not properly glued.

Durston sent new poles to ALL customers regardless of whether their poles failed and they also got Easton to change their pole manufacturing process.

In reply to TMM:

yes, fair play..  youtube.com/watch?v=QB8_jKnx_v0&

the bargain priced naturehike brand does well in this wind test..

youtube.com/watch?v=9CcW6MwSWqY&

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

Back in the day I did something similar (week around the ringroad) using a Terra Nova Trisar Convertible (bit of a ginger stepchild discontinued tent, a sort of Voyager with an extra pole.) It was perfectly adequate. 

You could try double-poling your tent if you can get spares and if the sleeves are wide enough. I've just made a set of double poles for my replacement TN, and... sure enough, the sleeves won't fit two sets of poles. So that's me told. Didn't cost me anything but time I guess. Pity to miss out on a standard high-mountain technique though. 

Y

In reply to Simonfarfaraway: I rode north to south in early July a couple of years ago and took a four season Hilleberg Soulo. The tent was overkill as it was sunny and calm throughout my trip but it’s pretty exposed territory with no tree cover and you hear tales of 100+mph winds. I’d certainly go for a high-quality tent and make sure it was pitched well. Practice putting it up in a gale before you leave. Also: work out a route which doesn’t entail cycling on the ring road near Reykjavik, it’s not safe for cycles IMO. Have fun, beautiful place.

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

we had a Terra Nova Voyager Superlight and replaced the pathetic pegs with sturdy ones.

But by pure luck the one night when people’s tents were getting flattened we were booked into a hut.

Also to note there were a lot of sharp stones (flint/obsidian) making a footprint groundsheet a good idea (we improvised one from one of those orange plastic emergency bags)

In reply to Yanchik:

Even if this isn’t possible with a Hubba Hubba it may be worth finding if there is another way of reinforcing that tent rather than buy a new one.
 

My Voyager had a couple of webbing tabs near the front that I added my own guy ropes to for example.

or consider carrying a spare set of poles?

In reply to Yanchik:

Even if this isn’t possible with a Hubba Hubba it may be worth finding if there is another way of reinforcing that tent rather than buy a new one.
 

My Voyager had a couple of webbing tabs near the front that I added my own guy ropes to for example.

or consider carrying a spare set of poles?

In reply to Simonfarfaraway:

I’d opt for the X-Dome too. Small pack size, lightweight and strong but self supporting. However often out of stock so decide quickly! I’m just waiting on the release of the 2 person version next week. That will still be lighter than most one man tents though. I have two x-Mids and they are excellent, and Dan is great at customer support. 
 

Have fun 

b