Terra Nova Laser Competition

[Son of a Beach]

Forgot to say, thanks for your review MJD, perhaps we should have a dedicated area here for gear reviews, no off-topic conversation allowed!

The wiki is the a good location for that.

[flatfoot]

Thanks for all the detailed info. The Laser Competition looks like a great tent!

I'm seriously considering this tent as i currently only have a much heavier 2-person tent.

I found a link for a pitching video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gf0nZn-Uro&feature=youtube_gdata_player

There's also a review here: http://summitandvalley.blogspot.com/2009/03/2009-laser-competition.html. I'm particularly impressed by the space in the vestibule and the photo from the above review shows it well.

[walkinTas]

Forgot to say, thanks for your review MJD, perhaps we should have a dedicated area here for gear reviews, no off-topic conversation allowed!

The wiki is the a good location for that.

There is now an "Equipment" category available on the wiki. It is designed for everyone who wishes to post a gear review. If you don't wish to post yourself just ask any mod for help.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well stay tuned to MJD and I.... There is plenty of room in the vestibles. It's quite amazing!!

He had a nice link shwing a guy in scotland who lived in one for 40odd days. Impressive!!

[ollster]

Well stay tuned to MJD and I.... There is plenty of room in the vestibles. It's quite amazing!!

He had a nice link shwing a guy in scotland who lived in one for 40odd days. Impressive!!

Except for all the days the guys spent in a motorhome, but anyway...

[ILUVSWTAS]

Except for all the days the guys spent in a motorhome, but anyway...

A sometimes wise man once said... photos or it didnt happen..

[ollster]

Except for all the days the guys spent in a motorhome, but anyway...

A sometimes wise man once said... photos or it didnt happen..

It's on wikipedia! I don't see photos of every *&%$#! night he spent in his see through tent either! "he was backed by a support team in a motorhome but had to camp out in the remoter areas." Sounds to me like he had full motorhome access.

[ILUVSWTAS]

It's on wiki.... ohhhh it MUST be real then....

Still sounds like envy to me.

EDIT- so he camped in the remote areas, as in the exposed, harsher areas, and lived in the motorhome in the moments when staying in the tent proved nothing? Well, shoot!! Sounds like a good idea to me, and sounds like the tent STILL got a good work out.

[ollster]

It's on wiki.... ohhhh it MUST be real then....

Still sounds like envy to me.

It's quoted from a story in The Scotsman. Sounds like motorhome to me.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well being in a Terra Nova IS like being in a motorhome.

Better than sleeping in a bodybag.

[flatfoot]

Well being in a Terra Nova IS like being in a motorhome.

Better than sleeping in a bodybag.

I was thinking of getting a bivvy but just ordered the Laser Competition. Hopefully it will arrive in time for an overnight trip in the Royal National Park in a few weeks time

[MJD]

Be interesting to hear what you think of it after it's been out. I'm sure that you'll love it.

[Nuts]

Well being in a Terra Nova IS like being in a motorhome.

How does it compare sizewise to the Akto?

[ninjapuppet]

Did you guys consider the Vaude power lizard when deciding the tent?

its $340 from here: http://www.antigoutdoors.com/collections/tents/products/vaude-power-lizard-ultralight-tent

and some good comparisons of the lizard vs laser
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/vaude_power_lizard_ul_tent_review.html

I would think you cant go wrong with either tent.

[Orion]

Pardon me if this has already been discussed, but does anyone know anything about the Terra Nova Ultra 1 Tent?

[MJD]

Don't know much about the Ultra 1. But at 560g it is light and this one really does seem to be see-through.

Yes it does look like a power lizard, though there are a few differences. Got mine from overseas US$299 plus postage. From moontrail, who now have it for US$279. Don't know how they can charge only this, when it costs more direct from the manufacturer, but they do! Perhaps its because they only have the green version. I see that there is a new model with a few subtle differences for 2011.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well being in a Terra Nova IS like being in a motorhome.

How does it compare sizewise to the Akto?

Packs up to about half the size.

[Nuts]

What about interior/vestibule pitched size. Seems it would have a little more head and foot height?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Martin put up a good review including pics regarding the vestible size. Check that out in the equipment section of this forum.

[rwfox]

I bought the Terra Nova Laser last year which is also worth considering. (http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/ ... cfm/TER105) Packed weight 1.24kg.

The Laser has a bigger inner tent suitable for two, sleeping head to foot. However, two thermo-rest do have a slight overlap. The bigger inner tent means the vestibule is smaller but still useable.

This model also has a rear meshed door which is good for ventilation. I have not had the opportunity to use the tent yet.

However, even though the laser is very light, I shall be taking a Terra Nova Voyager (fee standing) to windy Patagonia next month.

[Franco]

" From moontrail, who now have it for US$279. Don't know how they can charge only this, when it costs more direct from the manufacturer"
Quote from MJD above ...
That is because manufacturers sell new stock only at their own RRP.
In the US the typical shop mark up (not profit margin) on tents is 50% , some shops will charge less.
Moontrail business is mostly done on the Net, the brick and mortar section is very small.
Therefore their cost of doing business is much less than many US shops and a LOT less than UK or Australian shops.
Again don't forget that you can get adult labour there for $10 an hour (no sick leave, 2 weeks paid holidays...)
Smaller rents, cheaper postage, more customers....
Franco

[flatfoot]

" From moontrail, who now have it for US$279. Don't know how they can charge only this, when it costs more direct from the manufacturer"

I ordered from Moontrail at that price. In my case the shipping cost was $51.85 and footprint $45. Total cost $375.85 USD.

[MJD]

It always costs me a bit more because I can never resist buying something else

[ollster]

It always costs me a bit more because I can never resist buying something else

We've noticed! MJD, a walking gear review.

[flatfoot]

My tent arrived today. Total weight of tent packed in it's bag together with groundsheet in it's bag is 1.12kg. It took me about 10mins to pitch it the first time. I hope to get that down to about 3 minutes.

The pegs are certainly ultralight! I'm clumsy and will quickly damage them. Can anyone suggest a good alternative type of peg to use?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hehehe toothpicks in reality arent they...

I use the ones from my Minaret, MJD uses his MRS pegs.....

[Matt11]

My tent arrived today. Total weight of tent packed in it's bag together with groundsheet in it's bag is 1.12kg. It took me about 10mins to pitch it the first time. I hope to get that down to about 3 minutes.

The pegs are certainly ultralight! I'm clumsy and will quickly damage them. Can anyone suggest a good alternative type of peg to use?

I made the exact same purchase as you flatfoot and am also concerned with the pegs. I haven't been able to put mine up yet as I am sewing new grass in my yard. I think I will also use the pegs from my Minaret. I will take it out for a test run this week.
There are plenty of good pegs to chose from on moontrail, http://www.moontrail.com/home.php?cat=309 but what to chose?
Thanks for bringing this tent to my attention MJD. Just what I was after.
I also purchased a Asolo Harrier 3, from Leftlane Sports http://www.leftlanesports.com/Product.a ... p=ASO01269 for when the other half wants to do an overnighter with me, as she is not impressed with the size of Minaret. Only $153 USD shipped. But that's another story.

Cheers
Matt

[MJD]

Hope it serves you well in the bush. I actually ordered some nice red MSR pegs when I got the tent as most of the reviews had commented on the pegs supplied. And a few good quality spare tent pegs are always useful.

Mind you it may be interesting to see how the original pegs fare out in the wild - perhaps we could talk ILUSWTAS into a field test.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hope it serves you well in the bush. I actually ordered some nice red MSR pegs when I got the tent as most of the reviews had commented on the pegs supplied. And a few good quality spare tent pegs are always useful.

Mind you it may be interesting to see how the original pegs fare out in the wild - perhaps we could talk ILUSWTAS into a field test.

I have used them, and the ones in the PHOTON ELITE, are lighter that the COMPETITION... if you can believe that!!

It was only for one night on the Southern ranges, but the tent stayed up all night.. so yay.

[ninjapuppet]

I see this tent is integral pitch, but can the inner and outer be removed?
or are they stuck together and must be packed & stored away like that?