cheap LW 4 season. any options?

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cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby wildwanderer » Sat 05 Dec, 2020 7:28 am

Looking at purchasing a 4 season tent suitable for one person and gear.

The pandemic has taken a toll on my finances so not looking to spend big $$ on a hilleburg etc. Ideally something around $300 but I'm probably dreaming.

About 1.8kg or lower.

Does anyone know if any of the chinese models are doable? Any other alternatives?

Tent would be used in Aussie and NZ alpine regions + tassie mostly in spring and autumn conditions. Exposed sites with strong wind probable.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby Tortoise » Sat 05 Dec, 2020 8:02 am

You can do it second hand. That's how I could afford my Akto and Scarp 1.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby Tazz81 » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 9:41 am

Might just have to look at Naturehike?? Normally a tent is something you don’t go cheap on - seeing it may save your life one day...
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 9:49 am

And also look at 3F UL gear, better prices on Ali express.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby CraigVIC » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 9:55 am

This video

https://youtu.be/0MBtq4IGQto

Came up in my suggested, reviewing this cheap tent

https://www.backpackinglight.com.au/lux ... ak-ii.html

Not a recommendation in any way, but thought it might be of interest.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 2:52 pm

Yes Craig
and also the regular Luxe Minipeak 2
details here http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... fpath=/173
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby Lamont » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 3:05 pm


Worth a look for sure. I'm pretty sure I bought that very tent a couple of years back.
Found it too short for me at 1.8m tall, otherwise it seemed fine from climbing around in it for a weekend before sending it back to NZ. I reckon if you are over the 1.7m tall it may be a wee bit tight?

Johnboy- the tent you linked appears to be the one Craig linked.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 3:17 pm

They are different models Lamont and yes the Mini peak 2 is tight once you are around 180cms.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby Lamont » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 3:24 pm

johnrs wrote:They are different models Lamont and yes the Mini peak 2 is tight once you are around 180cms.
John

I must be going crackers John- I can't see a difference? Same pics, same specs etc. Not that it matters, I'm just curious.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 5:30 pm

Yes Lamont
Same design but one is the Minipeak 2 the other is the SL, the metric dimensions are on the company homepage in Hong Kong.
Michael Wong is the designer, I think life has been difficult for him this last year.
All well made tents
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Wed 09 Dec, 2020 7:53 pm

Here they are
Minipeak 2
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... fpath=/173
and Minipeak SL
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... fpath=/173
The Luxe tents are well made and solid if not superlight,
lots more models on the homepages attached to the links
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby Franco » Thu 10 Dec, 2020 6:28 am

BTW, Michael Wong is working hard and things in Hong Kong are not all that easy burt he is OK.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby wildwanderer » Thu 10 Dec, 2020 9:00 pm

Very interesting guys! Thanks!

I'm 178cm do you reckon the mini peak would be to tight with a mat? It's the sloping walls I'd be concerned about and sleeping bag touching wall condensation.

Xl is bigger but it's pushing 2.2kg.

Also curious about the 68d poly fabric..seems very beefy. But conversely it's only rated at 1500mm HH. Which might not be enough to cope with NZ torrential rain hammering down?

Interesting that people also mentioned 3f I was looking at their version of a 1 person mid with inner.. looked good but got scarred off by a 15d outer...
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Fri 11 Dec, 2020 10:32 am

Where are you going in NZ WW?
A mid may not be ideal if very exposed.
Yes the 3F model is a little larger but lighter but still well made.
May be fiddly to pitch.
Have you looked at the XMid?
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby Lamont » Fri 11 Dec, 2020 11:11 am

wildwanderer wrote:Very interesting guys! Thanks!

I'm 178cm do you reckon the mini peak would be to tight with a mat? It's the sloping walls I'd be concerned about and sleeping bag touching wall condensation.

Only a wee bit shorter than me so I think what I said above may mean it would be wise to get in one if you could? Although my trial was a couple of years back so a new trial may be needed?
I did get in with the mat and quilt, but maybe worth another crack? Quilting may be less of an issue-at least at one end? Put your raincoat over the feet? Can you maybe get one with the possibility of returning it?
Good hunting :D
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby wildwanderer » Fri 11 Dec, 2020 9:02 pm

johnrs wrote:Where are you going in NZ WW?
A mid may not be ideal if very exposed.
Yes the 3F model is a little larger but lighter but still well made.
May be fiddly to pitch.
Have you looked at the XMid?
John


Most of my trips have been in the south island in alpine valleys and staying in huts. However a few times I camped and I'm starting to plan trips that would see me camping near alpine passes or lakes at 1500+ metres.

Xmid doesn't offer a solid inner does it? Also a bit unsure if it would hold up to substantial winds.

I own a tarp tent bowfin (old style) and while it's handled 70kmh winds fairly well I'd not want to push it much further. Also I only have the mesh inner. I am considering getting a solid inner for it and seeing how it goes... But unsure if I'm taking to big a risk with that approach.. I'm usually by myself and if a big storm hits in the mountains..

Lamont wrote:Only a wee bit shorter than me so I think what I said above may mean it would be wise to get in one if you could? Although my trial was a couple of years back so a new trial may be needed?
I did get in with the mat and quilt, but maybe worth another crack? Quilting may be less of an issue-at least at one end? Put your raincoat over the feet? Can you maybe get one with the possibility of returning it?
Good hunting :D


Good idea. Il see if there are any options for trying it out. Might have to wait till I visit melb again and can pop into backpacking light.
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Re: cheap LW 4 season. any options?

Postby johnrs » Sun 13 Dec, 2020 12:11 pm

So WW you already have a nice light shelter in the Bowfin, a solid inner will extend this tent.
However if you are going near the treeline in NZ then you also need a bomber tent, nothing in the light or ultralight category will be relaible.
(Maybe with the exception of a MLD mid)
So look at something from WE like the Second Arrow or Space 1, or The OP Goondies or a MacPac Minaret
I would be nervous about the 3F 15 denier gear in NZ, likewise any Hubba style frame tent.
Best wishes
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