NEW TENTS

[Derek Bullock]

have been looking around at some new tents......seems that there are more and more coming on the market all the time.

Anyone care to share their favourite tent.

Derek

[Katrina]

Hi Derek, We have two tents that we use depending on the duration of the trip in question. For three nights or more we use a DMH Gibson 6man dome with extended front vestibule. It's light and easy to erect. At first I was wary at the flimsy look of dome tents, but after a few goes trying to erect giant canvas jobs, I was converted. It has handled a scary thunderstorm without a leak, and numerous showers.
For shorter trips we all pile into a 4 man canvas Robin touring tent, with an external frame. We erect in 10 - 15 minutes, and it's very tough. It only just fits 2 adults and two small children, but it's enough when the stay is short, or accomodation has to be carried on a boat! On big trips we also have a huge truck tarp from a heavy rigid. We had to cut some off, it was way too big! It gives good shelter and shade, and apart from some mending, I don't think it will ever die.
Just one observation - buy something with a reputable name, the generic type tents from the big chain variety stores tend to leak, and be of inferior quality.

[Muzzy]

Had this flash little dome tent thingie, as far as easy to errect and pack away it was a wee rippa. After a Bog Darwin storm it just about turned inside out, snapped the flexible posts, but didnt leak.

Since this I only use the extrnal frame type tents like the touring ones. Just as easyto put up just dont pack down all that well, put it through a couple of storms nothing as big as the one that wrecked my tent and its okay thus far.

Most of the time I cant be stuffed with a tent and end up swagging it, so thats probably my fav tent the trusty swag and mozzie net (if not to pissed to get it up and in to it)

Muz

[Rosso]

One word..."coleman"

They make fantastic camping gear and ditto with the tents.

I have the "Northstar 8" tent. Its soo new that a) they are hard to get and B) they don't even have it on their website yet (try http://www.budgetcamping.com.au/coleman.htm)

Never the less...compared to my last one which was a huge 2 roomed sucker with about 10 KG of posts, this one is about 20 the lot.

It comes in one big bag with 3 seperate zipped sections, one for the tent, one for the posts, and the third for the fly.

When it comes time to erect it, you lay the tent on the ground, get the long "backbone" pole connect it to the tent, then you get the other 8 posts, extend them. attach it to the backbone, then to the tent and simply move it to where you want and peg it.

Its that easy..and it takes about 10 minutes to erect

Oh and its designed so that a power cord can go in as well.

Very nice tent.

Beware of the cost though. You can get it anywhere between $600 - $900 for it.

Good luck
Rosso.

[adrian]

i've got an ' A ' frame tent from a camping store made of canvas . made 1 mistake some poles are on the inside ( no drama really ) just take about 5 mins to erect . since only me it does me fine , packs into size of swag or smaller . if i had to buy a new one i would have a good look at all the styles and have a budget and stick to it a case of buying the best tent i could afford the money set aside for it ( make sure that the money for fishing gear is not somehow taken for a tent )

anzac

[Derek Bullock]

Thanks for sharing all of that. Yes the choice of tent now is mindboggling.

I have settled on a dome tent for the two of us.

Just received some brochures from OZTENT in New South Wales. They call it the 30 second tent. Is there anybody out there with some first hand knowledge on these.

Cheers

Derek

[Rosso]

Be careful of the oztents.

I have a small dome tent, and the first time i used it i was on top of a hill at windamere (near mudgee NSW)

Anyway it was blowing a gale and one of the poles snapped. If your getting one then make sure it has the fibreglass re-inforced poles and nothing else (it will be easier for you in the long run)

Cheers

Rosso.