WALKING: KIT ON TEST
Two-person tents
If you plan to walk with a tent in your backpack, you want something light, compact and reliable in bad weather. Fi Darby tests a range of price options
BBC Countryfile Magazine favourite
MID-PRICE
ROBENS STARLIGHT 2
£280; weight: 2.5kg. robens.de/en-gb
This wedge-shaped three-season tunnel tent has the waterproofing and fabric strength to shelter you even on wetter summer and autumn days. It has a level of waterproofing you might expect from some heavier tents. The single central pole and four fixed shorter footbox poles deliver a low profile that gives it a high level of wind resistance. Roof and floor ventilation should fight off excessive condensation and keep you cool in warmer weather.
The Starlight 2 is compact, though. With just one door and a small footprint, it could be a squeeze with two adults. The single porch is too small for two rucksacks, but it does have enough room for boots and cooking equipment. Inside, it’s long enough for all but the tallest of sleepers. There is one metre of head height for sitting, but only in the middle of the tent. Storage space in the inner tent is minimal. The inner has two very small gear pockets.
It’s at the top end of the budget ranges, but still a great price for such a sturdy tent.
VERDICT: Sturdy, weatherproof and light, but small for two people. ★★★★☆
BUDGET
VANGO NEVIS 200
£155; weight: 2.02kg vango.co.uk
Considering its low price, Nevis 200 is very lightweight and offers decent rain protection. Tunnel tents can be less stable but this one feels sturdy enough to withstand light winds. Pitching so that the fly sheet held taut proved impossible, as you can see from the baggy tent in our picture. Even so, that fabric is reasonably waterproof. With a hydrostatic head of 3,000mm, the Nevis 200 is more water resistant than some lighter tents.
If you like plenty of space, the Nevis 200 might not work for you. The single porch might struggle to fit two packs, though it is big enough for footwear and a small stove. Inside there’s just enough space for two smaller adults. There is limited sitting head height for shorter adults, but this is only available in the very middle of the tent.
The Nevis 200 offers an opportunity to get your backpacking career off to a start, but don’t expect a high level of quality.
VERDICT: A weatherproof option for beginners, but tight for two. ★★★☆☆
PREMIUM
MSR TINDHEIM TWO-PERSON BACKPACKING TUNNEL TENT
£450; weight: 3.2kg msrgear.com
This three-season tunnel tent from American outdoor gear maker MSR is weatherproof, roomy and a reasonably light weight for two people to share.
The two-hoop longer tunnel design and generous floored porch tent, plus just over one metre of head height, give the Tindheim 2 a superior level of living space over other backpacking tents.
The Tindheim’s liveable porch is floored as part of the included footprint and gives this tent a huge advantage over smaller backpacking options. With plenty of space to store two good-sized rucksacks, dry a wet dog or remove your footwear, you can even enjoy a day inside should the weather suggest it. It also has interior storage pockets. The flysheet has one door. A great option for short-distance backpacking.
VERDICT: This generously proportioned tent offers impressive living space with a fully floored porch, and a manageable weight if shared. ★★★★☆
SPECIALIST
BIG AGNES COPPER SPUR HV UL2 BIKEPACKING TENT
£619.95; weight: 1.59kg ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
If low pack weight matters to you, this excellent tent from US gear maker Big Agnes may be worth the investment. For its weight and pack size, it delivers impressive living space and has been carefully designed to reduce weight. It has two easy-exit side doors, each with its own roomy porch for rucksacks. But the lower waterproofing, thinner fabrics and larger mesh panels may reduce it to a one-season option in the UK.
The lightweight flysheet is less waterproof than heavier tents, and may be compromised in gusty weather. With a hydrostatic head of only 1,200mm, the floor is less waterproof than you might expect. However, the optional extra groundsheet (footprint) offers more protection as well as floors for the porches. Pitching is easy; an additional pole holds the roof wide for great two-person headroom. Its gear-stashing provision is the best I’ve seen in a small tent.
VERDICT: Ultralight, roomy and brilliantly designed. ★★★★☆
SLEEPING MATS
SNUGPAK SELF-INFLATING MIDI MAT
£50 snugpak.com
A fantastic choice if you’re after value for money, prefer to buy British and enjoy no-frills-camping. This self-inflating 2/3-length sleeping mat is compact, light and stable. It is shorter than some, reducing its weight to just 500g. It inflates quickly and easily. With a depth of only 2.5cm, it won’t be suitable for side sleepers with hip issues, but otherwise it’s great for shorter backpacking, hammocking or bivvying trips. ★★★★★
OUTWELL DREAMCATCHER 10CM SELF-INFLATING MAT
£89.99 outwell.com
This self-inflating camping mattress offers great value for such a warm, comfortable mat. A full 10cm thick when fully inflated, it’s too bulky for backpacking, but packs small enough to fit into a car boot. I added just four additional breaths to bring it up to maximum depth. Despite its thickness it feels sturdy and stable; unlike some, it doesn’t give you the feeling you might roll off. A great option for year-round camping from the car. ★★★★★
BIG AGNES RAPIDE SL INSULATED MAT
£139.95 ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
This lightweight (539g) inflatable three-season pad is lined with Prima-Loft synthetic insulation as well as heatreflective film to keep you cosy. The double valves allow for super-quick deflation as well as inflation in around three minutes with the inflation sack (included). With 8.9cm of depth, this comfortably thick mat would suit side sleepers. Its real advantage is its raised sides, which make it hard to roll off. ★★★★★
REVIEWED BY: Fi is an outdoors writer based in Devon. Fi teaches expedition and wild camping skills through Scouting, the DofE, the Ten Tors Challenge and workshops.
For more detailed tent and camping mat reviews, go to countryfile.com/ country-kit