Review: Buying a Tent

I agree with Rob D in that condensation will occur in all tents / sleeping accomodation.
We have had several tents from domes to 2/3man sleepers and swags(the new dome types). We currently have an RV5 and 2 Burke & Wills swags. No matter what we have used in all conditions from snow to Tropics (High country /Cape York) condensation will occur if your vents r not open properly. Airflow needs to be consistant believe me it can b annoying waking up with icicles on the inside of your tent (that was a well known brand name 3 compartment dome). I have also had the RV5 in the same conditions and with the fly up and the top vents open, pretty bl$%#y good.
I suppose as with everything it is up to you to find a product that suits YOUR needs attend trade shows or events like this weekend 4x4 show in Melbourne.

Ive been camping and bush living and working for about 45 years in all areas of Australia
I started in Cub scouts in the late 60s and tents then were canvas over a pole and 2 forked sticks (best time ever) and this was up Near Maytown NQ and still think RV5 the best for OUR needs at the moment.
(I have a crook back and Neurological issues)

Regards

M

(Life is too short to argue or complain just go and do it and try your own thing)

When it is really cold, I sleep in a tracksuit, a fleece and a fleece beanie and open the windows/vents. Sleeping in warm clothes also makes it less of an ordeal to get up and visit the used beer department.
One of the members in our Simpson Desert convoy, had a roof top tent and one morning he stated that the inside of his roof top tent was "awash with condensation". It does not matter what equipment you have, the laws of physics still apply.

Hi Pebble

Yes swags do suffer that more so than tents and for that very reason, use a lightweight old woollen blanket on top of our sleeping bags so they do not get damp.


Cheers


Stephen

Thanks Stephen, I will certainly follow your advice if we go the swag route for the kids.

My son has a very expensive swag and after the recent trip through the Simpson desert now prefers the 3 second tent with the self-inflating mattress to his swag.
You might consider this as an option.

Thanks for your advice Rob, I have actually been eying off those pop up tents but I don't think Hubby likes the idea, he probably thinks they're too flimsy or something......might have to do some convincing...hmmm actually he doesn't like the bulk that swags would take up either so I guess nothing is settled at this stage!

We do have a couple of 3 man hiking tents, as it currently stands the kids would share one when we are camping and we would be in the touring tent, we'd take the 2nd hiking tent as a spare.
Of course for quick overnighters on the side of the road we'd all go in the touring tent...having had camper trailers in the past I'm really looking forward to the first decent tenting trip in Oct, we still have to tow a trailer with all our gear though :( .

Anyhow the swags are an idea at the moment since I figure boy (8) and girl (7) would probably want their own space at some stage, and the hiking tents we have I think require about 16 pegs each (even thought they are a very simple two hoop design, it's like 8 pegs to anchor tent and then the same to anchor the fly). Setting them both up would probably take around 20min depending on the ground I guess so not sure. Maybe we'll just see how they go with some proper use on our 2 week trip (have only been used on 3 weekender occasions so far.

Otherwise options for the kids would be:
a swag each
a 2nd touring tent same as ours for them to share
pop up tents each

The pop up tent idea certainly sounds good, besides if the weather happens to be nasty there is plenty of room for them to sleep in our tent I guess (2ppl on one side of pole, 2 on the other)

But then again maybe I've got it all wrong and the whole idea of camping is the fun of sharing a tent and shining torches and staying awake giggling and carrying on when ones should be asleep????

But either way is this 3 second tent you're talking about of any particular brand? I'm guessing there would be different brands out there of varying quality and design?

Hi Pebble,
I purchased 4 different types of 3 second tents to evaluate. A Malamoo 3 man, a Malamoo 2 man, a Ray's outdoor Lighting 3 man and an EPE Speedy 2 man.
A friend and I tested these tents (one person per tent) in a recent trip from Canberra to Lightning Ridge and return.
As we are both in our mid to late 60's we did not want to have to perform gymnastics to get changed in the tent. We both preferred the 3 man tents because we could sit up straight in them without kinking our necks, something we could not do easily in the 2 man tents. This is probably not a problem for small kids.
The Malamoo tents were specified to 1500 mm of fly waterproofing, whereas the EPE Speedy was specified at only 1000 mm. I could not find the specification for the Lightning Tent.
Ventilation: The Malamoo 3 man, with a very large window at the rear, had excellent ventilation, much better than the Lightning Tent. The Malamoo 3 man tent also has a little alcove in the front where you can leave your boots etc. out of the weather. I have now given the Lightning tent away and purchased another Malamoo 3 man tent. The EPE speedy tents have the option of opening the sides out which also provides excellent ventilation. The Malamoo 2 man does not have the excellent ventilation of the 3 man or the Speedy tent (but keep in mind it is more waterproof than the Speedy tent).
Another important point is the use of self inflating mattresses. These provide much more insulation from the cold than do the normal air beds. They are also more convenient to use - just undo the valve and throw into the tent.
Putting the tent up and down and making the bed are all over in a minute or two - very convenient.

Thanks so much Rob, I did do a bit more research myself after posting last night and also got the impression that the Malamoo might be the better one to look into.

We do have self inflating mattresses now both for us and the kids (cheaper ones similar to thermarest). Decided to go that way after having a couple of 4wd style self inflation mattresses, both doubles and I love them because they're comfy enough to sleep on at home even but just too big and bulky and hard to pack up when camping, mainly due to the double size more than anything...should have got singles!

It was quite funny when we first sold our camper trailer then eventually went out and brought these two 3 man hiking tents in combination with a couple of huge double 4wd self inflating mattresses which are just so huge and bulky compared to the tents! But they do fit inside (the DMH Derwent tents).

Rob D,

I reckon you are on the money! Didn't believe in these types of tents, but now have 2 x 2 person Malamoos. One for us, one for youngest (12yo). Combined with self inflating mattress, Doona, they work very well for us when one night stops are the norm. They have done Sydney- Lake Eyre- Birdsville- Sydney; Sydney-Nullabor-Kal-Uluru-Sydney, plus many weekend trips. The 3 man has better ventilation, but the additional size worked against us on that when packing 2 of them. As i get older, I just make sure that I have something to lean on/hold as I crawl out in the morning - Lol!!

To compare, we have had Southern Cross centre pole (since sold), Blackwolf turbo, swags and a camper trailer. Which one get's used depends on the length of overnight stays eg 1-3 nights= Malamoo, week = Blackwolf, longer = campertrailer. Also have a Foxwing on the car, so shelter is not too much of an issue.

Cheers,

Michael