tent advice for newbie please!
Hi,
I am looking for a tent that I can take tramping for my two kids and I to sleep in on an overnight tramp. this is something i want to do more and more as the kids get older. They are 6 and 4. I went on a hour tramp (2 hour with my daughter) last year and it was great. My son wants to join us this year. When I go tramping I will be going with a mate, and between us we will be taking 2 tents, all the food etc. The kids might take their pillow/clothes but that will be it.
I have narrowed it down to two options:
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p2590_Kiwi_Camping_Nimbus_3.html
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p2588_Kiwi_Camping_Hooligan.html
The nimbus 3 is going for $150, the hooligan for $175. The hooligan will be more spacious and has a better vestibule with groundsheet. If my wife decides to join us at some stage we can all sleep in the hooligan. The only issue is the hooligan is 2kg heaver than the nimbus 3 (7kg as opposed to 5kg).
Now what I am wondering, is will that 2kg kill me on a 2hr tramp considering I have my two kids gear? Is the extra 2kg that much, it doesn't sound it, but i could be heaps after 2 hours of walking/stopping. i am relatively fit if that matters. if i go for the hooligan will i curse that 2kg?
any advice greatly appreciated!
do you know what size the tents pack down to? the 7 kilo tent especially will probably take a bucket load of space. those are more like camping tents... they use cheaper heavier bulkier poles and nylon in them than tramping tents.
make sure you know what size it packs down to and that you can fit all your gear in your pack.
work out what your pack weight will be with all your gear and those tents and try carrying that weight around
my estimation is the nimbus will take 21 litres of pack space.
the hooligan will take 28 litres of pack space... you know how big a 20 litre container is? put one in your pack and you'll see how much space you have left...
Agree.
More likely you'd pitch that tent at a campground and go for day walks.
Nothing wrong with that.
from the same website I came up with a few other options
The one I like best if money isnt a problem
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1124_Luxe_Hurricane.html
The others Which are still lighter than your 2 and will achieve what they need to with young kids.
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1017_Koda_Inspire_3.html
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p2146_OZtrail_Classic_Crossbreeze_3.html
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1947_Freedom_Camping_Trilogy.html
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p2189_Coleman_Epsilon_3.html
there are other options around as well including flys (summer good weather) and huts and other leads from trademe
Thanks for all the replies people. I really appreciate the responses and advice.
the hooligan: Packed Size: 64 L x 22 W x 20 H cm
the nimbus 3: Packed Size: 57 L x 20 W x 19 H cm
i was imagining attaching the tent to the straps that are at the bottom on the outside of my pack. That was it wont take up room inside my pack.
i like the lux hurricane tent that was recommended by geeves. A bit more than my budget allows though.
go for the 3 kilo tents..
go for the 3 kilo tents
Most of my suggestions sleep 3 If your wife does decide to come as well you can also get a polytarp fly put it up next to the tent Kids in the tent you and wife in the fly. The fly also gives shelter for cooking eating etc.
Polytarps weigh nothing cost only a little more but can be noisy in rain or wind. Also need some rope to tie them to a couple of trees.
Good luck taking the kids out. Its one of the best things for them. Ive seen kids not much older doing quite reasonable trips but start easy.
We took our kids aged 2 and 4 to a hut in the Orongaongas but ended up carrying the young one most of the way back as it was a bit much. Unfortunately they never really took to tramping once they became older.
I have a 3-person, double-skinned dome tent, that weighs just over 2kg. I bought it from Mitre 10 for $40. Have carried it about, but now use it as a sleepover from car-booting.
I shudder to suggest it, but the Warehouse has their Navigator South Takaka 4-person tent on special at $89.99 ($60 discount) today.
Their Navigator South Opunake 3-person is $89.99 full price.
Depends on where (& how) you want to go, but for a couple of hours with primary school kids ???
Just another suggestion.
3 deleted posts from
bradley1
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| Started by | papalazarou |
| On | 28 October 2013 |
| Replies | 21 |
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