Complete Outdoors

Top 5 Backpacking Tents For 2018

15:07

At the Complete Outdoors we review a lot of tents before coming to a final decision about whether or not to add them to our range.

With this in mind, we thought this year we would give you a little bit of background into the some of the tents we've reviewed, as well as our thought process behind why we now stock them.

Here are our reasons why we think these are 5 of the best lightweight backpacking tents around.

Best 5 lightweight, backpacking tents for 2018 - Complete Outdoors

1 - MSR Hubba Hubba Tent

Let’s kick things off with one of the largest internal volume backpacking tents on the market. With two vestibules for gear storage & two stay dry doors entry points, it’s clear to see why the MSR Hubba Hubba tent is number one. MSR put meticulous thought and passion into their products, and this tent is no exception. There is no doubt in our minds that this tent should be the first choice for world expeditions – with an array of features on offer to make backpacking that little bit easier.

MSR Hubba Hubba Tent - Complete Outdoors

2 – Vango Nevis 200 Tent

A new addition for 2018, the Vango Nevis 200 is a transverse-hooped ridge tent – so essentially you can sit up in the tallest part of the tent. For the older generations amongst you, this tent is reminiscent of the classic Vango style that dates all the way back to the Micro series. This series really pushed the boundaries of what lightweight tents could achieve, and sometimes the old ways are the best. Pitching inner and outer together makes this tent easy to put up so you can get on with your camping adventure.

Vango Nevis 200 Tent - Top 5 backpacking tents

3 – F10 Arete 2 Tent

Simple and effective, the F10 Arete 2 weighs in at 1.54kg with room for 2 people - ideal if you’re looking for something lightweight with a small pack size. This tent can be used without the fly, making it ideal for warmer climates where having a bit more ventilation can make all the difference. Versatile as ever, the Arete 2 works just as well in English weather – with the siliconised ripstop 5000mm rain fly giving you all the protection you need in the event of a heavy downpour.

Vango F10 Arete 2 Tent - Complete Outdoors

4 – Vango Halo XD 300 Tent

An ever-popular choice for schools and group oriented trips, the Vango Halo XD 300 remains one of Vango’s top sellers. The XD upgrade includes stronger, pegs, zips with higher durability, an XD Ripstop flysheet and an Oxford XD groundsheet. All these features together elevate this tent as a firm favourite, with robust reliability at the heart of it’s design.

Vango Halo XD 300 tent - Complete Outdoors

5 – Vango Soul 200 Tent

Time for a wild card. If you happen to be backpacking on a budget then this is the tent to consider. Fresh from the Vango Adventure series, the Soul 200 offers durability at a lightweight. Ideal if you’re looking for something that covers the essentials without breaking the bank.

Vango Soul 200 Tent - Top 5 Backpacking Tents for 2018

There you have it - our top 5 backpacking tents for 2018. Are there any other lightweight tents that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

SUMMARY

Tent	Price	Weight
MSR Hubba Hubba	£425	1.73 Kg
Vango Nevis 200	£110	2.02kg
F10 Arete 2	£320	1.35kg
Vango Halo XD 300	£280	4.9kg
Vango Soul 200	£60	2.17kg

backpacking

Vango XD Backpacking Tents

15:27

Are you looking for a tent range where the manufacturer asks the end user how do we make our tents better to suit your needs? Then better still they listen to your feedback, and go and make the tents?
Introducing the Vango XD backpacking tent range.
If you are you a group leader, say of a scout group or DofE school group, and you're looking to improve the outdoor kit in your stock room, then the Vango Xd tent range is for you. Bigger, better, stronger. The Vango XD trekking tents are constructed with extra durable materials and components, and are more resistant to wear and tear.

Vango XD Tents for 2018 - Complete Outdoors

The above words are easy to say and type but what have the guys at Vango actually done to improve their existing tents?

Glad you asked. Here are the answers:

1) THE FLY SHEET & GROUND SHEET

The fly sheet is a tough 75 denier polyester which also has a ripstop design worked into it. This means the material has an increased strength compared to the standard backpacking tents and the ripstop gives the flysheet a tear protection.

We all know tents that are loaned out from kit stockrooms get a lot of use and maybe don't get the same love and attention compared to your own tent. So when damage does occur, such as a hole on the flysheet, the ripstop design will reduce the progress of the tear. So that's the roof improved but what about the floor? Good news! The groundsheet has a top spec of 150 denier and has been integrated and manufactured to withstand high levels of usage.

2) THE VANGO XD TENT POLES

When you think of tents braking, what is one of the first thing that stands out in your mind? Tent poles!!

So how are these Vango XD tents any different? Glad you asked! The XD tent range now comes with a pole first aid kit which includes a spare pole section keeping the tent self serviceable for longer.

The Vango XD Omega tent - Complete Outdoors

2) THE VANGO XD TENT PEGS

Finally let's not forget about the small and simple things. The alloy tent pegs have been made thicker so they are less likely to bend (we have all experienced that, more than once!).

Ever think much about zips and pegging points? The guys at Vango did too, so all have been beefed up on the XD tents, protecting them from heavy handed users.

CHECK OUT THE XD TENTS!

Vango trekking tents have always been great but now with the XD you can have tents you can trust. In Vango's own words these tents are seriously tough, light and easy to pitch. The XD tents are a must look at if you are in the market for a new tent, or looking to invest your funds to replace your tired tents in your kit room.

Vango Halo XD 300 Tent Cactus Green - Complete Outdoors

So what models are available, and what are their specs? Have a glance below at the current Vango XD models you can get from the Complete Outdoors.

TEMPEST XD TENT

The Tempest XD takes the highly popular tunnel tent and modifies it with reinforced materials and components. Ideal for high volume usage, the XD model retains all the features from the original in one robust package. Available in 2-man and 3-man tent configurations.

Vango Tempest XD Technical Tent - Complete Outdoors

HALO XD TENT

The ever popular Halo has been developed into an extra durable spec. This 3-man tent is extremely simple and quick to pitch which is perfect for youth groups and long expeditions.

backpacking

MSR Tent Review 2018

16:02

It's that time of year again where, after a busy winter season in store, we are starting to think about loading up our backpacks and heading to the hills for a few nights under canvas.

One of the things we're really excited about this year is our extended offering of MSR tents. They've often been our go to recommendation for quality lightweight, ultra-livable 3-season backpacking tents and this year we'll be covering all sizes across the Elixir and Hubba NX Series.

ELIXIR SERIES

We were super impressed with the Elixir last year, with it offering a very good weight for the amount of liveable space it provides and a sturdy free-standing design. The range consists of the Elixir 1, Elixir 2, Elixir 3 & Elixir 4. We used the 3 man version for a couple of multi-day treks and found it very quick and easy to assemble using a double pole joined by two pivoting brackets and a short pole fitted over the top to increase headroom. The structure is the same throughout the range so you’re purely choosing which option to go with based on the size and weight that fits your requirements.

MSR Elixir 3 tent

The Elixir is an inner pitch first tent so you may need to wait for a break in the rain before setting up camp but a great feature is that you can use the fly only with the provided footprint giving you a fast and light set up option if you're not concerned about midges joining you. Should you be in hot, dry climates you can just pitch the inner tent to give protection from insects. There are two doors (in the 2, 3 & 4 person versions) with vestibules which gives great flexibility for access and kit storage, we found using one vestibule for storage and the other for access worked well and this year the vestibule size has increased in size giving you an 35% more storage space. You can also roll the door back to a second point giving you better airflow into the tent or just to take in more of the beautiful view! Another nice addition is the built in gear lofts, great for dropping your head torch in and a couple of midnight snacks!

The Numbers...

	Elixir 1	Elixir 2	Elixir 3	Elixir 4
Capacity (person)	1	2	3	4
Packed Weight (kg)	2.16	2.77	3.19	4.26
Pack Size (cm)	48 x 15	51 x 17	51 x 20	56 x 17
Internal Dimentions (cm)	218 x 84	213 x 127	213 x 172	223 x 223

Ultimately if you are in the market for a tough and easy to assemble freestanding tent for backpacking you really can’t go too wrong with the Elixir… however if you are looking to save more weight, read on…

HUBBA NX SERIES

MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent

The Hubba NX range consists of the Hubba, Hubba Hubba, Mutha Hubba, Papa Hubba. It ticks all the boxes that the Elixir does but featuring lighter weight fabrics and poles. The frame geometry differs from the Elixir to offer this reduced weigh but maintains the great headroom and in the 3 and 4 person option actually offer more liveable volume. As well as the footprint set up that I mentioned with the Elixir (although the footprint is sold separately), the Hubba range has another option which is the Fast and Light Body, effectively offering more weather protection over the footprint being a bathtub-style.

Although not offering quite as much volume in the vestibules as the Elixir you can add on the Gear Shed to all models bar the Papa Hubba NX, which effectively turns your backpacking tent into a basecamp tent, this can also be used with the Elixir 1, 2 & 3 models.

MSR Hubba Hubba NX

The Numbers...

	Hubba NX	Hubba Hubba NX	Mutha Hubba NX	Papa Hubba NX
Capacity (person)	1	2	3	4
Packed Weight (kg)	1.29	1.72	2.26	2.96
Pack Size (cm)	46 x 15	46 x 15	53 x 17	53 x 18
Internal Dimentions (cm)	216 x 76	213 x 127	213 x 172	218 x 236

2018 MSR TENT SUMMARY

MSR offer a fantastic range of tents and between the Elixir and Hubba NX Series you have a great choice for 3-season backpacking. Value for money wise it's hard to beat the Elixir but if you're looking to go lighter the Hubba NX series is the way to go without sacrificing the liveable space.

backpack

Gregory Rucksacks - The 2018 Editions

14:50

Every week at Complete Outdoors we are lucky enough to hear the stories of the adventures our customers are embarking on. We love to hear where you’re going and what you’re doing (even if it does make us envious!) The Complete Outdoors team have all been on our own adventures – from travelling around Australia, to hiking in the Cairngorms. Whereas we don’t always agree what the best adventure is, there is something we always agree on: the importance of a decent backpack.

Whether you are backpacking around Asia, trekking the Appalachian Trail, or planning a few days of walking in the Lake District, we have rucksacks to suit every need. One of our favourite rucksack brands is Gregory – they’re lightweight, well made, and designed with adventure in mind! In this post I’m going to talk about what we love about Gregory and why.

Gregory Backpacks - best rucksack brands 2018

FOR THE DAY ADVENTURERS

What’s better than venturing into the wilderness for a day? Whether on foot, bike or skis, you need to take a few essentials to keep you happy and safe. For days like this a small rucksack does the trick – enough room for the essentials without the bulk.

Maya (10L), Salvo (18L), Sula (24L) are all daysacks that are lightweight and compact. What’s great about these bags is the back panel – they all feature a meshed back, which helps to allow air to flow and wick moisture away, perfect for warm summer walks. A really nice touch to Gregory bags is the suspension. Gregory has developed a system that allows the bag to twist and turn with your body, allowing for unrestricted movements, which make them perfect for high-energy activities like skiing or mountain biking.

Maya and Sula are rucksacks that have been built with ladies in mind, with slightly narrower shoulder straps which are ergonomically shaped for a woman’s figure. This does not mean these rucksacks are unsuitable for gents, it just means the bag will be more comfortable for us ladies!

Now this may not be the most important feature of the bags, but I really like it and it shows that fellow outdoor enthusiasts have designed these bags; these bags have a special hook on the shoulder strap designed to stash your sunglasses! It’s the little things in life, right? Other little features include well-placed pockets (some the perfect size for stashing KitKats), adjustable height chest straps, and light attachment points so that you can be seen more easily in the darker months.

FOR THE TECHNICAL HIKER

Looking for a daysack with a few more technical elements to it? The Zulu (30L) and ladies Jade (28L) are still in the size realms of “daysack” but have a more technical user in mind. Once again, these bags are well thought out, and offer little features to make life comfier and easier when out and about.

The first thing to note is the improved lumbar support; perfect for when your pack is a little more laden with kit. Like the other Gregory daysacks, these bags also feature a meshed back to help with airflow and wicking. However, unlike the others, these two bags feature a curved back to allow for even more air to circulate - this gap is also really useful for stashing you map case for when you want to keep your hands free!

These bags have a load-bearing, fixed hip belt that makes carrying a fuller pack less strenuous on your shoulders, and helps keep the rucksack from swinging about. This is assisted by Gregory’s suspension system that allows these bags to move with you. Walking pole attachments are featured on the outside of these packs, ready to stash your trusted Leki poles when you’re not using them. Zulu and Jade also feature lots of other easily accessible pockets for stashing bits and bobs on the go.

Both bags are water bladder compatible, and include colour-coordinated rain covers. Lastly (and thankfully) that all-important sunglasses loop is still evident on these packs ready for your sunnier trips.

FOR THE BACKPACKERS

Off on a multi-day expedition or living out of bag for weeks at a time? There’s a certain romanticism around being able to pack up your life into a single bag and escaping the everyday. Speaking from experience of poorly fitting expedition bags, getting your rucksack right is really important for the enjoyment of your trip! An expedition into the wildness is one of my favourite pastimes, and I can appreciate a well-designed bag when I see one! Gregory comes into their own with their innovative and thoughtfully designed expedition bags.

Whereas the Stout (68L) is a fully adjustable bag, with an adjustable back length and hip circumference, the Paragon and ladies Deva have a fixed length back, which I shall talk about in more detail in a moment. The full adjustability of the Stout means you can really get a personalised fit, making it feel like it’s your bag. This also means that if you’re planning on sharing the rucksack, you can ensure a comfortable fit between all users.

So, onto the fixed back lengths of the Deva and Paragon: these bags have a minimally adjustable shoulder height and come in set sizes. This has one main advantage over adjustable backs and that is to do with the distribution of weight. When a back is adjustable, this means the shoulder straps are able to side up and down, usually upon two rods, which allow you to change the distance between the shoulders and hips. This means that the entire weight of the bag is suspended upon these two rods; putting more pressure on your hips and making the bag feel heavier.

With a fixed back length, the weight of the bag is distributed across a greater area, thus putting less pressure on your hips.

You see where I’m going with this? This all means that a fixed back length enables you carry a heavier pack more comfortably. You can pack that second fleece, you can bring your trusty flip-flops, stash that extra snack – you can handle it!

All three rucksacks are packed with thoughtful little features that can make a world of difference when you’re off the beaten track. With lots of well placed and accessible pockets, zip grab tabs for when you’re wearing bulky gloves, and floating lids which means you can extend the bag to squeeze in every last piece of kit.

All three bags are water bladder compatible (which in itself is really useful), but the Deva and Paragon kick this feature up a notch. Both of these bags include a small, handy ‘Sidekick’, which when clipped into the bag acts as a pocket for your water bladder and when unclipped it’s a mini rucksack! Clever, right? Both the Deva and Paragon have strategically placed silicon grips on the lumbar support to help prevent your t-shirt from riding up – so simple but so beneficial!

Overall, I think Gregory bags are great packs and have a lot to offer. The next time I need to get a new pack, a Gregory bag will certainly be a contender – and those who know me can vouch for my pickiness over what kit I buy!

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading!

Amy

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