Posts Tagged ‘tent’
Things to Consider When Buying a Mountaineering Tent
There are few pleasures greater than sitting in the door of your tent, high up on a mountain and looking out at the world below you. Over the years I’ve watched thunder storms crossing the horizon in Africa and clouds below me from high passes in the Nepalese Himalayas. These sights are among life’s great treasures. But I’ve always enjoyed them just a little bit more than I might otherwise have because of the knowledge I’ve had that I am in a solid and safe mountaineering tent that will happily keep me safe, dry and warm should the weather turn bad.
So here are some thoughts that you may wish to consider when next buying a tent for use in the mountains. This advice is not set in stone, but has served me well.
The first point to consider is sizing. Many people end up buying tents that are too big or too small. When climbing you often end up with huge amounts of gear and big backpacks. Often it is a squeeze getting two grown men and all of their equipment into a two-man tent. So many people often choose to get a 3-man tent, even if it is just intended for two. There are, however, two disadvantages to this approach. The first is that you end up carrying a much heavier pack because bigger tents usually weigh quite a bit more. The second issue is that it reduces your flexibility when it comes to pitching on narrow ledges. My approach is to go for a slightly smaller one but to choose a brand that has proper vestibules. The Mountain Hardwear EV2 is just one example of a very compact (some say too compact) tent that still leaves space for cooking and gear.
The other issue to consider is cost. My thinking is that it does not pay to scrimp too much on a lesser brand. There are a number of really high quality brands out there that will give years of good service whereas a cheaper make may not be as reliable.
