Tents

This has worked for me too. The reflective material keeps out cold from the ground so it serves a dual purpose.

PS. I think that BD Mirage is good value. I've got the higher spec Skylight and I'm very happy with it. We managed to survive the worst wind I ever experienced in any mountains with only a guy rope fitting torn..

Would you recommend using a ground sheet under the tent? (where is the camping spot in the last picture?)

LouisvV, I agree with all andrew r's comments regarding advantages to using a groundsheet. Honestly though, the main reason I bought the Mirage groundsheet was because of the groundsheet/poles/flysheet pitching option in wet weather. In order to make use of this feature, you would need to buy the BD Mirage groundsheet, as it has all the correct eyelets for poles/clips for the flysheet. The material that the Mirage tent itself is made of is pretty high quality, so I have never been overly concerned about it being damaged (we do choose our camp sites fairly carefully though, and scout around for thorns/sharp rocks before pitching the tents).

The camp site in the last picture is near-ish the top of Mnweni Pass (the bunch of other colourful tents that you can see in the background are close to the top of Mnweni Pass). There are lots of great flat areas to pitch tents around there, but I would be seriously concerned about water this time of year...

@ASL, agree that the BD Mirage seems to be a great tent and well suited to Berg escarpment hiking, just baulking a bit at the price still (I do know that you usually get what you pay for... maybe I'll be lucky and find a shop-soiled one at half-price )

Have also found this OZtrail Vertex Outer Limits Hiking Tent (2-person / 2.6kg / R2000) on sale at takealot.

edit: another reason I'm still looking at tents is I would prefer a 3-person tent that is less than 3.5kg all in.

I have posted recent Cool Mountain events in my latest hike report, but just for the purposes of completeness, let me add to my tent review here.

360 Degree Cool Mountain II

I recently used my Cool Mountain for 5 out of 6 nights on a hike in the Southern Berg. The wind wasn't too serious for most of the nights, but the night where we camped above Mashai Pass and the following night below Matebeng Peak proved to be the most testing conditions I have ever camped in.

There was a rather substantial wind on the Mashai night and an event stronger one the following night. The latter also included a few hail storms.

The first windy night was the first occurrence ever of my tent frame actually bending in the wind. When this happened I went outside and untied one of my guy ropes and attached it to the opposite side of the tent. This did the trick and the frame didn't budge again for the rest of that day. The following day, having learned from this, I set up the guy ropes so that it wouldn't be an issue. While the wind was much stronger and there were a few hail storms - the tent held up perfectly. The winds were so strong that the entire tent was shaking, but the frame didn't even budge.

I have now put my Cool Mountain through something like 6 hail storms, a few different escarpment gales and numerous less than ideal camping spots and yet my tent has survived 2 and a half years with no visible damage from the abuse it has received at my hand. Not bad for one of the cheapest tents on the 4-season market!

Hi All

My sister is coming from the uk and it just so happens I am in the market for a new tent.

Locally I have been looking at the First Ascent Eclipse (www.firstascent.co.za/shop/eclipse-tent/) or the Traverse 2 (www.firstascent.co.za/shop/traverse-ii-plus-tent/) and would be interested in anyone's opinions on those

however, then I saw the Vaude Terraspace 3p going for a steal at blacks online in the uk (130 pounds)...and am very seriously considering it (www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/130807-vaude-terraspace-3-man-tent.html#read_more) - anyone have any experiences, comments or opinions on that?

Just checking.. do you need a 3 man or do you just like space?

Both tents are pretty heavy but I would choose the Vaude between them as I'm not at all impressed with FA kit that I have seen or used.

If you want something lighter and better suited to 2 people in the berg I recommend you look at the TNF Tadpole FL or chat to Drifters about their Mountain Hardwear and Black Diamond ranoge which is tops.

Hope this helps?

PS. Don't underestimate the Berg, I have had a guy rope torn off a 4 season mountain tent!

want the 3 man so that I can also use it when taking my daughters hiking in the little berg. We've always had a 3 man tent hiking in the berg (old isodome) so its also familiar. The weight distributed between 2 is also manageable - so its not a major concern. That said, I'm not discounting a 2 man. Have been looking at the black diamond as well...but its maybe a little out of my price range

Interesting your opinion of the FA kit...I have a down FA sleeping bag that is now about 25 odd years old and its still going strong!

I still stand by my previous comments regarding a Cool Mountain 2. Mine has been so badly abused that I am surprised it still even looks like a tent

Mine has survived 22 nights of camping during which it has endured 6 hail storms, a few Berg gales and being really badly pitched on a 30 degree slope while waiting for mountain rescue. The only damage it has ever picked up was when it was pitched on that 30 degree slope with 3 people squashed in it - and the damage was limited to a small tear and one pole being slightly bent out of shape. I did my December GT using it and didn't even notice these problems.

The night that Fitness and I spent in my tent near the base of Mzimude Pass was probably the scariest night of camping I have ever endured - a massive hail storm, heavy rain and lightning at around 2AM. We were both ready to grab our things and run if the tent failed, but it didn't even have any battle scars to show for it the next morning.

When I do decide to replace my tent, I will probably go with the same again - its hard to beat a R1600 2.2kg 2 man 4 seasons tent that can survive all of this!

whats the space like with 2 6 ft guys in the cool mountain?

The 2 man is rather small, but i believe the 3 man is pretty good.

On GT i was sharing it with a 6ft tall individual and it was mostly big enough.