Tents

@ASL  Yes, that looks like a great tent.  

I had an MSR Elixir.  It was really good, although too heavy unless there was two of you.  

The new version of MSR Hubba Hubba 2 NX has lost some weight and gained some strength with composite poles but not a 4 season tent like the Access.

Here is a very interesting tent from Hong Kong-- Pretents- Lightrock .  It looks like a 3+ season, 1.5 person tent--1.25kg, double wall design, with a mostly solid interior. On the exchange about $450.  They are releasing a 2 person version in October.

Ken at backpackinglight.se has a review  here .  He raves about the quality of the tent, and he is a big Hilleberg fan.

Tent addiction is a serious thing.  We need a self-help group/thread on VE for that, or perhaps a get together, where we setup all our crazy tents

Lol! I have gear addiction, never mind just tents!!

I have the Ahwanhee and a BD Skylite tent and an old Ferigno tent. I use the Skylite a lot as it's 2kg all in for a 3 man and is still very strong. I sat out an 8 hour snow storm at Giants in it.

Also have many packs and other assorted gear. It's got to the point I am thinking to start a gear review blog to alleviate my compulsion a bit..

I can give you some feedback on the BD Skylite tent. I've used it since 2015 in the Berg in some of the worst conditions I've ever experienced there and it's stood up really well. My freind Riaan has a Nallo 3 and the Skylite held up in a wind storm that flattened the Nallo (nothing broke but I could see their shaped under the tent fabric..). I did get small tear on one of the attachements for a guy rope but it's was because I didn't stake out the one side. Since then it's been through some epic snow storms with no issues so I rate it highly.

I would actually say that northern hemisphere 4 season is worse than our 4 season so most 3 season tents are okay here. That said if I had to choose, I have a Bibler Ahwanhee that is stronger than the Skylite, just not as light.

PS. It does get more condensation than the Todtex fabric Bibler/ now BD use but then it's single wall

Hi Everyone, hiking newbie here. I am planning on doing my first multi day hike in June. I want to go up Grays pass. I don't have a tent yet so I am looking to buy a tent. From what I read online I would need a four season tent. I read a bit though this thread and saw the FA Helio that looks like it fits my requirements. I just want to find out what you guys think of the K-Way Expedition Series Kilimanjaro 2 Person Tent www.capeunionmart.co.za/products/k-way-expedition-series-kilimanjaro-2-person-tent/108748-8607.html. The FA Helio is cheaper by quite a bit and lighter. What would you choose between the two? Or are there other tents I should look at in the same price range as these two?

Hello Daniel. I have a Helio and it is an excellent tent in all weather. I use it as a one man tent for myself only....as it is uncomfortable for two people. Two people can fit but with a big squash and not enough room for two backpacks. For one man it is luxury!!

Look at naturehike.co.za as well. They have very light weight tents. And remember, usually 2 persons tent suits 1 person and the backpack. 3 persons tent suits 2 people and the backpacks.  

Make sure, you have a very warm sleeping bag too. It will be cold on top in June. 

Hi Daniel,

Welcome on VE!

There's a lot of tents available at various price points. What I would advise you to do is to create a list of requirements and then find a tent that meets them. If you take me for example, I am 1,97m tall, so that already removes about 85% of all tents on the market today . Weight is obviously a consideration, as is strength, price etc.
You can even formulate a strategy that negates the use of tents, although it can be risky. Bivvies could be a part of your arsenal, I prefer them in winter to tents. Caves can reduce your dependency on tents as well. At the top of Grays pass you will find Nkosazana cave. A bit exposed and with a wet floor, but with a waterproof groundsheet and a bivvy you'd be fine.

So, my advice would be to decide on what exactly you want and then buy the best value you can find.

Enjoy the Berg!!!

Riaang makes some good points here.  I would add though, that if you are going to venture onto the escarpment, even if the plans include caves, then a tent or at minimum a bivvy bag per hiker or a group tarp type emergency shelter is a necessary requirement to take up for if the weather changes to dangerous situation.  Unless the plan is to only go up a pass that has a cave in it near the top and the return down via the same pass.

Thanks for the replies. I have decided to go for the FA Helio. It is cheap enough and though it is a bit small for two people I am sure we will manage if the weather is bad. I wanted a tent that I would be comfortable carrying and pitching by myself. Will let you guys know what my experience with it was. I am planning on hiking between 17 June and 20 June. I will definitely be checking out different threads on this forum while planning. This seems like an awesome resource for info on the Drakensberg. Glad I found it.

Daniel, I like that you are going with the lighter option. Every kg counts when going up/down a pass. As mentioned, a two man tent gets rather crowded when two people and their backpacks are in it. What a friend and I did on our last hike, was to run a ski rope under the tent and tying it to our backpacks which we left outside the tent, but beneath the flysheet. It gave us ample space in the tent and we had no worries about anyone running off with the bags during the night.

Enjoy the berg!