Tents

If you want strength, and you hike with trekking poles, a trekking pole tent is a great, lightweight option.  It removes the need to carry tent poles that can be up to 30% of a tent's overall weight.

A relatively inexpensive, trekking pole tent option--to your $450 for the Hubba Hubba--is Dan Durston's, $300 Xmid 2p.  durstongear.com/product/x-mid-2p

They are sold on Drop.com, and its seems they have a shipment dropping (sorry) in January.





 

I have an MLD DuoMid, and used it in the berg in high winds, it held up really well. Check the video of some people showing off this tent: 

Pyramid tents are a great choice for bad weather, I recommend them!

I've been very happy with our Forclaz MT500 tent on Berg escarpment hikes. 

HI All

Has anyone used the First Ascent Tent below.

www.firstascent.co.za/atlas-1-person-3-season-hiking-tent

Really looking to get a feel for the performance in the wind.

Brian


 

@Beard. 
I don't know about this tent, having never used one, however, I have used a similar style of tent -https://www.snugpak.com/scorpion-2. It was a 2 person, but really only fitted one comfortably with gear.
A few things to note, the scorpion had a small vent in the back which allowed air flow, but even then, it could get quite warm even with one person, and only with a stiff breeze did it cool.  I notice that the FA has no through vent, so it will get hot, the dark cooler like the S also sucks in the heat, but is good for incognito.  The S has extra cross bracing poles which did help with the wind, but the sleeves being on the outside didn't make it the most wind or snow resistant, the snow packing up against them.  The weight of the FA is not that good for a one person tent, but then it is 3 season, most likely could use as a 4 season in SA at a push.
I think the main takeaway is the lack of the rear venting, and this will mean the tent will get really hot.

Hey thanks for feedback, much appreciated !!
at R2k, it not a bank-breaker, so could be great purchase or lesson learnt...
thanks again

My vote for the top bombproof forever mountain tent that is still light at 2.4 kg while be a proper northern hemisphere high altitude 4 season spec is the Black Diamond Eldorado. Check out on their SA site! 

Does anyone know where to source any 8.5mm aluminum tent pole lengths to replace broken poles?

You can order custom carbon pole replacements online from Quest Outfitters, Easton Syclone in the US. You need to supply lengths required. Bonus is a nice ultra-lite upgrade to your tent while you're at it. A friend used them successfully not too long ago and I am going to order from them soon.
 

Howzit Guys
I've been looking for a hooped bivy to take on fast multi day trips into the Berg. I'm wanting something fairly light, but most importantly a bivy that can withstand the crazy winds and rain that often occur on the escarpment. I was looking at the Snugpak Stratosphere but I've seen some worrying reviews about their recent quality since  moving their manufacturing head quarters to China. Does anyone have any experiences or suggestions on a decent hooped bivy?