Backpacking Tents on loan?

[Mel]

Is this even a “thing”?  Are there any companies or organisations that loan out tents?
 
I have the rest of the stuff that I can make do with initially, but don’t want to fork out for another tent that I might not use again if I don’t take to this wild camping malarkey.
 
I have my “tent palace” for campsite camping but at 15kg I’d hardly call it a backpacker’s tent!

[richardh1905]

I doubt very much that you would find a company hiring out small one/two person tents, Mel - but I could be wrong.


An alternative approach would be to take a gamble on ebay - you can always sell it again if you decide that wild camping is not for you, or if you decide that you want a better tent.


Unless you are planning to camp high in winter, most aluminium alloy backpacking tents will do the job.


Edit - doesn't seem to be much in the way of small tents on ebay right now.

[Little Foot]

I remember my mum telling me about hiring a lot of camping gear years ago when we were kids, so maybe it’s still a thing.

I have a Zephyrous 2 that I wouldn’t mind you using if you can’t find anything. It’s 1.8kg, so not too heavy, but not the lightest out there. Might be a bit small if there’s two full grown adults using it though.

[Birdman]

I would just buy a cheap (but decent) new tent. For example, I see a Vango Nevis 200 for £88.40 now (with discount code, incl shipping at Ultimate Outdoors) and there are many other good options. Personally I wouldn't take the risk buying a tent second hand and then find out during my camping trip that it leaks, because it will save you relatively little money for potentially a ruined camping experience. Better save on accommodation and restaurants, that's where the real expenditure is, imo.

[richardh1905]

Yes, there are some decent low price tents out there for less than £100.


As well as the Nevis, there's also the Robens Arrowhead, and I quite like the look of the Olpro tunnel tents, all less than £100 and all less than 2kg.

[Islandplodder]

I bought an Alpkit soloist in the summer, just over £100. It's tiny, but very light, I can carry it, and I'm old and a bit pathetic on the carrying front. A couple of weeks ago I took it on a cycle tour in the Scottish borders and it kept me dry through 4 breezy and showery nights.
If it's any help, it was the first time I had wild camped for at least 30 years, or camped at all apart from a couple of discreet nights in the summer to try out the tent, and I loved it, slightly to my surprise. I also  reckoned I had paid for it in saved b&bs on that one trip.

[Birdman]

I bought an Alpkit soloist in the summer, just over £100. It's tiny, but very light, I can carry it, and I'm old and a bit pathetic on the carrying front. A couple of weeks ago I took it on a cycle tour in the Scottish borders and it kept me dry through 4 breezy and showery nights.
If it's any help, it was the first time I had wild camped for at least 30 years, or camped at all apart from a couple of discreet nights in the summer to try out the tent, and I loved it, slightly to my surprise. I also  reckoned I had paid for it in saved b&bs on that one trip.

I love this success story!


Also, just a couple of times not having to stay in B&B (incl being forced to eat in a restaurant) already pays for a decent tent that will last for many years. it always surprises me how people fret over spending a relatively small amount of money on gear but easily fork out money for B&B and restaurants.


In addition to this, I see camping gear as an enabler. It makes things possible that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise. For me personally, the best experiences of my entire life wouldn't have been possible without it.

[MarkT]

I just searched "backpacking tent hire" and quite a few companies came up. I looked at outdoorhire and they seem to cover all the equipment you need for any kind of outdoor adventure but options are limited but may be worth a look. They also offer courses and organised trips for anyone else interested.

[watershed]

I love this success story!


Also, just a couple of times not having to stay in B&B (incl being forced to eat in a restaurant) already pays for a decent tent that will last for many years. it always surprises me how people fret over spending a relatively small amount of money on gear but easily fork out money for B&B and restaurants.


In addition to this, I see camping gear as an enabler. It makes things possible that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise. For me personally, the best experiences of my entire life wouldn't have been possible without it.

So true on all counts.


Love islandplodders modesty!

[gunwharfman]

If you want to borrow it for a trip you are more than welcome to my Wild Country Zephyros One or my (it's well used and bashed about now) Marmot Pulsar One tent. The Zephyros one is better suited for the colder periods of the year. You highlight for me the problem of tents, which one is actually worth buying and I would be happy to live with over time. I've looked but can't seem to find one that equals or betters my Marmot Pulsar One. My model is no longer made and I'd be happy to purchase one again but only if the outer tent was not orange, if it was lighter in weight and didn't cost a lot more money. The option to hire would be useful to me as well.

[richardh1905]

In addition to this, I see camping gear as an enabler. It makes things possible that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise. For me personally, the best experiences of my entire life wouldn't have been possible without it.

Indeed; so true. Give me a night by a lonely tarn high up on a remote hillside over a night in a hotel or B&B any day!

[Birdman]

One year ago, waking up in West MacDonnell National Park (Australia). Cost of this accommodation: £0,00  

 

[cornwallcoastpathdweller]

Shall keep my eye on this thread because im also in the market for a cheap one man 'wild camping tester' tent. 
Tried using a real £20 cheapy from ebay a week or two back on my first wild camp in the Cotswolds as an experiment, learnt my lesson that despite being 5'8" tall a 2.0m tent was too small to lie in without head and feet touching the ends, so something slightly longer required.

[Birdman]

I camped with this £89 tent in Scotland, the Ethiopian Simien Mountains (photo) and Costa Rica and survived some serious thunderstorms while staying perfectly dry.

In my opinion, a cheap (but true backpacking-) tent is functionally almost as good as the stuff that costs hundreds of pounds. However, it will be a few hundred grams heavier because of the used materials (usually polyurethane coated polyester vs Silnylon). In my experience it will also not last as long, as the polyurethane will decay (it blisters off) especially when stored wet and it seems to be more UV-sensitive than silnylon. However, a full silnylon tent usually costs several times as much (and I don't want to talk about Dyneema Composite Fabric...), so that would be a waste of money if the tent is not used that often. Also, consider that your tent is quite likely to get damaged faster by little accidents than by normal wear and tear. For that reason, it took me a while before I considered spending more money on a tent.

[Stube]

My local (Portsmouth) Tesco Extra was selling off two man doubled skinned dome tents for £10! A little heavy at ~2,5kg but undenyably a bargain.
I have almost enough tents  the (last) one I want is unavailable at the moment) and this one is unlikely to ever get used. BUT I was sorely tempted!
You might find it in other large Tescos.