Before I buy a Lunar Solo...

[Shewie]

Lanshan Pro 1 maybe?

[Boab]

Lanshan Pro 1 maybe?

Unless someone on here is getting rid of one. Yes, it's very tempting price wise, but as previously discussed in the mists of time, I'm not wanting to buy from China (or Planet X for example).

[firestarter]

I got the regular lanshan 1 used from ebay recently I paid more than I would have from China but arrived in 2 days I got a pole from stu, looks good , I wanted the old one so I can use it with or without bug net as to me it seemed more useful

[lune ranger]

After the last few experiences in the bivy bag, I want a tent. The Gatewood Cape and Serenity Bug Tent are a bit too spendy for me at the moment.

The Serenity bug net is really quite small, if you look at the dimensions of the floor it's only 214cm long x 66cm wide. That's not much bigger the a full length mat. This was the reason I've made my own inner. With the Serenity I think you'd have to blow your mat up and sort your kit before you get inside.

The Lunar is IMO the best usable space per £ for the weight there is. You can easily sit up inside, sort gear, blow up mats etc.

Obviously having said all that I didn't buy one I have the Deschutes BUT if I lived somewhere where I'd want insect protection, so basically anywhere north of the Isle of Wight I'd have bought the Lunar Solo.

I can confirm the Serenity bug tent is pretty small and IMO not great value. It serves its purpose however. I’ve mostly used mine to take advantage of the bathtub floor when it’s been very wet rather than for keeping midges at bay.

[Shewie]

Lanshan Pro 1 maybe?

Unless someone on here is getting rid of one. Yes, it's very tempting price wise, but as previously discussed in the mists of time, I'm not wanting to buy from China (or Planet X for example).

Well as it happens ...

I bought one earlier in the year and have bought another 3 shelters since so can't see me using it if I'm honest.

It's been pitched once in the man cave and been packed up since.

Think I paid £110 for it, would take £95 posted

[Boab]

Lanshan Pro 1 maybe?

Unless someone on here is getting rid of one.

Well as it happens ...

You have a PM...

[Shewie]

Lanshan Pro 1 maybe?

Unless someone on here is getting rid of one.

Well as it happens ...

You have a PM...

PM replied to

[fatbikephil]

We do like a happy ending!
Re poles (hur hur) the BB pole is well stiff which means you can throw the tent up and pull everything tight without worrying too much about bending it. My first attempts with an alloy pole meant you had to be very careful tensioning everything to avoid it going banana shaped.....

[Cheeky Monkey]

I can confirm the Serenity bug tent is pretty small and IMO not great value. It serves its purpose however. I’ve mostly used mine to take advantage of the bathtub floor when it’s been very wet rather than for keeping midges at bay.

Thought the Sea2Summit bug net was a practical and financially beneficial alternative:



https://rockrun.com/products/sea-to-sum ... gJ34fD_BwE

Other vendors exist but thought it only sporting as I nicked their pic ;-)

Doesn't have the complexity of the Serenity but but for the cost of a sheet of tyvek seems a bit of a no-brainer to me

[RIP]

Make sure it's the "Nano" - think might be a "heavio" version too?

[fatbikephil]

Yes and no - its quite fiddly to put up and being asymmetrical not that well suited to a deschutes et al - it does work but tends to sag around you a bit unless you peg it out and faff alot. Getting in and out is also quite a challenge as there is no zip. You can wear it as an all over anti midge net though as well as use it to go to the loo midge free which is justification for one in itself.

[RIP]

Agreed tis faffworthy. But only 92g worth of faff .

[fatbikephil]

Agreed tis faffworthy. But only 92g worth of faff .

[Cheeky Monkey]

Yes, apologies, the nano version

Faffage to my mind not that big a deal, certainly not c.£120 worth of big-deal given the price difference.

HYOH, of course

[jamiep]

Yes, apologies, the nano version :cool:

Faffage to my mind not that big a deal, certainly not c.£120 worth of big-deal given the price difference.

HYOH, of course :cool:

It's not just the price difference though. There is also a difference in usable floor/head space; much more with a Solo than with a bug net and a Deschutes or Cape.

Im a new convert to the Solo. Since buying one recently I'm nipping for an overnighter much more whereas I'd go out only 2-3 times a year outwith special trips such as TNR last year. Versus a bivi bag, it's made me realise I appreciate the large, slug-free floor space, safely away from midgies, but still a fairly open, unobstructed view.

Ps the BB pole is excellent

[Cheeky Monkey]

I may not have made it clear but I was comparing the Serenity inner for (IIRC) £150 with a S2S bug not at c.£20 (or £30, if you allow for some Tyvek as a groundsheet).

I have only used the cheapy option but the faffage savings (and everything else) would need to be *significant* to offset the price difference, for me.

Like I said though, HYOH

[Leerowe76]

Lunar Solo is £245, weight is 730g
Gatewood is £170, weight is 300g, Borah Gear bivy was £71, weight is 175g

Just saying

Flame creed lunar solo copy is £85 weight is 730g, does a job tbh comes with removable midgey net. That leaves you with £160 to spend on, well whatever you want

[Mactheknife68]

Anyone using the trekker tent, looks a decent option at £190

[FLV]

I've used an actual tent the last few times I've been out. Nordisk Telemark 1
Very good so far, tho not as roomy as my lunar solo I currently prefer it due to lack off faff

[middleagedmadness]

Just posted in bargain alert thread , gatewoodcape for £128 if any good to op

[Lazarus]

Anyone using the trekker tent, looks a decent option at £190

Yes and I have the rear zip verson
advantages
* Fly sheet pitches first
* Inner can be left at homes so can be used as a tarp
* Solid and pretty well tested for UK conditions
* Can use bike for rear pole
* can just get two under it in tarp mode
*Reasonable size vestibule for storage

Negatives
* Not the tallest
* Coffin like -does not bother me but i consider it to be a bivvy tent rather than a tent
* lead times - my experience was he did not deliver in double the stated time

[Boab]

Just posted in bargain alert thread , gatewoodcape for £128 if any good to op

I have picked up an unused Lanshan 1 Pro from Shewie. Thanks for thinking of me though!

[redefined_cycles]

I've used an actual tent the last few times I've been out. Nordisk Telemark 1
Very good so far, tho not as roomy as my lunar solo I currently prefer it due to lack off faff

Dave... how's a Nordisk less faff than a lunar (genuine question as I like less faff)... I thought LS was the least faffy option out there without going into Gatewood territory

[FLV]

As much as I like my LS, I find myself faffing about trying to get a taught pitch. Circling the thing, adjusting etc.
Once up, it's good.

So far, the Nordisk is up in no time, no adjusting.

Both are less faff than a square tarp and bivvi option.

This is of course, for me. I've seen other people do it more efficiently.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Shaf, what makes you think the Lunar is a faff? 1 pole, 6 pegs and a couple of minutes.


EDIT: Dave's obviously crap