When did tents become boring?

[Bearbonesnorm]

I remember a few years ago when there seemed to be lots of different styles of tent available. Manufacturers appered to continually looking for new or different ways to approach things. It seems now, that many manufacturers simply settle on a basic design and tweak it to suit - MSR are a very good example. All their tents look the same, yet 8 years ago they produced some really interesting stuff like the 'Skinny One'.



I appreciate that it's likely down to economics but it does seem a shame much of the quirky or odd-ball stuff has seemingly vanished.

[RIP]

No quirky ones any longer? I fancy one of these for my next outing: https://www.onbuy.com/gb/zebra-pop-up-t ... d=37915121

[BordersSteve]

Have you not heard the buzz about the new Sea to Summit tents? They've reversed the crossbar bend to create increased headroom... It's quite the revolution!

[jay91]

Easier manufacturing?
Less money on r&d ?

Maybe there's some more invitation in the smaller brands like z-pacs etc


Rip you could just about stand up in that

[Specialist Hoprocker]

Could it be that they aren't bothering investing in the intellectual property because it all get's copied and sold cheaper on AliExpress 9 months later?

[whitestone]

Rationalisation of range?
Some models/styles not selling for whatever reason? Why continue to make poor sellers?
Fashion?

The semi-geodesic designs like the MSR or many of the Big Agnes tents give a lot of room for their weight, much more than the tunnel tent designs. That's a selling point - ours split between us is 750g each, we can sit up in it, get changed without performing human tetris or mastering tantric yoga. Sure there's downsides - pitching inner first for example - but generally they are much more pleasant than the tunnel designs.

Maybe once they (MSR, etc.) came up with the Hubba Bubba, Copper Spur et al. then sales of the other designs basically dried up.

[Lazarus]

The endless search for the lightest tent will inevitably lead to similar tents as everyone tries to make one with just one pole with just enough space to sit up

[Charliecres]

Isn’t it just the way of things? It’s the same as cars and bicycles. There’s a period of experimentation before everyone discovers the same basic designs are ‘best’.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Isn’t it just the way of things? It’s the same as cars and bicycles. There’s a period of experimentation before everyone discovers the same basic designs are ‘best’.

That might be it. Maybe we've all lived through the golden age of tent design and are now seeing the results

[ScotRoutes]

Isn’t it just the way of things? It’s the same as cars and bicycles. There’s a period of experimentation before everyone discovers the same basic designs are ‘best’.

+1

I guess tent design went through a bit of change when flexible poles and lighter weight fabrics started appearing. I had a Quasar Dome when I was camping by motorbike. To most folk that was "space-age" compared with what they were used to. All sorts of geodesic designs arrived, either for strength, space or weight saving. I reckon most things have now been tried so design has settled down pending some further innovation.

Oh for "best" read "best compromise". Hence a variety of designs exist, each suited to different requirements.

[GregMay]

Isn’t it just the way of things? It’s the same as cars and bicycles. There’s a period of experimentation before everyone discovers the same basic designs are ‘best’.

That might be it. Maybe we've all lived through the golden age of tent design and are now seeing the results

3 second tents you mean?

[TheBrownDog]

Have you not heard the buzz about the new Sea to Summit tents? They've reversed the crossbar bend to create increased headroom... It's quite the revolution!

Sure is. And the Alto TR2 actually comes with a heavy bulky thingy that you put into the ceiling to become a light bar. Plus the bags turn into storage pockets - STORAGE POCKETS.

And all for only £400 ... but still with only 105cm of headroom.

https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... ent-p15165

[Richpips]

I think there are still some interesting refinements on certain themes from time to time.

eg. It's nice to see the airbeam become a thing with a few brands for lightweight tents.

There will never be a tent that suits everyone and all weather situations.

If I had to pick a single design for the UK, it would be a hooped transverse ridge, a good compromise of livability space to weather durability. There are loads of versions, Hilleberg, Vango, Alpkit, Terra Nova.

Oh, and there is nothing boring about sleeping in a tent with high sides and large unsupported panels on a windy night.