The best all-rounder lightweight tent...

A few years ago I was ready to upgrade to a new lightweight tent.  Knowing I'd be heading into the mountains by myself for mini-expeditions I was looking for something light, small and double skinned.

Double skinned?  Yeah, my thinking being that it'll hold more warm air within two layers, and I won't have the problem of touching the outer layer and getting wet.  But that'll make it heavier I hear you ask.  Well if I choose carefully I can still use just the outer skin as a kind of tarp too.

So I found the MSR Zoid 1 after considering the original Terra Nova Laser Comp and a whole bunch of other lightweight tents in the same strain.  The same flimsy, ultra-expensive strain.

See the Terra Nova's great for purpose - lightweight for speedy movement over terrain, quick pitching and rediculously light - and that was the original one!  So why not go for that?  Well, it was a good £150 plus more than the Zoid 1, and also, it didn't quite strike me as strong enough for a proper night's sleep in 'any' conditions.

Bonuses are some nice strong (enough) poles strengthened by the canvas, enough space for a body and small bag in the inner tent and space in the 'porch' for boots and a burner.  That's about it, but that's all you need.  A tent for just over a kilo is great for £120.  Also, I got a footprint meaning the tarp use is so much more agreeable!

So the problem is, they don't sell it anymore!

What to do, what to do?  Get on ebay and scour it until you find one of these little wonders!!!

On the flip side, check out the Vango Banshee... next time!