The Argos one man tent is now down to ?14.99. If you are looking for a lightweight tent don't miss this.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=1751&productId=82759&Trail=C$cip=12298%3EC$cip=12310%3EC$cip=12312&categoryId=12312
Sandy, are you commission by any chance? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Seriously though, if anyone is wanting a tent BUY THIS NOW, they are fekking amazing for the money. I am buying another one for Gordon (eldest son) that?ll be 3 we have now! :shock:
That?s? the problem with having two sons. All my trips cost me 3 times as much :(
I'm going to get another one as a spare just incase something hapens to the original. At that price it is practically use and throw away :)
Argos are also doing a Karrimor 65 litre rucksack for ?37.50. The same sack is in Tisos and Millets for ?75. I bought one when I got the tent. It is a great piece of kit, it was ?50 then.
At ?37.50 I am going to buy another for my youngest son Martin.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=1751&productId=93938
QuoteArgos are also doing a Karrimor 65 litre rucksack for ?37.50
How waterproof is it? I know it has a raincover but does it keep most of the rain out without it? The one I have just now is a little small for my needs and it is getting past it but it lets very little rain in and that is only over the past couple of years.
My mate George bought a new Berghaus for our trip this year and one of the belts came away from the stitching and it leaked like a seive, his clothes were damp before he had got round to putting the rain cover on because the rain wasn't that heavy to start with and his old Berghause would have coped with it. He took it back and they are going to replace it.
think ill buy one seen same tent on ebay at ?36 and rising :lol:
Sandy,
as far as waterproofing goes I don?t know as I have just used it in fine weather. However by the look of it, it is probably OK and as you say there is a rain cover (inside the top pocket) if it turns to monsoon. This cover goes over the entire sack. Even though I believe it would be OK I would always seal items like sleeping bag / clothes etc inside black bin liners when going on a trip, just to be safe.
One thing that struck me is how rucksack design has changed in the 20 odd years since I bought my last one. The number of adjustments, even for the length of your back is remarkable. Sadly my trusty old ?Dougal Haston Alpinist ? sack will now be retired. The new sack weighs a lot less too.
Johnsd,
As far as ebay goes it?s definitely a case of let the buyer beware. That?s not the first example of this I have heard about. Seems that folk believe that since its on ebay it will be cheaper but it is not always so. Have heard of some guys buying rods that could have been bought new for the same price or less!
Never buy off ebay unless
A) you know the price of the original or
B) you are willing to pay the price for a collectable
and C) the seller has good feedback
You won't go too far wrong doing this.
Karrimor out of business? For Christ?s sake what next I wonder? That is BAD news indeed Calum, I have a had a lot of their gear over the years.
Yes, I will indeed treasure my ?Old Dougal?
Haston himself actually had a hand in its design (dated now of course) . When asked to endorse it, he only agreed if certain changes were made.
One of Scotland?s mountaineering greats - killed skiing!
Back then we had good footballers in Scotland too!
You can read a bit about it here Fred.
http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=3692
They were owned by a Soth African company who were making losses so they sold it to Lonsdale Sports, the boxing company.
I have boght one of the ruchsacks, and another tent. On quick inspection it looks very good. I always put clothes and sleeping bag in plastic bin bags, the reason I asked about waterproofness was because I don't want to carry any more water than I can drink around in the bottom of the bag :)
I'm gearing up for a walk on the West Highland Way, a mate of mine wants to do it before he gets too old, he's only 51 :) I haven't done it myself, never had the inclination, but he was going on his own so I said I would go with him. "MUG" is written right across my forehead :) He only has five days to do it so we are going to be pushing it a bit.
I'll move the rast of this to the walking area.
Tent bought today looking at rucksacks now if anyone can give me guide to capacity (size) for say one night camp I would be grateful. Also my mate who hill walks but does not fish has suggested an outing for next month somewhere in the trossachs would be ideal, easy trek and a float/ledger allowed for mate to break us in gently but still far from the madding crowd would be nice. :)
Johnsd, can?t help you with the Trossachs but my recent 1 night camp at loch Tilt pretty much filled my 65ltr rucksack. No matter how long you go for you need tent, sleeping bag, stove, plate / pots ( a cheap lightweight set of dixies is ideal). Then you need clothes, don?t take too much in summer though. The main variable is food but this is not the major bulk item if you are careful what you take. Don?t take one of these bulky insulated sleeping mats. Apart from on snow they are not really needed as you can lie on your spare clothes.
Perhaps a section on the site on this where we could input our ideas on what to take would be a good idea, it is not easy in my experience to get it right. Once we have everyones ideas I couild put up a section on the front page
What do you all think? Especially you Sandy as you have done a lot of this and have much of your own experience to offer.
This is my camping carry list, I try to keep the total weight to <-20kilos.
www.ftscotland.co.uk/angling/CAMPING-carry.htm
You could do away with the Cooker, Gas and Cooking Pot for a one nighter but a warm meal is better.
I would leave most of the clothes at home too, just taking a change of clothes so that I can change if I need to. It is also better to get into dry clothes if you need to wear them in the sleeping bag, even sweaty clothes will chill you.
Take from the essentials what you think you will need.
Anything you take with you that you don't use take a note of it and if after a few outings if you never use it throw it out, there is no point in carrying something if it is never used.
Food is a personal thing but i normally take the small packets of instant noocles, mighty soups and cuppa soups to put in them, crisp bread and primula cheese in the tube for sqeezing on to them. Breakfast I make up individual packets with porridge, dried milk and salt and just add water and cook. For drinking I take coffe, tea bags and this year we took an isotronic powder we got from Holland & Barret, which gives you an amazing lift.
For fishing I am going to leave the waistcoat at home and just carry what I need in the rucksack, the extra weight of the cotton when it gets wet isn't worth it.
The rucksack I have is 45litres and has done me well over the years, but a bit of a squeeze at times. I have now bought a 65litre one but haven't got round to packing it and trying it out yet, but only taking the gear I normally take should make packing easier.
I can't think of anywhere in the trossachs where you have to walk a distance from the road to fish, it isn't an area I frequent prefering farther north.
Quote from: fishtalesThis is my camping carry list........
Sandy,
Good list. At first glance, I would add to that, a small first aid kit with a wide bandage for strapping up limbs, pain killers, compass (and ability to use it) and :shock:
MIDGE REPELLENT :shock: (Autan is good).
Quote from: adminQuote from: fishtalesThis is my camping carry list........
Sandy,
Good list. At first glance, I would add to that, a small first aid kit with a wide bandage for strapping up limbs, pain killers, compass (and ability to use it) and :shock: MIDGE REPELLENT :shock: (Autan is good).
I should add them in, I keep forgetting because they are in my bag all the time getting swapped betwen my 65 and 35 that I use for fishing.
First aid kit is crepe bandage, elastoplasts and the sudocream, pain killers are in my fishing vest all the time as I have arthritus in my knees and the joints of my big toes, I also have angina so those tablets have to go too when I am away. My compass I have had in the bag for thirty years and have never had to use it seriously, played with it in the house or when writing the TR and want to know the places I was looking at.
The midge repellent is in my fishing waistcoat and never comes out. I use Jungle Formula but am experimenting with aromatherapy oils at the moment. My mate was given the recipe for midge repellant years ago from an old fella we used to meet when fishing. It was so good you didn't have to put it on your skin just putting it on your clothes was enough to keep everything away. He had to get it made up in the chemists but we have forgotten the ingredients, there were only three and one was to make it smell nice, so I am experimenting.
Quote from: CalumMy overnight kit list which will always go with me during Spring to Autumn is as follows;
60 ltr rucsac
I've just boght a 65
QuoteInflatable 3/4 'Thermarest' Sleeping Pad
I use an old blaxmat, full length closed cell foam, thirty years old :)
QuoteDown Sleeping Bag suitable down to -2 C (just in case!)
Waiting on a new Nanok down bag, goes down to -10, I like my comfort :)
QuoteMSR Multi-Fuel Stove
George replaced his old Trangia with this new one, only ?10.
http://www.strikeforcesupplies.co.uk/stock.php?page=14
Scroll half way down.
Quote2 ltr. Pot
Thats about the size I use. I eat out of it instead of carrying a plate. I also have an aluminium kettle that fits inside and a frying pan. part of the set I have had for years, I leave the big pan they all fit into at home and only take it when I am car camping.
QuoteFleece Hat
I'm thinking of getting one for in the sleeping bag, the hair is getting a bit thin on top :)
QuotePlatypus 2ltr Hydration Bottle
George bought one for this year and he found it great, I don't see the point of carrying all that water around when you are surrounded by the stuff, I just take a half litre plastic bottle and fill it up when I need to.
QuoteThe above list leans heavily towards specialized hillwalking kit as my main interest is walking over fishing.
It doesn't matter what you go into the hills for, you must have the right kit or you spoil the enjoyment.
[/quote]
The bag I use is an old ?Blacks Polar? 4 season, down filled with no zip so it can be a bit warm in summer, but guaranteed never to be cold. Have had it for 30 years, cost me about ?100 quid back then, bloody expensive but worth it. I have slept out with it in February in the Cairngorms when it was so cold I needed a pneumatic drill to get the tent pegs into the ground. My mates in the next tent did not have such good bags and the sound of their teeth chattering kept me awake most of the night. Inconsiderate bastards.. .. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: Blackwitch
These things swallow a lot of gear - the only difficulty is restricting how much you take!
Blackwitch
I remember someone ? I believe it was Hamish Brown - writing, that once you realise it is you who must carry the pack, it makes it all the easier to decide what not to take! :lol:
Quote from: SandflyI have now become a member of the Argos lightweight tent club .
Davy, welcome to the brotherhood. I have 2 and am away to order a 3rd for Gordon (eldest son) Allan just bought one too and of course ????.
Sandy (the revered one who gave us guidance) is our high priest. :lol: :lol: :lol:
I can't take all the credit, have a read at some of this lot.
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=argos+tent&sourceid=opera&num=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
This is where it all started :)
Quote from: Calum
No wonder great British gear companies like Karrimor have died :(
Oi !!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I have 2 Vango tents you know. :shock: An old Force 10 (all cotton) 2 man and another that will sleep 3 at a pinch. So I have done my bit. The problem is Calum that much of the ?British? gear we buy is also made cheaply in the far East but you still have to pay home made prices for it. :cry: My old Vangos are too heavy to carry very far and all the other lightweights cost an arm and a leg to buy. That?s why the Argos tent has been such a hit.
just gone and bought 1/2 price karrimor rucsac from argos only to keep this thread going lol.
Calum, I bought my Force 10 in the 70s? Cotton and heavy (>10lb )but superb. Cotton tents are far more pleasant to sleep in, no condensation and they don?t crack and bang in the wind. I still have it but have not used it for years. It has great sentimental value. My other Vango I bought in Tisos in Aberdeen about 7 years ago. It is a cracker and will sleep 3 at a push although it is more practical for 2. Heavy again though ~5KG.
Quote from: johnsdjust gone and bought 1/2 price karrimor rucsac from argos only to keep this thread going lol.
Johnsd, steady on now,
Yee?l be putting Calum oot o? a joab. :cry:
Aye, that Argos is rapidly becoming Scotland?s finest climbin? gear shoppie :lol: :lol: :lol:
(Sorry Calum, could not resist it :lol: )
I ordered another tent and 2 of these rucksacks online last night. If my dearly beloved finds oot ?m died! :lol:
Calum, if you promise not to tell her, I promise I?ll buy my next water bottle at Tisos. :lol:
I bet it was you lot that bought them all up and are now selling them for ?80 quid in the "Fancy Dan Shop" Calum :wink: :wink:
All the best
Proud owner of a quality Argos Tent :D
:shock: Have you seen the write up on the argos tents in the Great Out Doors magazine?
Tell me more, tell me more............. 8) 8)
Richy
:) Calum Mcneish rates them pretty highly Breac
I just saw a reply on a news group, they still have them at the Exeter shop. Try going to your local shop and see if they will get one sent up.
just picked a one man tent on ebay for 13.50 including post, brand new,
breac
look on the Ebay camping site theres a guy selling the argos tents for
?12.50, the post is heavy at ?7.50 but thats the way of it,breac
That's not the only one, there are four more from ?5 to ?18 :)
The guy I got this one from has another 5 at the same price, breac
There is one sitting at ?31 with ?5.65 p&p !!!
That TGO article made them objects of desire, Breac
Seems these tents are now collectors items going by the price of this one :)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5163444939&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT