Comparing dome tents

The most popular backpacking small tent in the UK today is the dome tent.  Usually characterised by two crossing poles to form a rough hemisphere, dome tents are generally stable and easy to pitch.  Cheaper models tend to suffer in high winds, but more expensive models have a 'geodesic' design to keep the tent stable in all conditions.

There are many cheap dome tents on the market today, particularly aimed at festival goers and infrequent campers.  If you're thinking of a buying a cheap dome tent, there are a few things to look out for:

1. Is the groundsheet attached to the tent?  If not, and you are pitched on anything other then perfectly level ground, you risk rain water running into the tent.
2. How strong is the flysheet?  Flysheets are given a rating called 'hydrostatic head', often abbreviated to HH.  If the flysheet is 1000HH or lower, the fabric may let in water or tear easily in high winds
3. Does it easily pitch as both inner and flysheet?  If you need to pitch the inner first every time, this may be tricky if you are trying to pitch in the middle of a rainstorm.

Lichfield Apache

Lichfield Apache

After trying many cheap tents, our favourite at the budget end of the market is the Lichfield Apache (left).  This has 2000HH flysheet, which is more than adequate for spring and summer camping in the UK, is easy to pitch and has everything you need in a budget tent (plus it looks great too).  It comes as a two person and a three person - and our advice is to get the three person even if it is just two of you, it is MUCH bigger (180cm wide vs 120cm wide) for only a few extra pounds.  The best prices we could find were around £30 for the two person (see here) and around £35 for the three person (see here).

Vango Alpha
Read our review of the Vango Alpha 250
Read our review of the Vango Alpha 300

Vango Alpha

Moving up the price spectrum, the best cheap tent from Vango is the Vango Alpha range.  Updated in 2012 to include a bigger U-shaped front door, and a funky V-shaped front pole, the Vango Alpha takes the standard dome tent and gives it a little more quality.  Most noticeable is the strength of the flysheet (now at 3000HH) and the quality of the materials (the poles, zips and pegs are all much better than the cheaper models by other manufacturers).  The range comes in three sizes, the 250, 300 and 400, which are two-person, three-person, and four-person respectively.   It is good to see that Vango has dispensed with the old 200 model, which was too small for two-people.  The 250 is adds extra width without bumping up the price.  Note that you can still pick up the 2011 model for cheaper than the new 2012, and all you are really missing is the V-shaped front pole (it is U shaped on the older model).




Vango Sigma

Vango Sigma

Moving up the price range further, the Vango Sigma is an improved version of the Vango Alpha.  Notice how the frontmost pole crosses the supporting poles near the base.  This is the key to geodesic tent design - crossing poles lead to tension in the fabric in different directions, leading to a more stable tent.  The Sigma also has tension straps running under tent, holding the two sides taut - again adding to stability.  The materials are similar to the Alpha, a 3000HH flysheet, decent poles, zips and pegs.  The Sigma is currently only made as a three person tent (the 300 model), but there this also a 300+ model which has a door at each end.  Unless this is specifically the functionality you are looking for, we recommend saving a few pennies and just getting the 300.  The best price we could find for the 300 was £95 (see here).

Coleman Phad
Read our review of the Coleman Phad X2

Coleman Phad

The Coleman Phad range of tents takes the idea of crossing poles further, with the front pole forming a more structural role within the main body of the tent, and the crossing poles providing the front door.  This tent is made with an impressive 4000HH on the flysheet, and the semi-geodesic structure and 14 anchor points provide excellent wind resistance.  The tent comes as a two-person and a three-person (called the X2 and X3 respectively), but here the price is starting to get up.  The RRPs on these tents is pushing £200, but we've found the X2 for just over £100 here, and the X3 for about £120 here, which makes it competitive with the Vango Sigma.

Coleman Phact

Coleman Phact

Now we get to the real geodesic designs.  These tents are so well designed that they should hold their structure perfectly without the need for guy ropes, and they hug the ground to produce the least wind-resistant profile.  Unfortunately, all this design know-how is not cheap, but the Coleman Phact range is arguably the best 'budget' geodesic tent on the market today.  With a 4000HH flysheet and just four crossing poles, the Phact is both weather-resistant and easy to erect.  But the best news of all is that retailers have been heavily discounting this range of tents recently, and so it's possible to pick up a Coleman Phact X2 for about £75 (see here), and the bigger Coleman Phact X3 for around £90 (see here) - Bargain!

Vango Hurricane
Read our review of the Vango Hurricane 200

Vango Hurricane

If you're looking for a serious dome tent that will face anything the elements can throw at it, then the Vango Hurricane is one of the best tents on the market.  We're now up to a 5000HH flysheet, which is pretty much the toughest in the business.  The design is not indiffernet to the Coleman Phact, but the quality throughout is even higher.  The sleeves for the poles have been designed to sit flat to the tent to minimise wind resistance, all doors and zips are designed to funnel the rain away from the openings, and there are more tension bands beneath the tent to keep the whole structure taut.  All this quality does not come cheap.  The best prices we can find are just over £200 for the two person model (see here), and around £340 for the three person (see here).

Force Ten Vortex

Force Ten Vortex

How do you top the Vango Hurricane?  The Force Ten Vortex, that's how.  Designed for mountain use, the Vortex takes the design of the Hurricane and both lightens it and strengthens it.  The flysheet fabric remains 5000HH strong, but has a weight of just 40D (compared to 70D on the Hurricane), meaning that the whole tent weighs less.  There are tougher guy ropes and an extra crossing point to the poles half way along each side.  This is the real mountain man's tent, but it again, there's a step up in price.  The best prices we can find are £270 for the two person model (see here) and £425 for the three person model (see here).

Vango Force 10 Nitro 200

 
Sleeps:  2
Weight:  1.9kgs
Dimensions:  210x135cm, with external storage space of 110x135cm
Pack size:  40x18x18cm
RRP: £330

Review:  In mid-February 2012 Vango are launching the new model of the Force 10 Nitro 200, called the 'Nitro Lite 200'.  They have shaved a few grams off this 2011 model of the Nitro 200, but at a scary £430 RRP.  If you're looking for a light two-person tents with an end entrance (unlike the side entrance of the Force 10 Helium) and decent external storage space, then the 2011 model of the Force 10 Nitro 200 is a good choice if you can find it at the right price.  Even with heavy discounting, this tent is more expensive than similar sized two person tents, so it's only really aimed at those who need very lightweight characteristics and good quality materials.

Best bits:  Lightweight without feeling like a can of sardines, external storage space
Worst bits:  Expensive unless you need the quality
Alternatives:  The Force 10 Helium 200 is a similar size inside and even lighter.  The Coleman Phad X2 is a cheaper option for a similar sized tent.

RRP:  £330
Where to get it cheaper:  Click here: £193