Macpac Minaret - Problems ?

[stry]

I have hankered to try one of these as a spacious for one person, bombproof, well ventilated, albeit a tad heavy, home for some time. If I had scratched the itch some years ago, I probably wouldn't be asking the question, but I didn't, so:

Does anyone have any first hand, reliable info on problems with the currently manufactured Minaret ? I have searched here and read, and all I can find is anecdotal he said, she said, accounts of porous floors. My doubting nature is such that I cannot understand how any appropriately coated and chosen synthetic fabric can be porous.

HELP - please !!

[Mickl]

Hi Mate

just received one of these as a gift so haven't used it yet. A mate that teaches Outdoor ED uses several of these as go to shelters for all the bushwalking trips he does. I believe he has a mix of new and older shelters but he swears by them and has had them out in some pretty bad weather with no issues...

Mick

[Moondog55]

I received one as a PIF from a member here and the floor is full of tiny, tiny pinholes where the coating has been folded many times. I'd say that was porous if asked Also some urethane treatements are no vapour barriers and that I would also say was porous if asked Best person to comment is AndrewA who I know has been using his hard for the last couple of years. The floor in mine is an easy fix with diluted silicon but I haven't got around to it yet. Solution may be to get a groundcloth of Tyvek or similar to take the wear and abrasion

[philm]

I have a Minaret that was purchased about 2 years ago
I've used it in Tassie in a range of conditions including rain and snow and never had a problem
I seam sealed it on purchase and use a lightweight ground sheet
I friend of mine as the same set up and no issues either

[Travis22]

I purchased our Minaret back in 2005 and its never missed a beat. No complaints, granted today id likely buy something more 'state of the art' but we've certainly had a good run with this tent and its easily got a few more years left in it.

Travis.

[sambar358]

I've had a NZ-made Minaret for 10+ years and use it solo mostly in the winter and it's copped a fair flogging from rain, hail and plenty of snow over that time. So far it's been 100% weatherproof and handled the foul weather perfectly. By todays UL standards they are a tad heavy at 2.5kgs or so....but they have that solid bomb-proof feel about them that gives you a lot of confidence when the weather rolls-in. Haven't seen any of the current non-NZ made Minarets to compare mine with though so can't comment on any changes/differences in the construction of these Minarets. Certainly the older NZ made Minarets in good nick still attract plenty of interest when offered for sale on Ebay or Gumtree and one that finished on Ebay a few days ago went for $355 and had 33 bids......oldies maybe but still goodies IMO. Cheers

s358

[stry]

Thanks for the input folks.

MD, given that most coated fabrics will crack if they are folded in the same place often enough, and with regard to the overall condition of your Minaret, would you regard the pinholes in yours as fair wear and tear, or premature failure ?

[Moondog55]

It wasn't looked after by the previous owner so I would say it was caused by poor maintenance, ie not keeping it clean.
As I said it was a PIF as an extra for the winter at Falls "Just in case" it was needed. I've used it once since and after a rinse off I now keep it loose in the cupboard.
It would have been better IMO with a slightly heavier floor fabric with thicker proofing tho, the better fabric would have added as much extra weight as a dedicated footprint. The space between the footprint and the tent floor is a good place to put thin [3mm] CCF tho

[stry]

Thanks MD.

I'll follow up AndrewA if he doesn't chime in here.

Seems like the currently manufactured Minaret is worth a try. (But only at sale prices !!!!!)

[Moondog55]

Thanks MD.

I'll follow up AndrewA if he doesn't chime in here.

Seems like the currently manufactured Minaret is worth a try. (But only at sale prices !!!!!)

And with a footprint to be safe
It is still a very storm proof tent although I wish it was still available in the Expedition version with the snow valances and extra tie-outs on the side

[stry]

I've seen only pictures of those. I'd guess that most potential buyers of that model opted for the more spacious Olympus with the same features.

[Moondog55]

True but they did sell enough for the model to last almost 2 decades before they changed the design
RU going to come to the Glamping W/E so we can share looks at our various gear?

[stry]

Hadn't even opened the "Glamping" thread !! Thank you.

Could be good, but can't be sure yet. I'll put my hand up as a tentative.

[stu_m]

I reckon Macpac is underated. I've got a Minaret and it seems good (though not tested in foul weather). Materials are good, workmanship good. Seems like a very solid design. Very good at the sale price. I'd almost say somewhat of a bargain. (eg. use of nylon 66, fully siliconised - no PU coating here which is good for strength; good waterhead rating - higher than Hillebergs I think) The floor seems very good - rated to 10 000mm. It is not going to leak unless you put a hole in it. And it is not going to become porous through reasonable care, use and time.

If it did they would cover it under warranty.

Not sure how good the ventilation is as only used it in winter.

i had an old purple made in nz one. I'm really happy with the new one. Seem like a lot of Macpac bashers about and not really sure why.

[Moondog55]

Read the review by "Hayo" on the website and I would tend to agree that the quality of the floor is what makes the new LW version not quite as bombproof as the old model
It is an excellent tent but no longer state of the art and except when on sale too expensive by comparison

EDIT
I've just realised what the problem is with mine and why it felt "strange"
In the new model the tent has a tapered floor to the vestibule, I'm right handed and I cook lying on my left side, the taper is on the wrong side for my needs and comfort, I know it can be folded back but I prefer not to fiddle after a tent is pitched

[Aidan]

I have both the Minaret and the Microlight.
Love both and have had no issues.
I'm confident in the brand and the product having utilised Macpac as my usual "go to" brand now for many years.

OP if the Torrentwear floor gave issue as a manufacture defect I'm confident Macpac would step up to the plate and either replace or repair in short time.

I utilise a groundsheet under my tents to minimise damage from errant twigs etc which is where I think many complaints of moisture ingress happen.
No probs yet after extensive use of both tents.

[stry]

Thanks Aidan.

I'll try and get a good look at a current model in the flesh next week. If all looks good, I'll probably take the plunge BUT only at the low sale prices, not the token 10% off sales.

[Moondog55]

Stry check your messages I just sent one

[MountainQuoll]

I'd echo Aidan's comments. My Minaret is 10+ years old and I've had no problems with the floor, although I am religious about using a nylon groundsheet to protect it, even on snow. If it's solely for single-person three-season use, then I'd choose a Microlight simply because it's lighter. If it's for two-person/four-season use, then a Minaret s preferable. The Minaret's issues are that it is poorly ventilated in summer (it's OK in winter), the vestibule is small unless you dig into the snow, and on mine there's a flap of loose fabric around the door which often catches in the zip, which is very frustrating. Other than that, it's a totally awesome tent.

[stry]

I'd agree with your Minaret/Microlight comments MountainQuoll EXCEPT there are times when I simply want the space.

A bit of room to move and to arrange and sort gear, not to mention prepare meals and eat is very nice in bad weather.

[Scottyk]

I'd agree with your Minaret/Microlight comments MountainQuoll EXCEPT there are times when I simply want the space.

A bit of room to move and to arrange and sort gear, not to mention prepare meals and eat is very nice in bad weather.

I had a microlight and although you can sleep in them, that's about all you can do. There is no sitting up room at all. Quite claustrophobic I reckon

[DarrenM]

Ok.....Many, many, many nights in all sorts of weather (heavy rain, blizzards and hot beach's) in Minarets. Old and new. Really good tents. Can be hot in summer but what do you expect when you buy a tent that was built to keep you warm and dry in alpine conditions. (I have a $69 camping world Solo tent for most summer trips.) Minarets are bombproof tents, never ever had a leak after owning two and I still flog my wife's Minaret. Mates and brothers have never had any leaks or problems whatsoever. We use them a lot.

Old and new....

[stry]

Thanks Darren. Helpful feedback

[NickMonk]

Just noticed that the Minaret's have gone on sale, $450. Time to pick one up if you want one!

[slparker]

Problems: hot in summer. I had a fly rip in a strong wind but that was a 20 year old minaret with uv and mildew damage- and even then the ripstop stopped the tear from spreading. Ventilation is not so great and I never could work out how that plastic thing on the entrance worked...
When mine died I bought a hilleberg akto and quickly wished I'd bought another minaret, or maybe a tarptent now that I've seen one.

[stry]

Hot in summer seems to be a recurring point, but is not an issue for my useage. Maybe the additional top vent on the newer model is an attempt to address this ?

[Aidan]

Ok.....Many, many, many nights in all sorts of weather (heavy rain, blizzards and hot beach's) in Minarets. Old and new. Really good tents. Can be hot in summer but what do you expect when you buy a tent that was built to keep you warm and dry in alpine conditions. (I have a $69 camping world Solo tent for most summer trips.) Bombproof tent, never ever had a leak after owning two and I still flog my wife's Minaret. Mates and brothers have never had any leaks or problems whatsoever. We use them a lot.

Old and new....

Nice pics,
Thanks for livening up the thread.

I always think a pic or two does wonders for a thread

[Moondog55]

Agreed I don't think you should look at the Minaret as a summer tent, but as an Alpine tent for all seasons !
But for me it is a Solo winter tent.

[DarrenM]

Problems: hot in summer.

What people need to remember is that this tent was designed back in the day as a 4 season lightweight mountaineering tent. When I purchased my first one, the number one priority was to stay warm and dry in crazy wind and snow. It has never failed me once. Sure, it can be used for general trekking but I'd be looking elsewhere if you never intend to use it for what is actually designed for. It's like buying a 4 season sleeping bag and complaining that its too hot.

I had a I-tent for a while and it was good but never seemed to feel as secure as I had in the Minaret. But the intended use for the I-tent is high altitude Mountaineering so I was happy to accept that I wasn't using it for its true purpose.

When mine died I bought a hilleberg akto and quickly wished I'd bought another minaret, or maybe a tarptent now that I've seen one.

Why not splurge and have both....

[stry]

Agreed I don't think you should look at the Minaret as a summer tent, but as an Alpine tent for all seasons !
But for me it is a Solo winter tent.

That sums it up for me MD. Solo winter use is my plan.

To my way of thinking, even the new model is unnecessarily heavy for a summer tent. Of course if you can have only one, I'd rather be overgunned than undergunned.