2P Lightweight Tents - Nemo vs Mont

[katherineamelia]

Hi there! I am currently looking at purchasing my first lightweight tent and am in a small debacle. I have the opportunity to pinch a Nemo Obi 2P for $400 or looking at the Mont Moondance 2P. The Oneplanet Goondie 2P is also a maybe, probably 30d...not sure about nylon or mesh.

I am bound to price, weight, durability and ability to handle ok all weather scenarios. I need it to be suitable for myself as a 170cm tall woman to carry independently, or share with a friend/partner occasionally.

Cons with the nemo is that it's thought to be a bit too short/tight. I got in it and think it is bearable, but i am most concerned with the durability and waterproofness of the floor. However its a 400g jump in weight (and price) to get sturdier rated floors in the moondance (10k mm) or the goondie (8k mm from memory). I dont know alot about the technology with these things and whether the Nemo will be capable, or if i am risking serious flood potential. Tassie and nsw sometimes gets some serious rain. The paw print for it is 70d nylon which will help a bit more.

Anyway would love to hear some thoughts on best value lightweight 2p tents.

I want to do more mountain camping in the next few years and looking at heading to the usa and central america later this year- so a tent capable of being comfortable from the desert to snow... If possible!

[Mickl]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

I can't answer specifically re the above tents but I know a few guys use the Goondie 2 and rate it. ScottyK has mentioned his a bit and I think he did a decent review as well if you search around you should locate it. I'm sure they'll chime in as soon as they see the thread as well

Have you considered the Tarptent Scarp 2 as well or perhaps a Macpac Minaret (when on sale) as they might be worth you looking at just to throw another couple in the mix.

Good luck with the search!

Mick

[icefest]

As mickl said, is really consider the TarpTent scarp 2. With sold oner and double poles it will cope well with the odd snowfall (at least as well as the others you suggested; none of them will work as well as a real winter tent) and be bomber in big wind.

You can also pare it down nicely for lighter walks.

Whatever you choose, get the light floor and a cheap replaceable tyvek sheet. That's much more reliable than a thick floor in my opinion and you can replace it as required.

[horsecat]

I have a Goondie 2 (30D fly with nylon inner) and love it. Well made and easy to put up. One of my favourite pieces of gear

[katherineamelia]

I have a Goondie 2 (30D fly with nylon inner) and love it. Well made and easy to put up. One of my favourite pieces of gear

Hmm what are your thoughts on the nylon inner ever being 'too' warm? Or is the ventilation okay even in hotter weather?

[katherineamelia]

As mickl said, is really consider the TarpTent scarp 2. With sold oner and double poles it will cope well with the odd snowfall (at least as well as the others you suggested; none of them will work as well as a real winter tent) and be bomber in big wind.

You can also pare it down nicely for lighter walks.

Whatever you choose, get the light floor and a cheap replaceable tyvek sheet. That's much more reliable than a thick floor in my opinion and you can replace it as required.

You are the first one to suggest not to worry about the floors and getting a sheet... in the back of my mind though I feel like the less bits and bobs I have the worry about, the better. It makes the Nemo a bit more appealing (only because I can get it for $400 brand new). I am just worried about the 5000mm floor and 1500mm fly...

[katherineamelia]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

I can't answer specifically re the above tents but I know a few guys use the Goondie 2 and rate it. ScottyK has mentioned his a bit and I think he did a decent review as well if you search around you should locate it. I'm sure they'll chime in as soon as they see the thread as well

Have you considered the Tarptent Scarp 2 as well or perhaps a Macpac Minaret (when on sale) as they might be worth you looking at just to throw another couple in the mix.

Good luck with the search!

Mick

Thanks Mick! Yeah everyone seems a fan of the Goondies! I just am sitting on the fence about whether to take the opportunity to grab the Nemo for $400 as it is still a fairly decent (and incredibly light) tent. The floor at 5000k is actually okay if I consider the suggestion to take a tyvek ground sheet around with me to maximise waterproofness.. Hmm.

[horsecat]

I have a Goondie 2 (30D fly with nylon inner) and love it. Well made and easy to put up. One of my favourite pieces of gear

Hmm what are your thoughts on the nylon inner ever being 'too' warm? Or is the ventilation okay even in hotter weather?

I live in Tassi so I need the extra security that the nylon inner offers for winter trips but to answer your question I find the ventilation is fine. Both doors fold down about half way to let air in and out via the flyscreens. Plus it is quite roomy with a decent amount of head room which helps prevent that stuffy feeling. But like any tent if it is sitting in direct sunshine on a hot day it will get pretty warm. Oh, and I have never had any condensation problems whatsoever either. Also, the floor is quite thick and strong and I have never worried about taking a separate footprint

[katherineamelia]

I have a Goondie 2 (30D fly with nylon inner) and love it. Well made and easy to put up. One of my favourite pieces of gear

Hmm what are your thoughts on the nylon inner ever being 'too' warm? Or is the ventilation okay even in hotter weather?

I live in Tassi so I need the extra security that the nylon inner offers for winter trips but to answer your question I find the ventilation is fine. Both doors fold down about half way to let air in and out via the flyscreens. Plus it is quite roomy with a decent amount of head room which helps prevent that stuffy feeling. But like any tent if it is sitting in direct sunshine on a hot day it will get pretty warm. Oh, and I have never had any condensation problems whatsoever either. Also, the floor is quite thick and strong and I have never worried about taking a separate footprint

Haha yeah I noticed you were in Tassie and thought it is probably a bit of a silly question as it doesn't seem to ever get above 30 degrees down there. But of course there is the mesh option for the Goondie if I am concerned. Okay I think I am going to sit down, work out where I am hoping my next trips will be and what the most critical factors are - weight/price/durability.

Thank you so much for your help.

[horsecat]

Haha yeah I noticed you were in Tassie and thought it is probably a bit of a silly question as it doesn't seem to ever get above 30 degrees down there

I have done a few trips away in the past couple of weeks and had a few days over 30 degrees. Sometimes I spent the night in just the inner without setting up the fly which is a good compromise with the nylon inner. But it needs to be calm and dry. Might be good if you see one set up in one of your local outdoor shops

[walkon]

I have a Goondie 2 (30D fly with nylon inner) and love it. Well made and easy to put up. One of my favourite pieces of gear

Hmm what are your thoughts on the nylon inner ever being 'too' warm? Or is the ventilation okay even in hotter weather?

You stated in the initial op that you wanted a tent to do both desert and snow. A nylon inner cuts down the wind in the snow making it warmer and when you get a breeze in the desert it helps to keep the sand out. My first trip to the desert I had a full mesh inner and couldn't believe the sand that got blown in.

[katherineamelia]

I have a Goondie 2 (30D fly with nylon inner) and love it. Well made and easy to put up. One of my favourite pieces of gear

Hmm what are your thoughts on the nylon inner ever being 'too' warm? Or is the ventilation okay even in hotter weather?

You stated in the initial op that you wanted a tent to do both desert and snow. A nylon inner cuts down the wind in the snow making it warmer and when you get a breeze in the desert it helps to keep the sand out. My first trip to the desert I had a full mesh inner and couldn't believe the sand that got blown in.

Good point. Nylon seems to be the goer.

[Mickl]

The needing to use the tent as stated above in all types of weather is another reason to look at the scarp as you can get both inners and change it out to suit conditions. It can also go up with inner attached which I think is another plus in crappy weather. Its also doesn't taper towards the feet end so would be roomier than some of the others.

As far as floor goes, I would take a ground sheet no matter what tent I used if for no other reason than to be able to pack up a cleaner tent when using on wet ground. Also I would rather get a hole in a $10 piece of tyvek than the floor of a $400 tent. I think any of the options would work fine as far as being dry if you look after them.

If it were me buying I would not be buying based on $$$$ or a sale as I have done that many times prior and usually always regretted it to some extent. Take your time and buy something that is right for you and will last as you could have it for a long time

[Bubbalouie]

If it were me buying I would not be buying based on $$$$ or a sale as I have done that many times prior and usually always regretted it to some extent. Take your time and buy something that is right for you and will last as you could have it for a long time

+1

Sage advice applicable to more than just tents.

[katherineamelia]

If it were me buying I would not be buying based on $$$$ or a sale as I have done that many times prior and usually always regretted it to some extent. Take your time and buy something that is right for you and will last as you could have it for a long time

+1

Sage advice applicable to more than just tents.

It is great advice. I am just the most indecisive human you will ever meet. And have been uhming and ahing for a while now. Prioritise the needs and work it out from there. Honestly, they are all pretty damn good tents really. I should try to be less of a perfectionist.

[Mickl]

Perfectionism isn't a bad quality it can just be annoying for the person that has it! I don't have a Scarp so my recommendations are based on LOTS of reading and videos etc (more than I'd care to admit). I think the 2 inners, integral pitch, dual entry and weight put it up there as one of the better 'actual 2 person' tents getting around. I will be buying one as my two person tent in the future after researching it and the others you have mentioned.

Mick

[aden94]

Have you looked at the trekkertent Stealth 2, it's light and was built for scotland weather. Only thing is you need at least one trekking pole.
http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/7-stealth-2.html