Wild Country Helm Compact 2 Tent RRP £260

Product Information

The inner is designed for two, but in reality the Nevis 200 is best suited for one, providing plenty of space for the solo camper to move around. The ventilation panels inside are designed to cut down on condensation. The Aurora is also fitted with clips for Nemo’s Pawprint liner – a neat optional extra that means you can take your dog with you without worrying that he’ll damage the tent floor with his claws. Speaking of protecting the tent floor, the Aurora comes with a footprint to form a barrier with the ground below the tent. Whether I actually do this, or simply have it all in the door I am using, will be figured out as I go I suppose.

If you want the technical reliability Terra Nova is known for, but your budget doesn’t stretch to their expensive tents, sub-brand Wild Country is a great bet for value for money. The Helm Compact 3 is affordably-priced, providing near-premium performance for a less-than-premium price. It’s not the cheapest out there, and it’s far from the most expensive, but the mid-range price-tag gets you a solid all-rounder of a tent – and you can’t complain with that. You also get a two-year guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship, which gives you added peace of mind. Wild Country Helm Compact 3: Verdict The fly is made from Stormtex P4000, a fabric developed to provide the best all round performance. It's constructed from Polyester with a durable water repellant coating and taped seams to offer 100% waterproofing in all conditions. The flysheet and inner tent pitch together and the inner is made from a breathable material. Inside the sleeping area, there is a large ventilation panel to deal with any condensation issues. MATERIALS Outer 68D polyester, hydrostatic head 1,200mm Groundsheet 68D polyester, hydrostatic head 1,200mm Poles 1 hubbed aluminium 8.5mm/7.9mm pole; 1 aluminium 8.5mm pole Pegs 8Ventilation is pretty decent, with vents at both ends, which can be held open with a Velcro strap and a guyline. The Wisp Bivy’s incredibly light weight is mainly down to the technical materials that have been used, more specifically, the clever SuperSil fabric, which is a ripstop nylon that’s coated on both sides with silicon to add both waterproofness and durability. The inner tent is entirely mesh above the generous tub walls in the groundsheet, ideal for hot balmy summer nights when all you want to do is keep the insects at bay while you count stars. Weight: If you're carrying a tent up a mountain, you'll naturally want it to weigh as little as possible. But, the lighter a tent is, the more expensive it'll be. For a good quality, 3-season tent for UK use, 1kg or under is extremely light, 1.5kg is good, and 2kg is a tad on the heavy side. Although this is a 2-man, I would say it will be a tight 2-man. More a comfortable 1-man which I was hoping for.

The inner tent door opening could be a bit wider, it’s necessary to be really careful not to catch the opening when trying to get out.The Helm Compact 2 has a mesh panel on both inner doors providing plenty of ventilation to suit weather conditions. As well as a family tent, the Habitude would work perfectly as a perfect group basecamp for canoe trips or mountain biking. We recommend using a footprint which sits under the groundsheet and porch area to help prolong the life of your tent. A footprint for the Helm Compact 2 is available." Yes, there are lighter tents out there, but that’s not such an issue when you’re on two wheels or floating on water. And if there are two of you sharing the tent, you can spread the load between you. It’s not a spectacular tent, but it does exactly what is says on the tin, and for those of us whose lightweight camping is at the lower end of the scale, it’s absolutely perfect.