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Alpine Tents - Advice please


nmonteith

19-Feb-2008
2:29:15 PM

On 19/02/2008 kuu wrote:
>We might expect to see more price-cutting of Macpac prices as stocks of
>the brand dry up when Macpac ceases to supply Australian and New Zealand
>retailers from the end of this month.

Why? Has the company folded?


kuu

19-Feb-2008
2:32:53 PM

On 19/02/2008 nmonteith wrote:
>On 19/02/2008 kuu wrote:
>>We might expect to see more price-cutting of Macpac prices as stocks
>of
>>the brand dry up when Macpac ceases to supply Australian and New Zealand
>>retailers from the end of this month.
>
>Why? Has the company folded?

Step back one page to read Post Number 40


Sabu

19-Feb-2008
3:38:39 PM

On 19/02/2008 wallwombat wrote:
>Sabu, that's a good site. Not much of a range though. The Minaret is certainly
>cheap. I guess it is really a toss up between weight and livability. If
>you wanted a really light weight alpine tent, the Minaret who be a good
>choice but you would get cabin fever in it if you were stuck in it for
>an extended period of time. Some of the other tents offer a lot more floor
>space for , say, an extra 600 grams.
>
>I used to have an Olympus and I found that a bit squeezy for 2 for any
>length of time. The Minaret is smaller. I'd go for that Exped Sirius Extreme,
>myself, or as JBM mentioned earlier, a BD Megamid, if something really
>light was needed.
Yea trekked into the city today to hunt down a pitched Minaret for my viewing pleasure (but as predicted no one had anything). Noted that the Second arrow which is pretty much the same size is cool but VERY small.
I was recommended the Sirius Extreme or the Venus II Extreme the latter i took a liking too. Does anyone have experience with a Venus? i was told it would hold up well in snow etc. so im curious about other oppinions.


Sabu

19-Feb-2008
3:39:57 PM

I think this answers my question: http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/b43popup6/DB2F4DCEDF74BDD0C1256F2B001E37F6?Opendocument


wallwombat

19-Feb-2008
3:50:22 PM

Looks sweet, dude. They both look like good tents. Both pretty cheap at Bivouac.com. The Sirius is bigger and a little heavier. The fact that the Venus has two vestibules and entrances means it would be good for warmer Aussie conditions. I don't know. I reckon it's a toss up. Do you want a tunnel or a modified dome. I'd have a hard time deciding myself.

gfdonc

19-Feb-2008
3:56:13 PM

On 19/02/2008 kuu wrote:
>Farewell to Macpac Sale - up to 50% off

Personally, I always appreciated the slogan in Ray's in Geelong a few years back ..

"Now is the discount of our winter tents".


kuu

19-Feb-2008
4:04:36 PM

On 19/02/2008 gfdonc wrote:
>On 19/02/2008 kuu wrote:
>>Farewell to Macpac Sale - up to 50% off
>
>Personally, I always appreciated the slogan in Ray's in Geelong a few
>years back ..
>
> "Now is the discount of our winter tents".
>

Richard:

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Richard The Third Act 1, scene 1, 1–4


wallwombat

19-Feb-2008
4:09:38 PM

A bit like being tent bound, with a very full bladder, in a raging storm.

"To pee or not to pee, that is the question....."


tnd

19-Feb-2008
4:20:08 PM

Can't trust that Shakespeare bloke, he's done nothin' on grit.


JBM

19-Feb-2008
10:50:42 PM

On 18/02/2008 Capt_mulch wrote:
>Sorry to hijack the thread but I just saw a bivy bag on:
>
>http://www.bivouac.co.nz/Bivouac/Tents/Tramping_Tents/ORMICRONIGHTBIVY/Outdoor_Research_M
>cronight_Bivy.html
>
>Anyone had any experience with OR bivy bags? I was just after something
>small, light and cheap. (and long enough for long legs).

I've used the OR Advanced bivvy extensively in very cold high camp settings. Bomber gear, you can't go wrong.


JBM

19-Feb-2008
10:55:20 PM

On 19/02/2008 wallwombat wrote:
>Didn't Fairydown go belly up?
>

No, I believe they were bought out by Kathmandu.

Real shame, actually.


Dutch

19-Feb-2008
11:18:39 PM

Fairy down was bought by the owner of kathmandu. However she sold it on to some guys who have been involved in kathmandu and mountain designs. They now own fairydown and macpac. As far as we know, they are intending to open up own branded macpac/fairydown shops. They have already opened some fairydown stores in NZ, although i have no idea what the product is like.


Sabu

21-Feb-2008
11:32:52 AM

I havn't been able to find a fairydown website, but i suppose that doesn't matter given i won't be able to get their products anyway!

I think my mind is made up: Exped Venus II Extreme all the way!


dougal

21-Feb-2008
1:25:13 PM

I have a 20 yr old Bergans almost exactly the same design. A great tent esp when holed up with a smelly second in crappy weather (twin vest?). Weighs about same as well. Not a lightweight tent. Good for 2 or base camp. I used to bivy when solo. Would've gotten a bright colour if avail..


ado_m

21-Feb-2008
4:59:06 PM

Sorry to hijack the thread but I just saw a bivy bag on:

http://www.bivouac.co.nz/Bivouac/Tents/Tramping_Tents/ORMICRONIGHTBIVY/Outdoor_Research_Micronight_Bivy.html

Anyone had any experience with OR bivy bags? I was just after something small, light and cheap. (and long enough for long legs).

---------------------------------------

Captain Milch - you wanna sleep in a giant goretex foreskin? If so, I have a barely new pertex one. a third lighter than gortex - i think it comes in near 300 grams, and would fit someone 7 foot tall. Personally, I hate the damn things and would much rather carry a tent unless in a cave. Cut price. PM me if interested.


kezza

21-Feb-2008
7:10:57 PM

I have visited the Christchurch fairydown store, excellent prices (as they never have sales), great selection, great service.. I think they will fair fine in the outdoor clothing mecca that is ChCh..

Macpac can kiss my arse though! Pack broke in 2 months, now no stockists in aus... grr


kuu

22-Feb-2008
7:55:00 AM

On 21/02/2008 kezza wrote:

>Macpac can kiss my arse though! Pack broke in 2 months, now no stockists
>in aus... grr

I think the new owners of Macpac may retain their Australian repair and warranty service agents for a while at least. Contact them to see if they can assist.

Remote Equipment Repairs
Third floor, 373 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, 3000.
Phone (03) 9670 2586,
fax (03) 9670 7412,
email remote@mira.net


throwback

22-Feb-2008
8:43:24 AM

Yep, I can confirm that. RER in Little Bourke have just repaired a Macpac sack of mine under warranty. I emailed Macpac first and they sent me there to get it done. I only picked it up last week.

qman

22-Feb-2008
8:44:18 AM

I went into the fairdown store in Dunedin and it was scarey quite.

Huge space only half filled with only fairdown stuff. no atmosphere and no customers.
The staff look bored. but i hope they improve.

Bit of a constrast to R and R round the corners.

Wendy

22-Feb-2008
5:23:55 PM

Sabu, let us know how the Venus II goes - now I have to fit a substantially sized partner into the tent with me I might need to upgrade to a larger tent and it looks good. There might be a second arrow going cheap soon if any small people or solo travellers are interested.

There are 77 messages in this topic.