Kathmandu Lansan Light

3 Season Tent – I purchased this tent mainly for my wife and I to use when hiking and it does just what it says on the tin. 3 seaons performance and at a good price IF you picked it up on sale. I paid AU$300 down from $650 in a sale. I would not pay full price for this tent but for that reduced price it is in a league of it's own compared to other tents that… Read more ·  2

retail around the $250-$300 price range.

As a couple I would describe us as fair-weather hikers but personally I would have no hesitation in taking this tent out in wetter conditions solo, and together we have encountered showers and light rain during our outings and had no issues with leakage. In the summer the main body of the tent can be used alone if there is no fear of dew and you are set up alone somewhere that nobody can into the tent. We set the tent up firmly and applied all fly cords to relevant fittings, either pegs or foliage with full fly especially with the risk of moisture from above. During our inaugural outing though we tore a hole in the base floor of the tent by simply sleeping on self inflating foam beds without using a footprint, even after thinking we had cleared our tent space quite well. Turns out it was a small sharp stone. Since purchasing a footrpint I have had no problems in this regard and I simply sealed the floor using some silicon gel but bear in mind that this footprint will add to the stipulated 1.85kg packed weight and take up some space in your pack. You can be sneaky and sneak it into the wifes pack when she's not looking if you're careful. However, as the main tunnel body of this tent is made up of mesh you're relying on the fly to protect you from most of the elements anyway. This is where the 3-season recommendation comes into play. We spent nights on the Bibbulmun track in Autumn conditions and could not fault the feel of the tent. We were appropriately rugged up for the evenings in good sleeping bags but I have pushed this tent beyond it's limits despite believing I was ever in a position to do so. I spent a week in it alone at Quobba Station in the North West of WA and further north on the Ningaloo Station over mid winter and for several of those nights I froze my bollocks off. In fairness, in part this was user error and I probably should have bulked up my sleeping bag or blanket options, or simply changed to my swag. I ended up wearing my jeans and hoody and wollen hat to bed. I guess I'm just highlighting that due to the fly being in no way connected to the ground, footprint or tent there is no seal formed enabling you to completely wind-proof the tent. In order to give yourself the best protection you naturally set the tent up to protect against the wind direction but on the coast the wind will often do a 180 overnight and you could end up feeling every draft.

Space is at a minimum when shared by two people but we are not large and we also dont mind snuggling up to each other. If you like to have some space between you when you sleep then consider dropping a trouser size/dress size and or get used to sleeping on your sides. Gently pursuading the missues to consider laying off the chocolate for a couple of months leading up to the hiking trip is at your discretion. For storage we found we could fit two 35ltr packs (once devoid of sleeping gear) under the vestibule, along with hiking boots and they all stayed dry overnight. I also purchased the Lansan Plus footprint so I had the extra ground cover. When using it alone I found I could store my gear at my feet inside (I am only 5'11"). Like any tent if you're moving around you'll have to pack it down wet and set it up wet at times. A couple of shakes of the fly will dry it off and it packs down and sets up relatively easily but if it's blowing a gale then I think you're always going to have problems. If you're using it with access to a vehicle, ie not hiking, then consider taking some sand pegs to give you options for multiple terrain but the aluminium pegs provided suit most natural ground conditions although I have bent a few in firmer ground insisting they must go in full length. Awesomely lightweight; looks cool; easy to set up; sturdy when erect Without a footprint the base is easy to damage and prone to ripping; prone to wind and drafts

brilliant! – I bought this tent for hiking because of its light weight. I was nervous about its quality and stability but it is fantastic. Its first outing ended up being at a festival - the most punishing of conditions! It bucketed it down for 12 hours and was blowing a gale but my little tent was one of the most stable in the field. I was able to put it up… Read more

and take it down on my own in minutes. It's very well ventilated - no condensation despite the damp weather. There is plenty of space inside for me and my gear - though I think sleeping 2 with packs would be a push. light weight, compact, easy to put up, stable

Best tent I've ever owned – Great tent if you are lokking for a lightwieght 2 man tent. It's light enough to carry it by yourself if you don't want to share. Never broken anything and have used it countless times. Can sometimes get a bit hot in the tent so it is a good idea to leave the fly's door open. I bought this tent for $300 reduced from $650. DO NOT BUY THIS TENT AT… Read more ·  2

FULL PRICE. Kathmandu have ludicrous sales and you would do better to wait for a sale. Weight (1.85kg), Space, ease of use and reduced price Original price, lack of ventalation

A rare high quality tent from Kathmandu – 40D nylon outer 10,000ml WP PU coated base titanium alloy poles 1.83kg () days Used in: Snowy mtns summer 4, Blue mtns autumn 2, Coastal(year round)est. 10, Mid winter Sth Island New Zealand 8. When I originally researched this tent I came across a record of the design team, and I tried to find the link for this review but failed. The… Read more

selling point for me was that two of the designers also sold to MSR and Macpac (fairydown). There are very few comparably 2 person tents on the market (particularly in weight).

The tunnel tent is my personal choice over geodesic designs; it saves weight, but means it is inappropriate for exposed pitching. The titanium/alloy poles are less likely to crack in freezing temperature, or if some dipstick trips over your tent, and I have had no leakages as yet in very miserable conditions.

Minor issues:

The nylon fly doesn’t breathe well and the tent is hot in warmer conditions (say 16-20 degrees). Condensation builds up with every use, and the tent always needs to be dried in the morning.

Two man is a stretch, you can squeeze two people in (this drastically increases the internal temperature and condensation problem) – the vestibule is too small for gear storage.

Storage bag: The bag is bigger than necessary – I usually pack the tent as components rather than grouped – this saves a great deal of packing space.

Warranty: It’s not lengthy, so maximise your first year of use to iron out any manufacturing probs.

Kathmandu:

Kathmandu products attract a lot of bias on the net (a lot is quite justified), this particular tent should cost between $250 and $650 depending on how savvy you are. A fair price for this tent (ie max I would be willing to pay for it based on my experiences in it) would be $350. Weight, titanium poles/pegs, WP base, tunnel Ventilation, ltd. warranty,

The best tent you can get for that weight – I own one and I love it. Plenty of room for my gear (if hiking solo) and I didn't touch the inner neither with the head nor with the feet (im 190tall) plus some room in the vestubles for dirt gear sheltered from weather where I also could cook in rainy times. The flysheet when wet doesnt touch the inner witch stay dry and even if its only rated… Read more

1500mm it doesnt leak at all in heavy rain. (I didnt even used seam seal)

I used it few times on snow in dry weather (need to buy snow/sand pegs) and it was pretty good for a 3 seasons, where the lack of ventilation was a pro, but i've never use any other tent on snow to compare with.

The only hassle I found is the tension of the poles during the building operation that can (maybe) brake them if not done carefully. Weight, space, waterproof Price, lack of ventilation, no selfstanding