I reckon you are right about the Hubba Hubba, light but not so durable. We've found that the constant vibration caused by engines and rough roads combined with dust and the odd crash is much tougher on gear than bush walking and the like. That's why we went with WE for toughness. Also the Aussie bush is dam prickly. The Orion will be tougher than the Hubba Hubba, but what about the WE i-Explore 2? Looks to be the same design as the Orion, but looking at the fabrics I don't doubt the floor in particular is more robust on the i-Explore for an extra 300gms (3 1/2 kg total weight). It's got good ceiling height for this type of tent and plenty of room in vestibules. Looks like we'll be seeing you on Saturday night, so we can bring our new i-Explore and put it up so you can have a look at it if you want? I also think a trip into Bogong in Little Bourke St would be a good thing, they have all the models you are interested in and they are most likely already set up. That way you can have a good look at fabrics and actually get inside them to see how they feel. Much easier to assess stuff like how much of a breeze you are likely to get in hot weather etc.
Have an REI Quarter Dome T2 here. Haven't had over extensive use of it yet but the amount I have used it I love it, also gets the thumbs up from the misses. Reasons I bought this tent is to use for hiking as well as bike camping. Mainly for me but if the misses wanted to tag along she could. The good - easy and idiot proof to put up - free standing - very light weight and small to back (under 2kg from memory and when I use a compression bag it packs down into the size of a soccer ball, I keep the poles in a plastic pipe) - roomy for a two person. - good quality, good features The bad - experienced condensation pretty bad last time but I didnt open the roof vents which would have apparently helped - you really need the footprint in my opinion (which I have) because the floor is a bit thin due to its super light weight construction. Not a big issue, just have to spend that extra $20 or what ever. If I want to go super light weight I use my old army hutchie, light, simple, effective but does not compare to the REI Tent.
This is the tent both Anja and I have (I got the plus version as I will be living in it for a fair while). We both love it. Here are a couple of pics of it in my kitchen hahha. Hope the Facebook gallery works https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1821060506326.74616.1834612098&type=1&l=fdb19285f7
You could try Ansco in Preston. They carry Vango and Forcce 10 brand tents. I have a Vango 2 man and it is excellent quality, but not the cheapest around.
It is inner first, so if it is raining it can be a pain. Poles and slots are color coded so that helps. Probably about 10 mins. Tent hasn't leaked, but getting it back in the bag is like trying to put toothpaste back into a tube. I might try carrying poles in a plastic tube as suggested by another inmate, but that has is own problems! There are some models that are outer first which would be better.
Just thought of another option... the Marmot Earlylight 2P: http://marmot.com/products/earlylight_2p Meets quite a few of the requirements but probably a bit "lighter" than the WE-tents... (but does come with a footprint). What do you reckon, Jane? Cheers, GSDane.
I have the Tarptent Double Rainbow. Really light, can be made free standing, but condensation can be a problem - the additional liner prevents a morning shower though. It's comfortable with 2 people and has 2 vestibules for gear. Tarptents need to be seamsealed though - they don't do it when they make them.
Yeah it is a kilo lighter, one less pole and lower denier fabrics (so not as durable). Marmot have always done good gear so it would be worth looking at for sure.
Don't know if this help anyone but these guys have a tent sale on http://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/camping-and-tramping/tents.html?p=1
I use a black wolf stealth mesh. plenty of space, good head room, light and plenty of vestibule area for your gear. The full mesh inner is great for airflow on those hot summer nigthts.
I have one of these tents, tested in the rain, no leaks at all, the last bike rally the wife and I went on it rained all afternoon and into the evening, we set up the chairs inside and cooked dinner under cover nice and dry, others that weekend were trying to cook outside in the rain as they had small tents. They do pack big about the size of a large sleeping bag, but well worth it.
thanks Ozrob for the rain info,,glad to know I bought it for a trip next year to scandanavia and europe, so good news on the rain front Our last tent got destroyed in a severe thunderstorm in iran near Tabas and the wife was not a happy camper, It was a cheapie,, So decided to through a few bucks out there this time ,,you know the old saying A happy wife is a happy LIFE... The only problem is the area where the bike storage is,,no ground cover,,going to get some 100% shade cloth to lay down there,,light and folds up to bugger all. the only other problem and you get this with all tents... THE bloody pegs are crap,,I replaced the originals with 23 cm steel ones,,added another 1.5 kilos to the tent,,but no point having a good tent if the bastard falls over
Shade cloth is the way to go, good in the sand as it falls through the holes but stops the bindies and burrs from coming through, It was actually the wife's idea to get a bigger tent, she needs the room to stand up, and being stuck in a 2 man tent in the pouring down rain is not fun for 8 hours. Interestingly when you are in the tent it is huge inside enough for a few blokes if you have to.
On the other end of camping...sure its 14lbs for the updated Nomad tent but if your parking it for a spell and doing excursions the new REDVERZ formally NOMAD is much improved and awesome for two or even three up!