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This article was taken from the April 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
We tested five tests in a wind tunnel. Which blew us away?
How we tested We pitched the tents outdoors at dusk, to judge how easily and quickly they could be assembled under low-light conditions. In the absence of rain, a hose with sprinkler attachment was used for a timed period. We tested the tents' wind resistance by pitching them in the Honda Wind Tunnel at Imperial College, London, under the supervision of research associate Kevin Gouder. Each tent was exposed to winds of up to nine metres per second, or until they blew away.
Vaude Taurus 1(above)
This simple semi-geodesic design relies on two external poles to give it a rigid shape that incorporates a four-zip door that can be reconfigured as a window. The thin 75D polyester 185T fabric is light, but not completely waterproof. It presents a very aerodynamic shape that withstood wind speeds of up to 9mps.
Pitching is easy, but only after you realise that the stiff poles need forcefully bending into a U-shape to reach the eyelets.
Wired: Stable design
Tired: Little headroom
5/10
£200, cotswoldoutdoor.com
Vango Force 10 Helium 200
Fashioned from ultra-lightweight Protex 20D, this slides into an impressively slim bag. Assembly was simple, with only one fairly short arch pole, but the tent tended to flap around. There is barely room to sit up at its tallest point. For two people sharing it's a real squeeze, with little room in the porch area for storage. Its double-skin walls kept out the rain sufficiently and it was well-ventilated.
Wired: Very light
Tired: Easily buffeted
6/10
£235, vango.co.uk
Robens Voyager 2
Made from HydroTex HD with sealed seams, this tunnel tent is stable and dry. Two people can be accommodated, but the Voyager 2 is better for single occupancy. One person can easily pitch the tent even in the gloom, thanks to plastic cups, into which the poles feed, reflective markings and bright red guys.
Wired: Easy to pitch
Tired: Cramped
7/10
£170, robens.de
Wild Country Aspect 3
This spacious three-person tent relies on an expanse of nylon, but pitching is straightforward. Each of the two 9mm DAC collapsible poles is linked by elastic shock cord and they feed easily through sleeves on the roof of the Pu polyester flysheet.
Stability is provided by camouflage-green guy ropes, making them a potential trip hazard that require plenty of space. And despite the extra binding, this tall tent was the first to blow away in the wind tunnel. Suitable for backpacking or light weekend use.
Wired: Easy set up
Tired: Camo ropes
6/10
£230, terra-nova.co.uk
Vango Spectre 300
With a substantial footprint (groundsheet protector), complex design and only the most basic instructions, this is not the tent to pitch in a hurry at dusk. The tension-band system helps lock the tent down against the rain, and the Protex HC5000 flysheet provides excellent waterproofing. However, its height and limited guide rope support meant it didn't last long in our wind tunnel.
Wired: Waterproof
Tired: Over-complex
7/10
£150, vango.co.uk
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
