Awesome review, having owned the same tent for a similar time scale, although with no where near as much use as you guys I couldn't agree more with both the positives and negatives. You do cracking reviews mate, hope you keep at it 👍
Hey 👋🏼 Max, so nice of you to say so mate. We will keep the reviews and content coming. Glad you agreed with it as a user yourself. It’s a great tent, flawed but still a great option. Hope to see you on the channel again mate, and on the trails too.
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it! I hope TN are listening too, because I know I am not the only person who’s been slightly disappointed by their service in recent years.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Amen to that because bad or sloppy after-sales service can run a company's reputation down very quickly, no matter how good the actual product. Happy travels.
Its interesting you mention the inner could be bigger. I always find it frustrating when the sleeping area is quite big but the vestibule is small as I prefer more storage space but don’t think I need a lot of space for sleeping.
Hey 👋🏼 and thanks for watching. I totally get what you mean, and it is nice to have plenty of vestibule space. However with 2 people in the inner you do want a little more room sometimes, especially when the vestibules are so big in this tent. It’s not a deal breaker though. Cheers Ben.
I agree, a large vestibule is good for cooking, too. And this seems like a tent where the vestibule could be somewhat open even when it rains and provide some overhang, without the rain getting into the inner tent. That is a great advantage I think.
Ahhhhh the tent review I was looking for. This I undoubtably the best review of the Southern Cross 2! Some people turned to drink over lockdown. I turned to tents, I bought Southern Cross 2, the Pioneer 2, the MSR access 2 and also the Sea to Summit Telos 2 plus (now sold as compared to the others its wouldn't have stood up to wind or snow). This was all my quest for the perfect 1-2 person tent, having gone ski touring in 2020 in an old mended Vango Helium, which was frankly done. The smaller pioneer 2 appears totally bombproof, but it is confusing to pitch (the inner is marginally better as it doesn't have the worst vent of all time). The MRS access (2021) is also fairly bombproof and had much better finish inside, but pitches outer first, outer doesn't reach the ground and its poles give you splinters! I may need (my wife thinks I need) to sell one or two more tents and objectively this seems understandable!!! . The comparative upsides to the Souther Cross 2 to me appear to be pitching ease/time, space for 2, simplicity, but I have to say I' wasn't sure how it would been the wind, which its not had yet, so I'm pleased it seems to be decent. What would you sell? I'm at a loss
Hey 👋🏼, quite the tent dilemma you’ve got there. A good selection of different options that you’ve tried for sure. Finding the ‘perfect’ tent is a thankless and costly endeavour isn’t it! So of the options you have I would keep the Southern Cross 2. It’s the best of that bunch I feel. If you add an extra guy point to either end (where the vents are) so you have two on each end and then think about getting a beefier pole to replace the middle blue pole, maybe a 10mm option, you can pick them up in most lengths online, then it’s even better in the wind. It’s a pretty great shelter for the reasons you’ve called out, easy to pitch, goes up outer first, goes all the way to the ground, decent usable size, 2 entrances, and pretty damn tough. It isn’t impervious to the wind (not much is right) but it does well, we’ve had it in 60mph plus winds and it’s held. The blue central pole will bend in high enough winds, but it’s not yet broken. And the sides which are like big sails will get pushed in, and move around. That said it really is capable. I’ve also had to sew the little straps that connect the inner to the outer back on 3 times now, but that’s a known flaw I think. Anyway in conclusion to my ramblings, of the tents you have I would definitely keep the SC 2. Recently bought a Hilleberg Allak 2 to put through its paces and it’s certainly tougher and more wind capable that the southern cross, but also heavier, more expensive and longer to pitch. Better tents than drink ehh 🤣😂 Appreciate you watching. Ben.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thanks I'll try the additional vent guy. I hadn't considered that. I did think that the tent was very bendy if you pressed on the pole hubs and I wondered if attaching a guy to the pole somewhere near the hub would be a good idea. Have you tried this? My concern was that the flex is actually giving some sore to dynamic benefit. But this is unlike any other tent I know, or the MSR access 2 or Pioneer 2 which feel more solid. I've a few day in the highland soon, so I should be able to report back!
@@jamiegoodhart7069 I haven’t tried a guy on or near the pole hub, I have created a little support of bungee cord that I feel helps the hub, but not 100% sure. Where you heading in the Highlands over west our way?
@@OutdoorIntrigue @@OutdoorIntrigue Cairngorms Monday and probably Tuesday, then I'll follow the weather I think! I've added the extra guys I'll let you know how it goes
hi uncle, i just found your channel, and i really like it, watch and enjoy it and inspire me, thank you uncle, i'm a child who likes adventure and action in the wild with my dad, i support you uncle, hopefully healthy always and we can keep connected. warm greetings from lavameriu in Indonesia.
Honest review champ! You make a pertinent point,regarding the customer service once you've bought their products.. cmon terra nova ! Get yer shizzazle together 👍👍
Cheers mate! I think it’s one of those factors that’s really important when your spending a bit of money on kit, how well does the brand back it up with aftercare. It really varies across brands too, some are amazing, some not so much.. Take care, Ben.
Enjoyed the review, it does look a cracking tent. Weird you saying about the corner attachment ps ripping away, I have the laser comp 2, excellent tent, but just not for me, it was the corner attachments that just ripped away… As I said, enjoyed the review, hope to see more of you guys out and about, ATB 👍
That’s interesting that it has the same weakness, must be a manufacturing or design floor huh. I was thinking of picking up a laser compact 1. Appreciate you watching!
Great review...love the outer tent very much.. but the flappy inner would be a deal breaker for me... Most of my tents are inner pitch first ( yes i know they have their disadvantages) for the reason they make for a more taut inner... I assume you have reviewed the Voyager which i am also interested in... Thanks again for your review....most helpful...
Really good review, I am looking for a 4 season tent for me and my border collie to spend probably long nights in. I can only afford one winter tent so want to make the right choice, torn between this tent, the voyager and the fjallraven abisko lite 2 Love to hear your comments on those tents. Really need to make a decision soon as autumn is here already
Hey Phil 👋🏼 appreciate you watching. All 3 of those options are good solid tents with plenty of room for a dog too. If I was choosing myself I’d go for the Abisko Lite 2 now, they seem to have extremely high manufacturing standards and they are tough. I have a voyager and it’s vestibule is pretty small, but otherwise it’s a solid tent. I’d say the fjallraven options look like a great Hilleberg alternative price wise, and I’m a big Hilleberg fan. Let us know what you choose!
@@OutdoorIntrigue hey, thanks for that, yeah, the more i look into it and the more people i ask for opinions makes me seem pretty sure now to go for the abisko lite 2. Pricey but if i shop around i can get one for £510😖. Can’t actually believe I’m going to spend so much money on a tent…. better get some trips planned now👍👍
@@philjones3335 I agree the Abisco 2 looks a great tent, looks like it might and seems a warmer, cosier looking tent than the SC2, and maybe a little better at wind shedding ? And wud be solid with the option of double polling. (Go for it). The sand colour looks ace as well. Only thing the SC2 has over it is twin doors and slightly better HH. Its a good weight too. Bloody hell, I'm talking myself into 'another' tent... The SC 2 wud need to go.. 🤣😂
@@thomasomoore9252 well after all that i went for the scarp1, bad decision, took it out in high winds and destroyed it.. literally destroyed it. Now i’ve gone for the hilleberg nallo 2, totally different class of tent altogether, still really like the abisko 2 but this nallo2 came up on Facebook marketplace for £450 so went for it. Let you know more when i’ve used it more👍
Great tent which I have along with a few others, Hilleberg Allak 2, Nammatj 2 soulo black label and tarptent Notch Li, Fjallraven abisco 1 which all have a place in my toolkit.. I find this is a great tent with the two porches, good HH and materials. Inner isnt particularly taught but for 1 which 99.9% of the time is not a problem. Id say the Hillebergs are more robust but with the weight difference this is a good compromise. I dont need this many tents but cannot bring myself to sell it as it has it's place in my tool kit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ps had the MSR's Hubba hubba & Acces 2. They just not for me. Inner first and breaking poles and delicate materials. Also had condensation problems with the Access along with the dodgy carbon poles.
Hey Thomas, thanks for watching. Agree it’s a good tent. Funny enough if you watch any of our newer camping vids you’ll see we are using an Allak 2 with 10mm poles. We find it much stronger, more spacious and better quality. Sounds like you’ve got a great selection of tents! Happy trails, Ben & Megs
@@OutdoorIntrigue Yep.. for two of you. Thats probably the perfect tent & the perfect upgrade from the SC2, if two of you are carrying, just a bit heavier but defo worth it 👍
Love your honest and thorough gear reviews. I know you guys tend to camp mainly in the Scottish highlands where a freestanding 4 season tent makes perfect sense but have you ever used or considered a trekking pole tent for less harsh conditions? I still have my bomb proof Macpac mineret for extreme conditions (it’s very heavy by current standards!) but use trekking pole tent for everything else.
Hey Mike 👋🏼, glad you are enjoying the vids! Appreciate you watching. I have considered a trekking pole tent many times, and still do, but never actually used one. I have often looked at the Tarptent Aeon-li, the various mountain laurel designs options and others, even the Hilleberg Anaris. I just haven’t ever pulled the trigger on one because they generally aren’t as available in the U.K., are expensive and depending on the model would potentially struggle with Scottish mountain weather. Love the weight of them though and for a through hike they are ideal. Wind is out main issue here, regularly getting wind over 60mph in the hills. Always open to suggestions though! Macpac are a kiwi brand right? You don’t see a lot of their tents these days but I have always heard of them over the years.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I guess finding a trekking pole tent with the geometry to withstand gales is tricky! I picked up an X-Mid and that does well in moderate winds and can be pitched all the way to the ground too and given that the poles are a common failure point on freestanding tents I feel confident in it in anything bar exposed ridge line pitches. My macpac minaret is an old school two pole tunnel tent designed to cope with NZ winters which I reckon are similar to Scottish ones, it certainly has never let me down but is quite heavy and very tight for two people so it rarely gets used these days. Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing more of your trips in the future.
Yeah I think the pyramid style designs are generally the more weather resistant trekking pole options generally. Like the Mld duomid or the HMG Ultamid, the x-mid is the Dan Durston one right? Looks a really cool tent. New Zealand and Scotland seem to have a lot of similarities, weather included. Cheers, Ben.
I've tried them and sold them, usually draughty, ill designed things generally with a pole stuck right where you want to sit. I guess they are ok for a climate with guaranteed mild and predictable weather, but useless for a long trip where you rely on a tent. Stick with the proper tents like terra nova or hilleberg.
@@kc3718 the x-mid is an asymmetric design which sheds wind well, the poles are off set and don’t block the entrances or sit in the middle of the tent. The fly also pitches right to the ground so it suffers none of the problems you highlight. It’s a very well designed tent built for three season use in Canada and for all but summit camps in winter it performs brilliantly in UK conditions with much more space and a fraction of the cost of a Hilleberg.
Very fair review! I suspected this was a brilliant tent when I looked at one at an outdoor show a few years ago when it was newly released. It's way better in all respects than its smaller sibling the SC1. Interestingly the weight is similar to the Hilleberg Soulo which has far less internal space. I can personally debunk all those claims that the Soulo is "Bomb Proof" because when I slung a couple of standard grenades at mine it got totally wrecked. I've had mixed experience of Terra Nova customer service. I have a Voyager (10 years old now!) which bent a pole in wind early on, and they replaced it immediately. More recently though, with other products, their response has been poor - a bit dysfunctional. I get the feeling that since the company had a 'remake' a few years back, it's been losing its way a bit. Let's hope they get it together soon.
Hey David, glad you thought the review was fair mate. It’s a decent, but certainly not perfect tent. Positives a d negatives like most tents huh, as you say nothings fully bomb proof 😉. I’m certain you’re right on Terra Nova in recent years, hopefully they do find their way, doesn’t inspire you to spend money on their products. Cheers, Ben.
Enjoyed your video there. Seemed like a good honest review. I have a Wild Country Zephros 2XL as my 3 season tent . I've previously looked at buying a SC as a 4 season tent as i can't get the Hillieberg I'm after . I know you gave some good positives on it but if I'm being honest your negativity about the flapping sides does put me off a little but as most You tubers reviews there isn't a perfect tent. I've obviously seen the the Scarp become really popular but again i like the look of it but ideally for me I'd like it in red the same as the Hillieberg do it. I also want a 4 season tent that pitches as one. Good video 👍
👋🏼 hey and thanks for watching! The zephros is a great tent, I had the Zephros 2 years ago and it’s brilliant, especially for the price. There are much lighter options these days though and more weather resistant options too, but at its price point it’s still brilliant. Which Hilleberg you after? It’s definitely not perfect the SC 2, but as you say no tent seems to be, there are always trade offs unfortunately. Tarptent do indeed do some great looking tents, the scarp being one for sure. As for tent colours I do like the look of the Hilleberg red but personally always go for natural or muted colours to be more in keeping with the natural environment. Cheers, Ben.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Hi, without actually seeing any of these tents in the flesh i think my ideal 4 season tent would be the Allak 2 in red. I know a lot of people go for a Soulo but i think it looks a bit on the small side. Again I'd stress that I haven't actually seen one in the flesh
@@summitwithstevie6934 The Allak looks an incredible tent, have always thought it’s a brilliant design. Very heavy though, the weight is always a big consideration for me.
I have this tent and love it. I shall take a look at the inner seams you mentioned and see if it needs more stitching to avoid the tearing. Have you cleaned your tent with any products and if so how often? Thanks for the video 👍🏻
Hey 👋🏼, glad you’re loving your Southern Cross. I use Nikwax Solar proof on our tents after a gentle clean with warm soapy water, I only suggest doing it after 2-3 years of use really though. Unless you get it really dirty.
Great review - have to say my recent experience with Terra Nova has been very similar to your own. They should take a few lessons from Sealskinz, who i have just had an amazing service from.
Glad you like the review! It’s a shame some companies just don’t seem to appreciate how much value is in quality service and after care. Maybe I’ll get on to sealskinz and see if I can get a replacement on my one pair of gloves, which have been great over the years. Happy trails!
Hey, which tent would you advise me why exactly when I tell you that I like camping all year round. Less in winter but can happen. On foot and by e-bike. I want a stable and comfortable tent that can withstand a lot. I camp in campsites and very often wild. The tent should have a sturdy floor. I want also good cooking inside the tent. My preferred candidates would be the Northern lite 2 and the Southern Cross 2. Is there one that you could recommend for good reasons? Greetings from Munich.
Good question! It will largely depend on what weight a d price you are thinking of. Both options you suggest are good tents. If you want more weather resistance then a Hilleberg Nallo or MSR access are also good options.
Hello bud. I will be doing a solo walk from lands end to John O’Groats in January. Obviously the weather is going to be pretty brutal. Curious to what tent you would use to do something like this? Really appreciate your opinion. Cheers.
@@OutdoorIntrigue yes I’ll be going on my own. I do actually have the southern cross two but was thinking it won’t be worth carrying such a size for just myself.
@@OutdoorIntrigue sweet cheers for that. I was debating the hilleburg soulo but again it’s pretty heaving to be lunking about for 3-4 months I suppose. Thanks for getting back to me anyway bud. Much appreciated.
The pole on my Southern Cross 1 man tent broke on the Pennine Way in high wind and went through the tent material - had to stay in a pub and make a detour to buy a new tent. After that, I never really trusted my Southern Cross 2. Also, would definitely recommend a footprint as the groundsheet was not strong and prone to thorn damage if not careful. Fortunately, the prices of these became really stupid so sold it for more than I paid new!! I use both a Lanshan and Phoxx2 now and would rate both more than the SC2, and they cost peanuts.
Hey 👋🏼, thanks for watching! That’s interesting that the pole snapped which pole was it out of interest? Crap experience you had there. We had the footprint when we got the tent over 3 years ago but never really used it because it’s just unnecessary weight to carry. Haven’t had issues with the groundsheet yet. Have had some quality issues as mentioned in the vid. I do still think it’s a good tent overall, there’s always some compromise though. A lot of people seem to like the Lanshan, I don’t know the Phoxx2 though.
looks nice but 500 quid is a lot of dosh!!...... I've got a Terra Nova Helm 2 and I really cant see where the extra 300 quid has gone. An excellent tent none the less.
Yup, agree with you tbh, it’s not worth 300 more. We use Hilleberg’s currently and there you can see the extra cost in the quality. The helm 2 is brilliant value.
Hi 👋🏼, it’s a decent tent. Certainly not the best but it’s pretty solid. I’d definitely add extra guys for winter use. Or spend the extra on a Hilleberg…
Tent prices, along with everything else it seems, have skyrocketed and not always with a corresponding improvement in innovation, design, materials, or quality. Part of it is probably just the increased cost of just about all things in the supply chain these day, but I think the other contributor has been the introduction of boutique style/specialty shelters in the UL field made from novel materials like dyneema etc. Tent manufactures seem to be asking consumers "What's the upper limit to what you'll pay (and we can get) or for a tent?" as opposed to asking themselves "What's the best tent we can make in this price category?" The bottom line for me is that any tent surpassing $700USD absolutely must be completely polished in terms of fit and finish. There is simply zero excuse for a poorly made tent priced over $700 that has stitching issues, tautness issues, pole issues, missing guy points....backed by lackluster customer service. When those issues are present, I regard them as an indicator that I did not actually get a premium tent, but instead purchased a cheaper tent that was merely up-priced according to the new market. Such things might be acceptable in a $300 sporting goods store / car camping tent. They are unacceptable to me in a premium tent. Hilleberg is my gold standard in this category. Fit, finish, design, materials always top notch and all backed by a rock solid and responsive lifetime warranty.
Very similar tents as you say. The helm has a slightly different middle pole design, uses a less robust set of poles and the material is not as high quality as the southern cross. It’s basically a bit less weather resistant and slightly heavier. For the price it looks a bargain though! Thanks for watching, cheers Ben.
@@Wild-Camping-Geordie yeah most 2 person tents are pretty cramped for 2 actual people. You definitely need to like the other person and be comfortable with being in each other’s space 😂
I have the one person Southern Cross. Same in-your-face inner tent problem. Big issue for me. Tent's for sale a result. Disappointing as I was looking for a self-supporting tent where the inner pitches with the outer. .
Snow isnt cold , iv bivvied in snow , -16° with wind is a regular sutherland january , ANY mesh on the inner is a disaster , you will not build up any heat (mesh inners are a safety feature as some have died leaving gas bottles in tents) so you will find zippered material over mesh pannels in true four season tents ,rain isnt the problem theyre over ventilated for condensation and gas venting , making below freezing conditions a nightmare
Hmm 🤔 ‘Snow isn’t cold’ that’s an interesting statement. It’s certainly not warm, I too have bivvied on snow and it didn’t heat me up… Mesh isn’t a safety feature, literally every tent you buy will have a label telling you not to cook in it. Mesh is to provide ventilation to reduce condensation and in some cases intentionally cool you down. I agree that on most full 4 season tents you might not want much if any mesh that you can’t cover up. But even then it really depends on my a number of factors. If you want the warmest possible tent then less mesh is better like you find in most black label and even red label Hilleberg’s. I’ve personally used tents with mesh in very cold conditions and they can work, especially in less windy conditions.
I'm having my own..very disappointing post-sale customer experience with TN right now. I have a Southern Cross 2, and 3 of the 4 attachment points for the inner to the outer have failed...or a 75% failure rate. You mentioned this issue as part of your usage of the tent. The failure is IMO due to a design flaw, or poor material choice, or poor finishing, or poor QA...or all of the above (it's not a load bearing or high tension connection). TN however think it's...guess what...user error and are expecting me to pay for the repairs. I've been camping, and wild camping for >40 years...and whilst you never stop learning, I do know how to pitch a tent. It's unfortunate TNs post-sale experience, doesn't match their pre-sale...but that can be said for a lot of manufacturers and re-sellers. I' ain't given up yet on this.
Couldn’t agree more Bez! We love a good hammock camp, unfortunately not always practical when you’re up high, but they’ll always win for comfort. Thanks for the watching 🙏🏼
Exactly what I said about the inner sag, and mainly the inner poor quality! The tear strength of the inner, especially the new updated tent, the QC is terrible, as is the inner quality! The new 2023 edition is EXACTLY the same in respect of the inner quality, even on the Terra Nova Southern Cross 1. The sag is still bad. QC had NOT improved! It is a shame as the outer is fantastic. Just spoilt by the inner and the poor QC in China and at Terra Nova.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I had to have a helm 2 repaired; new zip slider. It was returned with a new slider, but it still didn't close the zip properly, I mean come on £28 plus the tenner I had to pay to get it there!! I've got rid of it now, and really like the Northern lite 2 / Panacea 2 but the QC control seems to be shocking at the moment. A friend bought a helm 2 last month, and it was missing a guy completely. Not good....
Not sure without watching the video back now. But in winter use a mix of MSR cyclone’s and MSR blizzards. Test if the year use the Easton or dac standard pegs.
Awesome review, having owned the same tent for a similar time scale, although with no where near as much use as you guys I couldn't agree more with both the positives and negatives. You do cracking reviews mate, hope you keep at it 👍
Hey 👋🏼 Max, so nice of you to say so mate. We will keep the reviews and content coming. Glad you agreed with it as a user yourself. It’s a great tent, flawed but still a great option. Hope to see you on the channel again mate, and on the trails too.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I just checked, paid £350 for it in 2017, mad to think I could probably get my money back if I sold it
@@maxvidal6884 That is mad isn’t it! Tent prices have gone up insanely.
Great review. I hope TN are listening to your feedback!
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it! I hope TN are listening too, because I know I am not the only person who’s been slightly disappointed by their service in recent years.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Amen to that because bad or sloppy after-sales service can run a company's reputation down very quickly, no matter how good the actual product. Happy travels.
Its interesting you mention the inner could be bigger. I always find it frustrating when the sleeping area is quite big but the vestibule is small as I prefer more storage space but don’t think I need a lot of space for sleeping.
Hey 👋🏼 and thanks for watching. I totally get what you mean, and it is nice to have plenty of vestibule space. However with 2 people in the inner you do want a little more room sometimes, especially when the vestibules are so big in this tent. It’s not a deal breaker though. Cheers Ben.
I agree, a large vestibule is good for cooking, too. And this seems like a tent where the vestibule could be somewhat open even when it rains and provide some overhang, without the rain getting into the inner tent. That is a great advantage I think.
@@jonas6386 yeah it is a plus of the tent for sure.
Ahhhhh the tent review I was looking for. This I undoubtably the best review of the Southern Cross 2! Some people turned to drink over lockdown. I turned to tents, I bought Southern Cross 2, the Pioneer 2, the MSR access 2 and also the Sea to Summit Telos 2 plus (now sold as compared to the others its wouldn't have stood up to wind or snow). This was all my quest for the perfect 1-2 person tent, having gone ski touring in 2020 in an old mended Vango Helium, which was frankly done. The smaller pioneer 2 appears totally bombproof, but it is confusing to pitch (the inner is marginally better as it doesn't have the worst vent of all time). The MRS access (2021) is also fairly bombproof and had much better finish inside, but pitches outer first, outer doesn't reach the ground and its poles give you splinters! I may need (my wife thinks I need) to sell one or two more tents and objectively this seems understandable!!! . The comparative upsides to the Souther Cross 2 to me appear to be pitching ease/time, space for 2, simplicity, but I have to say I' wasn't sure how it would been the wind, which its not had yet, so I'm pleased it seems to be decent. What would you sell? I'm at a loss
Hey 👋🏼, quite the tent dilemma you’ve got there. A good selection of different options that you’ve tried for sure. Finding the ‘perfect’ tent is a thankless and costly endeavour isn’t it! So of the options you have I would keep the Southern Cross 2. It’s the best of that bunch I feel. If you add an extra guy point to either end (where the vents are) so you have two on each end and then think about getting a beefier pole to replace the middle blue pole, maybe a 10mm option, you can pick them up in most lengths online, then it’s even better in the wind. It’s a pretty great shelter for the reasons you’ve called out, easy to pitch, goes up outer first, goes all the way to the ground, decent usable size, 2 entrances, and pretty damn tough. It isn’t impervious to the wind (not much is right) but it does well, we’ve had it in 60mph plus winds and it’s held. The blue central pole will bend in high enough winds, but it’s not yet broken. And the sides which are like big sails will get pushed in, and move around. That said it really is capable. I’ve also had to sew the little straps that connect the inner to the outer back on 3 times now, but that’s a known flaw I think. Anyway in conclusion to my ramblings, of the tents you have I would definitely keep the SC 2. Recently bought a Hilleberg Allak 2 to put through its paces and it’s certainly tougher and more wind capable that the southern cross, but also heavier, more expensive and longer to pitch. Better tents than drink ehh 🤣😂 Appreciate you watching. Ben.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thanks I'll try the additional vent guy. I hadn't considered that. I did think that the tent was very bendy if you pressed on the pole hubs and I wondered if attaching a guy to the pole somewhere near the hub would be a good idea. Have you tried this? My concern was that the flex is actually giving some sore to dynamic benefit. But this is unlike any other tent I know, or the MSR access 2 or Pioneer 2 which feel more solid. I've a few day in the highland soon, so I should be able to report back!
@@jamiegoodhart7069 I haven’t tried a guy on or near the pole hub, I have created a little support of bungee cord that I feel helps the hub, but not 100% sure. Where you heading in the Highlands over west our way?
@@OutdoorIntrigue @@OutdoorIntrigue Cairngorms Monday and probably Tuesday, then I'll follow the weather I think! I've added the extra guys I'll let you know how it goes
@@jamiegoodhart7069 Awesome, enjoy and do let us know how it fares.
hi uncle, i just found your channel, and i really like it, watch and enjoy it and inspire me, thank you uncle, i'm a child who likes adventure and action in the wild with my dad, i support you uncle, hopefully healthy always and we can keep connected. warm greetings from lavameriu in Indonesia.
Hi buddy 👋🏼, glad you are enjoying our videos! Keep up your adventures, and happy trails 🙌🏼
Honest review champ!
You make a pertinent point,regarding the customer service once you've bought their products.. cmon terra nova ! Get yer shizzazle together 👍👍
Cheers mate! I think it’s one of those factors that’s really important when your spending a bit of money on kit, how well does the brand back it up with aftercare. It really varies across brands too, some are amazing, some not so much..
Take care, Ben.
Thank you for your videos guys! Always really enjoy them 😎
Thanks for watching them Dan!! Appreciate the support 😊
Enjoyed the review, it does look a cracking tent.
Weird you saying about the corner attachment ps ripping away,
I have the laser comp 2, excellent tent, but just not for me, it was the corner attachments that just ripped away…
As I said, enjoyed the review, hope to see more of you guys out and about, ATB 👍
That’s interesting that it has the same weakness, must be a manufacturing or design floor huh. I was thinking of picking up a laser compact 1. Appreciate you watching!
Thanks from the states. Very helpful.
You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏
Great review...love the outer tent very much.. but the flappy inner would be a deal breaker for me... Most of my tents are inner pitch first ( yes i know they have their disadvantages) for the reason they make for a more taut inner... I assume you have reviewed the Voyager which i am also interested in...
Thanks again for your review....most helpful...
Totally agree
Really good review, I am looking for a 4 season tent for me and my border collie to spend probably long nights in.
I can only afford one winter tent so want to make the right choice, torn between this tent, the voyager and the fjallraven abisko lite 2
Love to hear your comments on those tents. Really need to make a decision soon as autumn is here already
Hey Phil 👋🏼 appreciate you watching. All 3 of those options are good solid tents with plenty of room for a dog too. If I was choosing myself I’d go for the Abisko Lite 2 now, they seem to have extremely high manufacturing standards and they are tough. I have a voyager and it’s vestibule is pretty small, but otherwise it’s a solid tent. I’d say the fjallraven options look like a great Hilleberg alternative price wise, and I’m a big Hilleberg fan. Let us know what you choose!
@@OutdoorIntrigue hey, thanks for that, yeah, the more i look into it and the more people i ask for opinions makes me seem pretty sure now to go for the abisko lite 2.
Pricey but if i shop around i can get one for £510😖. Can’t actually believe I’m going to spend so much money on a tent…. better get some trips planned now👍👍
@@philjones3335 It’ll be worth it, especially in winter. I know the feeling though, it’s mad money for tents 😂 Was well over a grand for the Allak 2.
@@philjones3335 I agree the Abisco 2 looks a great tent, looks like it might and seems a warmer, cosier looking tent than the SC2, and maybe a little better at wind shedding ? And wud be solid with the option of double polling. (Go for it). The sand colour looks ace as well.
Only thing the SC2 has over it is twin doors and slightly better HH.
Its a good weight too. Bloody hell, I'm talking myself into 'another' tent... The SC 2 wud need to go.. 🤣😂
@@thomasomoore9252 well after all that i went for the scarp1, bad decision, took it out in high winds and destroyed it.. literally destroyed it.
Now i’ve gone for the hilleberg nallo 2, totally different class of tent altogether, still really like the abisko 2 but this nallo2 came up on Facebook marketplace for £450 so went for it. Let you know more when i’ve used it more👍
Great tent which I have along with a few others, Hilleberg Allak 2, Nammatj 2 soulo black label and tarptent Notch Li, Fjallraven abisco 1 which all have a place in my toolkit..
I find this is a great tent with the two porches, good HH and materials. Inner isnt particularly taught but for 1 which 99.9% of the time is not a problem.
Id say the Hillebergs are more robust but with the weight difference this is a good compromise.
I dont need this many tents but cannot bring myself to sell it as it has it's place in my tool kit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ps had the MSR's Hubba hubba & Acces 2. They just not for me.
Inner first and breaking poles and delicate materials. Also had condensation problems with the Access along with the dodgy carbon poles.
Hey Thomas, thanks for watching. Agree it’s a good tent. Funny enough if you watch any of our newer camping vids you’ll see we are using an Allak 2 with 10mm poles. We find it much stronger, more spacious and better quality. Sounds like you’ve got a great selection of tents! Happy trails, Ben & Megs
@@OutdoorIntrigue
Yep.. for two of you. Thats probably the perfect tent & the perfect upgrade from the SC2, if two of you are carrying, just a bit heavier but defo worth it 👍
Nice to know you recommend it as I've just bought one.
Hope you enjoy it!
Love your honest and thorough gear reviews. I know you guys tend to camp mainly in the Scottish highlands where a freestanding 4 season tent makes perfect sense but have you ever used or considered a trekking pole tent for less harsh conditions? I still have my bomb proof Macpac mineret for extreme conditions (it’s very heavy by current standards!) but use trekking pole tent for everything else.
Hey Mike 👋🏼, glad you are enjoying the vids! Appreciate you watching. I have considered a trekking pole tent many times, and still do, but never actually used one. I have often looked at the Tarptent Aeon-li, the various mountain laurel designs options and others, even the Hilleberg Anaris. I just haven’t ever pulled the trigger on one because they generally aren’t as available in the U.K., are expensive and depending on the model would potentially struggle with Scottish mountain weather. Love the weight of them though and for a through hike they are ideal. Wind is out main issue here, regularly getting wind over 60mph in the hills. Always open to suggestions though! Macpac are a kiwi brand right? You don’t see a lot of their tents these days but I have always heard of them over the years.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I guess finding a trekking pole tent with the geometry to withstand gales is tricky! I picked up an X-Mid and that does well in moderate winds and can be pitched all the way to the ground too and given that the poles are a common failure point on freestanding tents I feel confident in it in anything bar exposed ridge line pitches. My macpac minaret is an old school two pole tunnel tent designed to cope with NZ winters which I reckon are similar to Scottish ones, it certainly has never let me down but is quite heavy and very tight for two people so it rarely gets used these days. Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing more of your trips in the future.
Yeah I think the pyramid style designs are generally the more weather resistant trekking pole options generally. Like the Mld duomid or the HMG Ultamid, the x-mid is the Dan Durston one right? Looks a really cool tent. New Zealand and Scotland seem to have a lot of similarities, weather included. Cheers, Ben.
I've tried them and sold them, usually draughty, ill designed things generally with a pole stuck right where you want to sit. I guess they are ok for a climate with guaranteed mild and predictable weather, but useless for a long trip where you rely on a tent. Stick with the proper tents like terra nova or hilleberg.
@@kc3718 the x-mid is an asymmetric design which sheds wind well, the poles are off set and don’t block the entrances or sit in the middle of the tent. The fly also pitches right to the ground so it suffers none of the problems you highlight. It’s a very well designed tent built for three season use in Canada and for all but summit camps in winter it performs brilliantly in UK conditions with much more space and a fraction of the cost of a Hilleberg.
Very fair review! I suspected this was a brilliant tent when I looked at one at an outdoor show a few years ago when it was newly released. It's way better in all respects than its smaller sibling the SC1. Interestingly the weight is similar to the Hilleberg Soulo which has far less internal space. I can personally debunk all those claims that the Soulo is "Bomb Proof" because when I slung a couple of standard grenades at mine it got totally wrecked.
I've had mixed experience of Terra Nova customer service. I have a Voyager (10 years old now!) which bent a pole in wind early on, and they replaced it immediately. More recently though, with other products, their response has been poor - a bit dysfunctional. I get the feeling that since the company had a 'remake' a few years back, it's been losing its way a bit. Let's hope they get it together soon.
Hey David, glad you thought the review was fair mate. It’s a decent, but certainly not perfect tent. Positives a d negatives like most tents huh, as you say nothings fully bomb proof 😉. I’m certain you’re right on Terra Nova in recent years, hopefully they do find their way, doesn’t inspire you to spend money on their products. Cheers, Ben.
Enjoyed your video there.
Seemed like a good honest review.
I have a Wild Country Zephros 2XL as my 3 season tent .
I've previously looked at buying a SC as a 4 season tent as i can't get the Hillieberg I'm after .
I know you gave some good positives on it but if I'm being honest your negativity about the flapping sides does put me off a little but as most You tubers reviews there isn't a perfect tent.
I've obviously seen the the Scarp become really popular but again i like the look of it but ideally for me I'd like it in red the same as the Hillieberg do it.
I also want a 4 season tent that pitches as one.
Good video 👍
👋🏼 hey and thanks for watching! The zephros is a great tent, I had the Zephros 2 years ago and it’s brilliant, especially for the price. There are much lighter options these days though and more weather resistant options too, but at its price point it’s still brilliant. Which Hilleberg you after? It’s definitely not perfect the SC 2, but as you say no tent seems to be, there are always trade offs unfortunately. Tarptent do indeed do some great looking tents, the scarp being one for sure. As for tent colours I do like the look of the Hilleberg red but personally always go for natural or muted colours to be more in keeping with the natural environment. Cheers, Ben.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Hi, without actually seeing any of these tents in the flesh i think my ideal 4 season tent would be the Allak 2 in red.
I know a lot of people go for a Soulo but i think it looks a bit on the small side.
Again I'd stress that I haven't actually seen one in the flesh
@@summitwithstevie6934 The Allak looks an incredible tent, have always thought it’s a brilliant design. Very heavy though, the weight is always a big consideration for me.
@@OutdoorIntrigue since i last spoke to you i have managed to put money down on Allak 2.
Can't wait till it arrives and use it
@@summitwithstevie6934 Bring on the beastie winter conditions then! Give it a good testing. They look absolutely bomb proof though.
I have this tent and love it. I shall take a look at the inner seams you mentioned and see if it needs more stitching to avoid the tearing. Have you cleaned your tent with any products and if so how often? Thanks for the video 👍🏻
Hey 👋🏼, glad you’re loving your Southern Cross. I use Nikwax Solar proof on our tents after a gentle clean with warm soapy water, I only suggest doing it after 2-3 years of use really though. Unless you get it really dirty.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thankyou 👍🏻
Great review - have to say my recent experience with Terra Nova has been very similar to your own. They should take a few lessons from Sealskinz, who i have just had an amazing service from.
Glad you like the review! It’s a shame some companies just don’t seem to appreciate how much value is in quality service and after care. Maybe I’ll get on to sealskinz and see if I can get a replacement on my one pair of gloves, which have been great over the years. Happy trails!
Hey, which tent would you advise me why exactly when I tell you that I like camping all year round. Less in winter but can happen. On foot and by e-bike. I want a stable and comfortable tent that can withstand a lot. I camp in campsites and very often wild. The tent should have a sturdy floor. I want also good cooking inside the tent. My preferred candidates would be the Northern lite 2 and the Southern Cross 2. Is there one that you could recommend for good reasons? Greetings from Munich.
Good question! It will largely depend on what weight a d price you are thinking of. Both options you suggest are good tents. If you want more weather resistance then a Hilleberg Nallo or MSR access are also good options.
Hello bud. I will be doing a solo walk from lands end to John O’Groats in January. Obviously the weather is going to be pretty brutal. Curious to what tent you would use to do something like this? Really appreciate your opinion. Cheers.
I’ll be staying off the road and sticking to the hills and mountains as much as possible👍🏻
You’re going on your own right, so we are talking 1 person options?
The Terra Nova laser compact 1 is the first one that comes to mind.
@@OutdoorIntrigue yes I’ll be going on my own. I do actually have the southern cross two but was thinking it won’t be worth carrying such a size for just myself.
@@OutdoorIntrigue sweet cheers for that. I was debating the hilleburg soulo but again it’s pretty heaving to be lunking about for 3-4 months I suppose. Thanks for getting back to me anyway bud. Much appreciated.
Great video.
Cheers mate!
The pole on my Southern Cross 1 man tent broke on the Pennine Way in high wind and went through the tent material - had to stay in a pub and make a detour to buy a new tent. After that, I never really trusted my Southern Cross 2. Also, would definitely recommend a footprint as the groundsheet was not strong and prone to thorn damage if not careful. Fortunately, the prices of these became really stupid so sold it for more than I paid new!! I use both a Lanshan and Phoxx2 now and would rate both more than the SC2, and they cost peanuts.
Hey 👋🏼, thanks for watching! That’s interesting that the pole snapped which pole was it out of interest? Crap experience you had there. We had the footprint when we got the tent over 3 years ago but never really used it because it’s just unnecessary weight to carry. Haven’t had issues with the groundsheet yet. Have had some quality issues as mentioned in the vid. I do still think it’s a good tent overall, there’s always some compromise though. A lot of people seem to like the Lanshan, I don’t know the Phoxx2 though.
looks nice but 500 quid is a lot of dosh!!...... I've got a Terra Nova Helm 2 and I really cant see where the extra 300 quid has gone. An excellent tent none the less.
Yup, agree with you tbh, it’s not worth 300 more. We use Hilleberg’s currently and there you can see the extra cost in the quality. The helm 2 is brilliant value.
Looks nice but complicated to setup with all those poles. Prefer the simplicity of a tunnel like a Hilleberg nallo or nammatj.
Yes I agree!
Hi There Anthony Evans here, I'm about to buy SC2 , how did you find it ? Does it need more guide lines.?
Hi 👋🏼, it’s a decent tent. Certainly not the best but it’s pretty solid. I’d definitely add extra guys for winter use. Or spend the extra on a Hilleberg…
Ok thanks for the reply. On that note which hilleberg would you buy as a up grade.
❤
Thanks!
Tent prices, along with everything else it seems, have skyrocketed and not always with a corresponding improvement in innovation, design, materials, or quality. Part of it is probably just the increased cost of just about all things in the supply chain these day, but I think the other contributor has been the introduction of boutique style/specialty shelters in the UL field made from novel materials like dyneema etc. Tent manufactures seem to be asking consumers "What's the upper limit to what you'll pay (and we can get) or for a tent?" as opposed to asking themselves "What's the best tent we can make in this price category?"
The bottom line for me is that any tent surpassing $700USD absolutely must be completely polished in terms of fit and finish. There is simply zero excuse for a poorly made tent priced over $700 that has stitching issues, tautness issues, pole issues, missing guy points....backed by lackluster customer service. When those issues are present, I regard them as an indicator that I did not actually get a premium tent, but instead purchased a cheaper tent that was merely up-priced according to the new market. Such things might be acceptable in a $300 sporting goods store / car camping tent. They are unacceptable to me in a premium tent.
Hilleberg is my gold standard in this category. Fit, finish, design, materials always top notch and all backed by a rock solid and responsive lifetime warranty.
Can’t beat a Hilleberg nothing else seems capable of matching them.
So how do you rate the Helm 2 compact in comparison ? very similar tent.
Very similar tents as you say. The helm has a slightly different middle pole design, uses a less robust set of poles and the material is not as high quality as the southern cross. It’s basically a bit less weather resistant and slightly heavier. For the price it looks a bargain though! Thanks for watching, cheers Ben.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Hi
Yes, I have the Helm 2 tent, and it's a great tent for one person, but a bit cramped with two, same as the S Cross. Cheers
@@Wild-Camping-Geordie yeah most 2 person tents are pretty cramped for 2 actual people. You definitely need to like the other person and be comfortable with being in each other’s space 😂
I have the one person Southern Cross. Same in-your-face inner tent problem. Big issue for me. Tent's for sale a result. Disappointing as I was looking for a self-supporting tent where the inner pitches with the outer. .
Yeah it’s a shame that it’s such a design flaw. We sold it a year ago or so and just use our Hilleberg’s mostly now.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Good info for me, though, to realise it wasn't worth getting the two person as it has the same issue.
@@pootles2421 Yeah it’s not a bad tent but there’s better options for sure.
Hi. may I ask how many webbing loops in the inner tent? I think it should have 4 loops but mine has only 3 loops instead 4.
Do you mean the corner loops at the bottom of the tent, that join inner to outer?
@@OutdoorIntrigue I meant the loops on the ceiling for hooking lantern or other stuffs.
Awesome
Thanks pal! Appreciate you watching 🙏🏼
Snow isnt cold , iv bivvied in snow , -16° with wind is a regular sutherland january , ANY mesh on the inner is a disaster , you will not build up any heat (mesh inners are a safety feature as some have died leaving gas bottles in tents) so you will find zippered material over mesh pannels in true four season tents ,rain isnt the problem theyre over ventilated for condensation and gas venting , making below freezing conditions a nightmare
Hmm 🤔 ‘Snow isn’t cold’ that’s an interesting statement. It’s certainly not warm, I too have bivvied on snow and it didn’t heat me up… Mesh isn’t a safety feature, literally every tent you buy will have a label telling you not to cook in it. Mesh is to provide ventilation to reduce condensation and in some cases intentionally cool you down. I agree that on most full 4 season tents you might not want much if any mesh that you can’t cover up. But even then it really depends on my a number of factors. If you want the warmest possible tent then less mesh is better like you find in most black label and even red label Hilleberg’s. I’ve personally used tents with mesh in very cold conditions and they can work, especially in less windy conditions.
I'm having my own..very disappointing post-sale customer experience with TN right now. I have a Southern Cross 2, and 3 of the 4 attachment points for the inner to the outer have failed...or a 75% failure rate. You mentioned this issue as part of your usage of the tent. The failure is IMO due to a design flaw, or poor material choice, or poor finishing, or poor QA...or all of the above (it's not a load bearing or high tension connection). TN however think it's...guess what...user error and are expecting me to pay for the repairs. I've been camping, and wild camping for >40 years...and whilst you never stop learning, I do know how to pitch a tent. It's unfortunate TNs post-sale experience, doesn't match their pre-sale...but that can be said for a lot of manufacturers and re-sellers. I' ain't given up yet on this.
Sorry to hear this. I’ve been put off Terra Nova by too many similar experiences and sub par products
How about the details in imperial for us non metric people?
Yeah sorry about that, we have done it for some videos in the description, it’s a right hassle though mate.
Thanks a terra nova you can pitch and the inner stays dry whoop whoop
Yup that’s definitely a big plus!
Is the terra nova quasar good for the high winds u rek?
terra nova tents look nice :) but still I rather stick with hammock comfort
Couldn’t agree more Bez! We love a good hammock camp, unfortunately not always practical when you’re up high, but they’ll always win for comfort. Thanks for the watching 🙏🏼
@@OutdoorIntrigue truth, give us a visit (when this ends) plenty trees over here, happy hiking.
👍👍👍tente 👍👍👍❤🇨🇵🦖😇🌈
Merci 🙏
ALWAYS HILLEBERG
ALWAYS
Exactly what I said about the inner sag, and mainly the inner poor quality! The tear strength of the inner, especially the new updated tent, the QC is terrible, as is the inner quality!
The new 2023 edition is EXACTLY the same in respect of the inner quality, even on the Terra Nova Southern Cross 1. The sag is still bad. QC had NOT improved!
It is a shame as the outer is fantastic. Just spoilt by the inner and the poor QC in China and at Terra Nova.
It’s a real shame about their QC or lack of it these days.
Get a Nova is know for their dreadful customer service they were awful with me and my Laser competition.
Completely agree, I have had enough of them as a company for a while personally…
@@OutdoorIntrigue I had to have a helm 2 repaired; new zip slider. It was returned with a new slider, but it still didn't close the zip properly, I mean come on £28 plus the tenner I had to pay to get it there!! I've got rid of it now, and really like the Northern lite 2 / Panacea 2 but the QC control seems to be shocking at the moment. A friend bought a helm 2 last month, and it was missing a guy completely. Not good....
@@steviesteve750 it’s not good enough for the price is it! A shame really.
Hi mate, which outer market pegs are you using?
Thanks
Not sure without watching the video back now. But in winter use a mix of MSR cyclone’s and MSR blizzards. Test if the year use the Easton or dac standard pegs.