This tent has been one of the most popular models we sell since it's introduction and has a loyal following. Weighing in at 2.35kg, the Wild Country Helm Compact 2 Tent offers excellent value for money and is comparable in size, weight and performance to tents several times it's price. There’s extra storage space under the rear flysheet which can be accessed from a small door in the inner.

MATERIALS Outer 68D polyester, hydrostatic head 1,200mm Groundsheet 68D polyester, hydrostatic head 1,200mm Poles 1 hubbed aluminium 8.5mm/7.9mm pole; 1 aluminium 8.5mm pole Pegs 8Access is via one of the two side doors, both of which have large storage porches before you enter the inner tent. The vestibules provide somewhere to store your gear and are a sheltered space for cooking and eating. To maintain the performance and waterproofing of your tent, you need to care for and clean them properly. MATERIALS Outer 68D ripstop polyester, hydrostatic head 1,500mm Groundsheet 68D taffeta polyester, hydrostatic head 10,000mm Poles Aluminium When all the poles are in position, you can move the tent to exactly where you want it then peg out the corners and guylines. Make sure you get the sides as taut as possible to reduce the noise of fabric flapping in the wind, and to ensure there’s no danger of the outer wall touching the inner.

The Zoic is a range of solo, two and three-berth lightweight tents from American outdoors company MSR. It’s designed to keep you cool in warmer weather camping, and after last summer, that’s probably not a bad starting point. The Wild Country Helm Compact 3 is a semi-freestanding three-person tent with a domed shape. It’s easily spacious enough for three and ideal for two people wanting the luxury of extra room. It has good length and width and the twin-doors with accompanying porches ensure you never feel cramped. Head height is extremely generous too, providing enough clearance to sit up comfortably. I know I have sacrificed some weight for a bit of comfort, and maybe in time, this will become an issue. The tent has a single main pole, which forms an arch towards the front, while two short, upright poles create the rigidity at the front and rear. Both the aluminium poles are strong but flexible. The flysheet and inner go up together, and after a practice run in the garden, I found pitching straightforward and really easy.

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Suitable for 3 season camping, the dome style provides more stability than a single hoop 2person design such as the Zephyros 2. The only gripe we had was that the pole sleeves had a slight tendency to snag on the pre-curved pole, if you didn’t get your angles quite right. But that’s splitting hairs. Ultimately it’s a very simple set-up process, aided significantly by the all-in-one pitching and the combined pegging points which stretch out the flysheet and inner together. These moves halve the time it takes to do certain chores – and that’s always a welcome bonus when you’re tired after a long day of adventuring. Weather Resistance