Any tent is a joke for real storm force winds ... Bivvy bag all day long . With my buffalo sleep system inside . NOTHING can compete or compare for any price...
@@davidjacobs828 cooking in a bivy and getting in and out of it while it s raining it s not the best. can t forget about the condensation. and also good luck changing clothes especially the wet ones u used to go out to poop in the rain. btw i absolutely love bivy tents/ bags but if i ll do more than a day of rain than i ll need smth like it s shown above.
@@davidjacobs828 each has it s pluses and minuses. i m just saying when you bring the tarp into the equation you are kind of cheating or if i where to say it differently take away from what is great* about a bivy (simplicity, small compact factor, stealthness, easy to put up and take away) and at this point tents like the one above start to make more sense. it would of been fair if you said "Bivvy bag and tarp all day long "
Best tent testing I have seen. Robens put all their tents in front of a wind machine and publish the speed before it collapsed, this should be mandatory for all tents especially ones aimed at hill and mountain hikers. Even wind machines don’t paint the full picture because wind comes in gusts and changes directions so is always going to be more demanding on a tents design and materials. The Vern defender has done a great job here, I would purchase one on the back of this demonstration if I required a tent of this ilk.
Personally my thoughts, Vern tried to push this tent out to every influencer on UA-cam. Now some are very good at showing you facts and usage where others just made bold claims 50 meters from their car. The tent isn't the issue it's was the pace in which the influencers wanted to be first over the line. No tent is perfect, every tent I've owned I have modified at some point. More need to be factual rather than first. It was funny to see how many Vern tents went on FB market place by influencers after the debacle. Very telling. It's a shame you have to make this video just to show that some people should look before they leap. Thanks for the video. 👍
I think a lot of influencers do that with every tent to finance their channel, nothing unsual. I dont feel anyone would sell it the vern because there was something wrong, as its an excellent tent. Its just normal practice and something I have done myself, you cant keep them all! I too was guilty of wanting to show it first, its about capturing views and getting channel engagement. This is the reality of youtube. A lot of wild campers see their beloved hobby as untouchably pure and should remain in the amateur sphere, but influencers are working to a different set of rules and practices. I am not sure where I sit in that spectrum really, love of camping and tents is at the foremost. Thanks for the thought provoking comment as always.
I recently bought the Vern3…it is for canoe camping mainly in the Canadian Wilderness and a little Winter snowshoe camping. 2 people and a dog, was surprised how big it is, very luxurious 😊 we call it the ‘Shangri-La’ So far fair weather, overnight rain only. Loving it
I think being able to move the ends closer, making the walls steeper, is going to be the big move when it comes to increasing structural strength. Even designing the future models with that in mind would be a great feature. Making this tent even more versatile.
Well spoken, Dave! I have the Vern 1, too, and approached it with reasonable expectations which weren't disappointed. I did, however, equip it with DAC poles for more strength and for possible double poling.
Good choice. The poles supplied now have a thicker wall and the aftermarket vern poled on their site are thicker too. They just have to update the site.
I almost can't believe I've just sat and watched a man pushing on the walls of his tent 😂 However I have and considering that all of my camping is in the UK in mostly good conditions Im now convinced this tent will be more than adequate for me needs👍
I have this tent and I think it's a brilliant tent. I've owned 4 hillys and various others and this suits my needs more than most. At the price I got it for I think it's fantastic.
I still think the Nortents are really nice, really liked your review of the nortent Lavvo 4, I am seriously thinking of byuing that.Seem to be quite good in strong wind but maybe not so good in heavy snowload. So for trips to northern lapland in Sweden for late spring and summer a great basecamp tent.
Great demonstration of an well thought out tent. The pole design is similar to the Kuiu Storm Star. But the Storm Star is a 2 person tent at the same weight as the Vern 1 person tent.
Do like the look of the tent and its good to see alternatives to the well know brands coming out. Reminds me of the MSR Access 2 in regards to the ends which lots of people said they had issue with collapsing in high winds. However I had used mine for many years in all conditions but never experienced it happening myself. But I do try and avoid going out in wild conditions unless on multi day hikes. where you can often get caught out with the weather.
You said "why go stormcamping" and I say why go to antarctica and travel by foot (skis) to the south pole ! I agree on that its probably not stronger than the Hilleberg Soulo particulary the soulo black label. Some of the Hilleberg tents are used by those antarctica adventurers, and once they are on their way they cant really go back they are ot for a long time like two months or so. And they "mostly" make it with their tent still ok.
Superb review! I've been one of those sceptics, I confess, and I did previously spell it out in the comment section. Now; 1) Seam sealing: If you want to compete with Helsport, Hilleberg, Fjellreven, Bergans and Barents Outdoor in Scandinavia, Nortent are telling the customer your tent has to be seam sealed (because of weaknes)? This wont fly when seasoned and famous polar expeditioners already have taken the competition to the poles and back, and creates in my opinion a massive uncertainty. 2) Pricing/Adds. As a startup, at least in Norway, you had to go on Nortent home page to discover the included value added tax that did not show up in online adds. Nortent may have a future, pricing did over time become better including the tax, but their products cannot rely on seam sealing and has to be tried and tested by some one with a polar guarantee in those conditions. This is essential to survival in a decreasing market. Thank you for the review, the stove jacket on Vern 2/3 is the height of entrepreneurial spirit.
Thank you for your comment. Many many tents need seam sealing. I am currently walking on the Tour de Mont Blanc. Night before last, we were camping in heavy rain. My friend, in his hilleberg akto had leaking over the pole sleeve. No tents are perfect!
Tremendous review. Double poling is actually very common on expeditions. I have a Nanok domus duo that double poles at 9.5mm. for a tunnel tent it can really take some dogs abuse (although I never go looking for it) The Vern with double poles looks incredibly robust.
Interesting…….having camped on the side of a windswept Welsh valley in a storm & used my mountain bike as a structural and anchoring component, I’m all for lightweight but weatherproof tents with good headroom..
Very diplomatic. It’s obviously the best all round 4 season tent out there bar none. The problem with all this controversy is ‘sunk cost’. Some have ploughed enormous amounts of money into a product which when taken in the round, compared to the Vern 1 isn’t as good (that’s not to say it’s bad). I can well understand the frustration and urge to want to justify that ‘sunk cost’ by knocking the Vern 1. I would be a bit miffed in their position.
Thats quite a large assumption isnt it? Sort of just pulled a baseless unargued conjecture out of your.....and ran with it. Is it so difficult to imagine a world where people are looking for evidence as to where a new product stands as compared to the one they currently own? Textbook projecting.
Lots of people did not read the instruction that mentions about double poling in high winds but I myself did, also I was cringing when you was jumping on that tent with the pointed end of that hiking stick aiming at your arse haha... Anyway thanks for this video as it goes to show how really strong this tent is, also when others had doubts about it I still loved mine as cant wait the get out in it again.
@@Fellmandave1 the tent was given a bad reputation as people did not read the instructions and also I think it mentions on the video that was made by Nortent... I did tell the ones that made videos and give the tent bad reviews, I told them read the instructions as it mentions about double poling for high winds, also I seen on a video that was from America one bloke change his poles for the 10mm so there is this option but I think the poles must be cut to fit and cost more but its saves carrying two sets. It's a great tent I really like mine and for the price you can go wrong compared to the others and there is plenty of room in them... Im really glad you have done this video on the vern to show others it's capability's 👍
The question remains: what are "high winds"? Rather subjective IMO. Additional poles aren't event listed on the Vern 1 webpage as a purchase option, they're only mentioned in the PDF instructions, unlike on the Vern 2 webpage. Think Nortent need to address their webpage content.
@@LoremIpsum1970 I had instructions with my tent and it mentions to double up on poles in high winds and on a video that they made but I haven’t seen anyone doing it as of yet and giving it a go, but in this video it’s showing how strong it can be but only out in the real winds will show what it’s capable of, also I have seen many much more expensive tents having a battering in the winds and leaking and the owner have wrapped up camp and gone home in the middle of the night. As I have the Vern myself it’s not a bad tent with plenty of space and does the job for me.
Thank god for some constructive video's from yourself & Andrew Parks, it's a great tent at a great price. Everything has a failure point even the mighty Hilleberg's, why some people put themselves in serious life threatening situations is worrying to me. When the shit hit's the fan, it's the mountain rescue teams that become the real hero's, risking their own lives to save people. As someone who's lost an amazing person on Ben Nevis in a complete whiteout, whilst trying to save others is a hard pill for me to swallow, he was an experienced world wide mountain climber too, we are all mortal, we to have failure points, just like tent's. Stay safe please.
Some folks feel they can or have to conquer nature I guess but she can be fickle and turn in an instant. Weather information is always correct of course so you can guarantee conditions will be as stated. Accidents can always happen of course but doing daft things and expecting others to help seems selfish especially when those who come to help pay the ultimate price like your friend.
Love the testing and realistic views. I come from a background that in addition to walking with tent, I also use on canoeing and kayaking expeditions. As such, I normally use free standing tents such as Quasar, Kangri, Voyager etc as I cant always be sure of good pegging options if on beach or rock outcrops. The Vern's look great being pole on outside, but just wondering how they stand up to gusts where pegging is less than optimal? ie guys rapped around a big rock etc. I would love to see a Nortent external pole geodesic. (even better if you were able to spec with heavy duty groundsheet - far too many tents have too light groundsheets as the manufacturers know that many people focus solely on weight) Keep up the great work with testing in proper conditions.
Got my Vern 1 some months ago. Just wondered if Nortent advised you to have the guylines on the long poles in line with poles and crossing over? On Nortent website photos and manual with tent the guylines are at 90 degrees. I am 6' 2" and found that when using a winter sleeping bag with box foot and hood on top of thick mattress the lower vents can be almost completely blocked by bag which really reduces the ventilation. On website it also states " With a little practice you should be able to set up the tent in 2-3 minutes ". I'd love to know how they manage that.
Tent mating 😅 where's Attenborough 😅 Remember one thing gusts are different to one press. But for sure that hiking pole helps loads. Shame it's needed in first place vs correct design. Great for some though as strong enough and roomy. Please children camp in sheltered spots where possible not top of mountains in 50 mph winds 😅
👍👍👍 .. 'Fan Boy' or not, if it's good, it's good 😊. Why deliberately go out in 'storm conditions'? For some, why not? The rest .. in case something approaching a storm, or worse, arrives unannounced. A good share .. and will be of value to those who already have one or are planning to purchase a 4-Season Tent .. thanks.
I have Soulo and some other Hillebergs /Helsport and Barents outdoor. Like it when newcomers in the outdoors industry come up with refreshing new designs like Nortent does, but I never buy from relatively inexperienced brands until they have proven their quality over time. Also there are usually reasons for equipment from certain brands being almost twice as expensive as others. But regarding the kind of tents like Soulo/Vern I have some thoughts. I have 35 years of experience with quite intense backpacking in Norway(mostly here) and my trips have often lasted for up to several weeks under all kinds of conditions. but never have I done like some of you youtubers and put my tent on top of a mountain when the weather forecast is storm coming. Don't see the point really, other than testing equipment. Usually you don't meet that kind of weather by accident on top of a hill but make camp in a safer spot. Of course I have been out in stormy conditions but most tents of decent quality from reputed brands will do the job, also tunneltents which is the type I prefer because of the weight/space ratio. I have never experienced a tent collapsing actually. My point is that most people who go hiking/ backpacking do not need tents like Soulo or Vern, it's overkill. They weigh too much. My Soulo just lies in the closet mostly. For the same weight as Vern(2.9kg?) you can get for instance Nallo2GT which affords so much more space and comfort for 1 or 2 persons/dog and gear. I have that model and it's more than strong enough for whatever weather. When skiing in winter-mountains I bring another tunnel-modell designed for winter use. The one-pole tent Akto can also withstand quite rough weather in my experience at a low weight.
Wise words, and thanks for taking the time to write this detailed post, except that Nortent has been producing tents for several years. I understand, though, and I agree with all that you say. I feel that people like an 'above' grade tent to give them insurance and that taste of the elite and expedition vibe. Thanks again for commenting, and I hope to hear more from you, based on your considerable experience.
@@Fellmandave1 You are right, Nortent are not newcomers but they are relatively young. And their tents have got some necessary upgrades lately. When the company Helsport some years ago unfortunately was sold and divided into smaller companies spread out, many lost their jobs. I think this ruined the brand and the products. But the employees who had the most experience from decades working with design and so on in Helsport, made the new brand Barentsoutdoor. In a way newcomers, but not really. Have a look at their website. Recently they won the contract to make all the tents for the Norwegian army. You don't get to do that if it's not high quality.
@@Fellmandave1 That is correct and I have to guess Barents will expand their range of tents in the future. I sent them an email today and asked about this. Got an almost instant reply. They are working on several models and this winter a 2person polar tunneltent(winter/4season designed and equipped for really harsh weather) will be released. Also working on freestanding 1person tents both in lightweight and 4-season models but those will not be launched until they are sure they will be something new and better compared to the other brands.
Great test and should put any of the doubters minds at rest. IMO, if you’re determined to set a tent up on the side of an exposed hill in storm force winds (or unlucky to be caught out) I wouldn’t be blaming the tent if it breaks. Winds powerful enough to damage buildings and uproot trees will be strong enough to uproot your tent - regardless of manufacturer - before your poles snap. Sometimes common sense goes out the window.
Hi Dave, great to hear your update finally, understand waiting for awhile until the storms calmed down and life etc, hope you are well and all the best. Really good to see some actually pitch the tent as suggested on the website, you actually don't get that level of information from allot of companies its all just marketing guff, even Hilleberg while great video instruction is light on details! Also using the double polling which I thought was pretty std equipment pitch and choice for going into extreme condition's and as I have always said there are too types of experience that is bad in any situation in nature, no experience and too much experience! The first being obvious, the second is due to complacency, I'm smarter than the designers and laziness, complacency or over confidence in own abilities! probably more! In the SF we had a rule, if broken could be costly, that is the closer to safety you feel the more danger you are actually in as you lower your guard and senses, the best places to set up an ambush for example was close to where your opposition lets say feel safest and relax their defenses! Outdoors is the same ime, just because you know a place camped there many times, plus more so if you test in say using your analogy Force 10 then common sense should dictate you'd take double pole options, extra lines and pitch correctly for the conditions and close doors, to maintain integrity! I am sure I watched the vid where the tent failed and these were all things that were incorrectly done, I don't know if this was deliberate or not, but it put me off the channel, not the outcome for the tent, but the lack of objectivity and honesty. Easy to say other brands may or may not have had that issue in same incorrect use, but each design is different and all have their strengths and weaknesses, if not utilized properly! Was very disappointing to see the outdoor community on insta, youtube after all the hype then try to tear down said issue, very immature of ignorant! But that's the world we live in today! its easy to jump on a bandwagon good less so hate more easy spread today unfortunately. I for one am a fan of both Nortent and Hilleberg. It would be interesting to get feedback from Nortent as to how they delt with the negativity and what their thoughts are even though fairly obvious, still nice when they engage and address why this became a thing! Anyways great vid and good to see ya back, hopefully you'll get back out into the hills with the dog and have some more adventures in the Vern, maybe a V2 and a stove would be good if ya got some plans haha Cheers Dave 🤘
Thanks for the comment! Nortent were pretty dismayed by the backlash and I feel that they did not deserve it at all. But I am glad its all blown over and we can get back to enjoying our camping, especially since I am partly to blame for the problems!
Hi Dave, I’ve a number of Nortent products and I’ve been looking at the Vern 1 but I’m a big man and use the Thermarest Topo at 196x76cm. My question is…will it fit?
Managing expectations. Imagine a world where a 3 lb nylon sheet with flexible, 9 mil pole cross frame cannot stand up to hurricane force winds. I can no longer live in that unsatisfactory world. I refuse to leave the house.
Yeah that’s all good with the Vern 1.but it was the new Vern 2 that failed with you.perhaps the same tweak’s and hacks may possibly apply to some extent 🤔.definitely using the walking poles would help greatly.still love my mk1 Vern 2 though.the mk2 Vern 2 always looked too over engineered for me.and proved not to live up to it’s over engineered look.like the look of their new 3 crossover pole tent,can’t remember what it’s called.Oh yes the Nortent LY2 but haven’t seen enough of it yet.although I get the impression there’s not much vestibule space in it.perhaps you may get sent one to review,I’d look forward to that.personally I’m saving up for the Lavvo 6 👌😍.👍
Good video as always from you. Very informative but also I feel it’s such a shame it had to be made. Personally I don’t understand the need to camp out in a storm where no doubt you wouldn’t be able to sleep from the sheer noise of the wind, worrying about the tent, going out every hr or so to check the tent for any damage or tension the guy lines. Surely it’s just a recipe for disaster being sleep deprived & then the risks of having to bail would be even greater. I would rather own this tent than the Hilleberg Soulo if I could afford it. Much more room for similar weight. This or the Scarp 1 will be my eventual winter tent!
God I miss my old Vaude Space K2. That could be double poled as well. I have the Simond Makalu T2, which is a very good but a bit cosy really, and not enough space to really sit up like my old MSR Hubba Hubba. But I need to justify the cost of the Vern to myself really.
Hi Dave, On your other video (short) about double polling the Vern. You say the weight of the poles is 756g, mine are 600g which concurs with Nortent’s specs. Are you sure of your pole weights? Thanks J
I think the extra poles they sent me are a prototype slightly thicker walled pole. The exisitng ones do weigh 600g and the extra set 150g more due to the slightly increased wall thickness. I will find out what there plans are going forward with this and get back to you when I know more. Cheers.
Nortent have confirmed going forward, the vern are supplied with the new thicker walled poles. To offset the weight they are supplied with lighter pegs. The new poles will be available on their site soon.
What? You read the manual!😮 Oh, yes Polegate...all from only one pole failure... My cousin's kid knows all about real-world tent failures. His Everest team all had to share one of the remaining tents at camp 2 this year after most of the tents were wiped out in strong winds, they had windspeeds between 50 and 75mph overnight (not sure if sustained or gusts). I've heard it's not uncommon for Sherpas to stand holding the tent up in high winds, now there's an idea! Am I right in assuming there's no accepted structural standard/certification for windspeed, snow loadings, etc. for tents? Testing seems to be something done independently by manufacturers with big fans, etc. Quote Nortent: "Our tent poles are of high quality and are very flexible and strong. They are tested in the real world *under high stress for optimal and correct understanding of its durability*" None of that means a thing without measurements, it's just based on trust. Especially when they go on to say: "You may even bring extra poles with you to double pole the tent. Just because you can... :-)" What's that supposed to mean? Above what windspeed does double-poling apply to? It all seems rather vague. So, the single- and double-poles seem strong enough if correctly joined, I'd guess the next point of failure would be the fabric and clips as you mostly applied point loads to the poles, but wind pressure would be a UDL. I'm sure there's plenty of universities that would love to test tents to destruction that have all the equipment to do the measurements, even FEM and CFD modelling wouldn't be that hard to do. Another thing is, how many people will read the manual? Especially when it states: "It is essential to release the tension of the flysheet during the day equally to what it was tightened to the evening before. If you do not do this the flysheet will tighten further with powerful tension. *At worst it may have stretched the fabric to a degree beyond breaking point.* Rule of thumb; never let the flysheet become tight like a drum head" So, poles aren't necessarily going to be the first point of failure...operator error is.
Some good points. The only standardised testing I ever found was by the german magazine, outdoor magazin. They were brutal. It is very hard to find any engineering guidance on tent wind tolerance. The best stuff is on building roofs. But of course in the real wind, wind tends to vary enormously in terms of stength and direction. I agree that Nortent are vague in their double poling recommmendations and I hope my video has clarified things a little. Good debate. Finally on camp 2 , wow. Would you agree that many of the tents seen on everest expeditions look really badly pitched?
@@Fellmandave1 At camp 4 they had to all share a tent again, with one of them having stomach troubles... I was wondering whether yacht/sailmakers had any applicable standards, and, yes, there's fabric tension structures are 'designed'. Could always watch Tom Heaney Adventure, he's had a TNF VE25 underperform over 50mph! Sure, factors like how well you guyout, ground conditions, wind, all matter, if only they could provide some limiting conditions for the structure that would be a start. As for pitching at Everest camps, well, there seems to be a lot of different makes of tents up there, Sherpas pitch all those tents beforehand, and I've watched a number of videos seeing them being pitched (one is "Mt Everest’s basecamp set up"). I think it mostly comes down to ground conditions, where there's snow I've seen them guyed out, sometimes adding rocks. However, this year it was mostly rock and ice at higher camps, where they guyout to a large rock; I've seen a lot of rocks being used around the perimeter of the flysheet/valance; and rocks piled up at the vee where two poles meet at ground level. OSM Adventures has some good Everestcamp vids. All I know is I'll never go there to test how well they pitch their tents! Wouldn't even pay to trek up to base camp, altitude sickness isn't my thing.
@Fellmandave1 If you recall Nortent sent me an additional set of original poles. I'm guessing the strength of the original poles will be less than the new poles? I have not had cause to use my V2 yet to be honest I've not been out for about 5 months due to other activities. However, I was just curious how big the difference is between the two set ups. Two sets of poles are better than one. Cheers atb Taff 🤠 👊
Hello, do you know if the Version 3 of this tent will have the same amount of poles but thicker? So you can have less weight to carry around and the same strenght as it would be with douple poles. I want this tent for my norway trip but not with this amount of weight for a one person tent.
How do you rate the Vern1 against the Kuiu Storm Star, trying to decide between the two, they are more or less the same weight, like the idea of the extra room in the storm star, having had both how do you rate them against each other, is one better than the other in wind. I am surprised none seems to talk about the storm star, is the vern one better. Be great to hear your thoughts
its a great question and one I often ponder. The storm star may be better in multidirectional winds, but I have never tested it. The vern 1 is certainly a tough tent. The storm star is much harder to pitch, plus the doors are low and the inner is very porthole like, making the vern a much more comfortable tent. Overall, if it is just for 1, definitely the vern 1, much more verstalie and comfortable. if you must sleep 2, then the choice can only be the storm star. I hope that helps!
@@Fellmandave1 That was exactly my question too Thanks for the honesty and professional tips and information i will buy one also in warmer weather the ventilation of Vern1 is winner compared to storm star right?
Was a little nervous you were going to do yourself a mischief with the sharp end of that trekking pole during one of those tests! Thanks for going to the trouble (and physical effort!) of providing these demonstrations.
I ordered the Vern 1, and waited for a couple of months for it to arrive. I had it less than a week, pitched it once in the backgarden, and it was stolen. :(
@@Fellmandave1 I never asked them. But there's no reason why they would. It certainly wasn't their fault. Also, the burglars took the Vern 1 but didn't take the Staika...... which was kinda funny when I realised.
Fyi, the new poles should be good for 51 MPH SP, 67 MPH DP, without resorting to any tricks. I make no warranty on my math though; my background is in the humanities, not physics. Edit: I have the PC w/ 3x 9.5mm poles.
Come in Hedley, you have a good job, get one as well as the abisko 1. Invite your friends around, (me too please)we can run from one to the other, drinking wine and giggling.
@Fellmandave1 I had my first wild camping experience with him (see latest video) and the location on Table Mountain was amazing. Never realised how heavy backpacks were! Will chat re wild camp, definitely interestee, especially if you bring Vern 1!
Tough testing indeed but can it withstand Russian Nuclear bombs 😛I think it was the video that the guy who does Backing UK that gave it the kiss of death, the one that he took down. I have personally owned 8 Hillys but currently down to 2 and i am more than happy to give any tent a try however i do understand and fully appreciate that there are several factors that add to the cost of tents including Weight of the materials , performance of the attached poles , guy lines and pegs, marketing,, design , materials longevity and UV resistance , quality control, customer service, logistics and fair wages and its important to factor in Scandinavian cost of living which we are starting to match.The Chinese still use slave labour so thats something to consider although my local Chinese chippy charges Hilleberg prices and only accepts cash 🤨 The mere fact that Nortent gave it to so many You Tubers for free made it look cheap, a bit like Fur Coat No Knickers to me and a bit too desperate to sell but thanks to your efforts in this video its starting to look like a Hero emerging out of the Clagg 🤔 At its price point and weight and size its appears to be a fantastic deal for a 4 season tent from what i can gather without actually owning one .Personally i am moving more towards lighter tent options these days as i age and wither away but if i was younger and stronger 500gms or a kilo is neither here nor there . As you will know the downside to going lighter is that materials generally cost more and in some cases are not as strong and durable so compromises have to be reached. At least you didn't threaten to beat anyone with that big stick and force anyone to buy it 😉My guess is Nortent owners and potential buyers will be reassured by this video, well done Dave 👍
@@leerobinson4553 I cant remember exactly what it was but do remember it saying that it was the best backpacking tent or something to that effect and at that weight its certainly not the best backpacking tent on the market but i definitely dont want to reignite that subject.
Some great points Olan. Talking of manufacturing, we know where Nortents are made. But with Hillebarg, the poles are made in Korea, the marketing done from America, assembly in Estonia, but where is Kerlon material made? Seems to be a closely guarded secret.
@@Fellmandave1 Well you have educated me on some points there Dave, thats good to know 👍. I knew about the tents being made in Estonia and Petra Living in the US but i thought that the complete tent and all the ancillaries were made in Estonia . Are the poles made in Kim Jon Yuns neck of the woods or the bit in the South where they sell McDonald's and they have all the Western ailments etc ? The Kerlon is produced under license and nobody else is allowed to make tents out of it apart from Hilleberg but as with all patents its not that long before someone else comes up with something that performs just as well and there are already materials available with unique properties that are similar in strength for the weight but i dont know if its fair to say that they are not as good because they are fairly new and i just haven't read or heard that they are. You might have just started a new trend in testing how stable tent structures are in this video and now that i no longer have a Soulo i dont think i have got one that i would happily sit one of my grandkids on let alone me at 86kg. Lets see how many You Tubers start Tent Balancing ATB 👍
yes Dave... but one would be surprised, where on earth idiots do can survive... I am living in a desert... full of those.... even in the most remoted areas of it.... so, I am afraid there is no single spot left on God's Earth for us being "idiot-free"..., sadly... I have been to the polar areas, high alpine ones, svannahs, steppes, under water, in the sky, .... literally almost everywhere..... it is full of them....
The soulo destroyer 😂. Oh my word your not gonna start with this caper again are you. Double poles, more guy rope, may as well just buy something better. Seems pointless if you have to errect scaffolding around it to withstand some bad weather.
@@Fellmandave1 They do but only in extreme conditions, and not for what the British weather can throw at us. This has been proven time and time again by the fact there are so many videos on UA-cam of Hilleberg's in inclement weather none of which are double poled or require more guy ropes.. Some good testing going on there though. 😂
There are some Hilleberg Soulo videos, none double poled, with the poles bending and breaking. British conditions. See Andy wardle and MCM outdoors to start. British conditions can be as bad as anywhere. Do you know the summit of Cairngorm has had 173 mph wind recorded?
@@Fellmandave1 Yes I have seen them. I was talking generally through not on the odd occasion or two. 173mph would be fun. I doubt you could even stand upright over 100mph .😂
I’m jumping in. I’ve watched and read the comments and I’m utterly baffled why you and a lot of other of your subs are so fixated on belittling the soulo (and other hilles) my red label soulo wasnt guyed out properly that night you’re on about. It was 100% my fault it failed there was 2 other RL soulos right beside me and they were fine. I mentioned that about 20 times but it seems folks just want to revel in a soulo breaking. No matter the cause. Also with mcm’s tent he had the slightest of bends on the pole. So slight that it made zero difference to the performance of his tent. If it was me I wouldn’t have noticed it. But Chris looks after his gear better than I do. Hilleberg replaced his pole straight away. I’m all for testing and using any tent but the constant hille bashing is getting tedious. It’s as if you’re jealous Dave. I’m disappointed that you keep bashing them. 🤷♂️. I might buy a Vern 1 and see what all the fuss is about. But as your previous commenter said. Why all the poles and mods? I can make any tent bombproof by doing all that. Just use it as supplied?? I won’t be lying on my poles because basically there’s zero to prove with the BL hille. Check out my camp in 50-60mph wind. ACTUAL 50-60. Not estimated. See that BL it doesn’t even move. ua-cam.com/video/8x-yPrs77m4/v-deo.htmlsi=5wdbTzqtaeV61vPZ In conclusion if you compare this Vern 1 to a similar priced competitor then people might stop giving you a hard time. To compare it to a BL soulo (or even a RL one) is utterly ridiculous. I’ve NEVER even thought about double poles. There’s absolutely no reason. That thing will easily take 70-80 mph wind. EASILY. Anything over that I would bail out of sanity. Go back to mine and Chris’s videos. And listen to what we say why those tents (only mine really) failed. His never failed. He packed up because his mates tent was trashed. Otherwise he would’ve stayed put. It’s baffling all this hate and criticism of hilles. I don’t critique or pick holes in tents so why would anyone else?? Review it and use it for a year. In all conditions. Then give a final assessment. Also I don’t go out actively seeking terrible conditions. They just seem to find me. And I’m glad to be in a very safe proven shelter. Check my back catalog over 10 years and 550 videos to see if I’m right or wrong. I’m only commenting cos you brought my name into it. 👍
These tips apply to all in the Nortent Vern series
Any tent is a joke for real storm force winds ...
Bivvy bag all day long .
With my buffalo sleep system inside .
NOTHING can compete or compare for any price...
Have you tried cooking in a bivvy bag??
@@davidjacobs828 cooking in a bivy and getting in and out of it while it s raining it s not the best. can t forget about the condensation. and also good luck changing clothes especially the wet ones u used to go out to poop in the rain.
btw i absolutely love bivy tents/ bags but if i ll do more than a day of rain than i ll need smth like it s shown above.
Aqua quest 10x10 tarp. Bivvy under it .
@@davidjacobs828
each has it s pluses and minuses. i m just saying when you bring the tarp into the equation you are kind of cheating or if i where to say it differently take away from what is great* about a bivy (simplicity, small compact factor, stealthness, easy to put up and take away) and at this point tents like the one above start to make more sense.
it would of been fair if you said "Bivvy bag and tarp all day long "
Best tent testing I have seen.
Robens put all their tents in front of a wind machine and publish the speed before it collapsed, this should be mandatory for all tents especially ones aimed at hill and mountain hikers.
Even wind machines don’t paint the full picture because wind comes in gusts and changes directions so is always going to be more demanding on a tents design and materials. The Vern defender has done a great job here, I would purchase one on the back of this demonstration if I required a tent of this ilk.
Absolutely agree about the wind machines. Real wind is a brutal thing for tents!
Personally my thoughts, Vern tried to push this tent out to every influencer on UA-cam. Now some are very good at showing you facts and usage where others just made bold claims 50 meters from their car. The tent isn't the issue it's was the pace in which the influencers wanted to be first over the line. No tent is perfect, every tent I've owned I have modified at some point. More need to be factual rather than first. It was funny to see how many Vern tents went on FB market place by influencers after the debacle. Very telling. It's a shame you have to make this video just to show that some people should look before they leap. Thanks for the video. 👍
I think a lot of influencers do that with every tent to finance their channel, nothing unsual. I dont feel anyone would sell it the vern because there was something wrong, as its an excellent tent. Its just normal practice and something I have done myself, you cant keep them all! I too was guilty of wanting to show it first, its about capturing views and getting channel engagement. This is the reality of youtube. A lot of wild campers see their beloved hobby as untouchably pure and should remain in the amateur sphere, but influencers are working to a different set of rules and practices. I am not sure where I sit in that spectrum really, love of camping and tents is at the foremost. Thanks for the thought provoking comment as always.
Best comment I’ve read on UA-cam in ages absolutely spot on mate. 👍
Thanks for the video. Reassuring amongst all the scaremongering going on but there. I've bought one of these and very happy with it so far
Great to hear!
I recently bought the Vern3…it is for canoe camping mainly in the Canadian Wilderness and a little Winter snowshoe camping. 2 people and a dog, was surprised how big it is, very luxurious 😊 we call it the ‘Shangri-La’
So far fair weather, overnight rain only. Loving it
❤Only tried the Vern 2, but I love the name of yours. I can imagine it is a place of great peace and tranquility.Much love , Dave.
Xander Budnick uses one, that says a lot.
Didn't know that!
I think being able to move the ends closer, making the walls steeper, is going to be the big move when it comes to increasing structural strength. Even designing the future models with that in mind would be a great feature. Making this tent even more versatile.
I get your point, but it might not be needed for most of us mortals.
Thanks for sharing the strengths of this tent! I'm off now to check out your Vern 2 video.
Just the same video , but bigger..hahahaha
Well spoken, Dave! I have the Vern 1, too, and approached it with reasonable expectations which weren't disappointed. I did, however, equip it with DAC poles for more strength and for possible double poling.
Good choice. The poles supplied now have a thicker wall and the aftermarket vern poled on their site are thicker too. They just have to update the site.
@@Fellmandave1 I just oredered one, I have an soulo BL but im 6'2" so its very cramped, the Vern I just ordered said it now has 9.5mm poles.
I almost can't believe I've just sat and watched a man pushing on the walls of his tent 😂 However I have and considering that all of my camping is in the UK in mostly good conditions Im now convinced this tent will be more than adequate for me needs👍
I have this tent and I think it's a brilliant tent. I've owned 4 hillys and various others and this suits my needs more than most. At the price I got it for I think it's fantastic.
Yes, it hits the sweet spot of price and function eh. thanks for commenting.
I still think the Nortents are really nice, really liked your review of the nortent Lavvo 4, I am seriously thinking of byuing that.Seem to be quite good in strong wind but maybe not so good in heavy snowload. So for trips to northern lapland in Sweden for late spring and summer a great basecamp tent.
Good choice!
Great demonstration of an well thought out tent. The pole design is similar to the Kuiu Storm Star. But the Storm Star is a 2 person tent at the same weight as the Vern 1 person tent.
Much better porch for 1 though.
Do like the look of the tent and its good to see alternatives to the well know brands coming out. Reminds me of the MSR Access 2 in regards to the ends which lots of people said they had issue with collapsing in high winds. However I had used mine for many years in all conditions but never experienced it happening myself. But I do try and avoid going out in wild conditions unless on multi day hikes. where you can often get caught out with the weather.
Thanks Buddy. Been good to see you getting out and 'enjoying' yourself.
Great to see you can,actually sleep on top of the tent on warm summer nights 😉
Like my Vern1 even more now.
Super test - Thank you
Hahahaha.
You said "why go stormcamping" and I say why go to antarctica and travel by foot (skis) to the south pole ! I agree on that its probably not stronger than the Hilleberg Soulo particulary the soulo black label. Some of the Hilleberg tents are used by those antarctica adventurers, and once they are on their way they cant really go back they are ot for a long time like two months or so. And they "mostly" make it with their tent still ok.
I would love to do an expedition like that!
Superb review! I've been one of those sceptics, I confess, and I did previously spell it out in the comment section. Now; 1) Seam sealing:
If you want to compete with Helsport, Hilleberg, Fjellreven, Bergans and Barents Outdoor in Scandinavia, Nortent are telling the customer your tent has to be seam sealed (because of weaknes)? This wont fly when seasoned and famous polar expeditioners already have taken the competition to the poles and back, and creates in my opinion a massive uncertainty.
2) Pricing/Adds. As a startup, at least in Norway, you had to go on Nortent home page to discover the included value added tax that did not show up in online adds.
Nortent may have a future, pricing did over time become better including the tax, but their products cannot rely on seam sealing and has to be tried and tested by some one with a polar guarantee in those conditions. This is essential to survival in a decreasing market. Thank you for the review, the stove jacket on Vern 2/3 is the height of entrepreneurial spirit.
Thank you for your comment. Many many tents need seam sealing. I am currently walking on the Tour de Mont Blanc. Night before last, we were camping in heavy rain. My friend, in his hilleberg akto had leaking over the pole sleeve. No tents are perfect!
Tremendous review. Double poling is actually very common on expeditions. I have a Nanok domus duo that double poles at 9.5mm. for a tunnel tent it can really take some dogs abuse (although I never go looking for it) The Vern with double poles looks incredibly robust.
Cheers buddy! I will have a look at the Nanok, never heard of that one. ATB, Dave
Interesting…….having camped on the side of a windswept Welsh valley in a storm & used my mountain bike as a structural and anchoring component, I’m all for lightweight but weatherproof tents with good headroom..
Cheers buddy
Cool man, a bit of a show stoper . Just needs a bit of seem sealing as I discovered my NF Ve25 did after a winter soaking on Dartmoor .
Always fancied the VE25 , nice! What are you using now?
Climbing on the tent was brave!!! 🤣🤣
Much wine was consumed in the making of this video.
2*poles=1/2 beavery 😂
@@koukousnest… half a beaver ? 🤣
One of the main worries I have is where the poles cross near the bottom.i wonder if the rain would gather their.
Definitely not Herby. One of my main worries is whether I will live long and healthy to see more of the great outdoors, but thanks for sharing.
Very diplomatic. It’s obviously the best all round 4 season tent out there bar none. The problem with all this controversy is ‘sunk cost’. Some have ploughed enormous amounts of money into a product which when taken in the round, compared to the Vern 1 isn’t as good (that’s not to say it’s bad). I can well understand the frustration and urge to want to justify that ‘sunk cost’ by knocking the Vern 1. I would be a bit miffed in their position.
Yes , I think you have eloquently summed up much of the reason for the dummy spitting.
Thats quite a large assumption isnt it? Sort of just pulled a baseless unargued conjecture out of your.....and ran with it. Is it so difficult to imagine a world where people are looking for evidence as to where a new product stands as compared to the one they currently own? Textbook projecting.
Lots of people did not read the instruction that mentions about double poling in high winds but I myself did, also I was cringing when you was jumping on that tent with the pointed end of that hiking stick aiming at your arse haha... Anyway thanks for this video as it goes to show how really strong this tent is, also when others had doubts about it I still loved mine as cant wait the get out in it again.
Throughout this debacle, I have greatly admired people such as yourself that have seen the reality of this tent.
@@Fellmandave1 the tent was given a bad reputation as people did not read the instructions and also I think it mentions on the video that was made by Nortent... I did tell the ones that made videos and give the tent bad reviews, I told them read the instructions as it mentions about double poling for high winds, also I seen on a video that was from America one bloke change his poles for the 10mm so there is this option but I think the poles must be cut to fit and cost more but its saves carrying two sets. It's a great tent I really like mine and for the price you can go wrong compared to the others and there is plenty of room in them... Im really glad you have done this video on the vern to show others it's capability's 👍
The question remains: what are "high winds"? Rather subjective IMO. Additional poles aren't event listed on the Vern 1 webpage as a purchase option, they're only mentioned in the PDF instructions, unlike on the Vern 2 webpage. Think Nortent need to address their webpage content.
@@LoremIpsum1970 I had instructions with my tent and it mentions to double up on poles in high winds and on a video that they made but I haven’t seen anyone doing it as of yet and giving it a go, but in this video it’s showing how strong it can be but only out in the real winds will show what it’s capable of, also I have seen many much more expensive tents having a battering in the winds and leaking and the owner have wrapped up camp and gone home in the middle of the night. As I have the Vern myself it’s not a bad tent with plenty of space and does the job for me.
I'll have a word.
Big Dave, I really hope you do a review on the Vern 1 PC. I'm definitely looking into buying it next month
Hi Marv, no plans. Some good ones out there though. Enjoy!
Thank god for some constructive video's from yourself & Andrew Parks, it's a great tent at a great price. Everything has a failure point even the mighty Hilleberg's, why some people put themselves in serious life threatening situations is worrying to me. When the shit hit's the fan, it's the mountain rescue teams that become the real hero's, risking their own lives to save people. As someone who's lost an amazing person on Ben Nevis in a complete whiteout, whilst trying to save others is a hard pill for me to swallow, he was an experienced world wide mountain climber too, we are all mortal, we to have failure points, just like tent's. Stay safe please.
Appreciate your comment Steve. God bless your friend and their loved ones. The mountains take no prisoners.
Thanks
Some folks feel they can or have to conquer nature I guess but she can be fickle and turn in an instant. Weather information is always correct of course so you can guarantee conditions will be as stated.
Accidents can always happen of course but doing daft things and expecting others to help seems selfish especially when those who come
to help pay the ultimate price like your friend.
So true !
Must have been keen they sent you two sets of poles!! Right about the tent though 👍
More poles than a building site in my garage now Malcom!
Well done Dave, great video. I’ve really missed your Vern videos. Glad you tried to gain some perspective on this! J
I have missed using it Jason, more of a winter tent for me, but i will be back in it soon.
Love the testing and realistic views.
I come from a background that in addition to walking with tent, I also use on canoeing and kayaking expeditions. As such, I normally use free standing tents such as Quasar, Kangri, Voyager etc as I cant always be sure of good pegging options if on beach or rock outcrops.
The Vern's look great being pole on outside, but just wondering how they stand up to gusts where pegging is less than optimal? ie guys rapped around a big rock etc.
I would love to see a Nortent external pole geodesic. (even better if you were able to spec with heavy duty groundsheet - far too many tents have too light groundsheets as the manufacturers know that many people focus solely on weight)
Keep up the great work with testing in proper conditions.
Thank you my friend. Good points. Look out for the upcoming Ly 2.
Got my Vern 1 some months ago. Just wondered if Nortent advised you to have the guylines on the long poles in line with poles and crossing over?
On Nortent website photos and manual with tent the guylines are at 90 degrees.
I am 6' 2" and found that when using a winter sleeping bag with box foot and hood on top of thick mattress the lower vents can be almost completely blocked by bag which really reduces the ventilation.
On website it also states " With a little practice you should be able to set up the tent in 2-3 minutes ". I'd love to know how they manage that.
I just found, in my testing, that guyline configuration to be stronger. Thanks for commenting my friend.
Tent mating 😅 where's Attenborough 😅
Remember one thing gusts are different to one press. But for sure that hiking pole helps loads. Shame it's needed in first place vs correct design. Great for some though as strong enough and roomy. Please children camp in sheltered spots where possible not top of mountains in 50 mph winds 😅
Good call!
👍👍👍 .. 'Fan Boy' or not, if it's good, it's good 😊.
Why deliberately go out in 'storm conditions'?
For some, why not? The rest .. in case something approaching a storm, or worse, arrives unannounced.
A good share .. and will be of value to those who already have one or are planning to purchase a 4-Season Tent .. thanks.
Yes, exactly Thomas.
I have Soulo and some other Hillebergs /Helsport and Barents outdoor. Like it when newcomers in the outdoors industry come up with refreshing new designs like Nortent does, but I never buy from relatively inexperienced brands until they have proven their quality over time. Also there are usually reasons for equipment from certain brands being almost twice as expensive as others.
But regarding the kind of tents like Soulo/Vern I have some thoughts. I have 35 years of experience with quite intense backpacking in Norway(mostly here) and my trips have often lasted for up to several weeks under all kinds of conditions. but never have I done like some of you youtubers and put my tent on top of a mountain when the weather forecast is storm coming. Don't see the point really, other than testing equipment. Usually you don't meet that kind of weather by accident on top of a hill but make camp in a safer spot. Of course I have been out in stormy conditions but most tents of decent quality from reputed brands will do the job, also tunneltents which is the type I prefer because of the weight/space ratio. I have never experienced a tent collapsing actually.
My point is that most people who go hiking/ backpacking do not need tents like Soulo or Vern, it's overkill. They weigh too much. My Soulo just lies in the closet mostly. For the same weight as Vern(2.9kg?) you can get for instance Nallo2GT which affords so much more space and comfort for 1 or 2 persons/dog and gear. I have that model and it's more than strong enough for whatever weather. When skiing in winter-mountains I bring another tunnel-modell designed for winter use. The one-pole tent Akto can also withstand quite rough weather in my experience at a low weight.
Wise words, and thanks for taking the time to write this detailed post, except that Nortent has been producing tents for several years. I understand, though, and I agree with all that you say. I feel that people like an 'above' grade tent to give them insurance and that taste of the elite and expedition vibe. Thanks again for commenting, and I hope to hear more from you, based on your considerable experience.
@@Fellmandave1 You are right, Nortent are not newcomers but they are relatively young. And their tents have got some necessary upgrades lately.
When the company Helsport some years ago unfortunately was sold and divided into smaller companies spread out, many lost their jobs. I think this ruined the brand and the products.
But the employees who had the most experience from decades working with design and so on in Helsport, made the new brand Barentsoutdoor. In a way newcomers, but not really. Have a look at their website. Recently they won the contract to make all the tents for the Norwegian army. You don't get to do that if it's not high quality.
I'll definitely check them out. Cheers
Look like some great tents but no 4 season 1 or 2 person tents in their range right now?
@@Fellmandave1 That is correct and I have to guess Barents will expand their range of tents in the future. I sent them an email today and asked about this. Got an almost instant reply. They are working on several models and this winter a 2person polar tunneltent(winter/4season designed and equipped for really harsh weather) will be released. Also working on freestanding 1person tents both in lightweight and 4-season models but those will not be launched until they are sure they will be something new and better compared to the other brands.
Great test and should put any of the doubters minds at rest. IMO, if you’re determined to set a tent up on the side of an exposed hill in storm force winds (or unlucky to be caught out) I wouldn’t be blaming the tent if it breaks. Winds powerful enough to damage buildings and uproot trees will be strong enough to uproot your tent - regardless of manufacturer - before your poles snap.
Sometimes common sense goes out the window.
Thanks for sharing
Love the testing
All the best
Clive
🤠
Thank you! Cheers Clive. All the best to you my friend.
Why wouldn't nor tent have conducted these tests, and more before it left The factory?
This is a pretty wild video...
Nortent extensively test their tents. Thanks for the comment, do you think #climbyourtent will catch on?
Hi Dave, great to hear your update finally, understand waiting for awhile until the storms calmed down and life etc, hope you are well and all the best.
Really good to see some actually pitch the tent as suggested on the website, you actually don't get that level of information from allot of companies its all just marketing guff, even Hilleberg while great video instruction is light on details!
Also using the double polling which I thought was pretty std equipment pitch and choice for going into extreme condition's and as I have always said there are too types of experience that is bad in any situation in nature, no experience and too much experience!
The first being obvious, the second is due to complacency, I'm smarter than the designers and laziness, complacency or over confidence in own abilities! probably more!
In the SF we had a rule, if broken could be costly, that is the closer to safety you feel the more danger you are actually in as you lower your guard and senses, the best places to set up an ambush for example was close to where your opposition lets say feel safest and relax their defenses!
Outdoors is the same ime, just because you know a place camped there many times, plus more so if you test in say using your analogy Force 10 then common sense should dictate you'd take double pole options, extra lines and pitch correctly for the conditions and close doors, to maintain integrity!
I am sure I watched the vid where the tent failed and these were all things that were incorrectly done, I don't know if this was deliberate or not, but it put me off the channel, not the outcome for the tent, but the lack of objectivity and honesty.
Easy to say other brands may or may not have had that issue in same incorrect use, but each design is different and all have their strengths and weaknesses, if not utilized properly!
Was very disappointing to see the outdoor community on insta, youtube after all the hype then try to tear down said issue, very immature of ignorant! But that's the world we live in today!
its easy to jump on a bandwagon good less so hate more easy spread today unfortunately. I for one am a fan of both Nortent and Hilleberg.
It would be interesting to get feedback from Nortent as to how they delt with the negativity and what their thoughts are even though fairly obvious, still nice when they engage and address why this became a thing!
Anyways great vid and good to see ya back, hopefully you'll get back out into the hills with the dog and have some more adventures in the Vern, maybe a V2 and a stove would be good if ya got some plans haha
Cheers Dave 🤘
Thanks for the comment! Nortent were pretty dismayed by the backlash and I feel that they did not deserve it at all. But I am glad its all blown over and we can get back to enjoying our camping, especially since I am partly to blame for the problems!
Great video. Well needed. However, I still can't even afford the Vern 1. Will have to keep dreaming. Or get a Durston.
Keep going my friend.
Hi Dave, I’ve a number of Nortent products and I’ve been looking at the Vern 1 but I’m a big man and use the Thermarest Topo at 196x76cm. My question is…will it fit?
Hi Peter. In my first video of this on the studio, I am pretty sure I covered this. Standard wide is fine.
Managing expectations. Imagine a world where a 3 lb nylon sheet with flexible, 9 mil pole cross frame cannot stand up to hurricane force winds. I can no longer live in that unsatisfactory world. I refuse to leave the house.
hahahahaha, your're the best Curt. Every commet you leave is an inteletectual masterpiece.
Yeah that’s all good with the Vern 1.but it was the new Vern 2 that failed with you.perhaps the same tweak’s and hacks may possibly apply to some extent 🤔.definitely using the walking poles would help greatly.still love my mk1 Vern 2 though.the mk2 Vern 2 always looked too over engineered for me.and proved not to live up to it’s over engineered look.like the look of their new 3 crossover pole tent,can’t remember what it’s called.Oh yes the Nortent LY2 but haven’t seen enough of it yet.although I get the impression there’s not much vestibule space in it.perhaps you may get sent one to review,I’d look forward to that.personally I’m saving up for the Lavvo 6 👌😍.👍
I love my Mk 1 Vern 2 , too. Now , the vern 2 Mk 2, thats a different story- to be continued........
First seeing you wearing a Nortent tee shirt here, I thought it was just going to be another “advert”, but this is a great little vid 👌🏼
Thanks Marc, appreciated.
Good video as always from you. Very informative but also I feel it’s such a shame it had to be made. Personally I don’t understand the need to camp out in a storm where no doubt you wouldn’t be able to sleep from the sheer noise of the wind, worrying about the tent, going out every hr or so to check the tent for any damage or tension the guy lines. Surely it’s just a recipe for disaster being sleep deprived & then the risks of having to bail would be even greater.
I would rather own this tent than the Hilleberg Soulo if I could afford it. Much more room for similar weight.
This or the Scarp 1 will be my eventual winter tent!
I actually seem to sleep pretty well in storms, strangely. good luck with getting one and thanks for commenting Lee.
Don’t you worry though that something might happen to the tent?
Well you have to do a pre bed check and I like to partially pack and leave nothing loose in the Porch, other than that, why worry?
God I miss my old Vaude Space K2. That could be double poled as well. I have the Simond Makalu T2, which is a very good but a bit cosy really, and not enough space to really sit up like my old MSR Hubba Hubba. But I need to justify the cost of the Vern to myself really.
Nice one Dave - interesting experiments - it still looks a great tent - there is room for things other than a Hilleberg in the world 😂
Absolutely
Does the tent normally come with 6 poles as standard or are these an optional extra just asking as you don't mention before you climb on the back
3 poles as standard Roy.
Hi Dave,
On your other video (short) about double polling the Vern. You say the weight of the poles is 756g, mine are 600g which concurs with Nortent’s specs. Are you sure of your pole weights? Thanks J
I think the extra poles they sent me are a prototype slightly thicker walled pole. The exisitng ones do weigh 600g and the extra set 150g more due to the slightly increased wall thickness. I will find out what there plans are going forward with this and get back to you when I know more. Cheers.
@@Fellmandave1 Thanks Dave, would be interesting to know. Thank you. J
Nortent have confirmed going forward, the vern are supplied with the new thicker walled poles. To offset the weight they are supplied with lighter pegs. The new poles will be available on their site soon.
Thanks Dave for the update. Much appreciated. J
@@Fellmandave1 That's interesting to know. You should include that info in the description below the video. 👍
What? You read the manual!😮 Oh, yes Polegate...all from only one pole failure... My cousin's kid knows all about real-world tent failures. His Everest team all had to share one of the remaining tents at camp 2 this year after most of the tents were wiped out in strong winds, they had windspeeds between 50 and 75mph overnight (not sure if sustained or gusts). I've heard it's not uncommon for Sherpas to stand holding the tent up in high winds, now there's an idea!
Am I right in assuming there's no accepted structural standard/certification for windspeed, snow loadings, etc. for tents? Testing seems to be something done independently by manufacturers with big fans, etc. Quote Nortent: "Our tent poles are of high quality and are very flexible and strong. They are tested in the real world *under high stress for optimal and correct understanding of its durability*" None of that means a thing without measurements, it's just based on trust. Especially when they go on to say: "You may even bring extra poles with you to double pole the tent. Just because you can... :-)" What's that supposed to mean? Above what windspeed does double-poling apply to? It all seems rather vague.
So, the single- and double-poles seem strong enough if correctly joined, I'd guess the next point of failure would be the fabric and clips as you mostly applied point loads to the poles, but wind pressure would be a UDL. I'm sure there's plenty of universities that would love to test tents to destruction that have all the equipment to do the measurements, even FEM and CFD modelling wouldn't be that hard to do.
Another thing is, how many people will read the manual? Especially when it states: "It is essential to release the tension of the flysheet during the day equally to what it was tightened to the evening before. If you do not do this the flysheet will tighten further with powerful tension. *At worst it may have stretched the fabric to a degree beyond breaking point.* Rule of thumb; never let the flysheet become tight like a drum head" So, poles aren't necessarily going to be the first point of failure...operator error is.
Some good points. The only standardised testing I ever found was by the german magazine, outdoor magazin. They were brutal. It is very hard to find any engineering guidance on tent wind tolerance. The best stuff is on building roofs. But of course in the real wind, wind tends to vary enormously in terms of stength and direction.
I agree that Nortent are vague in their double poling recommmendations and I hope my video has clarified things a little.
Good debate.
Finally on camp 2 , wow. Would you agree that many of the tents seen on everest expeditions look really badly pitched?
@@Fellmandave1 At camp 4 they had to all share a tent again, with one of them having stomach troubles... I was wondering whether yacht/sailmakers had any applicable standards, and, yes, there's fabric tension structures are 'designed'. Could always watch Tom Heaney Adventure, he's had a TNF VE25 underperform over 50mph! Sure, factors like how well you guyout, ground conditions, wind, all matter, if only they could provide some limiting conditions for the structure that would be a start.
As for pitching at Everest camps, well, there seems to be a lot of different makes of tents up there, Sherpas pitch all those tents beforehand, and I've watched a number of videos seeing them being pitched (one is "Mt Everest’s basecamp set up"). I think it mostly comes down to ground conditions, where there's snow I've seen them guyed out, sometimes adding rocks. However, this year it was mostly rock and ice at higher camps, where they guyout to a large rock; I've seen a lot of rocks being used around the perimeter of the flysheet/valance; and rocks piled up at the vee where two poles meet at ground level. OSM Adventures has some good Everestcamp vids.
All I know is I'll never go there to test how well they pitch their tents! Wouldn't even pay to trek up to base camp, altitude sickness isn't my thing.
could you do a video on how to set up the double pole set
Just did a short on this Roy just for you
@@Fellmandave1 thank you :)
Hi Dave are the poles the original or upgraded? Cheers Taff 🤠👊
@@Taffwildmanofthewoods upgraded.
@Fellmandave1 If you recall Nortent sent me an additional set of original poles. I'm guessing the strength of the original poles will be less than the new poles?
I have not had cause to use my V2 yet to be honest I've not been out for about 5 months due to other activities. However, I was just curious how big the difference is between the two set ups.
Two sets of poles are better than one. Cheers atb Taff 🤠 👊
Hello, do you know if the Version 3 of this tent will have the same amount of poles but thicker? So you can have less weight to carry around and the same strenght as it would be with douple poles. I want this tent for my norway trip but not with this amount of weight for a one person tent.
The vern 3 now has 9.5 mm poles which have thicker walls at .76mm . Ask nortent for more info.
@@Fellmandave1 i have done it. Got no responde so far from them.
leif.mcvay@nortent.no try this guy
How do you rate the Vern1 against the Kuiu Storm Star, trying to decide between the two, they are more or less the same weight, like the idea of the extra room in the storm star, having had both how do you rate them against each other, is one better than the other in wind. I am surprised none seems to talk about the storm star, is the vern one better. Be great to hear your thoughts
its a great question and one I often ponder.
The storm star may be better in multidirectional winds, but I have never tested it.
The vern 1 is certainly a tough tent.
The storm star is much harder to pitch, plus the doors are low and the inner is very porthole like, making the vern a much more comfortable tent.
Overall, if it is just for 1, definitely the vern 1, much more verstalie and comfortable.
if you must sleep 2, then the choice can only be the storm star. I hope that helps!
@@Fellmandave1 That was exactly my question too Thanks for the honesty and professional tips and information i will buy one also in warmer weather the ventilation of Vern1 is winner compared to storm star right?
Now would you do that in a Hillaberg soulo😮
Or feel safe doing so
No idea but the gauntlet is down!
Fantastic tent testing. TY
Thanks Mark
Was a little nervous you were going to do yourself a mischief with the sharp end of that trekking pole during one of those tests! Thanks for going to the trouble (and physical effort!) of providing these demonstrations.
I did have a glance down at it on the way past!
Looks strong 👍
By Jove it is!
great advice dave classsssssssssssss review
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice one younin 👏👏
Cheers owdun
I ordered the Vern 1, and waited for a couple of months for it to arrive. I had it less than a week, pitched it once in the backgarden, and it was stolen. :(
Well that is really rather bad , shimitty thang to happen. Will nortent do you a deal on a replacement?
That so bad, there is a few been going up for sale on eBay as they and been badly spoken about by other but its a great tent.
Absolutely dreadful thing to have happened..Sadly, there are some horrors about... Sickening...
@@Fellmandave1 I never asked them. But there's no reason why they would. It certainly wasn't their fault. Also, the burglars took the Vern 1 but didn't take the Staika...... which was kinda funny when I realised.
Oh my…..this is hilarious !
Fyi, the new poles should be good for 51 MPH SP, 67 MPH DP, without resorting to any tricks. I make no warranty on my math though; my background is in the humanities, not physics.
Edit: I have the PC w/ 3x 9.5mm poles.
Where did you get this info please?
great tests!
Thank you! Cheers!
Hey dave, I'm now really curious about your suburito, do you practice Japanese swordsmanship?
I have a 1st Dan in Kendo. Many former lives! How about you?
Another great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
The moral of the story is don’t go out in your tent in gale force winds ….!!
Quite right.
Really beautiful tent, so nearly bought one.
Come in Hedley, you have a good job, get one as well as the abisko 1. Invite your friends around, (me too please)we can run from one to the other, drinking wine and giggling.
@@Fellmandave1 sounds like a plan! Perhaps you, Warren Brand and I should do a camp sometime!
@@hedleythorne I would freekin love that.
@Fellmandave1 I had my first wild camping experience with him (see latest video) and the location on Table Mountain was amazing. Never realised how heavy backpacks were! Will chat re wild camp, definitely interestee, especially if you bring Vern 1!
Fantastic 🎉 Nice video
Thank you! Cheers!
Just wondering how much does that setup weigh
Poles are 750g. Plus tent of 2.6 I think.
Tough testing indeed but can it withstand Russian Nuclear bombs 😛I think it was the video that the guy who does Backing UK that gave it the kiss of death, the one that he took down. I have personally owned 8 Hillys but currently down to 2 and i am more than happy to give any tent a try however i do understand and fully appreciate that there are several factors that add to the cost of tents including Weight of the materials , performance of the attached poles , guy lines and pegs, marketing,, design , materials longevity and UV resistance , quality control, customer service, logistics and fair wages and its important to factor in Scandinavian cost of living which we are starting to match.The Chinese still use slave labour so thats something to consider although my local Chinese chippy charges Hilleberg prices and only accepts cash 🤨 The mere fact that Nortent gave it to so many You Tubers for free made it look cheap, a bit like Fur Coat No Knickers to me and a bit too desperate to sell but thanks to your efforts in this video its starting to look like a Hero emerging out of the Clagg 🤔 At its price point and weight and size its appears to be a fantastic deal for a 4 season tent from what i can gather without actually owning one .Personally i am moving more towards lighter tent options these days as i age and wither away but if i was younger and stronger 500gms or a kilo is neither here nor there . As you will know the downside to going lighter is that materials generally cost more and in some cases are not as strong and durable so compromises have to be reached. At least you didn't threaten to beat anyone with that big stick and force anyone to buy it 😉My guess is Nortent owners and potential buyers will be reassured by this video, well done Dave 👍
Think he took the video down explaining why the poles broke due to the online abuse he got which was absolutely appalling.
@@leerobinson4553 I cant remember exactly what it was but do remember it saying that it was the best backpacking tent or something to that effect and at that weight its certainly not the best backpacking tent on the market but i definitely dont want to reignite that subject.
Some great points Olan. Talking of manufacturing, we know where Nortents are made. But with Hillebarg, the poles are made in Korea, the marketing done from America, assembly in Estonia, but where is Kerlon material made? Seems to be a closely guarded secret.
Yes a right mess Lee.
@@Fellmandave1 Well you have educated me on some points there Dave, thats good to know 👍. I knew about the tents being made in Estonia and Petra Living in the US but i thought that the complete tent and all the ancillaries were made in Estonia . Are the poles made in Kim Jon Yuns neck of the woods or the bit in the South where they sell McDonald's and they have all the Western ailments etc ? The Kerlon is produced under license and nobody else is allowed to make tents out of it apart from Hilleberg but as with all patents its not that long before someone else comes up with something that performs just as well and there are already materials available with unique properties that are similar in strength for the weight but i dont know if its fair to say that they are not as good because they are fairly new and i just haven't read or heard that they are. You might have just started a new trend in testing how stable tent structures are in this video and now that i no longer have a Soulo i dont think i have got one that i would happily sit one of my grandkids on let alone me at 86kg. Lets see how many You Tubers start Tent Balancing ATB 👍
yes Dave... but one would be surprised, where on earth idiots do can survive... I am living in a desert... full of those.... even in the most remoted areas of it.... so, I am afraid there is no single spot left on God's Earth for us being "idiot-free"..., sadly... I have been to the polar areas, high alpine ones, svannahs, steppes, under water, in the sky, .... literally almost everywhere..... it is full of them....
Sad news, but surely the ratio must be watered down, or you just notice them more in the rarefied places.
Tough tent im based on dartmoor a new channel hopefully my videos will gey better and bravery than yours 😄
😂
The soulo destroyer 😂. Oh my word your not gonna start with this caper again are you. Double poles, more guy rope, may as well just buy something better. Seems pointless if you have to errect scaffolding around it to withstand some bad weather.
Hilleberg also recommend double poling.
@@Fellmandave1 They do but only in extreme conditions, and not for what the British weather can throw at us. This has been proven time and time again by the fact there are so many videos on UA-cam of Hilleberg's in inclement weather none of which are double poled or require more guy ropes.. Some good testing going on there though. 😂
There are some Hilleberg Soulo videos, none double poled, with the poles bending and breaking. British conditions. See Andy wardle and MCM outdoors to start. British conditions can be as bad as anywhere. Do you know the summit of Cairngorm has had 173 mph wind recorded?
@@Fellmandave1 Yes I have seen them. I was talking generally through not on the odd occasion or two. 173mph would be fun. I doubt you could even stand upright over 100mph .😂
I’m jumping in. I’ve watched and read the comments and I’m utterly baffled why you and a lot of other of your subs are so fixated on belittling the soulo (and other hilles) my red label soulo wasnt guyed out properly that night you’re on about. It was 100% my fault it failed there was 2 other RL soulos right beside me and they were fine. I mentioned that about 20 times but it seems folks just want to revel in a soulo breaking. No matter the cause. Also with mcm’s tent he had the slightest of bends on the pole. So slight that it made zero difference to the performance of his tent. If it was me I wouldn’t have noticed it. But Chris looks after his gear better than I do. Hilleberg replaced his pole straight away. I’m all for testing and using any tent but the constant hille bashing is getting tedious. It’s as if you’re jealous Dave. I’m disappointed that you keep bashing them. 🤷♂️. I might buy a Vern 1 and see what all the fuss is about. But as your previous commenter said. Why all the poles and mods? I can make any tent bombproof by doing all that. Just use it as supplied?? I won’t be lying on my poles because basically there’s zero to prove with the BL hille. Check out my camp in 50-60mph wind. ACTUAL 50-60. Not estimated. See that BL it doesn’t even move.
ua-cam.com/video/8x-yPrs77m4/v-deo.htmlsi=5wdbTzqtaeV61vPZ
In conclusion if you compare this Vern 1 to a similar priced competitor then people might stop giving you a hard time. To compare it to a BL soulo (or even a RL one) is utterly ridiculous. I’ve NEVER even thought about double poles. There’s absolutely no reason. That thing will easily take 70-80 mph wind. EASILY. Anything over that I would bail out of sanity.
Go back to mine and Chris’s videos. And listen to what we say why those tents (only mine really) failed. His never failed. He packed up because his mates tent was trashed. Otherwise he would’ve stayed put.
It’s baffling all this hate and criticism of hilles. I don’t critique or pick holes in tents so why would anyone else?? Review it and use it for a year. In all conditions. Then give a final assessment. Also I don’t go out actively seeking terrible conditions. They just seem to find me. And I’m glad to be in a very safe proven shelter.
Check my back catalog over 10 years and 550 videos to see if I’m right or wrong.
I’m only commenting cos you brought my name into it. 👍