Helm Compact 2 - Wild Country - First Look. A budget tent for tall people?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2023
- Unpacking and a first look at the Wild Country - Helm Compact 2 form Terra Nova.
I bought this as a low cost option for UK wild camping. Until recording, I couldn't be sure that I'd actually fit in it!
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Twitter @Black73Cat
I have this tent and it’s great. People who whinge about the weight should cut back on the cans of beer they’ll happily lug around and spend some time at a gym.
Hehe. That's one way of looking at it.
For me, it's not a criticism at all but like lots of other people, part of the hobby is trying to keep the weight down.
Most of my camping is a single night in the Peak...I'm a big lad and more than capable of carrying 20+ kilos...see early vids on my channel. I'm not doing the PCT and needing to count every gram. It is part of the fun though, trying to keep the weight as low as possible... I enjoy researching and upgrading gear. So all of the rest of my kit is very light...but could be even lighter. Which is why a 2kg+ shelter is considered "heavy" for me.
I'm sure it'll serve me well.
Thanks for watching 👍👍
Why have beers I never understand it. I just take a little bit of God's green herb, far lighter, better buzz and doesn't make you a twat like alcohol does to so many
I’m getting this tent very soon, after seeing loads of great reviews of this tent this is the best choice for me I think
@@jacquesleconte8152yes, exactly!
Gods Green Herb will shred your brain and affect your personality in the end. I work with people hooked on the stuff and believe me - it’ll make a fool of you sooner or later.
I’m 6ft 5 ins and this tent was perfect for me. Loads of room, love the 2 vestibules and fits my lengthy frame vertically and horizontally. A cracking tent that is suitable for all 4 seasons unless you plan to camp in a freezer.
I was out in it on Saturday and found it to be really spacious and definitely very warm.
My only real issue is the pack size...it doesn't pack down as small as I'd hoped.
2 years across the many mountains in Scotland, in sep to dec… I would not call this a budget tent! It took everything nature could throw at it…. It’s not that heavy, I wild camped week at a time, it was no bother to carry. Bloody brilliant! I’ve just change to a Panacea 2 . It’s a lot stiffer as I use my trekking poles at extra support… another brilliant tent. Cheers for the video.
Hi,
Good to know what it's capable of.
Everything is relative...my previous shelter was an MLD DuoMid XL in DCF...costing £800 and weighing only 900g ...So in comparison the Helm is very heavy and definitely in the "budget" category.
But that doesn't make it less capable and in fact, that's how I ended up buying it, because it's the best performing shelter that I could find, in that price range.
Now that I've used it on the hill, I'm very impressed. I would like a smaller pack size (again, DuoMid and Trailstar comparison) but it's not the end of the world.
Overall I think it's great...and most of my time out is in the Peak ...not a week in Scotland...so it should see me right! 😁
Thanks for watching mate. 👍👍
How do you find the panacea? I have one and haven't properly tested it in bad conditions yet.
Panacea has been amazing. The trekking poles make all the difference, and its a palace for one person. Im of for another trip next week, it 09/11/2023, to Llyn Cwm Bychan. I want to get some serious wild camping in. The Helm 2 was great, but the Panacea is so easy to pitch and great with th epoles inplace. Have fun guys!@@davelakin3821
Im 6,4 the helm 2 is a absolute weapon of a tent 👍, i also own a Southern cross 1 and a northern lite 2, both absolute limpets and spot on for us taller folk 👍
I’m ordering this in the next few days, the weight is the same as my current tent, it’s a big upgrade for me as I’m still using the first tent I ever bought for wild camping in 2016 which is the Vango soul 200 that has fibreglass poles and no room to sit up in, great video , thanks !
Good review, thank you. I’m 6’5” / 118kg and have a 50kg hound that carries his own kit.
I’ve also been through a heap of tents including the Cloud Peak 2 which was a great tent, especially after I beefed up the poles.
I also had a DCF Triplex Tent. Great customer service but not quite big enough due to the steep sides - I ended up with significant amounts of rain getting in as my feet pushed the bathtub beyond the tent roof - water poured in. The clip shut door was ridiculous in any sort of wind.
A try with a Dan Durston X-Mid also occurred. I really didn’t get on with that - unless you pitched on a flat billiard table site then wind gets underneath. It also need a huge area to set up in; you could land an Apollo space craft in the acreage required. There have been a number of other (alleged) quality tents / shelters. 😮
I did love the Crux Assault X1 (1.9) kg but it just wasn’t quite big enough. I still have that as it’s a great 4 season tent. I also have a Crux Shadow X2 which has just enough space but is 3kg.
I now use a Hilleberg Rogen (2.2kg) as my go to tent which I have upgraded both the poles and the pegs and it’s great. I also have a Trailstar Tarp Tent that is circa 270grams and has room for half the population of Africa. The Trailstar can sleep x2 very comfortably plus the beast and I reckon at a push four could sleep in it. I use Tyvek and / or a piece of polycro for my footprints.
I do like your new tent, though.
Fair old list there, mate! 😲
I really enjoyed my Trailstar and might even get another. The only thing I didn't like was crawling into it but other than that, it was fantastic.
I've had my eye on the Durston but I haven't seen any in really strong winds and I like to feel prepared, just in case.
Haven't looked at Crux though...I'll check them out.
Having spent a night in the Helm now...it is really good. Plenty of space and it's very warm. My only real gripes are that it doesn't pack down very small...and purely from an aesthetic point of view, it doesn't look very interesting!🤷
I know that's daft but having previously owned a Trailstar and then a DuoMid XL in DCF...I'm kind of missing the wow factor.
Great tent overall though...
Thanks for watching mate... much appreciated
Graeme
I have this tent and it's great. I would love to see fjallraven abisko lite 1 vs this tent in some harsh weather
I had the same problem as you at 6.2", and I eventually settled on the Wild Country Hoolie 2 tunnel tent which has plenty of length, good sit up headroom, and a good size vestibule. Been out in torrential rain, and never leaked once.
its really lovely to see you again mucka!! keep going mate, keep going
Thank you pal. Fingers crossed, I can keep going, this time! 🤞🤞
Everything crossed for you buddy, don't worry if you cant, just do what you enjoy mate 👊@@Black73Cat
First ! Great to have you back. Still watching btw.
Hey! How you doing?
You are partly responsible for this purchase...even though you dared to find a couple of minor faults!...I mean... borderline heresy! 🤣
Hope you're keeping well mate.
As you questioned, the 4 pegs you had left are for the pole ends. Tensions the tent nicely.
That was annoying me throughout the video 😂
Subbed so i can see you using it in the wild 👍
Thanks mate, I thought as much.
Hopefully out in the wild, this weekend 🤞🤞
Great to see you back on TH-cam, I hope your doing well buddy. What happened to all your modelling videos? I watched both your modelling and wild camping videos, I also share the same Hobbies and flit between the two depending on my mental state.
Hi mate. Thanks for watching.
I cleared the modelling channel... a lot of the videos were affiliated to a group which I'm no longer part of. So I didn't want the association anymore.
I'm still modelling though, when I can. Like you, I drift in and out, depending on what's best for my head at the time.
Looking at the Wild Country line, I'd think the Blizzard 2/3 would be better suited to your requirements with a little less or more weight depending on 2/3 man version, except possibly cost. Blizzard 2 if the single vestibule is large enough for storage and cooking for you, Blizzard 3 if you want a larger vestibule - the inner has a vertical wall at your head end, so the 220 cm inner length is plenty.
Best tent for the money I managed to buy mine pre lock down 159£. I wouldn't buy another tent for back packing .
Blimey! That's a bargain!
Thanks for watching, mate. 👍
I’m researching to purchase my first wild camping tent. Got a few on the list. I do like this one - but the one thing I find annoying is the triangular door… feels like if you were sitting in your tent looking out, that door would totally block off the beautiful views, surely?! You’d have this little triangle view… 🤔
Hi,
Yeah it's not the best for a "porch panorama" but not many tents of this design are. With it being freestanding, it's easy to turn the door towards the best views, before pegs go in...and remember you can open both sides 👍
Good luck with your search and thanks for watching.
That bath tub looks like its level with the floor!!
Aye, I pitched it again, with less tension on the adjusters and it was much better.
In my opinion the best tent available for the money and all that's required for wild camping here in England
It seems like a lot of people agree with you!
Off to try it for real tonight....so I hope you're all right! 🤞😁
Thanks for watching, mate 👍
Thanks for the insight. The number of tents to consider can be a bit overwhelming.
It is overwhelming...and sometimes really hard to be sure what will actually work for you!
Glad you found it helpful.
Thanks for watching 👍
There's tensioners to tighten the inner mate.
Yeah...found 'em. 😁
Thanks for watching 👍
Its a good tent mate, you arent getting the weight down to 2kg, unless you use it as a flysheet only tent which you can do.
Swapping pegs is just grams.
I dont mind the weight as its such a solid and warm tent.
Lanshan 2 is your other option of you really want a cheap lightweight 2 man.
I have one of them and its very draughty but decent in the right weather and on a multi summit hike
Challenge accepted! 🤣
Seriously though, I'm not too bothered about the weight, it is what it is. For now, it serves a purpose...I hope.
Lanshan should be a winner for me, because I prefer trekking pole shelters...but it's just not capable enough to give me confidence. I've been caught out with bad weather too many times and I just don't feel I could trust a Lanshan to see me through.
Thanks for watching mate... hoping to get the Helm out for it's first trip, next weekend 🤞
@@Black73Cat Lanshan also needs a fair size pitch by what I have seen. Confidence is paramount for me, once you are up there on your own, and the weather forecast proves erroneous. Helm 2 arrived last week, heading to lakes tomorrow....
I bought a spare set of poles to see if it will double pole as there are two eyelets provided.
(may also put the Akto in the boot due to my belt and braces syndrome ;)
How heavy is the Hilleberg two man tent... work out £ per lb lol.
I’m 6ft1 and wanted the bobcat but that’s one I won’t fit in
I believe the double holes at end of poles can be used to double pole the tent to make it super resistant to wind.... has anyone ever tried this ?
Yeah it can be double poled. But I'm told that the main purpose is to adjust the tension a little, when needed.
Paul Messner is currently double poling a Terra Nova Laser Compact AS...looking at the videos, it seems to work.
A lot of people have said that. Might be a tight squeeze to push 2 poles in the sleeves. I believe it’s for one pole but the 2 holes are just for adjustable tightness. Happy to be told otherwise but I have the tent and not sure they would fit.
Why do people get so humg up on the weight? If you've a fully loaded backpack with, say, an acceptable to many people tent weight of 1.5 kg, you put your backpack on, somebody slips you an extra 800 grams you'd never notice it.
When you say heavy it’s 2.4kg 🤷♂️ great vid though and well presented 👍
Hiya mate,
The thing is, if you note my opening comments...my previous shelter was a DCF MLD DuoMid XL. Much more spacious, arguably stronger and only 950g including an inner and all guys.
So relatively speaking, it's heavy!
I could have spent 3 times as much and bought a Laser Compact AS...at only 1.4 kg. So my point is that I had to compromise to fit the budget...and weight was the compromise.
It's not a complaint or a criticism, just for my usual lightweight goals and in relativity, it's a heavy tent 😁
Everything else about it is very good, for the money.
Thanks for watching 👍
Paul messner is just advertising billboard.
You know it's his job, right?
Thanks for watching 👍
The red pole running through the middle of the vestibule is a complete pain... Restricts access to the tent!
Im pretty shocked by what people will describe as a "budget tent" these days. This isnt it
Hi,
Depends on your point of view mate...
As I said in the video, my previous shelter was an MLD DuoMid XL in DCF...that cost over £800 and only weighed 900g
So relatively speaking, this is very much a "budget tent."
And realistically, Wild Country is the "budget" branch of Terra Nova....a lot of Terra Nova tents are "copied" by Wild Country but made with cheaper materials to make them more widely affordable.
On the Terra Nova website...sort by price low-high and the Helm is at the "low" end.
Doesn't make it a bad tent and takes nothing away from what it's capable of but you can't escape the fact that it's cheap. 🤷
Thanks for watching 👍
he said budget not the cheapest
@@stevec-b6214 "Budget" is open to interpretation i suppose. When i hear "budget" i think cheap. If you spoke to someone who wasnt already a camper and told them this tent was budget i doubt they would agree considering OEX and Eurohike have tents for 40-60 quid
Is the tent good for lazy fat people?