TERRA NOVA WILD COUNTRY
ZEPHYROS 2 TENT TEST SERIES BY
BRIAN HARTMAN LONG-TERM REPORT
October 29, 2012
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HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT CLICK
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TESTER INFORMATION
NAME:
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Brian Hartman
|
EMAIL:
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bhart1426ATyahooDOT com |
AGE:
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44
|
LOCATION:
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Westfield,
Indiana |
GENDER:
|
M
|
HEIGHT:
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5' 9" (1.75
m) |
WEIGHT:
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145 lb (65.80
kg) |
I have been backpacking for over
20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA.
In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and
being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker.
I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than
the bare essentials with me while on the trail.
INITIAL REPORT
Product Information
|
Image Courtesy of Terra Nova |
Manufacturer: Terra Nova Year of Manufacture: 2012 Manufacturer's
Website: http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/ MSRP:
150 EUR; $186 US *Listed Weight: 3 lb 9 oz (1.79 kg) Measured Weight: 3
lb 11 oz (1.67 kg)
*Please note that there is a conversion inconsistency
between lbs and kilograms in the tent's weight as listed on the manufacturer's
website.
Other details: Capacity: 2 Person Single door
Single main pole Pack size: 22 in x 5.5 in (57 cm x 14 cm) Range: 3
season backpacking Flysheet: Ripstop Pu Polyester 4,000 mm Floor:
Ripstop Pu Polyester 6,000 mm Poles: 8.5 mm Superflex Alloy Pegs: 10 x
Aluminum V-Angle Guylines: 4 x black reflective 2 year manufacturer
warranty
Product Description
The
Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 2 tent (hereafter called the Zephyros 2 or
tent) is a lightweight three season tent that Terra Nova describes as "perfect
for weight conscious backpackers and price conscious adventure racers". It is,
in my opinion, very light weight at 3 lb 11 oz (1.67 kg), has some great specs
for waterproof performance with a 6000 mm floor and 4000 mm flysheet, and is
priced relatively inexpensively at $186.00
The Zephyros 2 is based on
Terra Nova's Laser Competition series of tents which are described as being
lightweight in design, simple to pitch, and very breathable.
The flysheet
and inner tent floor are made of Ripstop Pu Polyester while the inner tent body
is a combination of nylon taffeta and mesh. The manufacturer uses a single 8.5
mm Superflex Alloy pole as the main support for the traverse hoop and two end
struts to provide additional room at the ends of the tent. The main pole is
collapsible and is stored in its own sack when not in use while the two end
struts usually remain attached to the tent when it is packed away in
storage.
The tent comes with ten aluminum V pegs that are 6 in (15.2 cm)
long. They are packed in a small sack along with a pole repair sleeve. The
flysheet, inner tent, pole and pegs fit into a nylon stuff sack with dimensions
of 22 in x 5.5 in (57 cm x 14 cm). Setup instructions are printed on a sheet
which is sewn inside the stuff sack. Because the inner tent is attached to the
flysheet there is no setup here, it is simply a matter of sliding the main pole
through the pole sleeve in the flysheet and then staking out the flysheet and
inner tent so that it is taut. In addition to simplified setup, another benefit
of the one piece design is that the tent can be pitched in rain with getting the
inside wet.
The Zephyros 2 has a single large door on the side which is
accessed by opening the flysheet zippers. The door has two zippers (similar to
the flysheet) that allow it to be opened in numerous configurations. Once
inside the tent there is a mesh storage pocket measuring 6 in x 9 in (15 cm x 22
cm) in the corner of the tent on the same side as the door. This pocket can be
used to store valuables and/or as a place to secure the inner tent door. Mesh
vents are sewn into either end of the tent. The mesh vents can be closed with a
piece of nylon fabric that is held in place with hook and loop closures. The
inner tent measures 90 in long x 38 in wide x 37 in high (230 cm x 97 cm x 95
cm) at its longest points.
Trying It Out
Setting up the Zephyros 2 for the first time was fairly straightforward but it
still took me seven minutes to pitch the tent as I had difficulty tensioning the
flysheet. In particular, I had trouble stretching the corners of the inner tent
far enough so that I could secure them and the flysheet to the same pegs which
is what the instructions state. When I moved the pegs inward to the point where
I could attach the flysheet and inner tent to the same peg, the flysheet sagged;
when I moved the pegs outward so that the flysheet was taut, then the inner tent
straps wouldn't reach the pegs. Finally I gave up and used separate pegs to
secure the inner tent and flysheet. With this setup I did not have enough pegs
to secure the guy lines on either side of the tent as I had already used all ten
pegs. I fully expect I'll become better at pitching this tent over time.
The Zephyros 2 seems solid but I have a few concerns regarding its
construction. While pitching the tent, I had problems getting the pegs into the
ground because of their sharp edges and the fact that there is not much to grab
onto. This would not be a big issue if the tent were freestanding with the
rainfly connecting to the tent body as is the case with my other tents. However
the Zephyros 2 cannot be pitched without using all ten pegs. Second, the inner
tent floor only wraps up in a bathtub style design on one side. There is no
waterproof barrier on the other side of the tent to prevent water from flooding
the tent floor in heavy rains. On the positive side, the tent is light weight
and should be quick to set up once I figure out how to drive the pegs into hard
ground without additional tools.
SUMMARY
What
I like: Light weight design Should be quick setup once I get used to
it The one piece tent design will prevent the inside of the tent from getting
wet when setting it up in the rain Decent sized porch for boots, pack
etc Lots of mesh so condensation shouldn't be a problem Two way zippers in
door allow for large opening to get stuff into and out of the tent
What I
don't like: Pegs are sharp and difficult to push into the ground because
there's not much to grab onto The tent does not have a bathtub floor on one
entire side and it barely wraps up on the ends (could be a big problem in wet
weather)
FIELD
REPORT
FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
During the past two months I slept in the Zephyros 2 a total of 5 nights
on three separate backpacking trips to Southern Indiana. My first trip was to
Franklin County where I spent two nights in the tent. The weather was mostly
sunny during this outing with a slight breeze and daytime highs of 95 F (35 C).
I camped near a creek at lower elevations hoping cool air would settle there at
night giving me some temporary relief from the heat. My distance logged was
approximately 12 mi (20 km) across wooded trails and moderately hilly terrain.
Elevations ranged from 570 ft (174 m) to 710 ft (216 m).
My second outing
was an overnight trip to Oldenburg, Indiana where I hiked off-trail through
woods and farmland several miles outside of town. On this trip I covered 9.1
miles (15 km) across moderately hilly terrain. Skies were sunny both days with
temperatures approaching 100 F (38 C).
My third trip was to Mt Airy
Forest in Cincinnati, Ohio. At nearly 1,500 acres Mt Airy is the largest park
in Cincinnati and the first urban reforestation project in the United States.
It also is home to one of the neatest tree houses I have ever seen. The weather
during this trip was hot and sunny with temperatures in the upper 80's F (31
C).
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
EASE OF USE: At first I found
it challenging to pitch the Zephyros 2 tent in accordance with the instructions
that were provided. In particular, during my first two nights in the field, I
had a hard time getting the inner tent corners to stretch far enough to reach
the V pegs that were staked out to secure the flysheet. I tried several
alternative approaches including using separate pegs for the inner tent corners
vs the flysheet, staking the inner tent first and then securing the flysheet and
finally adjusting the end struts. It didn't help that the pegs were nearly
impossible to push into the hard ground and so I really didn't want to
reposition them after pounding them in place with a rock. Since then I have
been using new tent stakes and setup has become easier over time. In good
weather conditions, which are all that I have experienced so far, I was able to
set up the tent in approximately 8 minutes. I have not pitched this tent in
windy conditions or the dark but I suspect that my setup time will not vary
dramatically. I really like the fact that the flysheet and inner tent pitch
together. Theoretically this makes for simpler set up and faster pitching.
Taking down the Zephyros 2 is very easy; it is as simple as pulling the pegs,
removing the main pole and squeezing the tent into its nylon stuff sack. I do
wish the stuff sack was slightly larger in diameter and its inner fabric was
slippery to help get the tent into the sack more easily.
INTERIOR: The inside of the tent is well designed with plenty of room for one
person to sleep comfortably. There was enough room for my sleeping pad and
sleeping bag as well as some other essentials which I tucked in the mesh pocket.
In addition, I was easily able to sit up and maneuver inside the tent as well
as change clothes and get dressed. On all of my trips I left my backpack in the
vestibule and this seemed to work fine. I was able to access it from inside the
tent through the large door opening. Although the Zephyros 2 is described as a
two person tent, I would not want to share sleeping quarters with anyone unless
it was an emergency. My teenage son and I crawled into the tent for a few
minutes and lay next to each other. We promptly decided that we would forego
the weight savings and pack a larger tent if camping together for more than one
night.
BREATHABILITY: With its mesh inner walls and end vents, the
Zephyros 2 breathed extremely well, although it was still quite hot and stuffy
on my outings due to high nighttime temperatures. I had no issues with
condensation, although the weather has been so hot and dry that I was not
expecting any problems.
WATERPROOFNESS: The verdict is still out as to
how well this tent handles heavy rains and high winds. It boasts great numbers
in terms of its waterproof rating for both the flysheet and tent floor.
However, the tent floor does not have a bathtub design on all four sides which
has me concerned and a little disappointed. As mentioned in my Initial Report,
the floor is raised on one side but the other three sides are vulnerable to high
water. This could spell disaster for my sleeping bag and everything else inside
the tent. I am also concerned about how well the tent will do in high winds
because it is not freestanding. If one of the pegs comes loose or a rope slips
off one of the pegs, the ends of the tent could collapse. The tent has yet to
see rain as our summer has been extremely dry with drought conditions throughout
much of the Midwest.
DURABILITY: After several months of use, the
Zephyros 2 is still in great shape. Both the flysheet and tent floor remain in
very good condition. The bottom of the tent has some small marks and scuffs on
it but that is to be expected when camping in the woods without a ground tarp.
I hope to remedy this soon by cutting up an old piece of Tyvek that I have lying
around in the garage. The mesh inner tent has done a great job of protecting me
from mosquitoes and has no holes or tears in it. In addition, the door zippers
and hook and loop closures for the mesh vents continue to function without any
issues. Finally, I have had no problems with the main pole or end struts.
SUMMARY
So far I am pleased with
the performance of the Zephyros 2 tent. It is lightweight, fairly easy to set
up and its design allows for plenty of air circulation in hot weather. Living
quarters are fine for one person but I would not want to share space with a
second person as I feel conditions would be too cramped. The vestibule provides
adequate storage for essential gear and hiking shoes. To date, I have not
experienced any rain or high winds in this tent so I cannot comment on its
waterproofness or structural rigidity in poor weather.
This concludes my
Field Report for the Zephyros 2 tent.
LONG-TERM
REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND
CONDITIONS
During the long-term test period,
I used the Zephyros 2 for a total of five nights on two separate trips to Brown
County State Park in Southern Indiana. My first trip was for three nights over
Labor Day weekend where I encountered wet weather and temperatures in the low
80's F (28 C). My second visit was for two nights in mid October. This time
the weather cooperated and conditions were perfect the entire weekend with
mostly sunny skies and daytime highs in the upper 60's F (20 C). I hiked
approximately 14 miles during this trip over hilly terrain with nighttime lows
in the mid 50's F (12 C).
Early September Trip: Location: Brown
County State Park, Southern Indiana Trip Description:
Backpacking Distance: 5.2 mi (13.2 km) Length of Trip: 3 days / 3
nights Weather Conditions: Storms and rain the first two
days Precipitation: 1.4 in (3.6 cm) Temperature Range: 70 F (21 C) to 82 F
(28 C)
Mid October Trip: Location: Brown County State Park - Southern
Indiana Trip Description: Backpacking Distance: 14 mi (23 km) Length
of Trip: 2 days / 2 nights Weather Conditions: Clear and
breezy Precipitation: 0.0 in (0.0 cm) Temperature Range: 54 F (12 C) to 68
F (20 C)
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
During this test period, I had
the opportunity to test the Zephyros 2 in heavy rain and winds as storms rolled
across Southern Indiana over Labor Day weekend. After arriving at the Park and
hiking for several hours in soggy conditions, I decided to take advantage of a
brief respite in the weather to set up camp amid several large trees in the
area. I was already wet and didn't want to risk running out of daylight or
getting caught in an extended downpour while still on trail. Pitching the tent
went relatively well and it was relatively easy to pound the pegs into the
water-logged ground, although I somehow managed to bend one of them slightly
while hitting it with a rock. Once the tent was erected I dragged my wet
backpack into the vestibule and proceeded to unpack my belongings and make
dinner. Afterwards I spent an hour or so wandering around camp before turning
in for the night. From just after 11pm till 4am in the morning it poured down
rain and although no water leaked through the flysheet or up through the tent
floor, I somehow managed to get soaked. When I first awoke I wasn't exactly
sure what happened and suspected a leak in the roof but after donning my
headlamp and looking around it became obvious that water had come in over the
top of the tent floor. Once daylight came I could see a small gulley that led
from a nearby hillside right to my tent. In this case, a ground cloth may have
helped divert some of the running water under the tent. It also may have helped
if I had picked a higher spot to pitch my tent or if I had dug a trench around
it the night before. Unfortunately, I had taken my tent site for granted as it
had never been a problem for my other tents which have high-walled bathtub style
floors which prevent water run-in. In the future I will have to be more
cautious about where I set up camp with this tent. One other note is that the
storm produced fairly heavy winds but they did not seem to bother the tent much
and the flysheet remained taut.
Although I am not happy with the design
of the tent floor I do like the design of the door. It is tall and wide and
positioned such that it was very easy to get in and out of the tent while in
Brown County without soaking my back on the wet flysheet. Because the zippers
run almost straight up and down they are easy to open and I didn't have to
stretch really far to reach them. Finally, the flap covering the zippers did a
great job of keeping out the rain.
SUMMARY
The Zephyros 2 has proven to be a
credible backpacking tent and one that I will continue to use in the field
thanks to its lightweight design and compact size when folded. It is roomy
enough for me to stretch out in at the end of a long day, ventilation is great
and there has been minimal condensation inside the tent so far. I also like
that I can pitch the Zephyros 2 in the rain without getting the inner tent wet.
Unfortunately it has a few significant shortcomings such as the design of the
tent pegs and the fact that the floor has no sidewalls on three sides, thus
allowing streams of runoff to enter the tent during heavy rains. With the
addition of new stakes and a ground cloth to help protect the floor, this tent
is a decent and lightweight alternative to my other backpacking tents. This
concludes this test series. Thanks to Terra Nova and BackpackGearTest.org for
the opportunity to test this tent. This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
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Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman
|