June 26, 2009Dave’s Mountain Hardwear Tent Review: Part 1

I recently had the opportunity to head out to the Eastern Townships for a few days and I thought I’d take the time to review some products while I was out there. Of the many types of gear I brought with me, it was the tents that left the most lasting impressions. I brought two Mountain Hardwear tents: the Light Wedge 2 and Hammerhead 2. I went about testing them in several ways.

Part 1: The Preliminary Test

the light wedge 2

I found a field and began setting up. I feel like no one should ever have to use an instruction booklet to set up a tent, and I didn’t (but then again, I’m really really smart). I was actually blown away at how easily and quickly I was able to set them up. Before I even had a chance to realize I was putting up a tent, it was already done.

When I started checking out all the bells and whistles however, it quickly became apparent to me that one of them might not make the grade. I’ll get back to the Hammerhead 2 later, but the Light Wedge 2 needs a small spanking. Problem is, my mommy always told me that if I didn’t have anything good to say, then I shouldn’t say anything at all.

my mother

Ahh screw it, I never listened to her anyways… The tent had most of the same features as the Hammerhead, but they didn’t seem to make much sense. Off hand, I didn’t really trust the fly, it looked like it would stick to the interior at the first drops of rain, the guys felt like they were in the wrong spots, and then when I got in, I wondered how two people could sleep in it without being uncomfortably intimate. It was tight, real tight. Unless you think you’ll be setting up a tent in a crevasse, I would fork out the extra $40 bucks for something more comfortable like the Hammerhead.

hosers

A friend of mine came stumbling out of the woods while I was fiddling with the tents (let’s call him Pouliche). I asked him for his opinion. He got into the Light Wedge, farted, said it was too small, them crawled into to Hammerhead. Once inside, he quickly pointed out how it would be a good tent to fool around in, praised the tent for its great ventilation options and vestibule, and asked me if I wanted to get drunk. I politely declined. Seeing that I was actually doing something productive, he got up and disappeared back into the woods. What a hoser.

That night I slept in the Hammerhead.

Continue to Part 2: The Intimacy Test