Could This Be the PERFECT Tent? 🔥
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
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I have been testing a new tent. Winner of the 'Adventure Alan Most Bomber Tent of 2024' - The SlingFin Portal 3. I recently put it to the test on a 9 day expedition to Tasnania's Eldon Range putting it through torrential rain, gale forced winds and hot sun. The results are in. Here are my thoughts.....
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⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Welcome
01:30 - My Tent journey
02:42 - What do I want in a tent?
03:20 - Discovering SlingFin
05:16 - SlingFin Portal 3 Specs
08:00 - Three man tent?
08:49 - Guy Lines
10:04 - Stakes
11:04 - Fly Sheet attachments and Guy Points
13:09 - Internal Tent Features
13:38 - Tent Materials and Coatings
16:24 - Internal fabric and floor fabrics
16:42 - PolyEther Urethane Coatings vs Polyester Urethane
18:31 - How did the tent perform on my 9 day expedition?
20:33 - The main selling point for me, The walking pole attachments
22:21 - Poles
22:32 - Space and comfort
23:04 - What do I like about this tent?
23:34 - What do I dislike about this tent?
25:12 - Does it live up to the 'Most Bomber Tent' award?
🔗 VIDEO LINKS:
SlingFin Portal 3
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Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3
geni.us/bhQ2t
MSR Hubba Hubba 3
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MSR Ground Hog Stakes
geni.us/ELz8x
MSR Carbon Core Stakes
geni.us/0o3N157
SlingFin Fabric Coatings Article
www.slingfin.com/blogs/the-be...
Love this! You really did your research and it's great to hear feedback from folks who've really done their homework and use the tent in the conditions we built it for. Glad you're loving the tent!
Thanks so much! Glad you found the vid and happy to recommend such a high quality product! Perfect tent for Tasmanian conditions!
The Tassie government just got one of our Kahiltna Domes for invasive species field work! Sounds like Tasmania has got some real weather!
Could you please please make portal with a solid inner or offer a solid inner separately? That would be great.
@@SlingFin1 it sure does! I reckon that one might be for use on Macquarie Island (on the way to Antarctica). Weather here can get absolutely nuts in the mountains. Smack bang in the middle of the roaring forties!
@@lennart822 We would really like to! We still haven't found the right fabric. It needs to be light, stable, and not make the tent cost a million dollars. So far we have only been able to find fabrics that fit two of those criteria...
I have a portal 2, likewise a strong tent. I like the modularity ie you could take just a bathtub floor, no mesh to save weight if mosquitoes are not an issue ( you need the mesh version against midges in Scotland in the summer!) If dry you could set up mesh only or fly only with ground sheet.
More people need to experience SlingFin gear! Glad you loved it!
So good
I like the facial hair! I’m so glad I recommended Slingfin to you!! Appreciate the shout out, cheers!
The crossbow is essentially the same, or very similar with a solid inner. But not avail as a 3P. I’m testing the hotbox atm, fantastic but very small.
Thanks again for the recommendation!
Was just looking at the Crossbow online this morning. Is it tight with 2 people?
@@mowsertas it would be I imagine as it would be similar to the Portal 2. It’s a 4 season tent though as it uses the Slingfin pole sleeve system.
Such a practical review, thank you. 126km winds is full on. Must have been interesting setting up the tent.
Yes it was but luckily the wind mainly came after we'd established camp. Have had many nights in similar conditions and I felt much more comfortable this time around!
I got super lucky and got a slingfin portal 2 for 125 bucks brand new I've taken it out a few times and absolutely love it
Oh wow! What a steal!
Can't wait to hear more about the trip. I have a slingfin portal 2 in the new green. The better fabrics silicone, PE not PU coated . Good weight, wind resistants using walking poles, internal cross guide line and the ability to use heavier and stronger poles. I made a stronger pole set form my old tent poles. Very happy so far.
Sounds great! Trip video coming in the next few months. Will be a long one!
Great concept for a video. Well said. Nice information. Great looking tent. New follower here. Crow✌️
I've been looking for a 2 person backpacking tent for awhile with many hours of research. After watching your video, decided to purchase this one too. Thanks so much for such a great review and recommendation!
Glad you found it helpful! I spent a lot of time trying to decide on this purchase and am super happy with it. Great tent!
Sling Fin has a solid tent for a true four-season tent-the CrossBow 2 Four-Season. It is 50 inches wide, so it would be a tight fit for two, especially in the winter. But it does not look like they have a solid tent for three people. I use the Portal 2 primarily as a one-person tent. And like you love the performance at the weight of 46 ounces, which is usable as a single-person tent.
Yes. Have looked at crossbow. Would love that in a 3 man option!
Now available in Canada too from Geartrade in Alberta.
Looks great 👍
Thanks 👍
Mowser I just noticed your numbers. Congrats on the subscription growth! I think I found you when it was 3or 4 hundred and you were joking about maybe getting 500 and its just so cool to see. 😊
Awesome! Thank you! And thanks for following along, it's been a crazy few months!
Check out the KUIU storm star stronger less flappy and. Weighs 51/2 lbs. cheers
Thanks for the tip! Will check it out!
Thanks Mowser! You make great videos. RE this tent, isn't it fiddly to set up in strong winds with the separate pitch and many poles, clips etc? I would have thought a Hilleberg with simultaneus pitch and "channels" for poles would be the choice. Those you set it up in a blink even in very very strong winds. They are made for such exposed conditions above tree line. Withstanding strong winds once up is just a bit of the requirements, but set up and take down is just as important.
Thanks for watching! I've spent plenty of years with tents similar to this and generally find them pretty easy to setup even in windy and rainy conditions. It would definately be fiddly if you weren't used to a tent of this type. I did also use to use fully integrated tents that had simultaneous pitch and I have owned a Hilleberg Allak in the past. With this tent I wanted a happy medium with weight and stability AND I wanted dual entry points for 2 people so this fit the bill. I like Hilleberg but for something like an Allak 3 it is nearly twice the weight and for 9 or 10 day trips this makes a big difference to our final pack weight. If we were going in winter in more unreliable conditions we'd probably opt for something a bit stronger like a Hilleberg.
The tent pole clip was actually invented (by our board member, Paul Kramer) because setting up pole sleeve-style tents in the wind is so difficult. If it's windy enough, it's impossible to set up sleeve-style tents, because the tent doesn't reach its full strength until all the poles are in and getting the pole through the sleeve is a huge pain. Therefore the risk of breaking a pole is much higher during setup than with a clip-style tent. Clip-style tents let you put the poles up first with no windward surface area and attach the tent body when the corners are already staked down.
Rob Stitch ....not a bad side gig :)
Hey Mowser,
Good vid. The long reach to the vestibule zip can be partially addressed if you tie a piece of cord to the inner zipper pull (10-20 cm usually suffices for the longest reaches). Leave that cord closer to the tent inner, and voile, you grab that and even the longest reaches become feasible.
You mentioned mesh inner versus solid inner. Perhaps you could have explained why. I’ve always found the mesh inner to be much cooler and draftier than a comparable solid inner tent. What was your experience and why would you have purchased the solid inner if you could have?
Might have been worth a mention: i assume the toggle connections between inner and outer tent mean you pitch both inner and outer tents at the same time. An important consideration when the skies disgorge rain torrents that would soak the inner if you had to pitch that first. The integral pitch avoids that hassle, and the outer protects the inner from getting too moist while you are setting up the tent.
Cheers
Very wise re: the string option. Will try! Most of my tents have always had a solid inner and i think I prefer that due to less draftiness etc. Also, to me, Mesh, psychologically seems more delicate. It's more a personal preference thing really and what I'm used to. Will definately get used to more of a mesh tent. Mesh was fine on this trip despite the rain and wind and we had no hassles. This tent doesn't allow for an integral pitch however you can first erect the rain fly followed by the inner - a bit fiddly but can be done.
Are you using the Slingfin Portal 3 tent primarily for a single person with all your gear or to accommodate 2 people most of the time ?
Bought this as a dedicated 2 man tent. Heaps of room for 2. Most gear goes in vestibule for both of us
Too hot for hot dry Australian summer use? Or is there adequate ventilation? Perth based. SW Stirling Range mid winter probably worst 4th season use.
I would definitely get hot during the day if you were in it. Full mesh inner so airflow should be good can also open up doors etc if needed. I think I would be ok using it in WA
I just pitched my portal 2 for the first time and im very thrilled to use it for three weeks in Norway!
I have one question about the seams and poles. I don’t get them in the same place, above eachother. I see you have the same “problem”. So, is this actually a problem or should I rock it likes this?
Can’t freaking wait to use it in the mountains!!
I haven’t found it to be a problem as long as you have the fly attached to the poles correctly you should be ok. I was in Norway this time last year. So jealous! Can’t wait to get back there and do some longer hikes. Such an amazing place!
Bach Apteryx for Kajak trips and really bad Conditions and Portal for lightweight Trips.
Then you have the most reliable tents.
Good to know! I have never seen the Bach tents before so thanks!
Woohoo I'm super excited that you managed to review this tent! I have mentioned and ask your opinion on this tent a couple of times and was worried that you wouldn't post a video on it before I bought a new tent (hint, he did not and is still using a $150 tent that has miraculously survived an entire year of outdoor education where I'm literally camping 1 week out of every 3-4 weeks).
Everyone on my course has been telling me to buy it so I stop complaining about being unsure which tent I should buy lol. This is just another factor as to why I should buy the portal 2!
Question: On their website, the slingfin portal 2 talks about two zips. Not sure if it is also with the Portal 3, but do you know what that is about? Is that two entirely different zips, or just two zippers?
I'm so happy that I've found your channel! Definitely my most favourite hiking channel on YT and definitely the most underrated!
Thanks again for watching! I think all the SlingFins have 'spare' zippers. From their website: Pre-installed spare sliders on all the zippers double your zippers' lifespan and eliminate the need for half-baked field repairs when you're 90% of the way to the terminus of whatever long trail you're on.
So when you look at the zippers there is a second set you can call upon if ever the originals break.
Great new recommendation by youtube. I've been looking at getting a new tent. That style and configuration has aways been my favourite, my first two tents of that style were Salewa (I think they were first to make it?) and the most recent is a Mountain Designs snow version which is now giving up its coating. I used the Salewa in Tasmania for four years (1988-1992) and South American Andes. It out performed MacPac Olympus and its smaller version. They seem to lay down in cross winds. I now live in the hotter part of Australia and the full mesh inner might be the go?
Thanks for watching! I haven't used Salewa but have seen plenty around. Yep, in hotter parts I'd definately go for a full mesh inner!
Best pillow recommendations?
My current favourite pillow is the Flextail pillow geni.us/n5NC2Ab
But i used a Nemo Fillo pillow for years. geni.us/ItvyQ
Both are great but I like the lower profile of the Flextail and generally I personally like a slightly flatter pillow. Flextail also has a nice cover on it.
Have you tried a tunnel style tent? They are supposed to have improved wind stability, over domes. In Australia the Wilderness Equipment Second arrow Ultralight
My first serious tent was a Macpac Olympus tunnel tent (back in the 90s). Was a great tent, absolutely love it. Have also closely looked at a lot of Hilleberg tents that are in the same style and will eventually get one of those i reckon.
Can totally give a thumbs up to Wilderness Equipment Second Arrow tunnel tent.
I do outdoor education in New Zealand, and one of the people in my course uses this tent. She was up on Mt Ruapehu and the weather was 50-50 and completely changed direction so rather than passing over the gully like the forecast predicted, it funneled down the gulley towards the tents. There was a hut close by with wind recording, and there was constant wind of 60-80, with gusts going up to 115km/h (although the hut is slightly more exposed than the gully, but it did go down the gully rather than over it).
The next morning, they got the group off the mountain ASAP (leaving the outdoor education centre tents that the students used behind but packed up staff tents). As a result of that night: 2 tents were ripped so badly they had to be retired immediately, one went flew off and was lost in the time they left the mountain and I and a few others went up at around 1-3pm, and multiple had replaceable but broken or bent poles.
The Wilderness Equipment Second Arrow tent? She was fine - only a tiiiiiny rip that was easily stitched up and she used it 2 weeks later and has been using it ever since in our outdoor education course
@@mowsertas I'm probably going to be doing the opposite: I have had a Hilleberg Anjan 3 since 2017, which has been incredible (extremely storm-worthy, just got back from a Patagonia trip where it performed as it always does). I'm looking for a free-standing tent now and will probably get the Slingfin Portal 2 or 3 for camping with my partner. I'd love to get away with the Portal 2, but I think it would be just a little too tight of a squeeze with the Zenbivy double bed that I want to get. But on the bright side I think the Portal 3 has heavier-duty zippers
Great review, thanks mate ! How suitable do you think this tent is for the western Arthur’s ? And what height are your trekking poles when used in support ?
More than adequate for the WAs. I have taken MSRs, Terra Novas and Big Agnes through the WAs and never had any trouble. All the designated campsites are fairly well sheltered. I need wind resistance more for off track and exposed campsites and this certainly fits the bill for that. Any adjustable trekking pole will work with this. Mine adjusts up to 125cm
Where was your 9 day trip ?
Done the WA’s twice in a Portal in mixed conditions. No trouble.
you said someone had a Big Agnes tent on the same trip, can you compare how the two held up a little?
Yes, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 held up well. We did tend to pitch it in the more sheltered position at each campsite but it still did received some big wind gusts. The main thing i noticed was that the SlingFin Portal 3 dried out much quicker and didn't hold ANY water after a good shake out when packing up. The flysheet on the Big Agnes was tending to hold the water a bit BUT this was around 4 years old and probably needs a retreatment. Definately like the fact that with the slingfin there were A LOT more guy points.
Is it possible to pitch this tent in heavy rain, with the inner attached to outer?
This tent doesn't allow for an integral pitch however you can first erect the rain fly followed by the inner - a bit fiddly but can be done.
Where did you go for your 9 day tassie trip?
To the Eldon Range! Epic!
Did the wind come through the mesh and bother you?
We haven’t found it to be an issue. I thought it may be but it hugs pretty low to the ground so absolutely no concerns for me!
@@mowsertas Good to know! Thank you 🙏
@@lennart822 no problem!
I was so ready to pull the trigger on this tent because of its claim of wind endurance and then I read Switchback travels review where they took it to Patagonia for its wind worthy claim. It did worse than the other tents they had. May have been a fluke but the fact it flattened on them I believe lost it a top rating because they liked a lot of other features of it.
Yep, I did read that review. I note they didn't use the trekking poles for reinforcement for the test. For me, adding the poles in after a couple of windy nights really dialled it in and there was basically no blow ins/blow downs. My only fear would be in really really strong winds. As the trekking poles have no give in them, you could potentially get a tear in the fly if the pressure became too much!
What the wind breaketh, duct tape can repaireth. Ask me how i know this. Eyeroll!
Yep, that was unfortunate! It's true that they didn't use the trekking poles (which add a TON of strength), nor did they use all the external guylines or install any additional internal guylines. A tent is only as strong as its setup, and if you don't bother to set up the tent properly it's unsurprising that it won't perform up to its potential! Additionally, most of the other tents in the test were significantly heavier, (heavier even than the Portal with the heavy-duty pole set added), so the comparison wasn't even to tents in the same category. It was disappointing to see the tent misused by an ostensibly technical publication, but the fact is that many reviewers often don't take the time to actually learn about all of the features of the tents they're reviewing, which is why we really appreciate a well-informed review like @mowsertas here 😉
@@SlingFin1 Thank you for taking the time to respond. Interesting information on the fact that it was a comparison to tents not in its same class. If that is true it reflects badly on Switchback Travel for not mentioning that. You wouldn't have the names and makes of the comparison tents?
@@Over50YearsOffgrid I think the main one I felt indignant about was a tent from S2S, not sure which model, but it weighed about 2.5lb more than the Portal, so almost twice as much, and I think the Nemo Dagger was in there as well, which is in a similar category but weighs 8oz more, in part because it uses heavier poles. For trips in Patagonia or similar we recommend picking up the heavy duty poles, which add 6oz and give the Portal as much or more wind resistance than most lightweight four-season tents.
Holy Christ if any of you have an hour and a half to watch a tent review, this site is for you. We’re here for a good time buddy, not a long time. A little less hearing yourself talk would be great.
Thanks for your feedback! It’s early days in my CZcams journey and I aim to provide comprehensive and in-depth reviews that cover all aspects of the product, which can take time. I believe the length of the video is necessary to ensure that all important details are covered thoroughly. CZcams offers flexibility in viewing options such as increased speed and skipping sections, which you might find helpful. I appreciate your input and understand that everyone’s preferences differ. Thanks for watching!