Tenco Starseeker
Great for your annual camping trip to Namibia, not so great for 10 days in a drizzly campsite
This tent – designed for hot, dry places – has a roof made of shade cloth so you can watch the stars as you drift off to sleep. Jon Minster tried it out.
Most two- or three-person dome tents are pretty much the same, whether they are nylon or canvas. You’ve got one big door, a window or two and a flysheet. So it’s refreshing to see a tent design that breaks the mould.
The folks at Tentco worked out that lots of people regularly camp in arid places like Namibia, the Kgalagadi and the Karoo. So what’s the point of a thick, waterproof flysheet?
The Starseeker does come with a flysheet, but it’s designed to be used without one most of the time.
The base is PVC, but the walls and roof are made of durable green shade cloth. This means the tent is well ventilated, and at night you can see the stars.
Weight: 14 kg
Size: 2,1 m x 2,1 m x 1,8 m
Price: R2 100 (Note: Price accurate in June 2010)
Contact: Tentco 011 397 6451; www.tentco.co.za
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How big is it?
It measures 2,1 m x 2,1 m and is 1,8 m tall at its apex, so most people would be able to stand up inside. It’s spacious for a couple.
Is it easy to put up?
Dead simple. The poles are easy to slot together and feel strong, and the tent clips on with small hooks. I managed to put the tent up on my own in less than 10 minutes.
And to take down? Just as easy. The bag is big and has a Velcro closing mechanism, so you can just bundle everything in.
Is it heavy?
Here’s the catch: For a smallish tent, the Starseeker weighs a hefty 14 kg. Packed away, it’s quite big too, about the size of three bags of charcoal. This is fine if you have lots of space in the back of the bakkie, but not so great if you’re going camping in a Kia Picanto.
What are the pros?
After a baking hot day, it’s wonderful to lie inside with a cool breeze wafting through, listening to the night sounds and watching your camp buddies find their way around outside with their headlamps on. As your eyes adjust you can see the stars too.
And the cons?
At a campsite where there is a lot of light or many other people, you might want to use the flysheet. It’s made of tough Oxford canvas and is totally waterproof, but it has no windows, so it makes the tent feel dark and claustrophobic.
Is it worth the price?
At R2 100, the Starseeker isn’t cheap. But as anyone who owns a Tentco tent will tell you, it lasts. It’s well made and feels strong and durable.
It’s a very specific tent for very specific conditions, so if you camp in all seasons, on the coast and inland, you might want to consider a more all-round option with conventional windows and doors.
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