This is very thorough, it is obvious you put some time and thought into this, Thankyou!

2003 Minaret still as solid and safe as the day it was brought being used in long a$$ wet and wild nights in Snowdonia here. It's not exactly palatial, but I know it's never going to fail.

Superbly well researched video. I've had a Minaret for 25 years and love it, but still didn't know some of the info in your video. Initially bought for cross country skiing in Aus, it's proved it's worth in multiple environments for it's ease of set-up and reliability. Concur nothing is quite like it. In fact, now that I'm faced with having to buy a second 2-person tent to accomodate our now 4-person family, I don't know what to choose because nothing seems quite as versatile as the Minaret... or maybe I've just never known anything else...

When I was in the NZ Alpine Club and climbing in the Southern Alps, I bought a Minaret in the late 80’s. I still have it, but all that non ozone UV exposure finally stopped me using it. It had the original square ended floor to vestibule, which was excellent. The weight at 2800g (everything incl stuff bags) I found for the shelter it gave, was acceptable. Sure, there was barely sitting up room and then only under the front pole,. This was a new cutting edge design when I bought it and totally suited for our NZ conditions. I last used it 2 years ago in Padjelanta national park, Se, for a week. I used a lightweight tarp to cover it, but found the floor was now also finished. I used it well, also living in it for a few years sommer/winter hitching through Europe. It sits now on my memory shelf, It was a great tent. Now have a Hilleberg Kaitum 2.

I have to say it's a very interesting design. Not what you see today in tunnel tents. It's very maximalist so to say,with all of the vents and features.

Excellent, Josh. You’ve really done a lot of research and trips to pull this video together. It was good to see footage from some of those trips that I was able to go with you on. Well done. 😀

Regarding durability, I have a 1995 Macpac Olympus tent (the Minaret’s big brother) which I’ve used tramping, climbing, ski-touring and car-camping in NZ, Canada and Europe and apart from having to fix a split pole end in 2016 and re-proof the outer the tent is still going strong. Of course this was when Macpac was a NZ company that made all its gear in Christchurch NZ and really was focussed on quality kit. Now Macpac is a vertically integrated business that mostly sells cheap Asian made fleeces, the only bits they still offer that are useful to serious outdoor adventurers tend to be carry-over items from the NZ made days before Bruce McIntyre sold the company - but these tend to be modified to save money at the expense of quality. If you can find a 1990s or early 2000s used Macpac tent in good condition, it would be worth a punt in my opinion.

Great video Josh!

Awesome info

I've had a Minaret for around 5 years and I've taken it on a lot of different types of trips, I agree with your assessment. I tell people who ask about it that the Minaret is a jack of all trades but master of none.

Great video Josh, well compiled and very informative. I have a 1970s Olympus, still in great shape and bomb proof. Lots of room for two (even three without the inner), bomb- proof, but weighs nearly 3.5 kg.

Hi Josh, Love your videos. I'm impressed with the research you did for this. The one thing I like about the Minaret is that you can erect it with the outer fly attached. Which keeps the inner dry if it is raining. Or if you are inside and it is raining you can detach the inner from the fly and get totally packed leaving only the fly to pack. Or you can take the fly only on lightweight trips. Also I am happy to comprise comfort for a smaller tent and less weight and bulk. Most trips are for only a few nights out anyway. Be nice to see you in The Hills sometime. Tom.

been using macpac, and still have em, since they made NEVE sleeping bag. The one which has down only on the topside.

I have to agree on all the cons. My small 11yo and I spent 3 nights around rotorua in one and found it very small and heavy compared to our 2p tent. It was very cosy inside, I’m not tall but felt like I barely fitted and ended up with my sleeping bag freezing to the inside of the tent due to lack of ventilation.

Vernacular - Cricky mate, what's your background, engineer or teacher, funny, I wrote this before seeing the end!

Geoff spear point is my great uncle

So my macpac tent floor failed in less that 15 night use. The tape seals have cone apart and the floor acts like a sponge. Macpac won't answer emails about it. Customer care is really poor once they have your money. Do not buy macpac.