Thank you for taking the time to comment, Peter. I'm glad my video helped you to get a feel for what this tent is about! I hope the next few weeks pass quickly so you can get out there and enjoy it. All the best 😊 James.

Ah that makes total sense actually, now that you've put that image in my head. Go out smashing out some kilometres in your truck, bust out a rugged and roomy tent, enjoy your surroundings, and then pack up the next morning and continue the adventure! I liked that the Nortent website allows you to select options with drop-down boxes (including different pegs/stakes too), so I can see that that would appeal to a buyer too. I hope it reaches you soon so you can get out there and use it. Thanks for the comment and congrats on the purchase! James.

Thanks for sharing that info Andrew. Your foul weather testing is really useful, thanks to those ever-generous test facilties you're equipped with up there in Scotland! 😅 That's a good suggestion you've submitted there. I've yet to get mine out for any use yet but I'll keep an eye out for any similar improvements. I'm really impressed by the quality overall so far from what I've seen. James.

I barely go a day without reading people's rants about how heavy Hillebergs are 😂 I think the key here is that this category of tent is still extremely light for the strength they provide, but that's not to say that this category is necessary for the majority of UK camping conditions.

Thanks Dan! I think you're bang on with what you say there about this being an expedition tent - and a lightweight one at that. It frustrates me when lightweight expedition tents are seen as heavy "normal" tents, and I think I've been guilty of considering the Vern 2 in the wrong category here. Yes, it's heavy by the standard of most of the tents we'd consider for UK wild camping, but tents like this aren't your average backpacking tent. Cheers for giving it a watch 👍 James.

Haha the list is endless! 😅 Cheers!

@@joinmeoutdoors I own the Vern 1 and it’s going on Dartmoor next weekend..

@@Camped_on_Dartmoor Oh lucky man! I bet it's colour will blend in nicely on Dartmoor. Hopefully it's not TOO camouflaged for the ponies to spot you in the night! 😄

I know what you mean! We can't have solid tents that weigh 500 grams, but at the same time...there is a lot of weight to carry here. 5 poles form a really strong structure, but really tip those scales!

Thanks Stuart! I want to plonk it somewhere wild and let mother nature do her bit!

You're the second person to tell me they want to use a Vern 2 for moto camping. All that space would be really useful for bike gear. Someone needs to invent a tent with a metal door and a padlock so bikers can leave their gear inside 😅

@@joinmeoutdoors yeah man, not easy to choose. Was thinking hubba hubba nx2 which is some 600euros but very light, was not sure, i put my money into this than

Having two guylines on each of the three "tunnel" poles should make it a nice setup out of the box, and the uppermost guylines are positioned nice and high to stabilise the upper half of the tent. If the end of the world rears up though, your idea of even more guylines would no doubt have you planted through the apocalypse!

Yep you'll see that a bit later 👌

It's a simple tent to pitch, and its design makes it good for pitching in bad weather. But, due to the number of poles and guylines, I find it to be relatively admin-heavy, just because there are so many things to peg down. All those pegs do mean that it won't blow away though! Check out the next video I made with this tent if you want to see it being pitched in nasty weather 👍 I haven't tried any Kuiu products but I know their tents have been proving popular with some.

@@joinmeoutdoors Thankyou for your reply. I just watched your Dartmoor pitch in not so good conditions. Don't get me wrong, it looks like a bomb proof shelter. I'll take your word for it that it is a simple tent to pitch. Great content and honest reviews.

Yep, a simple pitch, but not as fast as some, that's all. Thanks for your comment 😊 James.

Couldn't agree more. A lot of "2 person" tents are really for one person with a bit of extra kit, or a bit of extra room. This one is a genuine 2 person tent, and it really needs two people to be able to split the weight in my opinion. Thanks!

Not necessarily. For hiking yes, but winter camping something completely different. You can put this in your sled when skiing or using snowshoes, and the weight isn't really that much. Given the possibility of adding a stove jack, this is where I would see this as a good 1 person castle... For hiking, I do agree that a lighter option is very much needed.

This is where I think the needs of UK campers are quite different to the needs of campers who experience more severe winters and lots of snowfall. It starts to make a lot more sense if you're using a sled, rather than going on a solo hike up a mountain.

Thanks Kev. The stove jack surprised us both then! 😅 Great in Norwegian winter, I'm sure 🥶

@@joinmeoutdoors As one that obtained a titanium stove last year, that would B an awesome tent to use it in 4 a couple of months...👍 But I probably wouldn't want to drag it up to a summit...!🤣

I think the understanding of the relationship between strength and weight is key here, like you say. Yes, it is heavier than a lot of us are used to, but that's not down to lazy design or the needless addition of weight. It's because it should be a thoroughly dependable shelter. I look forward to seeing what it can handle! Thanks for the comment 🙏🏻 James.

@@TerryClarke-m8e Hi Terry. I'm glad you found the video useful! If you scroll to 29:44 in the video, you'll see the measurements on the screen. The mats are 183 cm long and there's an additional 20 cm or so available beyond that length, taking it up to approximately 203 cm. So I'd say that your 198 cm long pad would fit, though it will be a fairly snug fit. I notice that Nortent show a 190x60 cm sleep pad in their illustrations of the Vern 2 on their website, but going by the measurements I took for myself in person in this video, I'd say that your mat would fit. Hope that helps! James.

@@joinmeoutdoors Thanks James 🙂

You might be right there! I've just got back from using it for the first time, but I didn't test what it looks like from outside with a light on the inside! Maybe next time 😅 Thanks! 🙏🏻

Thanks Brian. I think I'd be inclined to agree there. The Black Label Hillebergs are extremely tough and well proven. I wish I owned a wind tunnel and every tent on the market so that I could give them all a wind speed score!

Thanks Steve. You're a lucky man having the new Vern 1! They look top notch too 👌😎 James.

Yes I love the simplicity of tents like this, without compromising strength. The clips on this tent (to connect the flysheet to the poles) are the easiest I've seen in a tent so far, and I own five tents that use a similar system. Congrats on your new purchase! James.

Thanks Pete! I'm kicking myself for not predicting this comment from you!! 😂😂😂 I reckon I can just about squeeze the Windburner in underneath that heatproof panel 🤣 Joker!! A trekking cart could be just what I need. Can you get them with motors?? 🤔 Good to hear from you 👍 James.

@@joinmeoutdoors You walked right into that one mate 🥊 🤣. Seriously though, that was an excellent appraisal of a seriously good tent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I wonder just how high the winds would have to be to knock that tank over. Atb.

@@unclepeteswildadventures Thank you, Pete. I know a place that sees some pretty mighty winds. I expect this tent is more than capable of standing up to them...🤔

Ah come onnn, a 47 minute video where I'm wearing a mic next to my mouth and you pick up in a 1 second segment where you can hear me breathe 😂 I have now used this tent in fairly heavy rain and moderate winds (20-25 mph, see the video here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qcdoiqaG0LrViZs.html) and it showed promising potential for taking higher winds really well. James.

Thanks Ben! 🙏🏻

I know what you mean! I filmed this one Monday but it takes a while to edit a video like this when you have a day job 😬 I think I agree with you. This is a heavy tent, and unless you're expecting some monumental weather systems, there are lighter tents that can accommodate two people adequately and stand up to unpleasant conditions.

Neither of those tents have nearly as much internal space as this tent. The Storm Star in particular. I have one. This one has loads more space, and the Allak isn't a light tent either, not by any metric.

@@sneakybow1 I also have the storm star and I agree there's a lot more space in there.i use a footprint with mine from quintcraft so that puts the weight to 3kg tho and I only use it in winter so that means for me it's normally just over night camps so 3kg for the much greater space is worth it for me.

Thank you Sean. Yep, that 5 kg does nudge this outside the "roomy tent for 1 person" category I think, so it would have to be split between two people going off on a camp together I think. Haha I love the idea of upgrading your dog to carry your camping gear!! Congrats on the new tent though, I bet that'll make a really big difference to you, having the extra room. Don't talk to me about the timing of my previous weight-focused video and receiving this tent!! Haha it'll be a good workout getting this out for a test, that's for sure! Thanks. James.

Adding more poles will increase the weight, yes. An unavoidable fact of physics! The tent should take some pretty substantial wind before it needs extra poles, so unless you're very exposed on a very windy day, the five poles supplied with the tent would do the job for the vast majority of outings for most people. And yes, the footprint remains attached, so you can roll the whole lot out (footprint, inner and outer) in one go, as I did in my follow-up video.

Cheers Adge! 🎶Solid as a rock!🎶 🤣 Most comments here (and my own initial thoughts) are focusing on the weight, which I think is to be expected. In the UK wild camping market we're used to tents that rarely stray much beyond 4 kg for 2 person tents. I think the Vern 2 is disproportionately stronger than its additional weight suggests, so it is that bit heavier than other, lighter tents...but I think it delivers a hell of a lot of extra strength for that weight. So I guess it's angled towards people who want extreme strength at the expense of a bit more weight. Lighter stakes would cut 200 grams off straight away, and I suppose you could remove six guylines and replace the remaining guylines with lighter duty items if weight was crucial? It would be difficult to remove much more weight though I think.

​@@joinmeoutdoors she's an absolute monster and if you want absolute safety between two people then it's going to deliver. Just like the Vern 1 though it's just a BIT too heavy. The Vern 1 at, for example 2.2kg and the 2 at 3.7/8 kg instead of the actual weights that they are would swing them even further until peoples thoughts I think. Class tents, high quality but they're BUT tents. But this, but that to sidetrack from the weight. I love the look and the design though tbf. Love a debate though so it's all good 😂 Adge

Yep I hear you. I wonder if Scandinavian conditions demand tougher tents than we need in the UK? Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of locations and conditions in the UK that could tear 90% of the world's tents to shreds, so I wouldn't want anything weak in those conditions, but you have to wonder if a BIT of weight could be pulled back without reducing the strength beyond what's needed. I've had winds over 100 mph in Wales and I remember Bushman and Blue wrecking a Fjallraven in winds over 100 mph. I'm torn because I'd love a tent that could take that abuse, but carrying a heavy tent is like an insurance policy. You'll be so glad you went for it if that 100 mph wind hits, but if you're gifted a night of 5 mph you'll be kicking yourself for not taking your 1 kg Lidl special! 😅 We are a hard bunch to satisfy 😄

Hi Brad. My most recent video showed me using the Vern 2 in heavy rain and mild winds. So far that is the only camp I've been on in this tent. As far being hot in summer - I would say that this tent gives lots of ventilation options for a 4 season tent, but the flysheet does come all the way down to the ground, which of course blocks out any cooling draughts. If you didn't need to worry about wind, then you have four outer doors to open up, and mesh inner doors to allow air movement through the tent. I'd have to leave you to make that judgement call though! As for whether or not it's a genuine 2 person tent - the answer is "yes", and I showed my two wide sleep mats side by side in this video you've commented on. I won't be using the tent with a second person, so the sleep mat demonstration is all I can really offer you. In terms of a Terra Nova rival, I guess I'd say the Quasar would be my first thought.

@@joinmeoutdoors Ok great thank you for the additional information.

I like that name! If I ever end up in the position where I can design and make my own tent, I'm calling it that! Fortunately my knee issue is a hamstring tendon issue, so it can still bear weight just fine. Carting this tent up Picws Du would earn me a pudding or two I reckon! Thanks for tuning in, Al :) James.

Gotta love a new tent purchase!

Thanks Jason! Will you be using yours for two person trips or solo? I'd be really interested to hear what sort of use it will be getting.

@@joinmeoutdoors Hi James, I shall be using the Vern 2 for mostly solo campsite use. I intend to tour Europe and fly and tour so need a relatively light set up. I just packed everything I need and its comes under 22Kg so should be great to check in to the hold of a plane. Im hoping to fly to Dubrovnik and the Italian Lakes, possibly Yosemite too next year. The massive vestibule on the V2 will be great for storing my luggage. Hope to try it out tomorrow in the Peaks. Thanks J

@@jason4555 Oh okay that makes sense. Having a spacious and solid shelter to pop up wherever you go is probably quite an important thing to be able to do on a trip like that. I hope your first outing goes well tomorrow!

I think it's considerably heavier than many of us are used to when we're shopping around for 2 person backpacking tents, but that's because it's not like the majority of 2 person backpacking tents when it comes to strength and durability. It comes across as being really strong and rugged, to stand up to harsh conditions and lots of use (e.g. heavy stakes that will withstand being bashed into the ground with rocks), and those factors have added a fair amount of weight. I've had a bit of a chat with Nortent about the weight and they agree that reducing weight would be easy (e.g. by removing poles), but they wanted to create a really strong tent here, so removing poles was a no-no for this model. I mentioned the tear strength of the flysheet in my video (the text flashes up to say that it has a 16 kg tear strength, compared to 12 kg for Hilleberg Red Label Kerlon 1200 tents), but you can find out lots of additional info about Nortent materials and processes by reading the articles stored at this link: nortent.com/blog . Thanks for your comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed the vid! James.

If the 3 central poles were geodesic you would just have a normal dome tent and you'd lose the two big vestibules and the stove jack.

Good and fair comments...this tent definetly has promise...very good video..

I was using my Osprey Atmos 65 on this camp (65 litres). Bear in mind that I was also carrying some filming gear as well, so you'd be able to get away with something a little bit smaller I'm sure.

@@joinmeoutdoors thank you for the reply just subbed 👍

No problemo, and welcome! 🤗 James.

Thanks Taff. These tents are designed and tested/developed in Norway, and then they are indeed made in Nortent's own factory in China (see Nortent's blog where they explain their manufacturing process here: nortent.com/blog/the-process ). Although it's not unusual for many of the items in our homes to be manufactured in China, I know that for some, this may put them off a particular product or manufacturer. It is there in writing on Nortent's website though if you want to take a look. James.

@@joinmeoutdoors Clear explanation James 👍 I did look on the website but it didn't jump out at me especially on the webpages Nortent is advertising the products for sale. It's a little disappointing they appear to be hiding the fact that low paid Chinese factory workers on an average wage of £6300 per year are knocking out these tents for peanuts and making I suspect a huge profit margin. Keep up the good work atb Taff 🤠👊

Hilleberg tents are put together in Estonia, but I bet the components are manufactured in China.

I honestly can't comment on the salaries of the staff used by Nortent or any other tent manufacturer, simply because I don't know what any of them are paid. From what I've seen, Nortent are pretty hot on quality, which isn't an attribute I'd associate with cutting corners, and their facilties look smart in the photos. It would be great if China didn't have such a stronghold on cost-effective global manufacturing - particularly when our own tiny little country used to be such a powerhouse - but I'm afraid that's where we are at this point in time. All the best to you too 😊 James.

@@joinmeoutdoors I emailed Hilleberg and asked them where they get their materials from, “The majority of our materials are made in South Korea but some smaller fittings come from China and Taiwan as well as Sweden, Germany, Japan and Turkey.”

Haha no worries. This video ended up being really long so I'm not surprised it took you a while to see that bit! 😁

Hi Carmen. At 1:04 in the video I explain that the tent costs £722 when bought from Valley and Peak in the UK, and that this price includes the footprint and shipping. Prices and conditions of the purchase will be different if you buy the tent from a different source, so if you buy from Nortent, the price, options and shipping costs will be different. Hopefully you can save a bit of money if you didn't want the footprint 🙂

Yes this video did end up being much longer than I wanted. The tent arrived by surprise one day last week, after midday. I happened to have the day off, so I put all my batteries on charge and headed out to film this vid and make the most of my day off. Lack of preparation probably let to a video that could have been more concise, but I won't beat myself up about that too much 😁 Let's await that avalanche!!

Thanks! First impressions are mighty impressive, but the weight does seem to be the biggest compromise at the moment.

Hahaha still appreciated buddy boy! 🥰

I think a lot of lightweight backpackers would agree with you there. The 2 kg difference between the Vern 2 and Nallo 2 GT is a big one, although the difference in price is significant too.

I can see some similarities, but they're minimal. Two big differences are that the Vern 2 has a whopping 3 additional poles and 2 additional doors for starters!

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