ROBENS PIONEER 2EX
Technical tents are not only for trekking and backpacking. If your camping trips involve motorcycling, cycling or canoeing, for example, then you’ll also need something that is lightweight, relatively small, easy to pitch and offers dependable protection from the elements, whatever the weather.
However, because you’re not carrying it on your back, you can consider something a little larger, like the Pioneer 2EX from Robens.
Unlike some of the two-man tents out there, this is genuinely big enough for two people. It also has a huge front porch area, where there is room for loads of kit.
Yes, there are lighter tents out there, but that’s not such an issue when you’re on two wheels or floating on water. And if there are two of you sharing the tent, you can spread the load between you.
The Pioneer pitches all in one and, with the three colour-coded poles, it’s a straightforward process. Slide the pole through the sleeve, then push the end into a fabric pocket. The other end of the pole goes into an eyelet to create the tunnel shape. Even with the adjustable tension straps loosened, I did find it needed quite a lot of force to get the pole into the eyelet, but once it was in place it created a rigid structure.
When all the poles are in position, you can move the tent to exactly where you want it then peg out the corners and guylines. Make sure you get the sides as taut as possible to reduce the noise of fabric flapping in the wind, and to ensure there’s no danger of the outer wall touching the inner.
Access to the Pioneer is through a side door, which leads straight into the front porch. This porch gives you somewhere you can comfortably remove muddy boots and wet jackets before getting into the main sleeping area. You can also use this covered area to get stuff in and out of your rucksack in the dry.
Ventilation is pretty decent, with vents at both ends, which can be held open with a Velcro strap and a guyline.