Wild Country
Helm Compact 2 £220
As the more affordable brand of renowned Derbyshire tentmaker Terra Nova, Wild Country has a reputation for solid tents at reasonable prices. Its Helm series is highly regarded by budget-conscious campers.
The latest version of the two-person model, the Helm Compact 2, has the same floorspace and headroom dimensions as the original Helm 2, but the pole sections have been shortened to give it a more compact pack size. It’s short enough to fit in the bottom of most rucksacks, so perfect for backpacking. The flysheet vents have been tweaked for improved airflow, and you get a side-opening tent bag, reducing the frustration of trying to cram it back into its stuffsack. The design pitches all-in-one for fast, convenient setup and is great in wet weather.
Inside it feels comfortable, with excellent headroom and more length than most domestyle tents, albeit a little less width than some rivals. The twodoor, twin porch design is very practical and offers reasonable storage space. Fabrics, poles and pegs are reassuringly robust too, with the polyester fly rated at 4000mm Hydrostatic Head and the bathtub groundsheet at 5000mm.
IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY
It offers plenty of internal length but is a bit narrow compared to other designs. It’s on the heavier side, and the poles can snag when threading them through their sleeves.
■ INTERNAL DIMENSIONS (LxW) 225x118cm
■ PEAK HEIGHT 105cm
■ PACKED SIZE 30x21cm
■ TRAIL WEIGHT 2.35kg
■ DOORS 2
■ PORCHES 2
■ STYLE Semi-freestanding
■ MATERIALS 8.5mm Superflex aluminium alloy pole set, Stormex polyester fly (4000mm HH), AquaStop polyester groundsheet (5000m HH), 70:30 solid nylon/mesh inner
Verdict
Sturdy, practical and well priced, this is an excellent tent for wild camping in the UK hills.