Wilderness EquipmentOur Gear

• Inner Pitch First / Integral Pitch
• Outer Tent Fabric: 75d ripstop polyester, dwr face, tape-sealed, 3000mm PE back coating
• Inner Tent: Light Grey 40d air-permeable ripstop nylon, Black 40d nylon mesh door panels, with full fabric covers
• Floor: Suspended tub design, 100d nylon with 8,000mm HH PE coating
• Poles: 3 x 7071-T6 HT aluminium, 10.2mm, insert-tube type
• Pegs: 6 x Hooked top HT Aluminium pin type

The i-Explore 2 WINTER version is a unique implementation of a common tent configuration. Like the standard model it is tough, spacious, remarkably light-weight, simple to erect and incredibly versatile. Although this version sits within the Outdoor Ed products category (read "tough and easy maintenance"), it will have wide appeal for general use, backpacking couples, camping travellers and mountain trekking operators.

The rectangular-base inner tent suspends from two cross-over poles. Once the tips of these poles are fitted into their sockets at the floor corners the inner tent canopy is simply clipped up to the poles. The feeding of poles through fabric sleeves, an acquired skill, is not required. The inner tent, described in detail below, can be used on its own. To fit the outer tent a third pole, identical to the other two, is first placed across the transverse axis of the tent. The outer skin can then be thrown over and fastened down around its perimeter. We have chosen to use a full-length transverse pole rather than the commonly seen cantilevered short ridge pole. As a result, the i-Explore 2 is truly free-standing (although pegs are of course supplied) and its stability is far superior to the cantilever ridge pole designs.

We have also adopted a slightly different approach to this winter inner tent canopy. All the inner tent canopy is made from standard inner tent air-permeable nylon fabric, except the upper 40% of the doors have fixed mesh panels. These mesh panels can be covered to reduce convective heat loss out from the inner (and then directly out the outer tent vents). (This would be desirable on an extremely cold night trekking in the Himalayas for example). The covers are two simple curtains that usually will remain furled above the door vent mesh. They drop down and fasten over the mesh panels when required. Corners can be hooked back for partial venting. The external location allows the curtain to simply lay against the mesh panel and it will also aid the run-off of condensation drips from the relatively flat outer tent crown area.

The two, opposing door panels, straight-zipped in an "L" configuration for low-stress operation, are single-layer only. The zips are heavier-than-usual #8 gauge. These are fitted with gates at all back ends so slider replacement, if needed, is simple and inexpensive. The inner tent is spacious. There is room for three adults. With its truly excellent ventilation the inner works well on its own in hot dry conditions. This tent is suited to a wide range of climates.

The i-Explore 2 outer tent has two opposing doors to match the inner entrances. The flap-free, straight openings use absurdly heavy-duty #10 PU laminated zippers with slider gates at the their tops. There are two large ventilation openings and, like all WE tent models these vents use our over-lap opening construction to prevent wind-driven rain being blown in when the vents are closed. The outer tent is easily matched to the inner, so that doors align. Just match the coloured tape points on each. Touchtape straps are provided under the outer tent, immediately next to the door zips. These capture the poles at these points and add stability to the outer skin when the doors are opened. Six guys are provided on the tent (and six pegs to set them). The guys are only really needed when the wind rates above a light breeze. Otherwise, as a pre-caution, just set four pegs, two at each end of the tent. Loops are provided.