Page 51 - 2018 AMA Summer

FACTS i SLEEPS: 2
SEASON RATING SPEC: 4 SEASON BACKPACKING
FREE STANDING?: YES (TENT CAN BE PITCHED WITHOUT GUYING OUT)
MINIMUM WEIGHT: 2.1KG (4LB 10OZ)
PACKED WEIGHT: 2.29KG (5LB 1OZ)
NUMBER OF PORCHES: 2 NUMBER OF DOORS: 2
PITCH TYPE: FLY AND INNER PITCH TOGETHER
PITCH TIME (ESTIMATE): 5MINS PACKED SIZE: 47CM X 16CM RANGE: 4 SEASON BACKPACKING PEGS: 10 ALLOY 11G
RRP: £600 COST TO AMA
MEMBERS: £371
RATINGS:
FEATURES: 5/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 4/5 PERFORMANCE: 4.5/5 WEIGHT/SIZE: 4/5 OVERALL: 4/5
of catching the edges of the door and depositing moisture into the vestibule area that may have your kit in.
At the foot and head of the sleeping area are two large triangular air vents with netting to prevent access from any unde- sirables. There are also to net storage pockets in each corner for small personal items.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
The average consumer would have to really want one of these to pay £600, however, when the AMA discount is provided, a whopping saving of £269 pounds is applied and that makes this a serious contender for anyone looking for a capable tent that can handle all year round conditions. Weighing in at a mere 2.29Kgs (packed) for a 2-person tent is not a lot! There are lighter alternatives out there, and from Wild Country / Terra Nova too, however, if you’re looking for something which is comfortable all year round then this is a good option.
There are a few things that I prefer about this design to tunnel tents in particular and this starts with the double access/ vestibule areas. Not only do they give greater flexibility for getting in / getting out without having to disturb a second camper, but they allow greater space for storage of kit outside of the sleeping areas. This is particularly helpful in wet and windy conditions where storing wet kit outside in a waterproof bag or worse, in the sleeping compartment, is undesirable. I don’t tend to need much inside the sleeping area when I’m in it: roll-mat and sleeping bag are a given, perhaps a warm layer, some snacks and a drink, torch, and the map for the following day’s activities. And in winter, add to that your boots and gloves leaving the rest in the vestibule out of harm’s way. The Southern Cross 2 sleeping area can
fit all this in, along with your tent buddy’s equivalent items without struggling for space and a comfortable nights’ sleep. If you needed more I’d be questioning the need to have spent so much on a lightweight tent in the first place.
Pitching a tent inner first just seems bizarre! Why would you do that in the UK, I do not know. Clearly designed by someone who hasn’t seen the weather here. Outer first is a good second place, decreasing the time required to pitch and get inside (and dry) but this over-the-top design with a hung fly and inner method is pretty quick. Particularly where there’s a need to do it in gloves too, I really like this method.
SUMMARY
I found the Southern Cross 2 to be very capable and have enough necessary features to make a winter, or more moderate temperature trip comfortable. The pack size is acceptable and with some investment in more capable pegs it is a full package. The price tag may be an area for discussion but the AMA discount goes a long way to resolving this. If you take your mountaineering seriously or just want to splash out on a tent that will last, this would certainly be an excellent purchase.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 51