Page 43 - 2019 AMA Summer

1-MAN TENTS
My personal objective this year is to finally complete Summer ML. Having been thrust into doing MLT while at Sandhurst, I arrived with no QMD (as was back then).
Consequently, and while being in busy postings, I’ve not yet reached, let alone surpassed,
the minimum 40 QMD threshold for assessment. Disappointing, I know. However, it’s not, I don’t think, because I’m rubbish at nav, I’ve just not had/made the time. This year though...
Anyway. Part of the requirement for SML is at least 8 camps, with not less than 4 being wild. For this, I was going to need a tent. Now, I already had a tent, but lets face it, that’s no fun and as a young(ish) officer with some cash to burn I decided I’d upgrade.
My criteria for what I wanted was: to be big enough for me – I’m 5’11’’ and (better than) average build, and on occasion the dog too as a minimum; to be light enough to carry without feeling too heavy – I later learnt that sub-2Kgs would fit this bill; finally, be a solid long-term purchase for all my expected trips and uses – I like getting bang for my buck. At this point, I wasn’t sure if this would mean 3 or 4 season.
I decided to shop around for second hand options first and see what was out there. If you’re not aware, there are an abundance of Facebook groups with people selling kit, some is good, some is just junk, however, with a bit of caution, Google at your side and a network of friends to bounce ideas off I eventually settled on the Terra Nova Laser Photon 1.
The Laser Photon 1 is a super lightweight 1-man tent
designed for 3-season use. The key draw to this was its price tag (I paid £200 for a second hand version in immaculate condition) and its lightweight properties. It’s so light you barely know you’re carrying all 720g. This can be further reduced by not taking the additional rain cover that attaches over the main pole saving a further 50g or so. Awesome!
The tent requires a single pole to be inserted through a sleeve that crosses the longest axis and can be pegged out with no less than 6 pegs. For more adverse weather conditions, there’re extra peg points to keep things taught and stop your lightweight parlour flying away in a gust.
There’s a small vestibule for storing kit and equipment overnight and further weight savings have been made by rationalising the internal space. As such, particularly in windy conditions, there’s not a lot of room internally for moving about. This also includes head room as sitting up becomes uncomfortable when cooking or sitting by the door for any length of time.
Unfortunately, this got to me too much. After three overnight wild camps
and on the long walk
back to Grassmere
from Stickle Tarn I
MANUFACTURER:
TERRA-NOVA
MODEL: LASER
PHOTON 1
PRICE TO AMA:
£322 (RRP £420)
BIRTH: 1 MAN
WEIGHT: 670G – 720G
INNER / OUTER PITCH FIRST: INNER AND OUTER PITCHED TOGETHER
SEASONS: 3
FLYSHEET HYDROSTATIC HEAD: 3000MM
GROUNDSHEET HYDROSTATIC HEAD: 5000MM
RATINGS
FEATURES: 5/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 4.5/5 PERFORMANCE: 4.5/5 WEIGHT/SIZE: 4/5 OVERALL: 4.5/5
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 43
Laser Photon 1