Are Blacks tents any good?

[Splatt]

I'm in need of a new tent this festival season. Always had a Vango before (plenty of fans on here and while they've been good I've not become a fan boy). Have had a look at Blacks own brand tents in store and quality looks quite high to me but sure I've seen some posts saying they're not too good. Any opinions?

[strudders]

Same as Millets, they are part of the same group.

I have not used them but it wont be cheap tosh......

[serginhowardinho]

I've heard less than complimentary things about them, but i got one last year and i couldn't be happier with it. It's a pop-up and cost me around £65, it's dark inside, well ventilated and has already survived three festivals with no detrimental effects. For the money, you really can't complain.

[DaveMac]

I have a small lightweight blacks tent which I bought about 10 yrs ago. Is a bit battered but is still used though. It will be making the annual Glasto trip this June too

It was expensive when I got it about £170 but that was because is was small and lightweight and a good waterproof spec.

I don't think it owes me anything. Dunno about quality of blacks tents nowadays but based on the service I have from mine I would say they are pretty good (but not cheap).

Hope that helps.

[mandypants]

I'd say have a shop around first before buying, I went to Go Outdoors and got an amazing bargain on a Gelert tunnel tent. There's Decathlon as well if you have one close by, I've heard a lot of good stuff about there.

[HurrahBrother]

I also have heard comments about blacks tents that do not inspire confidence (one on the boards apparently from a former employee).

I have a Blacks, a Cotswold and a Millets in town, I go through the Millets every week (they have a cafe at the back with a river view, it is nice to take nan there when I am wheeling her about town for a cuppa and breather).

Blacks and Millets have the same owners, Blacks seem to be aimed at a slightly more higher segment of the market than Millets (who are aimed at beginners/intermediates) and so a more profitable part of the market and are correspondingly a little more expensive but I have not really noticed a rise in quality in the products that match the price difference (usually £10-20 more for similar tents).

I started with a hand me down old Vango tent (orange, canvas, heavy) but have stuck with Eurohike (millets own brand)since with the exception of a Quencha. If you have the choice, I suspect you will get more Value for money from a Millets Eurohike I certainly find they do me well enough, plus if it does get trashed, while still upset, it wont be a disaster.

Which ones are you looking at? The Cygnus and the Magic 2XL Look OK, The lynx will be heavier and more complext to pitch and you will find you are not likely to use the extra room. Plus I see the clear panels as a source of weakness. I notice that the similar Eurohikes are £50 rather than £70! Oh and avoid the highpoint brand!

Edited May 9, 2009 by HurrahBrother

[gReG s]

I opted for a Millets (same as Blacks) own one last year and it did the trick at Glasto and Leeds, can't remember the name of it but it's very sturdy and in a sale I think I picked it up for £30 (had £20 off in a sale). Pretty light to carry too! I'd say it's worth spending time on the net seeing what's out there before you make a purchase though!

[reni]

Stick with Vango, every time.

The Beta looks good with the additional storage area.

The Black's employee would know what he's talking about with reference to quality (or lack of)

[glasto-worker]

I'm in need of a new tent this festival season. Always had a Vango before (plenty of fans on here and while they've been good I've not become a fan boy). Have had a look at Blacks own brand tents in store and quality looks quite high to me but sure I've seen some posts saying they're not too good. Any opinions?

[HurrahBrother]

If you check http://www.blacksofgreenock.co.uk/acatalog/FAQs.html

you will see that Blacks { the modern name for Blacks of Greenock }

is part of the AMG Group portfolio. - Their other brands include:

FORCE 10 BY VANGO, VANGO, PHOENIX, LICHFIELD, TEVA, ROSSIGNOL

so really the odds are that the tents are all built in the same place.

I first started using Blacks of Greenock forty five years ago when I was in the Scouts and at that time there was only a few stores and the quality has always been first class.

Be it Vango or Blacks you cant really go wrong.

[glasto-worker]

Blacks of Greenock and Black are separate companies.

[HurrahBrother]

Then I was mistaken, certainty they are not of the same cloth as the old tents. (was canvas back then)

[glasto-worker]

Then I was mistaken, certainty they are not of the same cloth as the old tents. (was canvas back then)

[nicnac81]

i had a blacks tent last year for Glasto and Reading and it did me just fine no probs with it at all!

[Kyelo]

Been using the Blacks Cygnus for a couple of years(as does my dad)and neither of us have had any problems. They may be owned by the same company as Millets but their 'standard' is much higher. As somebody has said you get what you pay for regardless of the company. The Cygnus cost us £90(2 man)each and it shows.

Edited May 11, 2009 by BenchBuddah

[mikeb]

Hmmm, good old Blacks of Greenock canvas jobbies ... still got at least one of them lurking somewhere but god knows where or what state it's in now having not seen the light of day in donkey's years ! Still use Ye Olde Vango Force 10 regularly though and that's been in service for way more than 25 if not 30 years now and it's still going strong, if getting more than a little saggy in the ridge department. Maybe I should check out one of the many "helps to make your pole more rigid" stylee emails I seem to keep getting to see if they can help Made in the UK it proudly says all over it, complete with Union Flags galore. A d@mn fine tent and at this rate it's almost certainly going to outlive me. Best £150(ish) I ever spent Mind you, I don't suppose they're made anywhere within several thousand miles of the UK these days other than perhaps the all canvas ones Although it's been the case for many years, it still kinda grinds that they're even associated with Millets I have to say ... and the thought of having to spend the best part of £250 (apparently) to replace Ye Olde Tent should it ever get b*ggered by some drunken/stoned/thieving b@rsteward doesn't even bear thinking about !

Edited May 11, 2009 by mikeb

[paulguz]

I've a Black's 5-man tent, bought in 2003, which has been to eight festivals in various weather conditions and has never given me any trouble.

[dwukky]

The biggest difference I have always found to how well a tent performs is how well its erected and maintained so long as a few "rules" are followed

make sure the bedroom part has a seperate inner (the new marketing term for this is "double skin") else you'll end up having a wet head - not from the outside, but from the water condensing inside - its waterproof both ways, the inner means that whilst water will condence on the outers inside, it will drip down the outside of the inner

(that sounded better in my head)

also make sure that the outer and the inner do not touch, else the condensation will end up back in the inner as the inner is designed to be water resistant not waterproof

the quality of the materials used are one thing, but they are not the be all and end all of the tent being able to provide its number 1 requirement - wind and water shelter.

a more critical thing to consider on any tent is how its pitched..... if its an inner first - on a wet day that inner will be soaked before you put the waterproofing onto it.

as a final - its your comfort zone for the 3-7 days your there - a full height tent may be more comfortable in the long run...... especially if the worst happens and your tent bound for the event.

but as a brand, i've heard good and bad things about them - and as the saying goes for every 2 good things you'll hear 8 bad things.......

not sure what my point is anymore but at least this rambles used up 30 mins of dead time