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i remember when i first signed up for ukcs i was in aww of the vango icarus, i really wanted one but in the end we opted for the high gear blackrock 5 as it suited what we wanted down to the ground (was cheap!) that the icarus is now just a distant memory and i'm happy with the one we got.... but over the months, haveing seem umpteen pics and read how great belltents are i now want one! never gonna get one...but i want one!

SuperPup,

For winter camping, the tent fabric is pretty irrelevant.  You're going to fekin freeze, whatever your tent is made from.  All that matters is your sleeping bag and/or your tent heater (ideally...a woman.  I know, I know...I don't have one either...).  We're probably best to concentrate on a serious sleeping bag... ;-)  You can get some heavy duty arctic bags for under £30.  Spend less than that and at 4am one February morning you would sell your grandmother for another tog or two.

I reckon you also need a better tent than a pop-up, for winter.  It's not about temperature (I refer you to my "you're going to fekin freeze anyway" comment); it's about water and wind resistance.  I have a 3-man Robens Fortress, which is fine anywhere in the world; it's designed for the Himalayas!  It takes a couple of minutes to erect and because it's small, it warms quickly through body heat and a single burner stove.  Any of the decent brands will do the job though.  It doesn't matter what you get, once you're kipping, they're freezing.  You need a great kip sack.

Alternatively...a Bell Tent and a wood burning stove is always my Plan A!!!

Hope that helps.

PS - ex-Army Arctic kip sacks are cheap as chips...always loads on eBay or in surplus stores.

This is the Robens Fortress.  I've had it years and love it...and it's fine in any environment whatsoever.  I think Robens still sell them.  I'm sure that there are equally good tents from Vango or one of the other serious players.