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I know I'm running the risk of repeating myself somewhat here but..... after last night I would go for a SIG any day of the week. In fact, seriously considering ditching the brand new tent we used last night for one with a SIG it was that bad. The sleet and slush which piled up at the sides melted and ran in down the hill so when I crawled out of my bedroom at 5 this morning, I went straight through this freezing puddle! Bah! I guess we just learned the hard way didn't we?!

Cheers

We have just bought a coleman weathermaster as I quite like the idea of a SIG to keep it cosy and keep out the bugs and beasties. We have a coleman bispace at the mo and I didn't like the draughts or the damp grass. My OH says Im too much of a girl! Not used the weathermaster yet though so we will wait and see

emma

We have a sewn in groundsheet and chose the tent because of it, during a bad spell of Cornish weather last August it came up trumps in keeping a lot of the draughts and insects which wanted to shelter with us out. It also stopped the problem of water running off the saturated grass into the tent, and nocturnal visits by mice which we had in a previous tent with no SIG in France.  We're sure the tent would be great in keeping the midges out too.

Yep, get a tent with a SIG. 

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 22/4/2006 (on another thread)

Well, I may not have tried camping in a SIG tent, but I know the reasons why people prefer them and I know these reasons don`t signify with me. I don`t mind bugs, I often don`t use a groundsheet at all, I don`t particularly worry about sitting around in a cold tent (just use more clothes).

I`m sure I`d quite like camping in a SIG tent and would enjoy the cosyness but the downsides are real killers for me. Most are inner first erection in the rain, having to carry a second groundsheet to protect the first,  non-Sig tents are a lot easier to clean and dry out because they come in more and seperate pieces.. And (really critical one here) I don`t always use a full groundsheet anyway...in warm weather I prefer the grass, and that simply isn`t an option in a SIG tent. And sometimes we keep the third bedroom down and use it for bike storage...also not an option in a SIG tent.

Yes, SIGs are cosier and more bug-proof. But there`s more factors involved in tent preference  than that, and utimately what your personal preference in a tent is going to be is affected by what your top priority factors are, and the sort of camping you do. Who knows, if I decided to camp more in very early and late season I might buy a SIG tent just for that, because the increased warmth woud become the overriding factor, same as bug proofing is the No1 priority for other folk and all the rest a poor second.

Ultimately I think it`s down to the individual. Do I care what my neighbour is camping in, as long as it doesn`t fall on top of me? No.   But I do like to keep flagging up the downsides of SIGs, because I think it`s important for the newbies to hear more than "SIG is best" and to know the pros and  cons of each type. Educated decisions and all that.

(And the manufacturers read this forum too....as witness the introduction of the riser groundsheet this year, and flysheet first full SIG tents last year. Got to keep them on their toes!)

Quote: Originally posted by Merry Terrier on 22/4/2006

Val, these are important points. If, like you, we had our main camping holiday somewhere where it was hot, hot, hot then whether or not to have a SIG would become quite a different discussion. But as we do April and September camping in Cornwall, and even in July the north coast is never exactly balmy - once we tried a SIG I became reluctant to go camping without one!

And it is all very personal. The 'bug-free' arguement in favour of SIGs always bemuses me, but ranks highly for others. Many people adore their inner first SIG tents but I don't like either the method of erection or the way they feel inside. But I am fully prepare to accept that that is my problem not anybody else's!  MT

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I've copied and pasted these posts from a discussion that evolved out of another thread as I think they add value to this thread.

I'm going to add another dimension to this as well.   As MT points out in another post, I'm virtually the only person who admits having had a SIG and then going back to a "loose lay" (!).

I use a non SIG tent, have camped in many weathers (not early I admit but still wet cold and stormy) and don't find what I've got drafty.  TBH I like the airflow - I'm camping, if I wanted to be sealed away inside a structure I'd rent a hotel room or stay at home!!   I found my SIG tent absolutely stiffling as although it had many vents there was just no airflow into the inner. 

A decent non SIG tent (and this doesn't mean expensive), pitched well will not be overly drafty.  I don't want to offend anyone but having water running over your groundsheet in a non-SIG tent is not just about the type of groundsheet it's about the way it's pitched!! 

I agree with Val that it's important to have balanced views put across rather than just the SIG is best, in a lot of occasions from people who haven't used non-SIG tents. 

I also agree with MT that what we are talking about with SIG's is the fully sealed inner first tents like the Diablo etc. rather than the newer breed of outer up first beasts which do seem to give more airflow into the inners than the sealed one.

I also agree with MT regarding insects - for again it's part of being outside and camping but even taking that away, does that mean that you keep all the doors and vents in the tent shut all day and all night?  Our non-SIG tent has a sealed groundsheet on the bedroom area and we keep this shut to avoid mossies but I can't imagine being in one of these big fully sealed SIG tents with all the doors shut - even if you were using mesh in them? 

Enjoy camping, whatever groundsheet you use!

Just to add to this, being a person that started with non-SIG tents then went onto SIGs and do prefer them.  Regarding insects, I myself are not that bothered by them but my OH is.  In my view, the SIG has opened up camping to people that normally would never go.  Also regarding vents.  In most of the SIG tents I have had, you can leave the vents open all day because most have mesh behind them that still allow air to circulate but keep any unwanted visitors out.  For my wife this is great because she is ok in the open air with insects where they can fly away but does not like them in an enclosed space.  We usually sit out all evening in the nice weather.

For me, the SIG has been a god send as I would have never been able to get my family to continue going without one.  My family had 2 trips in a non-SIG tent and swore they wouldn't go any more ( we had 2 nightmare holidays with wasps and water ).  It took me a long time and a short holiday in the garden in a SIG tent to change their minds.

I understand both views on the SIG and respect both sets of views which are both entirely valid.

First time with my Khyam Tourer 400 and am I glad that it's a loose lay. It was rather rainyat times, hence rather muddy and I've got it all to clean, yet. The ground sheet is outside waiting my attention. The tent will stay wrapped until my next outing as it's dry and clean.

I tuck the mud walls inwards and put the ground sheet on top of them so it's almost like a SIG without the disadvantages.

The bedrooms are SIG with mesh doors so they are insect free and in 4 days, pitched next to a stream, I only saw one creepy crawly in the tent and I just helped him on his way to the outside.

Very satisfied withe the Tourer 400. I put it up by myself which I wasn't too sure I could do but it was relatively easy. The only trouble I had was extending the bottom poles and lining up the "catch" with the hole.

H

Went to Don Valley last week to look at their tent display and noticed the SIG in the new Montana 12 had a hole in it (presumably where someone's heel had gone through - looked like a stiletto - not mine!). Raised the question; what do you do when the SIG gets damaged? Might the SIGs wear out before the flysheets?

I am guessing you can repair them, but is a point to consider.

Also, day we went, the wind was up and the SIGs all look they had inflated and were floating on a cushion of air!

Jury remains out on this one, in our house. Can see the pros and cons of both.