Gear Review - Ode to my Tent- Black Wolf Mantis I

    What to do when you find you're not in the mood to write, run or in general do something actually productive? Make a film about my tent and how much I love it. Here is the results, accompanied my Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's song 'Tent'- which I have a horrible suspicion is referring to a different type of tent than my own. Either way it makes me smile and has a good beat.

  Here is my review of the Blackwolf's 'Mantis I' tent I've been using the last three years to walk over 2000 miles through Australia and Britain. I might be far from an expert in my field but I can say that this review comes from a thorough testing.

Tent in the middle of the Australian Outback, along the Sunshine Hinterland 2012

The Lizard, Cornwall, England 2013

RRP $269.00

Sleeps: 1
Dimensions: 255 x 220 x 80cm
Weight: 1.9kg
Floor: Polyester 5000 PU coating
Fly: Ripstop polyester 3000mm water column
Poles: (2) 8.5mm premium T6 alloy 

Features:

• 2-pole tapered rectangular design
• Spacious & lightweight
• Dual side entry
• Dual side vestibules
• Gear hammock
• Head & foot vents
• 4 guy rope points
• Ring ‘n’ pin colour-coded flexi poles
• Heat taped seams
• Waterproofpacked size 40cm x Φ15 cm  

Bought: November 2012

Miles Covered: 2000 Miles
Height: 5 foot 5 

Tan Hill, Along the Pennine Way, England 2013

I bought this as my first hiking tent while I was in Australia - since then its sheltered me along the Sunshine Hinterland Great walk (four night- 60 odd kms), Great Ocean Road (six days 100kms), Six Foot Track (3 days 40 odd kms) and god knows how many weekend exertions- one during floods. Now I'm back from Australia it has braved the considerably less mild weather of rainy England where I've walked the Pennine Way, a 450 plus kilometer hike over 15 days along the spine of England into Scotland. This summer I used it for a ten week expedition from Land's End to John o'Groats on foot covering 1200 miles (1940 Km) in one of the wettest summers for years. I've bought a few sets of new tent pegs but other than that it is barely marked. It has been put up and taken down every day; stuffed wet back into the rucksack; rolled quickly and badly in winds; all in all this tent has been treated quite roughly. The fact that it's in such good order is a testament to just how high quality this tent is. Other basic points- the porch space is very spacious, ventilation is great and although condensation collects on the inside of the tent the material dries very quickly. It is strong in high winds, no problems with the zips, packs up into a great size, and has WONDERFUL tent poles that seem to magnetically connect together. They can be flicked into place with your wrist in a matter of seconds. No sign of the string joining the tent poles snapping. Its quick to assemble if slightly tricky to put up in rain, not high enough to sit up in but material does give a little so that you can move around easily. Be aware that I am a medium to short woman and a tall man might find this tent somewhat short: my feet do touch the roof but that's because I like plenty of space above my head. This does mean that if there is a lot of condensation, and your feet touch the tent that your sleeping bag can get a little damp over a cold night.
  As I stated earlier this is my first hiking tent so I'm no expert but I can say its been superb every time I've put it up. Black Wolf Mantis I is durable and has survived me which is something that few other things have managed.  When my friend asked to borrow it I felt she'd asked for my child. I have absolutely no qualms in recommending this tent, its worth every penny been charged. The only down side is that its made by an Australian company and postage costs a bomb over the asking price. 

Devil's Kitchen Campsite along the Great Ocean Walk, Victoria 2013

Flaxton Camp Ground, Queensland

Bridge of Orchy, Land's End to John o'Groats, Scotland 2015

Day 3 of 3 Crowden to Hadfield

Short walk today, campsite to the Didsbury Intake's disused quarry, then back down to the reservoir and along the path to Had field. It's a day with a stiff climb over the first mile and then easy walking with pretty views.

  The night was cold and I woke several times. In the end I slept in to enjoy the final warmth of the morning. Not eating breakfast I packed up and headed out determined to find a pretty view from which to eat.

View up in the quarry while having lunch

View from the reservoir back to the quarry

The climb was hard but the views were great from the top and the path along the quarry pretty. It's on this path that I stopped and cooked myself some cuscus. It's the first time I'd done this in such a deliberate manner. I should have taken my shoes off and let them breath but worried about time didn't bother. My soles had began to hurt like on the Pennine way, the third day seems to be the painful one.
  The walk along the reservoir is flat and easy although I felt quite tired at this point and was glad to reach the train station and head home for a bath.
  Next hike is the big one!

Day 2 of 3 Whaley Bridge to Crowden

  Aware I had a tough day ahead I woke early enough to be gone by half eight, my route planned out and as direct as I could make it. I still had a scramble through the moors over New Mill before the serious climb up to the high peaks. The Snake path goes straight past Kinder reservoir from Hayfield to the Black Moor and the Pennine way. Then it's on the flagstones all the way to the A57 and up to the mists of Bleak Head.

  The day started misty and a little bleak, but good weather for walking. My legs seemed to be keeping up well and the first ten kilometres went past easy enough.  Paused to much on the inclines and didn't maintain too good a rhythm but I think that the major problem there is fitness.

Kinder Reservoir

  Past the Kinder Reservoir the real climb begins and I'd have struggled even more than I did if it wasn't for a group of Duke of Edinburgh setting the pase. There were dozens of them around the place.

Path leading back to Jacobs descent

  Once on the Pennine way I buckled up for the incoming rain and set a good speed across the plains. The climb up to Bleak Head which seemed to take forever, and with the weather pressing in it was hard hard work.

  The descent seemed to take even longer and it's was with great relief that I got out of the mists. Then it's across the reservoirs and along the road to the Crowden campsite.

Decent to Crowden

  This campsite is great, quiet and flat. They have a dry room, great showers and a lovely little shop. Also three pounds cheaper than Whaley Bridge.

Day 1 of 3- Wilmslow to Whaley Bridge

Campsite -Whaley Bridge

Finally got out the house and went for a proper hike. Back home now but am writing this on my phone to practice before this summer's longer hike.

I'm sharing my #hiking trip with you. Total distance 28.3km, http://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MTU0MjA1MA== . Via @ViewRanger

This hike goes from my doorstep in Wilmslow along the river Bollin to Presbury, and up to White Nancy overlooking Bollington. From White Nancy I dip down to the edge of Bollington and back up and along the outer edge of the Lyme Park estate before splitting down to Whaley Bridge. The distance is around 28 kms and there will be at least two steep climbs. The first ten kilometres however are flat and should allow me to break myself in.

Along the river Bollin valley

  The walk along the river Bollin is quite a plain but today was broken up with an incredible amount of lambs. This also kept me alert as I was conscious of getting between any mother and her babe.
  After Presbury it's a rather ugly section around the business site and across the road. Once through Presbury it's under the railway and across yet another golf course. The climb up to white Nancy was the first tough stint but mainly because I was completely out of practice. The top made it worth it and you're flung straight from the plains into the moors.

White Nancy

  Grumbling to myself I started the descent from White Nancy, aware all the while that it would mean an even steeper climb up. On a few occasions I collapsed and pretended to admire the view. Finally onto I recognized I was back at Lyme Park.
  Here I found a tractor on top of a giant pile of blue stuff. Any one have a clue what it was?

  All down hill now to Whaley Bridge and the campsite. The man who let me in was nice enough as was the rest of the people I met but I can't recommend the place for campers. The hill is very very steep to camp on and the showers are more of a warmish trickle. If they charged only a little it would be fine but they charged £7.50 which is higher than a lot of better campsites.

Crossing the fields over Whaley Bridge towards the campsite

  What made it slightly more vexing is I'd not packed a lighter for the camp stove and was left which another hour walking down into town and back. I spent the entire way down thinking of chocolate. This thought was quickly satisfied by a lot of naughty foods I'd told myself I'd avoid eating.