I wanted to buy this tent as it looked lightweight and easy to carry despite there not being many reviews about it. I contacted the Manchester shop and they kindly offered to hold one for me for a day or so until I could get there.
I've never owned a Robens before but must say the quality of workmanship and clever design is very impressive. I've used it three times now and whilst relatively easy to pitch its well worth a practice before doing it 'for real' on the side of a hill.
As a lone walker, the tent uses 2 walking poles as its main structural support and this works very well with the handles slipping nicely into reinforced pockets which can then lock around the handle. The stud on the end of each pole then located in a grommeted ring after which the outer attaches via wrap-around velco'd tabs to the pole shaft.
The tent comes with two small poles for either end if camping alone.
Once up the tent is very roomy and at 6'4" I am just able to sit up inside it. There is room between the outer & fly for a pack and both internal & external doors are well thought out, the former tucking into an internal pocket when fully open.
Two apex vents are accessible from inside the tent and the sleeping pod also has two vents, one at each end, so 'soggy mornings' from condensation are not a factor.
The guy lines are ingenious in that after setting the peg you can then tension the guy line further giving a very stable secure setup
I am very pleased with my tent and from the help I recieved from Cotswold staff and would recommend it it anyone seeking a lightweight 2 man tent for backpacking use