Table of Contents
NatureHike Sand Dune 10.9 hot tent
see also:
- I don't sell any of these nor do I receive any remuneration if you buy them, and I have not personally reviewed all of them although I have purchased this tent, they are listed here to give you perspective
Introduction
- a significantly larger and taller version of the NatureHike Sand Dune 7.6 hot tent (which is 3.2×2.4×1.8m) which allows more entertaining space around the wood stove plus adds two large side mesh windows which makes it a good 4 season tent
Specs
original version
- has three 15mm 7001 aluminium alloy poles in ceiling sleeves with the cross pole being a full pole down to the ground
- 2000mmPU UPF50+ 75D Polyester Fibre 150D Oxford ??
- 420x260x200cm outer tent = 10.9sqm
- wide front door which has a extendable folding 10' long pentagonal awning, wide rear door, 4 side door/windows, 2 ceiling vents and a stove jack
- detachable white fabric inner tent 240x200x180cm with front and rear dual fabric/mesh doors (zip to the side) and two large side windows (zip up from bottom)
- 150D 3000mm PU floor
- zipper for power cord
- packs to 73*35*25cm 11.8kg (10.2kg with the optional top deck but no inner tent)
- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006071949565.html ~$AU875 (~$AU686 on special) plus $AU58 for the ceiling fly “top cap” plus $AU58 for front TPU door plus GST = ~$AU950
- if using the top deck with the stove, you must use a triple guard or similar chimney section and ensure the top deck does not get jammed in the stove jack
2025 upgraded "Pro" version
- 10,000mmPU coating 75D 210T polyester silver lined
- longer, wider, taller and heavier:
- 443 × 278 × 206 cm = 12.32 sqm instead of 10.9 sqm
- 12.5kg
- might be a touch too big for some Parks Vic tent sites
- front door awning no longer is double so does not open as far
- allows the rear side windows to be fully unzipped as a doorway, and also there is now a “small TPU door” which will zip onto the side doors
- new inner tent same size sleeping area but rotated 90deg so now allows 65cm space on side for access to a side rear door and perhaps better safety margin from stove
- tent poles: 14mm aluminum × 1 (total length 549 cm), 14mm aluminum × 2 (total length 720 cm) which will be longer than the original version poles
- does not seem to have an optional “top deck” fly although the old model fly may fit with some extra bungee cords to each clip on
- marketed with an optional catenary cut side awning which could also cover the tent and requires the 4 supplied poles and guy outs
- side awning: 150D 10,000PU black lined Oxford catenary cut 445 × 430cm 15.5sqm 5.53kg incl. 4x22mm 2.2m poles packs to 57 × 19 × 19cm
My review of the original version
- in short, love this tent for 1-2 people with a stove for most weather conditions (could easily fit 3-4 people with the stove)
- the distance from rear door to stove is substantially more than with the NatureHike Sand Dune 7.6 hot tent which allows more easily fitting a 1-3P hiking tent inner (or kangaro tent) with still adequate rain protection when rear door is open.
- the additional two large side windows would be useful on hot or humid days
- there is sufficient room along the wall/door opposite the stove to place a single stretcher bed while still having a 1-3P hike tent occupying the rear of the tent
- the optional “top deck” partial fly is well worth it - just hooks on with added option of velcro tabs to the poles and it has a blackened under-surface
- this means not as hot during the day
- a darker interior during day and on full moon nights which significantly improves privacy when using mesh windows
- less condensation on the inner ceiling as it should not get as cold
- protection from embers from chimney - easier to replace the top deck than the whole tent
- additional rain protection
- however, not sure how it will go in strong winds - you would definitely need to use the velcro tabs as well as the hooks
- also, you need to be careful with the top deck scrunched up against the hot chimney - make sure you are using a triple chimney guard or mesh guard to ensure it is safe
- in my test, it survived very strong winds (90kph gusts at top of tree level - perhaps 60-70kph at ground level) as long as all the guy outs are used and well pegged down supplemented with boulders on the pegs, plus all peg points are actually pegged (eg at doors) and the doors and windows zipped for added strength - the snow skirts will however flap a LOT as these don't have peg down options (although you could add clip on tarp tie downs) - NOTE I used all the supplied guys plus I added 8 spring loaded guys of my own to the top guy outs and pegged these separately for added insurance - I think in total I used 35 pegs!)
- initially a single wind gust pulled out two screw-in pegs holding two separate guys in fairly hard gravel soil, hence I supplemented the pegs with boulders and this avoided this with even stronger wind gusts
- I did not have the top deck in place for this test
- use a cheap 2.5x2m annex matting from Kmart for the front half and a 1.8×2.4m poly tarp for the rear half to sit under a 1-3P hiking style tent without its fly (or a freestanding swag) in the rear
- in warm weather the supplied inner tent may serve your needs but I find a 1-3P freestanding tent a nicer option for warmth and privacy
- in strong winds, have a corner facing the wind and double peg the guy lines
- wrap each guy rope around the adjacent pole to reduce stresses on the guy out
- use strong, long pegs anchored firmly into ground near vertically with guy lines at ~30deg angle to the ground - have a 2nd peg behind each peg and rope tied to the front peg and consider placing a boulder on this rope section, if no boulders, consider adding a 3rd peg behind and tied to the 2nd peg
- in soft ground such as sand or snow, bury dead-man anchors as “pegs”
- ensure all sides are taut and NOT open to the wind
- in very strong winds, you may need to abort and take the tent down if it is not adequately protected
- eg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jv2JOzqynU - perhaps should have checked the wind forecast first and found a more sheltered camp!
Other reviews
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrDmjc0fFP0 - set up only
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQR69lMhp_s - in the snow with a stove