The best BUDGET solo backpacking tent for UK weather? Wild Country Helm 1

The Wild Country tent I have (Coshee Micro) is certainly built like a tank. It's also really heavy and bulky and the solid inner doesn't lend itself well to most part of the US, but it's a good tent nonetheless if you like polyester coffins. But God, is it tiny! You just about have to lay down on the ground and roll into it. And you better hope you fall asleep as soon as you get in it and it's not raining when you wake up because there's not even enough room in there to even pick your nose.

Me being pedantic here but your title is wrong and you keep calling the tent by the wrong name. That tent is the Helm COMPACT 1. The Helm 1 is a different and older tent. I own the original Helm 1 and it is quite a different tent.

Yesss Andy, literally bought this tent this afternoon after watching your west highland way series. I had a lanshan 2 for the longer hikes and camps but sold it to get this one. It should be here on Friday so I’m hoping to be out in it over the weekend. Great video as always, honest and in-depth 👍.

That might be good for the UK, that doesn’t look to be well ventilated with all that material and not so much mesh. I believe there are better options out there.

I came across a mountain hardware mineral king 2 tent for £150. I placed the order have you got any experience with Mountain Hardware tents?

Thank you Andy, really good video.

Bought this a year ago for well under £200. I bought it for Bikepacking as the poles when folded, are much shorter than most, so fit in my frame bag on the bike.

I bought the Helm 2 after your review last year. Cracking tent. Just a tad on the heavy side but I’m 6ft 5 and the dome shape works great for my taller frame. Pretty sure I used your discount code too.

Hi i use zephrous 1 gret tent good video im a new channel wild xamping dartmoor and survival 🤟🤟

Hi Andy. I have this tent, it’s mega, I love it. I agree with you about the footprint, a waste of time. I would advise people to get the tent, but save the money on the footprint.
Cheers
Dave 😀🥾⛰🏕️

I've had mine a year now, paid £160 new, absolutely great tent, light, small pack, plenty room inside, great in moderate winds and rain, warm in the winter and you can ventilate brilliantly with the little door at the back. Plus it has that extra vestibule at the back to put your pack. It pitches so quickly and all in one, I really cant fault it. Agree with your review. Great review again Andy

Great review Andy, as always.
Not in the market for a new tent myself, but still thoroughly enjoyed watching, and lots of good advice for anyone who is looking for one.

Got the Helm 2 following one of your reviews and can’t fault it, absolutely love it. Being 6’2 I’ve always struggled finding a tent that I can sit up properly. Fantastic value for money 👍👍

I was going for a used Helm 1 but price was not far off a new one, on advice went for a Helm 2 in the end, been out twice so far and find it excellent, just the right amount of room for one person and kit, especially in wet Irish summer weather when bit more space is very useful

I've been considering this tent or the Helm 2 compact for a while but decided on the Vango f10 nexus ul instead.. Pretty certain it's a newly released tent from Vango. It has similarities with the Helm 1 compact. It's about the same weight (1.9kg) but it's a two person tent, so more room and two entrances.. Nice to have a Vango again, had a Vango Hurricane back in the 90,s..! Definitely worth checking out..

Got it and i Love it. It can take some beating to? But it would be nice to se it in a UL version like the Nemo hornet osmo elite and under 1kg 😊.

I’ve got the Helm 2 my mate has the Helm 1. They’re great tents. I do like the extra space of the 2, particularly in winter, but the flip side is the 1 handles wind better. We’re both about 6’1” and I think that’s about the maximum for the Helm 1, particularly if you have a thick sleep pad, the Helm 2 is probably good up to 6’3” or 6’4”.

Just bought the Helm 1 compact on eBay here in the US. Used it once on the AT in North Carolina mountains. It's super sturdy, fast pitching, plenty of room for me and the doggo. Love it so far

160 is all it's worth. It will fall to pieces.

Now are you sure it's the best, have you tested it against all the others??? We all remember the Vern1 incident

Wish he would review the decathlon forclaz mt 900 looks a lot of tent for the money , loved to see what he thinks if that

Not convinced about those 8.5mm pre-curved poles. They're going to be inherently less strong and rigid in high winds and a likely point of failure if a really strong, sudden gust catches the tent.

Cracking review of a cracking value tent Andy
All the best

Great tent but not budget tent Andy. £50 - £175 budget, £175 - £450 mid range, £450 and above high end tents in terms of pricing. £750 and above luxury tents for those lucky enough to afford this level of investment. Tent weight light weight tents are 1.5kg or less and ultra lite tents under 1kg.

Just bought one last week after deciding I don't love getting in and out of my Naturehike CloudUp2 (no other complaints with it - it was bombproof in heavy rain camping in it for work a couple of weeks ago).

I've decided I'm going small tent for festivals this year and leaving the Berghaus Air 4 at home - I hate waiting for it to dry on packdown morning when I could be on the way home.

So my new Helm 1 Compact will get a first outing at Black Deer next week, then hopefully some wild camping before another festival in August.

Vango Banshee 200 is the ideal 1 person tent for me. Outer pitch first, so the inner doesn't get wet. Also anything wet you put inside dries out pretty fast

Cheers Andy

I just would prefer a darker green material for the helm compacts, still a great tent though

Great review had this tent a while and definitely my favourite tent I’ve owned so quick to put up and take down!! Got mine from summits outdoors £150 2yrs ago bargain.

Looks really good cheers

Hi Andy. Thanks a lot for another great review. Although that you’ve already mentioned that the footprint is not really needed, don’t you think it helps with storing our gear, so it doesn’t get the moisture from the ground overnight? You could then store your backapack and boots in the side storage compartment. Also additional cooking mat wouldn’t be needed. Have you used the terra footprint before, does it add a lot of weight? Is it worth to buy it as well?
Appreciate your reply, would be very helpful.
Many thanks 😊

At first I found mine to be a little cramped, but I hadn't been tent camping for a while and my personal admin was all over. Now I've really gotten used to it, and I really like it for 3 season use. I have the Panacea 2 for winter just so I have more room to spread out when I have more kit to carry. My last camp was in my Lanshan 1 and I felt really cramped and closed in, I really missed the Helm 1 and being able to sit up properly.

I’ve just got this for bike packing and will be out in it next weekend for the first time. I’ve got the helm 3 and thought it was great for two people with lots of stuff so looking forward to trying this out when I’m by myself.

Hi Andy.
You tried the River country one person pole tent yet? Fantastic, and under £60.00.
Lightweight, really waterproof. My best tent, for the money. Give one a go.

The Helm 1 is a solid tent for very poor weather
Had it for years
Very easy pitch
Recommended
But 2kg is too heavy for me
I use the Lanshan 2 for backpacking

Been out in my Helm 2 and love it, bought it a couple of months ago used it 3 times so far

Ha I bought mine new for £130

I'm not sure I would call a £200 tent budget, but it is high quality and good value.

You've answered the exact question I've been thinking about; whether to get the Helm 1 or Pioneer 2 as I could see they were about the same weight. Very helpful. Thank you.

Hi Andy,
Different tent question here but how do you compare the Scarp 1 to the Vern 1? Which 1 would you pick out the 2?

Super tent the helm compact 1, personally I do like using the footprint for extra protection for the bottom of the tent which helps keep it clean, and it gives a nice storage platform for gear as well as improving the entrance when entering and exiting. thanks for sharing!🙂...

Cloud Up 1 is a much lighter and over a £100 cheaper. Is really good too. Really fast pitch. Claims to be 3 season, but im sure with the right gear you can survive a colder night, too.

hi hope your good , i am new to your channel got some very nice videos,......... i do have questions hoping get back to me , am looking for budget bikepacking kit , main 1 is tent as really don't want be spending 400 pounds for few trips but also like be able to any way want on my bike so handle bars or if can be spit side of forks , so me do like 50,100 ,200 ,300 bunch to get me 1 to 2 person tent and me large size sleeping set.....any ides be great help thanks

i am 6,4 and wonder if I would fit in. the tent? anyone has any experience ?

Do you not find the inner being attached to the outer as a negative when you pack it away once it is wet?

Hi Andy, which would you choose out of this tent vs the Cloud Up 2 for my first 'light-ish-weight' but budget tent for multi day hiking? I dont currently use trekking poles but would be open to idea if you think that's the way to go to get a tent even lighte? Cheers for your help & keep up the good work 👍🏻

Hi Andy, got the helm compact 2 from your review. And got the footprint on your discount. Thankyou very much, I love it.

I have to admit that this is a cracking tent, but at £250 is hardly a budget tent!? I paid £125 for mine early last year, has it really gone up tha much? It is a shame that they dont make the inner with more bug net, especially on the door, which would decrease the weight of this tent. It's just slightly too heavy for backpacking, especially at the price you state, as there are much cheaper tents around the same weight. A good review of this great, and very sturdy tent.