Wet & Windy Wild Camping in Snowdonia - was I WRONG about this tent?

We've come to Snowdonia National Park to go Wild Camping. Our backpacking trip starts at Llanberis hiking through Dinorwic Quarry before reaching our first summit. The forecast proved wrong for our wild camp where we ended up wild camping in heavy rain and strong winds.

I brought my 2024 Nortent Vern 1. Mark has got the TarpTent Scarp 1 and Brian the Hilleberg Akto. All these tents are suitable for winter camping. These are are solo camping tents too albeit all very different.

Unfortunately, I didn't bring my waterproof trousers so my bottom half got soaked including my hiking boots. My Fjallraven Vidda Pro trousers aren't remotely water resistant! The wind was too strong to use my waterproof backpack cover so anything that wasn't in a dry bag got damp. Yet again, I broke more AV equipment too. Wild camping uk vlogs are costly in poor weather conditions.

The Nortent Vern 1 stood up to wild camping in strong wind and heavy rain really well. The inner doesn't flap about unlike other tents and the structure remained strong throughout. It's spacious too for solo tent camping. The little touches really make this tent, I'm really impressed.

Backpacking gear used:
Osprey Aether 60 backpack
Nortent Vern 1 tent
Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad (regular wide)
Sierra Designs Cloud 20 sleeping bag (regular)
Nemo Fillo Elite pillow
Flextail Gear R2 sit pad
Sanmarc head torch
Nitecore NB10000 battery pack
GoalZero lantern
OEX Heiro camp stove
Sea to Summit bowl, mug and spork
Sponge, OEX hand towel and micro towels

Hiking gear used:
Salomon Quest hiking boots
Darn Tough socks
OMM Kamleika jacket (100% waterproof!)
Thrudark Ithrax jacket
Fjallraven Vidda Pro trousers (100% not water resistant!)
OMM Raid insulated trousers
Merino Wool base layers
Xtremities gloves and neck warmer

Food:
TentMeals Jalfrezi
Fell Store Porridge
Welsh Cakes!
Coffee Brewer coffee bag

If you are into your hiking, backpacking and wild camping please SUBSCRIBE @BackpackingUK

Thanks, Andy.

#wildcamping #wildcampinguk #camping

[Percy-cv]

Just knew you would be straight out of the door with the 2024 Vern 1 after yesterday’s review 😂, which is why I waited until today before pulling the trigger and buying it. I hike in the Southern Alps, so unfortunately I have to spend extra for safety which is why this review is so helpful. Was all set to buy the Soulo but this seems to be better, irrespective of price. Great review. Thanks

[chrisrebbeck]

After getting through the motion sickness of the first few minutes of constant spinning 😂 I found this video really good. Nice work.

[Paul]

This is getting compared to the Soulo but no one is mentioning the Southern Cross 2 which is more expensive than the vern 1 but cheaper than a Soulo but is lighter and more roomier than the vern and has proven over the years that it can handle the 4 seasons of the uk weather, based in the uk with great customer support

[SisterAbdullahX]

The new Vern looks great, apart from all the great features and the strength of it it’s also just a great thing to look at! Even the colour is great! But I still think if I was in the market for a proper mountain tent the Kuiu Storm Star would be the one I’d go for. Same pole design, same rock solid strength, loads of pockets, same weight but bigger and two doors.

[Fellmandave]

Very impressive pan around Andy at 0:40, you must have been on casters. But I am bedazzled how you beat me to the scoop again! I thought, well, OK, Andy is in Snowdonia for the weekend, got back, there he is, uploaded 8 hours ago. WTF! But well done mate. Good trip in rough conditions. Glad you like the tent.

[duelfreak]

another great video, i dream to go snowdon and lake district just finding good weather time slots and the drive is abit much from south london just for a weekend - im heading to dartmoor next weekend for my first solo wild camp, done 2 so far with people so i feel prepared and your videos have helped alot - keep up camping!

[thewestonfront]

Next it would be really interesting to see how much condensation you get on a night when there is a big temperature swing from max to min. It is those nights when the dew point changes so much that is a true test of how well the ventilation works. That's my one beef with my Soulo

[conorbuckley]

Nice one Andy. Looking forward to seeing this tent in long term use. I always take about 12 months before purchasing a new tent 😂 so it will be interesting to see how this ine does long term for you.
Great vid mate 👍

[snapslife]

Brilliant video ive been waiting on this review. As previoisly mentioned just waiting on mine.

I paid 465 without footprint (incl shipping) wow amazing .

Keep up the good work pal. Ill share my vlog with ya when ive recieve mine

[BhavaSindh]

14:14 that was exactly my impression after 8 days of Lake District and summit camps in wind and rain. Lovely tent, really well thought out, so many great details. They really studied their tents at Nortent.

[Jonno-Bass]

Good to see this tent put through its paces Andy. I'm looking to buy a four season tent. The Nortent Vern 1 looks pretty good. I used to have a one man ridge tent which stood up to some wild storms. 3 poles at one end, two at the other. It had an inner and fly, and was really warm in winter (Schiehallion in the snow) and could fit two men or my fiancé plus dog). I could never fit it in my back pack & I think it was quite heavy. Eventually the seams became so stretched it leaked a lot. I wish I could remember what make it was & the specs. I have photos & videos of it somewhere.

[benvickery]

Thanks for sharing, the weather can be brutal sometimes. I’ve been soaked before many times even through waterproof coat and trousers. Im taking 4/5 of my fellow teachers to Dartmoor in 2 weeks to give them a Dartmoor experience before we take a group of Gold DofE students there. I’ve been thinking a lot about what equipment I want to take and haven’t decided whether I’m taking a tarp and bivvy or my BL Soulo. I was going to wear my newish Vida Pro trousers but they’re not waterproof as you say. I need to plan what we’re eating too. On one hand I’m thinking I just buy dehydrated food, I’ve enjoyed tent meals before too but on the other hand I think we should use Trangias to have a proper DofE experience. Thanks for sharing!

[smellyoldsock]

Just ordered my Vern 1.
It's my first one person tent other than the Rab Ridge Raider Bivi (non-tent).
Ordered direct from Nortent and it's still cheaper than pre-ordering in the UK from authorised dealer.
That's my tent purchasing over now, I'm well equipped with other lighter (X-Mid 2 Solid) and bigger (Black Diamond 3P Mission) tents.
I was torn between several choices both 1 and 2 person tents but this video prompted me to hit the buy now button!
Thanks 😅

[WildScotAurora]

Ordered the OMM jacket based on your review, thanks! You go on some great adventures! I hope to make it out on my first Scottish wild camping trip soon after I get back from Iceland next month. Love your content, and its helping me build my kit so thanks again 👍

[eamobyrne]

I'm not sure what you were wrong about, the initial "unboxing" was glowing. Anyway great looking tent. Should provide lots of opportunities for camping in fairly extreme weather

[ruangilmu]

Loving the vern 1 new looks a good soild tent, can't wait for mine to arrive and get out and test it

[simonwiltshire]

They are going to sell allot of those tents! I think it would make a great bikepacking tent cause it is a bit heavy, nice camp guys, cheers.

[FourIntoOne]

I totally love my Soulo red line - but the biggest irritation I have with it is the size - if only it was about 15% bigger it would be ideal (for me, being tall) - and then this comes along. It could be the tent that weans me off my Soulo .Which is I guess what Nortent are aiming for....

[mrnobodieswildcampingadventure]

Looks like a great tent but going for the tried and tested USA model Kuiu Storm Star 2p tent at 2.2kkg with footprint. An absolute bomb shelter and spacious. Let's see how the Vern's do over a year or two in bad weather on the mountains. I'm sure now they have upscaled the poles (vern 2) it is going to do well!

[dannyknight]

Great vid as always Andy, always look like you're having fun no matter what. I have the vern 1 pc, I love it. Never had anything like it in the wind, silent. Just have to be careful not to touch the inside in really bad conditions or you have to wipe it a few times until the barrier has reformed. I've just bought this as well. Then one will have to Maybe 😂. Keep up the good work mate