Terra Nova - Super Quasar

I have been using a Terra Nova Super Quasar (now known as the Expedition) since 2010 for mountain wild camping in UK winters and has proven to be 100% reliable. The SQ is definitely a large two man tent (3 at a squeeze) and having the benefit of two entrances, kit storage can be neatly squared away. The SQ is very, very strong and even in extremely windy conditions, a decent night of sleep is achieved, providing ultimate confidence that you won't get blown away. Rain, or snow posses no issue to the SQ, in fact during a winter camp in 2024, my tent was virtually snowed in, the strength to withstand heavy snow build up is truly exceptional. Pitching is simple enough even in mild rain/windy conditions. Getting in and out of the SQ can be slightly awkward with wet clothing, perhaps made worse in my advancing age. The SQ is not a lightweight tent, but the offset is that when pitched correctly it will protect you 100%. I've had a couple of broken red/blue poles and carried out a service to replace the taped seams in Jan 2025 - this is all that the SQ has needed following multiple winter camping in the UK mountains. Just this month, I purchased a standard Quasar (slightly smaller and lighter) for £500 brand new. The main differences noted is the weight of the flysheets, SQ has larger entrances and 4 guy lines less on the Quasar. In my view, either of these Terra Nova tents are perfectly suited to UK winter mountain camping.

Have your locked a Terra Nova Quasar? Bombproof and very spacious. Perhaps a smidge heavy, but as others have mentioned, you’re always gonna have a weight penalty for a bomb proof 4 season tent. I have one and I love it.

I personally love anything that Terra Nova make.. also, check out the Nortent range. About the same price as the Terra Nova kit and very very good. I have a Quasar and a Verne1 and love them both! The Quasar can fit two people plus two dogs, although that is a bit cosy. Look out for a decent deal secondhand and you’ll be golden!

Terra nova Quasar. ~ 3kg £900 Hilleberg staika . ~ 3.5kg £1050 Hilleberg Jannu. ~ 3kg £1000 All of these are absolutely bombproof tents in Scottish winter and would do absolutely fine. Both hillebergs have 1 vestibule giving you a bit of space outside your inner to save space for the dog, i have a the Quasar and a 35Kg Viszla and we fit in there with plenty of space, the benefit of the Quasar is that it has 2 vestibules so you can get even more kit out of your inner fly (whilst still keeping it dry.

90% of people here will advise against fires like this (10% will think we are killjoys). While wild camping (not the same as camping anywhere) is allowed in Scotland you’ll find that fires are not permitted or are discouraged. peat can burn underground for many miles for extended periods (years). If you are going to do this please please do it on a platform, maybe on rock. Personally i would ask you not to but if yoi do… Winter tents in Scotland? I wouldn’t use less than a hilleberg or terra nova but that’s out of your budget. I’m a big fan of my quasar which is genuinely roomy enough for two (usually ‘2 person’ involves thin small people). If you stump up cash for one of those (eg Soulo) you will get possibly a lifetimes’ use out of them. Others will be able to speak to particular models. Ps if you do decide to do a fire you will at best be hot in front and still freezing on your back so don’t think it will ‘keep you warm’ lol

I started with cheap kit but could carry it. Now I’m old, I need the ultralight stuff lol. Most people end up with stuff like hilleberg, terra nova (I love my quasar) because they will take just about anything the uk can throw at them. But they’re not cheap. Typical beginner’s mistake is to underestimate how much a difference the mat makes, it’s worth reading a lot of reviews. Most of the time with camping gear the expensive stuff is worth it, at least. Don’t spend a fortune shaving a few grammes off your total unless you have to (eg long trip, niggling injury etc). Those tents are expensive and a bit heavier but they’ll last years and years. Have fun:)

I've got a Quasar it's unbelievably sturdy it's also very comfortable to live in for extended periods. Having the two porches one at each end is brilliant, and the entire sleeping area is about a meter tall. I had to kill a day in the Quasar while I waited for a storm to pass and it was very cosy! We use one porch for all our bags and the other for boots and cooking in (the sides come round so it's really protected even when the door is open. Honestly it's my favorite tent, it has so many features that are just fantastic. My mate has a hilleberg Staika or whatever the freestanding one and it is very nice but the Quasar is better and less flappy, it's actually unreal how good it is in wind, the wind just seems to glide over the Quasar I've often been lying there thinking there must be no wind and opened the door and just got smashed in face by a blizzard. Slightly harder to pitch in very high winds though, but still very easy. I would add the big difference between the two is inner or outer pitching first. Just my experience but both of these tents will often be pretty wet in the morning with condensation, it's basically unavoidable. The Quasar is easy to pack the outer separately when it's wet so the inner stays dry. The hilleberg is pitch all together so you have to go round and unclip the inner if you want to keep it separate, which is a pain. Downside of inner first tents like the Quasar can be pitching them in rain but I find if you're really quick it's not usually an issue or when it's really heavy rain but you can lay the outer over the inner and pop the poles through both eyelets at the same time.

When do pitched the MSR did you use the guy lines? All tents are shit if you don't use the guys. You don't need a hilleberg although obviously they are good. But in the wind the best tents are tunnel tents. So just get one of those. I've never known a correctly pitched tunnel tent have issues I the wind.Vango make some good more budget ones. Also make sure you have good tent pegs. Strongest tent I've ever slept in was actually a terra nova quasar though. Those things are very cosy in a storm

Terra nova is a good choice. they do a trade in deal to. Send them any tent in working order and they will give you a discount. It's kind of hidden on there site. But it is there