Terra Nova Southern Cross 2: A solid adventure tent for all seasons
TL;DR: An outer first pitching two person tent that delivers solid, dry, and temperature-regulated comfort whatever the weather.
The claim on the label
When you go looking for a new tent often the only information available is what the manufacturer or retailer supplies. We made our decision to get our Southern Cross 2 based on this information.
Manufacturer: Terra Nova Equipment
Product full name: Southern Cross 2
Price tag (at time of purchase): £599.99
Retailer: Outside Ltd
Key claims or standout information:
Pitch order: Outer pitching first.
Sleeps: 2
Weight (max / min): 2.43kg (5lb 6oz) / 2.18kg (4lb 13oz)
Packed Size: 42cm x 18cm
Flysheet waterproofing: 5000mm
Venting: vents in the inner and outer to either increase or decrease the flow of air through the sleeping compartment.
Tent pole guarantee: Terra Nova offers a remarkable two year pole replacement promise which even covers accidental breakages!
We have had a fantastic experience with our Terra Nova Super Solar and Terra Firma tents. They have both lasted well, and have given years of good service, so we were keen to try the Southern Cross. The fact that the tent can be pitched free standing outer first would make setting up camp way easier when in less than ideal conditions at the side of a river.
When we saw that this tent was going to be at the Hathersage Tent Show we took the opportunity to go and look at it and get a feel of if we could make this small tent work for the two of us.
Out on the trail
We all know that manufacturers’ and retail staff's claims are all well and good, but the real proof is in the use on the trail. We try to give you an understanding of how much we have used the equipment and more critically, in what conditions, before we cast judgement on its performance.
Estimated time of use so far: 25+ nights
Adventures we have used this on: Klarälven Timber Rafting, Canoe touring Lake Båven, New tent weekend, and a few overnighters in colder weather.
What we have used it for: A tent that we can pitch for a night and move on the next day carrying all of our kit.
How has it performed: We have been in this tent in some incredibly heavy rain and stayed lovely and dry, but we’ve also not been too hot in warmer weather either.
Any modifications made: We have put a few extra stitches on the loops intended to roll up the inner door. These extra stitches just make the loop a bit smaller so that the toggle stays in better.
We have taken a very thin (2mm) cord and run a small washing line / gear loop across the inner roof to give us a place for our glasses in a spot where there is no possibility of us crushing them in our sleep.
We also have the footprint for the tent to protect the bottom, but have rarely taken it when lighter weight has been required.
Pro tip: When carrying the tent we also split out the inner and outer into their own dry bags. This is to keep the inner dry, and to keep the outer from getting the rest of our kit wet. It also makes it easier to pack into our portage bags.
The good the bad and the packable
Being realistic there is no perfect piece of equipment, there are always pros and cons and so we try to give you our balanced view of what we feel about it and answer the question: does it make the packing list for our next adventure?
The bits we liked:
The outer pitch first is brilliant, especially when setting up camp in the rain. The tent is incredibly easy to put up with only two poles and a handful of pegs. We can go from pulling it out of the bag to having it up in under 5 minutes.
When we have used it in wind and rain it has stood up to the elements without any issues. It felt stable and did not flap around even in some gusty conditions.
When it is warm it is possible to raise the bottom of the doors and clip them out the way, which may only look trivial but we can attest to it enabling a surprising amount of ventilation.
The inner has a couple of big sections of mesh which can be opened and closed to also help regulate airflow.
The pegs that are supplied are substantial. Being an X shape they are far more resilient to rocks than the standard round style.
It was amazing how much of a difference this clip made!
How it could be better: If there was a Southern Cross 3 we probably would have gone with that. If the tent was just a bit wider than 110 cm (43 inches) and maybe a bit taller than 98 cm (38.5 inches) it would have made our incredibly rainy day at the side of Lake Båven a bit more comfortable. It was okay, but if we had to wait out bad weather for a week at the side of a lake, a bit more space so we could both comfortably sit up in it at the same time would be nice. We have also found that having a bit more space inside makes it easier to conduct personal admin, especially if you are getting into the tent in full rain gear. We now have a running joke that there is only enough space for one of us to get ready at a time.
A small change would be some bigger pockets. The existing pockets are small and low down. Even in a small tent, having some largeish mesh pockets higher up (like on the Super Solar) can make it much easier to sort out your gear.
What we think it is best suited for: Two people who want a solid tent that don’t mind getting up close and personal with each other.
Are we going to pack it for our next adventure?: If we are canoe touring and there is a chance of bad weather, then yes we will be.
Does it get our seal of approval?
The Terra Nova Southern Cross 2 may not be the biggest or lightest tent on the market but it is solid, and shrugs off bad weather without a second thought. Due to the excellent ventilation options, we have been able to regulate the internal temperature easily. This is a genuine all-season shelter that delivers the comfort and reliability required for a good night's sleep, whatever the weather.
