Tents - so many to choose from

[danielsprague]

Hi

I'm looking for a tent, but there just seem to be so many possibilities out there, it's one of the most daunting prospects of my upcoming trip. Can anyone point me in the right direction in terms of good manufacturers? I've been thinking Terra Nova, The North Face, Bibler, Mountain Hardwear etc...

I'm going trans-Africa, so I'm not looking for a mountain tent which will withstand -40ºC temperatres, but my main priority is resistance to rain i.e. good seals, not too many seams.

It would be nice to have one of those tents which can be pitched just as the frame and mesh (i.e. not the flysheet / raincover) in still, dry conditions.

Size-wise, I'm quite particular, the tent needs to be no bigger than the back of my pickup, on an area measuring 2200mm x 1570mm, although I realise I will need to attach guy ropes down onto the ground from outside this relatively small area.

Any advice would be most welcome,

Cheers

Dan