Tent Input

“TENT!!

I am looking to purchase a new tent - I want a one or two person tent that can be used year round(snow, rain, the extreme of both high and low temperatures, high winds, thunderstorms, you name it), it needs to be both as light and as strong as possible, quick to put up, and homey. Oh yeah - and as cheap as I can get all this for.

Okay - suggest away!”

“I would look at a Mountain Hardwear Kiva...
It doesn’t have a floor, but it pretty much has everything your looking for, roomy, light weight, stands up to ferocious winds and snow loads....and it's also relativity inexpensive.

Tent Picture
Tent Specs”

“um....what do you do about the lack of floor?

i am a wuss - the thought of no floor is not appealing as I do not want any unwelcome bugs or other creepy critters, or rain, or snow, in my tent.

got another suggestion?”

“This doesn't fit your description of what you are looking for.. but Supertroll had this at TC2 and I thought it was the coolest thing. Great for car-camping! Tent Cot”

“hey thats really cool!

but nope - not at all what i'm looking for”

“What about a tarp? I don't know alot about them but everyone I know that has one seems to really enjoy them. Inexpensive, lightweight, durabile. Even if it doesnt have a bottom, some ppl sew one in and it only adds a few ounces.”

“a tarp - good suggestion - any one got input on tarps and winter BP'ing?”

“Ask some ppl that went to TC2. A few had them and the temps got down to 14 degrees one night.

I think this is the only tarp pic that I have and these guys slept in them during the rain Tarp”

“In the winter a tent floor causes nothing but problems, snow always seems to get in the tent, then it melts...when you go floor less, you can dig trenches to walk in, cook in and use for sitting, you can walk in the tent with your boots and crampon's on...you always have snow to melt without going outside, if you spill food it's no big deal and if you gotta pee, you can always dig a hole, go, then bury it. You use a tarp to put your sleeping bag and other things on....myself and most of my partners quite using tent's with floors years ago. It has almost all of the benefits of a snow cave or igloo, with none of the problems they present.

The Kiva does have little "snow flaps" around the bottom that stops most of the creepy crawling things during the snow less times, a;though mosquitoes can sometimes be a nuisance...”

“thank mtnsteve - but i'm still all for a tent with a floor - a tarp like floor.

i have a knack for getting wet in tents that either have nylon floors or are bottom less - plus, when i visit the folks in florida - there is no way in hell i would EVER go floorless - its like camping in the jungles what with all the creepy crawlies!”

“A Hennessy Hammock is another lightweight idea. Have you checked those out yet? I'm not sure how well they work in the winter though. I bought OPIE one for his birthday one year but he hasnt tested it out in the winter yet.”

“The quotes from the website looks like its able to withstand cold weather too. Its also a great protection from creepy crawlies!”

“In the "tent' tent department, I have a Sierra Designs Lookout from 10 years ago that's still going strong. It's a 2-person, 3-pole 'convertible' type that will do 4-season duty as long as you're not into the 'above tree-line in Winter' situations. I think this is last year's version on sale at Sierra Trading Post. Looks like they have quite a few on sale right now.”

“I've got a Walrus Rapeed that I'm fond of. It's four season, fairly light and definately strong. The price is midrange for a four season but you can often find last year's models cheap at Campmor. The vestible is just big enough to cook in in nasty weather and since I'm 6'4" I like the length and head-room in the tent.
Being fairly light you gotta give up something and the tent is narrow, better like your tent mate. Personally, I use it as a one man tent most of the time. The 'skeeter netting is minimal also, so I wouldn't recommend it for the dog days of summer. That's when I use my cheap little summer bivy. You can get them now for about sixty bucks.
The tent sets up very quickly, after a little practice. The poles use a "hub system" that is unique so set it at home a few times to get the hang of it.
I've had that tent in conditions where my friends' tents were literally colapsing around me while my tent was nice and cozy. Well, it wasn't as cozy after I had to take in a suddenly tentless guest.”

“Have you checked out the serra design Metorite?”

“I also have a olded Walrus Rapadee and I think it is a real good tent a bit on the heavy side but a very well bult tent.

8)”

“i checked out the walrus - looks like a real good tent but i think i really need to find something lighter - i am in major need of getting my pack as light as possible - as the last trip exhausted me with the heavier pack of solo BP'ing - i weigh around 120lbs and the 40/45lbs pack was a killer!”

“If you want to go light I would consider checking out the tarp. There's lots of TT'ers that have them.

What did you think about the hammock?”

“I think that your best bet in a tent for a 3-4 season tent is a Eureka Timberlite Xt.

It weights 5 lbs 3 oz

Packs down to 7x16

And it is only $129.96 at Campmor.

I own this tent and I love it.This tent is one of the better tents that I own.

Just a thought.

8)”

“thanks CMB for the straightforward info...

Miss Opie - I have a friend who's been using the Hennesey Hammock - I am just curious to hear if its really cold in it - 'cause its really comfy and would be lovely for the other three seasons!”

“
i've been looking at this one. does any one have an opinion on it? i don't like the idea of a bive cuz i'm closterphobic. you could sit up in this one. it's on sale for $99(thanks for the link tiltolin). it weighs 4 lbs 1 oz and has a vestabule.



mike, does the timberlite stay dry well? isn't that the one that the fly doesn't completely cover?”

“clausterphobic?”

“I have the Sierra Designs Convertable and it is nice for hot summers with the bugs, plenty of mesh to keep you bite free, and the cold northern winters. It sleeps two with plenty of room (I'm 6'1", 205 lbs) and ample vestibule space. Quick setup too. Whats nice about it is that you can take as much or as little as you want of it. The fly is usually ample cover in summer if no bugs are around. The company has been very good about any problems too. I actually ended up with this because the 3 season I had got a hole in it (my fault), I sent it back for repair and they sent this one to me. They said they didn't want to patch a new tent(it was only 2 months old)and upgraded mine.”

“ohhhhh - very nice! my likey very much! what kind is it again?”

“opps, sorry. it's called the "clark tent" by kelty. it's only for 1 person.”

“If you seam seal the back window you can take a garden hose to it and you are as dry as a bone.

It is my favorite tent other then my Eureka Gossamer & Solitre which are my favorite tents.

And they only weigh 2 lbs 11 oz.

Good stuff.

8)”

“how many tents do you have? sheesh! LOL”

“4 tents and one tarp.

8)”

“both tenta weigh 2 lbs?”

“The Solitaire & Gossamer weigh only 2 lbs 14 oz.

But they were a little less when I weighted them.

8)”

“CMB, how many do they sleep, 1 or 2?”

“1.

Or if you have a better half that always likes to be on top.

8)”

“If you want cheap....
Look at the Coleman Exponent Inyo 2 tent. You can find them for about $80. Weigh about 4 #.
I got mine at a outlet store for $60.”

“Thats too bad becuase I gave mine away free not too long ago.

8)”

“will you give me yours stove?”

“Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight is an excellent tent. It's called a 2 person, I think. But, it's really a 1+. Fits myself and my 60lb dog w/ ease. Two people would be a tight fit.

To save weight, you can set up the fly and groundcloth w/out the tent body when there are no bugs. I think the whole deal weighs in at 4lb 11oz.

mtnsteve was suggesting the MH Kiva which is very similar to the Black Diamond MegaMid that I recently purchased at a used gear sale (thanks again, mtnsteve, for the pole!!!). This shelter is perfect for any weather conditions. It easily sheds water and snow. It stood up to the roaring winds we experienced in the Roaring Plains in October. It's super light and has soooo much space. No floor... But, really, you need to give the no floor options a try. IMO, floors are only necessary when it's buggy. Otherwise, a it's useless.

I used to feel a bit sketchy about the no floor thing. But, after I tried it once, I was hooked.”

“I worry more about tent output!”

“What stove?

8o”

“That TentCot is dominating!”

“What were you doing on the floor????Or do I want to know?

8P”

“seeing tarabull's megamid has me just about convinced to get one”

“Tee-Pee tents are the schnizit! Don't look back.”

“lol mike, i was asking stovestomper if i could have HIS tent.”

“Tent Impute: sleep in your car”

“The Hennessy Hammock is great even for winter camping. I have used it down to 10 degrees in the snow and it works great. It weighs less that 2 lbs and is super comfy. The key to using it in the winter is to get a sunshade from walmart. it costs 4 bucks and weighs less that a half pound. It reflects your body heat back to you and keeps you warm. When I tried it at 10 degrees I had the sunshade and my 25 degree bag with a mummy bag liner that ads 5 to 10 degrees. I slept with my capilene and fleece pajamas on. Hopefully that will help.

If you must get a tent: Kelty makes a tent that can be 3 or 4 seasons. It comes with 2 different fly's...ONe is a regular fly and the other is a hard shell fly for the winter snow. It is called the KELTY JETSTREAM.

But I would still go with the hammock.”

“ive got a timberlite 2, (i got mine before they went to 2xt, pretty much, they just added a vestibule) but im pretty sure my tent is about 4 lbs 11 oz- its got a full fly and ive never had it leak a drop on me. people complain about them being too small, but im 6'1" and have no problem with a tentmate of comprable size (but i dont keep my pack in the tent when ive got a tentmate) ive had mine for about 8 years now, and dont have much intention of replacing it (but im gonna make myself a vestibule...and i got 8 yards of 1.1 oz silny (i think, it might just be coated) ripstop for $1 a yard, so i might make myself a tarp tent too, i dunno) ive got a lot of friends with the clip flashlight, and they like em', but im a fan of freestanding- if i cant drive stakes, im not screwed like they are. and i got my tent used from the eureka factory outlet in pensylvania for $60- i think they're around $125 for a new 2xt

later,
-nate”

“Twinkle I do the hammock thing myself and yes it is harder to stay warm as ground temp is higher then air temp but... with a few well chosen additions it can be made usable in any weather.

windshield reflector - havent tried,no comment
open cell foam - good to about 35
closed cell foam - good to 10 (rumored)
down air mat - great reviews but costly
under wraps - this looks like the most likly winner for below zero conditions since this solves the compression issue but I dont have a machine!

at the moment Im useing an open cell on top of a 2/3 closed cell but I havent been out with it due to all the bullets whizzing by. should be ok down to 10f and weighs
under 3 lbs. Useable for ground and shelter as well :>”

“Teepee's, tarps, tents, and now hammocks. Are you confused yet Twinkle Toes?

You better start asking yourself these questions... Where will I use it? Mostly in summer, fall...any winter camping. Any ferrocious bugs? Lots of rain in the area? Rocks, trees, sandy areas to pitch? Do you have a dog that you bring? Do you want lots of room, or will you be satisfied with a coffin-like shelter?”

“Heh, heh, I like that Buddur, he's very to the point, get down to business. Chelle, I think that trying to find one tent for both snow and Florida is a tough one. So take Buddur's quiz and narrow things down. A hammock is kind of useless if you don't camp in areas with good trees to tie to. A tent, tarp or teepee isn't much help if the trees are packed in tight and the ground is rocky, steep or uneven. So most people own at least a couple of different options.”