tent suggestions?

“i've been spoiled with my comfy hammock but now i think i need a light solo tent for platform and cold weather camping. it's gotta be fairly inexpensive too. any suggestions?”

“what, not out carousing tonight?”

“lol. nope.
but wait until tomorrow!!”

“I really, really, really love my Big Agnes Seedhouse 1SL. It's packed weight with footprint and poles is 3 pounds 3 ounces.

Floor length 90” • Floor width 43” at head, 30” at foot • Head height 38” • Foot height 16” And it's freestanding. Roomy enough that one night in a pinch my 2 sons, 2 packs, a puppy, and me fit in it.

However, it's not inexpensive. $229 + $45.”

“thanks Ruby. that one's on my list-to-look-at-some-more. glad to hear that you can fit extras in, since i rarely get the chance to leave all the boys behind.
how do you think that tent would stand up to a bit of snow?”

“i have the eureka zeus exo (1 person, although they do have 2 person as well). some people don't like it as much as others due to some condensation, but you're gonna get condensation with any tent as long as you're breathing in it. but it only weighs 3.4 lbs and is VERY roomy and VERY easy to set up. I've used it in snow and it's held up wonderful. It's a really hot tent in the summer though because it's single wall.

I got it at campmor.com for $119 and haven't had any problems with it.”

“I use a North Face Tadpole on most of my outings. Its almost entirely free-standing (the vestible has to be staked out) so it works great shedding the occasional snow load in the mild winters here in Southern Calif. I use it as a solo tent on shorter hikes, but it has enough room for two persons and some gear in the vestible. The body has a lot of screening, so the ventillation is great. When stripped of its stuff sack and heavy stakes, it weighs in at just under 4 lbs. Mine is an early 1990's model, but I think the current ones sell for around $199. I've never found a perfect tent, but I've found this is a great compromise of features and weight.

I've also got a Eureka Gossamer (tunnel shaped 1 person) that I use when I go really lightweight, but its a little cramped and I'll take the Tadpole most of the time.”

“Inyo II it is pretty light really roomy, one can sit up in it without hitting one's head. 2 side doors with roomy vestibules. Phil has one, as do I. Good luck”

“This is the new version (green):

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?p=WX2&i=83688

This is the old version (yellow)the one I have:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/campingsurvival/in2tecoex.html”

“I want one of these tents so bad!

Top of the line

www.hilleberg.com

or to jump straight to their produts

http://www.hilleberg.com/Catalog/tents_47616_products.htm

i have heard nothing but good things about these tents i only wish i could afford one!!”

“I have a Henry Shires tarptent (Virga). Weighs about 20 oz with floor and netting. No problem with rain, absolutely no condensation. CrashBang is using the same thing on the AT and says snow was no problem. I'm very happy with mine. Price was something over $200...don't remember for sure.”

“thanks everyone!

SE--the only problem with tarp tents is staking them out on platforms is impossible.”

“The HS Tarp tents seem to be by far the hottest things I've seen on the trail. Unfortunately, they're not cheap. Perhaps it's something worth saving up for?

Anywhoo, I use an MSR Zoid 1 (Wt: 3 lbs and change), and really like it. The only problem with it is that it can pick up a little condensation on the fly over night, but it usually dries in the morning before you strike camp. MSR sells new ones for about $180, I've seen new ones as low as $150, but got mine almost new on e-bay for $120.

Good Luck with the tent shopping!”

“i never see any decent tents on ebay. why is that?”

“helinka - that's because people who like the gear tend to keep it. Ebay used to be a great source, but rarely do you see anything of good use there. It's mostly junk, but good bargins are there, you just have to look and look and look and look....

I think it would be a little more helpful to some of us if we knew a ballpark figure of what youare willing to spend. I have the Hilleberg Akto that I use most of the time, but never in warmer conditions because it traps too much condensation inside. I use my Akto with just the outter part and use a piece of tyvek as a ground cloth. Works great and very light, about 1.5 lbs whenit's all said and done. The Akto gives you ample room for gear, or in case of some situation, a place for another person, but it would be cozy!

That being said, I also use the Coleman Inyo for the summer and warmer months. With the fly, it weighs a total of about 4.5 lbs, which is heavy, but it's a two person, dual entry tent. I've toyed around with the idea of getting a sil nylon tarp and just string it over the top on a line between two trees. I would think that this setup would lighten up the packed weight a pound or two at least. Either way, both this tent and my Akto are not freestanding

I know that Tarabull has an interesting one person, freestander. I think it's the Cabela's XPG. It's real light and is under 100 US dollars. It money is a concern and you are only looking for something to pitch on the ground, this might be your tent. Sorry about the copy and paste, but here's a url to her webshots on a trip that Cowpatty, Buddur and myself took last winter and shows her tent. If you flip through her album, you'll also see my Akto.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118805333/118812237qzoAGI”

“Is your Coleman Inyo a 1 or 2, my Coleman Inyo 2 weighs slightly less than 4# even. I like mine. I bought some sylnylon and I think I'm going to make a tarptent that uses the pole of my exponent.”

“4 lbs with pole and stakes”

“I think it's a 2, Tango. I might have been a half a pound off because the last tme I weighed it, it had the all of the heavy stakes in it. I switched to the MSR ground hogs and only use 10 stakes with that set up. I sometimes carry two back up stakes in case I'm in a real down pour, but whether ir not do depends on the weather report.

I like it. I usd it this past summer and it was great to have the fly off for some star action. That was the first time I had ever been able to have the experiance. It blew me away, as there was not a cloud in the sky and my last memory I have was "How kick ass is it to fall asleep in a planeterium?".....:)”

“OK, I just use the stakes that came with it, I will be getting some lighter ones. The pole and the stakes weigh 13.3 oz. I slept fly only in Zion's west rim and you hit the nail on the head! Totally great.”

“Bibler I Tent, one of my favorite pieces of gear. Truly bombproof, 4 lbs, free-standing, will definitely stand up to anything you'll encounter, they claim it's a d to buy good gear once onstead of-person, but I call it a roomy one-person. Pricy, though, but I've learned I'm usually better off in the long run breaking down & buying what I want rather than trying to "make it work" with less expensive, "almost what I want" gear, which I then replace over & over.”

“I agree, wand. In my earlier efforts to break into bping "on the cheap" I've have completly replaced everything I bought with the right equipment. The odd thing? I've replaced it with gear that was on closeout, half priced or on sale, which means that if I was smart, I should have waited. I would have really saved money by doing it right.

That's not to say that you can break into bping with a low investment, just don't start off buying Army issue equipment! :)”

“well, what i really want is a down cover for my hammock, which would be good for winter, but wouldn't solve my platform problems.
as far as my gear budget goes...right now its at 0 - no new gear allowed until after our family trip to Halifax at the end of the month.”

“ Zoid 1 Review

It works for me as well.”

“Q, I think we all do that to some extent. Thinking about this tent question got me going, started a post about saving $$, hope it helps newbies not waste the $$ we did!”

“well, i phoned the local gear store; i can rent a zeus1 from them, but by the time you add up the fees, it's almost a third of the price of a new tent.

can anyone from the Detroit area help me out regarding the locations of REI down there. i think a road trip to check them out is what i need.”

“helinka - There is an REI right off of I-75. If you take the tunnel/bridge over, you can hop on 75 and take it north to the Rochester exit. Turn right (going north and do a *Michigan left* to get going south on Rochester, then turn right into the strip mall. REI is about half way down. It's in the city of Troy. Go to REI.com and click on locations and it will give you an exact directions to the Troy store, or the Northville one.

I'd be ore than happy to hook up with ya and take you to either one. I'm sure there is a good reason I need to go there. Maybe lunch?”

“thanks Q, i'll keep you in mind when i decide to make the trip. it'll be about a three hour drive for me from London.”

“Cool. letme know. I would be more than happy to help ya!

Also, if ya want to borrow a tent, I have a Coleman Exponant Inyo II and a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 you could borrow for a trip to try out.
Let me know how I can help. Email on profile.”

“Another thought - and I don't think it's been mentioned - is the MSR Missing Link. I've read a lot of good things about it on this website. There may even be a thread. I think it has good reviews, it's light and roomy.”

“I've never heard any reviews, but the hubba hubba looks good too!”

“I like my eureka solitare about $80.00, mine was free..hehehehe...so anyway, I'll let you know how it holds up as I'm hiking in the rain forest this weekend....Now watch it'll be 80 frikken degrees.”

“i recommend a circus tent with 3 rings”

“Laqtis, have you taken your Atko out much in the winter? If so, have you ever had signifigant snow fall while using it?”

“here's my new(and by no means final) list of possibilities:
(sorry for all the c&p)
TNF tadpole 23 http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38218398&memberId=12500226
big agnes seedhouse 1SL (i'm wondering if this one can stand up to a bit of snow. there seems to be a lot of mesh involved.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38590052&memberId=12500226
mountain hardwear air jet2 ( i've never tried a single wall before)
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=37881685&memberId=12500226
sierra designs clip flashlight
http://www.rei.com/product/11939207.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC
MEC quail plus (5.5 Lbs. ugh)
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=679157&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=778619&bmUID=1096226518300
eureka zeus 2EXO (i wonder if the single wall design will be as warm as one with a fly?)
http://www.outek.com/eureka!_zeus_2exo_04_tents.htm

the fabric colours the manufacturers use are really bright. how am i supposed to stealth camp in a blinding-orange almost-flourescent tent?

any feedback would be appreciated”

“ewww. that looks like a big mess o'crap.”

“TNF tadpole 23

Big Agnes Seedhouse 1SL

mountain hardwear air jet2

sierra designs clip flashlight

MEC quail plus

eureka zeus 2EXO


Personally, I'd go with the Clip Flashlight.”

“helinka, i have the eureka zues exo,.. as a solo tent and it's always been warm. it's a good winter tent, but the summer it gets HOT AS HELL. sometimes i have condensation problems with it, but overall i love it.”

“me and luke just got hte mountain hardwear light wedge tent. haven't tried it out yet. i told him i'd wait til he got back in november to devirginize the tent.”

“thanks bit. i an a tecnological idiot.

i'm actually leaning towards the zeus. i doubt i would ever use it in summer...my hammock is too comfy. but then again, never say never eh?”

“hell-linka ... the perfect alias considering this post :)


TNF tadpole 23


big agnes seedhouse 1SL (i'm wondering if this one can stand up to a bit of snow. there seems to be a lot of mesh involved.


mountain hardwear air jet2 ( i've never tried a single wall before)


sierra designs clip flashlight


MEC quail plus (5.5 Lbs. ugh)


eureka zeus 2EXO (i wonder if the single wall design will be as warm as one with a fly?)”

“sorry - looks like bit beat me to it”

“scorch---can your zeus be set up as a freestanding tent?”

“clip flashlight. tried and proven for 30 years.

you won't miss freestanding, really...”

“roseymonster- i need freestanding for platform camping.”

“i got a headache trying to find a canadien mail-order company. i hate having to pay the import tax/fee”

“Got it when it first came out, and love it. Only one complaint, if it's very humid outside, it will collect condinsation, other then that it has a great vestibule that I can put my Bora 80 & boots in, and carries like a breeze!!!Totally waterproof!!!! Also check out Black Diamond's First Light tent.”

“yes, the zeus is a free standing, single wall tent.”

“Hi Helinka,
My hubby and I have the REI Halfdome 2

REI Halfdome 2


^ Trying to post a link.. I hope this works!”

“Woo hoo!!! :-)

It works!!! it works!!!”

“Well, in that case, I guess the clip is out. You should check to make sure the tent you want is freestanding. In general, a freestanding will weigh more.”