first time lightweight tent buyer

“k, so I've been hiking, trailrunning, hunting, and car camping with my family a lot, but I really want to do some actual backpacking trips so I'm ready to buy an ultralight tent here are the questions for ya'll. I'm probably gonna be looking for a two person tent
what do the lightest weight, lightweights weigh?
what do the average ultralights weigh?
I've heard talk about the hammock tents, what are the pro's and con's of these?
and lastly what are your guys' favorites? and which one should I get?

oh yeah and I'd like to keep it under $200 but I'm a pretty good shopper so don't worry if it is a little over.
I have faith in you guys to do a good job informing me on this topic (not sure why but I think you can do it)”

“my favorite in my own Eureka Spitfire Solo 2lbs 12ozs. they also make an ultralight that is 7ozs less i think. but i felt it was going to be a little tighter fit, maybe only by inches, but enough to make a difference to me. because i rented a Sierra Designs Lightyear once and i felt like i was sleeping in a damned coffin.
last edited: 12/13/08 10:09:06 PM”

“You will find good info on the pro's for Hammocking here....


http://www.hammockforums.net/
http://www.tothewoods.net/

Tents will be a matter of opinion with each backpacker.

http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/
http://www.hikingandbackpacking.com/
http://www.backpackers.com/
http://www.backpacking.net/


You might even check out TARP TENTS.


If you find yourself buying more than 1 tents or shelters for backpacking, you may need to take a 12 step program with me. There are only 2 requirements needed to be a member of my 12 step program....You first need to have at least 2 shelter options and like to sip on more than 2 types of LIBATION.
hehehe We call ourselves TTer's
last edited: 12/14/08 4:32:22 AM”

“Look at Six Moons Design Lunar Duo tent.
I have this tent and love it!

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=47”

“*snaps fingers* Tarp Tents, that's the one i was trying to remember...”

“The lightest tent with the most space is the Black Diamond Megamid.”

“ymmv but..

imo my best single wall
http://www.tarptent.com/cloudburst2.html
condensation for me hasn't been a problem if you pay attention to how you pitch and weather conditions

and for the times I don't mind a few extra ozs. my best 3 season
http://www.bigagnes.com/str_tents.php?bid=8
last edited: 12/14/08 6:25:05 AM”

“sorry, that was a solo tent
last edited: 12/14/08 7:02:13 AM”

“I use a tarptent cloudburst and have found it to be an excellent shelter. That said, that Six Moons tent looks SICK!!!”

“I vote for the Henry Shires Tarptent”

“checkout articles at backpackinglight.com pretty comprehensive comparison bout wuts out there. You may have to buy membership $25 i think to get full articles. well worth the $. If you don't want to send me an email & I'll send it the very recent article to you for free.”

“Stick it up ur arse, fedex. He's getting excellent information here for FREE. Sure, it was great when backpackinglight was FREE but who actually wants to pay to talk to a bunch of gearheads?”

“My next tent, most likely.”

“I have a SixMoon Europa I have been happy with.

It is great for a solo trip. Two people can sleep in it, but it is pretty close comfort. I think it is perfect on my solo trips.”

“I haven't seen a lot of "name brand" tents so to speak... you guys don't like the name brand tents a whole lot or what??

I wish yogi were here I really liked and respected the knowledge he seemed to have though I never knew him personally or anything
last edited: 12/14/08 9:30:44 PM”

“what/whom do you mean by brand name?”

“Check out the Alps Mountaineering Zeypher 2 Under 150 bucks. Freestanding, a bull in a wind/rainstorm. Yo bear!”

“[email protected]
I have 17 tents now , 24 hammocks, 3 tarp tents, 5 bivy's......lets talk if you need advice.”

“I believe yogi was a tarptent advocate.

As far as brands go, the upstarts have basically been the ones to fill the lightweight void and the "names" haven't quite caught up yet. Tarptent was first something Shires thought up and built. His plans were available on the internet for a good long while then he decided he's make them and sell them since people seemed interested. That sort of took them mainstream.

Lots of folks like the hammocks. You have a few hoops to jump through to get them to work below freezing though because it's difficult to get insulation under your body.

I guess a good question would be to ask what you consider lightweight and ultralightweight? If you're coming from car camping, a 5# tent seems light, but is heavy to a backpacker.

Tarptet and others are all probably under 2#8 oz or so. You can get it where your shelter is under maybe 1#8oz. If you want an off the shelf, traditional tent, and $200 then you're likely looking in the 4# range. Just a guess. If you're willing to look at what would be considered a "weird" tent, then some of these models would fit the bill. Consider though, that many of these tents don't have floors. My first generation tarptent that was home built from internet plans has no floor, just a piece of tyvek. Total shelter = 20oz including poles and stakes.


It mainly depends on what you're wanting to do. I use the tarptent only on high mileage trips. If it's a low mileage trip or a winter trip I go with my Kelty, but it's 5#. I'd like to get an in-between tent, but don't hike as often as I used to and haven't been willing to shell out the $$$.

Hope that ramble helps.”

“Tarptent for ultralight dependablility, MSR Hubba Hubba for light and really useful.”

“so if I were to buy or make a tarp tent what would I do in heavy rain situations?? do you guys just dig a diversion ditch and sleep on another piece of tarp or what?

dayhiker how'd that tyvek tarptent hold up?? did you come across any problems while making it or using it?

I see the six moons tents seem to be kinda popular around here but to my inexperienced eye they just don't look like they'd be the highest of quality, how do they hold up in severe weather?? has anyone had any problems with leaking or tears or not staying up?

no ones said much about the hammock shelter, do you guys not like them? pros cons??

those MSR tents look pretty dang nice anyone have experience with any of the others?? I wonder how much I could get off the retail at ebay or something?

the FRIDGE- wow! and you've got gmail

thanks everyone for the help so far, if there is one thing I hate it is spending large amounts of money only to have it blow up in my face before I think I got my moneys worth out of it
last edited: 12/15/08 11:47:38 PM”

“

I am seriously interested in this one.
last edited: 12/16/08 12:06:01 AM”

“yeah I was lookin' at those, they look pretty dam nice”

“Looks like they ripped off Hilleberg.

I'd also mention that you will get soaked getting in and out of that vestibule in the rain/moisture. Just FYI.
last edited: 12/16/08 8:34:34 AM”

“Yogi really got me into the ultralight hiking. I have the six moons designs lunar solo and could not be more happy.

This is a small company and they stand behind their work. When the tent arrived, I noticed a problem with the stiching near the top where your trekking pole goes. I sent Ron (owner of 6 moons) asking about this. He advised that I should send it back and he will take a look at it. He paid for return shipping, fixed the issue and sent it back, no charge.

I have used this in a variety of conditions. While camped at Mammoth Cave NP, a huge storm tore through the park; winds in excess of 60 MPH knocked down trees all over the park. Tent was fine, no leaking or sagging.

Have also use it in extreme low temps with no frost build up inside.

Ron makes other tents tat are lighter that this as well.”

“I'd also mention that you will get soaked getting in and out of that vestibule in the rain/moisture. Just FYI.
last edited: 12/16/08 11:34:34 AM�
roseymonster

How's that? It opens from the side.


Hilleberg's opens in the front and having been in one in rain storm I didn't get wet in it either.

FYI”

“wow those hillebergs look nice but they sure are spendy and a lot of them really aren't that light weight.

(make sure to read my questions up above the orange tent:)”

“�wow those hillebergs look nice but they sure are spendy and a lot of them really aren't that light weight.

(make sure to read my questions up above the orange tent:)�
mountainrocker


Actually the Nallo is both light and HUGE and until MSR came out with the one above I was going to buy one. I am not sure about that tunnel on the MSR, looks like a spot for snow and rain to collect. The Nallo is still my choice as of now because of that.”

“thanks wounded knee I'll probably go with one of those if I can't find a cheap MSR, or if I don't feel like making a tarptent or if I rule them out when somebody gives me more info on them... *cough* dayhiker info please *cough*”

“I see, Sticks. I thought it opened from the front. You can avoid getting wet with a front opening fly, you just have to be careful not to let it brush all over you getting in and out (if it's raining, who cares anyway).

I have the first generation Nallo GT and it opens to the side also. That vestibule is completely excellent for 4-season/crap weather. You can take off all of your wet stuff, cook, etc. without even having to enter the tent body. Plus, the tent body will collapse (it's an inner pitching tent, meaning that you pitch the vestibule and tent at the same time -- a real saver in windy, crappy weather) and I have had four people under the fly cooking grub before. 4.5 lbs for a totally bomber, hang out in any weather tent? I think that's pretty good.”

“Forget that one.
last edited: 12/17/08 8:48:01 AM”

“page not found”

“I have had a great experience with my Tarptent. I've been in rain, wind, and blowing dust.

With the one I have, you can't sit up, so being in it all day would not be fun. In a dome tent you can sit up and play cards. In a blowing dust storm, well everything gets dusty. There is a band of mesh around the bottom, which air and dust just goes right through.

I added a section of rubber hose to the guy line at the front and rear. They are sold as snubbers for fishing. I can put a little stretch in the snubbers, and when the fabric sags a little, the snubbers keep the tent taught. When there is super strong wind, the snubbers absorb a lot of the force, and let the tent give quite a bit, then snap back to full taught.

For worse weather, like long periods of rain and wind, and snow, I would go with a dome tent. My tarp tent weighs less than 2 pounds, and I love it.”

“yo dayhiker I'd appreciate a little more information on your tyvek tarptent. how long did it hold together? is lowes housewrap the same? which design did you use?”

“http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8136423#
what's ya'lls experience and/or take on this bad boy
last edited: 12/23/08 10:12:42 PM”

“Looks like a single wall. So frankly, I wouldn't. Sports Authority makes an inexpensive 4lb two man backpacker/bike tent if you want to keep it that cheap, and it has a fly with a small vestibule. I paid about $30 for them.”

“You'd be better off using a blue tarp IMHO. REIOutlet.com has the Big Agnes Seed House 1 on sale for $124. Ya don't have to break the bank for quality gear but ya do get what ya pay for.”

“One night of sleeping in a puddle of water and the few extra bucks on a dry tent won't seem so bad.”

“lol o.k thanks”

“I would start with a tarptent, which will suffice in 90% of conditions.

then as budget allows, add a 2 man rectangular dome type tent, with 2 poles that cross in the middle, with a fly and foot print.

then as you need more room, get an REI Taj 3, three man dome tent.

finally, get a 4 season, 4 man dome tent for winter use, and for use in bad weather.

Then you will have the tents I use the most of my inventory of tents.”

“a good place to find deals is backcountry.com, they will sometimes have different gear on clearance or on sale, rei is another good place, they will deals listed on their website. I use the Black Diamond Vista 3 person 3 season. It wasn't that bad to hike in. I hiked it into 4 Lakes Basin, it was nice and spacious. I also use a solo tent, though I can not remember which brand. I found it on clearance at Kirkhams in Salt Lake.”

“I picked up a tent at Dick's Sporting Good over the holidays for $50. I have yet to take it out of the box because it weighs 5lbs.

As most of you know, my normal tent is about worn out from way too many miles and rain/hail/sleet.

What your be your recommendation for a good tent for me to buy? I'm really wanting to get the wait down ito the 3lb range. I know we are just talking about 2lbs here, but I don't think I should ~settle~ just because it was on sale. (normally cost about $200.)”

“Buy one from me bro....”

“what you got?”

“The Eureka Spitfire is hard to beat for the price.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___23889

Didn't somebody say that?”

“any one have this one?? what do you guys think of it? I know it's a bit on the heavy side but I think I'd be willing to carry it knowing I saved so much”

“which one?”

“oh haha oops gues I forgot to post the link huh... this one: http://www.rei.com/product/731624”

“Looks great for car camping, however speaking from experience (I used to lug a Eureka Apex around) I would resist the urge to buy it to back pack with... Saving so much doesn't result in carry less weight, and you will quickly forget the $200 in saving as you haul a winnabago around on your back..

'32oz
last edited: 1/08/09 12:08:51 PM”

“it isn't that bad for weight especially since my lightest backpack I bacpacked with so far was 80lbs.”