I need a tent...

“So my Black Diamond disappointed me a bit on the JMT. I have a $300 REI Gift card I would like to use on a new tent.
Already posted this on FB, but I know a couple of you guys could give me some valuable tips.

I did check REI, and I am actually pretty disappointed in there selection, but here is what I found:

http://www.rei.com/product/811994/nemo-obi-2p-tent Crap, that's pretty heavy, but looks like it would hold up well in windy or rainy conditions.

http://www.rei.com/product/843623/easton-mountain-products-kilo-2p-tent hmm... I absolutely love the weight of this tent, but heard that it is very small and condensation could be a problem.

Another other REI options?
I need a 2 person tent, and yes, weight is an is an issue. I won't carry around a 4lb tent.

Thanks guys ;)”

“"their"”

“Don't you have a Cloudburst tarptent?”

“I like the Easton, but honestly, if I were going to buy a new tent, I'd look for a cottage industry cuben fiber deal.. so many good choices. 20 denier nylon ripstop is very light duty..”

“Yes, I do have the cloudburst, but I wanted a free standing tent. The cloudburst is ok, but I want something more solid.”

“1camper, I have the $300 I HAVE to use. I don't think REI has any other great tents. Unless I overlooked them.”

“Ya, freestanding is a dealbreaker for most cuben fiber tents. Get the Easton. If the fly doesn't hold up down the road, get zpacks or somebody to copy the fly in cuben.”

“this is what scares me about the Nemo:
http://sectionhiker.com/easton-mountain-products-kilo-2p-lightweight-tent-review/

look at this pitch.. ugh, if that's how it stands at his best...uhm... well”

“That is scary.. what about http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/product/829835/msr-carbon-reflex-2-tent

Kinda pricey but a tried and true design.”

“I don't understand why REI has the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL4 Tent, but not the UL2.
There selection really is terrible in tents.
I might wait and use my cloudburst for a while.”

“Do you really need a 2-person tent? I like the look of the Nemo Obi 1P.”

“I like the space in a 2P tent. Enough room for my backpack, boots etc... Last time I slept in a 1P tents was 6 years ago or so.”

“I wondered if it wasn't a wintertime selection.. seems like mostly 3.5 to 4 season tents.”

“Gem, if they stock The UL4and not the ul2 I bet if you talk to the head tent nerd, he/she can order in the UL2 for you. Worth a try”

“Stratd00d, you might be on to something lol
they said to call the 800 number...”

“Good strat, that will prolly work. Another slightly possible option Gem might be to pick up somebody's tent here, one that ranks hi in your desired categories, and let them have that $300 REI thing to burn up. Just a thawt, if the UL2 thing don't pan out.”

“So besides wanting a 2 person (or 1.5 person) tent, what are your requirements?”

“ha, as light as possible. don't want to carry around 4lb. Would like to have it free standing and a double wall... if possible.

Like I said I have a $300 gift card, I would like to use. The 20% REI discount coming up sometime this year would be nice too...”

“... I have a 4 season Eureka Mountain Pass 2XT and it is bomber. Like all Eurekas it's not the most technical, nor the lightest, but absolutely bomber. I got my daughter the summer version with the mesh inner net. She went camping in northern Ontario with friends and a storm blew in from Lake Huron and hers was the only tent completely dry in the morning.

The price is good too (www.campmor.com).

I had a 4 person Eureka Sentinel (for the family) for twenty years, when the floor finally gave out. Used it in Wyoming and on the shore of Lake Erie. A storm blew in from the Lake and in the morning I looked out to see tents and tent parts all over the place and people coming back with crying kids to pick up the damage. I never heard a thing (wine was involved, I guess, but the sunset the previous evening was spectacular).”

“have you looked a hammocks? if not you might be surprised”

“I had a hammock, and sold it. I was always worried there wouldn't be enough trees... lol
I want the big agnes fly creek UL 2p tent, I think.”

“not enough trees??? really..lol”

“...and hammocks are only for one. I love mine but they ain't for everybody. Also, above the treeline...no trees! Everyone needs a good tent for these occasions.”

“i know it's a phobia that makes no sense...
hey... I can't help it.
besides that, there is a lot I don't like about hammocks...so I would prefer a tent.”

“...now that is crazy! Lol.”

“http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/product/796087/big-agnes-fly-creek-ul2-tent

Shows it in stock, nice tent. I'd rather have aluminum poles than carbon..”

“...oops, not in stock. :(”

“It shows they have it in several stores:

http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/storeProductLookup?style=796087&qty;=1&colorsize;=7960870017&un;_jtt_v_sku=


What gives? Call the store in Raliegh..”

“REI told me to call the 800 number, and let them do the legwork for me... I am thinking that's the tent I want.”

“REI has the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2. I love my Fly Creek UL3.

http://www.rei.com/product/796087/big-agnes-fly-creek-ul2-tent”

“Gem - Very nice to see you link to Section Hiker. He's a friend of mine - we've done a few gnarly bushwhacks together.”

“If ya gotta buy from REI you're really limiting your choices for a tent- but I know, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Although, You could spend the $300 on other things from REI-food, snacks, power bars, socks, stove or fuel, etc....then buy a great,lighter weight tent elsewhere.
-tarptent has the Rainbow-freestanding tent. Or you could look for cuben fiber freestanding-not sure if that exists yet.”

“pedxing, his review was awesome.... helped me a lot to decide. :)

and yes, I liked the BA tent the best, hope its not as fragile as my old BA.
last edited: 1/05/13 5:33:43 AM”

“I've done a few hundred miles in my Fly Creek - and I've had no problems, but it's never been exposed to high winds or significant snow fall.”

“Oh attila, yes, that did cross my mind, getting the NeoAir instead...and buy the tent somewhere else...but the rainbow is only freestanding if I use trecking poles, and I am trying to hike without poles more often...so I am back to the Fly Creek...

I have the cloudburst, and it's ok for it's weight...”

“I LOVE my Eurika MP 1XT. Good tent! I've about worn it out!”

“Double wall is a huge advantage over single wall options. I've started just using my CF tarp over my two or three person body. Works pretty good unless you have a blowing rain..
I'd love to see a freestanding double wall CF tent. ..or maybe just find a two person ultralight that I really like and have a fly made to fit it. There ya go..that's my dream. Run with it, lol.”

“Yeah, I like double wall for the versatility.”

“We went back to double wall tents after several seasons with single wall tents. My son and I use the Fly Creek UL 3 and it is very roomy. For solo hiking I use the Fry Creek UL 2. I used the UL 2 last summer and it worked fine. The walls seem a bit thin and flimsy, so I took it easy....but didn't have any problems. I love the light weight.”

“Phil, why the switch back to doublewall? Condensation?”

“I'm bummed with my Six Moon Designs Skyscape because it gets my feet wet. The single wall strip in the middle rains on me on damp nights and my feet always touch the roof.

I'm lusting for a Tarp Tent Notch.”

“I've been happy with the tarptents over the years but some of the double wall/freestanding tents are getting comparable in weight. I like it. It's an excuse to buy another tent.”

“What Rosey said... And the condensation is a pain in the the booty”