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Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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favorite 4 season tent
- Thread starter budman
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 29, 1999
- Messages
- 932
I'm partial to "debris shelters". those shelters that are made from branches and leaves. More fun than a tent and less weight to carry.
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Big-Target>>>>>>SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM
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Big-Target>>>>>>SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM
- Joined
- Sep 24, 1999
- Messages
- 329
I am considering the purchase of a Eureka Alpenlite. Does anyone have any experience with it?
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Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in.
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C.S. Lewis
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My Homepage
Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in.
Aim at earth and you get neither.
C.S. Lewis
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2001
- Messages
- 108
For real 4 season use, I think the best is MOSS. Try the Titan model as it is the best compromise of weather protection, warm weather versatility, ventilation, space to weight and comfort, that I have seen. MH tents are very good as are Marmot.
Unless you are planning to use for altitude/arctic conditions most of the time, avoid buying TOO much tent. Some companies market their tents as 4 season because they stand up well to snow loads, cold weather, etc., but they are truly ONLY good for these conditions and should be called cold weather tents. A key red flag is anything with the term "summit" or similar in the description.
These tents are almost always sweltering in even the mildest summer weather, and do not vent heat well. Also, the floors are often too lighweight for camping on rocks, sticks etc.
If you only camp in spring summer and fall, get a good three season model
Otherwise, if you are camping in all four seasons, get a top brand and make sure their idea of four seasons is not winter, winter, up north, and summit.
For quality sake, go with Moss, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, TNF, or Sierra Designs.
(I still think you'll be happiest with the Titan!)
Also, checkout Backpacker Magazine's Gear Guide Annual.
Things to consider:
SIZE - Don't carry more than you need, but don't be cramped either.
VENTILATION - how much mesh? Windows? Vents?
POLES - Aluminum T7075 is best, fiberglass braks in the cold
POLE CLIPS OR SLEEVES - Clips provide ventilation and easy setup, Sleeves are stronger.
FLY - Dark flies make for gloomy interiors on rainy days. And are hot in the sun. Full coverage is important for wet and windy weather. Is vestibule big enough.
CONSTRUCTION - Strong seams, heat taped, thick floor w/good waterproofing, guy tie-outs, self standing.
AND MANY MORE...
Hope this helps.
Jet
Unless you are planning to use for altitude/arctic conditions most of the time, avoid buying TOO much tent. Some companies market their tents as 4 season because they stand up well to snow loads, cold weather, etc., but they are truly ONLY good for these conditions and should be called cold weather tents. A key red flag is anything with the term "summit" or similar in the description.
These tents are almost always sweltering in even the mildest summer weather, and do not vent heat well. Also, the floors are often too lighweight for camping on rocks, sticks etc.
If you only camp in spring summer and fall, get a good three season model
Otherwise, if you are camping in all four seasons, get a top brand and make sure their idea of four seasons is not winter, winter, up north, and summit.
For quality sake, go with Moss, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, TNF, or Sierra Designs.
(I still think you'll be happiest with the Titan!)
Also, checkout Backpacker Magazine's Gear Guide Annual.
Things to consider:
SIZE - Don't carry more than you need, but don't be cramped either.
VENTILATION - how much mesh? Windows? Vents?
POLES - Aluminum T7075 is best, fiberglass braks in the cold
POLE CLIPS OR SLEEVES - Clips provide ventilation and easy setup, Sleeves are stronger.
FLY - Dark flies make for gloomy interiors on rainy days. And are hot in the sun. Full coverage is important for wet and windy weather. Is vestibule big enough.
CONSTRUCTION - Strong seams, heat taped, thick floor w/good waterproofing, guy tie-outs, self standing.
AND MANY MORE...
Hope this helps.
Jet
I have a Bibler (2 door) I-Tent. I've also had 3 Sierra Designs tents, 2 by North Face, 2 Colemans, an American Camper, and a Camel, as well as an Outdoor Research bivouac Sack. And I've examined most of the tents on the market, including the offerings by Moss, Stephensons, Marmot, etc.
None of the others even come anywhere close to the quality, the versatility, the ventiliation, the strength, the waterproofness, the lightweight (except for Stephensons), or the ease of set-up, compared to Bibler's offerings. Truly, it's no contest. However, their staggeringly high price is commensurate with their enormously high quality.
If you can't afford the Bibler, then Sierra Designs, and Moss are great offerings, too. The North Face and Eureka offerings are not of comparable quality, as best I can tell. But even those should be just fine for all but the most serious users.
None of the others even come anywhere close to the quality, the versatility, the ventiliation, the strength, the waterproofness, the lightweight (except for Stephensons), or the ease of set-up, compared to Bibler's offerings. Truly, it's no contest. However, their staggeringly high price is commensurate with their enormously high quality.
If you can't afford the Bibler, then Sierra Designs, and Moss are great offerings, too. The North Face and Eureka offerings are not of comparable quality, as best I can tell. But even those should be just fine for all but the most serious users.
I have a NorthFace Ve-24. Purchased in the early '80s. It has been used on from the North to the South Arctic Circle, logged ove r fifty trips with it.In the early '90s I sent it back and had a vestibule added to it. Several patches, always used a ground cloth, Still going strong. Don't think I'll need to buy another one. It is very roomy, Great for being snowed in and having parties.
It is rather bulky, but that goes with the teritory.
Cheers,
ts
It is rather bulky, but that goes with the teritory.
Cheers,
ts
- Joined
- Sep 24, 1999
- Messages
- 329
Outdoorreview.com is an interesting site that has quite a few ratings on the various tents out there as well as other equipment. Although only nine people rated the Alpenlite, they all seemed go give it high marks.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 1998
- Messages
- 1,367
I've had North Face tents since the mid 70s: an original mountain tent, and a VE-24 that I've since turned over to my kids. They were both bombproof, but heavy. I can't address TNF quality nowadays, but the gear review sites can.
I use a Bibler Fitzroy now. Very expensive, but by far the best combination of strength, quality, and light weight that I've found. It stays livable (upright) in high winds (>100 mph), heavy snow loads, and low temperatures (<-20). It might help keep you alive. I'm taking it to Pakistan next year, and expecting winter conditions up to about 18,000'.
It's a 2-3 person unit, but Bibler makes larger tents.
BTW, debris shelters are not an option at high altitudes, but snow caves and igloos are. Much warmer and quieter than tents, and nothing to carry except a bivvy bag.
db
[This message has been edited by Dave B (edited 06-18-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Dave B (edited 06-18-2001).]
I use a Bibler Fitzroy now. Very expensive, but by far the best combination of strength, quality, and light weight that I've found. It stays livable (upright) in high winds (>100 mph), heavy snow loads, and low temperatures (<-20). It might help keep you alive. I'm taking it to Pakistan next year, and expecting winter conditions up to about 18,000'.
It's a 2-3 person unit, but Bibler makes larger tents.
BTW, debris shelters are not an option at high altitudes, but snow caves and igloos are. Much warmer and quieter than tents, and nothing to carry except a bivvy bag.
db
[This message has been edited by Dave B (edited 06-18-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Dave B (edited 06-18-2001).]
BMWG:
Please understand that I am not trying to put down North Face Ve 24 tents. I used one extensively in the mid-eighties. I have great memories of times in a Ve 24. They're certainly good tents.
But if you can afford a Bibler Fitzroy or Bibler Bombshelter, these are far superior to the Ve 24 in strength, weatherproofness, durability, weight, bulk, ventiliation, and ease of set-up. It's not even close.
Please understand that I am not trying to put down North Face Ve 24 tents. I used one extensively in the mid-eighties. I have great memories of times in a Ve 24. They're certainly good tents.
But if you can afford a Bibler Fitzroy or Bibler Bombshelter, these are far superior to the Ve 24 in strength, weatherproofness, durability, weight, bulk, ventiliation, and ease of set-up. It's not even close.