Need a hand: Looking for a backpacking tent

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plue

Joined
Oct 3, 2012
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Greetings all,

I have recently started upgrading my hiking and backpacking gear, which I've had for quite a while so I'm a bit out of the loop on some newer items. More specifically, I'm looking for a relatively lightweight tent, around 4 lb, to take backpacking. I need this tent for 2 people, 3-season, to be fully enclosed (we have too many bugs up here), and to have the ability to be pitched w/o the use of hiking poles (I sometimes hike in and set up camp, then hike around, so I'd prefer free use of my poles).

I've been looking at quite a few reviews over the last couple of months, and seem to be going around in circles. I'll find a tent with some nice information, then I'll find a bunch of complaints about it, repeat with many tents. My latest tent of interest was the TarpTent Double Rainbow, but it seems to be a single wall tent (I've never used this kind before). I live in a relatively humid area, so I was wondering if anyone knew how the DR performed in a more humid environment in terms of condensation issues (since it's a single wall).

Any information and recommendations for other tents appreciated.

--Looking for something around $300 mark.
 
If I had to do it over again I would likely buy an MSR Hubba hubba. I currently have an Asolo that is the same design as the Hubba hubba but has a lot less mesh and is a couple of pounds heavier.

That Tarptent looks nice, not crazy expensive either. Where in Alberta are you?
 
Big Agnes copper creek ul 2. 350 $, less than 3 #, double wall. Check out Backpacker Mag Editors choice issue (s). They have spec charts that allow you to compare everything from weight, cost, space, height, vestibule size, fabric type, manufacturers, etc, available in physical copy via the mag, and online too.
 
Eureka Apex has been a good three season tent for me, these past six years. I spent a couple of nights in a Florida swamp last week. Worked fine against those solid clouds of Mosquitos.
 
The Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 is 4 pounds 12 oz and retail is $199. Three season and free standing.

I have the Mystique 2. 5 pounds 2 oz, Retail $219. Three season, not free standing. Got it on a fall clearance sale 9 years ago for really cheap and it has served me well.
 
Flipincanadian - Thanks for the suggestion, I'll take a look at the MSR. I'm working around the GP area right now, but I reside down in Red Deer for the most part.

nezpercelands - Thanks, I've been looking at the Copper Creek, but I've read reviews that it's not very durable? Any personal experience with it?

Mannlicher - Thanks, I appreciate the suggestion, I'll take a look at the Apex.

wildmanh - Thanks, I'll take a look at the Zephyr 2, although my last tent was an Alps, and I can't say I was blown away by it. I wonder if perhaps their quality has gone up lately, as I've heard some good things.
 
You should think about heading to MEC the next time you're in one of the cities. They always have a decent selection of MSR and Big Agnes tents, as well as their own branded stuff. The venerable MEC Tarn series has always been popular, but might be a tad too heavy for your tastes? (I think it weighs in at just over 5lbs). I'm personally fond of the stuff from Big Agnes myself.

I hear you about the single wall tents though. A friend had a single wall Mountain Hardwear single walled tent when we did Glacier National Park, and even though we had it pegged out and vented, we still woke up every morning to lots of condensation.
 
I am a committed hammock man, but if you really want to sleep on the ground, I have had good luck with the Alps Mountaineering Zephyr. The REI Half Dome is a great tent for the money. If money is not that much of a problem, the Big Agnes Seedhouse would be my choice. However, this has a lot to do with the fact that most of my camping is in Texas and it is always hot. The Big Agnes has great ventilation, but closes up enough to handle freezing weather on my occasional excursions to Colorado
 
Cardiackid said:
the Big Agnes Seedhouse would be my choice.
Click to expand...

I've also switched to hammocking years ago, but until then, the Big Agnes Seedhouse was my favorite. It's a great lightweight tent. Mine has endured a lot of use and I have no complaints with it.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I used to have an ex military/Army ?? jungle hammock that lasted me for around 25 years. I see a new model out that you enter through the bottom and when you lay down it closes the opening up. I'd rather have velcro closures, with my luck the bottom would open up and drop me. I had a Eureka timberline 2 man and then a timberland 4 man with two flap doors and 2 vestibules for winter camping. Now its an Ascend 4 person base camp w/external frame. With spinal cord diseases the less weight I have to carry for any distances at all the better.
 
I have a Tarptent Contrail and can confirm there's plenty of condensation on the inside in humid weather. It's manageable, but if you're used to double wall tents it's a bit of a surprise. After having used it a while, I greatly prefer free-standing, double wall tents. The contrail is nice in good weather, but when things go south I want a real tent.
 
rocketbomb said:
I have a Tarptent Contrail and can confirm there's plenty of condensation on the inside in humid weather. It's manageable, but if you're used to double wall tents it's a bit of a surprise. After having used it a while, I greatly prefer free-standing, double wall tents. The contrail is nice in good weather, but when things go south I want a real tent.
Click to expand...

I have both a Tarptent Notch (solo trips) and a Stratospire-2 for when my wife and I are planning on colder temps. We typically do hammocks, but for colder weather, we use the Stratospire-2; it does require either hiking poles or you can purchase dedicated poles for putting up.

Yes, these tents will build up condensation in humid temps; the good news is that they dry quickly and you can still open them up pretty good for air flow. My wife packs a separate rain fly (as I’m packing the tent) and we’ve actually just used the inner net/tub floor with the separate fly to allow better airflow when the temps or humidity are higher. It still keeps the bugs out and gives you good overhead protection. Double doors are must for easier access and excellent air flow. A lot of options with our set up, but for the weight, functionality and performance, it’s hard to beat…

ROCK6
 
Hi Plue. Check out the selection of tents at MEC. I've had a Tarn II since '99. It has been on many sheep and goat hunts in the mountains. This year my daughter drew a tag and I needed a 3-man (well 3 person LOL!) tent. I went with the MEC Volt 3. This tent weighs the same as the older Tarn 2 @ 2.7kgs due to the lighter poles and sil-nylon fly. The twin vensibules are sweet. They also make a Volt 2 whic is 2.2kgs I believe (4.8lbs). Many of the MEC tents come with a thicker floor than other brands (10,000mm rating). There is a pic of the Volt 3 in this thread I posted:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Mountains-in-Search-of-a-Rocky-Mountain-Goat

Bruce
 
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