Needing to get a lite weight tent and

longbow50

longbow50

Joined
Jul 12, 2002
Messages
3,291
have been eyeing a Wenzel Swiss Gear hiker/bicycle tent called the Ridgeline.

http://www.packncamp.com/site/498873/product/10607

Anyone seen, owned, have any experience with this inexpensive tent? I like it because of price, but mostly because it packs down to 14" x 4" and only weighs 3# or so, if I use my hiking stick instead of their tent pole.
 
Bro, I haven't had any experiences with the model of tent that you are interested in...but, when it comes to tents, like most things, you get what you pay for. I'm not "rolling in the bucks" myself, but the amount that you drop for a tent isn't going to mean squat when you are wet, cold, and miserable.
 
Good point. :thumbup: Get what ya pay for is a given. But I liken it with Mora's and SAKs, which kind of bend that rule. Besides, it only needs to last one season, maybe two.;)

I've already given the weather some thought and will be hanging a German mil issue tarp over it to help with wet and wind and would probably be doing the same with most any tent that I end up with.
 
I agree with Troop...... but for $28.00 it's worth a shot. I might try one myself.

I have no experiance.... but I did buy a cheap one man tent from US Camper once. That was 16 years ago and I still have it. Cost $20.00 from a local general store, and has it's quirks. Still does what I need though.






BTW.... I just hit spell check and for the first time in a long time I did good:o ;) Nothing misspelled!
 
i have one of these from sportsmansguide:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=329275

not a bad tent at all and pretty damn light too.

kinda depends on the environment your in

i haven't been able to test it extensively yet... but i think i saw a few other members here use it too...

cheers mate happy campings
 
Longbow I have a long trek planned for this summer and need lighten all my gear so I can carry food and water. The Wenzel tents I have had in the past were of pretty poor quality but I still got 3 seasons, I think, out of each one. Still I might order one along with the bivy in SG just too try out. If nothing else the kids can have their own tent.

The Eureka Spitfire single person is $90.00, weighs 2lbs 9 oz, and has an aluminum frame rather than fiberglass. The 2 person is4lbs and costs $130.00.

The Catoma 1 person combat shelter in woodland camo cost $75.00 and is very weather resistant though it doesn't breath well. It is heavy but should last many years with its aluminum frame.
 
I've been intrigued by the Hunter Bivy from Cabelas but haven't tried it yet.
i516916sn02.jpg


It's like an old-fashioned pup-tent but one entire side lifts up lean-to style. It is a single wall, however.

-- FLIX
 
It depends a lot on the terrain and weather that you're planning for, but in usual stompin' grounds I prefer a hammock and a tarp. The Wensel that you're looking at looks like it would be worth a shot though. I'm not familiar with the German tarp you mentioned. . . How heavy/bulky is it? Depending on where you're going and when, you may be able to get by with just the tarp and possibly a mosquito net.
 
jca21 said:
i have one of these from sportsmansguide:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=329275

not a bad tent at all and pretty damn light too.

kinda depends on the environment your in

i haven't been able to test it extensively yet... but i think i saw a few other members here use it too...

cheers mate happy campings
Click to expand...

I was looking at this bivy early on and was very interested, but last I checked, SG and ebay didn't have them, which is when I started looking elsewhere. I look at stuff forever before making up my mind. :rolleyes:

Gotta admit though, I like the idea of having a little headroom for sitting up and having a hot cup of coffee or whatever. Especially in wet weather.
 
2dogs said:
Longbow I have a long trek planned for this summer and need lighten all my gear so I can carry food and water. The Wenzel tents I have had in the past were of pretty poor quality but I still got 3 seasons, I think, out of each one. Still I might order one along with the bivy in SG just too try out. If nothing else the kids can have their own tent.

The Eureka Spitfire single person is $90.00, weighs 2lbs 9 oz, and has an aluminum frame rather than fiberglass. The 2 person is4lbs and costs $130.00.

The Catoma 1 person combat shelter in woodland camo cost $75.00 and is very weather resistant though it doesn't breath well. It is heavy but should last many years with its aluminum frame.
Click to expand...

2dogs, that's pretty much what I'm trying to gear up for. Got my rucksack down to 19#, with room for a small tent inside. Planning on walking the hills from the observatory on top of Chews Ridge (spelling?) to Hunter Liggett, but when it happens exactly is still up in the air.
 
FLIX, that's an interesting idea and the waterproofing tops a lot of what I've looked at up to now.

Salamander42 said:
It depends a lot on the terrain and weather that you're planning for, but in usual stompin' grounds I prefer a hammock and a tarp. The Wensel that you're looking at looks like it would be worth a shot though. I'm not familiar with the German tarp you mentioned. . . How heavy/bulky is it? Depending on where you're going and when, you may be able to get by with just the tarp and possibly a mosquito net.
Click to expand...

I'm familiar with the area, but havn't traveled it at great distance. Lots of bugs from late spring to late fall and there's a particular green fly that uses repellent as an apetizer.:D

The German tarp is about 6' x 9', has reinforced grommets, line guides for hanging the tarp and it rolls up slightly larger and weighs about the same as the USGI poncho, which I usually carry as well.
 
Yeah, I mean I only carry a $10 orange tarp with me, works wonders and was TEN BUCKS! how can I go wrong, its 10'-12' and I can fold it up 1' 1/2'' square. :D
 
Longbow I used to camp at China Camp quite a bit years ago. I haven't been there for years. You used to be able to see Half Dome from the fire lookout on Chews Ridge. Used to be great pigeon hunting on the ridge too. Mission San Antonio is my favorite mission, love to tour the grounds. I taught wildland firefighting at Hunter Ligget for several years during the annual training burn.
 
Hey Guys..

Longbow...

do yourself a favor and stay away from the Swiss Gear tents...

I have one and it's been Nothing but a problem...

It's a shame because I really like the tent too..

The tent itself is well made and designed, except the poles...

The poles that come with it are under engineered and are too thin.. I've broken two sets of them already, and now the tent is up in the barn stuffed into a box...

Shame really..Decent enough tent...Too bad they didn't pay more attention to the design and strength of the pole system...

REI has some Real bad ass hiking tents with aluminum poles..Have a lopk around there..

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
2dogs said:
Longbow I used to camp at China Camp quite a bit years ago. I haven't been there for years. You used to be able to see Half Dome from the fire lookout on Chews Ridge. Used to be great pigeon hunting on the ridge too. Mission San Antonio is my favorite mission, love to tour the grounds. I taught wildland firefighting at Hunter Ligget for several years during the annual training burn.
Click to expand...

We definitely stomp some of the same ground. Killed a couple buckies up on Chews. Killed a small, but nice hog not 10 yards from the lookout.
 
Normark said:
Hey Guys..

Longbow...

do yourself a favor and stay away from the Swiss Gear tents...

I have one and it's been Nothing but a problem...

It's a shame because I really like the tent too..

The tent itself is well made and designed, except the poles...

The poles that come with it are under engineered and are too thin.. I've broken two sets of them already, and now the tent is up in the barn stuffed into a box...

Shame really..Decent enough tent...Too bad they didn't pay more attention to the design and strength of the pole system...

REI has some Real bad ass hiking tents with aluminum poles..Have a lopk around there..

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

Dang, I hate it when that happens. I've been through several small dome tents over the years. Guess I'm hard on em. Thanks for the warning Eric.
 
I agree with Normark, go to REI and look around. They may be out of your price range but if you go during a sale you are almost guaranteed to find something better than what you are looking at and in your range.
 
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