tent shopping help

Another option for ground sleepers is the bivy bag and tarp. Lots of room, lots of fresh air, and lots of scenery. It's also very easy to keep gear organized, cook and eat meals out of the weather, and change clothes w/o tracking water, mud or snow inside your shelter. I love the fact that I can pitch the tarp FIRST, then roll out my bed and other gear under the protection of the tarp. It's also probably the lightest weight shelter if done correctly.

The wind shifted on me a little, but not enough to bother moving.

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As cool as hammocks, bivouac sacs and all matter of tarps are, they're not "easy" [well OK a bivy bag is easy, but not super comfortable in shitty weather] like a well-designed three season tent. Staking out a free-standing tarp is bitch, sorry fellas, but it's not easy. They're awesome, and I love sleeping under them, but they're not easy. I have a Mountain Hardwear Approach and it can be set-up in 3 minutes [the MH Helion would be similar], it's the easiest tent I've ever used and light too.

My advice, look at REI tents, MSR, Mountain Hardwear, TNF, Black Diamond etc. Look only at "freestanding tents" and at the weights and prices and compile a list. Look at online reviews, but most importantly, set them up before buying. The above companies all make well-designed, light, easy tents.
 
REI tents are great lower cost but light weight tents. I was just at REI and the 2 person half dome was on sale for $120. Doesn't appear to be on sale online though. If you live close by one I'd go check them out.

I have a Big Agnes and a friend has an REI. They are very comparable quality and weight wise but I paid twice as much.:grumpy:
 
redpoint said:
As cool as hammocks, bivouac sacs and all matter of tarps are, they're not "easy" [well OK a bivy bag is easy, but not super comfortable in shitty weather] like a well-designed three season tent. Staking out a free-standing tarp is bitch, sorry fellas, but it's not easy. They're awesome, and I love sleeping under them, but they're not easy. I have a Mountain Hardwear Approach and it can be set-up in 3 minutes
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I guess It must be practice, cause I'm usually set up in a minute or two tops. That includes tarp, hammock, and insulation which has gotten me down to 20 degree nights, nice and toasty.
Then again, to each his own!
 
Not very long of a wait - I ordered a year or so back, when they were just starting to get popular.
 
I cant imagine sleeping in a hammock. It seems like it would give me flamingo knees by morning. That and you cant roll on your side while sleeping, or is this false?
 
milani74 said:
I cant imagine sleeping in a hammock. It seems like it would give me flamingo knees by morning. That and you cant roll on your side while sleeping, or is this false?
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Quite false - in a good hammock, you lie on an angle, which gets you much flatter, and also does away with the knee hyperextension. Some people still like to put a rolled up jacket under their knees for extra comfort. Furthermore, due to the flatter lie on the angle, it's completely reasonable to sleep on your side - I do it all the time.


There even some hammocks, like the jacks r better bridge hammock, that are so flat you can sleep on your stomach.
 
thanks for all the ideas and links, i'm still tryin to decide what to get, really need to go hit some stores and see some in person.

thanks
cricket
 
Kifaru Paratipi with a stove. I have one.

Pricey. But a tent with central heat...

Admit it, you know it's a good idea.
 
Got one of them, and the 4man also. It doesn't take long before you're downright spoiled by the warmth!
 
I have an REI Half Dome that is a few years old - REI has since redesigned the Half Dome. I've carried it on 50+ mile hikes, used it in the winter here in Mass and squeezed me and my two sons (10 and 8) in it for a few nights. Its fairly light and really easy to set-up - can be done by one person. I had looked at some other nice tents that provided a weight savings over the Half Dome of between 3 and 5 ounces, but at prices that averaged $100+ more than the Half Dome. I decided those were pretty expensive ounces and that I could probably shave that weight from my load elsewhere for less coin. Good luck.
 
gizZzmo333 said:
anyone here use Hennessey Hammocks?
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A good friend that I regularly camp with has a Hennessy. It is a sweet set-up. If you intend to use it in winter months where it gets chilly, I would recommend that you get an insulation system.
 
lukeeson111 said:
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I've owned the north face rock 22 for 4 years now and never let me down. about $150
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I had a rock 22 and it was a nice tent.... for car camping. It was way to heavy for backpacking at 6+lbs, closer to 7 lbs if you count the footprint. I have a Sierra Designs Sirius 3 now, and it is under 6 lbs.

Personally, if you are planning on having a 2nd person in the tent with you, go with a 3 person tent, the manufacturers are very optimistic when they determine how many people can fit inside their tents.

Go with a freestanding tent, and one with clips versus sleeves. Setup shouldn't take you more than a couple minutes regardless of tent size from the time you pull everything out the bag.

Get a footprint, or a tarp or tyvex to protect the bottom of the tent.

If there is a REI, check them out. They have essentially any of the manufacturers that everyone has recommended and 100% satisfaction. You can even rent tents there to try them out if you would like. I like the fact that you can go and set a tent up in the store and no one freaks out, as a matter of fact they'll come assist you.

Cost wise, you can easily get a tent that will last you for years for under $200. I like the MSR tents, but they can be expensive although I did get a brand new Mutha Hubba 3 person tent from REI for $160 on clearance once. :D
 
R.A.T. said:
Amen, brother. Best setup we have used to-date. It gets high praises in my upcoming SWAT gear review article, while the OTB boots and Katadyn Hiker filter get a :thumbdn:
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Do you all just use the nests or the tent and nest combo? I am thinking just the nest, but thought I would ask.

I am trying to decide between the GoLite Shangri-La or the Kifaru tipi for my next purchase. Shangri-La 5 sounds great at half the cost of the Kifaru 4 man tipi...
 
I have used the REI Half Dome & Quarter Dome tents for a number of years now and they are the best all around tents I have ever owned! Both models have been redesigned but you can still find these older models if you look around. I use the Half Dome for camping and the Quarter Dome for backpacking and have never been let down.

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