View Full Version : Stephenson's Warmlite
Has anyone ever used these tents?
http://www.warmlite.com/tents_In.htm (http://www.warmlite.com/tents_In.htm)
I will be buying a new tent or tents for backpacking and my 2010 AT thru hike. I am looking at either (1) 2 person tent and a solo tent or (2) 2 person tents. I have kids and grandkids who like to backpack with me. I am leaning to the (2) person tent solution. So far I am looking and Six Moon, Tarptents, Hillenberg, plus some other brands. Any ideas or suggestions would be helpfull.
Thanks
You will hear varying opinions. Most folks like the tents, hate dealing with the company.
Customer Service is virtually non-existent unless you consider being belittled and yelled at for mis-treating the equipment as customer service. They have actually claimed (paraphrased, but the sentiment is accurate):
"We do not make defective equipment, so any problem obviously is the fault of the user."
They will repair the products for a substantial fee.
In the past Stephenson tents were very susceptible to UV damage, can't speak for current materials.
I would never consider buying from Stephenson and paying the price they charge. There are plenty of very good products out there (any of the other companies you mentioned would be good), and plenty of companies who treat their customers with respect. Why reward the companies who act like jerks?
saimyoji
12-16-2008, 15:41
....but a great advertising campaign. :cool:
doodah man
12-16-2008, 21:52
Has anyone ever used these tents?
http://www.warmlite.com/tents_In.htm (http://www.warmlite.com/tents_In.htm)
I will be buying a new tent or tents for backpacking and my 2010 AT thru hike. I am looking at either (1) 2 person tent and a solo tent or (2) 2 person tents. I have kids and grandkids who like to backpack with me. I am leaning to the (2) person tent solution. So far I am looking and Six Moon, Tarptents, Hillenberg, plus some other brands. Any ideas or suggestions would be helpfull. Thanks
Grampsb,
I have been using my Stephenson 2R for 25+ years without a problem. I just finished a 20 day JMT thru and it still held up fine during a very nasty, very cold, very windy mid-September storm just below Mt. Ritter. It is quite roomy and comfortably fits two large adults and all their gear. As Lyle mentions (we both have posted our opposing opinions on previous similar threads), the customer support has had a few (well documented) instances where Jack was wrong/rude before his overdue retirement. Besides myself, I know several people who have a Stephenson product all of whom are satisfied. Stephenson’s Warmlite has been in business for over 50 years so that says something about providing a superior product. Also, I have not heard of any customer service issues now that Jack’s son has taken over and is running the show. Much of their product is custom built to order (colors & options, etc.) so returns can be particularly prickly just as it would be trying to return a custom tailored suit. Overall, after 40 years of backpacking, I would rate this tent as equal to, or better than any other 2-man tent I have ever seen in the back country (for whatever reason, I have not run across many Hillenbergs, which are also great tents.). P.S. I weighed my tent complete (including 7 titanium stakes, polycro footprint, and stuff-sack) and it was right at 3 pounds total. doodah-man.
I had one of their sleeping bags for over 15 years, when I finally sold it because I wanted something lighter. Their products are second to none in their innovation. The tents (I have been to the factory) use much larger than average diameter poles with a much thinner than average wall thickness, resulting in a stiffer, stronger pole. I often considered getting one of their two person tents, but I'd be using it mostly in the winter, so I ended up getting a Hilleberg Akto, a nice tent in its own right.
Now that they (Stephenson) have a shortened 2 person tent, I probably would've dropped the extra coin and bought one if they had it when I bought my Akto. I would advise anyone who gets one of the Stephenson tents to order the optional side windows. Most reviews I have read, and my long term study of condensation and ventilation issues in tents convinces me that there is not enough venting to adequately deal with the internal volume of the tent vs. the inner surface area exposed to extremes of heat/cold and respiration induced humidity (in other words, keep your bandanna on hand - you'll need to wipe the inner walls each morning when conditions favoring condensation are present).
Btw: My Akto suffers from the same problem, but it's cheaper :).
One more thing: Stephenson uses nylon thread for sewing their nylon tents. It's harder to work with, but far stronger than polyester or polyester wrapped cotton threads used by most manufacturers.
taildragger
12-16-2008, 22:16
....but a great advertising campaign. :cool:
Greatest catalog ever :banana
at nwhikers.net I've heard many rave reviews over their stuff, never seen it in person though.
For the AT I'd imagine that they're overkill. Get something like a SMD, MSR hubba (hubba (hubba)), tarptent, or hammock.
Thanks for the input. Looks like I have a lot of comparision shopping to do. There is lot of good equipment available and I will have to find the one that best meets my needs.
I pobably should have clarrifed that I hope to do the PCT or the CDT after the AT (2011 or 12), so I am looking for a good tent that will also handle the climite for these trails as well. Since I will be retiring just prior to m AT adventure, the equipment I purchase will aso have to be durable.