View Full Version : 1-person tent vs 2-person tent
I was doing some background reading on hiking the AT, and came off with the impression that 2-person tents are generally preferred for single-person hikes because they add marginal weight (2 pounds...not marginal in my book!) and greatly increase available space over a 1-person tent.
As I consider a thru-hike next year, I'm thinking it'd be wise to get my tent situation squared away. My current tent is a 2-person Alps Mountaineering Galaxy 2 that I absolutely love, which weighs about 5 pounds. I know single-person tents are about 3 pounds or less (including fly, plus footprint), and I'm not attracted to less space but the weight savings can be important. I do like the idea of a bit of extra space for my pack, with the 2-person tent.
Appreciate folks' thoughts on "ground truth" concerning tent size...
You can find a two person tent that weighs 3 less pounds....
look at some of the cottage industry ones --like tarptent or six moons----or even my fly creek 2 is around 3 pounds...
I don't think I'd carry a 2 person tent on a long hike (or a short one).
Single person tents come in different sizes. A Lightheart Solo has 30 sq ft and has an advertised weight of 27 oz. A TarpTent Moment has 18.1 sq ft and an advertised weight of 34 oz. - both are advertised as single person tents.
Source for size/weights:
http://lightheartgear.com/index.php/tents/lightheart-solo-tents/product/view/5/1
http://www.tarptent.com/momentdw.html
Tarptent makes a one man tent called the Notch. Pretty small inside, but has two side entries with nice big vestibules.
Check them out in person if you can. I have an original TarpTent Virga - a 2 man tent that weighs 2 pounds. It would be tight for two, but it's spacious for one. Most one-man tents are way too small for me, but TarpTent makes some that will fit 2 in a pinch (the Rainbow) and are very comfortable for one. A roomy tent doesn't need to weigh more than 3 pounds.
kevperro
06-25-2015, 00:50
Meh.... I'd rather carry and use a 1-person tent of appropriate size. It is easier to find a location to pitch. Weight is part of it but I just don't use the extra space in a 2-person tent when I'm alone. If it served some sort of purpose I'd go for it but I'm not ballroom dancing in there. I sleep, read and fart once in awhile.
I'm using an REI Quarderdome....newest version and my carry weight is 37 ounces. It takes more stakes than I'd like.... something like the Tarptent Moment would be an improvement in that department.
The temptation is real but the result of most of my reading of very experienced hikers' posts has been don't give in to the temptation. Stick to the lightest single person tent that will meet your needs. A 6 Moon Designs Lunar solo has 26 SQ. Ft. of floor space, around 8.5 Sq. Ft. of Vestibule and weighs 30 ounces with 8 Groundhog stakes and 2 guy lines. A Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 (2 person) has 28 sq. Ft of space, 7 Sq.ft. vestibule and needs it's own special poles. It weighs in at 37 ounces. Almost 1/2 pound more for 2 Sq.ft of floor space, smaller vestibule and risk of breaking a pole and not having a shelter. Plus the Big Agnes is priced at least $100 more. As someone else mentioned, look at the Lighthearted tents but I don't do 2 trekking pole design tents (unless I am trekking with someone with poles). Break a trekking pole (it happens) and you might not have a shelter. Here's how my tent buying decision went: Go for the Eureka Solitaire but decided I wanted to be able to sit up etc in my shelter. Ok, I like the Alps Mountaineering Mystique 1.5 with the extra space, proven track record but close to 4 pounds....then I came to the 6 Moons Skyscape scout for $125 but decided against the 2 pole design. Lunar Solo was next.....I just couldn't justify getting away from it for any other tent after weight, design, cost, space and reputation considerations...so this is what I bought.
bigcranky
06-25-2015, 07:31
Before the advent of very light tents made with modern fabrics, solo tents tended to be very heavy and, at the same time, small and cramped. So hikers used two-person tents for the extra space, without much extra weight -- if your cramped solo tent weighs 6 pounds and a double weighs 8, it doesn't look so bad.
These days an affordable, spacious 1-person tent can be had for ~24 ounces (Tarptent Notch), or, if money is no object, a very light 2-person tent for ~21 ounces (Zpacks Duo).
I use a zPacks Hexamid twin as a solo tent. Lots of room for 20 ounces. The only downside is that it takes a larger site to pitch well. And it would be nice if it was slightly longer. My next tent is likely to be the zPacks Altaplex advertised as a 1.5 person tent.
Zach ADK
06-25-2015, 07:46
I use a Eureka Spitfire 1 which is a single person tent and officially weighs in a bit under 4 pounds if I recall. I am just over 7 feet tall and needed a tent that was long and skinny enough so my head and my feet could both be inside at the same time. In the Spitfire I can lie down without quite touching at either end and I can sit up in the middle. If I was going on a long trail hike I might look for something lighter, but the tent has worked quite well for me for a few years now and seems quite durable.
Zach
HooKooDooKu
06-25-2015, 09:09
Keep in mind that not all 2 person tents are alike. There are 2 person tents that really have room for 2 people, each carrying a "large" sleeping pad with enough room for a little gear. Then there are 2 person tents that you the only way to get two people in the tent is for them to both use "regular" (20") tapered sleeping pads.
As a quick example:
Kelty Salida and Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 - Both have a trapezoidal floor making a tight fit for two adults, but tons of room for 1 adult.
Kelty Gunnison and Big Agnes Lynx Pass (no longer in production) - Both have large rectangular floors with plenty of room for two adults with large (25" wide) sleeping pads.
Wülfgang
06-25-2015, 11:33
Tarptent makes a one man tent called the Notch. Pretty small inside, but has two side entries with nice big vestibules.
I have this tent, I like it. Very light and easy to use. It is truly a one-person tent though. You can remove the interior/floor and fit a dog inside.
Back on the trail
06-25-2015, 15:31
One big question nobody asked is what size are you? If your 5'6" you could break dance in a two person. If your 6'3" and want a 25" sleeping pad that's 3" high, to not feel claustrophobic or have some gear room inside with you than something like the Big Agnes Fly creek UL2 might be good. You said your tent is 80 oz the fly creek is 37. That's 43 oz or 2.6 pounds saved. IMO I don't like to take my winter jacket off in the car with my seatbelt still on.
StealthHikerBoy
06-25-2015, 16:11
I use a zPacks Hexamid twin as a solo tent. Lots of room for 20 ounces. The only downside is that it takes a larger site to pitch well. And it would be nice if it was slightly longer. My next tent is likely to be the zPacks Altaplex advertised as a 1.5 person tent.
This is one of those questions where it really depends on your style and what you are seeking. Through a lot of trial and error, I've discovered that for most nights on the trail any old tent will do. But, all it took was a couple nights of hard rain and a couple of cold, biblical mornings where I was trapped in my tent to get me to re-evaluate my thinking. So, I think the tent you need to pack is for your worst anticipated night out.
I currently use a LightHeart solo - because I can get all my stuff in there with me and batten down the hatches quickly. I tend to sleep with everything inside the tent. The LH is a large 1 person tent, but still requires plenty of contortions to eat and pack up on a rainy morning. I think it is darn near a perfect tent. If they still made it in cuben I think it would be.
I hope to thru hike next year and the Zpacks Duplex is looking really nice to me at 20 oz. It will probably come down to that or the the Altaplex (16.9 ounces). Or I might stick with the LH if I can save some weight elsewhere.
Either way, I don't see any reason to carry a tent for one or two person that weighs more than 2 pounds, as there are some great options out there.
Wülfgang
06-25-2015, 16:34
So, I think the tent you need to pack is for your worst anticipated night out.
Wise words.
Sometimes it takes a 'worst night out' to get you to reevaluate your gear choices too. I was sold on hammock camping until a very windy, rainy night at 10,500 ft.
Rex Clifton
06-25-2015, 17:37
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2, at 2lbs 5ozs is an awesome tent for one.
" I have an original TarpTent Virga - a 2 man tent that weighs 2 pounds. It would be tight for two, but it's spacious for one"
The Virga was sold as a solo tent. The Squall was the 2 person version.
Several of the TT offerings are of what we call + category (1+ is a solo tent that can hols two mats ,just, 2+ can hold 3..)
We have on our website clear floor plans and a 3D video on each product page so that you can see how a 6' person (or 2/3/4) can fit inside.
franco@tarptent
BTW, I have a You Tube channel (Franco Darioli) showing the set up of most of the current Tarptent line up (a bit different from the ones on the TT site) plus some extra videos with some extra details such as guying out options or set up in difficult situations like rocks or in the rain.
(all of our shelters set up fly first (or fly and inner together)
I use a zPacks Hexamid twin as a solo tent. Lots of room for 20 ounces. The only downside is that it takes a larger site to pitch well. And it would be nice if it was slightly longer. My next tent is likely to be the zPacks Altaplex advertised as a 1.5 person tent.
Everyone,
Thank you for your replies. I'm leaning toward the ZPacks Altaplex. Just can't beat the combination of weight and performance, and I like that I don't have to pack poles (it uses one trekking pole to set up.) Also like that the footprint is big enough for me and a pack, but small enough that it will hopefully be easy to set up in tight spaces just in case I can't find a camping spot with much room. Cost is high...but I have about a year to save before my hike... I'll continue to evaluate between now and then.
MuddyWaters
06-27-2015, 21:16
The more you hike, the more you may come to appreciate flexibility.
Tents dont offer much of this.
Everyone,
Thank you for your replies. I'm leaning toward the ZPacks Altaplex. Just can't beat the combination of weight and performance, and I like that I don't have to pack poles (it uses one trekking pole to set up.) Also like that the footprint is big enough for me and a pack, but small enough that it will hopefully be easy to set up in tight spaces just in case I can't find a camping spot with much room. Cost is high...but I have about a year to save before my hike... I'll continue to evaluate between now and then.
I have an inquiry sent to zpacks to see if they can make an Altaplex with bug netting around the bottom and a removable groundsheet. In other words, a shelter with the Altaplex tarp done in the style of a hexamid. That would provide much more flexibility at a slight weight penalty vs the tent. Having the removable ground sheet on the hexamid is something I have grown to appreciate. Very flexible.
MuddyWaters
06-27-2015, 22:10
I have an inquiry sent to zpacks to see if they can make an Altaplex with bug netting around the bottom and a removable groundsheet. In other words, a shelter with the Altaplex tarp done in the style of a hexamid. That would provide much more flexibility at a slight weight penalty vs the tent. Having the removable ground sheet on the hexamid is something I have grown to appreciate. Very flexible.
Me too.
Quite a few wrap it around waist for rain skirt.
But i like keeping it dry when necessary, and using in shelters.
I like wt of attached floors, but thats about it.
My experience is Joe will make just about anything, they are all made to order anyway.
A lot of people seem to like Tarptent products but for me, it seems that many of their tents come up short on floor square footage as compared to other manufacturers' like models.
Either way, I don't see any reason to carry a tent for one or two person that weighs more than 2 pounds, as there are some great options out there.
This is the current status of tent shelters in a nutshell.
One reason to carry a tent weighing more than 2 lbs. might be MONEY. The lightweight options usually cost significantly more (well worth it in my opinion) and some people just don't have the funds to spend $300. An Alps Mountaineering Mystique 1.0 can be had for around $100 and the 1.5 for about $130 but they are 3-4 pounds without footprint. The closest to a good balance of lightweight and cost is probably the 6 Moon Designs Skyscape Scout (80% dual wall). It's 34 ounces without stakes or ground sheet but costs $125 plus shipping.
"A lot of people seem to like Tarptent products but for me, it seems that many of their tents come up short on floor square footage as compared to other manufacturers' like models"
Square footage and usable footage is not the same thing.
To give you an example, the 51sq feet Hogback can sleep 4x6'3" people on top of a 77"x20" thick mat, try doing that with ,say, the 59sq feet Shangri La 3 (you will be hard pressed to fit 3...)
Unlike with most brands our shelters have usable end to end space and in a couple of cases (Notch and Moment) the wall slopes outward so in fact giving you more space than the floor length indicates.
Here is an example comparing the 84" Notch with a 90" 48" high pyramid (yellow guyline) :
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Traveler
06-28-2015, 06:08
I was doing some background reading on hiking the AT, and came off with the impression that 2-person tents are generally preferred for single-person hikes because they add marginal weight (2 pounds...not marginal in my book!) and greatly increase available space over a 1-person tent.
As I consider a thru-hike next year, I'm thinking it'd be wise to get my tent situation squared away. My current tent is a 2-person Alps Mountaineering Galaxy 2 that I absolutely love, which weighs about 5 pounds. I know single-person tents are about 3 pounds or less (including fly, plus footprint), and I'm not attracted to less space but the weight savings can be important. I do like the idea of a bit of extra space for my pack, with the 2-person tent.
Appreciate folks' thoughts on "ground truth" concerning tent size...
For what its worth, 2-person tents are not necessarily 2 lbs heavier than 1-person tents, unless you are looking at an ultra-light tent vs commercially made type. I looked at several one person tents and didn't find anything that really hit the "I like that" button. I opted for a Big Agnes UL2 - 2-person tent that was approximately 9 ounces heavier than the 1-person model of the same tent (weight is about 2.12 lbs). There were a number of reasons I made that selection, suffice to say the 1-person tent was more limited. The half pound or so extra weight is a trade off in comfort for me, though I do not do a lot of long distance hiking (5 days is usually maximum).
I have seen hammocks, tarps, bivs, and more simple shelters, I am not sure how comfortable I would be in those versus a free standing tent which hit the "I like that" button. Were I do do a long walk, I might go with a one man tent to save the half pound, but the utility of this 2-person tent would make that a tough decision.
v1k1ng1001
06-28-2015, 09:54
I'm 6'3" side sleeper with a 30" pad and my light heart gear solong 6 gives me plenty of room to sleep with my gear and tons of awning/vestibule space. Just spent the last week in it and it performed admirably in a variety of conditions. Loved waking up to 360 views in the boundary waters! A shorter person would find a luxurious amount of space in the solong or roll with the lhg solo which is a similar, simpler and lighter option.
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hikenski
06-29-2015, 13:47
Go with a hammock. They weight about 1 pound and work anywhere in the northeast. Lots o trees round here. Blue tarp gor rain protection. Beyer hammock is under 60 bucks.
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Rex Clifton
06-29-2015, 14:59
Hammock, fly and bugnet are about the same weight as a UL tent but are so comfortable. I sleep like a baby in my Warbonnet Blackbird.
if it were me.. I'd really appreciate the extra space of a two person tent (especially being a tall person at 6 ft 3). One person tents can be rather confining if you need to spend long periods of time in them.
"Go with a hammock. They weight about 1 pound and work anywhere in the northeast. Lots o trees round here. Blue tarp gor rain protection"
So it isn't a pound , is it ? (hammock plus blue tarp...)
Tuckahoe
06-29-2015, 19:02
Go with a hammock. They weight about 1 pound and work anywhere in the northeast. Lots o trees round here. Blue tarp gor rain protection. Beyer hammock is under 60 bucks.
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"Go with a hammock. They weight about 1 pound and work anywhere in the northeast. Lots o trees round here. Blue tarp gor rain protection"
So it isn't a pound , is it ? (hammock plus blue tarp...)
Ha ha ha
My Hammock and 12"x10" tarp is 3.8lbs.
But... I thought this one was about 1 man or 2 man tents:p
One big question nobody asked is what size are you? If your 5'6" you could break dance in a two person. If your 6'3" and want a 25" sleeping pad that's 3" high, to not feel claustrophobic or have some gear room inside with you than something like the Big Agnes Fly creek UL2 might be good. You said your tent is 80 oz the fly creek is 37. That's 43 oz or 2.6 pounds saved. IMO I don't like to take my winter jacket off in the car with my seatbelt still on.
So true...I've gone from an MSR Hubba Hubba ,almost five pounds, to a a Tarptent Double Rainbow ,under 3pounds ..both 2 person tents in name but the truth is if you a big fella it sure feels good to stretch out and there really aren't too many solo tents that give you that kind of space. Spend a few rain days in a minuscule tent and then decide.
Of course there is the possibility that a well rounded fella or gal might need the 2person at Springer Mtn, and yet be able to fit comfortably in a solo tent by the time they've hiked a thousand miles or so and lost forty or fifty pounds of lard!
Sarcasm the elf
06-29-2015, 21:19
A lot of people seem to like Tarptent products but for me, it seems that many of their tents come up short on floor square footage as compared to other manufacturers' like models.
I've found that Tarptent.com is quite straight forward when they provide the square-footage of their tents. Besides, they have clear photos on their site showing the interior of each tent in the lineup with standard size sleeping pads placed inside to show how many it holds and how much space is left over. That alone basically idiotproofs the process of figuring out the realistic interior space before deciding what to buy.
Tuckahoe
06-29-2015, 21:43
That alone basically idiotproofs the process of figuring out the realistic interior space before deciding what to buy.
Can that really be?
BirdBrain
06-29-2015, 21:58
Can that really be?
I haven't bought one yet. I must be true.
saltysack
06-29-2015, 23:17
I'm 6'3" side sleeper with a 30" pad and my light heart gear solong 6 gives me plenty of room to sleep with my gear and tons of awning/vestibule space. Just spent the last week in it and it performed admirably in a variety of conditions. Loved waking up to 360 views in the boundary waters! A shorter person would find a luxurious amount of space in the solong or roll with the lhg solo which is a similar, simpler and lighter option.
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Yep really like mine...very versatile for 1 or easily 2... Not bad at 2lbs...tons of interior and vestibule space...
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I've found that Tarptent.com is quite straight forward when they provide the square-footage of their tents. Besides, they have clear photos on their site showing the interior of each tent in the lineup with standard size sleeping pads placed inside to show how many it holds and how much space is left over. That alone basically idiotproofs the process of figuring out the realistic interior space before deciding what to buy.
Your's and Franco's attempt at defending Tarptent's lack of SQ.FT. FLOOR SPACE has nothing to do with the contention that I made. Correctly represented, angled walls vs straight walls does nothing to defend the lack (often substantial) of FLOOR square footage I offered as the subject of my opinion based upon my observations from the research that I did when deciding which tent to buy. Sorry, but there's no way that 15.2 square feet is going to yield more useable floor space than 26 square feet on a traditionally shaped tent even if you do pay $100 more. The Notch based upon head room, length for taller people, double doors, and flow through ventilation does offer good points for people looking for those things but trying to refute the obvious lack of floor square footage is simply pointless.
Singto
It is obviously pointless for you but not for others
I wasn't "trying to defend Tarptent" I was stating a fact and that is , for example, how the 84" long Notch DOES take a taller person than a 90" x 48" pyramid.
I posted a picture above clearly demonstrating that.
Again, linear dimensions don't tell you how much useable space you get.
Here is another example, but feel free to ignore...
The shelter on the left has an 18sq foot floor :
31167
the same person under a similarly shaped Contrail , 22' sq :
31168
my guess is that he will feel like he has a lot more than 3 extra square feet to use.
BTW, I am part of Tarptent.
I'd like to see someone come up with an example of a tent lighter than our Tarptent Stratospire 2 that has more room., and that is the same sq footage. There is a difference between sq footage and room IMO. Our tent is a palace.
BTW, I am part of Tarptent.
I had an inkling that you were a part of Tarptent by running across your posts in the past and I greatly respect your disclosure of this.
15.2 Sq. Ft. vs 26 Sq. ft. is what we're talking about, not 3 square feet. This was the point of my last post, straight walls, truth in advertising (another poster) and now a 3 feet difference example to explain away an almost 11 sq. ft. difference really is pointless. Your 15.2 Sq. Ft. notch is not going to compete with the 6 Moon Designs Lunar Solo solely based upon overall floor space, size or even floor space useability since you want to go there, it just isn't. That's the bottom line. Nor will it on some other considerations either. Other than weight, cost, performance and ease of set up, most people are looking to be able to sit upright and sleep comfortably as well pull their gear inside with them and/or have room for a K-9 friend. Having a useable vestibule is a common demand too. And unless you're designing a non traditional canopy shape, an 11 sq. ft. floor space difference is HUGE.
Again, my original contention was: That through my research, as a tent buyer, I came to the conclusion that Tarptent products offer less (sometimes significantly) floor square footage than like products from other manufacturers.
True or False? If my contention is false, please offer me your evidence to refute my contention. I have been wrong before.
A lot of people like their Tarptents and have had great hikes with them and have had what appears to be a good experience with Tarptent as a whole. Nothing contradicting that has ever been a part of my original contention nor anything since. As a consumer I will tell you why I didn't by a Tarptent Notch, instead buying a 6 Moon Designs Lunar Solo and I was lucky enough to buy an unused second hand one at a fair price. I already had decided the Lunar Solo was for me and why I placed a WTB add on White Blaze for one and was successful. So here goes:
Significant lack of floor square footage space compared to other offerings, two trekking pole design and the $285 price.
I am not a person (5' 7") who needs "elongated" floor space. In fact, after settling on a sleeping bag, at the last minute I decided to buy a different sleeping bag because I noticed the one I had decided upon was almost 87 inches in length. I instead bought one, with the same specs and a couple more options for $12 more that is just 78 inches long because it would fit me better (probably perform better due to that) and fit my tent choice better.
I did weigh heavily 2 pole vs. 1 pole and decided that even though breaking trekking poles may not be "common", it does occur and one shouldn't lose their shelter or suffer loss of shelter function/stability because of a broken pole. Same goes for tents like Big Agnes etc. that use proprietary pole structures. You'll see my posts mentioning this. After Oxygen, shelter (in inclement weather) is the next priority to surviving so it shouldn't be taken lightly.
$285 is too much for what the Notch didn't offer ME.....$180 was a great value for what the Lunar Solo did offer ME (knowing stakes would be an added cost....but also knowing I wouldn't be paying for stakes I might not have wanted. That works both ways).
Other consumers have different needs and wants and the Notch may fit them better...up to them.
BTW, I don't work for 6 Moon Designs in any way and I greatly appreciate your professional and respectful responses. I also appreciate that we hikers have choices because of companies like yours but in the end, your product wasn't for me.
I'd like to see someone come up with an example of a tent lighter than our Tarptent Stratospire 2 that has more room., and that is the same sq footage. There is a difference between sq footage and room IMO. Our tent is a palace.
Why does it have to be lighter? Why can't it be the same weight or close to the same weight? Why does it have to be the same square footage? (BTW, 15.2 is not close to 26, if you were going there) Is that your "out" if there is another manufacturer's product that is inconsequentially different in specs? When a merchant uses things like this, they're playing word (semantics) games. A red flag.
I think this shelter is good offering for someone looking for a shelter of this size. However, as a consumer I suggest that you as a merchant, would be better served to stay away from subjective points to highlight your products and instead highlight the objective points. "More room" is a subjective term based upon what constitutes more room for each consumer and the more room that you might want to include in your opinion may not be important to many consumers. For instance, excessive headroom (beyond what is needed to comfortably sit up or facilitate moving around) is of no value to me if it doesn't permit me to stand up. When a merchant turns to this (using subjective points (opinions) as selling points), as a consumer, I become suspicious about the objective merits of the product. It's as if the product's merits aren't enough to sell itself. I would instead highlight the near square footage of other products, near price of other products and certainly would push the flexibility this product offers by being a true dual wall product (used as a tarp shelter alone or in combination with the netted floor). Other than those two items, again, 6 Moon designs offers a product called the Lunar Duo - Explorer at 41 ounces (wins), 34 square ft. 90 x 54 floor space (wins), 2 entrances, 2 vestibules and $40 less (wins). BUT, it isn't a true dual wall shelter.....this, as well as your product's flexibility as just a tarp shelter is what sets it apart from and maybe makes it a better overall choice than the Lunar Duo. These are your BIG WINS. It is worthy to note that the "room" of your product appears to be noticeably reduced when used in conjunction with the netted floor as the netted floor doesn't appear to follow the contour of the tarp wall. How much, I can't say. And just how many poles and guy lines does it take to maximize the "room" of the product as opposed to a "standard" pitched shelter like the Lunar Duo.
Straight off of 6 Moon Designs website.
"The Lunar Duo offers the most interior room of any tent in its class and weight range."
Someone is wrong.
fastfoxengineering
06-30-2015, 11:38
For a beginner who doesn't really know what they prefer due to lack of experience. It's hard not to recommend a tarptent notch for the value and flexibility.
There are many options for tents out there, but with the notch you can mess around with all the configurations as well as retain some really nice features at an affordable price.
Furthermore, its light and compact enough for a long hike. It's ideal for a thru hiker so even if you don't like it that much, it'll serve you well on your thru-hike and afterwords you can make a more personal decision when it comes to your shelter.
If you got the $$, zpacks it is. I would get a duplex or the 1.5person hexamid. Not because of interior space, but due to their design.
I apologize, Slingto if I came across as combative.
For what I paid, for the room I got, and for the weight of the tent, I can't imagine anything nicer. I am sure there could be others, such as the Lunar Duo, but I went by anecdotal reports from friends I hike with, and read many many reviews when deciding between the Lunar Duo and the SS2. We even watched video reviews of these tents , with real world people showing them. Those were the two my wife were looking at at the end of the process.
I really think seeing the tents you are considering in the field, and interviewing the owners, is the best way to determine whether to buy them, not based on sq footage measurements, or subjective statements by the manufacturer. We have 4 hiking poles, so we weren't as concerned about one breaking as you or any other solo hiker would be.
HYOH, and there are a lot of good choices out there, no doubt!
Traveler
06-30-2015, 12:54
I really think seeing the tents you are considering in the field, and interviewing the owners, is the best way to determine whether to buy them, not based on sq footage measurements, or subjective statements by the manufacturer. We have 4 hiking poles, so we weren't as concerned about one breaking as you or any other solo hiker would be.
This approach, especially for someone new at this is probably the best. Everyone has mix of very generalized and very specific things they want or like about their gear that led them to the choice they made (including some that made a mistake and will gladly tell you), getting that level of information can make all the difference in what one should be looking for and how to set up the gear once you get it.
The biggest mistake is not buying the best equipment you can afford the first time you purchase it. I think most of us have been there and done that.
We bought 3 tents before getting our Tarptent. Pretty decent tents, but too heavy or too small. The BA Jack Rabbit 2 we bought is an example of "I don't care what the sq ft is, that damn thing is small inside!"
saltysack
06-30-2015, 13:47
Tent opinions r like A!!holes.......everyone has one!!!
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Tent opinions r like A!!holes.......everyone has one!!!
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Haha, truth!
My friend had a SMD Lunar Solo and hated it. it was a dark green color, and he said it felt like a coffin because it was so dark inside. Then you have others who say it's the best tent out there. HYOH works great in this case. To each his own, and be thankful we have so many choices so we can each find the perfect tent for us.
The biggest mistake is not buying the best equipment you can afford the first time you purchase it. I think most of us have been there and done that.
We bought 3 tents before getting our Tarptent. Pretty decent tents, but too heavy or too small. The BA Jack Rabbit 2 we bought is an example of "I don't care what the sq ft is, that damn thing is small inside!"
I disagree with this pretty strongly. Yes - you should buy the best tent you can afford if know it's the clear choice. A beginner doesn't know that (and may not for several years). For the time being, get a reasonable, inexpensive, middle of the road choice.
saltysack
06-30-2015, 14:48
I disagree with this pretty strongly. Yes - you should buy the best tent you can afford if know it's the clear choice. A beginner doesn't know that (and may not for several years). For the time being, get a reasonable, inexpensive, middle of the road choice.
Better gear = easier to resell...recoup some $$....just my $.02.....
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I disagree with this pretty strongly. Yes - you should buy the best tent you can afford if know it's the clear choice. A beginner doesn't know that (and may not for several years). For the time being, get a reasonable, inexpensive, middle of the road choice.
Ok, I can give you that point, but we did the buy the Dick's stuff, then buy the next level up, and finally settled on getting really good stuff. Ended up costing us 2x-3x what we could have spent if we had started at the third level.
If I rephrased it to say, "For those who know for sure that they really like backpacking and intend on being fairly active doing so, the biggest mistake is not buying the best equipment....", that might be a better way to say it.
"Again, my original contention was: That through my research, as a tent buyer, I came to the conclusion that Tarptent products offer less (sometimes significantly) floor square footage than like products from other manufacturers.
True or False?"
False
You are comparing one particular shelter, the Notch, with another that that you purchased second hand so of course to you that was better value.
To you floor space seems to be the biggest feature, the Notch isn't the one for that however because it has two largish vestibules it does not feel claustrophobic.
This is half a Notch so that you can see the space under the fly :
31188
It is a bit larger than some and yes it is a two wall shelter.
We have 14 tents in our product range .
The closest TT has to your SMD Solo is the Pro Trail. 21sq, $209.
Three of the other TT solo shelters can take two 20" wide mats. (the Scarp 1/Rainbow and SS1)
So how do you conclude from that that TT gives less floor square footage ?
BTW, the reason I keep harping on about useable space is that comparing tents by linear square footage is the commonest mistake new ones make.
Similar to comparing liter capacity on packs not knowing how that is measured and not having tried the pack with a load on.