View Full Version : Solo Tents
Anumber1
12-27-2005, 22:15
Seems like a lot of people are big fans of Hammocking and/or using a tarp tent. For those who use a 'traditional' tent: what tent do you currently use. What is your favorite Solo Tent?
P.S. whats up with this guy?:banana
Seems like a lot of people are big fans of Hammocking and/or using a tarp tent. For those who use a 'traditional' tent: what tent do you currently use. What is your favorite Solo Tent?
P.S. whats up with this guy?:banana
here are some great personal solo tent pics of mine:cool: neo
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=9411&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=9410&c=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?
i=9351&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=8071&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7889&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7105&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6654&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6420&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6133&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6061&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=5981&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=4051&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=4050&c=member&imageuser=3462
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7868&catid=member&imageuser=3462
http://community.webshots.com/photo/262789881/262791629XQxwfC
Sometimes I use a tarp, and in warm weather I prefer my Hennessy Hammock.
I like this guy::jump
here are some great personal solo tent pics of mine:cool: neo
Blah, blah blah blah blah... etc... :cool:austexs.
Hana_Hanger
12-28-2005, 01:47
I also prefer the hammock camping due to less pain :P
but...I also carry a Quest Seescape says it sleeps two
but I have always used it solo with plenty of room for gear.
The MSR Velco is a GREAT tent also...big enough for one scooters or two bicycles to fit in the vestible.
Hana_Hanger
12-28-2005, 01:53
oops that's MSR Velo yet again it is rated 2 person
I truly believe a 2 person rating means one person in comfort
sorry I know you said solo tents.
Maybe someone else will list some for you :)
MSR Zoid 1.0 was a popular tent a few years back. I have the Zoid 1.5 and like it. They don't make the 1.5 anymore. Now they make the Hubba, which was very popular last year.
The Solemates
12-28-2005, 13:51
I had the MSR Zoid 1.5. It was a great little tent. But the Mtn Hrdwr Waypoint II is virtually the same tent for nearly 2 lbs less weight.
Footslogger
12-29-2005, 12:43
I've owned several solo tents but finally found the Lunar Solo-e from Six Moon Designs
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36
At 23 ounces it is most likely the last solo tent I will ever buy ...other than to replace the one I have if it ever dies.
'Slogger
JoeHiker
12-29-2005, 12:47
Although in the future I will hammock when ever I can, I use a TarpTent Squall II when I tent. It's technically a two-person tent but I like it for 1
Integral Designs Sil Shelter: 14 oz. listed wgt.
This is is a great shelter when I can tie off and not use a hiking stick. I also understand the newer models have a foot end lift point which will be a BIG plus. I am 6 ft. approx. 180 and this shelter can get a little small when I have to use one of my Leki's for support. It has NO floor btw !!
Sierra Designs Light Year CD is also a good shelter for the money. I use it more for canoe and motorcycle trips though.
This being said after reading Slogger's suggestion and looking it up, I am lusting after one of the Lunar Solo's from SixMoonDesigns.
I am wondering how accurate the listed wgt's are though ? :-?
hikelite55
12-29-2005, 16:57
I`m using a Wanderlust Nomadlite tent as a template to make my own copy of the same out of .75oz. sq. yd. material -vs- 1.1 used by Kurt Russell, when I get done the whole thing with spreader poles (I use carbon fiber arrow shafts for the poles),Ti stakes, guy lines should weigh in at 1lb.5ozs. By the way has anyone heard anything as to the whereabouts of Kurt Russell??????? I sent him money to have him make on of his tent for me and the letter was returned after 2 weeks, no response from e-mails and his phone is disconnected. Hope he`s O.k.
Footslogger
12-29-2005, 18:26
[quote=hikelite55]I`m using a Wanderlust Nomadlite tent as a template to make my own copy of the same.
======================================
I thought about doing that back in 2003 before my thru. I ended up buying the Nomad Lite directly from Kurt. I carried it most of the way to Katahdin (I also experimented with a hammock and tarp) but after my hike I decided to sell it.
From personal experience my suggestion would be to give some thought to his design before just copying it. Having to use 2 treking poles on the INSIDE of a tent may not seem like much of a deal ahead of time. But I can tell you that after a while it gets old.
Not saying it's a bad tent all together. Heck ...I bought it hook, line and sinker and payed top dollar for it. In retrospect though I just don't think it's the best design, all things considered.
'Slogger
Kelty Clark. It is fairly light weight and goes up (and down) quickly. I have been in this in wind and rain storms - but I doubt that it would take a lot of snow.
a Lunar Solo' e from Ron at Six Moon Designs. After emailing with slogger and phone conversations with Ron I knew this was the shelter for me. It's a listed 9 oz's heavier than my ID Sil-shelter, but I know I will be much happier with it over all.
thanks again slogger !! sheese I can't wait to get my hands on it !!
:banana
Note: when one adds the weight of the Bug Bivy one surely needs around here in the warm climes, as well as I know I would need on my thru-hike, the weights are almost the same !!
a Lunar Solo' e from Ron at Six Moon Designs. After emailing with slogger and phone conversations with Ron at Six Moons I knew this was the shelter for me. It's a listed 9 oz's heavier than my ID Sil-shelter, but I know I will be much happier with it over all.
thanks again slogger !! sheese I can't wait to get my hands on it !!
:banana
Note: when one adds the weight of the Bug Bivy one surely needs around here in the warm climes, as well as I know I would need on my thru-hike, the weights are almost the same !!
icemanat95
12-30-2005, 00:26
By these standards, the tents we were using in '95 were backbreakers...the one I started with was prodigious, a Sierra Designs Meteor Light, about 7 pounds carried weight. I sent it home from Pearisburg after receiving my Walrus Swift from Mount Rogers Outfitters by mail. I loved that Walrus...easy to live with and rock solid when properly pitched. Not too expensive either. MSR gobbled up Walrus and came out with the Zoid series which was essentially an update of the Swift.
THe Clip Flashlight was also extremely popular in the early 1990's. It was a good design with good interior space for not a lot of weight (about 4 pounds).
I did some of my biggest hiking days carrying that Meteor Light though, a number of 24-27 milers. It offered a lot of interior space as well, room for two, but the cost in weight was serious. Sending it home dropped my carry weight by 4 pounds.
handlebar
12-30-2005, 10:48
I'm carrying a Marmot EOS-1. It performed well in snow and rain on trail crew this summer and fall and weighs in at about 3lbs---great for a free standing tent. If you're over 6 ft, it'll be too short as pointing my toes I could touch both ends. Vestibule was big enough for my boots and Z-pack.
Handlebar
I've owned several solo tents but finally found the Lunar Solo-e from Six Moon Designs
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36
At 23 ounces it is most likely the last solo tent I will ever buy ...other than to replace the one I have if it ever dies.
'Slogger
hey footslogger, i've been thinking about buying such a tent but was told once that it's hard to stay dry because the rain blows in the front. have you found that to be a problem? thanks
Footslogger
12-30-2005, 11:50
[quote=icemanat95] MSR gobbled up Walrus and came out with the Zoid series which was essentially an update of the Swift.
============================
Actually Ice ...Walrus had the Zoid series in place before they sold out to MSR. Probably not a big deal since it's all water under the brigde now. MSR changed the colors and some features of the Zoid series and re-released it. I still have my original Walrus Zoid I tent. Had intended to use it on my thru in 2003 and then ended up using a different tent.
Those Zoids were solid little tents !!
'Slogger
Footslogger
12-30-2005, 11:55
hey footslogger, i've been thinking about buying such a tent but was told once that it's hard to stay dry because the rain blows in the front. have you found that to be a problem? thanks
======================================
Haven't had a problem to date and we get some pretty high winds with rain out here in Wyoming. The tent is cut such that the outer material comes pretty close to the ground and well away from the interior tent body.
The front of the Lunar Solo-e is a split fly design. Mine attaches over the tie-out line with velcro but I understand that the 2006 model has a zipper in the place of the velcro. You can configure it so that either one half, both halfs or no fly at all is in place when you turn in for the night. If you drifted off to sleep and left the front wide open and it started to rain you might get a little wet. Then again ...I always try to set up my Lunar Solo so that the wind direction is towards the back side of the tent so even a light rain storm generally doesn't cause me to get wet inside.
Hope that helps ...
'Slogger
HikeLite
12-30-2005, 12:03
Famous last words :sun
At 23 ounces it is most likely the last solo tent I will ever buy ...other than to replace the one I have if it ever dies.
'Slogger
Footslogger
12-30-2005, 12:05
Famous last words :sun
==============================
Maybe I should have put this comment in the famous quotes thread, eh ??
'Slogger
TRIPNATURE
01-13-2006, 22:37
Eureka! Spitfire solo tent, I personally enjoy it very much, very good tent if you want to stargaze and the weather is good, just to keep the bugs out, and add the rainfly and it keeps you remarkably dry for the weight/price. $100 for this tent and replace the stakes w/ Titanium ultralight stakes and take out a few other things and it weighs around 2 lb 10 ounces . Great tent for the money
Eureka! Spitfire solo tent, I personally enjoy it very much, very good tent if you want to stargaze and the weather is good, just to keep the bugs out, and add the rainfly and it keeps you remarkably dry for the weight/price. $100 for this tent and replace the stakes w/ Titanium ultralight stakes and take out a few other things and it weighs around 2 lb 10 ounces . Great tent for the money
I second this "yes" -- and try looking on E-Bay or Amazon; I got it for $62.95 w/shipping of $4-5 bucks over Christmas. I am very happy with it. Lots of interior room! :jump Sue
Kerosene
01-14-2006, 19:30
I hammock when the temperature keeps above 50F, otherwise I use the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo described above.
MisterSweetie
01-14-2006, 20:34
I second this "yes" -- and try looking on E-Bay or Amazon; I got it for $62.95 w/shipping of $4-5 bucks over Christmas. I am very happy with it. Lots of interior room! :jump SueI'll third this tent. I got mine on ebay also, for about 72$. From what I hear (on this board) the Spitfire will be replaced, so now is the time to get one. :) Highly recommended.