View Full Version : Tent
chickadee
11-30-2006, 17:20
Looking to get a new one person 3 season tent... any suggestions?
Chickadee
Get a Tarptent from Henry Shires
tarbender
11-30-2006, 20:33
Single wall or double wall?
-jeff aka frankenfeet
Frolicking Dinosaurs
11-30-2006, 20:52
Shire makes some excellent tents. You also might want to look at the Six Moon Lunar Solo (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36), Sierra Designs Baku (http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=486)or Lightyear (http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=45), (http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=486) Mont-bell Monoframe Diamond (https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_shosai.asp?cat=1204&hinban=2322276) or Shelter Hexagon (https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_shosai.asp), (http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/tentdetail.cfm/MTB300) MSR Hubba (http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/hubba.asp) or Microzoid (http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/microzoid.asp).
mountain squid
11-30-2006, 22:20
My vote would go for the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo. I have both the Tarptent Virga (not the Virga 2) and the Lunar Solo. Although the Virga is cheaper, I like the Lunar Solo better. Functionally, they are pretty much the same. What I like about the Lunar Solo is that you sleep perpendicular to your hiking pole. Sleeping this way gives you more useable interior space.
Another thing I don’t like about the Virga 2 is the extra pole in the front. Although I am not certain, I don’t believe you can remove it. This means you have to pack it a certain way, which may not fit in your backpack the way you would like it to.
Anyway, just my 2 cents worth,
mt squid
Footslogger
11-30-2006, 22:30
[quote=mountain squid;279009]My vote would go for the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo.
====================================
I've got to agree with mountain squid. I've owned (and still do) a lot of tents and none of them measure up to the Lunar Solo-e in terms of room, weight and ease of set-up.
I did my thru with a Wanderlust Nomad Lite, and while it was a decent shelter it required 2 hiking poles and they went INSIDE the tent. The Lunar Solo-e uses a single trekking pole that goes OUTSIDE the tent and offers a hiker plenty of room for themself and their gear. Plus there is a generous vestibule for boots, cookpot and other miscellaneous stuff you don't want to drag into your tent at night.
Don't overlook the ease of set-up when considering tents. 6 months of setting up a tent, night after night, can get old !!
'Slogger
Appalachian Tater
11-30-2006, 23:52
Henry Shires TarpTent Rainbow model.
Okie Dokie
12-01-2006, 00:12
My advice on a tent:
Get a pretty one......................................nah, jk :)
Seriously, now, just ask yourself the following: Will it keep you dry (full coverage rainfly that covers the tent all the way to the ground) regardless of how long it rains? Will it be cool enough to sleep in (maybe with the rainfly off) during the summer months? Will it keep some of the wind out during the cooler months so that your sleeping bag can do it's job? Is it light enough to prevent you from hating it (especially when you have to carry it for a day or so when it's wet)? If you can answer yes to all those questions it's probably a good tent for you to take on a thru....
chickadee
12-01-2006, 14:49
I had a single wall before, but it collected too much condensation.
I guess I'm just looking for some brands that you may have used that were good and that you'd use again.
I want it to be lightweight cause the last one i had was 4 lbs and I ended up just sending it home and I used the shelters to shave off weight.
Hammerhead
12-01-2006, 15:02
I know you're looking for a tent, but have you considered a hammock?
I am very happy with my Wanderlust Nomad, but I gather they are rather hard to obtain. Mine took well over six months from when I ordered it.
This discussion http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19180
just ended, there might be some useful info there... I think your criteria for your tent may be a little different than mine, but many many good suggestions were made...
Frolicking Dinosaurs
12-01-2006, 17:03
I had a single wall before, but it collected too much condensation.
I guess I'm just looking for some brands that you may have used that were good and that you'd use again.
I want it to be lightweight cause the last one i had was 4 lbs and I ended up just sending it home and I used the shelters to shave off weight.Check out the Mont-bell monoframe Diamond (https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_shosai.asp?cat=1204&hinban=2322276). It is extremely light, has enough space and has a full fly so condensation shouldn't be a problem
I am very happy with my Wanderlust Nomad, but I gather they are rather hard to obtain. Mine took well over six months from when I ordered it.
I cant seem to find a good web address for Wanderlust. Any info?
Posted my two tents worth on your other thread. I don't know how harmful this is to gear but I don't use stuff sacks for the big items. My pack is lined with a garbage bag. My sleeping bag (BA Horse Thief with the Air Core pad remaining inside) gets stuffed in the pack. Tents get stuffed on top of that unless it's wet. In this case, I load everything in first, close the garbage bag and stuff the tent on top of that. Been doing this for years and have never seen any harm but I'm sure there are other opinions on this method.
Moose2001
12-03-2006, 10:48
I cant seem to find a good web address for Wanderlust. Any info?
ALHikerGal - the link I have was www.wanderlustgear.com. Seems like Kurt's taken his page down. Just as well. Trying to receive any order from him was a very frustrating experience. If you're looking for a good single-wall tent, I recommend TarpTent.
Moose2001
12-03-2006, 10:54
I had a single wall before, but it collected too much condensation.
I guess I'm just looking for some brands that you may have used that were good and that you'd use again.
I want it to be lightweight cause the last one i had was 4 lbs and I ended up just sending it home and I used the shelters to shave off weight.
If I was in the market for a new double-wall tent, I'd go with the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL series. One person is 2 pounds 13 ounces. 2 Person goes 3 pounds 6 ounces. I saw a number of them on my last hike and everyone that had one raved about them.
chickadee
12-03-2006, 14:30
I'll check out your thread hiker gal.
Hammerhead, I was thinking of getting a hammock, but I'm not sure how they'll work in the winter. I'm sure they're dry, but I sleep cold and they seem like they'd be colder than a tent...
Seems as though the only way to get ultralight is to have a one-walled tent. I guess you have to balance comfort and weight.
BTW,
These forums are just another reason why I love hiking.
chickadee
12-03-2006, 14:42
Anyone actually use that Lightyear tent? I like that it's 23 oz. Seems pretty easy to set up too. I'm not sure if the hiking pole becomes problematic in the wind?