driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,995
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Post by driftwoody on Feb 13, 2024 13:02:49 GMT -8
Last year I purchased the Durston X-Mid 1P to replace my very old TT Rainbow. Very reasonable price for a sturdy shelter with 2 large vestibules ~2 lbs. Uses 2 trek poles for setup. Fairly large footprint, not as quick to set up as the Rainbow. Good space for one large person (6-1, 220), but interior floor not quite as wide as the Rainbow. The interior netting can be clipped out and carried separately, nice feature if the fly is wet.
Only slept in it once so far, as I prefer my hammock.
Also comes in 2P, and both offered in dyneema $$.
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Post by trinity on Feb 13, 2024 20:15:38 GMT -8
I'm assuming you want another 1P? I don't see the ZPacks Plex Solo on this list, that might be a decent option.
Is there a reason you want netting? In my experience, bugs are not too bad in the Rockies once you get into September. I think a MLD Duomid or Solomid XL might be a great option. Very quick to set up, quite storm-worthy, steep walls do a decent job of shedding wind and snow. My Duomid is very roomy for one person, but has a reasonably sized footprint. Mine is silnylon, but they are now made in silpoly, which I prefer.
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Feb 13, 2024 23:13:14 GMT -8
I'm still using my TT Notch, unless conditions allow cowboy camping. If I recall, it's from 2007, but floor isn't worn through and the zippers are hanging in there. I like the full mesh inner in bad weather.
Since my wife's health issues deter her from backpacking, I'm in less of a hurry to find a good 2p equivalent. I'm still keeping an eye out, though.
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Post by oldbill on Feb 14, 2024 6:05:01 GMT -8
driftwoody The X-Mid 1P has a lot of praise, but that footprint is known to cause some difficulties with site selection. Nearly every video/photo I've seen showing tent set-ups are done on a mowed lawn or nice flat, unobstructed area that rarely exists in most situations I've seen in the mountains. Dan has recently shown how to "skinny-pitch" the X-mid by closing a vestibule. The TT Rainbow is a classic - just has more issues dealing with condensation in a single wall. trinity Yep, 1P. The netting is probably my hang-up over not getting as wet from condensation drip/fly contact. Temps near freezing mean it's cold so if my hands get wet when packing up my Raynaud's kicks in. Also had a few occasions when the foot of the sleeping bag contacted the single wall foot of the Trekker. Once in stormy conditions that probably contributed to the bag getting soaked. Didn't wake in time to correct. Placing rain jackets, etc over the foot haven't fixed that issue. In heavy rain and high wind the single wall will sometimes rain on me inside. If temps drop below freezing later, it's not much fun. So, it's an old concern of mine though maybe I really shouldn't totally rule out single-walls. Yeah, poly over nylon seems to be the trend. Lower stretch but less tear resistant as I understand. Those mids are great choices. The center pole causes me some concern but the Solomid XL entrance doesn't look too different that of the Trekker, which is relatively easy (even at age 66) to get in/out of. I should look more into that option. Yeah, the list on the site is still under development, so many tents like Plex Solo are not included yet. The entrance looks more obstructed by the pole and I've seen more than one story of Dyneema getting holes in it from hail. Lots of that in the Wind Rivers. BigLoad Hope your wife is back to backpacking soon! The Notch is on the list as it has a great following. Many Notch users seem to wish for the new Dipole (better ventilation mostly), but there's that 3-4 oz penalty.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 16, 2024 11:28:21 GMT -8
With some mids, my Solomid for example, it’s a double pole system that meets at the apex leaving the tent floor area less congested. And the structure a bit more robust.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Feb 16, 2024 11:53:40 GMT -8
With some mids, my Solomid for example, it’s a double pole system that meets at the apex leaving the tent floor area less congested. And the structure a bit more robust. I also have a Solomid, but an older and slightly smaller version than they currently offer. Single pole works, double pole is better. Floor and floor/net combos are optional.
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Post by oldbill on Feb 16, 2024 16:25:07 GMT -8
With some mids, my Solomid for example, it’s a double pole system that meets at the apex leaving the tent floor area less congested. And the structure a bit more robust. Having 2 poles at the fabric sides sounds good - just like the Trekker. Trekker has a ridge spreader pole that I replaced with pex. Bomber in wind. Like the steep sides of the Solomid. Any condensation issues more than other options? Saw a few comments on mids having condensation issues (more a problem here in the NE than Wy) but like trinity said, easy to set up.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 17, 2024 1:58:21 GMT -8
Condensation? Not in my experience. It’s subject to those variables, but mids like mine can be set up a bit high and then there’s lots of ventilation. Setup on grass, which is a Nono anyway, and it’s going to rain in there. I also, to avoid bugs, don’t set up anywhere near water so the humidity overall is less which I expect helps.
Setup IS fast, throw it down, peg in the stakes, stick in the poles: done. Under two minutes if I take my time.
The one caveat is the integrity of the structure depends on the stakes, if the ground is wrong, too hard or too soft, the structure is as weak as the stakes holding power.
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Post by trinity on Feb 17, 2024 9:12:56 GMT -8
I haven't had much trouble with condensation, but I typically use it in drier areas, and usually leave the door open at night, unless it is really windy, in which case condensation isn't an issue. Also the interior is large enough that I don't have to worry too much about coming into contact with the canopy (I'm on the short side at around 5'6"). High Sierra Fan , reuben , I have been eyeing a dual pole connector for years, but I kind of like the simplicity of a single pole. Does using 2 poles make it more difficult to set up? And I gather you both feel that it adds significant stability and interior space? As far as wind stability, I have taken my duomid into the notoriously windy Guadulupe Mountains. One night the winds gusted to about 50-60 mph. The duomid flapped a lot overnight (unavoidable in winds that high), and between the noise of the flapping and the wind itself, I got very little sleep. But the shelter held firm.
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Post by oldbill on Feb 17, 2024 9:31:37 GMT -8
High Sierra Fan Location certainly matters. A friend I hike with in the Winds always wants to be in a meadow rather than trees. The advantage is morning sun helps dry out the tent. Plus,there's a lot of dead trees these days in the Winds. Some places it's just impossible to find a safe spot under trees. If near water I try to get at least 20 ft above and 100 ft away. What gets posted a lot are problems in the rain when pitched low for wind-protection and splatter and having to have the door fully shut. Guess that applies to many tents. Some allow venting by partially opening vestibules a bit on either side if vestibules are far enough away from the interior. trinity What type of stakes did you use in Guadalupe? Just dayhiked there but pitched in Chisos for a week with a lot of wind. Really hard-packed soil there! Think we bent a stake or 2.
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Post by trinity on Feb 17, 2024 9:56:53 GMT -8
What type of stakes did you use in Guadalupe? I use 6 1/2 inch DAC J Stakes. These stakes don't seem to get a lot of love in the backpacking community, but I have always found them to be the perfect balance of weight, durability, and holding power. Groundhogs are great, but longer and bulkier (they don't nest like the J-stakes). I've tried mini-groundhogs, and have broken the heads off of several of them. I will definitely never carry those again. I've been carrying j-stakes for quite a while, some of them I've had for about 12 years and have never bent or broken a single one.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Feb 17, 2024 10:04:56 GMT -8
High Sierra Fan , reuben , I have been eyeing a dual pole connector for years, but I kind of like the simplicity of a single pole. Does using 2 poles make it more difficult to set up? And I gather you both feel that it adds significant stability and interior space? Setup - two poles is pretty much the same as one pole. Lay the tent out, put in some preliminary stakes, raise it with one or two poles, adjust stakes and poles. Basically, it's the same procedure as for raising most other tents. Trekking poles can be used, which is what I usually do, but they have to be a bit longer than usual when fully extended, so make sure you check that out before you buy, and test at home before venturing out. Stability - better with two poles, but not really needed unless there are high winds. Between the pole and the guy lines you can create enough tension for it to be stable in most conditions. Space - one v two poles doesn't make much difference, but I almost always use two poles just in case the wind picks up, and to keep track of where my hiking poles are. I can't remember the last time I set up with a single pole.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Feb 17, 2024 10:19:01 GMT -8
What type of stakes did you use in Guadalupe? I use 6 1/2 inch DAC J Stakes. These stakes don't seem to get a lot of love in the backpacking community, but I have always found them to be the perfect balance of weight, durability, and holding power. Groundhogs are great, but longer and bulkier (they don't nest like the J-stakes). I've tried mini-groundhogs, and have broken the heads off of several of them. I will definitely never carry those again. I've been carrying j-stakes for quite a while, some of them I've had for about 12 years and have never bent or broken a single one. I still carry some mini-groundhogs, but I use them mainly in situations were I can push them in with a boot. They won't survive many rock blows. For the most part, I use a mix of full-sized groundhogs and nail stakes.
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ErnieW
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I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 17, 2024 11:51:54 GMT -8
They look like the stakes that came with my Big Anges Copperspur. I like that they stack and so far they are tough. For the tarp of my hammock I have been using mini Groundhogs. They have been doing well too but I don't think I have had to hammer them. Where I put the hammock it is usually deep leaf litter so maybe too soft instead of hard.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Feb 17, 2024 12:11:54 GMT -8
I still carry some mini-groundhogs, but I use them mainly in situations were I can push them in with a boot. They won't survive many rock blows. For the most part, I use a mix of full-sized groundhogs and nail stakes. It's rare, even where I live, but the minis can be useful if the ground is infested with roots and rocks. Standard groundhogs can be hard to push all of the way into the ground, likely leaving the tent fly higher off the ground than desired. Maybe you want that extra ventilation, maybe you don't. I generally use groundhogs, but always take a few minis and a couple of shepherds hooks just in case.
Right now all of that stuff lives in my new basement, and I'm not sure where it all is.
Speaking of the new digs, if anyone's unfortunate enough to be in the MD area and wants to come to my house warming/meet new neighbors/see old friends and family/multiday scattered and irridescent conclave in late April, let me know. There's only one extra bedroom, but plenty of indoor floor space and lots of woods - bring your groundhogs, shepherds hooks, etc.
Given the vague and wide open dates my youngest daughter referred to it as an "open container".
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