BigLoad
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Pancakes!
Posts: 12,844
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Post by BigLoad on Dec 24, 2019 14:46:26 GMT -8
I tried a Polycro footprint for a while, but it seemed more trouble than it was worth. It's much less durable than Tyvek and it's hard to spread out and to keep spread out. I don't carry my Tyvek footprints on every trip, but I like their balance between weight, performance, and ease of use. They're great for cowboy camping, too.
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Post by bluefish on Dec 24, 2019 16:05:24 GMT -8
I tried a Polycro footprint for a while, but it seemed more trouble than it was worth. It's much less durable than Tyvek and it's hard to spread out and to keep spread out. I don't carry my Tyvek footprints on every trip, but I like their balance between weight, performance, and ease of use. They're great for cowboy camping, too. The .75 and 1 mil. are tough to use. The 1.5 is good. I put a little tape on the corners with a tiny loop of guy line. If it's really windy, I leave the stake in this loop until the tent is on top of it and I'm ready to stake the tent down. Saves maybe 3-4 oz. from Tyvek and collapses a little smaller. Nothing wrong with Tyvek, though.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Dec 28, 2019 11:59:17 GMT -8
I had a Trekker and replaced it with the Lunar Solo. My gripe with the Trekker was the low angle of the roof, which meant it always touched my feet and heavy condensation would drip off on top of me. The Lunar Solo has more angle to the sides so condensation doesn't drip and a little more room for the feet. Aside from the low roof at the feet, how do the two compare space-wise? Specifically, the head of the Trekker comes to a point; does that impact the use of a full length rectangular pad, or shoulder room for an active sleeper? Any other pros & cons between the two SMD tents would be helpful.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Dec 29, 2019 12:57:19 GMT -8
franco, one issue I've always had with my early model Rainbow is the sagging of the mesh panel. No matter how I pitch the Rainbow, the mesh sags several inches and the bathtub floor lays flat on the side with the door. Is there a particular trick to eliminate the sagging? I remember a post (don't recall if it was this forum) about re-sewing the mesh panel to remove material for eliminating the sag.
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franco
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Post by franco on Dec 29, 2019 14:52:48 GMT -8
franco , one issue I've always had with my early model Rainbow is the sagging of the mesh panel. No matter how I pitch the Rainbow, the mesh sags several inches and the bathtub floor lays flat on the side with the door. Is there a particular trick to eliminate the sagging? I remember a post (don't recall if it was this forum) about re-sewing the mesh panel to remove material for eliminating the sag. I still have the original Rainbow, I'll set it up (maybe not today it's 40c outside) to see if I can get that sagging. probably due to the way the corners are staked out. I had to look for another tent bit so i did set up my Rainbow and no, I dould not get rid of that sag. I know that on later vesions connecting the floor corners to the 4 corner stakes made the difference but it doesn't do it do it on my first run Rainbow.
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Dec 30, 2019 6:43:42 GMT -8
Aside from the low roof at the feet, how do the two compare space-wise? Specifically, the head of the Trekker comes to a point; does that impact the use of a full length rectangular pad, or shoulder room for an active sleeper? Any other pros & cons between the two SMD tents would be helpful. The Trekker was roomy enough but the Lunar Solo always seemed bigger with room for gear all around the edge. I've always been happier with the Lunar Solo and wouldn't go back to a Trekker. The Lunar Solo has some quirks worth mentioning. Setting it up takes some practice to get all the edges taut. The pole height and stakes need to be played with to get it right (different techniques on YouTube). The vestibule doesn't extend to the ground but hangs a foot or more up in the air if you want it taut. I had to tie a piece of cord to make the guy line long enough to keep the vestibule taut. I wouldn't carry it into a monsoon, but it's a great tent that I would buy again.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Dec 30, 2019 6:55:11 GMT -8
Thanks toejam, much appreciated.
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Post by hikingtiger on Dec 31, 2019 10:42:01 GMT -8
I've got a Mountain Hardwear Drifter 3. Usually I'm not alone, so the weight gets split up. Keeping my eyes open here to lighter options whenever the time comes for a new one.
On the occasionally solo trip, it's usually cooler weather, so bugs aren't an issue and I just use my Kelty Noah Tarp.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jan 1, 2020 12:42:35 GMT -8
Solo? I usually go with “off” designs to maximize utility as the lower width of the fabric won’t make up for the constant length of a design when dealing with fabric.
For shoulder season and “light car-camping”, I have a sil-polyester version of the Lunar Solo so far. Pretty big for the weight, there’s a lot of space for extra gear, a big vestibule, and only 1 pole required. Great proven design but there’s a lot of panel exposed to any serious winds...
Dedicated summer, I have a water-resistant Borah gear bivy that will pair with a 0.5 DCF (“cuben”) tarp. Thinking of a light pyramid in 0.5 DCF for emergency use only, “cowboy camping” with the bivy mostly since I do not seek rain. Maybe the MLD Solomid in 0.5.
For duo it’ll be the latest by Big Agnes or whatever. Modern tent design is hard to beat at those sizes.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 1, 2020 13:36:53 GMT -8
I ordered the Lunar Solo for myself and the Skyscape Trekker for my hiking buddy. He was sold on the two doors and near 360 degree view with both sides rolled up. I preferred the larger single vestibule of the Solo with the extra interior space being on the other side, as opposed to extra space primarily above the head. The Trekker has 2 vestibules, but neither seem big enough for a pack.
It will be interesting having both SMD tents on the same trek, to compare & contrast the advantages of each.
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 2, 2020 4:57:31 GMT -8
When I need bug protection or expecting enough weather to want a "tent" (bathtub floor, vestibule, etc.), I'm usually Tarptent -- Contrail, Squall, Rainshadow.
If I'm hiking without poles (flat terrain) or camping in terrain (e.g. sand) where I want to be lazy and have a poled tent, I have a Big Agnes Fly Creek. Solo only, and usually only 1-2 night trips where I can afford to carry a heavier tent.
Otherwise, it's an MLD Trailstar (tarp) in cuben.
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panatomicx
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Less noise and more green
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Post by panatomicx on Jan 2, 2020 18:14:17 GMT -8
My Stratospire I has been great, as we're usually in areas with high probabilities of bugs and periods of bad weather. A little more than two pounds, roomy, with big vestibules. Large footprint also, though.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 2, 2020 19:03:15 GMT -8
Tarptent makes great products but it was hard for me to pass up the SMD Lunar Solo at 26oz & $184, especially since I mostly hang and won't use it often.
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Post by cweston on Jan 3, 2020 6:06:27 GMT -8
My Stratospire I has been great, as we're usually in areas with high probabilities of bugs and periods of bad weather. A little more than two pounds, roomy, with big vestibules. Large footprint also, though. A Tarptent Stratospire (mine is a 2p) has also been my goto tent for a little while now. I share panatomicx's enthusiasm. My wife, who hates tiny BPing tents, went on a short trip with me this past spring: even she had to admit that it was surprisingly roomy for 2.
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panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
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Post by panatomicx on Jan 4, 2020 12:57:42 GMT -8
Anyone have experience with both the Duplex and the Stratospire? How do they compare? They seem (slightly) similar.
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