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Post by bobcat1 on Aug 14, 2022 21:02:32 GMT -8
I live and camp mostly in the Midwest and mostly in forests. Last trip out, had two of first three nights pouring with all-night rainstorms. My tent did its job. However, the dampness from condensation and from ground splash up the walls above the level of the waterproof wrap-up of the floor has me thinking. My current tent, which has served me well for nine years, is showing its age and might be due for replacement. What would you suggest for humid, wet, and buggy conditions, to protect me and my gear, without exceeding 4 pounds and prefer under 2 pounds. My current tent is a BA Fly Creek 2-person and I find it hard to picture two people using it! We
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franco
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Post by franco on Aug 15, 2022 1:09:03 GMT -8
My "possible rain weather" tent was the Tarptent Stratospire 2. That is because using trekking pole it gave me at just over 2 pounds a huge double wall tent with large vestibules so that I could strech out, have a mate inside playing cards , cook under the fly and have my wet/dirty boots and bits out of the way inside the large vestibules. Most often I could keep one side open so that I could look out to see what was happening (rainy afternoons...)
If you don't use trekkin poles, Tarptent has the Vertical Pole , 4.3 oz each. Much stronger than the typical tent pole, good for rough weather.
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Post by cweston on Aug 15, 2022 6:14:09 GMT -8
+1 on the Tarptent Stratospire.
The number one feature (aside from basic rain-worthiness) I want in a tent when it's rainy is large vestibules. Because...
1) You can store all of your gear in there. That keeps everything dry, and, just as important, at your disposal when you are pinned in the tent by rain.
2) You can get in and out without soaking your sleeping gear that's in the inner tent. With a little practice, you can just dive into the vestibule without even opening the inner tent door. Then you can doff your wet layers in the vestibule before heading into the inner tent.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 15, 2022 8:11:48 GMT -8
That rain issue and the small vestibule is one thing that may cause me trouble with my TT Protrail. Definitely can’t undress in the vestibule. Though I think more than a change of tent, I need to investigate a lightweight tarp that can be used to shelter the campsite so I can cook under shelter, too.
ETA: now that I’m going to be hiking in the PNW more again.
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 15, 2022 15:59:07 GMT -8
If bugs aren't a real issue, a screen tent (any freestanding tent with bathtub floor, minus rainfly) under an 8x10 tarp can be good option. You can try that with your old tent before buying a new one.
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franco
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Post by franco on Aug 15, 2022 18:26:08 GMT -8
That rain issue and the small vestibule is one thing that may cause me trouble with my TT Protrail. Definitely can’t undress in the vestibule. Though I think more than a change of tent, I need to investigate a lightweight tarp that can be used to shelter the campsite so I can cook under shelter, too. ETA: now that I’m going to be hiking in the PNW more again. Apart from already having large vestibules, you can undo all or part of the inner of the Stratospires (solo or double)from uder the fly , so if you want you have a very large area to cook under it. Some have even installed a wood burning stove system inside the SS2.
BTW, the SS2 started as a design challenge that I gave to Henry Shires, so I am very biased towards it. Henry designed that over a few years in his spare time and every so often a new twist to the design would appear. The final version was nothing at all like the one at the start. We called that project "the Circus tent".
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 16, 2022 7:51:15 GMT -8
Franco, I did look at the SS, but opted for the lightest possible option. Don’t think I want to invest in another such expensive tent; my preference is to avoid wet weather, but if unavoidable I think a tarp is my best option.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on Aug 17, 2022 15:26:27 GMT -8
I retired my BA Fly Creek ll to my daughter that only get 6-8 bag nights a year. And only hikes in the driest months. It is storm worthy but is a really poor wet climate tent. Mine is a first year production and had a foot area design with the fly and it was tough keeping side rain out. Fixed in year three. Absolutely not a real world two person tent. I have shared it but my partner was very petite and the temps freaking cold, so we did not mind. I do not own a TT Stratosphere but I have two different friends that do, and I am all in favor of it. I bought a new tent, for solo use, but in Spring 2020, TT tents weren't available. My next tent, for 2 people with probably be a HG Hexamid but I got to quit buying bikes or get a new hiking partner to split expense.
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Post by paula53 on Aug 17, 2022 17:35:42 GMT -8
I enjoy my Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1 person tent. Very well made, 2 pounds, and can stand heavy rain and moderate wind. A double walled tent with a generous vestibule. No worries about condensation, it is well ventilated. Several members on the forums have them.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 22, 2022 11:47:49 GMT -8
^this^. Though when I’m expecting a lot of rain driven tent time I’ll opt for a larger shelter to make all that interior time more livable.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 23, 2022 7:12:32 GMT -8
paula53 reminds me that I have the same (only an older version, I don’t think it’s the HV UL), quite a bit heavier than my TT Protrail Li, but something to think about if it’s going to be really wet—it has a better vestibule, too.
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Post by Coolkat on May 1, 2023 8:46:15 GMT -8
+1 on the Tarptent Stratospire. Apparently you don't struggle with with those triangle corners? I've hiked with 3 different people who use that tent and I've watched them struggle with those corners every time. And a couple of the owners also added an extra interior guy line from the peaks to keep the fly from touching the inner netting. I'm not trying to put the tent down, I'm actually hoping that you'll defend it and tell me what these people are doing wrong.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 2, 2023 5:36:22 GMT -8
I live and camp mostly in the Midwest and mostly in forests. You didn't say whether you just wanted a 2p tent for room or two people. If just one person and you hike mostly in forests have you considered a hammock set up? I'm about two years into staying in a hammock set up. I also mostly hike in forests and it is so nice to just look for two trees that are the right distance apart without potential dead fall above it. Much easier than finding relatively flat rock free spot for a tent that won't flood if it pours overnight. And no dead fall above it So far I have been out two nights in the hammock where it really poured rain and my set up was dry and comfortable. One of the great things of about a hammock set up is having a large lightweight tarp with you. You can put that up first then out of the rain set up the rest. Pouring rain at lunch? Throw the tarp up. I am now trying to budget for a Helinox chair. There isn't always a good rock or log to sit on under the place for the tarp.
P.S. One more plus occurred to me. When you hammock, you and your gear stay cleaner. Most everything is up off the ground even with set up/packing. Maybe one more plus is that you don't have to get down and crawl in/out of your hammock. Well maybe a plus to an older guy like me.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 2, 2023 6:07:26 GMT -8
I am now trying to budget for a Helinox chair. There isn't always a good rock or log to sit on under the place for the tarp. Bushman hammock Chair even you can afford this one. Lighter than a Helinox. Or, try a Qwikback
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 2, 2023 7:23:35 GMT -8
I have to say, the hammock chair looks more comfy than the Qwikback (which I have). Heavier, but as noted, lighter than a Helinox. The need for trees to hang it from gives me pause, but that’s not a problem on the east coast.
The Qwikback isn’t comfy for everyone—my BIL couldn’t adjust it so the poles didn’t poke his back. And I notice the lack of cushioning/insulation, though I have some thoughts to improve that at least a little. And yes, it’s over-priced. I wanted to make my own, which Zeke has done (using trekking poles), but my poles are already in use holding up my tent.
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