almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
|
Post by almostthere on Jul 1, 2016 7:59:31 GMT -8
I've often thought there might be one plant turning out all the tents on the mass market -- like the iso-pro canisters all being turned out in the factory in Korea, and painted in all the different colors of the brands...
|
|
|
Post by dayhiker on Jul 1, 2016 11:04:31 GMT -8
Not just silnylon but: 15 Denier Ripstop Nylon Silicone/PU 1200mm Waterproof Fire Retardant Coating - See more at: www.backpacker.com/gear/tents/golite-shangri-la-3-tent/specs/#scrollSo weaker than just Silcone on both sides, probably comparable to the new Hubba Hubba. I was assuming the Hubba Hubba was weaker than anything I had experience with , the Double Rainbow, and Beta Light and Mega Light would be stronger being all silicone, according to his site. I do have the Sangrai La 3, but haven't used it except once for snow camping, and to compare the the betalite. It could be the design of the tent, too as he noted its guy points are too low to be effective. I have never had to guy out a tent in moderate winds. (Stake out yes) He did not say why he thought it was a problem with the fabric, but I assume he wasn't talking about something that would tear any tent. Just for reference, my Golite Shangri-La 5 was made from 15D silnylon and went through numerous crazy strong storms (Including multi-day arctic 70 mph storms). The only reason it failed was the door was opened while facing into the wind and it tore at the door seam. The fabric itself was fine.
|
|
franco
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,297
|
Post by franco on Jul 1, 2016 15:41:54 GMT -8
Most high volume brands don't make their tents but there are many large manufacturers in Taiwan,China,Vietnam and Korea that cater for them. As for Big Agnes "Big Agnes works closely with its manufacturing partners" (from their website). As an example, I believe Jasper Outdoor (Hong Kong) were the manufacturers for Golite, they make tents for a well known US and a lesser known but high end UK brand too. There is a Taiwan owned Chinese factory that can produce 500 tents in a day. That is their minimum order too...
|
|
|
Post by dirthurts on Jul 2, 2016 18:04:47 GMT -8
It's hard to give advice in a vacuum. You voiced a vague fabric concern, got three pages of comments, no responses. The original tent you wanted to switch out is still on your list. What are you actually trying to decide here? I'm pretty certain the decision has nothing to do with the actual conversation going on here. Some people just want to hear what they want people to say, and when that doesn't happen they move on.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 2, 2016 19:00:13 GMT -8
Well the Kelty will arrive tonight. For some strange reason, my options now are: Kelty Trail Logic TN-2 Backpacking Tent REI half dome 2+ REI quarter dome 2 So you've decided "delicate fabric" (Quarter Dome 2) is acceptable. Not a bad idea, a little bit of care is worth the lower pack weight.
|
|
|
Post by wander2016 on Jul 4, 2016 8:02:59 GMT -8
Hi Guys,
Sorry for going missing for a few days. I had gone camping. I had put back the tent with "delicate fabric" (Quarter Dome 2) back on the list after seeing pictures posted by tigger of his 15D tent. I had the Kelty on the list because it was of intermediate weight and intermediate fabric. It wouldn't excel at anything but had a bit in every department.
Anyway, the Kelty didn't arrive on time and I ended up taking a "REI half dome" to the camping trip. I have liked it enough to keep it. It rained there at the camping site and it was not too bad. I will post a review later. But my question is given its weight, it that tent too heavy for backpacking? Should I keep continuing my search for a good backpacking tent (from the aforementioned suggestions by other posters) that meets the criteria?
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,890
|
Post by zeke on Jul 4, 2016 9:30:32 GMT -8
IMO, the HD is too heavy for BPing, and I own 1 for kayak camping. I own a Shire's Tarptent for bp'ing, and also a hammock for when I am solo sleeping. Best move I ever made was buying a WBBB with a tarp for rain cover.
|
|
almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
|
Post by almostthere on Jul 4, 2016 10:19:26 GMT -8
You should do as you feel led to do. Personally, I'd say it's too heavy - but I hate sleeping on the ground, so ANY tent I use for a trip where I have to leave the hammock behind by default MUST be much lighter than my hammock setup, which is about 46 oz for hammock and tarp and lines/straps -- so says me. I prioritize based on the demands of the trip. If I'm doing a trip where long miles and feeling really tired is going to be status quo, it'll be the hammock every time. Sleeping without waking every hour to roll over is the goal. I also prefer a hammock and tarp in the rain -- sleeping high and dry with everything either tied to the ends of the hammock or inside it with me lets me sleep well.
The REI HD is definitely lighter than a lot of tents I have seen. But it is definitely heavier than a lot of others. I'll take my Lightheart Solo (less than 2 lbs, and CHEAPER) over the REI tent any day. WIth a cushy pad, one of my quilts, and the tent, it'll get to about the same weight as the hammock setup for an all-in weight for the sleeping system. 4 lbs for everything is a whole lot better than a 3 lb tent, 2-3 lb sleeping bag, and a 15-28 oz sleeping pad.
|
|
|
Post by trinity on Jul 4, 2016 10:28:40 GMT -8
But my question is given its weight, it that tent too heavy for backpacking? Nobody can answer this question but you. I don't believe you've ever told us if this will be used primarily as a solo tent, or for two person use. If you divide the tent between two people it wouldn't be too bad. If you're young and strong and not going too far, it might work as a solo shelter. Most of us would never consider carrying something so heavy, but my backpacking tent for years was a two person Eureka Timberline. I couldn't even guess how much that thing weighed. I was in my 20s, it was all I could afford, and it got me out there.
|
|
|
Post by wander2016 on Jul 4, 2016 10:40:11 GMT -8
At the moment, it will be used just by me. However, in the near future, I will be sharing it with someone.
|
|
|
Post by trinity on Jul 4, 2016 11:14:14 GMT -8
At the moment, it will be used just by me. However, in the near future, I will be sharing it with someone. If it were me, personally I would go with something lighter, especially if this tent will see occasional solo use. Frankly, I think you got it right the first time with the Quarterdome 2, but there have been many suggestions in this thread for better backpacking tents than the HD, but they will be less sturdy and less roomy. Or just keep the HD, and eventually get a lighter-weight tent for backpacking, and relegate the HD to car camping. I have been using my HD for canoe and car camping for about 10 years now, and it's still going strong, it was truly a great investment. I took it on several solo trips (w/ my 75 pound dog) before completely overhauling my gear. It will work.
|
|
almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
|
Post by almostthere on Jul 4, 2016 19:21:14 GMT -8
Frankly, I think you got it right the first time with the Quarterdome 2, but there have been many suggestions in this thread for better backpacking tents than the HD, but they will be less sturdy and less roomy. Unless you buy something lighter and more roomier, and just as sturdy. Plenty of cottage maker tents fill that bill. I wore out a Lightheart tent, used it for three years, 2-5 nights per month (would have used it more but, hammocks are comfier), and doubt that someone who does 3-5 nights per year at most would ever wear it out. And it is roomier than those very light Big Agnes solo models everyone loves -- my pack and my dog fit inside with me.
|
|
BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,947
Member is Online
|
Post by BigLoad on Jul 4, 2016 20:42:23 GMT -8
Most of us started out with sturdy near the top of the priority list. Apart from special challenging applications, it stayed there for only a small minority. I'll take light any day, even if I have to replace it once every six or eight years. That number is just a guess for me. I haven't worn out any of my UL tents, despite having used up a couple "sturdy" car camping tents.
The other near-universal truth is that you can't convince most people in advance that they'll eventually prefer to go lighter. Fortunately, a tent is one of the less costly things to lighten up in the next iteration.
|
|