Help Me Chose a Tent!

Hello all, I happened upon your wonderful forum in my search for a new tent and some advice from well seasoned trekking vets. Ive done all season camping, hiking, climbing and mountaineering in the Adirondacks, Rockies, Black Hills and Northwestern regions of Washington State. Im recently newlywed and my lovely wife would like to join me on trips. So I am now in the market for a relatively light 2p tent.

Im an experienced hiker at 35 years of age in solid physical condition and my budget is wide open. Some of the tents I am considering are:

REI Half Dome 2
Six Moon Lunar Duo
Stargazer 2
Hilleberg Anjan 2
Sierra Designs Flash 2
MSR Hubba Hubba

As you can see there are lots of options all with benefits and tradeoffs. Currently Im leaning more towards durability, function and comfort than a super light shelter. Thus my top 3 would be the REI, Sierra and MSR they are all roughly the same weight at ~70oz offer 2 doors and 2 vestibules.

Please help me narrow down my choice.

Any feedback is appreciated, thanks in advance!

Of the tents you list, I'd choose the MSR Hubba Hubba. I've used the Hubba tent extensively, and it never disappointed. I got a Hubba Hubba for my brother and niece to use on backpacking trips with me, and they really liked it.

Mero,

Main Concern is how much space your wife wants, some women need a little extra space when camping, makes it more pleasant.
Especially in wet climates, seems you like to camp in areas with lots of moisture.

Personally, my wife is flexible on this as long as I keep the bugs & snakes out!

Have you looked at a Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL 2.. about the same weight as the 3 tents mentioned.



Owned both used REI Half Dome 2 ( 2007 ) and orange Hubba Hubba (2009 ). REI's big selling point is the lifetime return policy no matter if its used, means you could go with all 3 and those of us that live in your area would get a deal at a Scratch & Dent on your return tents.....LOL

MSR Hubba Hubba may have slight moisture issue if not vented properly but my first choice if the Jack Rabbit is not a choice. Lighter, freestanding and no possible pole issue

Half Dome 2 newer version has a issue if not setup properly,the main poles could be twisted the wrong way and snap when installing cross pole, seen it happen at a REI Scratch & dent sale.

Sierra Flash 2 - looks good but found out its not free standing (do you want freestanding)

my personal tents now:
I have Squall 2 tarp tent, 8x 10 tarp & OR Bivy for BP.
Car / base camping a Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL 3

Hope some of my input helps, depend now on your camping requirements.


Mike

Hmm good eye on the Flash 2 not being freestanding, not sure its a big issue as I prefer to stake my tents out anyway.

The Big Agnes JR seems good on paper albeit a tad smaller but Ive seen some less than stellar reviews on it.

I definitely dont like hearing about potential pole bending problems with the Half Dome. Id say that one is off the list.

Moisture is certainly a concern with the Hubba Hubba but I know a lot of people are fond of it.

I really wish more people had experiences with the Flash 2; Im gonna give it a whirl and let you know how it pans out.

Thanks for all the great feedback guys much appreciated!

Freestanding is not all that - you need to stake tents down regardless. "Freestanding" is another word for "box kite."

And moisture (assuming you mean condensation) is often completely unavoidable - it depends on a number of factors from site selection to weather, to how you pitch the tent - if you don't use all the stake out points (I've seen about a zillion poorly pitched tents with the fly collapsed against the netting) and you pitch over grass, and it's humid (raining or just rained, or soon to rain) you won't avoid it. I've seen it happen to an open tarp pitched six feet off the ground.

For a lightweight palace, you can't beat a 3 person MSR Carbon Reflex. Most 2 person tents are perhaps 1.5 person tents at best.

My husband and I use the Mountain Hardware Spire 2 - the winter version of the three-season Skyledge 2. It is not light (nearly 6 pounds) but is really bombproof. Although I have not used it, I think the Skyledge is designed the same, except it has more netting, and no side door snow flaps. It is pretty tight for two - OK if both of you are regular size or smaller. It is probably too narrow for bigger people.

I like the free standing tents. Yes, you still have to stake them down, but they are much easier to set up in places where you do not have a perfect site. Before staking down, you get inside, try it out and then can easily move it a few inches one way of the other to avoid a rock, etc. Also, before taking down, you just open the doors and shake out all the dirt, pine needles, etc. My solo tent is not free standing and is tedious to set up if I do not pick the best spot from the beginning and when I have to turn it inside out to get rid of the debris, getting it back to right-side-out is like a puzzle!

Pay close attention to measurements. A lot of the 2-man tents nowadays are really small. For a little extra weight you can go to a 3-man tent, which actually are similar to the size of 2-man tents about 15 years ago.

I had a MSR tent years ago, and it was really weather-proof and sturdy. They make tents for PNW conditions. It however was not the lightest nor did it have some features that I like. You will never find the "perfect" tent.

There are only pole bending problems with the REI Halfdome if you are a complete idiot and ignore the instructions provided by REI with the tent (or in their video). Erect any tent incorrectly and you will create problems. The Halfdome is remarkable value for money yet has performance and room to compare any of the suggestions you make (not the Hilleberg of course which is in a class of its own- and a price to match).
BTW I bought my HD at an REI bent and scraped sale, very slightly bent cross pole which I straightened myself, and not a mark on the fabric. My guess was used once by an idiot. Cost me a whole $25. If I had to replace the bent pole, it would have cost $15.

I have another option to check out - the Mountain Hardwear Lightpath 3. Though it is listed as a 3 person, my wife and I find it has the perfect amount of room for the two of us. It ventilates well, has a good sized vestibule, and I can sit up in it (I am 6'4").

I have the MSR Hubba Hubba. It has been an extremely good tent for two people or for my dog and me. Most tents when they say two people you will end up spooning. Not the hubba hubba, there's plenty of room.

Just wanted to point out that REI does not offer a lifetime warranty any more. Their warranty is now 1 year.
Also, I have a SMD Lunar Duo and am thrilled with it.

Actually, the old REI warranty still stands if the item is defective. Just not if you don't like it. I note that other companies that have offered lifetime warranties have stopped, too.

ll bean and eddie bauer are the two gear stores I can think of offhand that still offer unconditional lifetime warranties.
And backcountry.com as well.

Per the backcountry.com website: :



So unless you haven't used the item, it's really 90 days, unless it's defective.. Still disguised as "lifetime."

I have to wonder if this is another case of too much abuse ruining a good thing. I know I've read, here and on other boards, of people giving advice to "take it on a couple of trips and return it if you don't like it," and, while standing in line at REI the other day, the guy in front of me said he was returning his 10-year-old tent because "a zipper finally failed, and I really used that tent a lot." He was expecting to get a replacement or a full refund - essentially, get a new tent - for free, to replace one that he had worn out!

I'm sorry, but that's abuse of a policy - and it ruins it for those who really need it.

I agree, Glenn, and REI's prices definitely reflect the cost of that abuse!

REI still gives you a year, which should be plenty long enough--unless like me, you stick the box of what you want to return in the back of the closet and keep forgetting to take it with you! I have two items I'll have to put on For Sale, but that's my fault!

The year is waived if the item is defective (hopefully that will exclude your example with the 10-year-old zipper!).

From what I gathered from our chat in line, the zipper wasn't defective until the last day; for the first 9 years and 364 days it worked great - and it may have had needed some ham-fisted encouragement to become defective on day 365!

two doors and two vestibules. Easy to set up, 2 vestibules for gear. They look good on the trail and there are two vestibules! and two doors.

I think just about everyone makes a half dome style tent...

We use the REI Quarter Dome 3 for two people. I carry poles and Body she carries fly, lots of room for 2, boots, clothes etc. Works for us...

I've had a Lunar Duo for 4 years now and love it. It also has 2 doors and vestibules. It's held up quite well though I don't get out a lot with it (I tarp when solo). Just survived torrential downpours on a flooded tent pad in the Smokies and our's was the only one in the Troop that didn't get water in it. That's with just the 30D floor, too. I had patched 2 tiny holes I'd gotten in the floor (I also don't use a groundcloth). It's a true 2-person. 4 people could sit in it to play cards if necessary.

The 2 main downsides (assuming you already carry trekking poles):
1. single wall so you may get more condensation than one of the others depending on location and conditions
2. not freestanding so you must stake everything (6 stakes). Very simple to pitch.