Looking for a Lightweight Tent...

Hello,

I'm looking for a lightweight tent (four pounds or less) that is tan, or a similar colour (light brown, beige, etc.). It may be one or two person, and I want it to be four season. Price isn't a big concern, so long as I'm purchasing a tent that will survive years of proper use.

I'm also a little worried about eventual destruction from UV rays, are there any tents that address this issue?

I hope someone can help me, I'm a little overwhelmed at the tent options, and colour is very important.

My tarp tent is grey, but I do not know how it would do in snow.

The MSR hubba HP might be what your looking for. It can be used in the winter but not in extreme weather, ie massive snow load or high winds above tree line. Well at least that' what I have heard. You may want to look into it more.

Hilleberg makes some very good quality 4-season tents: link . My dad has their solo Akto and likes it, but it needs a wide pitching area because of the way its guylines are set up. It's green and < 3 lbs.

I recently bought a Tarptent Double Rainbow but haven't tested it yet. It's very light, gray, and sleeps two. Their website says it's "3+" season, though I don't think I'd purposely take it up Mt. Mckinley or something. I've read a few reviews online and it seems to take wind alright, but I'd like to test that sometime.

You need to describe in more detail what you mean by "four season." Where you go, when you go and what the weather is like when you get there is more important than the label of "four season."

Most people here are not deep winter campers, so their "fourth" season isn't all that cold or snowy. On the other hand, some other members camp in -30C weather in Canada or Norway. Big difference.

Hilleberg, Terra Nova, Stephenson, MSR, and Mountain Hardwear are brands I would look at.

Henry Shires (Tarptent) doesn't consider his tents to be four season.

I don't understand your need for a lightweight, four-season tent that is tan--unless you're in the special forces or are planning on stealth camping in the desert.

But given your requirements, you should go as soon as possible to the Stephenson's Warmlite web site and choose your color.

Of course, I have seen tents in the color you describe--I even have one: a Bibler Bomshelter made for the US special forces. Its main body is a light tannish green, and the vestibules are the standard Bibler light grey. And although they are not lightweight, on eBay you can find tents made for the USMC by TNF and Eureka that have desert camo rain flies.

As for UV degradation, unless you're camping for months at a time in the desert or you're above 15,000 feet, you're more likely to have the zippers fail or the coating peel off the floor before sunlight does much damage to your tent.

Polyester (instead of nylon) rain flies have been used on MEC and TNF expedition tents, and they are more resistant to UV damage and stretching when wet than traditional nylon flies. The downside? Polyester has a lower tear strength and less abrasion resistance compared to nylon. Having said that, I like polyester flies better than nylon ones.

Integral design Mark 1 Lite in woodland or desert camo (under special purpose gear) 3 lbs 12 oz could be another choice.
Or maybe this : http://www.kifaru.net/paratipi3.htm
Franco

You might take a look at Marmot's web site. A real 4-season tent (that is, suitable for snow camping and severe weather) will weigh more than four pounds, though.

"A real 4-season tent (that is, suitable for snow camping and severe weather) will weigh more than four pounds, though."
I would say that most of the Warmlite owners will disagree with you Have a look at these reviews (found at random...) note that the first guy has had his for 34 years !

http://www.spgear.org/gear/660/2r-stephenson-tent.html
and as Carter has already pointed out , they have a vast choice of colours.
Franco

Now that I have checked, TAN is the colour the don't have any longer. Who would have thought that it was a popular choice ?

The MSR Twin Peaks seems to have been recently discontinued, but may still be available on close-out at certain places.

It's brown. Two rigid poles make it very stable in wind. It's intended for ski-touring, among other things. Its relatively lower profile and volume makes it slightly warmer than pyramid-styles.

There are at least several manufacturers that carry similar designs, including Black Diamond and GoLite. Black Diamond probably has biggest market share for this design.

They're all roughly equivalent. Maybe that's why MSR threw in the towel. Too bad....

Isnt the MSR Twin Sisters its replacement?

Currently, ain't no Twin Sister on MSR Web site.

But it's on REI site. Looks like a nice tent, designed, even more expressly than Twin Peaks, for winter, due to snow flaps.

Maybe MSR is cutting back product line due to recessionary outlook?

Can snow flaps really sell? I see Mt. Hardwear Kiva no longer has them.

Tsk Tsk....nice tent, though I've got the urethane coated version I think.

I forgot about Stephenson...although I personally wouldn't buy from them. Note, however, these quotes from the reviews you pointed to:

From the guy who's had his 35 years:

"35 years is a good run. I'm looking to replace it with a 4 season type tent. My thanks to the Stephenson company for such a quality product."

Next reviewer:

"I have used it in the Canadian Rockies as well as on Aconcagua at lower camps as a backup. I am not sure how it would take the higher winds up high. Packs up real tight."

And, in fairness, the next:

"I've spent nights in howling winds and snow and felt very secure (while other member's tents collapsed)."

The Twin Sisters is listed with the Expedition tents.
Franco

It really doesn't matter what object or material your concerned about, the sun will eventually break it down. Unless it's made of concrete. It will eventualy do damage.
My daughter left her dept. store tent set up in the back yard for 2 months last summer and the sun basicly destroyed it. So that was done in basicly 60 days or so. Better coatings etc will prolong that time and weather did play a part in the destruction.

Yes. I'm totally mistaken and wrong

Twin Sisters on MSR Web site in "Expedition" category, not "Fast & Light" category.

Not discontinued.

An excellent, fantastic tent at two pounds, from an extraordinary company.

As chaz is trying to say, I wouldn't worry about UV much. Don't set it up in the sun. Backpackers don't need tents that sit in the sun. They set it up before dark and take it down in the morning. Usually all of this is done in the shade, especially in the mountains when the sun is behind the mountain and the sky is still bright. If it is snowing, not much sun. If it is raining, not much sun. Basically, the reasons people need a tent for backpacking normally equates to a no sun condition. I wouldn't worry about it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Good question. Why would someone need a four-season tan tent? If you want to stealth camp in the desert, get a 3 season tan tent. If you want to stealth camp in the snow, get a white one.

The Twin Peaks as an expedition tent? That is friggin' hilarious!

Not my definition, but do you have any experience with it ?

Franco

I've got an MLD Superfly that is the same configuration (although a lot lighter) so I have some experience with the shape. Next to my Hilleberg Soulo that IS made for expedition (read: high alpine, 4 season use), it is a tarptent at best (and I say that lovingly) for 3 season use.

And I didn't say that was your take on the tent; only that the classification by MSR for that shelter is ridiculous.

(next up - Hubbas at Base Camp Everest)

CWF
You are underestimating the power of orange.... ( how slow would a grey Ferrari be ?)
I happen to think that the 3 pole design used by the Soulo/Allak is the most efficient "all weather" solution. (least weight/max strengh/min fuss )
The trekking pole supported A frame design is the lightest that ( IMHO) can take some snow and pretty strong wind, not that I would enjoy spending half an hour trying to get 8 snow pegs to freeze before I could set it up...
Next we have the tunnel design. Many are happy with the sub 3 lbs Warmlites, but again you really need a lot of tension to make it work....
The easiest and quickest has to be the freestanding version, still need to peg it down but not so many points are required.
And we have gone from sub 2 to over 4 pounds .
Franco

You took the words right out of my mind <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

MSR has a venerable reputation and there are extremely few tents out there that offer snow flaps, which are extraordinarily effective anchoring devices.

Mountain Hardwear, with a less stellar but still good reputation, briefly offered snow flaps on its Kiva model. The current version doesn't offer snow flaps

Kiva, which due to its higher profile, larger size and single rather than double poles, is almost surely less stable in wind than MSR TS, but is nonetheless advertised as a "winter mountaineering shelter," though it's listed on MH's "superlight" rather than "expedition" page.

I'd say both these tents are reasonably described by their makers.