"right now I am looking at two tents that I cant decide on
The tarp tent protrail which 209.00 or the Big Agnes Flycreek UL1 for 239.00.
What would you recommend"
Out of a universe of so very many, many tents, it might help if you gave some idea of why you zeroed in on these particular two tents?
The inclusion of the tarp tent option suggests that you're open to the wider range of tents that goes beyond "
what my local sporting goods store has in stock".
The protrail looks to me like an evolutionary step from the tarptent contrail. I own a contrail and have hiked quite a lot of miles with it. For a solo tent it's roomy, and overall a fine choice. I personally prefer a tent with a side exit rather than a "large-end exit", and one that puts the highest point at the spot most comfortable for me to sit up at. With the contrail --- and from a picture I think the similar protrail --- you might have to sort of scoot your butt some in order to sit fully upright (I do, and I'm not all that tall). As to the exit, the end exit is fine, it's just: mentally think through the specific gymnastics involved in getting into and out of a tent. I think most people would find that a side-exit is just easier.
What I prefer now is a Lightheart Solo, which is sold in normal and extra tall ("solong") versions, via
http://lightheartgear.com/ Certainly one reason I prefer mine is that I paid up for a cuben-upper version (no longer available), so it's lighter and a little more waterproof than any sil-nylon tent. It's the weight that's the issue for me, though as I've got about 4000 miles on this (Lightheart) tent, the tent body fabric
can become an issue. I.e., most people don't put nearly that much wear/use on a tent, but enough time in the elements and being deployed and then scrunched up again and again and again can wear the tent fabric itself, making sil-nylon a little more 'porous'? NOT something that I suggest that you consider unless you anticipate an extraordinary amount of use of this tent.
I would mention also about the Lightheart tent is that it's closer to a double-walled tent, whereas the protrail is a single-walled tent. Your flycreek option is a true double walled tent. If you live in a humid, rainy area or plan to hike in one, a single walled tent can certainly work fine, but a double walled tent is preferable.
I've hiked and camped with people who use more conventional tents such as the Flycreek, but I can't make any really meaningful comments. The "freestanding" thing isn't a factor that I personally care about much, but some people find it to be of value. I think there are (rare) exceptions where a freestanding tent is helpful, but my sense is that most people who seek out a freestanding tent do so more out of a lack of experience and thus concerns about something that's rarely a big deal (and for me, ALWAYS something that I can make work somehow).
One other factor comes to mind: If I were personally choosing, I think I would incline towards the tarptent option because you'll be able to sit upright in there. Unless your torso is pretty short, I question whether you could do so in the flycreek. For me, at least, I would feel a lot more constrained and a lot less comfortable in a tent that I couldn't sit upright in, particularly when it's raining/snowing, buggy, or just generally cold outside.