Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and

Posted by: Mbphoto

Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/16/19 02:53 PM

Hey there

New here and new to backpacking too (my better half isn't completely new to it, though).

We're considering a backpacking trip in Scandinavia this summer and want to bring a tent along. (We'll also rent a car to be mobile throughout Norway, Sweden, and Finland, but want to sleep outdoors often)
Obviously, we will also use the tent in spring - late fall in the Swiss alps (up to 3'000m above sea at most, more likely at around 2k!)


Our first pick right now would be an MSR Hubba Hubba NX, because it is very convincing feature-wise, looks reasonably sturdy and reliable and doesn't weigh too much.

My issue with this tent is, however, that the space inside seems a little cramped. While we're usually very close sleepers and even made sure that our sleeping bags can be coupled together, we're used to a bed 140cm wide. Therefore, it would be nice to have a little extra space, especially since it's usually very uncomfortable if you touch the tent walls.

Also, it might come in handy to be able to bring the pack inside with you (camera gear most of all).

Therefore, I'm interested in a 3-person tent that doesn't weigh too much more than the Hubba Hubba NX.
It doesn't have to be roomy for three, may even be one that reviewers call "cramped for 3", as long as there's more room for 2.


Now the annoying part:

We want a completely yellow/orange tent, like the old Hubba Hubba (or the MSR Access, which is not an option due to the lack of mesh inside.. it's summer, after all..) or a dark green one (like the Hubba Hubba NX).

We don't want lime green (Nemo Dagger) or any ugly mixture of white with colour (MSR default colour, Big Agnes, etc.), brown, sand, or grey, so we're kinda picky.. (and most might find that ridiculous or superficial, but we cannot ignore the optics part..)


Let's say, the tent shouldn't weigh more than 2 kilograms in total. (I don't quite get those weird "minimum weight" informations, since I've never used a tent without stakes and poles and that stuff laugh )

Shoulder room is a concern, since many UL tents make sacrifices there.. I think, 1 meter should be the minimum, so one can sit inside the tent and play card games while the weather is bad outside..

Budget-wise, I don't want to set up too many limitations, since many tents can be found online far cheaper than what they retail for. If it ends up costing below 500 USD, we should be happy.

From what I could gather so far in the following lists:
https://www.backpacker.com/gear/the-best-3-person-tents-for-backpackers
https://mountainsforeverybody.com/best-backpacking-3-person-tents

The MSR Freelite 3 seems to be a great choice, if I bring a footprint along (which I would do anyways). Otoh, many rate the durability as low.. And it's not free-standing and MSR doesn't appear to have it listed any longer?!

Also, the Mytrailco UL3 tent has a great colour and affordable price tag, but nearly impossible to get one around here; and the door is on the head end instead of the sides...

The Marmot Tungsten UL 3P and Force 3P are interesting, albeit in a weird greenish mustard yellow..

I'm open for your advices and opinions and am aware that many manufacturers release new versions this spring. I simply couldn't find out much more.



Cheers
Mischa
Posted by: Glenn Roberts

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/16/19 03:38 PM

Ultralight, roomy with features, sturdy - pick two.

You’re smart not to put an unrealistic budget in the mix. If you did, it would be “ultralight, roomy with features, sturdy, cheap - pick three.” (Or maybe still only two.)

I’m sorry; beyond that, I can’t offer any advice as I have no experience in the type of mountains or climates in which you’re planning to travel.
Posted by: OregonMouse

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/16/19 05:55 PM

You might want to look at tarptent.com. whose tents are roomier than most. They do sell separate poles for trekking-pole supported tents. and they have a number of double-wall options. Unless you get one of their new models made with cuben fiber (or whatever it is called now), they are within your price guidelines. I've used two different models under rugged and stormy conditions.

However, because you're in Switzerland, I would suggest sticking with European-made tents which will save you the shipping and duties on US-made tents.
Posted by: Mbphoto

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 01:08 AM

Hey

Thanks for the quick replies.
Yeah, I know I'm asking for a lot.
I simply thought that it should be possible to find something not too heavy with an acceptable height and durability.

The Swiss Alps (6'000 to nearly 10'000ft above sea level) are what concerns me re durability. Above the tree line, you cannot always avoid some wind.

Scandinavia shouldn't be the issue, since the weather will be relatively mild during July.


Re us made tents:
I would highly prefer a seller from around here, yes.
MSR are us made, but you can buy them everywhere in Europe.
Posted by: balzaccom

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 01:13 AM

We have the Tartent 3p rainbow, I think it is, and it is an ideal solution for you. Roomy, pretty darn sturdy not ugly and quite lightweight. I think ours comes in at under 1.5kg. Very nice people to deal with---they would do what they could to get the tent to you in Europe.
Posted by: Mbphoto

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 11:19 AM

I don't doubt that they would love to send me one of their tents.

However, if there's an issue, sending it in would cost me about 50 USD..


I spend the entire afternoon researching tents and kinda gave up on finding "the one" that would satisfy me completely. Always ended up back with the Freelite 3 and the wish to have 4 inches more headroom and an orange rain fly.. laugh


So I did what I always do: I made an impulse purchase.

I have a 100 days return policy with my new fav online retailer (snowleader, from France, with free return shipping) and found a great deal on the Frelite 3 V2 (paid 480 USD in total).

I'll set it up in the living room and see how I like it inside. (not fully freestanding, so I'll use something to weigh down the strings)
Should I end up disliking it, I can simply pack it up and return it.


I really like the design and the green rainfly is very stealthy in the woods, albeit a bit boring when in the far north and up in the mountains, where there aren't any trees around.


While the Hubba Hubba NX would cost 150 USD less, it weighs 200g more (1.76 vs 1.56 kg) and offers significantly less floor space inside. The 150 USD is something two people spend for a single night in a so-called SAC hut (mountain lodges where you sleep in rooms with 10+ other people and get served food in the evening and morning), so we will survive.. laugh


I'll also make sure that it truly is the V2 of the Freelite, with the Easton carbon syclone poles and the new xtreme shield-thingy coating.


I'll tell you what I think once I got it, but won't be able to use it for at least another few months..
I don't think, the price will be any better then, when MSR releases the new tents for 2019 on Feb 1st..
Posted by: BZH

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 11:27 AM

I agree with the above recommendations on a Tarptent. I have a Hogback (4 person tent under 2 kg) and absolutely love it. I think the Stratospire 2 or the Rainshadow 3 would work well for you. Both are roomier and lighter than the HubbaHubba.
Posted by: aimless

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 12:08 PM

It seems that asking for our advice was a necessary part of your arriving at a choice, even though receiving our advice didn't play any part in the final process. laugh
Posted by: Mbphoto

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 01:57 PM

Hmm.. maybe you're right laugh

On the other hand, I have to admit that I'm a very impatient person and have been looking intensely at tents for a week now, always gravitating towards MSR.

Then, I ask my questions, clearly stating that I want a bright yellow or orange fly colour (or dark green) with an inner tent with mesh lining, and good shoulder room (being the only thing that didn't impress me with the Freelite series).

I was hoping to get pointed to something I hadn't seen before, that would maybe satisfy my needs even better. (like a Marmot Tungsten UL 3P with orange fly as an option.. laugh )


However, I get recommendations for grey tents with no liners at all, or white "frosted" liners that add nearly 200 grams to the pack weight. In addition, said tents are not available around here and any matters of warranty would become a serious hassle for me.


As I've said. With the 100 days return policy, I can always switch to a different tent, since I won't be able to use it outdoors very soon anyways. (Living at 1'200 m above sea level in the mountains)
Posted by: Glenn Roberts

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/17/19 06:06 PM

I’ve used MSR’s tents since they started making tents (I used Moss tents before that; MSR bought Moss so they’d have a tent division.)

I’ve used the Hubba series since it first came out, and have never had an issue with them. The Carbon Reflex series and the Freelite series are both rooted in the Hubba design. I have spent a night in 20-30 mile per hour (30 -45 kilometer per hour?) sustained winds in a Carbon Reflex 1. I had one corner try to lift a bit, but other than that, the tent was rock-solid stable. My buddy was in a Hubba, and his tent didn’t even try to lift a corner.

I’ve tried a few other brands (Mountain Hardwear, Sierra Designs, and Big Agnes), but after a trip or two keep coming back to MSR and selling or giving away the other brands.

I think you made a reliable choice (but remember, I have no real mountain experience.)
Posted by: Mbphoto

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 01/20/19 12:26 PM

Tent sits in the living room and we love it!

Height is perfect, the red is beautiful and there is plenty of room inside (for two, that is!)


Two things, though:
- The green rain fly is the darkest shade of green I have ever seen, and WAY off of the product pictures!
No complaints, it looks good and we wanted stealth in the woods, but the editing on those photos was pee poor...
I already had the same issue with my yellow Falketind GTX jacket from Norrøna, where the pictures show bright yellow and near black zippers, and the jacket in reality is a muted mustard yellow with grey zippers (took some getting used to, but I really like it now..)

Also, I have a colour calibrated Eizo screen, so it cannot be that.

- One reviewer cried about the lack of a measure of fixation for the rain fly on the front leg.
There actually is a red loop but nothing attached to it. MSR told him that they needed to save weight. (maybe 5 grams for the fabric and metal loop to connect to the tent...)
So, that's really weird and kinda annoying, but I'll figure something out.
(the issue is, that the rain fly isn't held down by the tent skeleton, so can easily slip up by 2 feet to where the guy string is attached.. I really cannot see, what the benefit of this should be)
Posted by: toddfw2003

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 02/07/19 11:30 PM

If you can handle a tarp check out Luxe tents. Not UL by a lot of people standards. you are looking at 1.5 pounds for a 3 person tipi
Posted by: Franco

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 02/13/19 10:09 PM

I think that the newer version has a darker green fly than the first one. If you search for it now you should be able to see both the older and new (darker) green.
https://www.backpacking-united.com/au/ms...AiABEgLqDfD_BwE
wrong tent but the new green
Posted by: Mbphoto

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 02/14/19 08:08 AM

They changed the pictures.. not sure they changed the design, though.

Mine looks like this:




And you'll definitely agree that this is far from the green that they pictured. laugh

Now, I'm not complaining. I wanted either a bright yellow/orange one, or a dark green one for stealth.
Now, I have a stealthy one that is great for stealthy camping but not very photogenic for those insta posts laugh
Posted by: Franco

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 02/14/19 09:02 PM

That is VERY dark indeed. Hilleberg had a similar "dark green" a few years ago. Also much darker than in the official photos.
Posted by: Mbphoto

Re: Ultralight durable 3P tent for 2 - Swiss Alps and - 02/15/19 04:21 AM

Yeah.. It reminded me alot of the greens used in the army.. But they/we know why we use that colour to go undetected, so that's fine with me wink