I think I'm going to go for the 1p tent- after using several 2p tents over the years. I can shave off roughly 3 lbs and that is what is taking me that direction... Has anyone else tried this and thought that the 3 lbs was worth it? Or did you like the decision? pros and cons...
It's still a pound however <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> basically if I'm going to be sleeping by myself, I tend to take a solo shelter. - a hammock typically, or a single person tent. Otherwise you're just carrying extra junk. a pound here and a pound there makes a big difference.
Most of the time I use a hammock. I have a ID silshelter, and an SMD lunar solo. I don't find any of them "coffin like" any more than any other tent. I also semi frequently pitch my hammock as a solo tent on the ground if on a trip where hammock sites are ok for some of it and not in other places - I only actually bother with the on the ground shelter like that if I know where I'm going will have predominantly no hammocking. (winter camping is a different story)
Hey, all I'm doing is sleeping and reading in it. Not like I'm expecting to need room for the party with the mini kegger and the mythical 20-something hiker chix from a beer commercial <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Oh, and if I could have only one tent it would be a hammock <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
And if it had to be a tent - it would still be a solo tent - that way if someone else wheedles their way into coming with me they carry their own stuff, and I can snore and fart in my shelter in peace <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Two solo tents might weigh a bit more than a single 2-person tent, but there's another advantage (besides snoring and farting, which are considerable advantages): if, in the middle of a trip, if you become separated (accidentally or by choice), it's no big deal. In fact that option is one my two best hiking buddies and I decided on long ago, P.U. (Pre-Ultralight), for all our gear. Essentially, we took solo trips together. We didn't split up often, but it was always nice to have the option.
I am looking at a Marmot EOS 1p... under 3 lbs and the reviews are perfect. I currently own a Marmot twilight 2p and it's the best tent I've bought for the money.
I agree the 2p tent is the best choice for a first purchase
Hammock is out. IMO I can't handle the "exposed" feeling of my a$$ at bear mouth level... just me. GREAT for day hiking and such- but as a shelter- no thanks lol (also need two trees side by side)
Lastly my tent needs to be double walled freestanding- yes it's more weight but I don't want to stake out my tent just to sleep in a sauna...
Not knowing what part of the country you hike in, I need to qualify this by saying that I hike mostly spring through fall in the lower Midwest (Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana) - think high humidity and hot. Your neck of the woods might be different, and what I say may not apply to you.
As far as not wanting to sleep in a sauna, a double-walled tent won't automatically prevent that. Last summer, my brother and niece were on a trip with me; I was using a Hubba (which I highly recommend) and they were using a Hubba Hubba. It was a nice muggy August evening. They used the rainfly on their tent, and zipped the vestibules completely shut (I tried to persuade them otherwise; no luck - he never did listen to his big brother very well.) I didn't even pitch my rainfly. The next morning the inside of their tent was soaked - very sauna-like - while I had no problems.
My points are: 1) Button up a double-wall tent and you'll get the same sauna effect as a single-wall tent creates when it's buttoned up (and sometimes when it isn't.) 2) I also prefer a double wall tent, if the interior wall is nearly all mesh. With a double wall tent, I don't have to pitch the fly, and get great ventilation (in fact, with the Hubba, it's just like sleeping under the stars.) With a single wall tent, you have no choice about ventilation beyond whether to leave the door/vestibule open. You'll always have sidewalls pitched. (Some single-walls, like TarpTent, provide for generous amounts of ventilation that rival double-wall, non-mesh inner tents - but still can't hold a candle to the Hubba or other mesh-wall inners like the Seedhouse SL1, in my opinion.)
Both if I could and wanted to. For me there is not one shelter that would cover 4 seasons. The thing I don't like about 2 person is the weight. The thing I don't like about one person is trying to get my gear in it with and do functional activities when its pouring rain. Functional activities include things like cooking, changing clothes, packing my gear into my pack, ect...Hammocks are nice, but I don't pretend to enjoy them in winter - its just too heavy to carry all that extra stuff to make it functional in cold weather, and I like to lay in my bag all toasty warm and cook my breakfast- so that makes it too confining in the winter.
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For brick and mortar breed filth and crime And men are withered before their prime
My 2 person tent weighs less than my friends hubba solo tent. Get a tent big enough foryou AND your gear. Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
If I could only have one tent it would be a tarp <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Less weight, less condensation, less expense, more room. Bring a bug net if you need to and rhe previous are still true.
I think I'm going to go for the 1p tent- after using several 2p tents over the years. I can shave off roughly 3 lbs and that is what is taking me that direction... Has anyone else tried this and thought that the 3 lbs was worth it? Or did you like the decision? pros and cons...
Once again.....it depends. If I were to hike for just a couple of hours to a place where I was going to basecamp for 3 days, I would gladly carry the extra weight of the 2P. But if I was hiking 20+ miles/day with little time for leisure I'd go for the 1P......or less
What about weather? If rain/snow/cold was going to confine me to my tent for long periods, the 2P would be preferable.
If gear storage is a concern, a vestibule should be considered. Some 1P tents with large vestibules (my Akto comes to mind) weigh more than some small 2P tents. I never saw a use for a vestbule in fair weather but when it rains they're great for keeping water out during entry/exit and storing wet gear. In those circumstances I'd rather have a 1P with a large vestibule than a 2P with none.
Why do you want a double walled tent? I generally prefer them also because in the mosquito is the state bird here in the summer and properly designed, they definately deal with condensation well. I'm just wondering about your reasons.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
I have an MSR Hubba and love it. It's a freestanding double wall and weighs 3.3 lbs. I tried a friend's tarptent but felt like it would be inadequate shelter unless the weather conditions were ideal. Hubba seems bigger than the Big Agnes SL1 since the walls are more vertical. Good luck in your search.
Yes, it is free standing; however, if you have the rainfly on, you do have to stake the vestibule out if you want it closed. (If you choose not to, it just kind of hangs there limply.)
cook my tent is a Sierra Designs Flashmagic single walled version of the flashmagic. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> It weighs 51 ounces in its stuff sack with 5 stakes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Its a double hoop tent. Hoop tents are generally lighter than free standing tents and since you have to stake it anyway - why the push for free standing? It doesn't matter, except they are easier to set up on the floor of a store without stakes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Big Sky Evolution (i know, i know) with stakes, groundsheet this is just over 4 lbs.
Tarp Tent Squall 2 - again with stakes and groundsheet this is just over 3 lbs.
I use the Big Sky for winter/inclimate weather situations, and the TarpTent for summer. Both tents are big enough to handle me and my gear.
The Big Sky has a rainfly and has 2 vestibules, so there is room galore in there. I really like it a lot - it worked very well in a winter sleet/snow/freezing rain storm, although I did beat the wet stuff off it a few times. It kept warmth in well and definitely kept me and my stuff dry.
I once used the TarpTent Squall in a situation where the bottom REALLY dropped out of the sky. I was really happy with how it handled that situation. My stuff stayed pretty much dry despite the splashing and "misting". I also used it once in winter when it was really cold - and it offered basically no additional warmth. But it's designed to allow air to move, and so that was expected.
I prefer the 2P tent. At 6'3", a 2P tent is really a 1P+gear tent for me.
I tried using an MSR Zoid. It was an attempt at a true 1P tent. It had a good sized vestibule for gear, an dwas long enough for me. But I couldn't really sit up in it as it was a bit short, and I found it difficult to move around inside.
So I found lightweight 2P tents to use, and I'm happier with those. My other post in this thread has my experience with those - a Big Sky Evolution and a TarpTent Squall2.
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