Pitched a Hex 3 in a camping store. Bought a Megalite. I like the layout a lot better. Had my buddy and I in It both sleeping bags out to the sides, both backpacks in the back center, boots assorted stuff lying around and had enough room to have two stoves going at the inside front of tent with doors open in a Yosemite 14 hour rain. I just got up from four hours in my sleeping bag recovering from hypothermia and I was hungry. No the bear cans did not stay in the tent all night. But there was room for them. I was concerned at first about the tent may not hold up in strong winds. Not so. I even did a test in the Sierra Rae Lakes area . No stakes, approximately 5lb rock on top seven 12'' tie out lines looped around 1/2 diameter sticks. Tent stood taught in ten to twenty mile an hour all day breezes. I wanted to see how little anchoring it would take to stay taught. I was pleasantly surprised. Since that trip I read that though the Hex and Kiva which are great tents, technically are more aerodynamic because it has more sides, appears to be not as relevant of an issue as one might think. (except I suppose in extremely high sustained winds.) Maybe. The theory is,is ( did Clinton ever explain what the meaning of is, is. I was never sure ) I digress. That even though the tents have this big footprint( not as in carbon foot print ) as in wide stance, it is low to the ground and unlike a regular tent that has a long ridge line for the wind to apply pressure on and and give it leverage, the fact that the tipi style tent narrows at the top the wind has less of a fulcrum effect. I believe that is the term. Anyway less leverage. I probably could not pass a basic physics test but the theory makes sense to me. And better yet my tent did not blow over even with minimal anchorage. I have read reviews with testimonies on sustained 40 mile an hour winds with estimated 60 mile an hour gusts and the Megalites were holding there own. I sure they were well anchored. I would have to experience it myself. But it would not surprise me. The only problems I've had with my tent are lots of room, being able to stand up in it, (albeit slightly hunched over though I could pitch it higher), I can spill liquids on the floor that doesn't exist, condensation, yes, but it runs down the side of the tent, it doesn't drip on you, ease of pitching, weighs next to nothing especially since I use my treking poles as the center pole, and probably the absolutely worst thing that is almost intolerable is all the nice people I get to meet as they marvel at its simplicity. Yea I think I like my Black Diamond Megalite. Buy a tipi tent whatever brand and you will make lots of trail friends.
"Time is precious, trek slower "
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