How to Choose an Ultralight Tent or Shelter:

[wayno]

http://sectionhiker.com/how-to-choose-a ... er-part-1/

Ultralight Tent and Shelter Types
http://sectionhiker.com/how-to-choose-a ... er-part-2/

[GPSGuided]

Sounds like we all need that n+1 UL tents to cover the next area of interest.

[Franco]

A couple of points that stood out (to me...)
under the double wall part
Prone to internal condensation because they have relatively poor ventilation
I would think that most TT Scarp owners will disagree with that..

under tarp tents :
Seam-sealing is required before use because these shelters are usually made by small manufacturers that skip that step to save cost
All of the manufacturers quoted in that section offer seam sealing for around $35.
If seam sealing was logistically possible for every shelter produced by them, the cost would be passed on to the customer just as seam taping is part of the cost of a shelter that comes factory sealed.
On average about 10% of our customers (Tarptent) get the seam sealing done by us so about 90% do it themselves maybe to save money or because they can (...) or simply because they did not find the seam sealing option.

Anyway just small points and really it is very difficult to write comments about a category (double wall tents/ tarp tents) and have those comments spot on for all of them.

[north-north-west]

A couple of points that stood out (to me...)
under the double wall part
Prone to internal condensation because they have relatively poor ventilation

Haven't read the article, but this criticism is a load of bollocks in my experience. Condensation depends on a number of factors but the position and size of fly vents and the external weather conditions are the major issues.

[RonK]

Ultralight Tent and Shelter Types
http://sectionhiker.com/how-to-choose-an-ultralight-tent-or-shelter-part-1/

http://sectionhiker.com/how-to-choose-an-ultralight-tent-or-shelter-part-2/
Fixed the hyperlinks so they work in Tapatalk.

[kitty]

I enjoyed reading these two articles, lots of informaton.
Regarding the comment that single wall tents have less condensation than double wall tents - I also think that comment is NQR.
Ive had my double wall tent pitched at Echo point amongst the trees, zero condensation, totally dry. A few days earlier pictched at Windamere on a platform had fair amount of condensation in the morning.
Ive also had a single wall tent pictched in western australia amongst the trees with heaps of condensation.
Single wall versus double wall had nothing to do with the condensation on either of these two tents in these cases.
Both the tents are ones mentioned in the two articles.

[photohiker]

The article is a couple of years old, but I was surprised to read this:

A backpacker wants to reduce his gear weight by replacing a freestanding Big Agnes Copper Spur with a Tarptent Notch but is concerned about how easy it is to pitch on the wooden tent site platforms which he encounters 99.9% of his trips in the White Mountains.

I suggested that he keep the Copper Spur if he always camps on platforms because the Tarptent Notch would be a pain in the *&%$#! to pitch on them,

Strangely, I have a Notch, and I have pitched it on wooden platforms with no dramas. I don't know if Phillip has a Notch, but like any tent, you need to be familiar with the tent before you can make such a claim. Is a Notch more complex to pitch than say a freestanding tent?, sure, but only slightly. Has it ever been a 'pain in the *&%$#!' to pitch anywhere I have pitched it? Nope

Experience and practice makes the difference.

[whitefang]

The article is a couple of years old, but I was surprised to read this:

A backpacker wants to reduce his gear weight by replacing a freestanding Big Agnes Copper Spur with a Tarptent Notch but is concerned about how easy it is to pitch on the wooden tent site platforms which he encounters 99.9% of his trips in the White Mountains.

I suggested that he keep the Copper Spur if he always camps on platforms because the Tarptent Notch would be a pain in the *&%$#! to pitch on them,

Strangely, I have a Notch, and I have pitched it on wooden platforms with no dramas. I don't know if Phillip has a Notch, but like any tent, you need to be familiar with the tent before you can make such a claim. Is a Notch more complex to pitch than say a freestanding tent?, sure, but only slightly. Has it ever been a 'pain in the *&%$#!' to pitch anywhere I have pitched it? Nope

Experience and practice makes the difference.

I'm not sure if Philip still owns a Notch, but he has previously reviewed one so would have spent some time using one.

[Strider]

Windamere. The only place I've ever woken up the next day with wet hair. In my Scarp 1.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[photohiker]

The article is a couple of years old, but I was surprised to read this:

A backpacker wants to reduce his gear weight by replacing a freestanding Big Agnes Copper Spur with a Tarptent Notch but is concerned about how easy it is to pitch on the wooden tent site platforms which he encounters 99.9% of his trips in the White Mountains.

I suggested that he keep the Copper Spur if he always camps on platforms because the Tarptent Notch would be a pain in the *&%$#! to pitch on them,

Strangely, I have a Notch, and I have pitched it on wooden platforms with no dramas. I don't know if Phillip has a Notch, but like any tent, you need to be familiar with the tent before you can make such a claim. Is a Notch more complex to pitch than say a freestanding tent?, sure, but only slightly. Has it ever been a 'pain in the *&%$#!' to pitch anywhere I have pitched it? Nope

Experience and practice makes the difference.

I'm not sure if Philip still owns a Notch, but he has previously reviewed one so would have spent some time using one.

You're absolutely correct: http://sectionhiker.com/tarptent-notch-tent-review/

Doesn't explain the (apparently large and complicated) pitch differences between the Big Agnes Copper Spur and the Notch though. It does come down to practice and experience. Looking at the big agnes, I think I'd stick with the Notch, have a look at the Big Agnes:



Doesn't look like it can be integral pitched in poor weather to me...

[Franco]

I woke up one morning inside my Scarp with a damp sleeping bag footbox and generally damp environment.
I had ,by mistake, closed all the vents. (a windy and sunny day dried the bag up)
Fixed that for the next night , virtually identical conditions (same spot) dry in the morning.
I call the first night "user error" and no I am not too proud to admit I make mistakes...

[lorrainey100]

....

You're absolutely correct: http://sectionhiker.com/tarptent-notch-tent-review/

Doesn't explain the (apparently large and complicated) pitch differences between the Big Agnes Copper Spur and the Notch though. It does come down to practice and experience. Looking at the big agnes, I think I'd stick with the Notch, have a look at the Big Agnes:



Doesn't look like it can be integral pitched in poor weather to me...

I've had the Tarptent notch and it was a pain to pitch in windy conditions. Wind kept getting under the tent and pulling the pegs out and this was just in my backyard. Hence, I replaced it with a Tarptent Moment DW and a Big Agnes Copper Spur...no more issues pitching in the wind.

[photohiker]

Yep, practice and experience is required.

I've pitched the Notch in windy conditions. I carry extra side guys for windy times but haven't ever had a peg pull out (yet)