Jonathan Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 It's billed as a three season tent. Has anyone out there experienced its performance in high winds and heavy snows? Spindrift problems? Felt warm and fuzzy about cooking in its vestibule? I may not be able to replace my aging, beloved Biber so easily and am looking for alternatives. Note that I only find myself in extreme conditions a few times a year, but enjoy winter camping. A heavier wallet is preferable over a lighter pack at this point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 I have the "Half Dome Plus Two". Top half of the doors are mesh so it's a three season tent. I used mine on Mt. Hood once in windy conditions and got a fair bit of spindrift coming in so I buried the windward edge of the fly with snow. That worked pretty well, but... yeah, it's a three season tent. I would guess that at Vantage on a windy night you'd get sand blown in through the mesh too. Only weighs 5lbs and costs $150. That's pretty good. Rainfly is polyester and fully taped which means very good waterproofness and very little stretch/sag in the rain. Vestibules aren't very big and I haven't tried cooking in them. Two doors is nice so girlfriend/belay slave doesn't have to crawl over you to use the facilities in the middle of the night. Gear loft is nice. Reflective guyline ties. Ventilates well. Fairly steep walls, so probably handles snow pretty well, though I have not yet tested this. It's a clean, simple two-pole design that is easy to set up (clips no sleeves) and has a minimum of superfluous features. Things I don't like: It says REI in great big letters on the fly. Some sloppy stitching of the zippers on the doors. Overall: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylou Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 WAIT UNTIL SPRING. I'm afraid you have to take my word for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyclimb Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 FUCK YEAH!!! This tent rocks seriously . This is one of the few things I have owned that has for the weight and price has been bomber. Taken it up rainier twice, extended trips many other places, and it rocks. If you get the footprint on the bottom, it becomes a nice 4 season tent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyclimb Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 Also, It is great to cook in, and with adjustments to the leng th of the fly, you can prevent spindrift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudslinger Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 I've been in mine in 60 mph winds on Shuksan, in a thunder and lightning and downpour in Boston Basin, and a snowstorm on Eldorado. It handled everything fine- the wind blew it over every time it gusted but it would stand right back up after it passed. I'd go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 skyclimb said: If you get the footprint on the bottom, it becomes a nice 4 season tent. How does adding a thin piece of nylon UNDER the tent make it a four-season tent? It still has mesh walls which allow spindrift to come in, and heat to go out, and "adjusting the length of the rainfly" doesn't cure this problem. I also don't think this tent is "great to cook in" since the vestibules aren't that big. I don't think any tent is "great to cook in", but those heavy/expensive mountaineering tents have much larger vestibules. If you have a hanging stove everything is groovy though. SO... I disagree with skyclimb's assesment of some of the strengths/weaknesses of the tent, but we both agree it's a winner. Mudslinger, glad to hear that the tent handles high wind well. I haven't been in mine in anything over about 35mph yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyclimb Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Alpinfox you bring up a good point, which I neglected to mention: The Half domes weakness is in the bottom. The nylon wears through quickly, making a footprint a neccesity when sleeping on snow. It is nice to have two vestibules for cooking on one side, and storing shit on the other! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted November 7, 2003 Author Share Posted November 7, 2003 Thanks for the replies. Next spring--a cheap 4ish-season tent w/o those cheesy windows? I'd seriously consider. Any beta models out there to test yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marylou Posted November 7, 2003 Share Posted November 7, 2003 There are samples of next spring's tents floating around... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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