Opinions on light tents for extreme conditions?

[khh]

I'm looking for a light tent to take backpacking. It needs to be able to handle a lot of rain (i.e. it must be waterproof) and possibly snow (i.e. it needs to be strong and durable). I recently found a site, www.lightisright.com, which offers very light tents for extreme conditions. Anyone have any experience with this brand? Or, heard anything about them? Also, any other suggestions on a good light tent? Thanks!

Edited January 10, 2007 by khh

[smithisheaven]

Go with a Bibler you cant go wrong. Light & bombproof. Single wall and totally waterproof. I got an Eldo double door and its sweet. Had it in high wind and snow on Adams, no worries. Also lots of rain on a couple a trips no leaks. Great tents. Another even lighter option is the BD tents like the Lighthouse. They are designed like a Bib' but use a lighter albiet less waterproof fabric. Goods tents 2.

[kevbone]

GO to REI, they will help you (only if you become a member) and dont forget to bring your member.

[ClimbingPanther]

I talked my sisters into buying a REI Subalpine, which seems so far to be a good tent for the conditions you describe. Tent w/ fly, 2-person, light (~4.5lbs), 3-pole strong design.

 

If it HAS to be waterproof, I will assume you don't mean it needs to be a high-altitude hurricane-proof bomb shelter.

[smithisheaven]

fuck REI do not give these assholes your hard earned $

[Kevin_Matlock]

Don't know if the bibler would be overkill. You said for backpacking and maybe some snow. This doesn't sound like "full conditions mountaineering" so maybe something a little less bombproof might work for ya.

Many tents are pretty water tight these days (just do a little research) and you could probably save quite a bit of $$$ by not just going with a full-on climbing tent.

If you want something that's going to be dry, just look for a bathtub floor design and a full fly. If you are out backpacking in warmer conditions (I assume you aren't going to be exclusively in shit conditions, are you?) then you will like the flexibility of a removable fly.

 

Guess it would help if you said what types of trips you were doing.

[kevbone]

fuck REI do not give these assholes your hard earned $

 

It was a joke dude.

[Kevin_Matlock]

fuck REI do not give these assholes your hard earned $

 

It was a joke dude.

 

it's all fun and games until REI puts an eye out.

[dbconlin]

I have a North Face Tadpole I use for backpacking. Very sturdy, has been good in rain and snow storms, and fairly light. It is a small tent, suitable for two people in slightly cramped quarters. Weighs 4+ lbs. They (TNF) also make similar models slightly larger and heavier. You can also pitch the 'footprint' ground tarp with the poles and fly (leaving home the tent body) for a lighter, more tarp-like option.

 

I find the above tent to be good, but of course you can go much lighter, by foregoing features like double-wall and free-standing. I have heard good things about the MSR Missing Link. The tents at Light Is Right look like good options. YOu can get a 2 person loop tent in their 'EXpedition' series that weighs 2.5 lbs. They don't look freestanding and they seem pricey. The design doesn't look revolutionary in any way.

[smithisheaven]

oh I did not even see the poster. I should have known, my mistake, but fuck rei anyway

[selkirk]

 

..... this might be record for most meaningful posts in reply to spam

 

:lmao: :lmao:

Edited January 10, 2007 by selkirk

[DanO]

I never used these tents or warmlite tents. I would for the

same price choose the stephenson's warmlite tent. They are

the first to make this style (as far as I know) and also the

warmlite tents are made in the USA, all for about the same price. I hate it when they use slave labor and make the extra

profit on such goods. I don't know where "Light is Right" is made?

 

A cheaper alternative is the Big agnes seedhouse SL. Not quite

as light but a sturdy little tent and free standing. It is good

for mild mountaineering conditions. I have experience with this

tent and consider it a good value for the money.

 

Dan

[genepires]

I had a very light double wall tent made by MEC, tarn 2 I believe. Put it through lots of hard weather, way more than a backpacking tent should have put up with. If the tent could talk, it would have bitched me out for tormenting it with snow loading, very hard above tree line winds, 4 day noah flooding rains.

 

I believe it was sub 5 pounds and around couple hundred bucks, maybe less. I would say that this tent would do you well.

 

DOn't know if a completely waterproof tent can really be any lighter. BTW, I would seam seal all seams on the fly, even if it is taped.