Which Tent?

[Fiona]

I know there have been a lot of posts regarding tents, but there seems to be so many different opinions and I'm super confused. I plan to start at the beginning of March. Which tent should I buy? Im hiking on my own.

[soumodeler]

Some popular options:

Any TarpTent (I Personally own a Notch and love it)
Big Agnes Fly Creek or Copper Spur
ZPacks Duplex (worth getting the 2 person)
REI Passage 1 or 2
And many more

[AlyontheAT2016]

REI tried to sell me their 5 pound Half Dome 2. I went home, did some research, and bought a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 for $100 more. With the footprint it weighs 42 ounces.

Think about what you want in your shelter: space? 1 or 2 doors? Also consider weight vs. cost. What fits your budget, etc. Do a ton of research, if that's your thing. Or not. I personally love my Fly Creek UL 2--it's more of a 1.5 person tent rather than a 2, but that means there's room for my pack. It's also designed so that I can take down the inner tent while still keeping the rainfly up, so I can keep my tent a little dryer when I put it away during a downpour. It will be interesting to see how long it holds up on my thru hike.

[oldwetherman]

The deciding factor for me when selecting a tent is the location of the entrance. I'll never again own anything but a side entrance tent.

[Venchka]

Things to look at in any tent:
Floor size and shape. A rectangle is best. Tapered floors rob space.
Vertical walls. At least the two long walls. Makes sitting up to change clothes or sit out a storm nicer.
Headroom. Works with vertical walls to add interior volume.
Two doors and vestibules. Entry/exit are easier. The downwind door-vestibule will be sheltered. If large enough, you can cook in one of the vestibules in bad weather. The other vestibule can be used as an emergency privy in really bad weather.
Inner/Outter tent set up together. Inner stays dry in the rain.
Sheltered space/weight. Get all the space you can for the least weight.

The StratoSpire 1 or 2 from TarpTent score high in all of these criteria.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Fiona]

And these are all4 season?

[Tuckahoe]

And these are all4 season?

Most all of these tents are 3 season tents, which is perfectly fine for a thru-hike.

[Venchka]

And these are all4 season?

Go to TarpTent.com.
Under PRODUCTS select Choose Your TarpTent
Click 1 person, thruhike & 4 seasons.
The Moment DW and StratoSpire 1 pop up. Take your pick. You may wish to buy the solid interior for additional weather proofing.
https://www.tarptent.com/allproducts.html

Wayne

[Sarcasm the elf]

Go to TarpTent.com.
Under PRODUCTS select Choose Your TarpTent
Click 1 person, thruhike & 4 seasons.
The Moment DW and StratoSpire 1 pop up. Take your pick. You may wish to buy the solid interior for additional weather proofing.
https://www.tarptent.com/allproducts.html



Wayne

+1 You can't go wrong with tarptent.

As others have mentioned, for A.T. hiking you will see people almost exclusively using 3 season tents (or less). The term 4 season tent is more commonly used to describe a mountaineering class tent.

[Cheyou]

And these are all4 season?

what ?? 4 season tent ? U better check out some finishers equipment lists.

[Elaikases]

And these are all4 season?

what ?? 4 season tent ? U better check out some finishers equipment lists.

A four season tent includes a separate snow flap. There are a number of tents used for winter (things like https://www.rei.com/product/101572/h...he-cave-3-tent which is used for winter camping in Alaska -- I would not recommend it for the AT) that are "three season" because they lack the snow flaps.

As a result, many, many "three season" tents are fine for light, or even heavy (winter in Alaska and 80 mph winds, see above) winter conditions.

But the labels can be confusing, to say the least.

[rocketsocks]

A four season tent includes a separate snow flap. There are a number of tents used for winter (things like https://www.rei.com/product/101572/h...he-cave-3-tent which is used for winter camping in Alaska -- I would not recommend it for the AT) that are "three season" because they lack the snow flaps.

As a result, many, many "three season" tents are fine for light, or even heavy (winter in Alaska and 80 mph winds, see above) winter conditions.

But the labels can be confusing, to say the least.

i don't think fuller himself would sleep in that thing. Kinda cool lookin' though, but way to over engineer and industrial.

[nsherry61]

Go buy a tarp (cheap plastic 8x10 to start with). Learn to pitch it well. Have fun.

Tents are more fuss to pitch, weigh more, cost more, are limited in pitch flexibility, limit your self expression, isolate you from the world you're out to experience, and don't make you look as cool and tough as the girl that can pitch and live under a tarp.

[Feral Bill]

Go buy a tarp (cheap plastic 8x10 to start with). Learn to pitch it well. Have fun.

Tents are more fuss to pitch, weigh more, cost more, are limited in pitch flexibility, limit your self expression, isolate you from the world you're out to experience, and don't make you look as cool and tough as the girl that can pitch and live under a tarp.

All so very true.

[mountain squid]

Originally Posted by nsherry61
Go buy a tarp (cheap plastic 8x10 to start with). Learn to pitch it well. Have fun.

Tents are more fuss to pitch, weigh more, cost more, are limited in pitch flexibility, limit your self expression, isolate you from the world you're out to experience, and don't make you look as cool and tough as the girl that can pitch and live under a tarp.

All so very true.

Disagree. All might be valid points but so very UNtrue ... for this hiker anyway. (Maybe someone else though, that has experience and time to practice using a tarp.) Original Poster stated a start date of early Mar. That is maybe 3 weeks to research, purchase, receive and then figure out how to use. The time to 'learn to pitch it well' should not be on Springer Mountain, which given the time constraints is likely. A tent is much easier to figure out how to set-up.

If more time were available maybe ...

See you on the trail,
mt squid

some observations

[Feral Bill]

Originally Posted by nsherry61
Go buy a tarp (cheap plastic 8x10 to start with). Learn to pitch it well. Have fun.

Tents are more fuss to pitch, weigh more, cost more, are limited in pitch flexibility, limit your self expression, isolate you from the world you're out to experience, and don't make you look as cool and tough as the girl that can pitch and live under a tarp.



Disagree. All might be valid points but so very UNtrue ... for this hiker anyway. (Maybe someone else though, that has experience and time to practice using a tarp.) Original Poster stated a start date of early Mar. That is maybe 3 weeks to research, purchase, receive and then figure out how to use. The time to 'learn to pitch it well' should not be on Springer Mountain, which given the time constraints is likely. A tent is much easier to figure out how to set-up.

If more time were available maybe ...

See you on the trail,
mt squid

some observations

Perhaps you are right, given the time frame. It's short time to "learn" a tent as well, though.

[Fiona]

A tarp? In the snow? I'm more looking for advice on which makes models have been tried and tested and found to be good for the possible snow in March.

[Toolshed]

Used a Quest Nova Pyramid tarp and later an MSR pyramid tarp on and off over the last 40 years in winter. Like it much more than a tent. Higher pitch, no floor means i can come in with snowshoes or crampons and if I destroy the groundcloth, I can simply make another from plastic. If I bring a dog, she can run in and out to pee on her own. The 5-6' high pitch also means I can cook in there and take done is a snap. If I find a good hang branch, then setup is even better with no center pole. The best thing is weight is minimal ~ 3 lbs.

[Shooting Star]

I know there have been a lot of posts regarding tents, but there seems to be so many different opinions and I'm super confused. I plan to start at the beginning of March. Which tent should I buy? Im hiking on my own.

Tents like the Tarptent Protrail, Notch or Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo are good lightweight
1 person tents and pretty popular on the AT. The Big Agnes tents are probably better in a
March snow but heavier to carry later on after snow season passes.

[nsherry61]

A tarp? In the snow? I'm more looking for advice on which makes models have been tried and tested and found to be good for the possible snow in March.

First, it looks to me like you are looking for a tent, and that's fine. I just find it interesting how many people discount a tarp, especially in the winter, without trying it. As for "tried and tested", tarps have a longer history than any tent brand I know of, and the advantages listed above still hold for winter tarping, but on snow, having an open floor, gives even more creative comfort options with digging foot wells and sleeping shelves etc. And, if using shelters, tarps make better wind breaks/doors than tents do. If you have any inclination, I'd encourage you to try and play around with it a bit.