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  1. #1
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    Default If you'd buy a freestanding 4-season tent - which one you'd take?

    My 3-season tent is a MSR Hubba Hubba NX and its quite OK. Not really perfect, but quite a good compromise in weight, handling, and function.

    Now I'm looking for a 4-season tent, that provides similar space (narrow 2-person tent with a small apsis that will be used for me soloing), but is suitable for winter/snow camping.
    Need not be suitable for Himalayan expeditions, just for tenting here in the Alps, where conditions might not be to far off from what you have in some points.
    Price doesn't matter much.

    What would you take?

  2. #2
    Registered User egilbe's Avatar
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    Default

    Hilleberg Nammatj 2

  3. #3
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by egilbe View Post
    Hilleberg Nammatj 2
    Bingo! Or possibly the GT version although that does add weight to an already sturdy tent. The benefit is a roomy place to wait out storms. Either version would be great.
    Wayne

  4. #4
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    Default

    I would search backpackinglight.com


    thom

  5. #5
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    I still swear by my ancient Bibler Eldorado, though Bibler was bought out by Black Diamond, and now BD carries a viariation called the First Light.

    HEre it is on Steap and Cheap:

    https://www.steepandcheap.com/black-...gaAszaEALw_wcB

  6. #6
    Registered User colorado_rob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by colorado_rob View Post
    I still swear by my ancient Bibler Eldorado, though Bibler was bought out by Black Diamond, and now BD carries a viariation called the First Light.

    HEre it is on Steap and Cheap:

    https://www.steepandcheap.com/black-...gaAszaEALw_wcB
    And by the way the Bibler Eldo/BD First light IS indeed suitable for any mountain you might want to climb. Our's served us well on some really high mountains in crazy winds. Here is is at 17,000 feet, used as a sleeping bag drier temporarily....
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #7
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    Default

    Great pic, Rob.
    I'd prefer a double wall tent though.
    Will look for a dealer around here, who has the Hilleberg on stock.

    What would you think about the MSR Access 2?
    Looks like if it were just the 4-seasons version of the Hubba Hubba.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Venchka View Post
    Bingo! Or possibly the GT version although that does add weight to an already sturdy tent. The benefit is a roomy place to wait out storms. Either version would be great.
    Wayne
    A bargain at $775. ;0)

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cheyou View Post
    A bargain at $775. ;0)
    A Zpacks Duplex is $600, so I don’t find $775 all that outrageous for what you’re getting.

  10. #10

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    I like my EV2. YMMV.

    A couple of poles. 1 layer. No fuss. Decent snow loading. Excellent wind protection (had it in 50 mph+ winds). Narrow 2 person tent and works well on exposed ridges/ledges.

    Downside? Price: Whoa!

  11. #11

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    For double wall take a look at Stephenson's Warmlite 2R

  12. #12
    Registered User Elaikases's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nanatuk View Post
    For double wall take a look at Stephenson's Warmlite 2R
    You beat me to it.

  13. #13
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    Thanks guys.
    As with every purchase, I have to stretch myself to something I can get here around (I'd never buy any major piece without actually hands on beforehand).
    Unfortunately, no dealer has a Hilleberg in stock. Didn't bother to ask for a Stephenson or Bibler - no way anybody here even knows about those.
    Strange enough, there are lots of MSR in the shelfs.

    So I put a 4-seasons tent on the Christmas wishlist, and for now I keep looking for options which one I'll finally take.
    There is one tiny chance that I might inherit the Sumitomo Nanga Parbat from the 80ties from my old friend who no longer is in shape to do anything serious in the mountains.

  14. #14
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
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    The MSR Fury just came to mind. It’s not listed on the MSR web pages. The original was a Bill Design. A battleship and almost as heavy. Too bad it’s gone. MSR bought Moss Tents and now there is nothing left. A shame.
    If you run across any of the Moss Mountaineering tents in good shape they are worth considering.
    Wayne

  15. #15
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
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    Bill Moss design. Sorry.
    Wayne

  16. #16
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    There are a bunch of Moss tents on ebay. Pretty expensive!
    Anyway all on the wrong side of the Atlantic.

  17. #17
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    The Warmlite tents are not freestanding.
    The Bibler Eldorado is still for sale, the Firstlight is a lighter version of the I Tent (smaller than the Eldorado)

  18. #18
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    So now I was in the shop today and got hands on a MSR Access 2, and didn't like it.
    Instead I went with an Exped: http://www.exped.com/germany/de/prod...reme-mossgreen.
    Its a bit on the heavy side, but seems to be very sturdy and a real wunderwerk of well-thought through design.
    Looking forward to first time using it the upcoming weekend.

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by egilbe View Post
    Hilleberg Nammatj 2
    The Nammatj is the least free standing tent out there. I have the Nammatj 3 and it requires at least 6 pegs to get it pulled apart and set up.

    53-23-XL.jpg

    Quote Originally Posted by Venchka View Post
    The MSR Fury just came to mind. It’s not listed on the MSR web pages. The original was a Bill Design. A battleship and almost as heavy. Too bad it’s gone. MSR bought Moss Tents and now there is nothing left. A shame.
    If you run across any of the Moss Mountaineering tents in good shape they are worth considering.
    Wayne
    I have the Fury tent and it too is not free standing. The fly won't unfurl right if it's not staked out. Same with the older Moss tent.

    TRIP 121 315-L.jpg
    MSR Fury tent. Note pegged out fly.

    TRIP 102 OCTOBER-NOV 2009 049-XL.jpg
    Old Moss tent (grandaddy to Fury). Note pegged out fly.

    Free Standing means you can pick up the complete tent with fly included and moved it around without pulling up a single stake.

    The only true free standing tents are some of the Bibler/Integral Design tents, some dome tents like the Hilleberg Staika and several cheapo type tents like the Coleman dome wedge whereby the fly hooks down on the corners at the bottom of the tent poles. Like this---

    2000024583.jpg

  20. #20
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    Default

    My old and trusted (but pretty much worn out) Salewa Sierra Leone comes with one of two flys, a small rainfly that would make the tent a true freestanding one (without a single peg), and a large winter fly that would need two pegs minimum to spread out the apsides.
    This was my reference tent when I began searching for a new one.

    True, the Exped Venus needs 2 pegs for to spread out the flys on either side, and you might set another 4 pegs, one in every corner of the base, to bring the tent in a nice shape.
    But still I would sort it into the category of freestanding (and you can use it without any peg, given low wind and no rain) - especially compared to the tents that use 1-3 straight poles and would lay dead flat on the ground without a decent amount of pegs.

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