Hello All.
i'm in search of a tent that isn't an expedition grade tent like say black diamond fitzroy or the north face Ve-25 but that will still hold up to the weather at or below treeline in new england i.e. strong winds and snow loads in sheltered campsites. i plan on hiking mostly around the whites and the AT near me in massachusetts. currently, i hammock camp for most of the year however, for winter time, i found that i have to make a substantial investment in insulation for hammocking that i'm not willing to make at this moment - hammocking suits my needs for three seasons that aren't called winter. i would like a tent for winter.
I was thinking of the following tents:
REI Arete ASL 2
Marmot Fortress 2 P
Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2
i dont currently use trekking poles so most trekking poles tents are out. i have an exped downmat 9 and a good 0 degree bag and some other quilts i can use to supplement but i'm also under a bit of a budget constraint. i dont think i can justify any of the hillebergs and i certainly dont want to chance it on any of the Geertop knock offs on amazing (especially not in inclement weather).
i know this question comes up sometimes and it becomes an argument between get the right tool for the job and buy a hilleberg, or, screw it and just go out there with a big agnes seedhouse to see what happens. i hope that there's a happy medium.
i am hopeful that someone has used the above tents or can provide a recommendation for something that they do use that i could purchase in reasonable to new condition for under $300 that wouldn't collapse under most condition that the winter time in new england might bring about.
thanks