3-Season Free Standing Tent Recommendations

[spfleisig]

What is your favorite free standing tent (that can still be purchased today)? Will be used for 3-5 day trips on the AT. I currently have a TT Stratospire 1.

Looking for:
Double wall
Light or very light in weight
Prefer two side doors (but would consider front entrance)
Prefer bathtub floor
Prefer 1-person but will consider a 2-person

[Gambit McCrae]

The Big Agnes lineup is pretty competitive in the free standing market. They have fornt entry (fly creek) and side entry tents.

[CalebJ]

For mainstream companies, the Big Agnes Copper Spur and Tiger Wall are good fits for your requirements, as well as the Nemo Hornet. I've been considering picking up a Hornet in the next year or so. Incredibly light and functional at a very reasonable cost (currently $260 on Amazon, even less on Expert Voice if you have access to their discounts).

[Venchka]

The SS1 is fine. I use mine with or without the SOLID inner tent in the Rockies.
Save your money for something else.
Wayne

[mclaught]

BA Copper Spur HV UL 1 or 2 seems to meet those requirements.

[Venchka]

The side door vestibule covers require staking and ideally use of the guy lines provided.
Freestanding is never free staying.
Wayne

[mclaught]

The side door vestibule covers require staking and ideally use of the guy lines provided.
Freestanding is never free staying.
Wayne

I'm assuming he means freestanding in the sense that you can set it up without stakes, climb in and it will stay standing without being staked out. If lightweight and freestanding means it won't blow away in the wind, it will protect you in foul weather and it requires no stakes, then that would narrow the search down to tents that I don't know exist.

[elray]

Still using a Hubba Hubba NX, side doors and vestibules, it’s seen some rough weather and performed well, but then I’m “old school”.

oh and by the way, we stressed a fitting on the one piece pole at Fontana Dam and MSR had a new one waiting for me at the NOC in Gatlinburg, good service!

[spfleisig]

The side door vestibule covers require staking and ideally use of the guy lines provided.
Freestanding is never free staying.
Wayne

I mean the tent is held up by its own tent poles, not hiking poles....for example the TT Stratospire 1 needs my hiking poles to stand up and a BA Copper Spur doesn't need hiking poles to stand up.

[T.S.Kobzol]

ok. but that would include TONS of non freestanding tents i.e. hoop tents

I mean the tent is held up by its own tent poles, not hiking poles....for example the TT Stratospire 1 needs my hiking poles to stand up and a BA Copper Spur doesn't need hiking poles to stand up.

[CalebJ]

Yep. Would be helpful to get the OP's perspective on something like the Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight, or a Eureka Solitaire.

[Venchka]

ok. but that would include TONS of non freestanding tents i.e. hoop tents

Why didn't you say so.

Henry Shires, aka TarpTent, will sell you a pair of adjustable aluminum poles to hold up ANY TarpTent trekking pole supported tent. Judy at Lightheart Gear sells similar poles for her trekking pole supported tents.

https://www.tarptent.com/product/vertical-support-pole/

Your definition of Freestanding Tent is not correct.
You really should investigate the market.
Wayne

[Traveler]

Another hand up for Big Agnes, the Copper Spur II fits the description well.

[Venchka]

Another hand up for Big Agnes, the Copper Spur II fits the description well.

Read what the OP really wants.
A new tent isn’t needed.
Wayne

[4eyedbuzzard]

BA Copper Spur 1 or 2 gets my vote if it must be freestanding. The 2 isn't that big a weight penalty over the 1 person, and has the second door if that's really needed.
I'd also consider Lightheart Solong with the optional tent poles.

There are others.

[Franco]

What would be the advantage of the SoLong over the SS1 ?

[4eyedbuzzard]

What would be the advantage of the SoLong over the SS1 ?

Good point. They're very similar in many ways. Just a tent that I considered getting at one point.

[Astro]

I have been very happy with my BA Fly Creek UL1

[Venchka]

I mean the tent is held up by its own tent poles, not hiking poles....for example the TT Stratospire 1 needs my hiking poles to stand up and a BA Copper Spur doesn't need hiking poles to stand up.

Why didn't you say so.

Henry Shires, aka TarpTent, will sell you a pair of adjustable aluminum poles to hold up ANY TarpTent trekking pole supported tent. Judy at Lightheart Gear sells similar poles for her trekking pole supported tents.

https://www.tarptent.com/product/vertical-support-pole/

Your definition of Freestanding Tent is not correct.
You really should investigate the market.
Wayne

The OP is NOT looking for a self supporting freestanding tent.
The OP just needs a pair of poles to replace the trekking poles that the SS 1 was designed to use.
That’s several hundred dollars saved.
Wayne