Freestanding VS Trekking Pole - Why I DON’T use Freestanding Tents 

What type of Tent do you prefer on the Trail? Do you Rock a Freestanding or TrekkingPole Tent? WHY??? 👇👇Let Me Know Down Below👇👇

I have found the exact opposite to be true for myself. I started out hiking with trekking pole tents and after my first thru hike I swapped out to freestanding tents. Freestanding is just so much easier to use. there is no thinking involved, no getting angles pitched correctly, no trying to find the right place to pitch, just put the poles in the tent and boom, you have a tent! Trekking pole tents are more complicated to set up, and you are limited to where you can set it up. the only thing the trekking pole tents have going for them is being lightweight, but other than that freestanding is better in all other ways.

I own both types and use both types. Kinda depends on the type of hiking I intend to do at the time.

A little tip for people trying trekking pole tents is to set it up at home a few times to get the hang of it. They can be tricky and the trail is not the place to do it the first time.

Great explanations. Except the footprint and condensation/ventilation reasons - Footprints can be omitted for free standing tents too. Some trekking pole tents come in double wall designs too (tarptent models, Dan Durston Xmid)

Can you do a review on the Dan Durston X-Mid 1 or X-Mid 2. Thanks

I also love the simplicity, UL weight and packability of trekking pole tents

This must be a NA thing, because over here in Scandinavia/Europe, having a tent that is set up with the inner already attached is pretty much the norm when it comes to tents. Also, most poles unless you go cheap, are incredibly strong. And if they break (never happened to me personally, but I also take care and caution, not acting like an idiot when I set up or take down my tent), there's usually a repair kit included, with a spare pole section. So for me, freestanding tents all the way.

Have owned only double walled tents and would like to dispel the generalization that double walls alone will eliminate condensation. It's still there, on the inside of the rainfly in damp, cool, still conditions. Raindrops will knock it loose and it will fall. If you have a mesh inner tent ceiling, it will fall on you. If you have an uncoated solid fabric ceiling it will catch it (unless it just breaks the droplets into mist, which will also fall on you, except for the moisture that stays locked in the breathable fabric, making it heavier to carry until you can dry it out). Tarps don't solve the problem either, at least not in foggy or misty conditions. In 100% humidity water droplets form on every surface. Incidentally, this is the condition that we face when walking in the rain and complain that our expensive high tech rain gear doesn't breathe. 100% humidity outside, 100% humidity inside = no vapor transpiration. Physics. I hate that we can't defeat it! 😉 Oh, btw, I hammock - easier site selection. Rocks and grade don't matter, I never have a muddy floor, and I don't have to crawl in and out (unless there are no trees, then I use it like a tarp with a bug net). I carry a mylar space blanket in case I need a "floor". I am an AT section hiker. Thanks, Darwin! If I DID buy a three season tent, it would be Tarptent's Moment. One hoop pole overhead, one stake at each end (or tie it to trees, brush, or stack rocks on the stakes in rocky ground). More aerodynamic than a trekking pole tent, like a dome, but much lighter than a freestanding (minimum of two poles) tent.

you lost me at condensation

My experience during alpine ascent with sort of a trekking pole tent is that condensation will freeze and you will feel "snow" falling from the tent walls on your face.

The discontinued Kelty Horizon 2 is my home of choice when I'm backpacking. I've done thousands of miles backpacking Europe on foot such as the Caminos de Santiago in Spain, the GR routes in France, and even northern Germany to Portugal walking. Europe is so crowded a freestanding tent is important because you never know when you're going to be sleeping under a bridge or on the roof of a building. Stay moving everyone!

I sure don’t want to wake up with a wet sleeping bag from the condensation.

I've tried both and ended up in the free standing side. It was a choice between condensation, ease of set up, and the overall weight savings. I realized that the hiking poles ended up being heavier than the tent poles and I don't use a footprint anyway (overpriced and generally worthless for the most part, which can be replaced with a dirt cheap Tyvek sheet), so it was a wash there.

I did really miss having access to trekking poles at camp after my tent was set up, especially if your water source at camp is a climb down rocks or something like that. You really take your trekking poles for granted until you do not have access to them. Not a big deal though. I prefer the use of a trekking pole tent.

I just bought the Durston Xmid 1 which is a double walled 1 person trekking pole tent for 1/3 the price of a Duplex. I bought it because I felt it bridged the best of both worlds without breaking the bank. Great Video! Happy Thanksgiving.

Hey Darwin. I own the duplex and also a Lanshan 2. What is your opinion on the Lanshan 2? The Lanshan 2 weighs about 2lbs but it has 2 layers which you can separate and sleep under the stars, just the rain fly or like normal. I like the trekking pole version because of the weight savings. Great Vid as always and Happy Thanksgiving. Dave (Maybe Later) trail name

Do a review of the Dan Durston xmid. I love mine. It’s 2 layer trekking pole tent. Roomy. And inexpensive in comparison. $200.

CONdensation is why I use a Big Agnes Copper Spur1. It's a pound more but always dry, strong in the wind, super-easy to set up (much easier than getting the tension right on trekking pole tents). The pound is a price I'm happy to pay. Also, it all packs easily into the long side pouch of my Gossamer Gear Mariposa. Also, if it rains and the fly is wet, the tent isn't, so you still have only one piece to dry on trail. You listed "set up" as a pro and con of both styles.

I like having the choice of sleeping under the stars, it's such a good feeling. Thx for the vid

I know he has a lot more experience than me, but damn does he make free standing tents seem so much more complicated. Also most free standing tents have poles, fly, and tent that fits in the same bag and packs really small. like i feel like he used the worst type of tent for his example.

Like some others I've been using a Duplex with the flex-poles, so I'll call that free-standing in a no wind situation, but it does need to the staked to the ground or it will become a box kite and blow away just like most other free-standing tents. I leave the poles attached to the tent, so it becomes a pop-up tent and can be picked up and moved around to get the optimal flat spot for my pad and body. However, I also use my trekking poles to make the tent bomb proof with each tent peak held up by 3 poles: 2 of the flex poles and a trekking pole. Remove the trekking pole and I have a great unobstructed rainbow door to the vestibule. I figure if the weight bothers me in the future, then I can leave the flex poles at home or mail them home. Managing condensation is easy since the DCF doesn't absorb water and a quick towel job dries the inner wall.

I picked up the Dan Durston X-Mid. One of the few double wall trekking pole tents. Brilliant design, incredibly fast setup. Good chance I will also use the fly only with a Borah bivy.

Love my hammock system and I can setup about as fast as a trekking pole tent, but I've also had time to get to know the in's and out's of my system. I just get a perfect sleep every time and don't have to worry about finding the right surface, but I do have to find the right trees which is the trade off. I also enjoy the custom-ability factor that comes with hammocks. You can have it rigged for summer or winter depending on your interests, and you can typically customize on the spot as well.

For those looking for a Cheap trekking pole tent check the - Lanshan2 3F UL tent. If you get it from Aliexpress it will be around $100 including shipping and around $170 from Amazon. Hope this helps, cheers!

Really good overview! I’m a trekking pole tent person, love the simplicity and small size. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁

I don't use trekking poles. I currently use a vango f10 helium ul 1. It only weighs about a kilo with poles and is double skinned.

Love my Dan Durston Xmid, but during winter use my free standing.

I am a tarp and pole guy :) I have used tents in the past but I have found that a tarp and my hiking stick works 90% of the time for the same reasons you mentioned with a tent and a pole. The added versatility of a tarp over a tent is the many, many different set up configurations you can do. And like you said there is only one con and that's structural integrity. So, I basically have a two piece carry: the tarp and a bundle of parachord. Stakes I can make as needed. The only other con is the tie-outs and getting the tension right. Good vid my friend.

I just bought a Dan Durston X Mid Pro 2, a 2-trekking pole DCF tent. It should be as good as the Altaplex for us tall folks and within a couple ounces as that tent but with better quality construction. They won't ship until late spring or so, but I'm curious to hear Darwin's thoughts on the DD tents.

Unfortunately in the Northeast in places like New Hampshire and Vermont wooden tent platforms are common at a lot of the designated tenting areas. In which case a non-freestanding tent is a little less-intuitive. I know you can set-up a non-freestanding tent on the platforms, but where does someone practice doing this before they go out and execute it on a trip?

I like Darwin's simple items philosophy, but since I tried a tarp I've never looked back. Here in Norway I use a tarp, except in winter when I don't use anything other than a sleeping bag. Poles and pegs made using natural material. Snow or no snow, doesn't matter. Pine branches under my bag, lift me up from the ground and I'm good to go. I'm not trying to have a minimalist style, I just happened to revert to keep it simple. Less things that can go wrong. Cheers.

I started hiking this year and decided to get a MSR Hubba NX and I have to say, I'm loving it. I'll hike and camp on very different terrains, near the stormy sea, on mountains, on rocky terrain. So far I never had any issue with condensation and as a solo hiking woman I feel very safe in my little "mobile home". And I'm able to fit anything in my backpack as well. I would be interested in testing something like the Z-Packs Plexamid just out of curiosity, but where I live it's hard to get the hand on products from them or any other of the mentioned in general. Just saying: It's winter here as well and I'm missing overnight-hiking so badly, I had to set up camp in my living room and sleep in there last night. My boyfriend already thinks I'm crazy 🤣.

duplex super over priced

I've been rocking the Zpacks' Duplex for the past three years now, after owning a free-standing tent for a year. I would never go back to a double wall tent. Why? Rain. I can set my Duplex up in the rain and not worry about the inside staying dry. And in three years, with many trips, from river valleys to alpine hikes, to the Wonderland Trail, I've only had condensation issues once, at Mowich Lake, only on the "head" side, which I easily wiped up with a small REI microfiber towel. Nothing inside my tent got wet. And to be fair, EVERYBODY was drying their flies out that morning. I sleep with at least one vestibule door open in bad weather, and two in good weather (opposite sides for airflow), and condensation hasn't really been an issue. I've also set my Duplex up on so rather dodgy ground without any sort of footprint and I've not noticed any issues. Zpacks sells a footprint but state they don't think one is needed. So, even in rainy conditions, I can set up/take down/stow my Duplex with no hassles. The Duplex is super light for a two-person tent, can really fit two people if needed, and has vestibules on each side, making it super convenient. Honestly? I CONSTANTLY look at tents all the time, especially one person DCF tents to give me a smaller footprint than my Duplex on short trips, but nothing really stands out. I've also noticed brand name vendors selling free-standing DCF tents that have comparable weight, but they are using carbon fiber poles, which I'm willing to bet won't do well in windy/snowy conditions. The only time I ever had any concerns about my Duplex was when I was hiking in Canada's Garibaldi Provincial Park when I realized all their campsites were raised wooden sites. It made for some interesting setups, but it all worked out. I want to check out the Tarptent Aeon Li, but Zpacks really hit the ball out of the park on the Duplex, so it is hard to justify the cost of purchasing another DCF tent.

Just completed a 4 month thru hike with a Lunar Solo, my take on it is, double walled tents have as much condensation as single walled tents, difference being you don't come in contact with the wet wall, and your whole tent becomes wet when you pack it up. At least on my lunar solo I could dry it with a towel.. Any thoughts?

Darwin - The older I get the lighter I travel. When I XC Skied across Michigan one winter, we carried 35 lbs. lately with my trekking tent, I am 10 lbs before food and water. I have been very wet a few times in trekking tents. My solution is simple. Go back to my Mormont Nutshell with will keep you dry in a hurricane, BUT - have my grandkids carry it for me. Don’t forget to factor in the wisdom of age😎 Good show - TREK ON🇺🇸

I prefer the flexibility of a freestanding.

love my luxe hexpeak, not the lightest, but it is cheap/big/strong, and i love it

I love the simplicity factor, a lot, but haven’t made the switch to trekking pole tents. I’ve setup multiple times in AZ and in the Sierras where it would have been much harder with trekking poles.

This video reinforced why I need to stick to my Big Anges FlyCreek HV2. If its not broke don't fix it.

Darwin, I'm sure you've seen and considered the double wall, freestanding Tarptent Notch. Why Aeon over Notch?

The Rockies have me leaning more towards free standing with the volume of bent stakes

Another big advantage of trekking pole tents, for anyone who camps above the treeline in windy places. By far the most common point of failure for bendy pole tents is the the poles breaking in strong wind. Trekking poles are FAR stronger and will never fail you. (The only exception might be fragile ultra-light carbons).

I've got MSR Huba single person tent 10 years ago and I've done summer and winter camping, rafting, kayaking and the weight of the tent or time to put it up never bothered me. I would rather collect firewood while there is still light instead of looking for a spot and setting a freestanding tent.

it's a weight saving thing only! that is the only pro to a non free standing tent

It's not fair, to talk about freestanding nedding a footprint, and then using weight argument. I mean if you are concerned about weight, you will not use a footprint whatever shelter you chose.

Freestanding tents living out here in the California desert it gets very windy. Stay safe my friend

This was actually one of the more informative videos I've seen. I've never used a trekking pole tent but I think I need to!

From a budget point of view, the lanshan 1 and 2 pro are pretty light and cheap. They are both single wall and contrary to all of the info, there really isn't much condensation difference between single and double wall and at least you can wipe off the condensation for the single wall tent. My pro 1 weighs about 24 oz and sets up very simply.

I primarily hammock, but I do sometimes use a tent if we're in an area where hanging spots are going to be hard to find. After years of searching, I found a tent that, for me, is the best of both worlds between single and double wall and free standing or trekking pole tents. On Drop (used to be Massdrop) I found the 1P X-Mid by Dan Dursten. It is a trekking pole tent with an optional inner that makes it a double wall tent. The whole thing weighs just under 29 ounces. I love that thing. If I'm not going to be in a hammock, I'm totally happy being in the X-Mid. I'm 6'2" and have plenty of room to stretch out, and it has two big vestibules for my stuff. Highly recommend.

Thanks for the video. Love the t-shirt, great colours and logo design but it's not unisex - it's a boxy male t-shirt. How about a nice female version?

Also need to strongly consider where and when you are hiking. Can't pitch a freestanding tent in deep snow (at least not very easily). I currently have a semi-freestanding (Nemo Hornet) but it is similar to the Big Agnes Fly Creek. The foot end needs to be staked out but that's all and it doesn't require a lot of tension. With my older tents (fully freestanding), I've been able to pitch on a full gravel surface (no large rocks, no solid surface a few inches deeper) when I couldn't have with a treking pole tent. But, those are few and far between situations. Also, mentioning the ground sheet is a red herring as it is applicable to all kinds of tents. It is kinda one of those things that you either believe in and use or don't. Other things to think about include setting up in the rain. Which tent fairs the best if you have continuous rain for a week and have to both set up and take down in the rain every day? And this gets into tent fabric. I'd FAR prefer a nice fully waterproof, non-stretchable dyneema to sylnylon with rain. Anyway, keep them coming! Do one on Camera Gear. I just don't see enough videos on what people are using to document their through hikes, what the options are, what to look for, what is important and what isn't, weight versus waterproof verus functionality verus ease of use etc.

I would like a trekking pole tent however I'm in southern Utah I think that a free-standing would work better in the desert environment but I really don't know I haven't had the experience so just my thoughts

4:50 "Most trekking pole tents on the market are single wall" - I beg to differ Darwin! Condensation - I've seen plenty of small freestanders that are total condensation nightmares - the Norwegians have a name for them that translates as 'drip-coffin'. Footprints are equally relevant to both kinds of tent - they're optional and serve merely to protect the groundsheet. Also, you don't mention that freestanding designs generally give more internal usable space. That said, having used both types I'm a confirmed trek-poler (both single and double-wall), because for the same space and level of protection it's so much lighter than a freestander. While I see what you mean about simplicity, it should be emphasised that trek-polers are more difficult to set up, and that the pitch is crucial to their performance. You probably take your skill levels for granted! I know of several hikers who gave up on their trek-polers because they didn't give themselves the time to learn the proper setup. Sometimes only a freestanding tent will do the job - rocky summits for example, and more extreme environments (you won't see many trekking-polers at Everest Base Camp) - I'm looking for a lighter freestander than the 5lb example I currently have - Tarptent Scarp 1 is currently looking favourite.

I use the Dan Durston X-Mid 1P tent. This has been my go to in any situation so far.

You forgot to mention rock cairns in place of no-pegging in. In the Canadian Boreal forest, ability to stick a peg in soil is almost zero. But, the Canadian Shield has all the rocks you can thrown. Pile them up on your horizontal stake and you can make it as, if not, taunt as pegging in.

Love the way you explain

Hi Darwin, since you like trekking pole tents, have you seen the new Hilleberg Anaris (-trekking pole)? I wonder what your opinion would be about it. It weights 1,4 kilo, would that be ok for you? ( Myself, I always rely on my Hilleberg Unna tent during my long distance sea kayak trips. It is free standing, and that is exactly something I really appreciate. On the explosed beaches and rocks a rugged tent is quite necesary, I think.)

I love my MSR 2p freestanding tent. I'm not really one to count ounces, so it doesn't matter to much to me, especially when I'm with someone else. I love it so much because it's super solid, so wind does basically nothing to it, I've stayed dry in it even with standing and running water all the way around and under my tent, and it's nice to have a little space when I'm on my own

I am probably with you on this..although I was kind of surprised to find lot of condensation especially inside after waking up the first night in my new acquired (single-walled but pretty practical, light-weighted) one-man tent ("Mapuera San Tiago Trek") 👍👍 perfect video by the way (regardless of whe(a)ther or not outside ;))

Eureka suma 2, hike with 6”3’ son, good length, headroom, Live in the pacific north west, double walled in rain is great, sometimes can’t get stakes in ground.

Darwin..you should check out the 3FUL lanshan 2 person tent..it is a two wall tent that sets up like a duplex with trekking poles. Its light and easy and you can take the fly off to star gaze!!

I'm still using my 20 year old Walmart tent.

Considering a wet sleeping bag is your worst enemy on a multi day hike, condensation is a deal breaker.

I mainly use hammocks, but do have freestanding tent with rain fly...couldn't a rain fly be adapted over a Trekking pole tent to give that "second wall" to help battle condensation?

I love the lack of no condensation with a free standing tent. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Cheers.

Awesome video Darwin. Thank you. I'm searching for a new tent. Something light weight. My tent is old 1980's Eureka Timberline! Heavy. 7-8 lbs. This video sure helps. Happy Thanksgiving!

Darwin, please do a video about External Frame Backpacks, just about this style of Backpack...nothing biased everybody has a biased against or for external frame backpacks...I would like to see a in depth video about external frame backpacks nothing about the ins-and-outs just a video about external frame backpacks. And I think you could do a video good video about external frame backpacks... Not for or against external frame backpacks, just a video about external frame backpacks...

I LOVE my Z-pack Triplex! Perfect for my AT thru hike. #1 reason is how lightweight it is. As you said, very simple one piece design. So far, I’ve always been able to guy it out (even on a platform). If it’s set up correctly, condensation runs down the side and out the mesh. I carry a small piece of chamois cloth to wipe off any remaining droplets in the morning (chamois is almost weightless when dry). Triplex was a few ounces more than the Duplex and my hiking partner and I have always really appreciated the extra 20 inches. Love your channel. Thanks!

Used hammocks for years, which I love, but it's true they aren't exactly simple, especially when you want to use something year-round.... Then got a free standing tent, which I also love, but it's a little bulky and heavy'ish (great for working out of a camp for months and short trips), then I got a lunar solo, which again I quite like, but the condensation thing is a wee bit bothersome. Kinda/sorta looking at the Masssdrop Dan Durston 1p tent... It's a two piece, 2 trekking pole tent that you can set up fly only, net only, or both... Still researching, though.

This might be a personal question, but I am curious why you and Snuggles use separate tents when you backpack together?

I ordered my very first tent recently on Drop dot com for $258 with shipping. It’s the Dan Durston X-Mid 2P trekking pole tent. Are you familiar with this one? Any thoughts or input? I’ve never hiked and I’m an avid back yard hammock fan with a lot of gear, including Black Diamond trekking poles, various Vargo titanium stoves, mugs & bottles as well as an assortment of backpacks and other tools & gear.

going with a new tent after 5 years and am leaning to free standing again. this time I'm hoping to go with the Nemo Hornet 2P. I like freestanding and myself don't mind the extra gear that goes with it as have a good base weight already. Thanks for your vedio's and keep on hiking.

Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape for the win! It's super compact and only 10.8oz, and sets up with one trekking pole or a 3-section 49" carbon-fiber pole (@1.85oz), which is what I use since I don't hike with trekking poles. It also serves as my main rain gear, and a pack cover too, so I save even more weight.... It is definitely NOT for everyone though!

Ripstop teepee (e.g. Lanshan, many others), 25oz shell only, hiking pole or stick or (my fav) ridgeline. Super easy, reasonably light (2 lbs tops w/ stakes, or 1lb 10oz using ridgeline (add 7 oz for lightwt line & prusiks). Still, all that said, I can't help but be attracted to freestanding tents, but they're either too heavy or too expensive. The day will come when UL weight and cost are not in confict. Til then, a quandry.

On a freestanding tent, I absolutely love the ability to shake it out when it's time to pack up. The piece of mind knowing there's no dirt/debris inside for the next trip is huge for me and goes a long way extending it's life. I also love knowing I can set my tent up and position it exactly where I want it before staking it down. The ability to forgo the rainfly in the summer months, save some weight and sleep under the stars are also a very desirable perks for me. I am not a thru-hiker, but go backpacking several times a year on 5-10 mile treks and will pack for comfort at the expense of a little weight.

OK, where I pack there is often no good staking ground (rocks and/or sand). I am considering a gravity guy hold system: basically trying to develop a bag/sheet in/on which to hold rocks and/or sand, which are always available in the West. Anyone have experienced trying this? Honestly, I have always just carried a tarp and cordage (13 oz) but recently purchased a Big Agnes Scout 2.

How about thermal comparisons? The Free Standing Tent's air insulation also provides a thermal protection as well. Used an MSR Microzoid in '05 when I did the PCT. I'm planning on using a Z-Pack Plexamid on my next Thru Hike. Salt Lick - PCT'05

Your choices are basically only for warm weather hiking....For those of us who prefer cold weather camping, NONE of these would work....I prefer an Artic Oven since I only cold weather camp, and must use a vehicle...

I have been looking into purchasing a new tent. Not sure exactly which way I want to go. Currently considering the Duplex, Tarptent Double Rainbow LI, and Stratospire LI. I’d love to hear any feedback from anyone with experience. For reference, the majority of my use will be around western Kentucky. Thanks.

Nice discussion, though: A trekking pole tent is not necessarily a single wall tent, see: www.ipernity.com/doc/charly13/49112268/in/album/1239318 Ray-Way Tarp made of DCF, Ray-Way Spitfire modified with inner-tent fabric for all walls but the headwall. used the inner here, too, to beat the windchill www.ipernity.com/doc/charly13/47559124/in/album/1202584

First off, I'd never buy a pack that does not have external storage space. The idea of sticking a wet, mud-spattered tent into my pack is appalling. I can't think of much worse than picking up a tent that's saturated with condensation or rain, covered in mud and debris and stuffing it inside the pack with sleeping bag, spare/warm clothes etc. Actually, I can think of several things but not all of them are camping-related. If I'm using a tent, the tent, fly, poles and pegs go on the *outside* of the pack. I actually like packs with a selection of external pockets so I can stick the things to which I'm likely to need ready access in them (cooker and fuel, mug, coffee etc) and leave the main compartment for things I'm not going to need until I'm set up (food, sleeping bag, warm clothes at night etc). With the hammock setup, the hammock (with built-in bug mesh) can go inside the pack, but the suspenson, tarp, guy lines and pegs - all that stuff that's likely to get wet - goes on the outside. I gave up on single-skin tents years ago, but I do take your point about the additional complexity of free-standing double walled tents. One con you missed for double walled tents is: most of the time, you have to set up the inner before you can put up the rain fly - which means the inner is filling up with water if its raining while you're still trying to set it up and get the protective fly in place - this is one of the reasons I'm switching to hammock camping.

Black Diamond Distance Tent for winter times. 200 USD vs 600 USD (including stakes) makes it a third of the price for a plexamid. It weighs 1lbs 13oz with all stakes, about double the plexamid. Requires only 4 stakes + 2 strips of velcro, even for extreme stormy condition. There's 3 guylines, 2 of which can be fastened to the trekking poles with the included velcro, and 1 guyline that's fastened to 2 of the exisiting stakes. Stakes are also placed at a max of 3 inches away from the tent, so under stormy conditions it actually takes up less space than a freestanding tent, because it doesn't need long guylines anywhere. The best thing about this tent though, is that it actually packs down to a 4 litre volume inlcuding stakes, albeit getting it that small is a little finnicky. Excluding the trekking poles of course. Regardless of your budget, it's amongst the best trekking pole winter tents you can find.

Do u not use a ground sheet with your trekking pole tent?

Hey Darwin, great video buddy! Great comparison between the two tents. I personally prefer a freestanding tent (fly creek UL II HV) since I am not so much into trekking poles. Maybe I should try using them. Thanks, just subscribed and thumbs up 👍🏼💪🏽 Cheers from Germany, Martin 🤜🏼🤛🏼

I love ventilation and hate pegs. The last 6 years i used something in between. Wich is an Eureka Spitfire Solo. I know it's not lightweight. 1.6 Kilo but the innertent is all black mesh and stands with only 2 pegs. The outerfly als uses 2 pegs. And it's roomy, i can sit up inside it. Ideal in warmer weather with mosquitos all wanting me. :)) But i am a Cycletourer/Bikepacker orientating on hiking more.

A very nice job of handling this topic, and I agree on all points...except for the (superfluous?) mention of footprints solely in the context of freestanding tents. The fact of the matter is that many freestanding tents neither come with one nor even need one to be as waterproof (or puncture-proof) on the bottom as a trekking-pole tent. So the extra weight and bulk of a footprint is really a moot point, also considering that some folks tote an extra footprint for their trekking-pole TarpTents or Duplex or whatever. That said, your points are still all valid, and I‘ve come to exactly the same conclusions as you, and use the Duplex as my all-time favorite (edging out my previous favorite, which was the TarpTent Double Rainbow). There is one additional factor worth considering, though: the type of ground (rocky, grassy, soft, sandy) likely to be encountered most on the trail one is heading out on. Unlike for you, setting up a Duplex in rocky terrain with little or no soil in which to drive stakes is awful. I never managed to find the right number, weight and size of rocks necessary to get a stable pitch in such settings. So when heading to places not likely to have much soil (including mountainous areas), I prefer a self-standing tent. Then I can use whatever I find for extra tie-outs, but rest assured that the integrity of the main structure will be straight and stable. Maybe I could, with a lot of practice and patience, do the anchor-rock thing as well as you do, but I‘d rather not. So then I go for my Nemo Hornet Ultralight 2-person tent (when checking reviews, be sure you‘re looking at the newest model, which I believed came our around the start of 2019, and which has some great tweaks over the original design, including 2 little plastic spreader bars along the front-to-bike spine, thus creating more space inside and a better pitch with less strain on the material). It‘s a decent compromise, even if I also dislike having to set up the two parts separately, not to mention the extra weight compare with a Duplex plus trekking poles (which I always carry anyhow). Oh, and my points regarding hard ground also apply to sandy beaches and mushy, rained-out ground (which doesn‘t hold standard stakes well). EDIT: In all fairness, I should add that the Nemo Hornet 2P is not entirely freestanding. But the basic structure is, and that makes all the difference for me at times.

Hammock gear hammock, under quilt and top quilt. Dont care to much about the ground. Best sleep ever. Just under 3 lbs including tree straps. Hammock with bugnt, cf tarp, stakes, under and top quilts. I know this wont do for half the PCT/CDT.

I wish I knew about and tried trekking pole tents when I backpacker when young. Instead, I carried a very heavy North Face freestanding 3-4 season tent and had a stupidly heavy pack. Most recently, admittedly car camping and in my bedroom, I have tried several hammocks due to back issues. I may never go back!

I should really learn to lighten my pack... I'm using a 75L bag and it's always packed to the brim, and probably weighs close to 60lbs full. My tent alone is 10lbs Sure makes climbing hills fun!

Tarptent Double Rainbow. Best of both worlds. 2.5 lbs. Can be used freestanding using trekking poles. Actually fits two adults (unusual for a 2-person tent). Front porch/awning is great to cook under when it's raining. Liner option to deal with the condensation drip drips.

The type of hiking I'm doing is the biggest factor. If I'm packing up every morning--trekking pole is fine. But, if I'm setting up a base camp and doing day hikes from there, free standing is my preferred method. Collapsing your tent so you can use your poles, means your tent is vulnerable to wind and rain while you are on your day hike. In my opinion, the weight and packability between my duplex and my Marmot 2P is negligible, even when I use my smaller Z-Pack backpack.

I would probably prefer a trekking pole tent, as i really hate putting up those tent poles (especially in the dark) - but i like lightweight and comfortable stuff, so i dont think even the zpacs tents can beat a hammock (at least for me). "Hummingbird Hammocks" have hammock setups (hammock, net, and tarp) down to 616g/1,36pounds - and the price is only $240 total for all 3 items..! No condensation, and my regular 1 person hammock is so comfortable that i bought a hammock stand that i put up in my bedroom, and have been sleeping in it for 5 months now. I just have a cheap hammock though, and just made a small hole in the bottom of my sleeping bag so i can use it as a "pod" around the hammock. Dont like the idea of dragging around underquilts. The sleeping bag i have provides a little less space than i prefer, but it is still plenty better than inflatable sleeping pads, IMO... I think the size and weight of tarp setups make them really interesting though, but mostly for colder seasons, when there are no bugs and snakes. I have not tried camping in one yet, but i think that dirt floor has a special "charm" to it, and brings a much stronger feeling of being out in nature... I also feel like cooking food is much more ideal in a tarp than a tent, as it poses very little risk of anything catching on fire (provided the cooking apparatus is placed on the dirt floor, and not on a tarp floor). Have been thinking of trying it soon - but i think a lot of things, and it is getting pretty cold here in Norway (down to -8 degrees Celsius at night where i live)...

I really appreciate what you do, but this material is surprisingly outlier when it comes to information quality (to put it gently). What you are comparing is not "freestand" vs "trekking pole" but "freestand+double wall" vs. "trekking+single wall". Wall system is orthogonal concept to the pitching system, and to look not too far I own trekking pole + double wall tent. Basing on wrong data you can draw any conclusions you like but by definition they are meaningless. Again, don't get me wrong, this is not blind criticism/hate or anything like that, you simply spoiled me with high quality content and this one does not fit, sorry :-).

My current pole supported tent is the Tarptent Notch Li. Love that little fully double wall, pole-supported tent! "Freestanding" tents are usually a BEATCH to set up in the rain. 1. set up poles 2.put fly on poles 3.crawl unser the fly and snap in the inner tent What a PITA!

Tarptent, Durston Xmid. Hyperlite Mountain Gear. Tons of double walled, non freestanding options out there. People, get out of the Zpacks vortex. Explore the options other than those you heard about in your Facebook groups and RU-vidr mentions.

I have the Zpacks Duplex and condensation is an issue. I walked The Kungsleden in Sweden and being over 180cm, every morning I would wake up with a wet head and foot box. However like Darwin, I prefer to have everything inside my pack. I hate having gear strapped to the side so the condensation is something I'm willing to deal with.

ZPacks Duplex and I actually prefer the freestanding. Ditch the trekking poles. Save a few ounces and never worry about hard ground or finding rocks! If they break. Borrow a trekking pole;)

I've been using a pup tent I bought 30+ years ago. I ditched the original poles and started setting it up with trekking poles a long time ago. Super light and big enough for me and gear. I've tried other tents but keep going back to this one. I'm stubborn. LOL