Would you please do a video on “post trip” cleaning and storing of gear? I do this after camping trips and it takes a lot of time and effort. Also a video on repairing techniques for gear both at home and in the field
Lot's of great options. I'm still stuck on my 3.4lb tent for 24 bucks lol. Had it for almost 4 years now. It's like an old friend. But I am a huge fan of Sierra Design. I'm tossing around the idea of a bug net with a bathtub floor and a siltarp overhead. Loved your Utah vid BTW. My son works for Navtec in Moab. It's a ghost Town right now! -Mike
What a great breakdown of the different structures of tents and the environments that they excel. I noticed you've picked up a bunch of Sierra Designs tents, and when looking into them myself I've found them to be a bit heavier than other brands. Is that your experience?
Midge Barno thank you! Yeah SD does tend to be a bit heavier, but they are using higher denier fabrics on their tents labeled as UL. They aren’t going to 7 or 10 denier rain flies like Nemo and Big Agnes are. I actually appreciate that about them as the 7D fabrics are just too light IMO. I love their designs though. Especially the line where they removed vestibules.
@@BackcountryExposure They definitely have always had the most interesting designs. I can respect the higher denier fabrics, sometimes spending $700 for a tent that weighs nothing but you have to treat like tissue paper isn't worth it.
Maybe you or one of your subscribers can help. I’m looking for a 3 season light weight tent that can fit a 6’5” person on 2.5” sleeping pad under a 20* quilt.
I take my daughter backpacking once a year and I’m happy with my $52 two person Stansport "Black Granite” tent. It’s 5 lbs 6 oz. We only hike 2 or 3 miles in and spend one night and out the next day.
Don’t forget to take your height into consideration! I’m a tall dude and don’t fit into a lot of tents. Tents with near vertical walls help get the most out of the area of a tent.
I just starting day hiking and looking forward to weekend hiking. I have an Hyperlitrle Ultamid 4 pyramid tent.. this has been an amazing tent weighing 1.44 lbs. I have 3 grandkids so for camping I’m this is perfect for me.. But is this just to much for hiking? It wasn’t cheap and they weight is amazing comparable to a lot of 1-2 person tent, so not sure if buying a smaller one is so much of an option for me. I just don’t want to look stupid hiking with this king size tent ⛺️🤪
Hey, Devin. Wondering if you could help me out with tent info/suggestions for a family of 4 - 2 parents, 2 kids, 13 and 10. Was thinking of going with a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4, or buying 2 smaller tents, 2 people per tent. Looking at 3 season backpacking here in the Colorado Rockies. Need enough floor space for 4 long and wide Nemo Tensors. Too many options, head is swimming...
How much wind can a tent endure before either the poles snap or the fly is shredded is an important concern in some locations. An epic failure during a storm up here in Alaska is no joke.
Great vid! Intended use is VERY important as is the price and the availability of getting the tent. Hilleberg makes the best tents in my opinion, but they are very $$$. Fjallraven too. I also would add, like you said, weather in the area. I saw a Duplex get blown off a mountain bc they tried to pitch it in Northern Sweden in 50mph winds. for shelters, yes weight is important, BUT I would choose safety and comfort way more (for me). Also, free-standing tents are way more practical IMHO; it's funny for me to set up my SD Clearwing 2 and be done in 5 minutes and watch all the Zpacks peeps struggle to get their tent pitched right. I think this UL craze has become a challenge and a game. I would much rather be comfortable and protected with LOWER condensation on the inside of my tent (HYOH). :) BTW I LOVE Sierra Designs too; they are highly underrated! Anyways, stay safe and love your vids! (trying to build my new channel, please sub if you want :))
TheTrailDancer Lol! I was checking out the duplex to use here in northern Sweden. Bought a Hilleberg instead. Glad I did after i read that comment haha. And the duplex is $1200 here as well so...
Excellent comment, thank you so much for the information. 😊 I am in New Zealand, and we have all seasons weather plus high winds in the mountain areas. I am looking to purchase a backpacking/hiking tent to add to my collection. I have two larger tents for vehicle travel and camping. This video combined with your comment is helpful in my research.
I've been fortunate enough to afford a DCF tent. It's hard to go back to using my silnylon tent. It's not just the weight; it's how the material repels the water and doesn't stretch when wet.
Hello my outdoors friend, you're always a wealth of information. I appreciate your sharing this information on backpacking tents. Please keep up your great videos. All the best to you and your family. 🤗
You pretty much covered it all. I would add a couple of points. Tents often have condensation problems. Even so-called double-walled tents. Condensation is rarely a problem with a tarp because there is so much ventilation. I've never had significant condensation in a tarp, though I suppose it could occur. Another advantage with tarps is flexibility. I have two tarp setups. One is an 8x10 modified with mosquito netting sewn around the edges. This lets me use it in ground mode, or I can raise it up and use it with a hammock if I can't find a level, rock free location to sleep on the ground. Besides being less expensive and lower weight, I think tarps also let you feel more connected to the outdoors. My other tarp setup is the Paria 10x7x5 tapered tarp that you mentioned in your video. I use that with a bug bivy / bathtub floor, and I make a special effort to head out if storms are predicted (during 3 season conditions). I am actually disappointed if the storm misses me (of course I am careful to pick a safe spot). As you note, tarps take some practice to get good at pitching them, and you have to be a pretty robust backpacker to use them in the winter. Anyways, great video. I am subscribing to better keep up with your channel.
Lawrence Soucie thanks for the thoughtful comment! I also did a podcast episode on this topic that’s a lot more in depth. Check it out. The Backpacking Experience Podcast
I’m going big or going home. ZPacks tri plex (hiking with wife) so we can have plenty of space for low weight. I have plantar and IT band issues so gotta keep low baseweight to keep weight impact limited but also use our 25 inch width pads to get better sleep 🙃
Nice and clean comparison! A lot of options there. I just ordered my first tent some days ago. The Lanshan 1 original. The option to sleep in just the bugnet and experience nature and stars was a main consideration for me. Coming from cowboycamping I really like the freedom of view. Also a plus is that if it gets rainy or cold you can always put on the rainfly. The size/weight ratio works for me and the price is awesome. I will try it out once I get it. 🏕️ Might try out a tarp one day, too.
The best tents...are those funny looking things that hang in trees with a tarp over it 😂. Although I will say I have been loving the tarptent protrail. Great Information in this one
Moving to Utah from Michigan... I need to get a tent. I really like the idea of the tipi tent. Your thoughts on SEEK OUTSIDE tipi vs. whichever one you have? or maybe other recommendations? I like the wind resistance concept. Because even in "good" weather... wind can crop up and blow things down. I recently went to Goblin Valley. Brought my hammock stand and such... but very little match for the gusts of wind. Plus, I want a backpacking friendly solution.
Seek Outside makes cool product. But I’m a huge fan of Luxe Hiking Gear. The Hexpeak from Luxe is one of my favorite shelters of all time. Go back and watch my review of it. It’s a fairly recent video.
I cried when I wrote the check, but no regrets - this is a great tent. Not as young as I used to be so the lighter weight is a big help. A one person palace or two person in a pinch. My only issue has been in areas where tent sites are tight - with the two big vestibules it has a large footprint!
I JUST bought the sweet suit 3 for me and my kids- almost 1 lb lighter than the tent I currently carry for us. Super excited to try it out this spring.
I never thought id be interested in bivys, but after trying the Hilleberg Bivanorak (raingear/bivy combo, developed for the Sweedish airforce), i really enjoyed the feeling of not being in a confined space, and without tent walls obstructing my view. Being able to set up camp right on the trail is a major advantage over tents imo, and it is also reassurring to know that it can handle pretty much any type of weather (a tarp may be necessary in some situations, but trees also provide a lot of shelter for rain). To top it off, it also packs small enough that i can fit everything i need for several days out in an 18liter Osprey "Ultralight Stuff Pack"..! The weight is 500g, so not the most lightweight shelter possible, but considering it is also a pretty nice piece of raingear, this takes it into the "extreme ultralight" category if you ask me. There are some cons with this shelter though: * According to a lot of comments, condensation seems to be an issue with this shelter. I have only tried it out once during winter, when i had no issues with condensation, and once on a really hot summer night. My quilt was way too warm for the conditions, and when i woke up, it was a bit damp. Im hoping this issue can be omitted by using a quilt/sleeping bag that is better suited for the temperatures. * It is pretty noisy, which can be annoying when you are listening for crazy killer moose..! * Getting in and out of the shelter can be annoying - but if you use a quilt (or sleeping bag that opens in the bottom), you can just lift it up together with the bivanorak, which will allow you to walk around and take a pee or whatever, without going out of your nice warm shelter.
Waiting to be allowed to cross the border so we can pick up our x-mid 2p tent. Border closed a day or two before it arrived 😥. We are more weekend warrior type but we were looking for something lighter and not too expensive. We do a four person birth face talus tent but it’s pretty squishy for us and our adult-sized children. So will probably bring two now.
A two person tent is a one person tent a four person is a comfortable two person, and weight you want the lightest tent possible and a rain fly because even the water prof tents leak anywhere you touch the sides, so just get a fly and you won't get wet. I
Great video. I recently got the gossamer gear - the two. New experience with using trekking poles but so far it seems to work good in the rain and condensation was not too bad. Tons of space, 2 doors, and very big vestibules. Before this tent I was using the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3. I liked that one a lot.
Hi Tom, I'm currently researching tents for myself for backpacking. I'm curious, please may I ask what made you switch from Big Agnes to Gossamer brand? I have been researching both of these and they both seem good.
@@GypsyGirl317 Hi there. My main reason for switching was I am planning an AT thru hike in a couple of years when I retire, and I was looking for shelter that had room for me and my gear (do not like leaving it outside even in a vestibule) that had good easy access and was not hard to setup. Since I carry trekking poles I seen some good reviews on The TWO and wanted to try it out. My fly creek UL3 was used by both me and my wife, but only had one access point. Possibly for one person that might work, but I wanted to be able to let the air flow through and The TWO allows that. Also weight was the pick issue for me. 1 pound is important. Did not get out much this year to really test The TWO but the few times I used it I liked it. It is only a single wall tent but has good protection from bugs, rain and wind. Nothing wrong with Big Agnes (except I heard that Tiger wall tent is not built well) , just decided to open up my options. I hope this helps. Tents are expensive area to test too many light weight ones but I have time to make a good informed decision. Remember at the end of the day of backpacking you need something that goes up quick and easy, and works. Thanks
@@tleon1960 thank you for your kind reply. Yes that helps a lot. I'm planning on doing our NZ Te Araroa thru hike when I retire in a couple of years. 😊 Am training now with some of our excellent hikes all around the country.
Dan Hutchinson thanks. Appreciate the feedback. I don’t normally use music in videos like this, but decided to try something different. Thanks for the feedback.
What is the model freestanding tent that you are setting up on the rocks at around 4:00? it has a blue bathtub floor and a grey rainfly. Looks unfamiliar to me.
Mr. E. I no longer have the 2P, but do have the 1P and it’s great. You can go back through my videos and find “Should you buy a freestanding backpacking tent?” It features the Zion. I’ll try to do a dedicated review at some point. For the price and weight it’s awesome.
My first backpacking tent was the Paira Bryce 1P and I love that tent. Still have it (I bought it based on your recommendation from your You Tube review) but yeah a touch heavy. I'm an X-Mid man now, the Dan Durtson tent. Just curious though, I always thought of the Bryce as a semi free standing since you have to stake out the vestibule and the sides of the fly for it to ventilate/work properly.
Weekend Adventures on Trail right on! Typically the style is defined by how the main body of the tent is pitched. And because the body of the Bryce will stand on its own without stakes, it’s a freestanding. The rain fly on almost all freestanding tents that have a vestibule will require stakes to be 100% fully functional.
I like that marmot tarp hybrid. Perfect idea for hot summer days. Just bring a ground cloth and your pad and sleeping bag and your good and def lightweight. Sometimes tarps buy themselves can be a hassle but with a pre set structure it makes like easier i think. I like sierra designs tents too but would love to see them realeased in more subdued colors, grey,brown,olive green. Colors like that. Good stuff man! Hike on!
Guitar Hiker444 yeah that Agate is cool. I’m going to share a first impressions video on it very soon. I agree with SD. Some subtle colors would be great.
@@BackcountryExposure Thanks for the response man! Yeah def like the Agate. I was also looking at the big agnes scout platinum. Similar idea i guess but with a floor. Their new carbon series is nice too (dyneema). The nemo spike storm i almost bought but they kinda disappeared quickly. Prob for good reason. So many cool tents and tarps out there. Always on the hunt for new and better i'm sure you can relate. These tents and tarps also depend on what you want them for of course. Time of year, weather, how many days you will be out, how far your hiking to your camp destination. What pack your choosing to carry it in, you know deal. Agate is def a high speed quick overnight style tarp tent. Dry climate but can be remedied for worse weather i'm sure. We cant always choose the weather thats for sure. I've always liked marmot. Look forward to more of your content man. Stay safe! Hike on!
