Thanks for the inspiration guys. I have not done an overnight hike in 10 years, but now find myself fantasizing about it, based on your posts.
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I’m thinking about the freestanding set up too.
What size?
I will only do an overnight, 2 at max.
I use a quilt, xtherm pad, a canister stove, a small stool and a teapot. I do dehydrated meals, pack light.
I’m thinking the smallest one…
I like a free standing even though I sometimes use poles to hike. I even used a dedicated pole with my Duomid.
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I have the 3400 because I will also use it for week long trips and it’s only 2oz heavier than the 2400 if I recall correctly. You could easily get away with the 2400 if you wanted to. The only difference is a taller main compartment…everything else is identical. Another option would be the Zpacks Nero. I have one and use it if I’m only doing 1 or 2 nights. 38L total (25 main compartment)…it’s lighter and maybe not quite as comfy to me.
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I have the free standing mod on my duplex. It’s failed in wind on me a few times so I’m not a huge fan. It’s nice though when camping in spots where stakes aren’t practical. I wish it held up a bit better, but that’s been on some slots with some really crazy wind coming through. Mostly the freestanding setup works well enough.
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Chris,
On the fails were you using stakes or was it mostly not staked? I am usually camped in trees but was thinking of getting the stake kit for a more taut pitch.
About half of the time, I’m camped above tree line in very exposed areas. I will always anchor the stakes with rocks. There’s nothing quite like the “excitement” of a bad thunderstorm in a cirque at 10k feet, I’ve spent a few sleepless nights in my rain gear, with everything packed but the tent, waiting for the wind and hail to tear it apart. I always try to have a contingency plan and know where the nearest cover is when I set up camp. It could be a large boulder or scrub brush. It is very disorienting to get out of a tent in the middle of the night with horizontal rain and try to find a spot to wait out a storm. People are always concerned about the potential for grizzlies here, but the elements will usually get you first.
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I ended up getting a Big Sky Soul 1P tent this year. It’s a freestanding tent. Costs $249 and weighs 2 lbs 6 oz (1071 g) for the bikepacking version I got (shorter pole sections, so it has a more compact packed length at the expense of a bit more weight). I used it about 10 nights this year, mostly above treeline in the Wind Rivers. Great tent. I like that it’s double-walled, both for condensation purposes (I had condensation issues in my old single-walled Tarptent; maybe the ZPacks ones are more breathable) and flexibility (nice and open without the fly on hot trips in the desert).
At camp in the Winds:
Pics from the Big Sky site:
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I’ve used it both ways, but usually when it fails I’m on sand / above tree line and stakes don’t hold. I do use rocks to help hold things down, but I usually have so so results. Overall it is a great tent, I just think the free standing option has some flaws. Mine may also be an early version since I’ve had it awhile and I think I bought it not long after they introduced the freestanding poles. They tend to fold in with too much wind so I have to carefully pitch it but winds shift. Also the loop that connects where the poles cross comes undone with enough flapping around. I switch between the duplex and the hyper lite duo mid. The mid does better in the wind but no freestanding option.
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