Condensation....the beign of my existence

[DaveC]

Luke and TD1, I'm ditching the tarp and bivy combo for all but the warmest of hunts like NV or UT mule deer in August. Spending hour upon hour wrapped up in that ID bugaboo bivy made me claustrophobic and definitely put a damper on my mood during all the rain. For a pound more I could have a bomb proof two person tent that I could take just about anywhere.

Right now I'm looking at big Agnes copper spur 2.

Big Agnes makes good stuff, but they put #3 zips on their light tents, which in my book don't hold up well at all. If you use it 5 nights a year this probably isn't such a concern. The Copper Spur is a great summer tent, but anything more than moderate snow will squish it in a very amusing and non-functional way.

To fight condensation you need air space and ventilation. Look for tents which can vent and simultaneously keep out rain, as well as larger mids which can do the same.

 

[rhendrix]

Any options that you know of daveC that are under 400-500 dollars. Seriously considering a hilldeberg, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to afford one by next year. Lol!

 

[mtnclimber]

Any options that you know of daveC that are under 400-500 dollars. Seriously considering a hilldeberg, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to afford one by next year. Lol!

try and find a used one.

but no matter what tent you buy, take your time to spot deals. use coupons and anything else to bring the price down. if your patient you'll always be able to find some good deals, i can't remember the last time i bought any hunting related item full price.

 

[DaveC]

Any options that you know of daveC that are under 400-500 dollars. Seriously considering a hilldeberg, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to afford one by next year. Lol!

What's your intended use and personal style/preferences? Hilles are amazing, but unless you spend a bunch of time above treeline or winter camping they're overkill (and heavy/expensive).

I really like mids for just about everything. They're light, the sil ones are quite affordable, you don't have to use a bugnet unless you need one, can take your boots off inside, use a wood stove, etc. You can also raise the center pole and thus edges for more ventilation if conditions suggest condensation will be bad. I have an MLD Solomid and a Seek Outside Little Bug Out, both of which are A+ shelters.

 

[rhendrix]

What's your intended use and personal style/preferences? Hilles are amazing, but unless you spend a bunch of time above treeline or winter camping they're overkill (and heavy/expensive).

I really like mids for just about everything. They're light, the sil ones are quite affordable, you don't have to use a bugnet unless you need one, can take your boots off inside, use a wood stove, etc. You can also raise the center pole and thus edges for more ventilation if conditions suggest condensation will be bad. I have an MLD Solomid and a Seek Outside Little Bug Out, both of which are A+ shelters.

Two weeks every year in the backcountry of Colorado, two weeks in October and November in Oklahoma and Kansas chasing whitetail. Probably some summertime fishing trips as well.

I had a tipi last year in UT, a tigoat vertex 5, I didn't mind it, just was a really big pain in the a** trying to pitch it on some of the slopes there, which is why I went with the bivy and tarp, the tipi would've been awesome in Colorado though. I guess it's not to far fetched to have two different setups for different terrain and weather, but I'd love to have one setup that does it all.

 

[DaveC]

A mid would have a smaller footprint than a tipi; something to think about. Square/rectangular footprints are also a lot quicker to pitch than oval/circular. Of course with a smaller footprint you loose interior space, so no free lunch.

Might make sense to have one rig for car camping stuff and one for backcountry, maybe a larger 3 season tent and small mid respectively.

 

[moxford]

If you put on some extra tie-outs you can pitch a hex/SL into a rectangular footprint.

http://sweepingthegarden.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/golite-shangri-la-3-hex-to-mid-conversion/

You can do the same with a circle but it would be more "rectangle with bubbled ends." =)

-mox

 

[Beendare]

Ditch the bivy.
If you run the numbers you can stay in a palace of a Tarptent for equal or less weight that a tarp,groundcloth, and bivy...and not worry about all of that built up moisture in your bag.

You're body loses a lot of moisture during the night that just gets trapped in your bag with many of those bivy systems. They may breathe at low elevation/ mild temps but moist air condensates at high altitude and lower temps. If you don't have much high altitude/ outdoor experience the Stephenson Warmlite site has some good 20 yr old articles on this [if its still around] Bivys suck. Sorry bivy guys....but you are doing it the hard way. Even bivy king Cam Hanes....finally figured that one out.

 

[Salmo-Priest]

The six moons design lunar solo and duo are winners. Rode out many a storm and the solo pitches in a small enough area that I've avoided the hammock thingy. My son and i use the duo.

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/tents/LunarSolo.html