I think there’s a lot of variability in conditions and preferences backpackers have to contend with in cold and snow - don’t make the mistake of getting a 9 lb monster that would survive a late caribou hunt out on the open tundra. In Colorado the hiking club I was in would go to Rocky Mountain National Park every other weekend to hike, ski, snowshoe, backpack, or whatever - rain, snow or shine, year round. Not once did we ever see, or hear of someone’s 3 season tent failing when winter camping - in our group or anyone we ran across. Well, one idiot said they didn’t knock the snow off on purpose and 10” of snow pushed the top in and sprung back out.
Double wall will keep you and your gear much drier. A slightly larger version than your regular fall tent means less touching the mesh and less frost falling on your bag.
For winter conditions (or just steep muddy slopes) I have absolutely no idea why more hunters don’t use a simple set of hinged crampons. You’ll go up steeper slopes faster, easier and safer. The SMC hinged model is ideal - avoid anything sold anywhere else unless the design is just like these. The straps are durable, the heat treated steel will never wear out, the hinged design is easy to walk in, they fit normal boots, and are pretty light weight. Used they often go for under $50. If your buddy doesn’t have a pair he literally can’t hunt the same steep slopes.
One October a storm was coming and every hunter and outfitter would be leaving the high country - I jumped at the opportunity, backpacked in, sat in the tent for a day until snow stopped and two days later shot a bull from just in front of the tent. I never saw another hunter on any ridge until two days after the snow stopped. An out of state horse hunter offered to lend me his pack mule to get the elk out, but I said it’s so steep and muddy where the bull is the mule would either say no way Jose (most likely), or kill itself sliding down a slope it couldn’t get back up.
