What bag/pad/tent would you choose?

[huntcurs]

I played with an Xtherm in Cabela's and thought it was extremely loud. That's a lot of money to sleep on a chip bag lol

 

[_Nick_]

I played with an Xtherm in Cabela's and thought it was extremely loud. That's a lot of money to sleep on a chip bag lol

Yeah, it's worth it to me for the warmth/weight ratio. But I'd certainly like it to be quieter.

 

[Bmcox86]

I just got an xtherm and it's pretty quiet

 

[huntcurs]

I meant to say XLite. Never played with the XTherm. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

 

[n2horns]

I'm in Arizona and depending on hunt location tents vary from Alaskan Guide 8 man, to Tarptent Notch to my next tent the Lightheartgear Solong 6. I used Exped synmat ul7 but found i slept cold, so sold it, bought exped downmat ul7. I use a Enlightened Equipment 20* down quilt to a Feathered Friends Puffin Nano 20*.

 

[huntcurs]

The more I look at the bivy/tarp idea, the more I think I would have the same constricted feeling in a bivy. I think the weight gain for me would be worth it to go from bivy/tarp to tent. That being said, any good suggestions on tents for tall guys that work well in the desert? I'm looking at those Tarptents and the Lightheartgear that n2horns suggested.

 

[_Nick_]

I liked the Tarptents for a tent option. Just look at the floorplan on their website to find a model that would work well for you. There's also the tent versions of the tarps that Zpacks sells, which are very light.

 

[slick]

Does the hexamid solo+ have an additional vestibule that covers the entrance? I haven't quite figured it out. I know the base model leaves that open to the elements, but they talk about adding a beak to it? Does anyone know if this beak covers the open side?

They are super lite and get great reviews. But are pretty $$$

 

[n2horns]

Huntcurs - the Tarptent Notch I have is a tight tent. i am 6' 215 - 220 with 48 chest. I use the LW Exped Downmat UL 7 (26 wide) and it stretches the Notch out. There is a little room inside the tent at head and foot for clothes. Bag can be inside the vestibule but its tight. I use a tyvek sheet for protection and so far held up well. Be careful to clean up sleeping site, its about site selection.

The solong 6 is a few ounces heavier but gives you much more room. I feel that with any bad weather (rain) I would be more comfortable riding out a storm in the solong 6. I will use the Notch for good weather trips. Bringing it on an elk trip this weekend.

 

[huntcurs]

So many options it makes my head hurt lol.

I think my first purchase will be a quilt regardless. I'm curious if anyone has tried the EE Prodigy? Packs down pretty small and is a pound heavier than the down options, but thinking the durability factor and the price cut might make it viable. Is the down worth the $60+ more for the HG Burrow?

 

[5MilesBack]

That being said, any good suggestions on tents for tall guys that work well in the desert?

I'm 6'6" and have struggled over the years with lightweight tent options. I'm going to be selling my Tarptent Rainshadow 2 soon.......it's in like new condition and freshly seam-sealed. I'm going with a heavier "even more room" 4-man tent as my single tent option instead of having multiples. Check them out at their website and let me know if you might be interested.

 

[Bmcox86]

Pm me before you sell your tent I'm very interested in it

 

[huntcurs]

I'm 6'6" and have struggled over the years with lightweight tent options. I'm going to be selling my Tarptent Rainshadow 2 soon.......it's in like new condition and freshly seam-sealed. I'm going with a heavier "even more room" 4-man tent as my single tent option instead of having multiples. Check them out at their website and let me know if you might be interested.

I will go check that model out. Thanks for the info!

 

[Violent Hippie]

The desert can be deceiving. I have froze my ass off in the desert in the spring and winter due to not bringing a warmer weather bag on backpacking trips when it got down below freezing at night. I have also seen ALOT of insects in the desert as well. In the Tonto Nat forest just north of Phoenix there are many insects such as many kinds of spiders, scorpions , mosquito's swarming the springs and bugs that I cant even name. Not as many bugs as I have seen in the SE US such as FL or GA but many more than expected.As far a deserts I really enjoy some and have learned the hard way to respect them. Have fun out there.

 

[_Nick_]

In my opinion I would go for the water repellant down over synthetic for the desert. Long periods of constant moisture just don't happen. It is worth the 60 bucks to save the weight.

 

[huntcurs]

I think I'm going for the down quilt, and then getting a cheap tent to get me through until next year where I can save up for a nicer setup. Gonna add some spring javelina and bear to my list for next spring as well. AZ sure does have some variety!

 

[n2horns]

I have moved my bags/quilt to down. I have a feathered friends nano puffin 20* and an original EE down quilt that was 40* and had it overstuffed to about 25*. I wear wool base layers and a balaclava and wool socks to sleep in if needing more warmth ill bring heavier wool layers and add puffy as needed. I like my EE quilt and adjusting to temps is easy if too warm open it up more, too cold layer up. I found I like the exped downmat ul7 as my all around backpacking pad. fits well with quilt or FF bag.

 

[slick]

TT DoubleRainbow 41oz
FF Swallow 20* 28oz
NeoAir XTherm (3oz difference between the XLite, but 5.7R vs 3.2R). 15oz

 

[CrabbyMcNab]

Question for those who added a stove jack. Oware states throughout their website that "the silicone coated nylons are not flame retardent and all the nylons will melt, keep the fabrics away from open flame and high heat sources". I see other companies (bearpaw, seekoutside) using 30d Silnylon or 70d urethane coated nylon with stove jacks. Is this just a liability statement to keep people from building caveman fires inside the tent? My procrastination has limited my choices for a tarp (for 3 people and gear) and the Oware products are in stock. Planned on ordering a stove jack and sewing in.
Thoughts?

 

[Beendare]

My take;
Tent; HS Tarptent- many configurations
Bag; [great buys on these in the off season 40% off is the norm even on quality gear] Montbell, Marmot, Western Mountaineering
Pad; Exped or Thermarest -if you want to buy a BA Qcore used once- give me a jingle

Get yourself a good bag. I was just on a hunt at 10k feet with two guys that froze their azzes off in cheap 20 deg bags [Cabelas and Big Agnes]- not worth buying cheap on that