Which tent for backcountry 2013?

[AK Troutbum]

I have an SL5 also and use a Bearpaw Pyranet 1 that I had modified to a much larger size, it occupies 1/2 of the floor space in the tipi. John at Bearpaw was awesome to work with in my opinion. I also tried going down a certain path with him, requesting a custom product for my needs. He suggested that I use a current product in his lineup and modify it. Whatever, sounds good to me, six one/half dozen other.....bottom line, what I got was exactly what I wanted and I would have to consider it custom made to my specifications. So, I have a bearpaw pyranet 1 nest that has been enlarged to occupy half of my sl5 and hangs from the top loop of the SL5 and has guylines that run to 4 existing SL5 stakes. It's perfect. It weighs about 18oz.. So, flysheet, nest, stakes, and trekking poles as the center pole results in a palace for 2 at less than 3 1/2 pounds.

That's what I'm talking about. Definitely liking where this thread is going.

 

[bandit1]

Forgot to mention my solo option, tarptent moment with liner, shade over 2 pounds. Packs small, pitches in about 2 minutes. However, I will say that my SL5 as described above is in a completely different league and might be worth the extra weight even when solo. The trekking poles with the sl5 make this worth considering. If you don't do trekking poles, you can add 12 ounces to the sl5 equation, resulting in 4 1/4 lbs. not worth it for solo.....but, 3 lbs 5 oz for an sl5 with nest and trek poles...hmmmm, maybe a player for solo trips.

 

[stephen b]

This is exactly how mine is. The Pyranet 2 is 52"x90" and takes up about a little less than 1/2 the space; it sits just on one side of the floor space. The footprint of the GL SL 5 is square in shape in the Pyramid shape of the SL5. Makes it really easy to use and work with. Door entrance is front R, and we put the nest on the L side of the shelter. Which leaves the whole R side open for enter/ exit and packs, cooking etc. plus tons of head room.

Wt. all up for mine is 29oz. For SL 5 fly sheet; 6 oz for about 14 stakes enough for all stake points, plus he 4 optional guy outs ( mix of MSR ground hogs and some other Easton ones); weight of pole from GL if use it 11 oz. So that is total fly sheet shelter wt. of 46 oz.

When I add in the BPD Pyranet 2 which is 17 oz. ( mine is the 70 D floor- so good to go with out a tyvek sheet) I am right at 63 oz. so just under 4 lbs for a huge 2 person shelter. Use trees or trekking poles for pole and you drop 11 oz. off - so less that 3.5 lbs. Drop the nest and use a lite wt. bivy and you drop another 8+ oz. and you are under 3 lbs.

That is a main reason why I like floor less shelters- more room in space and ht. and a lot more versatility for options.

I have an SL5 also and use a Bearpaw Pyranet 1 that I had modified to a much larger size, it occupies 1/2 of the floor space in the tipi. John at Bearpaw was awesome to work with in my opinion. I also tried going down a certain path with him, requesting a custom product for my needs. He suggested that I use a current product in his lineup and modify it. Whatever, sounds good to me, six one/half dozen other.....bottom line, what I got was exactly what I wanted and I would have to consider it custom made to my specifications. So, I have a bearpaw pyranet 1 nest that has been enlarged to occupy half of my sl5 and hangs from the top loop of the SL5 and has guylines that run to 4 existing SL5 stakes. It's perfect. It weighs about 18oz.. So, flysheet, nest, stakes, and trekking poles as the center pole results in a palace for 2 at less than 3 1/2 pounds.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

One of the really cool parts to the LBO is that the footprint of the nest is made to fit perfectly inside the footprint of Base. The user ties off the nest on the base at the appropriate loops and it's set. No mods necessary.

 

[Mike7]

I only used tents until my first floorless shelter a few years ago and have not used a tent since. The only advantages that I can think of right now for a tent over a floorless shelter are: #1) the free standing tent design being of more use compared to trying to pitch a floorless shelter (especially quickly) with anchors on deep snow or areas where there is only rock without soil (i.e. mountaineering situations generally, and not so much seen with hunting), and #2) the two walled tent design having less condensation problems. In all other ways in my opinion a floorless shelter is superior, and particularly superior in the cold, wet, muddy conditions seen while hunting and scouting/glassing.

Floorless shelters are lighter, and in my opinion better in wet conditions regardless of where you pitch them, more versatile in multiple ways, allow for a cleaner and drier floor, and can be bugproofed as easily as tents with perimeter bug netting or pryanet like John from Bearpaw Wilderness Designs does, with a Mountain Laurel Designs Innernet like I think Luke uses, or with something like the Equinox Mantix Insect Net when going ultralight and solo.

Condensation can be a real issue in the humid conditions where I camp, and having a pyramid shape with a top vent and which can be "raised off of the ground" (along with perimeter bug netting as needed) like a Beapaw Designs Luna 2 /4 tent or Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid/Supermid is very helpful for dealing with this. I am certain that these tents also can handle 30 mph winds with 50-60 mph gusts and pitch well with trekking poles only.

Maybe if a person was anticipating extreme conditions (snow and wind), then a Kifaru tipi tent staked down flush with the ground would be the safer bet though. Everyone needs to pick the best tool for the job according to their requirements and comfort level. Lighter weight can mean less durable, but that should be expected. I sometimes see people complaining about gear like TiGoat or GoLite tipis not being as tough as Kifaru tipis in general...well maybe this is true, but they are lighter so one might expect that. I knew this when I bought my TiGoat Vertex 7.5 tipi, but it has functioned perfectly for me for the conditions that I expected it to handle (not Kodiak, AK) and with it still being only 4 lbs for the entire tent/stakes/pole setup. It has handled 3-4 inches of snow without clearing away or failure, 30 plus mph winds, and 5-6 people crammed in there when there is no stove. It seems to have great stitching throughout, great zippers, and great support at the tieout points. Of course tipis are light, packable, and pitch quickly, but liveable space for the footprint is not great and condensation can really be a pain in windy humid winter conditions without a stove or when not using a tipi inner liner.

I think that you can't go wrong with a basecamp tipi shelter (i.e. packed on pulks, animals, or by multiple hunters)...just make sure that the tipi footprint is larger than the liveable space that you need and plan to have a liner for real comfort. And get the tipi weight/fabric that will work for your requirements (packability v.s. durability when exposed to snowfall and high wind while you are out hunting and not tending the tent). For a lighter backpackable hunting shelter for 1-2 people and gear and that is not freestanding, I don't think you can go wrong with a small pyramid shelter that can be elevated off of the ground for increased ventilation as needed and has a vetilation port at the peak.

 

[hammer0419]

I really like the looks of the LBO with all the various setup options.

 

[gethuntin]

Yeah must be it man time flies, good mod thanks for posting.

Probably so...started using it nearly 3 years ago now...really like it. Was the first one to post pics anywhere I saw of using a smaller inner nest inside the SL-5 on any forum I can find. No doubt I'm probably not the first person to do it...not the much of a smart guy, but probably one of the first to show using a smaller nest inside the tipi to have a bug proof floored sleeping area for a 1/3 of the tent space leaving the remaining 2/3s for storage hanging out, cooking and playing cards.

I did a bit of a video review of how I use the SL-5 setup for my wife and my uses in a video here:
http://vimeo.com/channels/backpackinggear/45182137

 

[les welch]

I really like the looks of the LBO with all the various setup options.

Agreed!

 

[luke moffat]

Luke what do you use for a trekking pole/center pole setup in the sl5?

Just a standard black diamond pole I use as the center pole.

I just take it apart one of the trekking poles and stab it into the other end....ah heck this makes it a lot easier to understand than me typing it out :
http://vimeo.com/40135925

Have to make a point to meet up sometime so you can see it in person, seeing the amount of space you get for the weight in person given the price makes the SL-5 a no brainer IMO.

 

[luke moffat]

Luke, can you please post some photos on here of it? You got me second guessing myself. Also, a link to each and ever component just as you own it or as you bought it so that I can see what it all looks like? If I am asking to much, just yell at me and I will be quiet

Nick I think the video I posted of the GoLite Sl-5 Review does a lot better job of giving you some perspective on the setup...but if you still want pics after viewing the video I'll be happy to help.

Nothing too special about my setup that isn't already listed. Mount Laurel Designs Pryamid Inner Tent 2 http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=47&products_id=127 But the Bearpaw designs tent for $100 is a better deal for sure.

Just standard Black Diamond flick lock trekking poles for $40 work fine. Thats really all there is to it. Back when GoLite sold just the fly sheet for $200 you could have the whole setup for less than $350 and have a new set of trekking poles to boot. Now you get the fly and their version of the nest (which is nice if going with 4 people). For $300 and they'll be back in stock here in a month or so.

 

[a3dhunter]

Forgot to mention my solo option, tarptent moment with liner, shade over 2 pounds. Packs small, pitches in about 2 minutes. However, I will say that my SL5 as described above is in a completely different league and might be worth the extra weight even when solo. The trekking poles with the sl5 make this worth considering. If you don't do trekking poles, you can add 12 ounces to the sl5 equation, resulting in 4 1/4 lbs. not worth it for solo.....but, 3 lbs 5 oz for an sl5 with nest and trek poles...hmmmm, maybe a player for solo trips.

Depends on your hunting conditions.
The SL5 Luke just bought was mine. I hunted for 25 days last archery season, and found that during archery I would rather go with a small tarp and a bivy sack for most of the time. There was only one time I was glad I had the SL5, and that good have easily been avoided camping about 1/4 mile away near the trees instead of being above timberline with nothing to block the wind.
After much evaluation, for Colorado I just don't need the SL5 for solo hunting......and when hunting with others nobody wants to sleep near me due to my snoring.

The SL5 has it's place, but not for the solo hunter in my opinion.

 

[luke moffat]

Depends on your hunting conditions.
The SL5 Luke just bought was mine. I hunted for 25 days last archery season, and found that during archery I would rather go with a small tarp and a bivy sack for most of the time. There was only one time I was glad I had the SL5, and that good have easily been avoided camping about 1/4 mile away near the trees instead of being above timberline with nothing to block the wind.
After much evaluation, for Colorado I just don't need the SL5 for solo hunting......and when hunting with others nobody wants to sleep near me due to my snoring.

The SL5 has it's place, but not for the solo hunter in my opinion.

Correct, thats why I have an Sl-3 or a megatarp.

Also my SL-5 is getting a stove jack installed and yours will be used with I won't bringing a stove along.

What size tarp are you using with your setup A3D? Got a link? Which bivy?

 

[a3dhunter]

Correct, thats why I have an Sl-3 or a megatarp.

Also my SL-5 is getting a stove jack installed and yours will be used with I won't bringing a stove along.

What size tarp are you using with your setup A3D? Got a link? Which bivy?

I've used the Cabelas XPG bivy the last three years without problem, other than being a bit heavy out had been great.
Going to have to get a different tarp, had a small 5'x8' tarp I used last year that cost $10 and weighed 8oz, was a little too small.
Looking at using a Six Moon design wild oasis possibly, or maybe a supertarp, we'll see.

 

[Muledeernv]

Same tent as the last 2years cabelas xpg lightweight 3 man for the 2 of us weighs over 5 lbs but we spread the weight out. Last year during rifle deer we woke up to 15" of snow the tent was fine once we knocked the snow off the sides. Also have a slumberjack bivy and bag system for solo bag, bivy and pad only like 3#s not the greatest but works well.

 

[Rocky]

I have the scarp 1 by tarptent. Roomy and light. Tarptent.com

 

[shaun]

I use a big agnes copper spur ul1 and it has worked great for a 3 season tent

 

[lastcall]

Im currently using the BA Fly creek 2, Im really interested in the Mega tarp. We will see what the tax man brings this year..lol

 

[crumy]

i am probably getting a megatarp too. Unfortunatle the tax man is taking.

Im currently using the BA Fly creek 2, Im really interested in the Mega tarp. We will see what the tax man brings this year..lol

 

[armyjoe]

I've always liked my MSR Hubba. Works great and haven't had any issues at all. WIth that being said, I see a Supertarp or Mega Tarp in my near future. Just an insane amount of room for almost zero weight.

 

[shanevg]

Have any of you tried out the ZPacks tents? I've heard good things about it but wondering if anyone here has tried it.

http://zpacks.com/