One man ultra light tent free standing

[MikeHuggett]

I am looking for a ultra light free standing ent to take on a 500 Km hike in Turkey where it is hot. Called The Lycien Way. Any suggestions would be much appreciated as I have to decide this week. Was looking at MSR Hubba, but is 1.4 kgs.

[Dale]

Mike - the Tarptent Rainbow is free standing with trekking poles at 900g are for a bit more weight you can have the two person version. It is a single skin tent so you'd need to be comfortable with that.

The Big Sky Revolution 1P also fits your bill but could be a while to get to you if not in stock. You need to order from the States.

Is there a reason you need free standing ?

[MikeHuggett]

Firstly, thanks for your reply so promptly. I was thinking free standing so as to enjoy the balmy nights in Turkey looking out through the mesh at the stars without putting up the tarp. I thought a single skin tent would have too much condensation or is that only if it is cold or high humidity? It is usually pretty dry in Sep/Oct when I go. If I can order a tent before I leave Oz June 8th and then have it delivered in the UK before mid July when I would need it for UK walking.

[Dale]

Hi Mike - if pitching the fly and / or inner separately is what you're after than you don't need free standing necessarily. Have a look at the Tarptent Notch and the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1. Both tents pitch inner only and the Notch can pitch inner or outer only. The Big Agnes is close to free standing with the pole structure. I had mine on a river bank and it worked without pegging down.

As far as a comparison goes the Big Agnes doesn't need trekking poles but is slightly heavier. The Notch is lighter and has two usable vestibules compared to the Big Agnes' which is pretty small.

For a single wall shelter, any condensation will form on the fabric. I don't have big issues with it and just wipe down the wall in the mornings with a cloth if I need to.

Big Agnes would have a dealer in the UK so you should be able to buy locally and you might get lucky with TT stock here or otherwise just have it shipped to the UK.

[wildlight]

We have an Easton Kilo, there is also a "sub-kilo" at around 800g or so- ours is about 960g.

The two person Kilo is free standing, we haven't pegged ours yet, in over 30 nights of use in Vic Mountains. It certainly won't go anywhere with my 140kg ugliness in it!

Only one pole point touches the ground at the foot end,and two at the head end- but it does free stand. You can of course peg it for maximum stability, which would hep in ugly conditions, and to ensure maximum separation between the fly and inner at the foot end.

I took a big chance when I bought it- they had just arrived at the store I got it from, and I went in there for something else entirely different.

Mrs and I have been thrilled to bits with it.

The promo photos make you wonder about a vestibule- it does have one. Big enough for one pack and boots- so she leaves hers in it, mine of course- go out in the rain!

Safe Steps

Wildlight

[Kinsayder]

Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2. Not sure if it's ultralight, that depends on what you use it for.

[Strider]

Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2. Not sure if it's ultralight, that depends on what you use it for.

Might just be the pics, but no vestibules?

[oyster_07]

I walked both the Lycian and St Paul's Way back-to-back in 2005. I took a Vaude tent-bivi (single skin, with mesh and walled door). I would recommend a light tarp and bivi. Assuming you walk at any time bar winter, this is all you will need.

[Kinsayder]

Might just be the pics, but no vestibules?

No, it's just a single wall, bare bones alpine shelter.

[Franco]

A common misconception with tents is that if a tent is good enough for alpine use it is good enough for anything.
If that were the case Coober Pedy , or Melbourne for that matter, would be full of Swiss Chalets...

The lightest freestanding tents are indeed those two pole alpine tents but they also happen not to work well in hot and or rainy climates.
If the weather is hot what you want is space and air flow , freestanding is not that important and certainly a fully enclosed shelter is less than ideal
The largest shelters below the Hubba weight are generally those that use trekking poles however there are some doubles from Big Agnes for example that are lighter but do require a lot of pegs to work .
Since I am with and use Tarptents... yes the Rainbow is a largish solo if you do not use poles , if you do the Strato Spire 1 at about the same weight is larger still.
Franco

[Kinsayder]

Good points Franco. I bring up the MH Direkt because I lean heavily toward alpine conditions.

[forest]

What about a Zpacks Hexamid ??

Light, airy, good visability, bugproof. No option to just have a mesh top though as it's single skin but cuben is kinda see through ??

[Franco]

If by any chance someone reading this thread has a MH Direkt2 , I would be interested in some comments particularly if somewhat familiar with the Bibler I tent or the Integral Design equivalent.
(separate thread, please)
Just curious , not for my own use...
Franco