Here's a tough tent...

[David M]

The "Scott tent" design for polar conditions,

Not a backpacking tent though - 30kg for a two man model.

http://www.snowsled.com/scott-pyramid-tents/

And here is some info on polar tents from the US Government field manual:
http://www.usap.gov/travelAndDeployment ... 2Tents.pdf

And here is some info from the Australian Antarctic Division:
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and ... amid-tents

[highercountry]

One Planet make a range of polar gear too;

http://www.oneplanet.com.au/polar/polar-tents.html

I've always liked their Industrial range. I'm not a slave to the ultralight movement.
Give me durability any day.

[GPSGuided]

One Planet's Polar Pack looked really interesting! I like.
http://www.oneplanet.com.au/polar/polar-pack.html

[Joomy]

Seems like a pretty low-tech solution to me. I'm sure it works but 30kg for 2.3 sqm??? I suppose for semi-permanent shelters you want something extra bomber, but would a Hilleberg Keron or Bibler Bombshelter really be much less robust?

[Franco]

I posted this shot of a destroyed Scott tent at another forum where a guy has often mentions his 3 lbs something single pole supported pyramid tent surviving 100 mph winds*.
There is no way that a single 12mm thick pole will hold a tent like a Shangri La 5 in that wind , however if you build a wall in front of it (which he did...) my 600g Contrail will stand up to it...

Note that the Scott tents use 4x 1" thick poles.
Those are many times each stronger than the typical 8-12mm tent poles .

In Antarctica snow is no problem at all , winds are.

Anyway this is the description of what happened with that Scott tent :


Two of our three Scott tents were destroyed, including mine. They cost $3,000 each. The one-inch metal pole supports snapped clean in half, canvas ripped up the side, ropes parted, and the whole thing destructed in place, still tethered and rocked solidly to the ground.
http://noahstrycker.com/blog/2008/12/01/storm-damage/

BTW, folk tend to report the wind speed they felt , seldom a measured wind speed, in other words I don't believe most 'wind speed' accounts.

[Joomy]

Holy crap! Yes 100mph winds is insane.

But I still can't help but think that the shape of the tent and perhaps the rigidity of the poles has something to do with the breakage? Obviously they are pitched semi-permanently and can't be that easily re-oriented, and that's why they're symmetrical. But if the wind is consistently pushing against one corner of the tent that single corner pole is taking the brunt of the force (which is high given the large sail area). I could be wrong but I think a proper geodesic dome would be a stronger shape for winds in all directions.

[Strider]

Why are they using tents in Antarctica as semi permanent shelter? Isn't that what the fiberglass domes are for?

[Franco]

The Scott tent is relatively light , fast and easy to assemble and transport (compared to fiberglass structures...)and that is why they are still used.
Not for months but days or weeks .
Note that they are rated to 100 kmph winds and that is why I doubt most "we had .... winds" type comments from folk inside a 3-4 lbs (inc poles...) shelters.
here is one all wrapped up and ready to be collected :