The ultimate solo tent???

[Franco]

Stu,
lovely photo.

Now I hope you don't mind but I can't help myself....
Yor tent and most tunell types, in particular, will sit a lot better if you guy it out like this :

[weeman]

For winter use above treeline I find the Rab Latok Ultra is a great tent.

Even though it is single skin, the event fabric breathes better than my double walled Akto and it is much more stable in high winds. I don't really miss the vestibule as I mainly use it for short 1-3 day trips.

[stu]

Stu,
lovely photo.

Now I hope you don't mind but I can't help myself....
Yor tent and most tunell types, in particular, will sit a lot better if you guy it out like this :

Agreed Franco, but by this stage (day 7/12) I had lost critical number pegs that it was all I could do to pitch using any available scrub to keep me aloft
I'll take some spares next time rather than be so pedantic about a few extra grams.

[Orion]

Most tentmakers seem to crib by only 50 or so grams with their claimed weights, but I have encountered discrepancies of over 200grams between actual and advertised weights. Should I go down the Unna path, I would like to avoid finding out the hard way that it is heavier than my Nallo 2.

Hilleberg says on their website that weights vary somewhat due to variations in the fabric, which Franco already mentioned. Hilleberg adds that a given tent will rarely exceed 100g in variation. Their stated tent weights are based on an average, not a maximum, so you could get one above or below the specified weight.

I weighed my Nallo 3 when brand new. It measured about 100g off -- on the high side.

[Orion]

I kind of like the simplicity of the Duomid.

1:12 scale model:

[Franco]

Weeman and Stu should start a "Fabulous tent shots" thread.
Congratulation to both of you, VERY nice photos.

Stu,
I have seen many times folk guying out their tent incorrectly and since TT now has a tunnel tent too I just wanted to make it more obvious the way to do it right...

Pyramid tents..
Yes many like them but the downside (large footprint and unprotected entry point) results in a somewhat inefficient tent below about 4 or so person size.
For example you can clearly see in that model above that if you had two bananas inside , one would get wet when the one at the back wants to go out for a pee in the rain...

[Moondog55]

Pyramid tents..
Yes many like them but the downside (large footprint and unprotected entry point) results in a somewhat inefficient tent below about 4 or so person size.
For example you can clearly see in that model above that if you had two bananas inside , one would get wet when the one at the back wants to go out for a pee in the rain...

Although that problem can be solved easily enough by adding a porch or cowl over the entrance ( Blacks Itisa / MountainSmith etc) it does add extra weight and complexity to the simple tipi design and as you say Franco best reserved for 4+ man tent sizes. Mind you if weight is the main criteria for a solo tent then a single skin single pole tipi can fit into the category even at the 4 P size

[Orion]

Those are valid criticisms of an unmodified pyramid tent.
Simplicity comes with certain costs and certain benefits.

But in a solo tent there's only one banana.

[iGBH]

Most tentmakers seem to crib by only 50 or so grams with their claimed weights, but I have encountered discrepancies of over 200grams between actual and advertised weights. Should I go down the Unna path, I would like to avoid finding out the hard way that it is heavier than my Nallo 2.

Hilleberg says on their website that weights vary somewhat due to variations in the fabric, which Franco already mentioned. Hilleberg adds that a given tent will rarely exceed 100g in variation. Their stated tent weights are based on an average, not a maximum, so you could get one above or below the specified weight.

I weighed my Nallo 3 when brand new. It measured about 100g off -- on the high side.

Lucky you. My Jannu was nearly 300gms over the stated weight. I figure i got the heavy duty version.

[Nuts]

Myog will result in 'the ultimate solo tent'.. everyone should make at least one tent in their bushwalking life. Given that we don't really need mountaineering tents in Au then for a design that ticks the 'shelter' boxes, less weight is desirable and possible. Though I did see a pic of a brown hilleberg the other day.. i like brown : )

[Moondog55]

Myog will result in 'the ultimate solo tent'.. everyone should make at least one tent in their bushwalking life Given that we don't really need mountaineering tents in Au then for a design that ticks the 'shelter' boxes, less weight is desirable and possible. Though I did see a pic of a brown hilleberg the other day.. i like brown : )

I'd question this statement when considering my own usage. It is why my usual solo tent is the Megamid, as most of my walking/skiing needs wind and storm protection as a priority.
I've made one tent and modified many more, given the complexity of most modern designs this is one area I'm happy to leave to the factory.

[Nuts]

Good stuff..

I didn't have megamid in mind when thinking mountaineering tent but surely there wouldn't be a design easier to build?
I'd feel safest in a bivy but the point is that 'ultimate' would be something designed..perfectly.. for 'you'.
Skill is another kettle of fish and my sewing skills need lots of practice but really... Cuben fibre and pre-cut tapes make simple designs possible for (almost) anyone.. and simple designs can take a beating (megamid, hex3, duomid, trailstar).

[photohiker]

But in a solo tent there's only one banana.

Franco's point applies to pyramids with 2 or more occupants. If there is no second banana it isn't going to get wet, is it? This is the solo tent thread after all.

[Nuts]

The half-sized/solo inners seem to work well for people. The shangri-la 3 came with a full sized inner, even it would stay relatively dry and clean with practice.

Either way- there might only be room for one banana (in my 'ultimate solo' tent) but always room for other fruits

[stry]

[/quote]Lucky you. My Jannu was nearly 300gms over the stated weight. I figure i got the heavy duty version.[/quote]

Yep - that's the sort of thing I was hoping to avoid with a possible Unna purchase.

I don't think it is so much an intent to mislead that leads to errors, as it is simple stuff ups in the compilation of cattledogs etc.

However, ALL the discrepancies that I have noticed in tents and sleeping bags have lead to actual weight being more than stated, whether it is the natural variations of say 20 to 50 grams, or the bigger 200 to 300grams discrepancies.

[Franco]

With the pyramid design to fit in one person you need to have the fly for a double.
Oware tried to get around that with the AlphaMid( half a mid...) but you end up with a very large flat wall. Great as a sail and no protected entry.
Still some like it...

Anyway , here is my point.
Add the weight and cost of a Cuben duomid, a bug inner and pegs and you end up with a $700 shelter that is about 150g lighter than a $259 TT Notch.
It does have a more headroom sitting up but not so much laying down.
This is a picture of the Notch inner with the yellow outline of the Ookworks bug inner.

[Davidf61]

I'm with the pyramid gang on this, I'm happy with a small bug bivy or nest to sleep in [ the bedroom ] and some decent room to sit back, cook, store stuff, all under cover. A breeze to put up and I like being able to completely pack up everything, get dressed then just jam it in a bag and head off. Nothing is ever perfect all the time, but I think mid's cover more bases in one go than anything else. My two cents anyway....

[Orion]

Yes I know the "Duo"mid is designed to be a two person tent but this is a discussion about solo tents, isn't it?
The Duomid is often used for just one. And an inner tent isn't always needed.

Anyways, I wasn't claiming it was the ultimate tent, just that I liked its simplicity.

[Orion]

My Jannu was nearly 300gms over the stated weight. I figure i got the heavy duty version.

Ouch! I would have complained and requested a replacement. That's too much, more than 10% over spec.
Hopefully you like it anyway.

[Franco]

Just in case someone gets the wrong idea, no I don't have the perfect shelter nor do I know one for me let alone anyone else...
Of the 14 (15?) shelters I currently have there are three or four that I could be happy to have as the only shelter, not sure which one that would be if I had to choose.

[phan_TOM]

I used to have a Soulo, & while it was a brilliant, bomb proof 4 season / mountaineering tent, it was way too much tent for what I need down here in Tassie.
Below a pic of the Anjan on the Prince of Wales Range in January this year.

The attachment IMGP1516.JPG is no longer available

Lovely pic stu & the anjan is a great looking tent. It's also refreshing to hear someone being honest about how much tent they need. It seems a lot of people have hardcore tents that will never see anything like the conditions they were designed for, I even remember seeing a post about someone owning one of the hardcore Hillebergs and admitting it was for 3 season use in balmy QLD. Now that's barmy...

I was seriously considering the Anjan when it was released but I'm glad that I didn't now, for all the same reasons that you alluded to. It seems that others have had negative feelings about those same issues, One example is the lack of a cover for the door zip, I can't understand why they they'd leave it off? it would add bugger all weight and then the door would be waterproof and salt air and grit would also be kept out of the zipper. Maybe they were thinking too hard about differentiating it from the Nallo 'cause it's certainly a functional backward step which doesn't seem congruent with the brand.

The half-sized/solo inners seem to work well for people.

That was my thinking when I got a duomid Nuts & I think I almost have my perfect tent now Once I get around to replacing the net inner with something that has a deeper bathtub and/or mostly solid walls I think I'll be very close. The MLD inner has very minimal bathtub if any and a flimsier floor than I'd like. On grassy or vegetated sites its okay but I found on its maiden outing where I camped on decomposed granite that there was some splatter coming under the fly and onto the netting. It rained on and off for the 3 days and my sleeping bag stayed mostly dry but if the weather got proper nasty I'm sure it'd be a lot worse. This pic should illustrate what I mean

duomid-inside.jpg (304.05 KiB) Viewed 12629 times

One handy thing I noticed with the duomid is when the fly gets a bit of sag I can just extend the pole a fraction and it's all nice and taut again without even getting out of bed

[Strider]

Geez that inner would be claustrophobic if it were solid fabric...

[phan_TOM]

It's actually not as bad as the photo makes out & it's significantly wider than the goondie 1-15 that I briefly had. The bonus with the mesh is that it feels a lot bigger than it is.

When I finally get around to it I'm going to make my own inner which will be a bit wider as there is room to spare & I'll include some tie out points half way up the outside, similar to those on the inward side of the mesh one that I have, so that I can clip it to the hooks that are on the inside wall of the duomid which seem to be there for that purpose. Don't know why the mesh inner only has them on one side? I don't plan on having the walls 100% solid either, I haven't decided but I think I'll incorporate mesh into about a third of the wall space to provide extra protection but allow plenty of airlfow.

[Joomy]

I kind of like the simplicity of the Duomid.

1:12 scale model:

Did you make that? I love it.

[Davidf61]

I had the same concern with rain splashing under the edge of a tarp or mid. I solved it by taping first, then glueing, a 6" deep strip of that reflective emergency blanket onto my bivi net.
I put it around the 3 sides that face the wall and left the zip opening as is. Works a treat and added about 10gms to the weight, seems to be holding up ok.

[icefest]

I had the same concern with rain splashing under the edge of a tarp or mid. I solved it by taping first, then glueing, a 6" deep strip of that reflective emergency blanket onto my bivi net.
I put it around the 3 sides that face the wall and left the zip opening as is. Works a treat and added about 10gms to the weight, seems to be holding up ok.

I'm confused, can you post a photo?

[Strider]

I had the same concern with rain splashing under the edge of a tarp or mid. I solved it by taping first, then glueing, a 6" deep strip of that reflective emergency blanket onto my bivi net.
I put it around the 3 sides that face the wall and left the zip opening as is. Works a treat and added about 10gms to the weight, seems to be holding up ok.

I'm confused, can you post a photo?

Sounds like a faux bathtub floor to me

[Davidf61]

Sorry, me and Dropbox are not getting on at the moment....

I'ts just a cheap bug bivy/mozzie screen thing I bought, the nylon floor has sides only about 25mm high, so the edge near the wall of the mid would get splashed by any rain that would bounce off the ground. So I just cut a survival blanket up into 6" strips and stuck it on the 3 sides, made a bit off a bigger bathtub I guess. It's not pretty and one day I'll make something better but it works quite well and added very little weight

[icefest]

Ahh, I get it. Thanks for the explanation.

[ongaku99]

I have just posted a pretty detailed review of what I reckon is one of the better solo tents on the market the MSR Hubba HP solo. If you have a chance take a squiz.

http://ridgelineimages.com/equipment/ms ... nt-review/

Cheers