Bushwalk Australia

I'm currently in the market for one or more 3-season hiking tents. I have vague aspirations of doing some southwest Tassie hikes next year. What I'm trying to work out is whether a 3 season tent can be suitable for the SW (eg, eastern/western Arthurs). I've never been there - only the Overland. In fact, although I've done a reasonable amount of hiking around the world (probably 50+ nights), I have very little experience of hiking in heavy, persistent rain, low temperatures, or high wind. Call me lucky, perhaps

So, a few specific questions:

1) How important is the ability to withstand snow loading, for a summer hike, in the SW? (Snow loading seems to be important to many American review sites - how common is snow in Tassie in summer? Do you get enough that the weight would matter?)
2) Is a 3 season tent with a full mesh inner feasible? Terrible idea? If so, why - because it's just not warm enough?
3) What about a tent with a full fabric inner, but rated as "three season"?
4) What are the specific features of a "four season" tent that are particularly important? Strong poles? Strong fabric? More guy points?
5) Is freestanding-ness important? Again, why - difficulty of finding good sites, or strength in wind, or both?
6) Has anyone here used a 2 man tent under 2kg in the southwest, in bad weather, and not regretted it? (Various bushwalking friends of mine tell me "You don't want lightweight, you want strong!" - I'm interested in more opinions.)

My current two tents are the McKinley Compact Light (1.9kg 3 season, mesh inner, 2 man, tunnel tent, can be bought around $150 now) and the TarpTent Rainshadow 2 (~1.3kg, 3 man, single skin, massive ventilation, but bad in strong wind).

Basically, I'm trying to work out whether to:
a) Get a 3 season tent that would also be suitable for serious weather hikes in Tassie, or:
b) Just get a lighter 3 season tent, and if/when I go to Tassie, borrow/hire something more serious.

I'm vaguely leaning towards something like this: http://www.rei.com/product/827787/rei-q ... -plus-tent

Can't really comment on your tent selections per se, but I've been using 3-season single or two person tents (MSR Hubba HP and an older Fairydown dome tent) for years in all sorts of conditions in Tas. As far as your Qs go (the ones I can answer):

1) "almost irrelevant (but not quite)" - I'd worry more about it being able to stand up to big winds. The wind is the big tent smasher, more so than snow loading, and it can happen more often than snow. So it's more about side impacts from wind, IMO.
2) full mesh should be ok for late spring, summer and early autumn walks, possibly even desirable for those odd weeks where the weather doesn't get below 30.
3) full fabric is far more desirable in Tas (IMO) for an all-round tent choice due to the better retention of heat. Definitely preferred for 4 season walking in Tas. You do also want decent ventilation though, otherwise you'll get condensation build up.
4) Pretty much all of the points mentioned, plus designs are pretty much all free standing for 4 season tents as far as I have seen.
5) IMO yes, I just find free standing to be less awkward to set up, and I suspect (I have no actual proof) it generally makes for a more sturdy tent. Integral pitch is also pretty useful when setting up/taking down in the rain.
6) One of the guys I walk with regularly uses a Hubba Hubba HP, and it's a little unsteady in high wind, but otherwise pretty good. The usual rule applies "Strong, cheap, lightweight - pick any two".

I bought a Mountain Design Kaon hoping for lightweight, relatively cheap-relatively strong tent. Had wondered for ages if i'd regret an all-mesh inner. When the sales person (possibly on this forum!) said he had no issues using his in the SW in any conditions, I leapt at the lightweight 3 person option (which secretly i was already commited to).

In the Walls of Jerusalem one January, there was plenty of snow around, and a light breeze. Next morning, I decided that an icy breeze on me throughout the night wasn't what i was after. I had a good bag, but realised that the 'cosiness' factor was significantly important to me. So the Kaon is now relegated mainly to lowland trips, as a very cushy 2 person or cosy 3.

Having been in strong winds in other tents, i think i'd be nervous re the Kaon's sturdiness too. On the other hand, on a very windy night in my (not-free-standing) Hilleberg Akto, I had every confidence in its capacity to withstand high winds (based on its reputation & clips on youtube). Yet to experience the snow load factor myself in either of these tents.

No doubt others will have different ideas from mine!

Have fun

I reckon:

1) Snow can happen - but not usually enough to be a problem. Also - you are unlikely to be basecamping to can knock snow of the tent as it falls if a rare big event
2) Feasible - yes. Not as warm and e not as good for managing condensation
3) Sure - if everything else fits
4) Generally same but some ability for snow loading and fabric inner, also maybe fly to ground more
5) Not really - both can work. Wind resistance is most important feature IMO and both free and non-free standing need good guying for high wind
6) Nope - but have been in the situation where i was really, really happy i had lugged a heavy bombshelter.

Great responses, keep em coming!

I've actually never owned a free-standing tent. The cheapie tunnel tent has been pretty good in wind, to be honest, but that's probably because it's so small and low.

I've just been through a similar process as yourself selecting a tent for Tassie and I have opted for a four season tent - I figure it's better to have a heavier tent and not need it rather than having a lighter tent and then finding out when you are a long way from port that you really need a heavier duty tent right about now and that your life is about to become pretty miserable or worse because of it.

I think down that way a workable vestibule is very important - well to me anyway. Dont want to cook in the rain, if the weather comes in you want to be warm and snug but still able to cook.
I agree with the other posters,handling strong wind is more important than handling snow for 3 season walking.

Roger

Currently on the iphone using the tapatalk app, trying to get myself tired enough to pass out... So I won't address all your questions but merely throw in 2 cents or so.
For south coast track perhaps if the weather is kind, the camping is sheltered enough to get away with a good 3 season tent. But up on the mountains on a walk long enough to not get an accurate forecast for, I'd be in a 4 season tent without question.
The tent I bought and several other forum members have, is a Hilleberg Nallo2. It's light, at 2.1 kg, but you could double pole it for added strength & weight, and you could add some tyvek for a groundsheet to help protect the base if you want to.
I've had mine in some pretty strong wind.
I would love a Macpac Olympus - strong, reliable, proven, but for the weight.
Hope that hel... (yawn).., zzzzzzz

Hi
I had a three season tent blow down in Tassie at Mt Anne between xmas and new year some years back ended up with three people in each of two northface Tadpole tents they are three season but the eureka didnt make the grade
now have a Katmandu copy of a northface mountain 25 but yep it has a sort of mesh inner and the outer skin is about 8cms of the ground.. Not a perfect 4 season I recon it will do the job
Jb

Just my 2 cents...
I did the Arthurs in my Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1, 3 season.... I had 5 days of high winds, snow, sleet and rain.... I had no dramas. The sites along the track are mostly fairly sheltered and make sure you dont gt lazy and use your guy ropes. Remember that a 4 season tent will limit your ability to use it comfortably for other tracks in other regions in warmer months. If money was no issue, i'd have 10 different tents!
I had a MSR Mutha Hubba HP3 (4 season) when camping 8 weeks in Alaska and Canada. Great tent but bad ventilation, causing condensation and after about 4 weeks, mouldy fabrics. I now have the mutha hubba 3 season, better suited for "all round" camping/hiking.
Like some other said, look at stability in high winds, I'm in the market for a stronger tent myself (i like ridgetop camping) and considering the MSR Fury and Hilleberg Jannu2, with my only reservation being the fact they are 4 season (too warm in summer) and pricey, especially the hilleberg.

All in all, even though 4 season might be good for that particular trip, but pick a decent 3 season tent and a good sleeping bag, and with some smarts you'll be fine just about anywhere in aus any time of year....

Certainly go for the fabric inner for anywhere windy.
Big Agnes has just released the Slater 1&2 tents, about 1kg, tripoled with hub and fabric inner.
Similar to their Fly Ck series, I wonder if these would be robust enough for Tassie?
John

I'm using a One Planet Goondie 30-D at the moment, having upgraded from a Mountain Designs Neutrino 1.
While I love the Neutrino, the one place it failed was in the Arthurs (not free standing). It was no good on the platforms. One reason I liked it so much is the low profile meant it was great in strong winds (if pitched the right way). The Goondie is great, it is free standing, light, and easy to set up. I haven't had it out in the snow yet, but it has performed pretty well in some strong winds and rain. I like the option of having a part-mesh door, or fully enclosed in Winter. The access to the second vestibule is also useful.

I have a 2 man tent also, a Black Diamond Mesa. It is just over the 2kg mark, but I wouldn't use it in winter, just too much mesh for my liking.

I think Ollster is right that you need to consider stability in wind over snow loading. Most 3 season tents should be structurally sound enough to take a bit of snow anyway. I think the less mesh the better too.

A quick search in the equipment section will probably result in a plethora of tent discussions with more examples of options for Tassie.