Tunnel or freestanding???

[Dutchy]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new tent and trying to decide what to get.
Personally I love my current freestanding tents, but I'm looking for something that will take a bit more of a beating weather wise.
Depending on how much I have to spend my current favourites are
Freestanding: Wilderness Equipent Dart 1 or 2
Hilleberg Jannu
Tunnel: Wilderness Equipment Second Arrow
Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT

I feel like freestanding tents (with these designs) should be stronger in wind and snow load....? But i keep reading how the tunnel tents are so bombproof!? Camping in Alaska I saw too many tunnel tents (Hilleberg) that were to flappy and loosely set up being noisy in windy conditions.....

What are your opinions?

Cheers

[Giddy_up]

Hi Dutchy,
One for you to consider is the Exped Venus II. I have one and have been more than happy with it. It is a tunnel tent but it also has a crossing pole which makes it almost free standing. You just need 2 pegs for your 2 vestibules. Very roomy and I can lay 3 Exped Synmat 7 UL mats in it at a squeeze.

These tents can handle rain, snow and wind.

It's on special as well at the moment at Kelly's Basecamp. Might be worth a look at that price.

Cheers
G_U



"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards"

[iGBH]

I've got a Nallo 3 GT and a Jannu.

If i know the weather is going to be severe, I definitely prefer the Jannu for security. For comfort, I'd prefer the Nallo. I got the Jannu after a weekend on the snow in the Nallo. IMO a freestanding design is a better option than tunnel in this environment due to snow loading and less reliance on having really good anchor points. Both issues can be overcome, but i'd rather not have to worry about it.

[Dutchy]

I've been trawling the hilleberg sire again (think I'm in love) and actually like the njammath 2 or 3....similar weight, stronger than the nallo, bigger than the jannuand a bit cheaper.... How would this one compare to the jannu? Worried the jannu is a bit tight for 2 with pack.....

[randal]

Tunnels are great, until the wind direction doesn't doesn't match the slope!

[icefest]

I've been trawling the hilleberg sire again (think I'm in love) and actually like the njammath 2 or 3....similar weight, stronger than the nallo, bigger than the jannuand a bit cheaper.... How would this one compare to the jannu? Worried the jannu is a bit tight for 2 with pack.....

I've used the Nammatj in a blizz on the summit of Bogong.
I found that, being quite tall my feet touch the slanted end and the condensation wicks through the inner onto your bag.
I wouldn't recommend it if you are taller than 6 feet.

It's a great tent though. There were 80km/h gusts measured in the weather station at Falls Creek and we were fine.

If you plan on winter camping get one size larger than you have people sleeping in it.

-icefest

[iGBH]

Unless you are really worrying about weight (in which case you wouldn't be considering a Hilleberg anyway) I'd always go for a 3 rather than the 2.

[sthughes]

A Hilleberg Tunnel with 4 excellent pegging points will take just about anything. But it will flap and flatten (but not collapse) etc. if the wind is bad enough. The free standing ones are more "livable" in extreme conditions, but not necessarily more "survivable". That's my understanding/experience anyway.
If it's for snow camping pay attention to all the little things like the guy lines etc. Hillys are amazingly good to put up with gloves/mitts on thanks to the oversize guys etc. I was amazed I was able to pack mine away in stong wind and rain on snow and in 2.5 degree temps all whilst wearing 3 layers on my hands inc. waterproof over-mits. Attempting the same with the neighboring Macpac meant taking my gloves off several times which sucked in the conditions.

[icefest]

On the topic of taking them down. If you have freezing rain with any tent you will have heaps of fun taking it down. You need to break the hard layer of ice on everything with cold,frozen hands.

On the plus side it looks really pretty.

-icefest

[DonQx]

You might enjoy looking at this:

They put 12 tents right next to a wind machine and cranked it up to 100kph+

"Videos zum Test: 12 Trekkingzelte vor der Windmaschine"
http://www.klettern.de/test/equipment/videos-zum-test-12-trekkingzelte-vor-der-windmaschine.490261.5.htm

[DannyS]

Hi Dutchy, I have a Jannu and although I haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of nights in it yet, I have spent time in it with two people. You can sleep two but there is very little room for movement because of the sloping walls, I definitely wouldn't want to be stuck in it with two for any period of time. The Vestibule will store two packs but once again it's very shallow so there's not a lot to play with there. I think it will be a excellent solo shelter but I have only used it with two so far, hopefully soon I'll have the opportunity to go solo with it?

[nq111]

You might enjoy looking at this:

They put 12 tents right next to a wind machine and cranked it up to 100kph+

"Videos zum Test: 12 Trekkingzelte vor der Windmaschine"
http://www.klettern.de/test/equipment/videos-zum-test-12-trekkingzelte-vor-der-windmaschine.490261.5.htm

Interesting, but a long way from a real world storm where the tent gets gusts and shaken about in all directions.

Personally, i think tunnels are plenty tough but a geodesic has more redundancy - e.g. if guylines come loose / get cut by flying ice, pegs pull, gusts and ice come in from unexpected directions, if left unattended in heavy snowfalls (rarely an issue in Australia). One thing if you are setting up in really foul weather you are not generally going to achieve a perfect pitch - which is more an issue with a tunnel.

Having spent 2 days holed up in a geodesic in killer weather I wouldn't feel quite comfortable going back to carrying the Olympus in high country (though it never let me down).

[Scottyk]

I own a Wilderness Equipment Second Arrow . A great small tunnel tent, very well made and tuff as nails. It is a bit small for two though I reckon but at 2.6kg it's a bit heavy to carry for a one man option. So its days in my collection might be numbered. The first arrow looks a better 2 man tent.
On the tunnel vs freestanding...

If we maybe consider a macpac olympus, a classic bomb proof tunnel (2 man). It weighs in at 3.1kg
Then compare it to a Hilleberg Staika, a bomb proof freestander (2 man). It weighs in at 4.0kg

I think these tents would have similar materials in terms of fabric strength, head pressure rating of floor etc.

So maybe tunnels save a bit of weight if both tents are of about the same construction specs. In terms of liveability a free standing wins thanks to due entry, easy set up etc.

A really good tunnel and a really good freestander will both be fine in severe conditions in just depends on what you like in tents, they are all a compromise in their own way.

Hope that helps

[Dutchy]

No such thing as the perfect tent! It's why I'm tossing up....
Love the look, the freestanding and the strength of the Jannu, but on the small side for 2....
Love the space of the Nallo 3 GT, but less strong than Nammatj and not freestanding....
Love the combination of strength, space and weight of the Nammatj, but not freestanding....

I currently use a MSR Mutha Hubba for shorter trips with 2 people (4 kgs), massive space, but tat heavy and bulky... and not many guy rope points....
Also have a Mountain hardwear Skyledge 2.1 (selling that), great tent, but want something more bomb proof as i do tend to like nasty campsites....

Sell both and buy a Hilleberg? Or sell the mountain hardwear and get something like a dart 2?