courierguy wrote:

Magnet wrote:I've. got the Big Agnes. Plenty of room for two people and all their stuff. My only problem is weight and packing size as I fly a Rans S7 and although it works, with two people it's pushing it.

You probably know this, but lot's of S-7 pilots tie their tents to the jury struts. Doing it properly is somewhat important......but I end up with a very low drag package, I certainly can't feel any difference in flight, while at the same time not allowing the slipstream to erect it before I land

Would like to see a photo of your tent on the struts. Tying down technique.

No pictures, and in truth nowadays I usually just stuff it into my carbon fiber ultra sleet wing pod! But before I got the pod, I used to take the pointy end of my tent (every packed tent will vary, but mine, once in it's stuff sack, had a bulkier end and a not so bulky end) and I would first put it on the lift struts, up against the jury struts. I used a 6' or so long length of paracord, started at the front, and just started wrapping the tent tightly, compressing it as I went. When done, it was secured to the struts and the horizontal part of the jury struts, and besides the paracord I also usually threw in a few other cinch straps just as a extra, extra safety thing. Paying particularity attention of course to the front end. It took about 3 or 4 minutes once I had the routine down, and it really freed up a lot of room in the 7's main baggage area. By wrapping it tightly with the cord, torquing against the jury strut, it really shrinks it down volume wise, as compared to just putting it into it's carry bag.

Tents without floors are an acquired taste, and they don’t work well in all situations. My wife brought one on our first date 27 years ago and I laughed at her saying “that is not a tent”. She is still laughing and I am still wrong.

I keep a Black Diamond megamid in the plane all the time it’s tiny and it hangs from the tiedown ring. Super fast to set up.

Those megamid's are great shelters. That or a hammock is about the only shelter I'll cary if a motor isn't involved. I've been really digging the bugamid as well.

whee wrote:Hey Troy, Considering that I’m not winter camping in AK do you think getting the Mad House over the Flying Diamond is worth the few hundred dollar premium?

I like the idea of having a floor less tent for hanging out in. I’ll check them out.

For non-winter in temps 40 and above the extra sealing on the Mad House is probably not helpful. In your situation I might prefer the Flying Diamond.