Need to buy a new one. what is best for the The Dusty conditions at HSF. Manufacturer and model. How. cold at night.

Eddie

I haven't been to HSF, but I'm pretty OK as a tent camper, sometimes in pretty cool weather in the high country. It depends a whole lot on what you want, bare bones backpacking size or luxo glamping. I've done both, and in really cool weather, I don't think it matters much what tent you have, it's not going to keep you warm by itself. Theoretically a 2 person backpacking size tent with a full fly will do better than a larger tent, but the difference would be measured in only a couple of degrees.

Forgive me if I misunderstand, but I'm assuming tenting is a new adventure for you.

As the BCP resident luxo glamper, I like the room of my 4 person Big Agnes Big House 4, with the optional vestibule. It's a sturdy, quality tent, which can handle all kinds of unpleasant weather. It's not a 4 season tent by any means, but a very good 3 season tent. I like sleeping on a cot, and it comfortably holds 2 cots with plenty of room in between. I can stand almost upright in it. It's extraordinarily easy to pitch. Although it's theoretically self supporting, no tent should be erected without tying down, and I tie it down very thoroughly. My old one was damaged in a horrendous 50-60 knot wind at OSH a couple years ago; but I liked it so much that I replaced it with the latest version. Total packed weight is about 18 lbs., well within practicality for airplane camping. https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Produ ... filters/24

Incidentally, Big Agnes is high on my list of companies which really know how to treat their customers right. When they previously repaired the poles of my old tent, their charges were really small, and their service was really quick. Because they couldn't repair my old tent this last time, they sold me the new one at a 50% discount.

With my Mr. Buddy heater, I can keep it shirt sleeve warm in freezing temps, and it has plenty of ventilation so that I don't worry about lack of oxygen. I don't sleep with the heater on, though--just use it in the evening before turning in and in the morning to make it more comfortable to get out of the warm sleeping bag. If it's rainy/snowy cold and I want to spend more time in the tent than out of it, I might run it during the day, too. By not running the heater excessively except when needed, I average about a pound of propane per 24 hour day.

For keeping warm at night, though, the only solution is a good down sleeping bag on a good thick insulating pad. There are plenty of good brands of sleeping bags--mine's a Marmot, supposedly comfortable to 20F. Although I don't put much stock in manufacturer's temperature claims, this one seems reasonably accurate. A liner helps in really cold weather, and what you wear to sleep makes a difference, too. I typically sleep in undershorts and a shirt, and socks and especially a stocking cap will make a huge difference in all night comfort when the temp gets below freezing. I always sleep on a Thermarest self-inflating pad--when I backpacked, I used a standard version about 3/4" thick, and I have a 1 1/2" thick luxo model for the big tent.

The coldest I've slept in my sleeping bag was 25F while backpacking in the Grand Gulch one winter about 10 years ago--water bottle froze inside the tent. This past June, puppy dog and I camped at Red Feather Lakes, CO, for a couple of nights--the rain turned to snow and the Big Agnes was coated with ice in the morning, so it was below freezing though not much below.

I have two 2 person backpacking size tents, a new MSR and an old brand that isn't made any longer. The old one is still plenty usable, because it was a quality tent. That's my best advice--stick with a good brand. You may get good service out of a cheapie, and people do for sure, but the biggest advantage to good brands is design details--easier to put up, easier to pack, more likely to withstand severe weather.

Cary

X2 on good quality.

My wife and I own about 6 tents now and have gone through about that many over the years. Our go to tent if the weather is going to be decent is an older version of the NF one in the first link below. We use it the most because it has a lot of nice refinements and features, setup/tear down is fast and so is cleaning and drying when we get home. For us, in fair weather, a tent is just someplace to sleep so we don't need or want much. the less fuss in camp the better. I was spending about 40 nights a year in a tent. I'm down to about 1/2 that number now so I think that puts us beyond casual users.

https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/equip ... tionId=M6P


Now if the weather is going to be marginal or we are out for an extended time when we know any weather is possible, we go bullet proof with something like this. If the wind comes up on the playa, The mesh tents are a disaster because the wind carries the dust or snow between the tent and mesh fabric where the mesh acts like a giant flour sifter and the contents of the tent get covered in dust. An all fabric tent such as the Mtn HW minimizes the amount of dust entering the tent.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/trango-2-OU9655.html

If I was only going to buy one, it would be the Mountain Hardware Trango, although the North Face is our favorite. It just depends on expected weather conditions. I've been to HSF several times and have done just fine with the North Face. If the weather was bad enough to actually need the protection the Mtn HW tent provides, I'd probably just fold up quickly and grab a hotel room in Reno to be honest.

lefoy84 wrote:Need to buy a new one. what is best for the The Dusty conditions at HSF. Manufacturer and model. How. cold at night.

Eddie

Howdy. First post! You an A-10 guy? What are you flying out to the desert?

blackrock wrote:
If the weather was bad enough to actually need the protection the Mtn HW tent provides, I'd probably just fold up quickly and grab a hotel room in Reno to be honest.

hahaha I'd still be hunkered down in Orygun

Retired Hog Driver. Arriving in a PA-18 with Bushwheels.

Thanks for all the replies. Not new to camping just need a new tent.

I have a Eueka K2-XT 4 season tent about $400 but is high quality I would suggest a 4 season tent because it has s totally sealed weather and air tight no mesh panels. I have been to the last 5 HSF-ins and temps at night get down to 25 degrees. One year we had high winds several cheap tents were destroyed. A high quality down sleeping bag is key to staying warm as well. I have a Kelty 20 cosmic down sleeping bag which is excellent about $200.00. Bring a good down jacket and head gear. Daytime temps can be pleasant in the 60's to low 70's. It is an event not to be missed a great time!!

I've had a North Face VE-24 for 36 years. It's still a good tent, but it is getting a bit long in the tooth. I've used it in summer heat and winter snow, high winds and heavy rain (actually my chief complaint now, it doesn't shed water very well anymore). I see the replacement is the VE-25, and while it is a bit spendy, I'd bet it would be an excellent tent. But REI makes some tents that are adequate for occasional use and they are cheap/ small footprint..

gunny

It depends on the mission. Unfortunately I can't have six airplanes but do have six tents and have gone through many others. My thoughts are go with a big name brand, Marmot, REI, North Face etc. Get a four season if there are any wind or snow load issues, otherwise go with foot print, weight, free standing needs and ease of assembly. Always go with seam sealed, get good triangle shaped aluminum pegs, easily bought separately. Sleeve tents are stronger and much more of a PITA to put up. Clip tents go up in probably a fourth of the time. Always use a good ground cloth, I use Mylar emergency blankets and carry a spare or two. Have fun!

lefoy84 wrote:Retired Hog Driver. Arriving in a PA-18 with Bishwheels.

Is that Palm Beach Florida that you are flying a Super Cub From.

tim

Mountain Hardware Trango 3 is my choice. I used to buy cheap ghetto tents because we could chuck 'em after use, especially in foreign countries where getting home was more important than keeping our crap.

I have seen light snow in October at 4000' before at the same latitude as HSF. Flash flooding from thunder storms and cold fronts in the desert may happen big time! The ground is hard and water flows at a mind boggling rate. You have to see it to believe it. It may happen only once in ten years.

Trango 3 after a rain in British Columbia:

lefoy84 wrote:Retired Hog Driver. Arriving in a PA-18 with Bushwheels.

Excellent. Welcome to BCP!

Do I owe you money?

qmdv wrote:

lefoy84 wrote:Retired Hog Driver. Arriving in a PA-18 with Bishwheels.

Is that Palm Beach Florida that you are flying a Super Cub From.

tim

Do I owe you money?

Can you get propane locally for a heater.

Possible Propane:

Ameri Gas in Herlong, CA. Located approximately 13NM West of HSF. Call for availability.

Just land in Yerrington and walk to the Safeway 5 minutes away. I'm sure they will have 1lb propane cans.

Thanks. Didnt want t have to carry it any farther than absolutely necessary.

Is Yerington a good gas stop?

qmdv wrote:

lefoy84 wrote:Retired Hog Driver. Arriving in a PA-18 with Bishwheels.

Is that Palm Beach Florida that you are flying a Super Cub From.

tim

It is yellow based at X58.

Indiantown, Fla

I live 20 miles down the road in Palm Beach County.