Always, always have a "footprint" under the tent. Saves the tent, and makes it a lot more water proof. For back packing, I have a 2 man Walrus--and if I needed to replace it, I'd get another. It's been through some horrible weather without a drop getting in--although being inside it during one of those storms scared the bejeebers out of me! I thought for sure I was about to join Dorothy in Kansas.

Cary

I use a Mountain Hardwear Room with a View for solo and 2-up backpacking and plane camping. Survived the tornado onslaught at Oshkosh this year without getting anything wet. I always use a ground sheet from the tent manufacturer or a small tarp that matches the footprint of the tent to protect it and keep it waterproof.

Over the years I've used a bunch of tents and would recommend these manufacturers: North Face, Sierra Designs, Mountain Hardware, and Bibler. Bibler no longer makes tents - I think they were bought by Black Diamond - but they are single-wall, 3-ply goretex tents for mountaineering. Set up fast, water proof and ultra light weight.

I also use a Black Diamond Mega Mid - not a tent - a "pyramid" style tarp with a single pole. Ultra light weight - but will not keep you dry without a waterproof bivy sack. You can also buy a tarp to fit over the wing - that works pretty well, too.

I second the comment about always practice pitching it in your back yard with the sun shining first so you know how to do it - that goes with any tent.

For myself, I like a 4 person tent, preferably four season. My implement of choice is a Sierra Designs stretch prelude. I love that it is totally bomber and can handle more wind than I can. The vestibule and entry is a little low and small, so when you are cooking in the winter it is a little uncomfortable, but the tent is really bomber and weighs about 15 lbs.

For myself and another person or two, I like more room, so I just bought a Big Agnes Flying Diamond 8. Hoping to get it out for some cold-testing this winter. I like that it is 27 lbs total, but has enough room to set up camp completely indoor for up to three folks with enough room to make it work, and is a 4 season tent. Since I haven't had it up, don't know what I don't like yet.

Just a reminder here......
Most tents are made of synthetic fabrics that MELT very easily, and some are flammable at low temps, too
(relative to the traditional cotton canvas).
When you bring stoves/cooking/heaters/flammable gasses (read explosive) into the tent-BE VERY CAREFUL!
Make sure your fire/stove equipment is in good shape ahead of your expedition and, like the tent, use/familiarize yourself with it ahead in the open air in the back yard in the daylight.
Most "High Performance" fabrics used in most clothing and sleeping gear these days are a problem with flames/fire, too.

Scenario- Hikers find themselves weathered into their small tent and so bring their cooking equipment into the tent. They then manage to get vaporized fuel spreading before the lighter can be made to generate the spark. Their tent and all their clothing is synthetics that will melt and adhere to them in the subsequent flash/fire.

It happens. Usually teenagers-but not exclusively.

Not trying to rain on this fine parade. Just a word of caution.
lc

Tents these days are treated with flame retardant, but they will still melt and burn. A bigger concern with cooking in your tent than fire is risk of asphyxiation. Never heat your tent with an open flame or even use a candle. People die more often than the should this way. That's what the vestibule is of and if the flame kicks up you can more easily get it out the door to avoid burning the tent up.

I won't cook inside my tent, and although I could probably cook in the vestibule with the flaps open, I haven't--prefer to cook on a table instead of on the ground, and I think the heat of the stove if it was on the table in the vestibule would be too close to the fabric.

I do use my Mr. Buddy tent heater inside the tent (not too useful to heat the tent if it were outside the tent! ), but I'm very careful to keep it away from the sides of the tent. That's one of the benefits of having a tent that is larger than necessary--there's a lot more floor area to allow safe use of the tent heater. It's very stable, so it's unlikely to magically tip over by itself. I don't leave it on while I'm asleep, although I do leave the pilot light on so that it can be started up by just turning on the valve in the morning. I just reach over to the heater, turn it on, and 20 minutes later it's pleasantly warm inside the tent--lots better than getting out of a warm sleeping bag into a cold tent to get dressed!

Cary

http://www.cowboycamp.net/range_tents.php

Leave the poles at home to save weight if you can tie the center to a tree limb.

Canvas doesn't make a bunch of noise in the breeze.

Check out David Ellis' bedrolls too.

-Glen

I've used a North Face Half Dome for almost ten years and really like it. Never been wet and has never blown over, been through some serious weather. Never used a footprint by they are a very good idea. I'm tent shopping to but won't be buying a north face because they are supporting something that I oppose.

Few years back I was on a Grand Canyon raft trip. A couple that was on the trip had a real nice Sierra designs tent and used a tent heater to keep warm. Something went wrong and the tent caught fire; it was completely gone in under ten seconds. Almost ruined our trip.

Almost ruined our trip.

Prolly ruined theirs!

Cary

Thanks guys for all of the suggestions so far. There are a lot of ideas/alternatives I need to dig into further. With any luck we'll be sporting a new abode for next year's fly outs.

Flynengr

MSR Hubba Hubba or mutha hubba, I and many other professionals use this. Lightweight and takes a beating. With the exception of the half dome, and the hardware tent the rest of the tents mentioned are a joke.....and the AK tents are overkill unless you plan on spending a lot of nights on glaciers

I usually don't cook in the tent either. But when it is sub-zero and blowing 20, I cook in the tent, actually usually in the vestibule. Definitely good to think your way through the process to avoid an unpleasant adventure.

electricsnail wrote:MSR Hubba Hubba or mutha hubba, I and many other professionals use this.

Professional tent campers?

Here is the tent from my last flying camping trip. It has lots of room. I can stand up to put my pants on. It came with a fire ring inside for entertaining, cooking, and for heat.

Here is the tent from my last flying camping trip. It has lots of room. I can stand up to put my pants on. It came with a fire ring inside for entertaining, cooking, and for heat.

Looks very functional....
Did you design it?

lc

On the "footprint" we have always used a mylar emergency blanket. Most of my experience is backpacking so you truly get to counting ounces. The mylar is incredibly tough and water imperiable so works great and does double duty. I also leave the footprint down when I fold the tent and just fold the tent on top of it and then fold the footprint over the tent, it helps keep the tent clean. It takes a little technique but speeds up the tent process a little and has always worked well for us. The Mylar does get torn on occasion but at $6.00, that's not such a big deal.
I miss "tent camping" in the 206, just closing the doors was kinda nice...
FZ

Maybe I'm just young & stupid, but I'm okay with a woobie & poncho liner with my ruck sack as a pillow. I'm sure in 10-20 years that will change though!