I need a specific size tent

I've had my eye on the Seek Outside Beyond Timberline 2, which might do what you want: http://store.seekoutside.com/beyond-timberline-2-bt-2/

Dave Chenault likes it: http://bedrockandparadox.com/2015/03/30/the-mid-ive-been-looking-for/

Tipis in general seem like good odds for getting a high door relative to overall size.

Al, the BT2 might work for you. The entrance is definitely taller than 55 inches. I think you could get in and out by just standing straight up, but as I don't have similar issues cannot guarantee it. The footprint is a fair bit smaller than the SL5.

I can't think of anything else with such a tall entrance height that isn't also just huge.

Agree with the Tipi/BT2 comments.

Another option if you don't like bending over to get into your shelter is a Hammock/Tarp setup. You might ending up carrying a little more weight, but they might work for you as well.

One of the nice things about a hammock is that you can use it like a chair. This makes putting on your shoes much easier than being on the ground, for example.

You might look at Bearpaw's new hexatent.

Or, really, any of the larger mids, like the MLD SuperMid. Ludicrously oversized for one person, but if you need the high door then you need the high door. Plus, it's a palace for up to three people.

The B-2 and Supermid look promising. Whatever I get absolutely has to have an inner nest as I live in Florida and the bug situation can become unbearable at times.

Thanks,
Jambeaux

I don't care to crawl around, either. My hammocks have bug nets, and in a nice rain, there's plenty of space to take off/put on rain gear without dragging wet and mud into bed with me. Also for cooking/boiling, standing to put on clothes, etc. All things (tarp height, hammock height, direction of the tarp ends/doors) are modifiable – choose the proper trees and angle/height needed for comfort and wind/rain protection.

A tent with adequate door on a side entry is the lesser option needed where there are not trees. I'm not adventurous enough to dangle my fat butt from cracks in rocks.

I think the MLD DuoMid XL would work well. It has a wide, tall, and steep entrance. The entrance is drip-free. And undoing the zipper/buckle in the morning would be a fairly easy reach into the vestibule when sitting up. You can buy an inner net for it too.

The Oware Alphamid may be an even better and lighter choice for you, but you would have to get a bug-inner custom made (which Oware or Bear Paw WD could probably do for you).

The problem with tents like the SuperMid or BT2 is that, yes, you can enter them with a 55-inch door. But to close the zipper down all the way, you will have to do some reaching. I think the steep doors on the Oware Alphamid or MLD DuoMid XL would be better for you.

Al
Take a look at the CCS Lean shelters.
Very fine construction and 38 oz for the Lean 1
http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/leans.htm

Normally I'd say that putting an inner nest in a mid is totally missing the point but, as I said, if you need it for the high door then that's the way it is…

The more I read this thread, the more I think a hammock/tarp setup would work for you…I just wanted to expand on my earlier post.

The funny thing is I don't even have a hammock (yet). But I'm going to an event in the fall called a "Hammock Hang" where I will be able to try out various hammocks to see what I like.

I have gone on several backpacking trips in Michigan with people who have hammocks, so I have had the opportunity to check them out a little. What was interesting to me was how I was able to enter the tarp standing up. Inside the tarp, you can change clothes, etc, in a standing position. Then, when you are going to remove socks, shoes etc. you sit in the hammock like sitting on the edge of your bed. Basically a hammock is going to get you off the ground so that you don't have to bend over, squat, etc. as much. You can even get tarps that are fully enclosed at both ends (I've seen one of those on a winter trip…it was a pretty slick setup…it was like the hammock was inside of a tent).

Regarding bugs, many hammocks have bug nets sewn to the top of them. And they keep you cooler in warm temperatures because of the air circulating under you as well. So cool in fact that I've heard that below 70 degrees or so you will need insulation below you (either a sleeping pad or an "under quilt". ) I think they would be ideal for warm, muggy regions like the southeast.

Hammock Forums has a subform for regional "hammock hangs" where you can go to check out hammocks. The guys that invited me to one said that It was fine to go to one of these events with a tent…people do it all the time they said.

Rob I'm an ex hanger and overall I think hanging is great, just not for me. The piece that gets missed alot especially in posts like yours is that there is a steep learning curve. Not like setting up a new tent has a learning curve, but in that you have to learn a whole new set of skills and develop an understanding for things you never even considered (hang angle, tree distance, sag, etc). Further, things that were very easy sleeping on the ground (like insulating you from the ground) get much more complicated when hanging in the air. UQs are a good solution, but they have their drawbacks too.

Again I think hanging is great and I think there is a really good chance it will be a good solution for the OP and you as well. But overhauling a big chunk of your gear list (not just the hammock but the tarp, the insulation both top and bottom, ground sheet, and lets not get started on dutchware ;)) and learning a whole new methodology might not be for everyone. Especially people a bit more "experienced."

I am a Boy Scout leader and camp at least once a month. I was never able to sleep well on the ground no matter how many tents/pads/cots, etc. I bought. When I went to hammock camping I got great sleep, my body felt much better, and I never had to crawl on the ground again.

Logan's point about overhauling your entire shelter/sleep system is valid, but if it means the difference between camping or not, then it's definitely something to strongly consider.

You make a solid point Mark and from a comfort perspective you can't beat a hammock out in the woods IMO. It might not come off that way but I truly support hanging and think it is an awesome way to sleep in the woods with a whole set of advantages over sleeping on the ground, as well as disadvantages.

My biggest issue is people who support hanging leaving out what I consider to be a huge determining factor, and that is you will be learning almost everything with regard to your sleep & shelter system all over again as well as overhauling the gear a good amount. It is worth it for a lot of people, and I expect I'll be back as I get less concerned with miles and more concerned with comfort as the years go by.

Logan, thanks for your posts. I think they will be helpful for the OP in pointing out the existence of a learning curve regarding hammocks as well as the requirement to revamp some gear.

Regarding the learning curve, I have been going to Hammock Forums and have been reading Derek Hansen's book called The Ultimate Hang. So far for me, the words I would use to describe the learning curve would not be "steep", but rather "fun", or "enjoyable". But the adjective used to describe the learning curve depends on the perception of the one doing the learning, I suppose.

Also, I don't plan on becoming exclusively a "hanger". I'll take my tent when I feel like it, and take the hammock when I feel like it. Who knows, I may even discover that I can't even sleep in a hammock and end up selling…I'd be ok with that…learning about them has been a lot of fun.

As a guy in my early 50's with back and knee injuries suffered during my athletic days, walking upright into the tarp and sitting in the hammock to remove shoes was a revelation. And given the OP's criteria for a shelter, I thought I should bring up the possibility of a hammock/tarp setup.

Your thoughts regarding the existence of a learning curve and the necessity to revamp equipment, once again, are indeed very valid points.

The CCS Lean Shelters look very promising. I've never heard of them before. I like the simplicity of design and they eliminate the horrific design problem of tipis where a tent pole is in the middle of the tent.

exactly, you can sit upright in your camp chair inside the lean with 5 foot headroom and you have a 5 foot flap/tarp rain shelter just outside your mosquito net.

John Harper wrote: "I think the MLD DuoMid XL would work well. It has a wide, tall, and steep entrance. The entrance is drip-free. And undoing the zipper/buckle in the morning would be a fairly easy reach into the vestibule when sitting up."

Yeah, the steep front does look easier to use from the inside. Taking that a step further, what about one of Oware's half-pyramids?

http://shop.bivysack.com/Alphamid-TM-1-2-Pyramid-Tarp-Various-Fabrics-1Alphamid.htm

That uses a six foot pole, the zipper goes most of the way up it (looks like 66 inches or more), and the zipper is vertical. Reasonable price, too.

Fair enough Rob. Steep was definitely my personal interpretation and others certainly may not see it as such. There was definitely a lot of fun to be had along the way as well. With that said I had read Derek's book and had it on my phone in Kindle format on my first few trips as a reference (which I used quite a few times). I had also spent the entire winter on Hammock Forums researching and learning as much as I could. I dedicated the entire season to hanging and had all of the best gear (mostly warbonnet and dutchware) and after that season I didn't have it dialed in to the point I was happy. Not all of my hangs were perfect, I my UQ was never without cold spots, I never found an gear storage/ground sheet solution I was happy with, my UQ got very wet in a bad storm due to splash (I was told to buy an UQ protector and that is where I drew the line), my set up time was still way higher than I liked, and overall my sleep didn't improve enough (admittedly I am young and healthy with Chiropractor for a mother so I have an advantage there).

I have no doubts another season would have been more than adequate for me to dial in all of those aspects. I just didn't personally find the benefit worth the task that was being asked and I was spending more money and adding more weight. If and when I need or want a hammock for comfort I will be far more motivated to take it on and will do so gladly. Again I'm a huge supporter of hanging, I just found the process to be more complex than I was lead to believe by the many posts I read about switching from ground to hammock. For me the curve felt steep, but if I was properly motivated for the switch I would definitely see it from your perspective. I wish you the best of luck with the journey and suspect it will be perfect for you. I indeed had a lot of fun with it as well :)

On another forum Al suggested that Henry Shires should make one of these high entry tents.
This morning I thought of doing some fiddling with the StratoSpire2 to see what could be done.
I think that the limit is setting the pole at around 60" so that gives the entry point at the top of the fly zip at around 51". (I have an extension tube on my pole)
Not there but close…
Here it is with one end down (the wind side…) and the other up :