New ultralight 1 person tents for 2009?

Fair comments Chris. On porch space the Laser set up of the whole length being the same depth is stunning. Gives so much room and you can reach around the ends and store stuff as well. Good point in pointing out the Akto spawned a whole range of light tent design. But it is expensive now. But hey if it works for you stick with it.

I wouldn't use the Akto or any single hoop tent in heavy snow by choice. There just isn't the necessary support at the ends so you have to keep knocking the snow off. I have used both the Akto and Laser Competition in heavy snow. That said, heavy snow isn't that common in Scotland so it's okay for most winter weather here.

I am talking about the Akto for use in the Scottish Highlands and places with similar weather, which means summers that are usually wet and windy, and exposed sites. I wouldn't choose the Akto for forest camping or for areas with dry summers. In areas like that I prefer tarps or, if biting insects are a problem, well ventilated tarp tents.

The Laser does have a nice big porch – bigger than I need! It is of course designed for two.

Designed for two Chris (as long as your good friends) and loads of room for one. Also weight is less than an Akto. Makes a roomy one man tent does the Laser.

Thanks for the additional insights, Chris.

Martin was certainly talking about the Laser! He was continuing on from my comment about the Laser porch.

You could possibly sleep two in the Akto without the inner. Outside of midge season I have sometimes used the Akto outer with a separate groundsheet.

>>All that said I wouldn't choose the Akto except for wet and windy weather and exposed sites. It's overkill for milder conditions.

Having spent two months in a Saivo in 2005, any Hilleberg tent is overkill in mild conditions.

http://warmlite.com/tents.htm

We are reviewing two neat solo UL tents side by side this winter, which is exciting for me because I get to be the lead on this review! They are the Scarp 1 from TarpTent and the Terra Nova Laser Photon.

I'm really impressed thus far with TarpTent's design features, there are some unique things in it that make the tent a pretty good performer in four-season conditions (snow loading).

For three season use, and in heavy wind/rain, I love the Laser Photon, especially the fact that the inner tent is NOT mesh and thus actually protects you from condensation. But a snow-worthy tent this is not – a few inches here and there is fine, but it's not suited for big winter storms.

More soon, keep your eyes peeled.

"…especially the fact that the inner tent is NOT mesh and thus actually protects you from condensation."

So Ryan, are you saying that a mesh inner does NOT protect you from condensation? I ask because that just hasn't been my experience. Perhaps some will chalk my experience as insufficient — except that BPL itself published a rather glowing review on the BA Seedhouse 2 SL! And what about other perennially popular mesh inner tents — such as the MSR Hubba series? And their legions of fans? What gives?

I've been admiring the design of the Scarp 1 on Henry's website for some time. It looks like it has a lot of nice features.

But…

1) Do you really need two vestibules in a 1-person tent? I *think* I'd rather have a slightly wider inner tent area than a second vestibule. (But, then again, this is just from looking at photos…I haven't had the pleasure of seeing a real one.)

and

2) At 56 ounces with the diagonal poles, it's in the weight range of a lot of attractive alternative shelters.

Still, I look forward to your review, Ryan. Henry's designs have always been the benchmark for elegance.

@ben:

I really only use a tent in foul weather so my results are biased towards wet, drippy conditions where wind rattles the tent and shakes the condensation off the inside of the fly, and through the mesh.

The other scenario is in freezing conditions where frost and not liquid condensation forms on the inside of the fly and wind shakes the condensation off the fly and through the mesh inner.

I really don't like mesh inner tents, but that is my personal bias, because I rarely use tents in 3-season conditions. With one exception: in the peak of bug season, I'll use a mesh inner bug tent under a tarp, but condensation and bad weather is not so much of an issue in the summertime.

I think a mesh inner will protect you from condensation falling off the inside of the fly, but not as well as a fabric inner tent. And, a fabric inner seems to provide significantly better protection from spindrift and frost falling off the fly.

@mike:

I LOVE two vestibules on a solo shelter — one to store gear, and one for cooking.

"I think a mesh inner will protect you from condensation falling off the inside of the fly, but not as well as a fabric inner tent."

Ryan, thanks for the quick response. Your statement above aligns much more closely with my own experience — and the many feedback from users and reviewers.

In a nutshell, we are always making tradeoff's between features and weights. A mesh inner actually provides significant protection against "inside showers" — to the point where it just hasn't been an issue in my four-plus years of using the Seedhouse. Obviously, a denser-weave nylon fabric inner will be that much better — but for added weight of course!

But if we step back a bit, we realize that legions of hikers are quite happy with their single wall tarptents — where there isn't even a mesh barrier — never mind a solid fabric barrier!

In the end, in many scenarios, tarptents with no inner barrier of any kind is more than good enough for a lot of us. A solid fabric inner offers the maximum protection (albeit still not 100%). Some might prefer the maximum — but there are many who actually view the mesh inner as a very happy balance between the two — and a great option in its own right — esp. in warmer climes.

"I LOVE two vestibules on a solo shelter — one to store gear, and one for cooking."

Right on, Ryan. Call me spoiled but I too love a dual-vestibule tent!

There are places for all types of tents of course. No one type is right for all conditions. Hilleberg tents are for stormy weather and thus great in the Scottish Highlands where it's stormy much of the time and the weather is unpredictable. If my regular backpacking area was the High Sierra or the Pyrenees I wouldn't have much use for a Hilleberg tent and would mostly use a tarp or a tarp tent (which I use when I visit those areas).

My favourite shelter is a tarp as I like the freedom it gives. But I don't use one much in Scotland as I prefer the security and comfort of a double wall tent in wet and windy weather.

The Scarp 1 does look interesting. I'll be testing one in Scottish conditions and will be very interested in how it copes with snow and high winds.