Tent Recommendations

Check out the tents made by tarptent (tarptent.com) and six moon designs (sixmoondesigns.com). In particular, the tarptent double rainbow and SMD lunar duo are popular options. They are both single wall designs. Also the tarptent scarp 2, which is heavier but more robust and roomy than the double rainbow.

…

I can highly recomment the TarpTent Double Rainbow by Henry Shires, great UL tent.

I added a few more requirements such as not using trekking poles in setup.

Just a quick comment — any of the tarptents mentioned that can utilize trekking poles also come with optional tent poles that add only 1-2 ounces additional.

Ben….you are back! How was the trip (sorry for diverting thread)

Hi David — my trip is going well thus far — and thanks for asking! Feel free to click here for a bit more detail.

Now back to topic…

For a 2-person UL tent I really like the TarpTent Cloudburst 2 because of its great aerodynamic shape for shedding wind and its steeper sides for more elbow room.

And at 38 oz. (2.4 lbs)it's nicely in the UL weight territory for a 2 person tent.

Good luck in your search.

Eric

Some tents I'd consider good choices were already listed – the Tarptent Double Rainbow and other Tarptent models, the SMD Lunar Duo, etc. However, my first pick would be the Scarp 2, also mentioned. Mine is arriving this week. It's a lot of tent (double wall, space, strength, seasonal versatility) for very modest weight, especially without the crossed poles in 3 season mode.

It's not freestanding without the crossed poles, but is with. And you won't need your trekking poles.

Can't seem to find the weight on the website….what exactly IS the weight of the tent (minus cross-poles and with solid inner)?

As you know Nate, people get very upset when their shelter is one or two ounces heavier than the posted weight. Trouble is that pretty much every batch of silnylon has a weight variation, enough for one or two ounces difference…
So far Henry has been playing for months with his Scarp 2 prototypes , but until he has one or two batches to get a weight average, he usually does not post that on his site.
Or maybe he has started his golf playing season early.
Franco

Hey Ben, hope the trip is going well.

Nate… the original estimate was that it was going to be around 52 ounces with the mesh inner. I've noted on the ordering page that it is listed as 54 ounces.

I think Henry includes the weight of the stakes in the advertised weight though (someone please correct me if I'm wrong on that), so that would make it a bit under 52 ounces or so for the actual tent (including arch pole but not crossing poles).

Mine is right at 54 ounces as delivered (minus instructions). This includes the mesh inner, arch pole, fly, stuff sack, stake sack, 6 8" Easton nail stakes, and all attached TripTease guylines.

Wow – the weight of an MSR Hubba with the space of a Hubba Hubba.

Hubba Hubba indeed.

Nice work Henry.

As far as tents go I am a big fan of the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2. It comes in at 54oz, is double wall, freestanding, and has two doors. Plus, I found that it was either taller, longer, and wider than any of the others in its category.

There are lighter tents if you don't want free standing, and are willing to use your hiking poles. (msr carbon is an exception, but it is smaller, one door, the bathtub floor isn't has tall, and it's more costly.)

I have fit two 6' tall males comfortable in this tent. Great vestibule space.

$399 msrp

>Wow – the weight of an MSR Hubba with the space of a Hubba Hubba.

Actually, I think people will find the Scarp 2 noticeably roomier than the Hubba Hubba and substantially roomier than the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2.

-H

Actually, I think people will find the Scarp 2 noticeably roomier than the Hubba Hubba.

-H

Mine definitely feels roomier than the Hubba Hubba it's replacing. 2" added to length and width plus 5" of height at the center. I can sit up in the middle without having my head in the mesh.

The Copper Spur 2 is listed as 90" in length, and the widths appear to be the same. I haven't measured mine, but I do know that I like the room. At 6' I would not like to go with anything shorter. The Scarp 2 is listed at 86". I would like to lay in one to see if that fits. The Scarp 2 does list a higher peak height of 45" compared to 42" on the Big Agnes. I would say that the peak height of the Big Agnes is distributed over a wider area (I could be wrong).

However, I have not been in a Scarp 2, and it does look enticing. I do have a question on the necessity of hiking poles on setup. The website shows them in all relevant photos with the rain fly. I am curios, are they necessary?

These tents seem to be the same weight. It would be great to see them side to side, as well as actually lay in them.

I see that the hiking poles may be necessary in the single arch pole option (?).

Ian,

The Copper Spur is only 52" wide on one end, it narrows from there to 42" wide where the Scarp is 52" wide end to end. Trekking poles are not required for the Scarp tents like they are for most of Henry's other designs although they can be used for additional support in really rough conditions. I'd have to measure mine but I'd say the 45" height is across the entire 52" width at the center of the inner tent. The Scarp can be truly freestanding in that you don't need stakes to get the full floor dimensions which I'm pretty sure isn't the case with any BA tent. That requires the optional poles of course which increase the weight. One other thing I notice is the entire floor dimensions of the Scarp are usable which likely isn't the case for the Copper Spur due to the inward sloping walls.

Look again. There are no hiking poles shown. What looks like a hiking pole in the interior picture is in fact the single arch pole. Trekking poles aren't needed for this tent in any configuration, although they can be used to add extra stability if you really want to.

The copper spur probably does have more headroom along the length of the tent. They aren't really the same width though, as the copper spur narrows to 42" at one end and has slightly sloping walls I think.

One thing I do like about the copper spur is that the door is centred in the middle of the fly wall, where the ceiling is highest. I guess the Scarp has it offset because the vestibule isn't quite as deep so it would make getting in and out more difficult if it was centred.

EDIT: Chris beat me to it!

Maybe the hiking poles bit is my fault…
I uploaded some pics on how you can use them as an "option" and possibly that has morphed into a requirement.
Same for using the trekking poles to hold the optional guylines (some would use snow shoes or skis) , most understand that it is something you can do others interpret that has something you have to do.
Franco

I already have my tent. There is one thing about the Scarp 2 that I think is great, that I have not seen mentioned. I really like that Tarptents are made here in the US, by a small company, and not in China like my Big Agnes. With similar weight and space ratios I will suggest both these tents to all the people who ask me for recommendations.

Still, it would be difficult for me to buy a 86" length tent without laying in one first. I guess a way around this would be to find an 86"L tent of a major brand at a local store, lay in it, and see if it feels right.

Ian, they have "cutaway" views on the tarptent website scarp 2 page showing how much space a 6' person plus pad takes up. Not quite the same as trying it for yourself but helpful nonetheless.

If anyone can post an actual pic of them lying on a pad in the Scarp 2 it would be even better…!

I second that!