2 Person Lightweight double wall tent

Another tent?
Terra Nova Laserlarge 3
Weight: Minimum 2.1Kg / Packed 2.3Kg

Same sort of design as the Nallo GT 2 But lighter.

That looks superb!!! I want one :-)

2 choices I think…

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/CopperSpurUL3
Weight: Minimum 1.8Kg / Packed 2.15Kg
Bigger tent inside (1778 x 2286)
Has Vestibule area, but not as useful.

Terra Nova Laserlarge 3
http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/Brand/Terra_Nova/Tents/Laserlarge_3_GREEN.html
Weight: Minimum 2.1Kg / Packed 2.3Kg
Bigger tent but smaller inside (1300 x 2300)
Has a large Vestibule that looks very useful.

At least one other thing to think about is how windproof you want your tent. The Cooper Spur 3 has a significant amount of mesh inner, whereas the Terra Nova is a true double-skinned solid inner tent. You will be happier in cold winds or blowing snow in the Terra Nova methinks.

Yes, but what about hotter days, how well vented is the Terra Nova. I'm from Australia, most of the time we will be in the hot stuff. It can get cold, just not very oftern.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I believe the Scarp 2 Tarptent can be purchased with either a mesh or solid inner, or both. Yup, I just checked, either or both, and it weighs 3.25 #. Henry makes great tents, Ben; you ought to at least check it out, IMO.

It also is double entry and has 2 vestibules.

Im actually in the same boat as ben, and looking to replace my current 2 person tent. Im deciding between a scarp 2 and a copper spur 2, but leaning towards the copper spur, b/c based on the BPL review, the scarp 2 will flap quite a bit in the wind, unless you get the 2 exterior crossing poles, which would make it heavier than the copper spur 2. I also only plan on 3 season use, so any benefit to the 4 season capabilities of the scarp 2 are of little value to me. I do prefer the roominess of the scarp 2 (52 inches on both ends, as opposed to the Copper Spur, which is 52 on the head end, tapering to 42 at the feet), but its not worth the sacrifice of structural integrity in moderate winds. Your thoughts? How have peoples scarp 2's faired in the wind? I really dislike sleepless nights due to tent flap noise.

I had thought the Scarp 2 had been redesigned to pitch tighter, and be lower to the ground, and vent better. Anyway……….I'd call Tarptent and talk to Henry about the features he designed into the Scarp, then I'd call and talk to the designer of the BA about their tent. That would do it for me.

Good point Joe, i actually emailed Henry the other night, b/c i noticed the Scarp 1 got 2010 updates (click the photos link for the scarp 1 on his website, then click the link about 2010 revisions) . I asked him if he planned on doing the same updates to the scarp 2, and he said he did, but the earliest planned roll out of the revisions for the scarp 2 will be "spring." So yeah, this could change everything. I really really like the revisions to the scarp 1, and im hoping that all the same changes will be carried over to the scarp 2.

In regards to the BPL review, it was dated June 2009, so at that point in time the review mentioned wind flap. Not sure if there have been any revisions to the scarp 2 since that review…might have to follow up with Henry

…

Hey Konrad, ask Henry if you could retrofit a Scarp 2, or upgrade to the new model when it comes out.

The Copper Spur 3 would be great for you if you want some extra room… plenty of internal volume w/relatively vertical walls, big side doors, vestibule on each side… and just over 4 pounds. I know the next comment could generate some comments or ire, but it might be worth considering Big Sky, too, the Evolution 2P comes in around 3 pounds, or you could do a convertible and get both the mesh and nylon inner tent…

I would second Brad on the Big Sky. The 2 person Evolution is only 2lbs 13oz and has 42sq feet of living space which is what most 3 person shelters have. Double walled and freestanding. I haven't heard any issues about orders over the past couple of years so I sounds like they have their orders in…uh…order.

http://bigskyproducts.com/

Yeah, the Big Sky tents are awesome, but to get the weight down to their advertised specs, you have to order it with the ultra lite body, and composite poles, which they don't include in the base price. After adding all those in, they get wayyyyy expensive IMO. If money isn't any issue, then Big Sky is def worth a look

I would be wary of Big Sky tents if true storm conditions are on the cards. I would also be extra wary of getting any tent with carbon fibre poles!! Big Sky themselves recommends you buy their pole splice repairs if you get the CF poles…that's telling you something.

For the base price on Big Sky, standard fly and aluminum poles, you come in around 3.25 pounds… If you're concerned about storms, the Convertible adds a 3rd pole windward, and you can get optional HD poles…

I have had both of the BA tents. The Seedhouse SL3 was great

http://tinyurl.com/ygs4qas

but as soon as the (ex)wife saw the Copper Spur UL3 with the two doors that was what she wanted. The CS 3 works for mild winter conditions with its lower solid walls. They help block blowing sand too which I really liked.

http://tinyurl.com/pm9jox

Thanks for the information Raymond, a couple of questions.

If it was raining, can you put the fly up first and then the inner?

How well does it handle high winds?

REI's T3 is 2.27kg, so would be a small "3" person tent that could work. It has some interesting design elements (pole geometry + round doors), so I am not sure how strongly I would recommend it. But it does give a decent amount of space for the weight, and at one time a year or so ago, may have been the lightest 3 person double wall tent around. It is shortish, so keep that in mind.

I'm not sure this meets your needs, but its fun to look at, in any case.

http://www.warmlite.com/tents.htm#anchor13746

I have the 2R (two person) and I love it. It weighs 2.75 pounds before the seams are sealed and not including a ground cover or tent stakes. I have only used it by myself and it fits me and all my gear.

The three person model weighs 3.75 pounds.

I had a learning curve with it, but once I got the hang of how to pitch it and vent it, it stayed bone dry with no condensation, on ridges in windy thunderstorms, in pouring rain for two days in an open field. Also, I sealed the seams myself. The stuff was getting thick near the end when I did around the door and I think that was part of the problem – no leaks after I redid it.

Even the couple of times I had leakage when I was learning, it was so little that I was able to manage it and nothing got wet.

Its good in winds up to 60 mph, and there are optional wind stabilizers (2 oz) for heavier winds.

If its big enough to suit your needs, I highly recommend it. I don't have experience with other backpacking tents to compare. And I think its relatively expensive compared to others out there.

I think its great in cold or rainy weather. It also vents really well when its hot. The sides unzip and open up almost completely from both the inner wall and the outer wall, with a mesh layer in between.

The tent is very durable. I've backpacked about a thousand miles with mine. But you do have to treat it with care. Especially the zippers and the tent poles. Really, its just pay attention when you zip and don't let the ends of the aluminum tubes snap together when you take it down.

The website makes it seem like they have a bit of an attitude, but on the phone they were great. I fell while carrying the tent pole, landed on it and bent a section. My husband called them for me while I was on the trail and they sent me the replacement section, with overnight shipping and didn't charge me anything.

I reviewed the 2R for backpackgeartest.org; you can read my detailed review there. I generally agree with Abby's comments, with one caveat – without the optional side windows (making the tent an RS) it can become a sauna in warm weather. Stephenson's now offers a climber's model (2C or 3C), which is two feet shorter than the R models, and saves a few more ounces.

I completely agree with Abby's note about customer service – prompt, knowledgeable, helpful, and without the opinionated commentary on the website. These tents have a devoted following, as I rarely see one for sale on the aftermarket.

Oops, Richard is right. I have a 2RS. I think its slightly heavier than the R weight I quoted – by about a quarter of a pound. And I agree. I find it to be a warm tent when its closed up. I need to open it up when I use it in the summer.

I read his review and also agree with him about the "vestibule." There's no place to cook that I would be comfortable with. That's the main reason I thought it might not fit Ben's needs. But you never know what people will decide, so I thought I'd put it out there.

I also agree with the person who suggested a three-person tent for two people, at least as regards the Stephenson.

Have fun buying your tent!

If keeping your camera gear dry is a priority, then I would stay shy of the WarmLite tents. Although built tough to stand up to high winds, there is no vestibule per se, and if you open the front door while it's raining, the rain pours straight into the tent and onto the floor. You can't have the front door open in buggy weather as there is no netting on the door. Add to this the inner tent is not breathable, and this means you can (we did) end up with some nasty condensation, which can also wet you and your gear.

Maybe you could tell us what you mean by "double walled" tent? Some folks call the BigSky tents "double walled", but the inner tent is all mesh meaning it's not so good in cold winds, or driving snow or sand. Others would call the WarmLite double walled, but since the inner doesn't breathe it's really more of a cold weather tent. The most accepted definition of a double walled tent is a tent with a breathable non-mesh inner and waterproof fly. Additional design concepts to consider is how the fly and poles are attached. Designs such as the Hilleberg or Vaude are the most stable, as the poles thread through their own sleeve on the outside of the fly, lending greater structural strength to the tent. The Hilleberg has the added benefit that you can also pitch just the inner tent if it is warm and rain is not expected. Poles that thread or clip onto the inner tent are less stable, and more problematic to pitch in the rain without getting the inner wet. Poles clipped to the outer fly like the BigSky tents are also less stable. Lots to consider.

One more option I'll throw out there is our go-to tent, the Double Rainbow. If you get the optional liner, this tent becomes a virtual doubel-walled tent, with a solid breathable liner over you head, and mesh side walls. It has two huge vestibule entrances and two rain porches for cooking or watching the scenery. These porches also offer exceptional ventilation, even when it's raining. It' spacious and well under 2kg, and not too expensive either.

"If you get the optional liner, this tent becomes a virtual doubel-walled tent"

That's hilarious.

"That's hilarious."

Could you expand on that thought David?