2 Person Lightweight double wall tent

I tell ya, the venerable REI Half Domes have been around for years with legions of enthusiastic fans. Great balance of weather resistance, livability, light weight and price! Pretty darn hard to beat.

Do you really need to sit in the vestibule? Just curious.

Ben, im quite surprised that you like the REI half dome. The thing is 5 lbs with poor reviews. For that weight, i'd go copper spur 2, and even 3 which is still lighter, roomier, and has double door/vestibules. I actually cant find a single reason why i would want an REI halfdome over a copper spur. I would consider the REI T2 or T3 before the Halfdome. The half dome is dirt cheap though, when compared to the other tents we are talking about

Konrad:

If light weight is the most important, then I would go with the Fly Creek and call it good. The Copper Spur is more livable with 2 doors/vestibules. However, the interior space is barely bigger than the Fly Creek / Seedhouse SL.

I recall OP wanting more space — so I recommended the Half Dome. More space at less than half the price! And split between two people, the weight is still very reasonable.

EDIT: Just noticed that OP added "under 4.5 lbs." So maybe the Copper Spur then. Not a lot of space, but at least it's got 2 doors and vestibules.

The thing about the CS is it has more usable space for two people than the Seedhouse or FC. It is also much better in wind, and snow.

What I like about all of them is that I can set them up with only the inner tent to enjoy the outdoors, see the stars and animals and not be bothered by bugs. The freestanding nature lets me use them on bare rock when needed.

I have owned a lot of single wall tents, I just like double walls better.

Ben has laid out the rationale for the weather for using tents with mesh inner tents or ripstop fabric inner tents.

The TT Scarp 2 has the option of EITHER a mesh or ripstop inner tent.

When I get a Scarp 2 I plan to get both inner tents and the crossing poles. Then I'll have a 4 season setup.

The Hilleberg Nallo 2 offers a mesh inner as well as a fabric one.

FYI.

Sorry if this is a hijack, but since both tents have been discussed in this thread, I was hoping you could do a quick compare of the Copper Spur vs the Scarp 2. I think you've owned both, so your wisdom here would be much appreciated. Could you tell me your experiences with the copper spur and scarp 2. Not really worried about space, but more about stablity. Without the optional cross poses, how did the scarp 2 fair in the wind when compared with the BA ?

Ben —

Haven't seen it mentioned, and not sure that it's still sold by Sierra Designs, but the Hyperlight (two person version) seems to meet many of your criteria. The Hyperlight's inner is mostly nylon, but also some mesh.

I've used the Hyperlight several times, including pretty windy conditions at Enchantment Lakes Wilderness in the Cascades. It's my wife's #1 choice, especially for its spaciousness. We mostly now use our BS Evolution with its two doors and much lower weight vs the Hyperlight.

Here are two reviews of the Hyperlight:

Backpacking Light Review — http://tinyurl.com/ya628yd

Backpacking Gear Test Reviw — http://tinyurl.com/j27st

A unique feature of the Hyperlight is the Jake's Corner at the tent's rear point — two short poles that make the two long crossing poles much more rigid. The tent also has a unique floor plan, like a flying diamond. It works well, with the crossing pole positioning the widest portion of the interior toward the "front" of the tent. The one door opens toward the side of the front point.

For better explanation of the above, see photos in reviews linked above, especially the BPL review with good diagram.

Just checked, and I don't find the Hyperlight available at the Sierra Designs website, so apparently it's going the way of the MSR Missing Link. Google turned up a "new" Hyperlight for sale at eBay per following link — I don't know anything about the seller: http://tinyurl.com/ya52ayc

Richard

Ben Tang said "When there is rain and humidity and lots of condensation clinging to the underside of the fly — my experience is that rarely if ever do the condensation drops actually drop through the mesh and into my mesh inner tent! Rarely if ever. The very few times that droplets do drop, they splatter across the mesh and wick along the side and harmlessly! And again, very, very few times".

I am interested in this situation coming from a place where condensation is common. Whether drops of condensation drip off the fly will depend mainly on the angle of the fly. Tunnel tents for example have an area in the middle where they are almost flat. What happens when they hit the inner, will also depend on the angle of the inner. The steeper the angle the more that Ben's experience will be true.
Our Laser, being a tunnel, sometimes has condensation sitting on the top of the inner. It could come through but only if you touch the wall of the tent. Being a small tent we sometimes do. If it were a mesh inner I think it would come straight through.

I wonder if a totally waterproof non breathable inner would be successful if it included enough vertical mesh panels to allow high levels of controllable ventilation to both ends and the top of the inner? Lynn Tramper said that a breathable inner was important. does what I describe count as a breathable inner?
Is it only whether a material is below the dew point that affects condensation on it or does its breathability also have an effect?

Someone posted on the Meta but I think this would do the trick: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/orsm09_nemo_espri.html

Both the 2P and the 3P would work with your weight requirements. I would probably get the 2P and spend money on that huge vestibule thats in the picture. The 2010 catalog says its weight is 3.5lbs. However, if you look at all the gear storage pockets you can get for it this could do well for all your camera gear needs etc.

Bachamp, the 2R and 3R are alpine and mountain tents, I own both and they work great in those conditions and not the recommended tents for hot humid conditions although individuals continue to purchase them for these environments and then blame the tent for their decision. I also own a Hilleberg Unna and for summer in Australia would recommend against a colder weather tent like Hilleberg as no netting is offered except at the door/doors.

Hey Konrad,

The Scarp 2 is a nice tent and has plenty of room for two people. It sets up very fast and the inside stays dry as it goes up with the fly, which was nice one stormy day in Yosemite. I like it better in its non-freestanding mode if the ground complies. Freestanding mode with the crossed poles is a bit of a pain.

I did not get all that much use with it as I got it to use with my wife and we split shortly after finally getting it.

I would take the CS up in the Sierra where I would expect to be on a lot of rock and I personally think that the CS handles wind better, but again I only had the Scarp 2 in one storm.

I just got the Hogback (Super Scarp) to use with my kids this summer. I have not even had a chance to seam seal it yet as it is either raining (CA) or snowing (MN) but I am looking forward to it.

@ Scott, "Hilleberg as no netting is offered except at the door/doors."

You can get an optional inner fot the Hilleberg that is full mesh, so it could work in hot weather.

The problem is the Price of these tents.

"Both the 2P and the 3P would work with your weight requirements. I would probably get the 2P and spend money on that huge vestibule thats in the picture. The 2010 catalog says its weight is 3.5lbs. However, if you look at all the gear storage pockets you can get for it this could do well for all your camera gear needs etc."

They look good espically the vestibule. But the fly does not go anywhere near the ground, how will this work in windy raining conditions?

Ben C, you should figure into your cost calculations that Hilleberg (and similar) tents are built to last, both in terms of workmanship and materials. The quality is second to none. UL shelters, even with careful handling, will not last as long. I realize I'm making that compromise when buying a very lightweight shelter. So I wouldn't automatically rule out the Nallo 2P with mesh interior – if anyone knows the full trail weight with mesh interior, I'd love to know.

You might also consider having 2 tents – one for winter/more stormy conditions that is a bit heavier, and a lighter one for 3 season use. My wife and I have a dedicated winter tent (Hilleberg Allak) and we're looking for a good lighter weight, wind stable and fairly roomy 2-3P tent for 3 season use. The Allak is warm, rock solid and quiet in windy and stormy conditions and very easy to ventilate. The 2 doors are also very convenient. For a similar strong and versatile shelter (though not freestanding) at lighter weight, you can't beat the Nallo 2, as Lynn pointed out. For lighter 3 season tents we're looking at models already mentioned above.

Also, given that you're carrying a lot of heavy photographic equipment, I wouldn't think of extra weight of your shelter as inconsequential. If you are going to carry all that gear you want to save weight everywhere else you can. If you are less tired and able to cover more ground, you're going to be able to carry your photographic gear and have more opportunities for taking photos.

The big sky's look good, but whats the difference between
Big Sky Revolution 2P Porch
Evolution 2P 2D with Porch fly

Note that many people didn't get their BS order for 1-1.5 years – despite being told by the owner that orders would be shipped in 4-6 (8?) weeks… Do a search of this forum, you'll find lots of examples.

Yea, looks like they are still having customer service problems…that's a shame. But to answer your answer about differences between evolution/revolution, i found this on their site:

"FAQ: Which is better – Evolution, Revolution, or Mirage series?
It is mostly personal preference… they all have the same interior dimensions…

• pick the Evolution if you want to remove the outer fly and only use the mesh netting body and poles; the poles attach to the inner body and the outer fly covers the body and poles…

• pick the Revolution or Mirage if you want to be leave the interior attached so it can quickly and easily be set up or taken down as a one piece shelter, which is especially nice when it is raining since rain will not get into the interior. The interior hangs from the outer shell and the poles attach to the outer shell.

• pick the Revolution if you want to remove the interior. The Mirage interior is permanently attached and can not be removed.

Since the poles attach to the outer shell on the Revolution/Mirage series the structure is stronger and more storm worthy than the Evolution series… also, the Revolution interiors can be removed to create a very storm worthy single wall shelter since the poles attach to the outer shell."

So my understanding is that the Evolution is a true double layer tent, where u can have just the independent net tent freestanding for camping use, while the Revolution has a removable interior netting, that is not freestanding on its own

Ben C. — BS tents are great BUT make sure you call ahead and make absolutely sure that they have tents IN STOCK before you make any purchase! If they tell you that they're out but their next shipment is coming in just a few weeks — DO NOT BUY!!!.

Do a search on Big Sky or BS and you will dig up mass graves of hoodwinked buyers who paid after being told "4-6 weeks" delivery — and then waiting for a whole friggin' year or even longer! You've been duly warned.

>>They look good espically the vestibule. But the fly does not go anywhere near the ground, how will this work in windy raining conditions?

That tent's walls are waterproof up to above where the fly starts, where it switches to mesh. Rain shouldn't get in but it might be windy in the tent?

"FAQ: Which is better – Evolution, Revolution, or Mirage series?
It is mostly personal preference… they all have the same interior dimensions…"

I just read that as well..

1.5 years, well that is an easy way to remove that option…

Does anyone know if the Optional Vestibule for Emerald Mountain SL3 would fit on the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3?

The optional vestibule will not fit the Copper Spur UL series. the zipper configuration ais completely different from the Emerald series.

"Do a search on Big Sky or BS and you will dig up mass graves of hoodwinked buyers who paid after being told "4-6 weeks" delivery — and then waiting for a whole friggin' year or even longer! "

2 years 4 months, to be exact…

"• pick the Revolution if you want to remove the interior. The Mirage interior is permanently attached and can not be removed. "

Given the history of delayed customer shipments from Big Sky, I find the name "Mirage Tent" rather ironic. :-)