Dream Tent

"The breathable kind of Tyvek isn't very waterproof."

Is that the clothing grade Franco? I have some house wrap which seems pretty watertight.

Yes HomeWrap is more "waterproof" but much less breathable. As you gain "waterproofness" you loose breathability.(there are about 16 grades of Tyvek)
eVent is not that good either (apart from the weight) because it needs a temperature differential to work. If the inside temperature (with ventilation) is about the same as outside it isn't going to push water vapour out.
That is why (IMHO) GoreTex and eVent don't work well in hot humid weather.
Franco

So the real answer is, we don't need a dream tent, we just need dream weather. ;-)

I'm coming round to thinking the best option is a large cuben tarp, with mesh walls. Pitch it high on still nights so the condensation doesn't trouble you. Pitch it low on stormy nights, and spread some event rainwear over the sleeping bags to catch the drips.

Bikers use some spray called Rain-X on their helmet visors which makes the water roll right off. I wonder if that would help condensation run down to the hem edges easier so you get less drips in a wind.

Remember in Back to the Future part 2 where they pop the tiny 2 inch pizza in the microwave and 3 seconds later out pops a huge XX-Large pizza? We need a tent that does that…..and no i dont mean turning into a pizza.

In addition to the requirements already listed it need to be simple and fast to pitch, less than 1 minute.

Larry,

I think the Akto, Moment, Proton general design appears to be the fastest pitching, most wind resistant and most efficient in use of fabric.

If a light 2 layer eVent fabric was breathable enough with proper venting perhaps the extensive perimeter mesh of the TT Moment would be unnecessary, thus making the tent better for colder, windier weather.

But with eVent, mon Dieu, the price! Which is what Henry Shires is trying very successfully to avoid. Thus his 3 season Moment and Rainbow and double wall Scarp designs for 4 season use.

To qualify as a dream tent it needs to be able to be pitched in less than one minute without rushing.

Of all the tents I've seen the double rainbow is the closest. If I were purchasing a new tent, that would be it. Now, if it were lighter, breathed better, was more water resistant, cost less and had an integral pole that snapped into place with a quick shake it would be close to perfect!

Air dome, 8×8 feet base, 6 feet high. Erect by swithcing the pump on. Overpressure would drive moisture out right through slightly breathable fabric.
Needs reliable pump with lightweight infinite capacity battery. And a clever door system.

"Overpressure would drive moisture out right through slightly breathable fabric."

Interesting… I've never been encased inside a balloon-like dome. Wonder what the overpressure will do to me? And what about rain pounding on my drum-tight air dome?

Ben, you have to wear a NASA-approved space suit for one of those air dome tents. (Hey, at least the suits are bug proof!)

> lightweight infinite capacity battery

We already carry a pair of legs with us, so why not just use those? ;)

"Interesting… I've never been encased inside a balloon-like dome. Wonder what the overpressure will do to me?"

Benjamin, climbing expeditions sometimes carry along a Gamow bag. If somebody fails due to high altitude pulmonary edema, they are placed in this thing, sort of like an oversided bivy sack, and it is pumped up with air pressure by foot pump. That is equivalent to the victim being taken to lower altitude, so it is a temporary treatment.

Some tent manufacturer could market a tent that did this, but that is certainly gilding the lily.
–B.G.–

Its not an air dome but at 2.25 pounds it fits most of my criteria for a 2 person dream tent.

2.25 pound MYOG tent