Best Shelter For Wind

Have you thought about using an UL bivy? For about 6 or so oz, it would help block convective heat loss and by doing so, increase the warmth of your sleep system.

There are a lot of choices that may work for you, depending on other variables, such as if you share with a partner, cook under vestibule, etc.

The warmest are typically:
– double wall tents with solid fabric inner (such as Hilleberg, VauDe, etc.)
– Single wall tents with breathable fabric that allow for better air sealing (Black Diamond HiLight, Rab Summit, etc.)
– bivies or bivy combos.

Make sure your sleeping bag fits you snugly, so that there is not a lot of air space to rob you of heat convectively when you move.

You may also want to look at a down insulated air mattress. I was very surprised at how much warmer I slept with at least an R5 pad(s) under me. I use one throughout the summer as well, although summer for me can still mean temps below freezing.

I have spent many nights cold in a Versalight at temps near freezing sleeping on a insulmat max (similar to your BA pad) and when I switched to a down mattress I sold the Versalight as it was just too warm.

At or near your Ultralight's rating of 20f, you may find you are plenty warm with more insulation under you.

A warmer pad won't help if the wind is taking the warmth away. A warm pad minimizes conductive heat loss.

"Have you thought about using an UL bivy?"

+1 and, as Aaron posted, make sure you bag fits fairly snugly to reduce excess air space that you will have to heat. In that regard, the WM Ultralite is a pretty snug fitting bag, but you would still want to make sure that the bag length matches your height to avoid unnecessary excess air space. If you are 5'5" or less that ideally means the 5'6" length.

What makes you think it is your shelter? What are you using now?

I would guess it is your sleeping pad as the BA insulated air core is not that warm, many people find it cold under 32* or so. You might try a CC foam pad on top of it.

"A warmer pad won't help if the wind is taking the warmth away. A warm pad minimizes conductive heat loss."

Correct, but read the pad she's using. Wind is only part of the issue, though.

The BA IAC pads are well known for not performing even close to their rated R-value. I certainly wouldn't depend on one as my go-to winter pad. I'm with him that the pad is at least part of the problem, if not most of it.

To the original question though, pyramids style shelters are widely known to be very good wind-shedding shelters, or something like MLD's trailstar. Or, if weight is less of a concern, any tent described as "4-season" would do…

Sunny,

I'd recommend either a Hilleberg Akto or a TarpTent Scarp 1 (with the fabric inner tent).

Both solo tents are similar in design and both have good vestibules for storing your pack and boots inside at night. The Akto is more 'spensive and both are great quality. I do like the Akto's "eyelid" over the entrance to help keep out water when using the door but the Scarp 1 is lighter and made in USA.

Importantly both tents can be put up and taken down in the rain without getting the inner tent wet because with both the fly and poles go up first, then the inner tent.
And for lunch or rest on a rainy day you can set up the fly only for shelter.

BTW, if you want a 2 person tent both companies make those too. The Scarp 2 is very nice, and like the Scarp 1, you can also get the netting inner tent for summer. Then you can literally have a 2-in-1 tent for all seasons.

My pad may be the culprit.. any reccomendations for a lighter but warmer pad setup from a cold sleeper?

I've found the Trailstar to be excellent in the wind as far as sturdiness goes, but there is a fair gap around the edge that means it's always draughty. The gaps seem to set up some kind of effect that sucks in air through the doorway too, especially on short cropped grass or other less sheltered surfaces.

The trailstar can be set up with all the sides down to the ground, eliminating many of the drafts. The downside to this is decreased headroom. It can also be set up as a four sided pyramid which will increase the headroom. Also remember that in winter, provided there is snow, you can build a wind block around the perimeter of any shelter you have. I've been able to easily manage drafts in my trailstar. It's just a really cool versatile tarp!

I tried all the various insulated air mattress's and found the exped down air mat and the Kookabay down air mat to work very well. Due to the comfort, I use mine year round. The Exped is a bit heavier but they are bomber with care. The Kookabay is lighter, thicker, packs down smaller, and is warmer for the same length and width. Stephenson's also makes a similar down mat to the Kookabay. I haven't seen or used one, but many swear by them.

Both Kookabay and Stephenson's have more sizes to choose from which is a plus for many. I had both the 48" and the 72" exped 7 (20" wide), and now use a Kookabay 24" x 60" which is perfect for my needs.

A down air mattress requires a bit more "fiddling" with to inflate and deflate, but it's not bad once you get the hang of it.

I am assuming that you like the comfort of an air mattress. The only other pad I found adequate for warm down to 20f or so, was a Thermarest Prolite 4. If you are a side sleeper you may find that it doesn't cushion quite enough.

Tent wise, my recommendation would be to choose a single wall that can be completely buttoned up or a double wall with solid inner tent and avoid exposed mesh. For winter I use a BD Firstlight for solo and a Bibler Ahwahnee for two. I used the Scarp and the Atko, both great tents, and the Hubba HP versions are nice as well.

Sounds like the Kookabay 24 x 60 might solve my problem.

Be aware that Kooka Bay runs a fairly long lead time on their pads, there was a thread regarding this in the past week. Some were put-off because of long waits and spotty communication during said wait.

If you're willing to wait awhile for your pad, they're widely regarded as some of the best out there for warmth to weight ratio, just be aware that it won't arrive quickly.