Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 in high winds?

My brother was using his Fly Creek in Zion during a wind storm, during which
– his son's Six Moons Refuge was battered even though using all of the extra tieouts
– a Tarptent Rainbow broke a pole
– a big tradional car camping tent blew away

The Fly Creek held well, and I can't recall if he used all of the tieouts. If you get the tent with the tail into the wind, there is not much of a profile.

Tom

If you're going to keep the tent for a good long while, what would you think about getting some extra guy out loops sewn on? I didn't see one located along the ridgeline, so that's the first one I'd add.

Chris, you are not going to be camped up on top of Glen Pass. Wherever you camp, you ought to be able to find some spot protected from the worst of the wind. Then, if you simply stake out and guy out the tent to its design, it ought to be fine. I camped in the Sixty Lakes Basin one time, and I thought that I was in a hurricane. Then I moved my tent about 50 feet and it was no problem at all.

–B.G.–

In 45 mph wind, with the tent fully staked out, the center pole was almost blown over flat onto the ground and the tent was uninhabitable. In this kind of wind I think I really needed to somehow tie the center pole in place in order to keep it upright.

In 30 mph wind, with the tent fully staked out, the center pole stayed mostly upright and the tent was inhabitable.

The most important thing is to pitch it so that the foot of the tent is into the wind and use all of the guy lines.

I typically pitch mine without the additional guy lines on the "Y" part of the pole system. I had the wind shift to broad-side on the tent at 5:00 a.m. one morning and the side peg was blown out and the Fly Creek almost collapsed. I re-staked the side guy line and added a rock to it and also added the guy lines for the "Y" pole support. The tent held up fine although I stayed awake after that because I wasn't sure it was going to survive as there was considerable deflection of the ridge pole. Even with all guy lines in use, when hit broad-side, it deflects quite badly. I've never had an issue with wind when the foot of the tent pointing into the wind.

+1 to what Bob said. I've used this tent for years and I've never had an issue with wind. But I'd definitely add a rock pile to my stakes if wind is a consideration.

Actually the Fly Creek IS my foul weather tent…

The main weather problem with that tent is the way the door is formed. Water runs off the top and drips directly through the door onto the tent floor. But, that is not a wind issue.

–B.G.–