Gotta order light weight shelter today need help on the fly…

You're never trapped under any shelter when the weather is nice because there's nothing stopping you from cowboy camping.

Condensation may happen in the BD tents when it's raining or snowing, but the problem shouldn't be as bad because the fabric is more breathable than silnylon. The eaves allow you to open the back window and keep the door cracked for extra ventilation.

You have caught that BD tents are suspect about being waterproof. They should resist a light shower, but I wouldn't want to be in mine in a long torrent. For the record, I haven't used mine in anything more than the slightest of drizzles and didn't have a problem at all. It should be great in the snow, which is where it shines.

If you use a tarp plus bugnet, I think you have a lot more options (tarp can be set up in lots of different configurations, or left in pack if weather is good); I use a tent because I like the shelter from the wind that offers me (if I weren't such a cold wimp a tarp would appeal to me more).

Depending on where you hike, a tarp might be able to be set up without poles if you can tie off to trees.

Some shelters that people call tarps can be quite warm and combined with some kind of bug bivy/net provides the best of both worlds.

Most mids, and variations like Golite Shangri-la, GG Spinnshelter etc… Can be pitched very open like a tarp, or tight to the ground, blocking most breeze so quite warm.

The bug net/biv only needs to be used in bug season. Using the bug net/bivy makes the shelter double walled, for people who feel they need a double wall shelter.

I used a BD Hilight for a few years (and I actually didn't have too much problem with it wetting out, even in significant rain). But it's not versatile and in the world of going lighter, it is too heavy. I still have mine and occasionally use it when I'm out with the wife, but it would pain me to take out on the trail for most backpacking purposes. Tarps are unbelievable. You can see around you, you save tons of weight, and you have a variety of options in how you want to sleep. I fear you might regret the money spent on the Hilight . . . much like I did.

As far as poles go, you can always get lighter poles just for the tarp tent.

Oh, and if you're really trying to shed ounces and bulk, you should consider a netted Hexamid. Get a carbon pole to pitch it, or get Joe to build you a custom Hexamid with a tie out on the peak so you can hang it from a tree.

Or you can get Tim Marshall's new cuben fiber quilt that would probably be safe to use in the rain, and get a very small tarp to cover your head. Wear a bug net instead of getting full netting…and you can probably get that built into your quilt too.

Combine that with a Kookabay or POE Elite AC air mattress, and you could probably get your complete sleeping/shelter system around 30 ounces without any bulky hard parts.

Wow guys thanks for the prompt response. I have always found lots of great advice on BBL and it has saved me from making many purchases twice. I have to admit i did just place an order. I went with the Lighthouse as i got a great deal on it. I also placed and order for a Western Mountaineering Summerlite bag.

I decided it like this. I am kinda new to camping. I grew up doing long trips with the family as a kid and most of the New England 4000 footer list. It has since been many years and i only got back into hiking again two seasons ago but only day trips to this point. This past winter i took up mountaineering and ice climbing and plan to do a good deal of overnight stuff mostly to get to more remote places and cut down on the 3hr plus commute on a weekly basis from where i live to the mountains. I figure the firstlight is light enough for now to break the camping out ice and not worry about a lack of proper shelter. I figure it is also a dec winter tent option "i hope" ? My GF will run with me often in the spring summer and fall and i really cant see her sleeping cow boy style under the starts at least to start or just yet?

I figure as i get my feet wet "next season" i can go for the bivy bag, bug net and tarp option for myself when i travel alone and really get down to carrying almost nothing. I figure at this point my shelter is 3lbs my bag is 1.3 lbs and my pack is 1.8 un altered. So that is 6.1 total. I figure i can probably travel at like 10 lbs total if not a bit less? Def not light weight but it sure feels like it after spending all winter in a 20lb plus back climbing. The firstlight also gives me what i hope to be a decent winter shelter and about as light as one can go? BD makes one other Gore Tex tent the style of the Firstlight but it weighs in at like 5 plus lbs and that is really pushing it!!

Thanks again for the help, maybe post up some favorite tarp brands/setups and where to find em so i can start figuring that out…

Just as a thought for whenever you get around to it:

I replaced my BD tent with a MLD cuben Duomid (~12 oz.) for winter outings. I also have an MLD Alpine bivy (eVent, also ~12 oz). When I sleep on snow with no new precipitation expected, I just bring the Alpine bivy. For light precipitation, I bring the Duomid. For storms, I combine them.

For summer I use an MLD Pro Solo cuben tarp (~4 oz.) and Superlight full-net bivy (~6 oz.). Same deal for precipitation scenario.

Serious weight savings compared to tents, even single-walled ones.

i have a bd lighthouse and it's never let me down in high winds, snow or rain. for a tent it pretty much follows the kiss rule, but the vestibule (if you are going to use one) requires some fiddling. the key to success with the lighthouse is to make sure it's well seam sealed and if there's any breeze at all you stake out the corners to keep the tent from becoming a kite.

enjoy