TT Hogback or similar

Matt, check out my and two other reviews of the Hogback at http://tinyurl.com/lxyfb4w

In general, good shelter for two adults, one child, and a small dog. Great tent.

We've been very happy with our Hogback, albeit in tropical conditions with moderate winds. Very roomy for two adults and two kids. Vestibules are smallish.

Easy (very easy) to erect, unbeatable weight-to-usable space ratio, well ventilated, two entrances.

Can't comment on its performance in weather which needed the crossing poles. However I do own several (OK many!) TarpTents and I would trust Henry's designs. Our last 3 months of 2012 were spent in a SS2 very happily.

Yes, I'm not too worried about the strength of the hogback with a crossing pole added. I've sat out some pretty bad storms in a double rainbow, which was barely up to the task with the one center pole. The hogback has quite a bit more material, but I imagine that the crossing pole should do a lot to stabilize it…so it is not so much a matter of surviving, but how quiet and secure it feels. Again, I imagine no worse than the Copper Spur – but I wouldn't mind hearing from those who have been in real weather (there are nice detailed reviews in backpackgeartest – thanks Richard, but they didn't refer to much in the way of challenging conditions).

My experience with the Scarp 2 and the DR have left me with just a few small reservations, as the zippers often require 2 hands because they are sharp angles in them, or pinpointed high tension. I also found some of the velco tabs and connectors to be a bit fiddly, but one gets used to those things with time.