Tent/backpack/rainpants for Torres del Paine

[I’m Protik’s Alter Ego]

Hi guys,

First post here finally! We are going to South America for 3 months in March '15 and planning to hike TdP circuit and Inca Trail while we are there. My current 3-day pack weighs ~35 pounds (wife's one 22 pounds) however do not think I can sustain this for 7-10 days and enjoy the hike at the same time.

In order to reduce weight/upgrade, I would like to ask whether we should replace the following gears for TdP:

1. Tent:
Own: Hilleberg Nallo 2 + footprint (6.17 pounds)
Replacement: Tarptent Double Rainbow + footprint (2.75 pounds)

2. Backpacks:
Own: 2 x North Face Terra 60L (4.4 pounds each)
Replacement: Wife – ULA Circuit (2.43 pounds); Myself – ULA Circuit vs Catalyst (3 pounds)

3. Rain pants:
Own: Montbell Rain Trekker Pant (Men's), Patagonia Torrentshell Pant (Women's)
Replacement: Arcteryx Beta AR pants

– How does the Double Rainbow compare to Nallo 2 for 4-season usage (specially for TdP)?
– I can't decide between ULA Circuit vs Catalyst for my go to hiking pack. Would Catalyst be an overkill? Average hikes we usually do are ~3-5 days with my current 60L pack being full with 35 pounds.
– For durability, which ULA backpack material should I opt for (Robic/500 Condura/Cuben)?
– Currently we pull up the rain pants when needed however unsure whether we should invest in the shell Beta AR pants (conscious of weather/abrasion).

Thanks in advance!

[I’m Protik’s Alter Ego]

Any heads up would be much appreciated..

[Andrew Martin]

While I did not bring a Tarptent down there last Dec, I did see both DR and Scarps set-up and resisting wind quite nicely on the circuit. Since both tents pitch very tight they don't flap much in the wind.

However, I would be concerned with condensation and drips with single-wall shelters down there. The weather in TdP is all over the place and there are often days when it drizzles or rains on and off most of the day. Steady rains of a few hours in duration followed by sun-breaks are quite common. The double-walled tents I had used down there often had their rain-fly soak through under the constant wetness and high relative humidity.

[I’m Protik’s Alter Ego]

Thank you. The Nallo 2 is double-walled but does not seem to handle condensation well. I think the DR has low condensation resistance too.

What kind of rain pants did you use there during the trek? Not sure whether we should purchase the Beta AR shells (Gore-Tex) or take our current rain pants.

Cheers

[Franco Darioli]

About the only thing you can do to reduce condensation is to increase ventilation, yet we should all know by now that even a tarp gets coated ,on the underside, with condensation including the ones made with that magical fabric…
A larger volume tent will somewhat decrease the effect of condensation caused by body heat or exhalation but that is about it.
Anyway with a single wall shelter like the DR you can just wipe the top down (I use a disposable kitchen cloth) .
Even beside a river on a damp night just by wiping before I go to sleep and then when I wake up (usually for a pee or look around) once or twice a night is enough not to get the fly to drip on me.
Others prefer to use the optional liner.

[John Mc]

These are questions that interest me since I plan to head down sometime Dec., Jan. or Feb. to do the circuit too. From what I understand we're required to setup on wood platforms…no exceptions. There was a previous post of a Tarptent, I believe it was a Stratospire 2, set up on one of these platforms. The author describes how he had to anchor the tent to prevent it from blowing away. He talked about other tents that did fail from the high winds.

I plan to bring a Big Agnes Flycreek 2. Why?…because I happened to get a new one for $169 and I had a set of carbon fiber poles made for it for $135. That brought the tent down to well under 2 pounds. It's semi-freestanding and two walls. I hate to move in a tent and get wet every time I touch the sides. I had a Contrail and I sold that pretty fast. I have a Lightheart Cuben Solo also, but I'll keep that at home…although I love that tent I think it'll be hard to support on a platform.

I plan to bring Gore-tex pants made at LukesUltralite.com. They weigh 5.5 ounces. I have a nice Rab eVent jacket under 10 ounces for the upper body. I haven't decided which pack yet. I'll pick between three I already have; Zpacks Arc Blast, Osprey Exos 58, or the Gossamer Gear Mariposa.

[Link .]

I posted a link earlier to the the thread by Steven Parks that John is referring to in another POST by you and it was a Tarptent Notch not a Stratospire 2. THIS is a great series of articles to read if you haven't already . Christine has a really good blog on her gear experiences from traveling the world Gear thoughts …… What breaks when?
David Noll says THIS is a really hepful site.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

TENTS:
From Tarptent you can choose several 2 person tents. My choice for 4 season is the SCARP 2 – BUT I shortened the X-ing poles and attatched them Inside the fly. (See BPL's Winter Hiking page for my SCARP 2 mod photos and explaination.) Be sure to prepare 4 guy lines with tentioners for fast rigging in case of a severe wind storm. This mod, with 4 guylines, made the SCARP 2 bombproof in 65 mph winds. Or, if that seems like too much of a PITA, just use the X-ing poles externally per the original design.

At the least I'd buy a heavy duty main pole from Tentpole Technologies. (About $45.)
They made a good one for me with thicker tube walls and larger tube diameter. PM me with any questions.

RAIN GEAR:
Arc Terryx is great gear but THE priciest by far. I bought REI's eVent Kimtah parka and pants for a LOT less and really like them, especially for backcountry skiing.

P.S.
BACKPACK:
Yesterday I saw the new Osprey EXOS 58 pack for the first time at my local REI store. It will definitely replace my ageing REI Cruise UL 60 pack. It can, unlike many UL packs, haul 40 lbs. comfortably. Buy a UL ripstop silnylon rain cover for it. And go to Wally Mart for the Outdoor Products 3 pack of lightweight, roll-top waterproof stuff sacs. (I know – Wal Mart!)

[Andrew Martin]

+1 for the REI eVent rain pants. I got lucky didn't use them except for one afternoon.

The wooden platforms that folks are referencing aren't universal. I only saw them at Refugio Curenos and El Chelieno. I might consider trying to bypass Curenos altogether since you can easily get from Torre Norte or Torre Main to the french camp in one longish day.

I wouldn't bring a Fly Creek UL with carbon poles to Patagonia. That is a tent notorious for being bad in high winds and CF poles are weaker under the kind of stresses high winds put on them. In fact, Tarptents were the only UL tents I saw down there period. The rest were 4-season mountaineering tents of some sort or another due to the winds and wind-driven rains.

[Rob P]

You might already be aware of this, but the Beta AR's have an internal gaiter around each ankle. I don't think their LEAF gore tex pants have gaiters, but they are more expensive.

Don't know if this would be an issue for you or not though, just thought I'd add this just in case.

[Jennifer Mitol]

I spent a month in Patagonia during February two years ago and spent 11 days doing the circuit, taking every side route we could.

I used my Fly Creek UL and it was fine. The Double Rainbow would be more than sufficient. On the off chance you do camp at Cuernos and need to use the platform (the only place I saw where that was the case) just bring some extra line to tie out to the nails on the platform. We just hiked right past it and stayed at Chilenos…which in 2012 didn't have platforms. Cuernos is very exposed, too…whereas all the other camps are pretty sheltered.

The pack size will depend on the rest of your stuff. I think the circuit is a huge pack…so depending on how much stuff you have will depend on which pack you bring. As for the robic vs cordura…unless you plan on literally dragging your pack behind a yak for weeks on end the robic is very robust material and I can't imagine needing anything more than that

What is wrong with the rain pants you have? I used a cheapo pair of REI "waterproof" pants and they were perfect. Not sure why you would want to mortgage your house for a pair of goretex pants. The ones you have look perfectly fine.

Have fun! It's a great trip!!!

[Max Dilthey]

No offense meant to any individuals here, or in any thread. Just noting:

I see comments on "making due" or "why not use X?" in regards to saving money on backpacking gear all the time. Rarely is it super helpful. it's not that you're wrong, it's just that some people enjoy investing in stuff for backpacking and want to make that decision in an educated way.

It's BPL. Counting a fraction of an ounce is perfectly accepted. Paying for it should also be. If you're in a cuben shelter and you're judging someone for going arcteryx, lower your stones before you break a glass wall!

That being said, the Arcteryx pants will simplify rain for you. Instead of a storm turning your day into a process of planning what to dry, where and how to dry it, what layer to wear once it wets through, how cold you'll be— all of these being-wet-related questions kind of fade away because the Arcteryx shells don't wet out from most storms.

So, if you have money to invest, and you go Arcteryx, you likely will not be disappointed at all and if it rains, you could be really glad you bought them.

I would also look for a branded NeoShell fabric over the Arcteryx if it exists. I got an EMS anorak for $125 on sale, and it's 3-layer NeoShell, and I'd put it toe-to-toe with an Arcteryx shell any day. It's about the fabric, not the name, and most fabrics like Gore-Tex ProShell are not limited to one brand. You could save a lot of scratch going with something "generic."

Good luck with the loop!

[matt brisbin]

I'm also looking to trek the circuit around Sept and am wondering how well, for the people that have gone, a zpacks hexamid solo would hold up? Love the tent to death and am fine managing condensation if I get a few raining/humid days in. My only concern is staking it down properly for it to hold up to those winds I keep reading about.

Thanks,

-matt

[Jennifer Mitol]

Eh…..

I've used the hexamid for a season and honestly, I'm not sure I'd want it on the circuit. A full 'mid yes, but with that exposed front I'm just not sure that wouldn't end up being the sail that the cuben was originally designed for.

Having said that, there really are only a few spots that are windy – and you can bypass all of them but one (Camping Seron).

Sorry, but I probably wouldn't take it.

[matt brisbin]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm leaning towards not taking it. It's pretty solid for 3-season sierra summer weather but I'm hesitant when it comes to potentially nasty conditions.

Thanks for your response, just looking for as much info as I can get. Doesn't seem like many people go in Sept (when I can get the time off) so it should be rather interesting.

[Stephen Parks]

I was there in late Nov. (link already linked ;)) I used my Notch, and would be inclined to trust any other TarpTent with similar structural integrity. Just replace the lines with full 3mm line! I only saw platforms at Cuernos and Chileno, both of which could be avoided. I had no problems with condensation, though that might depend on conditions. My friend used a Fly Creek UL 2 and had no problems, even though he would only push the stakes in halfway.

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