Tent take 2. Not happy with Solplex, next option?

You might get better suggestions if you described how much room you need.

For example, a person six feet tall might state that they require seven feet of interior length and four feet of width.

–B.G.–

If you don't mind the weight, a cuben DuoMid (12oz) + solo inner (8oz) is an awesome combo at 20oz. You'll have a lot more space, and a nice vestibule area with the solo inner just occupying the back half of the pyramid. It's also fully double wall so you'll mitigate condensation issues.

At 6'3" I find the Twin to be palatial when hiking solo with plenty of room to lay out my gear. I think the Duplex is a nice looking design but my largest concern is that the floor is cuben fiber which has a poor reputation when it comes to abrasion. I have a cuben fiber groundsheet which seems to be holding up well but I haven't tried Greg's test yet to see if there are any micro holes starting to form.

Well…the duplex has a 1oz sq/ft floor….greg was using a .74 oz floor…so there is that difference.

I am not familiar with all the options being presented here. But I will chime in just to say that when you go from a single person tent/tarp to a 2 person you do get more room, obviously, but you will need larger flat areas clear of rocks and roots to pitch it.

In my case, I mostly camp very high in the mountains and even finding a nice flat spot for my solo tap is a challenge at times.

Another way to say it is a smaller tarp/tent gives you more camping options than a larger one.

Seems there are always pluses and minuses to everything…

Billy

"Well…the duplex has a 1oz sq/ft floor….greg was using a .74 oz floor…so there is that difference."

True. It may be fine but we'll know more/better in a few years to see if this design will stand the test to time. Again, from what I can tell, my groundsheet seems to be holding up just fine. It receives more protection from the ground with paired with the Twin since it's laying over the bug net but I also use it under my tarp and cowboy camping.

It's mentioned a few thousand times here in the forums but the trick is to take the extra few minutes to clear the ground of pebbles and sticks before laying down on it.

"Well…the duplex has a 1oz sq/ft floor….greg was using a .74 oz floor…so there is that difference."

I think the only difference will prove to be length of time. They are the same material so both are subject to piercing and abrasion. So I would expect the 1oz to last a little longer given the same conditions.

Of course all materials.. coated nylon, silnylon, etc… will have issues with ground abrasions and piercings eventually. (that's why some people take ground cloths to protect the bottom of their tents… so take a ground cloth to protect your Cuben???) Other materials can be coated to reestablish waterproofness. I know that Cuben can be repaired with urethane seam sealers. I wonder if these Cuben ground sheets can be sprayed with urethane spray to renew their waterproofness???? Of course, that would add weight.

Billy

I have the 2014 Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum and am happy with it. Mine weighs in at 2 lbs 1 oz (including stakes), same as their web site states. I’m 5’11” and found the length to be fine. My sleeping bag foot touches the mesh sometimes but in a variety of conditions this summer (including rain, heavy coastal fog) the mesh always stayed dry (sleeping on a reg Thermarest Prolite). Not a ton of room to sit up, but OK. Vestibule sufficient for my pack and boots. I would buy it again.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I am definitely intrigued by the Duomid + Inner, that may be my next option. I just want to have enough room to get off my pad and spin around and sit to put my shoes on through the door. I had to try and do that on my pad in the Solplex and it was just not comfortable.

I should also mention I'm 6'1, and would need to be able to sit up in it.

Given your height, you may prefer the SoloMid XL. The inner net tent now has 'boxed' ends so more usable space and it would be the same one for both DuoMid and SoloMid XL. The difference is that if you don't use the inner, the SoloMid XL has more usable length.

Have you considered the SMD Skyscape?

My guess is it might pose the same issues, but worth checking out. See if they have one in stock at the Mountain Shop to try out.

That's definitely an options Dave. The Solomid XL and Duomid with inner combinations are topping the list ATM.

I'm 6'2" and have yet to find a shelter I like better than my Hexamid long tent. I probably require a bit more space inside than most on here. I've had a Fly Creek ul1, a regular Hexamid, and a Skyscape x. If it's bug season that's what I'm sleeping in.

Sorry, what do you mean Hexamid "long"?

Curious myself but Google found it.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=67125

http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/hexamid_long.shtml

Heh, odd. had never seen that before. I think the Duplex would be better for me than that one.

I'll continue to sing praises of my Yama Mountain Gear Cirriform SW 1P. I'm 6'4" and had trouble finding anything that would fit me without rubbing the walls. I had previously tried a number of both big brand and cottage tents. I had Gen tailor this one to 102" long (8'6") and I couldn't be happier, more room than I need so I actually have a lot of space to store gear inside or throw my arm over my head when I sleep which I often do. Also, while front entry is admittedly a PITA I really appreciate the extra foot and head room it gives me, and being able to sit in the vestibule in the mornings to cook and put my shoes on is really nice. Changing inside the tent takes some practice as you have to do it laying down but its really not all that annoying, there is enough room that I can pull my knees up to my chest without rubbing the tent.

my cirriform with guylines and stuff sack weighs 645 grams / 22.75 ounces.
polycro groundsheet and stakes are another 142 grams / 5 ounces.

That is a size Large NeoAir XLite inside my cirriform.

5AM making coffee in my vestibule.

That looks quite good Joshua. I've liked the look of the Cirriform for a while, I'll add it to the short-list with the Duomid. How's condensation?

"front entry is admittedly a PITA"

Would it be easier if you used both trekking poles at the front as an A frame and a carbon arrow shaft for the rear pole?

In my opinion I don't think double pole front entry would help. My gripe comes from sitting in a front entry tent to take my shoes off and then having to spin 180 degrees before I could start laying down. Likewise in the morning I had to sit up and then spin around in what felt like a game of twister, sure seems like small annoyances but do it a couple times a day on a week or longer hike and it got really old quick.

I picked up a SoLong 6 recently and love it. Plenty of room and still under 2 pounds.

I'm doing fine with my Solplex at 6'. Not much room, the biner is a pita if having to clip the other side fast and it is tough to get into without bugs getting in and zipping it up quickly. But, no spinning around as was just mentioned to get in and out of or rolling over, similar to my old TT Squall. I bought the Solplex for better overall weather protection and the light weight. I don't use trekking poles, so needed a low total shelter weight. I use a gc, so had a lighter weight floor installed to save a little weight. I've stayed dry in it except after a rainy night where I had condensation inside by morning. Have to deal with it, I'm in it for the low weight and willing to compromise on space.
Duane

I just got back from doing the Rae Lakes Loop. Here is a picture of the shelter I used. It's an MLD Duomid with a solo innernet. I love this setup. In rain, you can set up the mid quickly first then get inside with all your gear and set up the inner while everything stays dry. You can also get a duo innernet for two people. The solo inner is tight. I can sit up and change easily enough but it's not like having a large 2 person car camping tent. The vestibule area is huge is this configuration which I really like. If you want more interior space, you can just get the duo inner which would be palatial. You'll lose the huge vestibule though. The mid in this picture was lent to me by a very kind person because I'm waiting for my Locus Gear Hapi still. In the picture it was set up in the park, not Rae Lakes. ;-)

Just curious how does the solplex compare to the notch for interior size? I can't find the square footage of the solplex the notch is 15.2. I'm 6'2" and find the notch is plenty big for me. Curious if the solplex would work for me. I doubt I would shell out 700 CDN for it though . . .