Recommendations for a $300 winter tent.

Where or under what conditions are you using it? Winter differs so much by location. I'll assume you need something which will stand up under some snow loading?

I often use a Big Anges Copper Spur UL1 because I know how to pitch it so that it will stand up to some snow load, and so the rest will slide off.

I also have a Tarptent Scarp 2 with both the mesh and solid inners and the extra crossing poles for high wind or snow.

The Black Diamond Firstlight looks excellent also.

All of these are a little over your budget, but you might find one on gear swap or on sale.

I'm going to be camping in the mountains in Arizona from 9,500ft up to 12,000 ft. People may not know it but until the last few years the high elevations here can see tremendous amounts of snow and temps at or below Zero. I don't plan on being out in any storms but if one were to occur I'd like to be prepared for it. I have a Copper spur UL1 and thought it wouldn't suffice in the winter.

At or around your $300 price point, freestanding is going to be tough for a new shelter, but is doable used. If you're willing to consider non-freestanding, the world's your oyster.

Freestanding, look at the BD Firstlight or the Tarptent Scarp 1 with the optional crossover pole.

Non-freestanding, you could save a lot of money and weight going with a silnylon Duomid or one of the other pyramid shelters. Silnylon is better in snow than cuben fibre, as the snow doesn't tend to stick to the steep walls of the 'mid.

I had a mid and recently got rid of it. I really didn't like how involved the set up was. I have seen the black diamond first light.

Have a read of the review of the Firstlight here, and see if it'll work for your needs: http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/4-Season-Tent-Reviews/Black-Diamond-Firstlight

Heavy for backpacking, but you can get very strong mountaineering/expedition tent in that price range:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/marmot-midgard-2-tent-2-person-4-season~p~6333n/?filterString=tents~d~228%2F&colorFamily=01

With the 30% off coupon, it's $294. If you sign up for their e-mail, they'll send you a 35% off coupon which brings it down to $275.

It's a Marmot Thor 2P with a different name:

http://marmot.com/products/details/thor-2p

Very strong pole structure. Millions of guy points. All the mesh vents can be zipped shut for cold weather. 40D PU coated silnylon fabric. 70D nylon floor with 5000 mm water proof rating.

Here's a Youtube of the Thor 2P in fairly heavy wind with non of the guys attached:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO6XFHZM-ek

A lot of tent for under $300.

Thanks for the info that tent is 8lbs I am hoping for something a lot lighter. I am looking at the Black Diamond First Light or the Mountain Hardwear Tangent 2 man. I can get either the Tangent 2 or the First light for $319. The MH Tangent 2 looks like its a more solid 2 man tent than the First light.

The Tangent isn't freestanding. The Direkt is and it would meet your needs just fine if you are alone.

The Firstlight is nice, but you better have dry snow. The fabric is highly water resistant, but it wets out eventually.

The Tangent looks freestanding to me.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/tangent-2-OU9654.html

The Direct However does not

http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-hardwear-direkt-2-tent-2-person

I don't understand your comment about the "involved" setup of a mid. Stake out the four corners and pop in the pole. That's it, except for adding whatever guylines you feel necessary. Any tent you get, ESPECIALLY in winter conditions, will NEED solid stakes in place or your investment will blow away. I guarantee you that you could have a Duomid up before something like the Tangent (which is, as others have pointed out, not freestanding). The Direkt2 is freestanding but uses internal poles, which a lot of people find fiddly. It is also exceptionally short. If you are over 5'10" you may have issues. It is a very niche product for fast and light alpine climbs where comfort comes secondary to weight savings and speed. Good luck, but I think you should polish your skills and re-consider a non-freestanding shelter. An expedition tent or alpine climbing tent is just not required in the lower 48 unless you are a pretty serious alpine climber.

Section Hiker has a few good articles that may help you:

http://sectionhiker.com/can-you-use-a-three-season-tent-in-winter/

http://sectionhiker.com/tents-vs-tarps-winter-bakeoff/

http://sectionhiker.com/black-diamond-firstlight-tent-long-term-gear-review/

Being in Arizona myself, I think your Copper Spur would be fine, especially if you are picking good weather and using forested camp sites. But if you plan on doing lots of deep snow trips and are new to it, I think a Firstlight would be a good tent.

I had a GoLite SL3 with the inner, It took 12 stakes and 12 guy lines to get it set up the way I liked, even then I had to constantly adjust the guy lines so the fly wasn't touching the inner. I read that in the snow or strong winds it required even more guy lines. I found that annoying and I wasn't happy with the weight or size of it when packed up. It wasn't for me. I have a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 that is fantastic; it's light, it sets up in minutes and I can pop the rain fly on and never have to adjust it. And if I am not expecting any wind I don't even have to guy it out and it works great, however, I don't think it's a 4 season shelter. My preference would be to have a tent that I can use for winter hiking/mountaineering as I have been doing more of the latter without breaking the bank at the moment. The tent I really want is $700 but I am not looking to spend that much right now.

I do have a Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid on my wish list which appears to be a superior mid to the SL3. I am not looking to purchase that until the spring. Besides the two tents I have mentioned I have also looked at the Tarptent Scarp 2. I again would prefer a relatively freestanding tent for winter/mountaineering.

If people could keep the condescension and browbeating to a minimum that would be great :)

John,
Thank you for passing along that info. Philip at Section hiker has been a great resource for me. He is always available to help via email. He even had me call him once when I had ordered something base upon his recommendation and it wasn't working. Turned out I had missed something. He is a great guy. The fly on my Copper Spur goes all the way to the ground so it sounds like it'll be fine then and I do plan on using forested sites.

I had the Golite SL3 and got tired of fiddling with the setup also. A mid with a square footprint would be much easier, but I haven't had enough desire to try another one yet.

Here are few things I've done or am going to do with my Copper Spur:

* Stake the side (vestibule) tieouts taught so that they pull the short top crossing pole down at a slight angle. This helps keep snow from building up on top.

* Stake each of the head guylines out individually. In less severe weather, I often just use one stake for all three. For snow loading, secure each of the two top ones to a tree, branch, or pole which is higher than the tent.

* I sewed Lineloc tensioners and added a short guyline to the side tieouts.

* I've started making a pattern for a solid inner cover which covers some of the netting for even more warmth.

After a small snowstorm (maybe 5 inches?), Winter 2012, Porcupine Mtns, UP of Michigan:

This was after I had knocked snow off the top. Tent is on nearly 4 feet of snow. The light seen through the trees in the first photo is a small lake.

Andy,
Looks like the Copper Spur will do just fine then. Thanks for the photos I have found the Copper Spur to be a fantastic tent.

"Good luck, but I think you should polish your skills and re-consider a non-freestanding shelter."

This is excellent advice. Requiring a freestanding shelter omits a lot of good ones. Even a totally freestanding tent will require guy lines IF you are exposed to wind. Personally, I generally use a non-freestanding REI half dome and it handles PNW winters just fine as long as there is less than a foot of snow overnight. It sets up in a couple of minutes with just 2 stakes IF there is no wind. I only use a 4 season tent when I am above treeline in high winds.

It might be worth putting a wanted Ad
on Gear swap looking for a tent.

on one of the auction sites. It's the second largest of the bd light series. the lighthouse has 30 sq/ft of mostly usable floor space because of the steep sidewalls. the single big side door has its +/-. great if you want to use the tent in warm weather, a bit of a hassle when camping with two. price wise, they typically trade for under $300 with the vestibule. and there's nothing wrong with wanting a free standing tent if you're planning to be perched on the side of a mountain. there's a reason that's what you predominantly see in challenging alpine environments.

Richard,
Thank you!! Someone understands! Haha. Is the HiLight an updated version of the lighthouse? It looks exactly the same just a different color.

Hilight vs Lighthouse.
Similar but not the same.
The Lighthouse has a rectangular 55"x87" floor.
The Hilite tapers from 50" to 42" , 81" long.
(hint : it is a bit short on a thick mat IF you are over 6')

I am 5'9" so I'd be fine in either but the lighthouse looks bigger by a few sq ft. Anyone know where to pick one up? It looks like it is a discontinued model.

the lighthouse is 6" longer which equals an additional 3 sq/ft of floor space. at 6'3" i'd have to sleep diagonally in a hilight not to press against the ends, and taking in a second person would be very tight (but doable). the lighthouse is cosy with two tall people.

I could not find a photo of the Hilight with someone laying inside it so I made my own.
Using a puffy 6' sleeping bag the top of it is about 1.5" away from the wall on both sides.
You do gain a bit setting it up sideways.

Heath, I hope this finds you well.

I've more than passing experience with sleeping out in the backcountry winter. While double-wall bug-net tents like the Copper Spur UL1 will work (I have one and have used it in snow), a solid wall (non-mesh) is far better (think wind).

I've slept out in all sorts of tents, including no tent at -15F, and IMO/E a full fabric tent is the way to go for me and my comfort.

I've used the BD Firstlight extensively and found it to be great in snow. Mine was the older, 1st Gen. yellow fabri. However, I think I'd prefer the Hilight with its side-entry. The BD tents, Hilight and Firstlight, are ideal for those under 5'10". I'd not bother were I 6' tall.

While the single pole, tarp-type-tents will certainly work, I think it's a smarter move to use a free-standing tent when possible… it's just more versatile (think wind), and less finicky to pitch (cold and snow make EVERYTHING harder), and stronger (generally).

My favorite tent is my trusty MSR Hubba HP… ideal for about everything.

There is no "right" answer… all tents are a series of compromises weighted in one direction or the other. You make your compromise based on your needs/wants and live with it. But assuredly EVERY choice is a compromise.

Hope any of that is a help… Brad.