BA Stringe Ridge or Slater?

I have the Slater and really like it but I wouldn't consider it a 3+ season tent. Yes, the solid inner provides additional warmth but the structure of the Slater (poles and staking), is exactly like the Seedhouse series. The Slater would need a beefed up frame to make it snow worthy IMO.

Ryan – if you plan to use in in the PNW then I assume you're expecting wet heavy snow at times. Freestanding has the advantage of good static snow load (better for base camp use / leaving the tent unattended during the day), but at a weight penalty over other designs. The 9.6mm poles on the String Ridge will be stronger than the 9mm poles on the Slater. But where both designs fall down for me are (1) inner pitch first, (2) the use of plastic clips, which could get brittle in cold conditions, and (3) thin floor (considering dog claws). Oh, and the vestibule still needs to be staked out so neither are truly free-standing, just mostly so.

I've really come to appreciate the tunnel design with pole sleeves on Hillebergs. Take a look at a Nallo 2. It's in the same weight and price range as the String Ridge, and is truly 4 season capable. Having the highest point at the front rather than the rear means you pitch the foot into the wind, so the door is more protected. The poles sleeves make for fast reliable pitching, and it can be set up quickly, all in one, or outer first if you unclipped the inner when breaking camp. The floor will stand up better to claws too. It's only disadvantage is static snow load ability. But the walls are steep, and you may just need to knock the snow off the roof from inside occasionally in the night.

These are things I didn't even think about. I have to do more research.

Thanks, Stuart!

Another possibility of the Big Sky Chinook 2P. I got one recently (took 7 months because they seem to have trouble getting the optional 3rd pole to making it freestanding.) It is fully freestanding with the 3rd pole and on my scale comes in under 4 pounds. I'm tall and it has plenty of headroom and length. It is funny, I used to have the slater 2. I used it a few times in winter about 10 to 15 degrees and I did appreciate the solid inner, definitely was nice when the wind was howling. As someone else said, it can't really take any sort of snow load and the way the door is so slanted you can't open it without getting snow in if there is any on the roof (I know because this happened to me when we had a light snow one time when I used it in February on the AT). Also for someone of my height 6'6" it was a little lacking in headroom. If you are not planning on getting snowed on and not being in really high winds then I think it actually makes a decent winter tent for an area like the mid atlantic where we really don't get too much snow and most anywhere you camp will have some wind protection. I ended up getting rid of it because I got a Big Sky Evolution with the solid inner as my winter mid-atlantic, no heavy snow tent. Much more roomy and easier to set up but once again I wouldn't want to get snowed on it it. That is what the new Chinook is for.

Mike, I thought so. Thanks for your input!

Well, after a lot of research, I pulled the trigger on a Nallo 2. I think my dog and I will be very comfortable in this tent. It should be coming in next week. Stuart's input really made me think about setting up, and the Hilleburg really seems nice in that regard.