Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1 & 2 – too delicate?

2nd the tent laying flat option.

For some reason I thought the cutaway fly could expose the inner tent body to weather. Is that not a problem? That’s really the only reason I haven’t looked harder at that shelter.

I had a circa 2016 Hornet 1P and now the 2019 1P Elite with the new spreader bar for mor headroom. I’ve used both in heavy rain and wind at timberline, etc. I’ve found zero issue with the cutaway fly. Like you I was a bit leary, but after a week long trip in the Beartooth I found, quite the opposite, it’s quite storm worth and so far is the only 1P tent I don’t get condensation in.

Ditto on the Hornet Elite.

similar experiences as Brad..have spent a handful of times, with big rain…and stayed bone dry 🙂👍

In terms of laying the tent flat while using hiking poles on a day trip. In the spring I often go up to the edge of snow level and then day hike up into the snow, so I want the poles. My concerns are:

–a thunderstorm forming while I’m out and my sleeping bag getting wet if the tent is just laying down

–curious people checking out a flat tent

Maybe I’m over thinking this.

Jscott – good points I suppose.  I can think of any options outside the obvious.  If a storm comes everything will likely get wet.  I’ll think about it.  It’d be a pain to bring extra tent poles for that.

Well, now that I think about it, I’d stuff my bag in its waterproof sack and then wrap it and my down jacket in a waterproof Schnozzle, and then lie the tent flat or more likely turn it into a burrito. And then stash this in a protected spot. Phew, now I’d feel better about this.

I know that my dry bag/pack liner is big enough to fit everything including my backpack, you might be onto something there. I’ve considered what the actual risk is for something like this before. My pack weight is low enough now that I usually bring all my stuff unless it is just something  like a quick jog to get more water for camp.

Good thinking. Fair reason to bring a dry bad (pack liner, schnozzle, etc) to have a stow bag for this purpose.  I need a schnozzle (it’ll work on the Nemo Tensor won’t it?).

I’ve tried leaving the Notch lying flat so that I could use my poles for day hiking.   I wasn’t impressed.  My gear inside was in dry bags so no risk, but when it rains, water gets in and the floor is waterproof, so it stays in there until you wipe it up.  That’s just too much hassle for me.

When I’m using the Notch as a base-camp shelter, I take the Easton Poles for the Notch.  Each pole weighs 1.9 oz.  (so 3.8 oz for the pair).  I occasionally just take one of the Easton poles and hike with one trekking pole for my day hikes.

I’ve looked at the TW but just can’t rationalize buying a fragile shelter to gain a bit of extra space.  The Tarptent has been bomber, and when doing camp to camp backpacking (when I can set up with Trekking poles), the Notch is hard to beat in weight and size in my pack when compared to any other 2 wall tent.

Scott & Brad,

Thanks for the personal data on the Hornet Elite 1p. That is really the ideal scenario for me (weight & packsize). I’ll keep researching it – yesterday I found quite a bit about how it does poorly in extended rains.

ugh – you can find whatever you want to find, or don’t want to find, online & argue it.  Thanks again & please elaborate if you have more insight.

Steve

Steve, all I can report is my own experience. I have found it storm worthy. Not sure where these people were using the tent, how it was pitched, or what their experience is… I have found internet reviews are often by those with more computer experience than field experience.

I’ve spent hours in the Elite.  While raining.  And with winds plus gusts and had no issue…

caveat…my experience, with the Elite, is limited to the High Sierras ..

Thanks for the Hornet Elite 1p elaboration. Seems a top contender.

I’ve been looking at the Tiger Wall 2 vs Copper Spur 2.  Not interested in the Platinum versions because for that price I’d consider a ZPacks Free Duo.

I like the freestanding capability of the CS2 which makes site selection that much easier. Just not sure it is worth the extra ~6oz-8oz.

Thoughts?

I went with the CS HV UL2 over the Tiger Wall & am very happy.  Check out what Philip Werner has to say over at Section Hiker.  His take was CS, no question.  I’m very sensitive about weight like you, but feel I made the right choice on this one. My 2 cents.

I decided to take a flyer and bought the Tiger Wall 2.  I’ll set it up and assess how delicate it is based on where I would be using it. If it appears it may become a problem, I’ll return it for the Copper Spur.

My Tiger Wall UL1 seems to be about the same durability as my other UL tents, the only area that I would have a slight concern is that the rainfly is tight on the crossbar. Other than that, I haven’t thought twice about placement or it being delicate. Im using just a window-film ground sheet and have placed it on sticks, rocks and an area that I think there were some thorns under the long grass.