Freestanding or Trekking Pole shelters

What do you have? is it like am 8lbs double wall or a TT double wall?

Without meaning to sound like an ass… man use the search function on this website… TONS of the posts on here are about shelters…  I can all but guarantee you’ll get your answers.

But in the meantime, you are too vague to offer any meaningful advice.

These days when I find myself asking the sort of question you’re asking, I end up thinking the following:

1.  Will the new gear allow me to do something I can’t already do?  Or will it make be better at something I already do?  Usually the answer is no.
2. Will the new gear solve a real problem I’m having?  Usually the answer is no.
3. Am I simply looking to spend money for fun and get some new gear?  Nothing wrong with this, we all have hobbies.  But I’m trying to retire early so that’s also a negative.
   

So obviously I’d say stick with what you’ve got if it works well enough.  Every time I’ve ever purchased a shelter thinking it would solve the problems of a previous shelter, I found it just presented new problems.  I’m sort of in the “better the devil you know” camp these days; I try to leave good enough alone unless the payoff is looking to be huge.

By the way, I like freestanding tents.  So easy that I don’t mind a little weight penalty. A 10 pound base vs. a 12 pound base doesn’t mean much to me vs. simplicity of setup and use.

For the JMT/sierras where occasional rain, bugs, and less than ideal staking exist I’ve been exceptionally happy with a double wall tent (MSR Hubba Hubba NX in my case).  A big factor for me personally is being able to pitch with just the innernet (wife requirement) but w/o the fly so I can see the stars at night.

I would second the fact that you can find all of what you are looking for in threads on shelters here. There haven’t been any really recent developments that I can think of that are completely revolutionary. Big part of the decision will be material based and how much coin you are willing to spend.

I went from a Fly Creek UL 2 to a cuben duplex but it did improve 3 of my wishes. More room for 2, shedding a decent amount of weight and a dryer pitch in possible poring rain. I may very well have ended up with a pyramid if I was solo. One misconception for me was my thinking the self standing shelter was easier/faster to pitch.  I must say right from the start it was quicker pitching my duplex than the DW Fly Creek and contrary to what one might think I find it a lot easier to squeeze it into smaller asymmetrical spaces. Who would have guessed.

Staking can certainly be an issue but personally I would rather take the time to stake or anchor by other means any shelter than possibly have it become a kite with a good amount of my other gear in it.

As with most gear you can always strive to find a better fitting piece of kit even if its for only one particular trip but rarely, at least for most 3 season stuff, will that mean there is only piece that will work. Sometimes you just run what ya brung.

Hi DS reading some of your other post I know you’ve been doing lots of research tell us what you want the tent to do for you, such as reduce weight more weather Worthy smaller footprint I know you mentioned Headroom is it one person or two, is it specifically for the JMT and if so what time of year.

There many tents that will get the job done in many different ways whether I’m on the JMT or the AT there’s a plethora of tents that each hiker believes is the best and reality there’s a lot of good gear that works well for many people the more you narrow your needs that easier for some on this site to guide you.

I did the JMT in October, some low temps some rain some snow some windy nights in a summer 3 season one person gossamer gear the one and also with a older style two-person Hexamid they both worked great. But so did the other folks we hiked with that had other brands.

DS,

Some good conversation in this thread that might be helpful:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/ul-double-skin-tent-for-scotland/

I liked the feedback Wisner! gave you too.