mesh tent/rainfly combo?

[Brett Peugh]

Most of the time we two just cowboy camp and use our poncho/tarps.  Looking for a tent that is mainly mesh and with a rain fly that can be added later because it gets hot and buggy in the summer around here.  We don’t use trekking poles and there are not always trees nearby so maybe freestanding?  An dcheaper suggestions?

[Sam Farrington]

There used to be a lot of these (mainly mesh-rainfly-freestanding-+cheap), but not so much now.  REI has a Mombasa wedge type dome for $99, but no fly like their bug hut had. Bought a bug hut once to remodel, and might be able to dig up the fly, but it would be old, and probably 70D – heavy and maybe deteriorated: https://www.rei.com/product/897371/mombasa-bug-top-pro-2-tent

Of course you could rig a tarp over it.   Or buy a very light wedge dome with a mostly mesh inner. Hilleberg has a mesh version for its Allak, and would probably sell the fly that covers the regular version of the tent:  https://www.backcountrygear.com/camping-bug-shelters/allak-mesh-inner-tent.html

Much more money, of course. Nemo and some others have very light wedge domes that might fill the bill, but would also cost more.

Hope this is not a spoof on Roger, who is somewhat averse to “pop-ups.”  Whatever you decide on – if it has FG or alloy poles, it could be lightened with the Easton carbon poles available from Quest Outfitters – the larger diameter ones – the lighter ones are very fkexible (“bendy”) and in high winds, would probably allow the tent to flatten.

[James Marco]

https://yamamountaingear.com/products/2p-bug-shelter-silpoly (15oz)
https://www.backcountrygear.com/camping-bug-shelters/rab-element-2-bug-tent.html (~2pounds(?) listed)
https://www.backcountrygear.com/camping-bug-shelters/nallo-2-mesh-inner-tent-mesh.html (1#11)
https://www.backcountrygear.com/camping-bug-shelters/echo-ii-insert.html (14oz)
https://www.rei.com/product/147299/msr-thru-hiker-mesh-house-2-shelter (18oz)
https://www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com/products/backpacking-tent-breeze-mesh-tent (1#4oz)
https://usmantis.com/products/free-standing-net-cage-tent-bug-shelter-butterfly-pavillion (2#+)
http://bigskyproducts.com/big-sky-soul-2p-tent-cubic-fabric.aspx (Whole tent, 1#9)
A lot more…
Many more… with and without floors, freestanding and no, large and small.

TarpTent makes some nice hybrid shelters (ie sidewall mesh, floor under, tarp over) and has for a long time. Usually for not much weight more than just a mesh tent with tarp.

I use an old Go-Lite when I have to have bug protection for my self and partner (daughter, wife, buddy.) Solo, I never bring them.

[Bill in Roswell]

There are a several makers of double net tents – Sea to Summit, Yama Gear, Six Moon Designs Haven, or the combo inner/tarp of a Tarptent Stratospire 2. There are enough choices now that it can become confusing!

[Brett Peugh]

Probably looking at something more like the Mombasa or US Mantis since around here it is usually flat and we don’t carry poles nor are there always trees around.  Thanks everyone.

[James Marco]

OK, most are really heavy…in the 2pound range…

[Jeff Hollis]

You will need a frame one way or another to hold up the mesh tent, be it trekking poles or poles that come with the tent. Use basic straight aluminum poles instead of the trekking poles to save weight.

This at 24 oz but needs straight poles plus a tarp. : https://smile.amazon.com/Paria-Outdoor-Products-Breeze-Mesh/dp/B01NA9BU4Q/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=mesh+tent&qid=1554838685&s=gateway&sr=8-6

Same problem: https://smile.amazon.com/Survivalist-Ultralight-Mosquito-Shelter-Pyramid/dp/B07DK9F63T/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=mesh+tent&qid=1554839362&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-17   But offers otional fly: https://smile.amazon.com/Survivalist-Ultralight-Mosquito-Shelter-Pyramid/dp/B07DK9MJSK/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=mesh%2Btent&qid=1554839362&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-17&th=1

You can also find similar I’m sure on Aliexpress but you may have to wait 3-4 weeks to get it.

[Franco Darioli]

Maybe I don’t get it but most “American” style tents are a bug inner that you then put a fly on them.

At REI , using the $100-200 option , I get 14 2 person tents like those above

[Brett Peugh]

Actually since I am 6’4″ I probably need a tent that is a bit longer than the standard.  Might have to call REI to get options from them.  Since this is with the girlfriend we won’t hike in more than a few miles so maybe a cheapo one that weighs a pound more for half to a third of the price.  Still like the possibility of the Mombasa/US Mantis and then rigging our poncho tarps over it if it does start to rain.  That and I don’t know if I feel confident that a line supported by two poles and that is staked in is going to be strong enough to hold a fly if it gets a little bit breezy out.

 

@ Franco, I do like the Tarptents and have owned a few over the years but this is for with the girlfriend and needs to be three seasons.  Where I live and for about 3-4 hours in each direction it gets hot (80F+) at night, buggy and muggy during the summer so I need something that is going to keep the bugs out while still letting any heat from us out and open enough to possibly catch any breeze.  I can always put the fly on if it starts to rain.

[Link .]

(Actually since I am 6’4″ I probably need a tent that is a bit longer than the standard.  Might have to call REI to get options from them)

Rei make plus sized tents for taller people they have the Half Dome Plus 1 and 2 person tent, here is what one person wrote in a review

The internal footprint size of the tent was where I was most impressed. I am not small at 6’4/250, and I loved the fit of the tent

[Franco Darioli]

Brett,
@ Franco, I do like the Tarptents ….
I posted a page from the REI catalogue to demonstrate that most of the tents REI (and similar) sell do exactly what you ask.
That is : you set up the inner as a bug net (for those that do have a mesh inner as in those photos…) then add the rain fly if you need.
So in fact I was suggesting NOT to buy a Tarptent… (our integral pitch work the other way :you set inner and fly together or if you like just the fly alone then add the inner)

[Martin Farrent]

If you’re not too bothered about wind, lots of combos will work. For just under a kilo overall, I use the MSR Mesh House 3 with a 3 x 3 m tarp… palatial for two people.

Additionally, I found a used Cuben ‘tarp door’ that can cover the front of the Mesh House for protection against wind-blown rain – something you can easily make out of polycro, too. And for a lower pitch in even worse weather, you can erect the Mesh House first, then lay the tarp over it and use your partner’s second pair of poles for the tarp ends (which you can then keep somewhat lower than the height of the Mesh House)..

Even so, it essentially remains a fair-weather combo, albeit with a little emergency capability. I wouldn’t dream of taking it to remote places with genuinely dangerous weather potential. But in warm regions and on trips with predictable weather (or bale-out opportunities), it’s the most luxurious two-person shelter I own.

Of course, if you don’t use poles, you will want something like a Copper Spur Classic (lots of Mesh).

[Author]

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