No BPL love for the Fly Creek, even for this use case?

Back when I started backpacking (1975) the only tents available were front loaders. While some feel differently, I’d not willingly go back to one over a side entry.

Also, the FC requires a LOT of guying. No thanks…

I got one for free from my parents after my dad hurt his back and backpacking stopped. So I never researched it, I just used it a couple times.

Overall I like it for what it is. Usually I use it solo.

I’d be interested to hear what others have to say about storm worthiness etc.

I don’t see much advantage (if any) of the Fly Creek over the Nemo Hornet. With the Hornet, you get side entry, better fabrics, and more useable interior room for similar weight. Weather resistance is going to be a wash between the two designs.

After owning a front entry I won’t ever use one again. I have heard from multiple thru hikers that their BA FC had issues in the rain with wetting out. I go the Hornet route also.

Yes, +3 on the Nemo Hornet.

Lotta love for the Hornet.  So 1p should be fine right (I’m 5’10” 175lb)?  Or is the 4 oz worth going 2 door 2p?  (I’d prefer 1p if ample space).  Elite or not?  Is weight the only meaningful difference (7D/10D vs 10D/15D), &/or durability?

Do these Nemo specs match your experience? (trail weight)

Elite 1p (23 oz), Elite 2p (27), 1p (26), 2p (31).

Thanks!

+4 on the Hornet vs the Fly Creek.

Several design choices are a non-starter for me.  One is the doghouse-style front entry.  So the Fly Creek doesn’t hold much appeal.  When the Hornet came out several years ago, the side entry tempted  me away from my trekking pole shelters.  I’m back to using a trekking pole shelter, but have held on to the Hornet for times when I might be base camping and using my trekking poles for day trips away from camp.The trail weight for my 1p is 25.9 oz.  At 5′,9″ 145 lbs, I’m a bit smaller than you.  Frankly, the 1p feels a bit cramped to me but I’ve learned to live with it for the weight savings.

It depends on how much gear you take and how organized you are. The 1P provides sufficient room for me. In the conditions the Hornet is meant for, I’d rather have the smaller footprint and lower weight of the 1P vs more space. In consistently rainy or winter conditions, I might like to have more space. My non-elite 2018 Hornet 1P weighs 24oz (tent body and poles only), although I’ve done some modifications. I think it was originally 25 or 26oz.

My Hornet Elite 1P “trail ready” is 29.6 oz’s (1lb 13.6 oz’s).

That INCLUDES a Tyvek groundsheet (3.8 oz’s.).

It takes 6 stakes, but I substitute 2 of the larger Nemo stakes for 2 MSR mini groundhogs (at the tent head which doesn’t require much staking… saves .2 oz’s).

Ditched the Nemo heavier stuff sacks for a Tarptent stuff sack and stake bag… poles ride wrapped in the Tyvek. (replaced TT stuff sack drawcord and toggle for lighter 1.4mm cord and mini toggle).

Ditch additional tie-outs, cut off flamable warnings and setup instructions.

My older “regular” (green) Hornet was 3 oz’s heavier set up identically, but it didn’t have the spreader bar at the head. I think the newer ones are slightly heavier?

Aside, I’m 5’10” 148lbs. Plenty of room for me, and all I need from a 2+ season 1P tent. I’m not a single wall tent fan. Give me a fly sheet and a groundcloth for when I want to cowboy camp.

Nice piece of kit Brad, & kudos for including the groundsheet.  Would you consider Tyvek more robust than polycryo?

(p.s.  I keep finding reviews of the Hornet wetting out on the exposed fly cutaway end. Darnit)

I’ve had the Zpacks Hex solo with a side entry, and a FC ultralite solo. I don’t get people’s hate for a front entry tent-and yes I know all the stated reasons but find them fairly trivial in the grand scheme of things. I takes, what, 30 seconds tops to enter from the front? Less probably. those with back issues have a reasonable complaint about having to bend down.

I liked my FC a lot, even though it’s small inside–it’s a solo tent. It always kept me dry, did great in winds, had a small footprint. None of the several I’ve owned ever wetted out and I’ve been in plenty of ferocious monsoonal thunderstorms that often lasted all night and afternoons after I’d set up.

For the vast amount of time, tho, I just sleep in my tents so interior space isn’t a huge priority for me either.

Consensus seems to be that Hornet > Fly Creek. How do they compare in high winds? How do their footprint sizes compare (when factoring in necessary guylines)?

@jscott

No particular hate for front entry shelters.  I’ve had a number of them over the years:  ID Silshelter, SMD Europa, TT Virga 2 , Golite Shangri-La 2, TT Protrail, just off the top of my head.  But over the years you develop preferences and now there a lot more choices in lightweight shelters.  My preferences at this point in time for solo use are two pounds or less, side entry over front entry, double wall over single wall,  more room over less room, poly over nylon, good weather protection.

@Steve H

Tyvek is definitely burlier than polycryo but doesn’t get much love at BPL because of the weight.  Kite tyvek is lighter than HomeWrap but I don’t care for it because it absorbs water too easily.  Lawson Kline at one time sold a hard structure Tyvek that is as light as kite tyvek and is still my preference when I use a groundsheet.  Not sure if you can find it anymore.

Lawson Kline at one time sold a hard structure Tyvek that is as light as kite tyvek and is still my preference when I use a groundsheet.

Dondo, most interesting. You’ve now got me deep in google fu… :)

https://shop.materialconcepts.com/prodcat/hard-tyvek.asp

Hope you can find it, Brad.  I could use another piece.

Dondo, added the link above.

Thanks for that, Brad.  Also found this.

My piece of Tyvek from 2012 has shrunk a bit from machine washing and drying.  Otherwise, it’s still in great shape and is still big enough to work with the Hornet .

Well here are another few considerations: About 8 years ago I pitch-compared a FC2 to the Mountain Hardwear SuperMega UL2 as they are very similar in weight and shape. But I discovered a critical difference: the FC door-panel leans inwards and was therefore just too short for me (6′-1″), whereas the UL2 leans outwards, and that is just enough of a difference to make the interior sleeping headroom tolerable for me. Actually I manage just fine with a second person if we both have tapered pads. A second less important difference was that the UL2 poles stake out all the corners whereas at the time the current model of the FC only had a center spline pole with loose ends that had to be staked down.

But this topic also reminds me that I have a few shelters I don’t use anymore, including the UL2. Look in the For Sale category if interested.

I have a Fly Creek 2P tent.  I got it on sale and for most part like it.  Packs small, light and is plent roomy as one-person shelter and most importantly, keeps me dry.  Minor quibbles, not free standing and takes a lot of staking.  If I had to do it again, might get the Copper Spur- I like Big Agnes tents.

Because of the large hooped ridge pole, some folks miss the fact that the Fly Creek is a glorified pup tent.  Behind the door, the side walls slope directly from the ridge pole to the ground.  So not only is it an A-frame, but its height shrinks toward the rear.  The tent does open up a little bit under the door, but you can’t fit all of yourself under the door.

Unless you get the very expensive DCF version,  you will probably be getting silnylon, which in moist weather will sag, and further decrease the inside space.   If there are pullouts further up the side walls, check to see if they also pull out the inner net walls.

Add to that the very low HH waterproofing, consistent with the reported leakage.    The Nemo is one of the better superlight tents, and there are others, like the Big Sky tents.  And if you want DCF, there are much better DCF tents, such as those made by TarpTent.  Just please be aware that lowering the weights of the fabric tents from 20D down to 15D, or even lower, will result in less resistance to punctures, abrasion and even tearing.

Thanks for all the great input.  I think it’s still an option if purchases at REI for ~ $400 2p Platinum.  Basically one year to test it.  But I prefer to buy a keeper not a tester if possible.  I believe you that say you like & prefer the Hornet with no rain issues – but most seem to be out west & I’m not convinced the fly cutaway is a great design.  FC HV2, Nemo, Tiger Wall 1, & my top candidate the Notch Li.

Again thanks.

I’m not a fan of the Fly Creek but the front entrance isn’t all bad. There are many sites where I’ve set-up in a non-standard tent site (not in a camp) and the front entrance can be used in places where a side entrance would be a problem.

@kevperro

Thanks – I thought that might be one (of the perhaps few) advantages of front entrance. Tuck it in narrow.

Why not a fan (too many guy outs, sloped walls?…)

I do have a FCUL2 and based on your criteria, yes, it’s fine as a 1 person tent. But I hate Hate HATE front entry tents, which I did not realize until after I bought the Fly Creek and used it a few times. I don’t mind some of the other aspects, such as guying it out. I don’t need a fully free-standing tent. But I just don’t like the contortions involved in getting in and out. Maybe I’m just old and cranky.