Tarptent Protrail

[Sam Farrington]

Franco, re: “Well Sam , I have to disagree with you.”

The most used tent is a One Planet Goondie, modified with lighter and expanded floor and carbon poles:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/81307.

Other tent is a Wilderness Equipment Bug Dome, modified with lighter floor, carbon poles and solid DWR patches to keep out rain spatter underneath the awnings:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/40300/

The Goondie is a solo, the Bug Dome is a duo.  The new floors are 30D silnylon, and no footprints are used – no problems. The Goondie is used anywhere in CO and New England, and can button up fully. The Bug Dome is more spacious with more ventilation; but probably not for above timberline at high altitudes.

The sil floor on the Bug Dome is 6,6 silnylon from Thru-Hiker, and on the Goondie is High HH silnylon from Lightheart Gear.

Please note that both tents have good clearance between the inner net and outer fly. Some condensation can form on both the inner and outer of the flies, but never drips down onto the net. Also note that I do not perspire a lot – have always had a slow metabolism, low blood pressure, low heart rate, etc. Both my Sheltie pups fit comfortably with me in both tents, and the Bug Dome works for two people also.

As said, I’ve never detected any condensation on the inside of the inners or bathtub floor of either tent. Love the Bug Dome awnings for cooking and eating in the rain, but the Goondie is OK for that with the door partially open. These AU tents are well made, better than the US tents I’ve used. (e.g. Moss, Sierra Designs)

I think my luck with condensation may also have something to do with the spaciousness of the tents.  So many of the backpacking tents I see really hem occupants in.  It really does not add a lot of weight to make a tent a little more spacious, and the amount of fabric needed to open things up a bit is not that great.  I really question whether the industry designers of many US tents have ever had to live in them for longer backpacks, especially in Colorado or northern New England where the precip can be quite heavy.  As Woody Guthrie wrote and sang:  “California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see; but believe it or not, you won’t find it so hot, if you ain’t got the do re mi.”

[Franco Darioli]

Those tents work for you because you like them and you make them work for you…

There is nothing magical in the One Planet Goondie design that eliminates condensation.

It’s a very similar tent to the MSR Hubba, Nemo Dragonfly and BA Lynks Pass 1 just to name a few.

It’s a 2 cross pole with apex spreader design. If that was all it took to eliminate condensation most tents would look like that.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that you like it and it works for you, I do the same with the Tarptents I use but I never claimed any sort of special power that makes them the exception to the rule.

In this case the rule is that given the right circumstances all tents (without a fan or a heater) will get condensation.

 

[Sam Farrington]

Franco, re:
“…but I never claimed any sort of special power that makes them the exception to the rule…”

Neither did I. Just stated that over a long period in different climes and weather, there has been no condensation on the inside of the floor or net inners, and did suggest some reasons why other tents may have some problems in this regard; such as single wall, inadequate ventilation, inadequate space between inner and outer walls, and cramped space inside, such as the ceiling too close to your face. Don’t forget I have two dogs with me, who breath out a lot of additional water vapor.

I suggest we get off this kick. It is a drag.

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