Wind and semi-freestanding tents – which direction is best?

[Stephane G]

I have a Nemo Hornet that I typically use in benign conditions (late Spring & Summer). This is a semi-freestanding tent that is set with Y-shaped poleset. In windy conditions we can secure the tent with 4 guylines, one a the foot of the Y and 3 at the top.

In windy conditions, is it better to set the foot of the Y into the wind (narrower, but only one guyline) or the top (more blunt, but 3 guylines)

[jscott]

I put the foot into the wind. I assume the geometry of the tent allows the wind to disperse better in that direction. But more: if there’s wind, there’s sometimes rain as well. In a storm, I’d rather have the foot of the tent taking the brunt, as it’s closer to the ground and any leakage of moisture will hopefully be confined to the to the foot of my bag.

Jerry will no doubt follow up with is damn math and a Gear Sceptic video that will prove having the tent angled broadside into the wind  is best. Or head-first, which of course I’d be open to.

To be honest in storms I often find winds are gusting in several  directions. I tend to be more concerned with finding a reasonably wind sheltered spot and then getting the the tent up quickly to pay a lot of attention to the direction of the winds. And yes, I know this is poor technique! still I value finding a sheltered area higher than orientation of my tent. I fit the head of the tent closest to the rocks or other barriers that are blocking the wind.

[Dan]

Regardless of direction, with that tent you need to make sure that the front pole is pulled out fully. One time, I was in strong winds and the front pole was collapsing a lot, until I realized that it wasn’t pulled out all the way. Doing that made a big difference.

[Jerry Adams]

the gear skeptic discussed this in detail, blah, blah,…

(No, I have no idea, just responding to jscott.  He’s probably right, foot into the wind)

[Terran Terran]

I’d put the back to the wind so it doesn’t blow in the door. Perpendicular to the wind, I think your frame might flex.

[Megan W]

By hikers who are also hang glider pilots… not specifically about your tent ‘tho 🙂

https://slowerhiking.com/shelter/tents-in-strong-wind-what-you-need-to-know#:~:text=If%20you’re%20in%20any,or%2030%20metres%20per%20second%5D.

[Roger Caffin]

My excessively biased opinion is that pop-ups like that are not designed for and should not be used in high winds.
Yep, extremely biased.
Cheers

[AK Granola]

Super fun to watch that wind tunnel test! I like the last line too – “just goes to show when the wind is 35 miles an hour you want your tent somewhere else.”

[jscott]

I was teasing Jerry. He knows I’m math illiterate. I always learn from his posts. well, sometimes…if it comes down to trusting his advice or my own…even I’ll trust his.

[DWR D]

Since wind in the Sierra can swirl around and come from a different direction at any time, I don’t prioritize aligning my tent relative to the wind. More important for me is to have the tent aligned so that my head is uphill and little to no side slope. That is a set thing I can count on; the wind is going to change anyway. :)))

[Jerry Adams]

jscott keeps pitching me balls so I keep swinging at them : )

yeah DWR D, sideways slope is bad.  I have a small string level (0.25 ounces) to find a spot and direction that’s level.  And, I like my head to be higher if it’s not level.  Really, it’s just the place where my butt to shoulders go that’s important.

otherwise, over night I’ll slide sideways.  Or if it’s too steep I’ll slide down

[Terran Terran]

Wind blows up the canyons in the morning and down canyon in the evening, then there’s prevailing winds. It’s somewhat predictable. I don’t want wind hitting where my head rests, blowing the tent down on my face. Pointing the foot end into the wind seems obvious, though I think in a strong wind, that tent would flex back and forth like a slinky. It would also blow across the face of the tent. Then add rain to the mix.
With that looking at the purpose of a tent. It’s to protect us from the elements and bears(LOL). Sleeping, but also heating my coffee in the morning. I want my back to the wind. Like a lean to.

[Nick Gatel]

My excessively biased opinion is that pop-ups like that are not designed for and should not be used in high winds.

+100

[Worth Donaldson]

If I expect rain I try and position the door where the rain will not blow in if opened. Out on the tundra I position the door into the wind. The black flies tend to hide in the lee and quickly enter the tent otherwise. Barring the above, I position the tent where it will catch less wind to avoid stressing the poles and seams.

[Alex Wallace]

I vote for head into wind. Not due to the guy line setup, but because the cut of the fly at the foot looks like it would catch wind badly. The cut of the fly at head also looks problematic, but at least you can guy that out right at the hem. Good for condensation control, but not so great in windy conditions.

FWIW, my friend has this tent and we’ve been on trips together where we experienced moderate winds and it held up fine.

[jscott]

Hoo boy after looking at Alex’s images of the tent, I’m with Roger and others: I wouldn’t want this tent in winds or weather.

[Thom]

The wind direction would change soon after I settle in ! ha ha

thom

[Stephane G]

Enjoyed reading comments. A quick count finds

• (2) Feet into the wind
• (1) Head into the wind
• (1) Perpendicular
• (4) Other considerations (ex: level or head above feet; shifting winds etc.)
• (3) Semi-freestanding tent isn’t suitable for windy conditions

For those interested, in this video Nemo suggests pointing the head into the wind. Incidentally, I’ve asked the same question to 2 language models and both suggested head first (3 windward guylines).

Also wanted to add that over the past several years (hundreds of nights out) I remember only 2 “meaningful wind events” that collapsed my trekking pole shelter (Duplex). Once in Scotland, where the combination of strong winds, unprotected site and shallow peat-over-rock soil was too much for my kit. Once during a freak storm (strong gale, howling wind rushing downhill) where despite some shelter from trees the Duplex was knocked down whereas a BA Tiger Wall (semi freestanding) 3P withstood the night. My understanding is that the weak point was the stakes (6″ shepherd for the Duplex vs 6.5 BA — similar to MSR groundhogs) for the semi-freestanding.

Read somewhere an interesting argument WRT failure — perhaps better to have a relatively weak staking than a tear in the fabric. I am now using 6″ titanium nails — they won’t bend and pull clean — that show reasonable pull resistance. I expect to sleep well, even in moderate winds

[DWR D]

If high winds and no rain, consider pulling the poles and just letting the tent collapse, thus using the tent like a bivy bag. It’s quieter and you don’t have to worry about the tent being damaged or blowing down.

[Roger Caffin]

consider pulling the poles and just letting the tent collapse, thus using the tent like a bivy bag.
Could lead to horrendous condensation on the inside, getting your gear, spare clothing, food and quilt (or SB) wet.

Cheers

[DWR D]

“Could lead to horrendous condensation on the inside, getting your gear, spare clothing, food and quilt (or SB) wet.”

Probably not… with the kind of wind we are considering, at least some of it will reach deep within the folds of the lowered tent fabric. At least it has not been an issue for me in the past. If it’s a choice of the tent being blown down and damaged…. just let it down.

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