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Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 26th, 2012, 10:51 pm
by romann
While looking for more information on a particular tent (Six Moon Designs - Wild Oasis sinylon tent) found that their cuben design weights at about 6 oz (comparing to sinylon at 13 oz)... Which led me to look into other cuben-made tents to find the lightest tents available on the market. Mosquito protection is the must for me so the simple piece of cuben wouldn't work.

In the end, found this cool link - they list the lightest options available, starting from 2.65 oz! (edit: 3.3oz digging into options available). Not sure I'm into tarps yet, but the tents they list are very light as well. http://www.tenpoundbackpack.com/gear-li ... arp-tents/

Six Moons Wild Oasis I have been thinking about came at only 54th though a bit cheaper than some lighter tents...

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 27th, 2012, 10:01 am
by Grannyhiker
Here is another list--shelters under 20 oz. including stakes, guylines and stuff sacks:
http://hikelighter.com/2011/12/29/sulxu ... mparisons/
Of course most of these are solo shelters. All are fully enclosed, meaning they will keep the bugs out. Some are tarp/bug tent combinations.

The ZPacks Hexamid Twin (which I have), with the cuben fiber two-person ground sheet added, plus stakes, guylines and stuff sack, weighs 17.0 oz. However, I haven't seam-sealed it yet, and that may add another ounce. It's still probably the lightest two-person enclosed shelter around. I haven't tested it outside yet; gotta get it seam sealed first! I have tested it in my living room and there's room for Hysson, me and a grandchild, although once the grandkids hit their teen years, it will undoubtedly become too small. (The teenager should be able to carry more to make up for a bigger tent.) I don't want to review this tent until I've spent the summer and fall in it. Its first trip will be to the Deschutes River in search of wind!

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 27th, 2012, 2:48 pm
by mayhem
romann wrote:While looking for more information on a particular tent (Six Moon Designs - Wild Oasis sinylon tent) found that their cuben design weights at about 6 oz (comparing to sinylon at 13 oz)... Which led me to look into other cuben-made tents to find the lightest tents available on the market. Mosquito protection is the must for me so the simple piece of cuben wouldn't work.

In the end, found this cool link - they list the lightest options available, starting from 2.65 oz! (edit: 3.3oz digging into options available). Not sure I'm into tarps yet, but the tents they list are very light as well. http://www.tenpoundbackpack.com/gear-li ... arp-tents/

Six Moons Wild Oasis I have been thinking about came at only 54th though a bit cheaper than some lighter tents...
I'm curious why the mosquito protection is a must? Why not just sleep with a hood net that weighs...does it even weigh?

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 27th, 2012, 3:09 pm
by Grannyhiker
I want to be able to move around freely, remove clothing layers or take a sponge bath, without getting eaten. Not all of us are comfortable trying to sleep in a head net. In addition, I need a bug-free space for my dog as well as for me! I do want a well-ventilated tent that I can see out of (which is why I gave up double-wall tents), but I want biting bugs, ants and other such critters outside, not inside! Fortunately, it's possible to have both.

Of course, HYOH, YMMV and all that! :D

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 27th, 2012, 6:52 pm
by romann
mayhem wrote: I'm curious why the mosquito protection is a must? Why not just sleep with a hood net that weighs...does it even weigh?
Well, I am with Grannyhiker here. Last summer in the Wallowas it was both hot during the day and plenty of mosquitoes. I appreciated the chance to eat dinner in the tent while looking at the scenery through the net (the net also allowed cool air in). Some nights were quite warm for closed tent, too. Mosquitoes are less of an issue when you're moving, but when it comes to a nap it's better keep them outside ;) .

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 28th, 2012, 4:03 pm
by Koda
maybe I don't know head / hood nets (never used one.... and wont) but skeeters can easily bite thru net mesh fabric when its next to the skin.... like sleeping.

I second (from experience) Grannyhiker and Romann. I've been confined to my tent for the duration of the campout from skeeters before, leg room is essential.

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 28th, 2012, 4:16 pm
by Grannyhiker
I've done considerable research on tarps and tents, in my quest to carry less. I found repeatedly that the combination of tarp + ground sheet + bug net weighs within an ounce of a lightweight fully-enclosed single-wall tent. If you want a bathtub floor, the tarp plus net tent combo weighs more than most single-wall tents. I'm assuming comparable materials here: silnylon tarp vs. silnylon tent, spinnaker tarp vs. spinnaker tent, cuben tarp vs. cuben tent, and sleeping a comparable number of persons (myself plus dog in my case).

I actually would prefer a tarp, at least outside of bug season. I even bought one for fall camping. However, since my dog prefers being enclosed inside a tent, I will probably end up selling the tarp. Better than having him keep me awake half the night!

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 28th, 2012, 4:35 pm
by Koda
Grannyhiker wrote:I found repeatedly that the combination of tarp + ground sheet + bug net weighs within an ounce of a lightweight fully-enclosed single-wall tent. If you want a bathtub floor, the tarp plus net tent combo weighs more than most single-wall tents.
interesting, I have found the same results too... give or take a few ounces between designs. I found this after I purchased my 6MD haven tarp,net combo... After the fact though I still would have made the same purchase, but its an interesting point to know if your not needing the modularity of a tarp/net combination.


I find the quest for the best UL shelter setup never ending...... I recently stopped by the Mt Hardware store front in downtown, and discovered they have officially entered the UL market (packs/bags/tent (shelter)/ etc.), like for real major brand made in aisa mass produced quality UL products. Expensive... but I can't help wonder how this will affect the US homegrown UL market especially when the other big players (TNF, Marmot etc.) jump on board.

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 29th, 2012, 6:19 pm
by Helen
Koda wrote: I recently stopped by the Mt Hardware store front in downtown, and discovered they have officially entered the UL market (packs/bags/tent (shelter)/ etc.) .
Where is the Mt. Hardware store? All I can think of is Oregon Mountain Community or the Mountain Shop both on NE Sandy.

Re: Ultralight tents and tarps

Posted: March 29th, 2012, 6:27 pm
by Koda
Helen wrote: Where is the Mt. Hardware store?
722 Southwest Taylor Street, Portland, OR

http://g.co/maps/ceb7r

inquire about their "Ueli Steck" project for their new UL designs....