best tent

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razorsdescent

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Im looking for what would be the best shelter i cna use for extended stays in the wilderness, bug out bag, etc

My main concern is durability

I was looking right now at the bibler/black diamond fitzroy but im open to suggestions

cost isnt a factor but weight and portability are, i can carry a very heavy load compared to alot of people but that doesnt mean that i would prefer too. also if i cnat get the peices into my pack well then what is the point?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
There are many good brands of tents out there. What size do you need? What weather conditions? A good two-man tent will weigh 6# or less, and the poles can be strapped to the outside of a pack. There are quite a few choices of solo tents too with weights at 3# or less. I'd suggest that you look at Big Agnes tents, Campmor and REI for a start. You can compare features, prices and specifications.
 
Durability is going to put you at odds with weight.

Best balance between durability and weight would be something like a Kifaru Paratipi.

But, like anything that's a compromise between Durability-Weight-Price, if you optimize for Durability and Weight, it's going to cost.

There's plenty of ultralight and light shelters out there, and on the opposite end you have the bombproof canvas GI shelter half tent that is cheap and weighs 12 pounds.
 
I've found the new REI 1/2 Dome Plus tent to be a great all season tent. I've used it in all kinds of weather from snow to sun and it has handled it all well. It is just the right size for me and my gear for an extended stay of 10+ days in late fall/early winter in the Rockies.
 
There is no best tent like there is no best knife. Depending on the requirements, I can give you a few proposals:

Extreme Winter trips/ High Altitudes (Noth Pole, South Pole, Greenland, Hardanger Vidda etc): Helsport Svalbard 3. I have this tent used in -30° C conditions above the Polar Circle in Lappland and I was very satified. When you are in a group, take also the premium Geodeatic tents in consideration eg The North Face VE25. I have also this tent used on winter trips.

Inland Kanu Trips/Snow Mobile trips/Longer Wilderness stays: Tentipi tents or Helsport Varanger Lavvu with wood stove inside. Light weight alternative without heating: Hilleberg Keron 4 GT or Helsport Spitsbergen 4. I have all these tents used on these kind of trips and they are all fine. The longer the stay in the Wilderness the more it is importand to have a heat source inside.

Offshore Kanu trips: Geodeatic tents. I use a Noth Face VE25

Hiking/Backpacking: Hilleberg Nallo series. There are no better tents for this special purpose on the market.

I hope that helps...
 
Look into Six Moon Designs (SMD), Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD), Tarptent.

These companies make some of the lightest tents on the market today. SMD even has some double wall tents for around 1lb. per person.

My next purchase for backpacking will probably be an SMD Haven for my wife and I, and the gatewood cape for solo outings, and of course I'll get the inner nettent for both...
 
I've been packing either a tarp or a North Face Tephra 22. The Tephra has a nice compression bag, packs up real small, very reasonable weight and appears to be pretty durable. I have no issues with design. Pops up in about 3 minutes, and stands on it's own, which is nice when you're on a rafting trip in the middle of a canyon made of rock or on a loose sand beach, where stakes are impossible to place.
 
well i want a two person tent for sure, and weight isnt as big as packability, id rather get more durability and lug around the extra few pounds, im not big on tents and i thouhgt they would weigh around 30 pounds but that seems to have been a gross overestimate.
 
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Bibler makes superb tents. I've had lots of tents by lots of tent makers, including the big names like North Face, Sierra Design, Marmot, etc. In my experience, the Bibler tents are clearly superior to the tents by any other maker I've found. As long as I can afford Biblers, the other tentmakers would have to greatly step-up their game, before I'd consider buying another brand of tent.
 
I can't recommend BD's Bibler series enough. I just spent the last two nights on Mt. Baker in my Fitzroy. For it's weight, 5.5 lbs or so, it's by far the strongest tent around. The canopy is drum-freaking-tight on the frame and therefore this baby sheds wind and snow like no other tent - period. I've had a Fitzroy since 2000 and I use it only for mountaineering or skiing ... occasionally for other stuff too, but it's seen some harsh conditions and it's never let me down. I just bought a Bibler Bombshelter this year and it's also an insane tent, not as strong as the Fitzroy, but pretty bomber for 3-4 people. They're beautifully made too. I will always have a Bibler/BD tent.

The poles fit into the interior of tent, which is awkward at first, but it makes sense [strength wise] and you'll learn to pop it up quickly.

Is it a tent to leave set-up in the sun for "extended periods" - nope, but no lightweight shelter is.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hang-up my Fitzroy and dry/air it out.
 
Picking a tent is all about compromise. Some of the better tents are stupid expensive. While I like light weight, and ruggedness, I am just not spending near $600 for a back pack tent.
I have been using a Eureka Solitaire. Not the absolute best quality tent on the market, but then it does what I require, for about $70.
 
I've never owned a Bibler but they would be on my very short list if I was buying a bombproof tent. Everything I've read about them says they make a great product.

I have owned tents by Mountain Hardwear, North Face and Moss (all older models). I personally like how the MH tents are designed though they can run a bit on the heavy side. The Moss tents are great products as well but a used one will usually go for as much as a new tent; some of the MSR tents are updated Moss designs but IMO they don't have the quality of a Moss.
 
Mannlicher said:
Picking a tent is all about compromise. Some of the better tents are stupid expensive. While I like light weight, and ruggedness, I am just not spending near $600 for a back pack tent.
I have been using a Eureka Solitaire. Not the absolute best quality tent on the market, but then it does what I require, for about $70.
Click to expand...

Sure, I hear you, $600+ is a lot of cash, BUT, it depends on what you're doing. You have to have the right tools for the task at hand. A $70 tent is fine in Florida, but it's not going to cut it on Mt. Washington when gusts are hitting 100 mph. A well anchored mountaineering specific tent is bloody strong and can survive severe wind and snow loads. So while it may be overkill for Florida or general backpacking, it's critical equipment for mountainous regions that have high winds and lots of snow. For general backpacking and hiking in summer, I agree, mountaineering tents are overkill. I also have a cheaper Mountain Hardwear tent that I just used for 7 days in the High Sierras and I use it for pretty much everything that doesn't involve wind and snow. It's lighter, has better ventilation, and I'm not as concerned about abusing it. It flaps like hell in moderate wind though!

I once got caught in a gale on Mt. Washington in February, my North Face Himalayan 25 was well anchored and basically surrounded by a snow wall. Around 11pm the wind started roaring and doubled in strength every 2 hours. It was scary scary stuff. By morning, the gusts were exceeding 125 mph! [info retrieved from the weather station atop Mt. W.]. The tent survived the night and suffered only minor damage, it could have been a very different situation if I had not been prepared for the situation.
 
redpoint said:
A well anchored mountaineering specific tent is bloody strong and can survive severe wind
Click to expand...

Heres a pic to prove your point, the wind totalled alot of trailers, but this MH tent stood its ground.

478958108_25a8d6adae_z.jpg


478975973_4561e8950f_z.jpg
 
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