4 ms·

> All things considered this tent, at less than 3 pounds, is one the lightest 2-person, freestanding, tents around that can handle four-season conditions. 4-se

> All things considered this tent, at less than 3 pounds, is one the lightest 2-person, freestanding, tents around that can handle four-season conditions. 4-season tents are made to handle wind and snow accumulation, which this thing definitely would fail. It's a fun exercise for bushcrafting but don't kid yourself and think you can go 15k+ feet up a mountain and survive 50mph wind gusts like you could in a Hilleberg or other true 4 season tent. I'm a big fan of tarps and tents with pyramid designs--the MLD trailstar is an awesome shelter that's proven itself well in windy, rainy Scottish highlands and is a favorite shelter for backpackers there: https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/trailstar/ https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/trailstar/

mikestew 5y ago
One of the Hillebergs I have is four-season and weighs 3 lbs., including the poles. I can have it up in ten minutes, tops. The tent in the article might weigh 3 lbs., but that doesn't include the tree branches one is going to have to scrounge for to make tent poles. So if, as you mention, one is at 15K feet then snow accumulation is the least of one's worries if you can't find any tent poles above the tree line. :-) I mean, it could be a cool design to play with but it has a somewhat limited range of usefulness.
- ghaff 5y ago
  It's a little like igloos and snow caves. Fun to play around with once or twice but not really practical in general.
  - jupp0r 5y ago
    Snow caves can be quite practical if the snow and terrain are suitable for them. Not a reason not to carry a tent but I've built snow caves even though I had a tent with me because they are so much more comfortable.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Hence "in general" :-) Snow caves are probably more practical than igloos for a night or two but can still involve a fair bit of physical work and hence getting sweaty. Don't really disagree that snow caves can sometimes be fairly practical in the winter in the right snow conditions.
  - rkk3 5y ago
    They are very practical in the extreme cold, they will keep you close to 0C/32F when its -30 outside.
- oblib 5y ago
  In the first video I used my hiking poles in the front corners of the tent and I think I used two short sections of old tent poles, probably fiberglass from an old cheap tent, in the back corners. In the 2nd video I didn't use any poles or sticks. I tied the upper corners to tree branches with string. So, you're carrying two short poles and your hiking poles and string and pins to stake out the tent. That's not anymore than any other tent and less than some if you're carrying hiking poles too. I'll also point out that in our Ozark forests you won't ever be 15k feet when backpacking and tree branches are abundant most everywhere here. But, the real take away from this video should be that there's room to explore how these heat reflective materials might be used in cold weather backpacking clothes and tents. Not that a Bakers Tent is the best design, although it's a very good one for the Ozark forests and many other places, and for using that reflecting material.
oblib 5y ago
> 4-season tents are made to handle wind and snow accumulation, which this thing definitely would fail. I have to say you're mostly wrong about that. That tent design is a few hundred years old and about as proven as any design can get. And I left that tent setup for about a month in my yard where that video with my grandson reading the temp was made during some pretty nasty weather. During that time we had a snowstorm that dumped about 5" of wet snow and the next morning when I checked on the tent the roof was sagging and the walls were buckling from the weight but it was still standing. I scraped and shook off the snow and it sprang back into shape. I do doubt it would hold up in 50+mph winds on a bald peak but I don't know of any tent that can that would warm up to 80+ degrees on a below freezing day. The point is there is no perfect tent for all conditions and most avid backpackers I know own more than one tent and choose them meet the conditions for the trip they're taking.

mikestew 5y ago

One of the Hillebergs I have is four-season and weighs 3 lbs., including the poles. I can have it up in ten minutes, tops. The tent in the article might weigh 3 lbs., but that doesn't include the tree branches one is going to have to scrounge for to make tent poles. So if, as you mention, one is at 15K feet then snow accumulation is the least of one's worries if you can't find any tent poles above the tree line. :-) I mean, it could be a cool design to play with but it has a somewhat limited range of usefulness.

ghaff 5y ago
It's a little like igloos and snow caves. Fun to play around with once or twice but not really practical in general.
- jupp0r 5y ago
  Snow caves can be quite practical if the snow and terrain are suitable for them. Not a reason not to carry a tent but I've built snow caves even though I had a tent with me because they are so much more comfortable.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    Hence "in general" :-) Snow caves are probably more practical than igloos for a night or two but can still involve a fair bit of physical work and hence getting sweaty. Don't really disagree that snow caves can sometimes be fairly practical in the winter in the right snow conditions.
- rkk3 5y ago
  They are very practical in the extreme cold, they will keep you close to 0C/32F when its -30 outside.
oblib 5y ago
In the first video I used my hiking poles in the front corners of the tent and I think I used two short sections of old tent poles, probably fiberglass from an old cheap tent, in the back corners. In the 2nd video I didn't use any poles or sticks. I tied the upper corners to tree branches with string. So, you're carrying two short poles and your hiking poles and string and pins to stake out the tent. That's not anymore than any other tent and less than some if you're carrying hiking poles too. I'll also point out that in our Ozark forests you won't ever be 15k feet when backpacking and tree branches are abundant most everywhere here. But, the real take away from this video should be that there's room to explore how these heat reflective materials might be used in cold weather backpacking clothes and tents. Not that a Bakers Tent is the best design, although it's a very good one for the Ozark forests and many other places, and for using that reflecting material.

oblib 5y ago

> 4-season tents are made to handle wind and snow accumulation, which this thing definitely would fail. I have to say you're mostly wrong about that. That tent design is a few hundred years old and about as proven as any design can get. And I left that tent setup for about a month in my yard where that video with my grandson reading the temp was made during some pretty nasty weather. During that time we had a snowstorm that dumped about 5" of wet snow and the next morning when I checked on the tent the roof was sagging and the walls were buckling from the weight but it was still standing. I scraped and shook off the snow and it sprang back into shape. I do doubt it would hold up in 50+mph winds on a bald peak but I don't know of any tent that can that would warm up to 80+ degrees on a below freezing day. The point is there is no perfect tent for all conditions and most avid backpackers I know own more than one tent and choose them meet the conditions for the trip they're taking.