Peter Carey 
Clinton, WA
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| 07/18/2008 2:02 PM |
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Think outside the rooftop tent and a little closer to the ground for this one.
After lugging my 9+ lb 4 season tent with expedition rainfly on a backpacking trip wednesday, I'm in the mood for something lighter. In this case, the rainly wasn't needed or used and even the tent is maybe 7lbs. I'm getting older and want less weight (so I can bring more good food).
I started looking around and here are some of my ideals:
- less than 7lbs packed (meaning all bits and pieces...rainfly, stakes, bag, poles, tent, guy wires, ground cover, etc...)
- Can sleep *3* comfortably. I put 3 in * because most three people are a tight fit with three guys in the winter. But for a family of three, it works fine
- 3 season only, no need for the 4th as I have a tent for that
- interior pockets
- preferable that it has a rainfly to store pack and boots under in rain
What I came up with was the Black Diamond Vista. Does anyone have experience with this tent or kind of tent? I'm looking for light, easy setup. I like the BD (also the Mountain Hardware Skyledge 3 but it seems a bit too narrow) is you can use just the ground cover, poles and rainfly for a superlight shelter. It's actually this idea that really turns me on to it, as I don't mind sleeping out but would like something to keep the rain off if it started.
Any input or opinions on this or other options is appreciated.
Yes, the backpacking bug as bit again (don't ask me about titanium silverware....)
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Todd Eliason
Sherwood, OR
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| 07/18/2008 3:36 PM |
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Cornholio,
Sleeping on the ground is somehow attractive to you now? Holy mackeral!
Give me a few months, I am working on a "hat-top-tent" that may work well for you... |
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1993 RRC LWB - 300TDI
2000 DII
1986 Rollerblades - 33mm mudders |
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Dan Cronin
Bothell, WA
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| 07/18/2008 4:21 PM |
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Toddles,
I think Peter had a backpack top tent more in mind. All it would require is a kickstand for the pack.
Dan "Always thinking" Cronin |
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gabriel m. itaya
Clinton, WA
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| 07/19/2008 12:18 AM |
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Peter, have you looked at the REI website yet? That tent got great reviews by customers who had taken it out. I work at the downtown store so I can ask my friends in tents about it if you want.
Have you looked at the REI Quarter Dome T3? It is smaller, but it costs less and I know it won an award from Backpacker magazine this year. It also weighs less. Just a thought.
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4 out of 3 people dont know fractions well... |
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Peter Carey
Clinton, WA
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| 07/19/2008 10:10 AM |
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Gabe,
You got a job down there? you're all grown up. 
I hadn't looked at that one. I like the dimensions better than the Skyledge 3 even though it's shorter (I'm 73" and a bit more with the sleeping bag). But it's a pound less packed. Hmmm....I'll have to get into a store with the family and try them out. It's interesting that the Quarter Dome shows the *3* people with one being a kid. The only problem I have with that is the kid is shown staying below the widest part of the adults shoulders which rarely happens with Sabrina the Squirm Monster. But it's worth a try.
Thanks for the suggestion!
And yes, this is for backpacking. I don't often complain about 'lugging' and extra 4 lbs around in the 110.  |
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Peter Carey
Clinton, WA
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| 07/19/2008 10:22 AM |
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The Big Agnus Coppe Spur 3 is also a contender that may beat out the REI version. It's bigger and lighter. I'm obviously going to have to try them out. I do like the green rainfly of the REI version and the grey of the Agnus as compared to the neon of the Black Diamond. It may seem like a small thing, but I've got a problem that no word rhymes with orange.
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Nevak Risew
Seattle, WA
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| 07/19/2008 11:58 AM |
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That looks like a nice tent. On solo hikes a bivy sack is ideal. A bear burrito?
Yesterday I saw a brownish Jeep with what looked like one of Todd's tents on it going West on I-90.
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Peter Carey
Clinton, WA
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| 07/19/2008 12:25 PM |
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But a bivy doesn't "Can sleep *3* comfortably."
Holy Cats! I just weighed my old tent setup as packed.....12lbs. eeek! that was 1/4 of my last pack weight. 5lbs sound like a good target. |
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Mike Rupp
Bellevue, WA
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| 07/21/2008 1:36 PM |
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Where did you go backpacking?
I just got back from the Goat Rocks area last night and will post up some pics and details later.
A bivy would be nice especially for the weight factor, but when you've got swarming mosquitos and its warm out, I don't want to be stuck in a bivy. |
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WZ7V
My Coffee Blog
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Peter Carey
Clinton, WA
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| 07/21/2008 2:21 PM |
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We went up to Goat Lake, cus goats is cool. Good first trip of the season, but still lots of snow everywhere.
REI had another tent at 25% off (Hoodoo3) but I don't think I can get to them and try it out before the sale ends on Friday. The Big Agnes is looking good at 3lbs 4oz for just the fly, ground cover and poles. |
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Mike Rupp
Bellevue, WA
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| 07/21/2008 3:08 PM |
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| We were really close to you. We made it to just south of Goat Rocks, but could make any more progress since the trail was covered in snow and the penalty for a slip was a 2000' slide. |
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WZ7V
My Coffee Blog
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Craig Miller
Mt. Vernon, WA
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| 07/21/2008 3:12 PM |
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Peter,
I used to use a tent that was mostly mosquito netting but that had a bombproof rainfly to go over it. It worked great and weighed in at 1.8lbs. It protected me even in a late fall snowstorm that dumped over a foot on me. It was mostly collapsed in the morning, but the it did work well enough to get me home alive even when a winter tent was required. I'm sure you can get sub 3lbs and still have enough protection for 2.5 seasons if you keep looking.
Craig
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NW Overland Society Badges (Click Here To Order)
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Peter Carey
Clinton, WA
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| 07/21/2008 6:19 PM |
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| Sub 3 lbs will be hard in a 3 person config. But under 5lbs is acceptable. Again, I'm starting at 12lbs so it's an improvement. i like the Big Agnes also because it has *some* privacy with the solid walls down low. |
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Craig Miller
Mt. Vernon, WA
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gabriel m. itaya
Clinton, WA
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| 07/21/2008 8:43 PM |
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The Big Agnes was the other tent that Backpacker reviewed along with the REI Quarter Dome. It got good reviews, and it sounded like it was a sturdy tent. Here is the link. I dont remember how to make it a hyperlink.
http://www.backpacker.com/april_2008_feature_gear_reviews_editors_choice_awards_2008/gear/12361?page=3
Best thing to do Peter is just to get into a store, set it up, pull it down and see what you think. There is no sale going on right now at REI. The next one is our labor day sale August 22nd. If you are not already signed up for gearmail, you can get 15 % off one full priced item. Just a thought. |
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4 out of 3 people dont know fractions well... |
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