Guess who got his days muddled up? Yep I thought it was Sunday today. So I am a day late watching your video. I tend to prefer 3 man tents, the issue there is the amount for room the need to pitch. I will also be looking at Bivvy bags and tarps for the warmer weather or even a hammock if I get on with them. We were camping with friends that have our old family tent. which has to be 12 years old and still holding up well. the let down with it was it fiberglass poles, I would carry spares as I have broken a good few of them over the year and bungy cord to repair them when they inevitably snap. Most of the smaller tents I have owned over the decades have been aluminium or the good old days heavy steel. Both my current tents are crawl in types and the second one was my other choice when I was looking last year to by a tent to fit very nicely in the rear hatch of my Kayak, which it does perfectly right up against the bulk head. Which it will not do when I buy my next kayak due to the day hatch.
Completely agree that REI tents are great! I've owned 2 REI Half Dome 2's. One from the early 2000's that I used for 10+ years and will still occasionally use, and a 2+ from 2016. I love the big vestibules on each side, and the Half Dome 2+ is big enough that we could sleep three ~6ft tall dudes in it while winter camping. My only very minor complaint is the newer tent is a little more fragile and I don't love the complexity of the pole system -- however, I think they improved it since 2016.
I bought the Half Dome 2+ yesterday, at 50% off, and a beginner, 180 out the door seemed like a fair deal. Feel good about it, this video doesnt hurt ( :
yeah, that is getting less and less common. I will say when I worked for rei we would always set up a tent when asked. Don't know if that is still true.
I purchased a Hillman 2 person 4 season tent in 2017 and an ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 last year. The Hillman was OK, but I do prefer the ALPS. I have yet to use the ALPS on a kayaking trip ( I’ve only used it while camping with my wife). I’m hoping to do some trips down the New River and/or Greenbrier River this Fall/Winter. However, my wife is having surgery on September 9th at Wake Forest, NC for two benign brain tumors. Therefore, my plans are likely to change.
I hope she is okay, and yes I am sure that could/will change your plans. Good luck to you both. Having owned a 4 season tent, short of doing actual mountain climbing I would probably never buy a 4 season tent again. Most 3 season tents are so well built it just isn’t necessary unless you are dealing with huge snow loads.
Having camped for years (with MANY a night out camping with the Scouts) I've had my share of tents. From car camping with HUGE Oversized Coleman's to weeklong expeditions in the back country. I've used 3 person tents from Kelty, solo ultralight tents from Tarptent (the Protrail was awesome) and MSR tents at Philmont. My Kelty was a 3 person tent and just enough room for 2 people + gear. By the time my sons were old enough to go on their own I purchased the Tarptent Protrail which was all of 24oz. It was great, but needed my hiking pole to prop up and be properly staked. Not typically an issue but challenging in the Southern California desert. I ended up going with an REI Quarterdome 1 which was all of 2 lbs 7 oz but free standing. It was the equivalent of a coffin. Enough room for 1 + a nice vestibule to store my gear. I still have that tent today (although I haven't camped in it in years). REI does make great products.
I've had a number of tents over the last 40 odd years. One absolute MUST for me is that the tent poles go through tunnels on the fly and the fly can be pitched first or alone. Most of this type you can leave the inner attached and do a vey quick one go pitch which leaves the inner tent much drier in wet weather. The poles in the fly generally provides much greater structural integrity in strong winds. My first tent was a Fairydown Altimate III, a three person alpine tent (3.6kg) with the above pitching method. It is still going strong, but needs the seems resealed.
Great video my husband and I picked up the 2 person backpacking tent from REI on sale for a little more than a 100$ because they were discontinuing the color. It’s a great little tent regardless and amazing for the price. We do want to upgrade to the Durston Xmid 2 at some point but not in a hurry. I would say it has just enough room for 2 medium sized people.
I haven’t used it, but I have played with it. It’s a great tent. A little heavier than the Hubba Hubba (if memory serves) but also less expensive…. You can’t go wrong with MSR tents. MSR and Big Agnes, I think for mass produced tents you cant go wrong with either.
For the most part, I look for a shelter instead of a tent as it opens up more possibilities than being constrained to tents only. Next, my destination and route defines my parameters as much as the actual features of a shelter. If it's just going to be a night or two, I might play around with something I with something that I wouldn't on a longer trip. While a 4 season Hilleberg might technically work for most of my trips, a hammock with a bugnet paired with a tarp might be a better choice for the Everglades chickee. Then again, for McKinley summit camp, a parachute on the leeward side of a rock face is probably going to be a better choice. In Boone, NC a Hampton Inn might be the better choice.
You mentioned EMS, and I’d like to know if there’s any news on them keeping their 15 stores plan, or if it’s more or less a done deal. I suspect you don’t know anything about whether their bank was in any way responsible for the bankruptcy, but my experience with PNC was bad enough that I’m suspicious.
Nice vid- hit on points some folks wouldn't consider. But my biggest pet-peeve with 99% of all tents regardless of door zipper design, pole structure, ventilation, single wall, double wall or fabrics is how 'backwards' tents are designed to be set-up, (footprint-if used, pole structure, tent body then rain fly). Living in Michigan it's not unusual to have solid rain for days in a row. Even though most of these tents will offer a fast pitch set-up, (footprint, poles then rain fly) they really aren't designed for the tent body to be added last. Yes it can be done but it is not very convenient. When setting up camp in inclement weather the most important part of a tent to keep dry is the inner tent body itself. Kinda hard to keep the inner tent body dry when it is being set up before the rain fly! That is why I like my Durston X-mid 2 or any other 'tarp' type tents like it. Rain fly goes up first then tent body 'clips-in' under the rain fly. It just makes sense. Same goes for if you are breaking camp in the rain- inner tent 'unclips' while the protective rain fly is still in place. Another plus is you don't have to use a footprint for this set up. Just about all tents that utilize a pole structure and offer a fast pitch option it is mandatory that you have and use the specific footprint for that tent. Anyways still pros and cons to this type of shelter. It's not freestanding for example etc... As most things go you have to pick and choose your battles.
As someone who has spent extensive time in Prince William Sound - one trip it rained 22 of 28 days - I have set up a lot of tents in the rain. In my experience, which may be different than yours! - the inside of the tent body never got THAT wet. And could certainly be handled by a small pack towel. I would describe it more as damp, and by that point in a long, wet trip.... EVERYTHING is damp. And I also like free standing tents. But I think both of those things are personal preference. So do what works for you. And for the record, I almost never use a foot print.
Guess who got his days muddled up? Yep I thought it was Sunday today. So I am a day late watching your video.
I tend to prefer 3 man tents, the issue there is the amount for room the need to pitch. I will also be looking at Bivvy bags and tarps for the warmer weather or even a hammock if I get on with them. We were camping with friends that have our old family tent. which has to be 12 years old and still holding up well. the let down with it was it fiberglass poles, I would carry spares as I have broken a good few of them over the year and bungy cord to repair them when they inevitably snap. Most of the smaller tents I have owned over the decades have been aluminium or the good old days heavy steel. Both my current tents are crawl in types and the second one was my other choice when I was looking last year to by a tent to fit very nicely in the rear hatch of my Kayak, which it does perfectly right up against the bulk head. Which it will not do when I buy my next kayak due to the day hatch.
another reason I don't like Day hatches....
Everything from the 9min mark on was extremely helpful. thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
Completely agree that REI tents are great! I've owned 2 REI Half Dome 2's. One from the early 2000's that I used for 10+ years and will still occasionally use, and a 2+ from 2016. I love the big vestibules on each side, and the Half Dome 2+ is big enough that we could sleep three ~6ft tall dudes in it while winter camping. My only very minor complaint is the newer tent is a little more fragile and I don't love the complexity of the pole system -- however, I think they improved it since 2016.
The half dome 2’s are great tents. I don’t need the plus…..
I bought the Half Dome 2+ yesterday, at 50% off, and a beginner, 180 out the door seemed like a fair deal. Feel good about it, this video doesnt hurt ( :
The HD2+ is a great tent. But at 5’7” I don’t need the “+”
Very nicely done and informative. Just me but really like a store that displays their tents. Thanks for the video and take care, Al
yeah, that is getting less and less common. I will say when I worked for rei we would always set up a tent when asked. Don't know if that is still true.
I purchased a Hillman 2 person 4 season tent in 2017 and an ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 last year. The Hillman was OK, but I do prefer the ALPS. I have yet to use the ALPS on a kayaking trip ( I’ve only used it while camping with my wife). I’m hoping to do some trips down the New River and/or Greenbrier River this Fall/Winter. However, my wife is having surgery on September 9th at Wake Forest, NC for two benign brain tumors. Therefore, my plans are likely to change.
I hope she is okay, and yes I am sure that could/will change your plans. Good luck to you both. Having owned a 4 season tent, short of doing actual mountain climbing I would probably never buy a 4 season tent again. Most 3 season tents are so well built it just isn’t necessary unless you are dealing with huge snow loads.
Having camped for years (with MANY a night out camping with the Scouts) I've had my share of tents. From car camping with HUGE Oversized Coleman's to weeklong expeditions in the back country. I've used 3 person tents from Kelty, solo ultralight tents from Tarptent (the Protrail was awesome) and MSR tents at Philmont. My Kelty was a 3 person tent and just enough room for 2 people + gear. By the time my sons were old enough to go on their own I purchased the Tarptent Protrail which was all of 24oz. It was great, but needed my hiking pole to prop up and be properly staked. Not typically an issue but challenging in the Southern California desert. I ended up going with an REI Quarterdome 1 which was all of 2 lbs 7 oz but free standing. It was the equivalent of a coffin. Enough room for 1 + a nice vestibule to store my gear. I still have that tent today (although I haven't camped in it in years). REI does make great products.
Quarter dome was a great tent. If you did the 2 it would feel less “coffin-ey”
I've had a number of tents over the last 40 odd years. One absolute MUST for me is that the tent poles go through tunnels on the fly and the fly can be pitched first or alone. Most of this type you can leave the inner attached and do a vey quick one go pitch which leaves the inner tent much drier in wet weather. The poles in the fly generally provides much greater structural integrity in strong winds.
My first tent was a Fairydown Altimate III, a three person alpine tent (3.6kg) with the above pitching method. It is still going strong, but needs the seems resealed.
Yeah, tent sleeves they are called. And they do make the tent much stronger - super common on 4 season tents - but they add a lot of weight.
Great video my husband and I picked up the 2 person backpacking tent from REI on sale for a little more than a 100$ because they were discontinuing the color. It’s a great little tent regardless and amazing for the price. We do want to upgrade to the Durston Xmid 2 at some point but not in a hurry. I would say it has just enough room for 2 medium sized people.
Exactly
Enjoy your equipment video's...always a straight shooter!
Do you know the, MSR Elixir 2 ...any thoughts on this tent.
I haven’t used it, but I have played with it. It’s a great tent. A little heavier than the Hubba Hubba (if memory serves) but also less expensive…. You can’t go wrong with MSR tents. MSR and Big Agnes, I think for mass produced tents you cant go wrong with either.
For the most part, I look for a shelter instead of a tent as it opens up more possibilities than being constrained to tents only.
Next, my destination and route defines my parameters as much as the actual features of a shelter. If it's just going to be a night or two, I might play around with something I with something that I wouldn't on a longer trip.
While a 4 season Hilleberg might technically work for most of my trips, a hammock with a bugnet paired with a tarp might be a better choice for the Everglades chickee. Then again, for McKinley summit camp, a parachute on the leeward side of a rock face is probably going to be a better choice. In Boone, NC a Hampton Inn might be the better choice.
All of this is true but remember that most of my viewers are new paddlers/adventurers. I doubt most know what a hilleberg is.
You mentioned EMS, and I’d like to know if there’s any news on them keeping their 15 stores plan, or if it’s more or less a done deal.
I suspect you don’t know anything about whether their bank was in any way responsible for the bankruptcy, but my experience with PNC was bad enough that I’m suspicious.
Yeah, I have zero information. Sorry.
Nice vid- hit on points some folks wouldn't consider. But my biggest pet-peeve with 99% of all tents regardless of door zipper design, pole structure, ventilation, single wall, double wall or fabrics is how 'backwards' tents are designed to be set-up, (footprint-if used, pole structure, tent body then rain fly). Living in Michigan it's not unusual to have solid rain for days in a row. Even though most of these tents will offer a fast pitch set-up, (footprint, poles then rain fly) they really aren't designed for the tent body to be added last. Yes it can be done but it is not very convenient. When setting up camp in inclement weather the most important part of a tent to keep dry is the inner tent body itself. Kinda hard to keep the inner tent body dry when it is being set up before the rain fly! That is why I like my Durston X-mid 2 or any other 'tarp' type tents like it. Rain fly goes up first then tent body 'clips-in' under the rain fly. It just makes sense. Same goes for if you are breaking camp in the rain- inner tent 'unclips' while the protective rain fly is still in place. Another plus is you don't have to use a footprint for this set up. Just about all tents that utilize a pole structure and offer a fast pitch option it is mandatory that you have and use the specific footprint for that tent. Anyways still pros and cons to this type of shelter. It's not freestanding for example etc... As most things go you have to pick and choose your battles.
As someone who has spent extensive time in Prince William Sound - one trip it rained 22 of 28 days - I have set up a lot of tents in the rain. In my experience, which may be different than yours! - the inside of the tent body never got THAT wet. And could certainly be handled by a small pack towel. I would describe it more as damp, and by that point in a long, wet trip.... EVERYTHING is damp. And I also like free standing tents. But I think both of those things are personal preference. So do what works for you. And for the record, I almost never use a foot print.
Thanks for the reply. Yep just about everything is personal preference. Just another design concept for folks to consider.
Бродяга на каяке, реально выживаю на необитаемых и тропических островах Привет из Индонезии от канала Dima traveler 👋🙂🏝 .......
Я не так часто бываю в тропиках, так как предпочитаю холод. Но я полностью согласен. Спасибо, что зашли!
@@AdventureOtaku Я много жил в холоде и работал в Заполярье. Поэтому полюбил тропическом вечное лето🙂🏝