The most versatile tent for backpacking and lightweight winter camping
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 кві 2022
- Some of the gear I use:
ULA Equipment Catalyst Backpack - 48 oz / 1360 g ula-equipment....
Simond Down Mountaineering Parka - 23.1 oz / 655 g decathlon-cana...
Eddie Bauer Sandstone Backbone Grid Hoodie Softshell - 16.9 oz / 480 g
Mammut Alugator Light Shovel - 16.6 oz / 475 g
MSR Front Range Pyramid Tent - 28.7 oz / 814 g
Thermarest NeoAir XTherm MAX ground pad - 25.8 oz / 731 g
Marmot Lithium -18C Sleeping bag - 47 oz / 1333 g
MSR Whisperlite International Stove - 13.7 oz / 388 g
MSR Titan 2L Kettle - 6.8 oz / 193 g
Fenix HM50R Headlamp - 2.7 oz / 77 g
Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Communicator - 3.4 oz / 96g
Affiliate links provide a small kickback to me at no additional cost to you. It helps support the channel.
I was testing an MSR Front Range pyramid tent on a recent alpine trip and decided to talk a bit about why I like them so much. They are an important part of my winter gear system and a great option for ultralight summer backpacking.
Arctic 1000 images courtesy of Ryan Jordan, used with permission.
backpackinglig...
6 pieces of winter camping gear that you need in the backcountry
• 6 Pieces of Gear You N...
How to pitch a tent in the winter:
• How to Pitch an MSR Fr...
One of my hardest trips:
• Camping in Winter Cond...
What it's like to camp in the spring with winter conditions up in the alpine environment of the Canadian rocky mountains:
• Winter Camping In High...
Check out my sub 20 pound late season/early winter ultralight gear list:
• Early Winter Ultraligh...
Check out my cold wet weather backpacking footwear and boot system:
• Ultralight Backpacking...
One of my recent "failed" trips in winter conditions with wet snow and below freezing temperatures - these are when you really learn what you and your gear can handle!
• Video
Connect with me: / kane_does_outdoors
#backpacking #hiking #wildcamping #ultralightbackpacking #gear
Thanks for all the great discussion!
If you found the video useful consider giving it a thumbs up or check out my latest trip video: ua-cam.com/video/NhgDrUkysok/v-deo.html
On the poles, I've found that just about any stick will do - it's being compressed lengthwise so doesn't really need to be strong. In fact, any two sticks will work if you have ski straps or rope or whatever. I usually use my ski poles unless I want to ski around while the tent is still up, in which case I either just drop the tent or find a stick.
I hiked the Appalachian trail in 1989 with a Chouinard Pyramid as my tent, and my stove was a Trangia. I was waaayyy ahead of my time, haha!! I'm pretty sure the only people using alcohol burners back then were the Swedish military and chemists. Before Dyneema was ever heard of I had a Kelty White Phantom in 100% Spectra. At $600 in 1991, It was the most expensive pack in existence, by double, I think. It certainly was ultra light, but there was a problem. Being all spectra, I couldn't keep it cinched on my hips, no matter how tight I made the hipbelt. Not only was it slippery on my waist, but the webbing was even slippery in the buckles.
What’s old is new again, right? I love
seeing the pictures of the old Chouinard pyramids. Just shows if something works, it works!
I have a Luxe Minipeak. I love that you spread it out, out in four stakes, and push up a trekking pole. Great for getting out of the rain quick. Wind getting under it when the ground is water logged has been a problem. I have a Trangia 27 but sometimes use a diy Caldera Cone.
Back around 1970 miner tents were available. Gerry's of Bolder Co made their own equipment. they made a three person Minner tent with a floor and rain fly. Gerry's also sold kits to make your own equipment. Instead of one interior pole the Gerry tent was 6 foot high and had two poles on the outside that connected at the top. and most adult can stand in it. It was light weight enough that my wife and three grade school children used it for back packing. REI sold a double wall miner tent with a floor and center pole as well as a zippered cook hole. I had several of them. This is a style of tent that need to see the light of day once again. so simple to put up: stake the four corners and open the door and put up the center pole. No standing in the rain or getting rain in the tent. In the 80's The North Face made a 3 season single pole tent that slept 2 or 3. It was 5 foot tall and 9' x 9feet. Single wall with great ventilation weight 2.3 pounds. We used it in our wilderness travel business. I found one back ion a shelf several weeks and it is still very usable after years of service. With todays fabrics it would be possible to make a 9x9 foot tent 6 foot high under 3 pounds. The center pole is a great place to hang gear and a LED solar lantern.
Chouinard equipment (now Black Diamond) had made one for ages. I also had a mid from Oware, I think he’s been making them since the mid 80s. Tried and true design. Not sure why freestanding tents took over…
Sheep follow sheep dogs.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors
I get what you're saying about hiking poles. I generally carry mine on my pack and use them for my tarp (and the occasional stream crossing). I found it easier to just bring hiking poles than trying to find something like a hiking pole that can't be used as a hiking pole.
I gave up using hiking poles when I discovered that they just slowed me down after I dropped my pack weight.
Finding something to use instead of a hiking for for your shelter ca be a real pain. I've been carrying one pole for that reason. In the winter, not an issue when I'm on skis.
In the summer I find hiking much more efficient without poles 90% of the time. Most will argue otherwise though!
@@KaneDoesOutdoors I mean, if your tent came with poles, you'd use those poles. I just see a hiking pole as part of my shelter. I rarely use them for hiking unless I'm crossing a stream or hurt.
That being said, the notion that hiking poles don't count in the weight department never held for me. Hiking poles took off from Nordic walking as they were supposed to create more exercise. If I'm carrying a pack and hiking, I'm not looking for ways to expend more energy.
I’m in 100% agreement. I’ve tried to make the argument about nordic walking and how it’s marketed as burning more energy, while for hiking, poles are marketed to save energy - which one is it? The laws of thermodynamics change? 6-8 oz at the end of your arms must add up to more energy expended. Plus another fuss factor I’d rather not deal with.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors In all fairness, hiking poles are magical. They help burn more calories for exercise while conserving energy when hiking. Plus their mass is zero when it comes to shelter weight.
I generally have a pair in the side pockets of my pack to help retain my street cred among other hikers. Otherwise, I could be seen as a hiking poser of sorts.
When you get older poles save your knees. Use them.
I've got quite a few tarps, pyramids and tents and for me nothing replaces the experience of using one of my Hilleberg tents. I've got 2 mids - HMG Ultamid 2 and also a MLS Solomid. I just camped in the solomid for the first time last week and the condensation was pretty bad and I am not a fan of cold breezes under the bottom (was not on snow). Great videos.
What were the conditions like that there would be so much condensation?
Thanks for the review man. I just got mine and can't wait to test it out here in CO
Good luck!
cool chill man yeah
Nice tent! I like pyramid tents. Well done. Crow✌️
Well done videos, concise and clear. Thanks.
Thanks - appreciate the feedback.
Nice vid mate, this helped me with my decision when purchasing 👍Great footage
I can see the advantage with weight, but I would be concerned about midnight visitors, bugs and little scampering critters. I am always looking for ways to lighten my pack, thanks for sharing.
There is definitely a time and place for everything, depending on the season and local environment. For example, I spent many years backpacking in the US northeast and pyramids would not be my first choice in that area for many reasons including those you highlighted. I think a hammock is the way to go there. There’s no one size fits all option!
On that note, a lot of people seem identify with specific gear choices, which I don’t. For example there are those who will only hammock camp, or only use quilts, only tarps, or force every situation into “ultralight”. I’d rather be flexible and keep my options open!
No floor? Up here in the mountains we have had plagues of mice that get into everything, in your car headliner, in the walls in the house... I'd never go camping without a floor in my tent, way too many small animals that can get in and tear things up. Plus in the summer it keeps out the bugs and snakes.
I guess it depends where you are. I’ve only had issues with rodents in very established campsites like on the Long Trail in VT.
Kifaru Sawtooth.
Hard to beat.
Definitely looks like an interesting shelter.
Ôi cát hay tuyết hả bạn tôi ? Đẹp quá tôi thích 👍👍👍❤️
Hey Kane, I have this tent as well. Plan is to get some snowshoe mileage this winter. There is a lot of talk about how badly Nylon tents sag when wet. Have you experienced any sag in the Front Range? Thanks in advance!
I haven’t had any because I’ve only really used it in the winter and it’s always below freezing. Nylon does sag a bit but I find that it is often exaggerated. We all used nylon tents for years. That being said I’ve been using my silpoly x-mid this fall and really like it as a winter tent. It’s a 1P but thinking the 2P might handle the volume needed for all that winter gear.
Hey, I recently picked up this tent and heading out for first trip with it next weekend. Do you stack snow up along the bottom edge of the tent or do you leave it so that there is air flowing in from along the bottom? Thx
It really depends on the weather. If it’s calm i don’t bother. If the wind is bad then yes. But in general it pitch it pretty tight to the ground in the winter and excavate a bit inside to get some extra room. Nothing deep, just and inch or two to level things out and get some extra space for head and feet.
Hello Kane, got the same tent as mentioned before. What is the max wind speed you've been facing with this tent? I am trying to find data on the wind limit for the front range as I may use it in more engaged alpine hikes in the swiss alps.
I’ve been pretty lucky in terms of wind so I can’t really comment on the limit.
Hello there Kane! Great video. I have a few questions for you I hope you could help me with. I camp off my motorcycle, and currently using a hubba hubba with an inflatable mattress. Works okay but I’m not happy with either the comfort or how long it takes to setup the tent. I just ordered a Helinox cot and I’m looking for a tent without floor (because the bed will chew holes in it) and recently came across pyramid tents. Pyramid tent + a cot, do you think that sounds like a good idea for mostly summer camping? I’ve looked all over but the content on pyramid tents is quite little. Thanks a lot!
Hi Johannes,
That’s an interesting question. I see two challenges with a pyramid for your situation: 1. Depending on the height of your Helinox cot you might touch the sides of the tent because of the angles of the walls. It looks like Helinox has a lower model cot and higher models. The lower would be fine. I find air mattresses more comfortable than cots, and definitely warmer. Which mattress were you using? 2. Bugs in the summer. Do you have many mosquitos in your area?
I’m also not sure a pyramid would be dramatically faster to set up than a tent. The pyramid requires a lot of space and can sometimes be tricky to pitch.
A lot of people like the hubba bubba. You might be trading some issues for new ones if you switch to a pyramid. Every shelter has pros and cons. Pyramids are extremely versatile, but for dedicated summer use you already own a solid tent. Maybe a more comfortable mattress is the answer…
Thanks a lot for answering!
The cot I have ordered is the tall version as well, so 210 cm across (I'm tall) and it's the one with taller legs. So the MSR front range wouldn't work, but there's bigger pyramid tents.
I've never slept on a cot before, I just really like the idea. I struggle to sleep well on the ground, even with a decent inflatable (Sea to summit insulated). If I could use the cot inside the MSR Hubba hubba I would, as the tent is okay. Really like the thought of a bigger tent and a cot, but the mosquitos as you say here in Norway are intense.
@@JohannesDalenMC Have you thought about trying a hammock? If you're somewhere with trees this could be a good option. I have a Warbonnet Blackbird which is a pretty minimalist system. I've also seen @LostLakes use a model in his videos that looks pretty interesting. I think the company is called Amok.
Hi , nice piece of gear . Is there any guyline loop on the shelter in case of windy situation ? Thanks for the video
Yes there are four, midway up each corner seam.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors thank you , I'm planning to buy one .
Just sub to your channel . I see that you once live in Québec where I am from .
Sylvain
Oui, j'habitais à Montreal - déménagé à Calgary l'automne passé!
Rất tuyệt vời chúng ta là bạn nhé ! Bạn ở nước nào vậy ? 👍❤️
Trekking pole tents with two doors and vestibule's... more my style...
Always go with what works for you! Not the best option for me because I don't normally carry two poles unless I'm skiing.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors I have a Duplex and they sell the poles as a kit. They weigh next to nothing. I am not sure how my Duplex would handle snow and ice though. I am looking into expanding into some winter backpacking and possible backcountry skiing in the Northeast, the Whites and Vermont. How do you think the pyramid tent would work? I would not go if we were getting a blizzard, but I do need it to handle 8 to 10 inches of snow. Thanks for taking the time to make this video and share your experience.
@@mtadams2009 Hi Scott, I haven’t ever used the duplex but in my opinion it isn’t a good winter option. The angle of the roof is very shallow. Any snow that slides off will accumulate starting from the sides and pile up quickly collapsing the tent. This eventually happens with all tents, but if it snows 10” overnight your will be getting out a lot to clear snow. Someone might be able to speak to this from first hand experience. If there’s ever a good snowfall in the forecast set it up in you backyard to see what happens - I take no responsibility if it collapses and tears though! I test all my winter shelters at home first.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Thanks, that sounds like the way to go. Take care
A Durston hardly weighs anything more and is an actual tent.
X mids are very attractive if you use trekking poles, but I don’t in them in the summer. Sometimes I’ll carry one if I’m using a mid or my cirriform.
For the winter i think the pyramid is a better overall option but I don’t have any experience with the x mid so I can’t really comment.