[GeoRon]

Which model Marmot?

As you know, Marmot makes a great tent. My current solo self-support and solo backpacking tent is the Marmot Tungsten 1P UL. I must admit I don't use it much since I'm usually out with my SO.

 

[cupido76]

I have this one that they don't make anymore.

Marmot Swallow 2P Reviews - Trailspace

I purchased this tent because I needed a small, lighter tent for my kayak camping trips. I did not want a bivy sack so I went with a small 3+ season tent.

www.trailspace.com

The only real thing that wrong with it is the see through panels on the fly are detaching... held on now with clear gorilla tape. That and the very long reach with my short arms to open the fly. The older I get the more that sucks. The El Capitan has the zipper to the fly right next to the tent door so this shouldn't be a problem.

All the panels close up if it's cold, lots of venting options if it's warm, amazing in wind and never leaked. Had it since 2007 I think.

 

[GeoRon]

I suggest using tear aid rather than gorilla tape for your Swallow repair. Gorilla makes a lot of products but I usually think of it being (improved) duct tape.

Ya, that El Cap looks like a winner. Other things I like is that the fly goes to the ground and the drip line looks well away from the tent. The fly continues to completely cover the tent when fully unzipped. As you noted, the mesh zips up for cooler nights(I have to switch to my VE-24 when it get cooler due to all the mesh in our summer tents). Pitching/dropping the tent while under the fly is great(probably takes some practice). The heavier fabrics might weight more but it is your river tent and durability is more important than weight. And, Eureka is a Canadian company. Congratulations. Let us know what you think after you pitch it (and use it). Oh, I usually like dual entry but you say this will be mostly a solo river tent hence two entrances is not important.

 

[cupido76]

I think I actually originally fixed it with tear air but didn't clean it properly or something... so just redid it with gorilla tape (cheaper) and so far it's ok. The clear stuff is a lot tackier than the regular gorilla tape.

 

[villagelightsmith]

I like the Eureka A-frame tents like the boyscouts use...I believe its called the timberline. I've got a six man version, they also make a 4 man. Easy up, built tough, but best of all its over 6' tall along the center ridge. Since I really dont like changing laying on the ground and sometimes people get weird if they have to see my balls too often, this tent give great privacy with the fly on...the top is all mesh nice and cool if privacy isn't a concern.

I've been using the Eureka "outfitter" model for ... a lot of years. Double floor, a bit heavier material, stronger poles, 4-man size, for 2 people. Pack it with a boat, a large donkey, or on 4 wheels. I wouldn't go back to the lightweight version.
For decades now my wife and I have used Stephenson's old style 2r and 3r tents when I wanted something really lightweight. They are quite techie ... you have to learn to work with them, else "they will be rapidly destroyed by rough handling or misuse." Treated carefully, pitched tight, and with moisture kept out, they perform splendidly. They're just so light ... and small. Wa-ay too small for the oversized Malemutes to squeeze in. Even the Pomeranian (Killrdawg, the "Pandemonium") might be a crowd! The old ones would lose their waterproof coating if washed with detergent. I guess other tents did the same, now that I recall.
My next tent will probably be a Snowtrekker, or a custom tent made with their canvas. He has obtained some 7oz. long staple cotton canvas, Sunforger treated I believe. The next best thing to the old Blanchard sailcloth. (Blanchard was the initial designer of the "draw-tite" design like the Eureka Timberline.) Like me, Snowtrekker hunted the world over to find light cotton sailcloth and finally found a mill that would set up and make a custom run of the stuff for him. Now he's got a lot of it (!) I've seen and handled the material. It should work well for many things. A bit too light for mule packs, I think, but perfect for tentage if you are willing to take care of the old school cotton. Karen has approved this message.

 

[k2andcannoli]

I used a friend's clear gorilla tape last season and was surprised with the product...not exactly tear aid but seems really stout for the price. Thanks for reminding me that I intended to buy a roll.

 

[cupido76]

Well I ordered the Eureka El Capitan... another free standing tent.

Thanks all for the feedback... decided the finicky nature of a tunnel tent is not worth it for my application.

Will try to remember to report back at the end of this summer season.

 

[okieboater]

I spend about as much of my fun money budget on tents as I do on boats. The one perfect all around tent is just as hard to find as the one perfect raft. But I keep looking for both.

This thread got me thinking about my long time desire to test out the one pole tepee style tent.

I got a internet big sale email and picked up a mountain smith mountain tipi hybrid shelter on close out. Pretty cheap and I took the bait.

Put the tent up in the yard and am very impressed. Just me in my tent on floats. Plenty of room for me plus almost able to stand up. The tent turned out to be full featured. Has a nice floor, mesh inner tent and a light weight aluminum pole. Fly has plenty of tie downs for additional stakes. Pretty light tent and even on my first time the tent went up in minutes. I used some para cords to make loops to make using sand stakes easier if pitching on sand. Hopefully, will get a canoe overnight float soon and can report back. If the yard setup works as fast and solid in wind as I think it will, this tent might well become a favorite.

 

[GeoRon]

I spend about as much of my fun money budget on tents as I do on boats. The one perfect all around tent is just as hard to find as the one perfect raft. But I keep looking for both.

This thread got me thinking about my long time desire to test out the one pole tepee style tent.

I got a internet big sale email and picked up a mountain smith mountain tipi hybrid shelter on close out. Pretty cheap and I took the bait.

Put the tent up in the yard and am very impressed. Just me in my tent on floats. Plenty of room for me plus almost able to stand up. The tent turned out to be full featured. Has a nice floor, mesh inner tent and a light weight aluminum pole. Fly has plenty of tie downs for additional stakes. Pretty light tent and even on my first time the tent went up in minutes. I used some para cords to make loops to make using sand stakes easier if pitching on sand. Hopefully, will get a canoe overnight float soon and can report back. If the yard setup works as fast and solid in wind as I think it will, this tent might well become a favorite.

I love Mountain Smith. Quality gear. Their HQ is a few miles from my house. Do you have a link to the product you purchased?

Based on my experience with pyramids, I still have trepidations about pitching pyramids on "solid" surfaces or deep lose sand(minimal staking); and how they perform in the wind and rain if not ideally pitched. (I do trust that you have good sand anchors/stakes.) And that damn rain coming in when you unzip the fly. Never liked that. Early on, I gave up on it being usable in snow or when snowing or as a date-night tent.

Like to know your experiences. Keep us posted. Love to know that Mountain Smith could solve my whining issues.

 

[okieboater]

I looked at mountainsmith home page and did not find this tent
This is a old design that was updated but for some reason was discontinued by mountain smith. Some how one of the many gear review sites I monitor emailed me about the sale.

As mentioned, I had wanted a tepee style tent but most I saw did not have a floor or the mesh. This version does and it looks good to me. Typical high quality construction I have come to expect from mountain smith products.

I did find the below on youtube.

 

[ColoradoDave]

Another consideration one step above the Space Blanket idea, FWIW, is the Tube Tent concept.

Basically, it is just a tube of some sort of fabric. Plastic, Nylon, Sil-Nylon, etc, A length of about 10 feet or so and a circumference of about 9 feet for one or 12' for 2, etc.

Run a cord from 2 trees, or any other features for the peak and the sleeping Bag(s) make up the base of the triangle.

Tie one end from the outside like a sausage. Usually the estimated windward side. Leave the other end open if weather is OK. Then it vents very well.

If weather is bad or turns bad in the middle of the night, Tie the open end from the inside like a sausage leaving an appropriate size opening for ventilation.

 

[Taku]

Have used two different "free standing" tents. Had a North Face VE24 for years, finally blew apart in a storm in the Alaska Range. Bought an LLBean VE copy that lasted us for years, zipper replaced and I still us it on fire assignments. Like the room and they are solid in wind. Want a Hilleberg, but not for the money they cost. Will likely get another North Face (VE2) or the Big Agnes Battleship 3 (i think). Have a Mtn Hardware Nightview we used in the Arctic (solid but small), and have used a BD Megamid on non-buggy river trips. They all work, just need to figure out how much weight and size you really need.

 

[dsrtrat]

I have had a couple of Hilleberg tents and use a Hilleberg Soulo fee standing model for trips in the Arctic. They are great tents but probably overkill for most uses. One problem with Hillerberg that makes then unsuited for most river trips is that they are sand magnets. The silicone treated fabric attracts silt and sand and is almost impossible to remove. Marmot makes a tent based on the Tungsten series called the Fortress that has a full coverage fly and extra tie points as well as zip up panels that seal the tent mesh panels. I have the two person model and it is a nice tent for the price. The Big Agnes Bird Beak is no longer made but pitches with an external pole frame with an inner tent that can be removed, my two person one can fit a cot without the inner tent.

 

[GeoRon]

Sorry if I seemed to be "schooling" about pyramids/tepis. This thread was originally about schooling tunnel tents.

I've developed a strict acceptance requirement for homes-away-from-home. That is, if I can't pitch it on concrete and set the fly in place and sans stakes stay dry in a rain storm; it is not acceptable.

I must admit, the tunnel tent on my boat is an exception. Most nights on the grand during "HOT" season I just fold it back accordion style without even pulling poles and then it anchor down with a few cam straps, bimini style. Once to camp I pull it forward and clip to two carabiners on cam straps, cinch, and it is anchored very ridgedly to the frame of the boat.

 

[GeoRon]

It's time to replace my small tent and I'm considering a tunnel tent. I've done a bit of reading on the pros and cons... the main con for me being potential difficulty pitching in on less than ideal ground, though we don't have a lot of sandy campsites where I tend to boat... but would like to travel more for trips in the future.

The main reasons I'm interested in it (other than the fact that I've never had one) are....
1) the one I'm looking at it seems like you pitch the fly and then hang the mesh tent body inside that... meaning setting up or tearing down in the rain I could keep the tent body dry.
2) the large vestibule.

Anyone have any real world input on this, especially from a rafting perspective? View attachment 62202

I have the tunnel tents I already use on my cats. They are the Walrus Hurricane's I provided a photo for.

This tunnel of yours is interesting to some friends that have "tunnel" envy for their boat. Where did you find this tunnel?

Do you still have the link?

 

[cupido76]

Opalus 2 4-Season Tunnel Tent

Experience Outdoor Luxury with the Opalus 2 Tunnel Camping Tent. With a 4000 mm Waterproof Rating, Aluminum Poles, and a Roomy Double-Walled Design, It Offers Comfort and Reliability. Ideal For Cyclists and Trekkers, Its Compact Size and Ventilated Interior Ensure Convenience and Durability.

www.naturehike.com

 

[GeoRon]

I've never heard of Naturehike. They have a lot of nice looking stuff. Some of it at a decent price. They are HQ'ed in China where most US gear is made. Their designs do look a lot like knockoffs.

This Naturehike tent is a tunnel that would work for a boat tunnel. Cam strap the ends to d-rings and cinch tight. Total length is 11.65'. If it were a little taller and broader it would be better. My Walrus is big enough that I can put my roll-a-cot perpendicular to the long axis of the tent.

Naturehike Cloud Tunnel 2 Person Tunnel Tent NH20ZP006

Dimensions are in centimeters.