Free-standing tents

“I have only non-free standing tents. Would like to get a free-standing one for car-camping and for in the winter when the ground is froze...just for ease of use.

Anyone have a favorite?”

“In my experience free-standing tents still need to be staked to be stable.”

“yes, but your options are better...I've been in places where the only place to pitch a tent was in the dark on a slab of stone....which made for a sloppy tent out of the one I usually bring lol. I'd jsut like to have the option of a free standing.”

“How much weight will you except? 1, 2, 0r 3 person? 3 season or winter tent?”

“3 season is fine, 1-2 person (its usually 1 person plus 45 lb. dog.) weight is negotiable”

“My current favorite car camping tent is a Kelty Salida (because I'm usually sleeping alone). Not too heavy to backpack either.

http://www.sunnysports.com/prod/KLTTS2.html?refby=adl-google&kwid=4edea94f3edd4d87a1bb9bfba678c09d&keyword=4edea94f3edd4d87a1bb9bfba678c09d&gclid=CNuT6szEgrACFQOEhwodwDJDSQ”

“The REI Quarter Dome always gets good reviews and is reasonably priced.”

“thanks y'all!”

“x2 REI Quarter Dome. I have an older UL version that is now my main bping tent.”

“I was recently eyeballing the big agnes ul2? 2 lb, 2 person freestanding. That is what I would get.”

“I have the BA SL1, and highly recomend.”

“There are many good two person aluminum frame tents at 4.5 pounds for $150 or so, to go lighter you will pay more generally for a conventional tent. There are single wall options, but I mostly hate them.

I hammock and have a nice tarp so I've been looking at this: http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/product/777772/rei-bug-hut-pro-2-tent

I have a large cross pole tent like that and its exceptionally stable. A hex tarp should cover it nicely. At 2lbs 14oz a tarp adds 6oz and I'm at 3.25 lbs.”

“..and I could get it for $80 on Friday..”

“That seems like a good deal, exspecially at 80.00 REI has a great return policy so if the combo craps out you can always take it back.

My 1/4 Dome UL comes in a 3.5 ... and it's a two person. I've fit three people (well, one person and two kids) in there. Gear has to stay outside.”

“oooo I do like the look of that mesh tent....I do prefer to sleep under the stars in good weather....so the bug protection would certainly be a plus! Can yo buy a tarp that fits it or do I have to make one?”

“My hex tarp will just barely cover my 3 person Sierra Designs Asp so it should cover that nicely with a large cooking vestibule.

1/4 dome is nice but pricey once you go to the ul version. A sil nylon hex tarp cost about $90 or go cuben for $235. You'll have more coverage and the dog can stay outside the tent. Just kicking it around..

I saw some 1/4 domes and similar sierra design models for sale on eBay pretty cheap. All come in about 4.5 lbs.”

“My mistake, they were half domes on eBay.”

“What's cool about the bug hut deal is you can set the tarp up on sticks and have 360 views and no condensation.(or privacy) No longer freestanding technically.”

“"1/4 dome is nice but pricey once you go to the ul version."

I got lucky and walked into REI and they were on the shelf for 89.00. That's about 4 years ago; they has a few but I was concerned about the line because they were so cheap. Now I wish I would have bought the other 3 that were on the shelf.”

“No way the dog sleeps outside :) He's my portable heating device :) Poor Jack wouldn't know what to do if I made him sleep out. He'd think I was punishing him for something lol.”

“That's a great deal! The 3.5 is the fast pitch weight right?

http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/product/827787/rei-quarter-dome-t2-plus-tent?cm_mmc=$(partner)$-_-0-_-0-_-827787&mr:referralID=d8bd645c-9fba-11e1-8e16-001b2166becc&un_jtt_redirect”

“Mine is not a T2; it's a UL. Fast pack weight; I dunno but I think that it's got to be around 1 3/4 - 2 lbs.”

“I guess I will have to take a trip to REI with the dog and try some out :)”

“Wrong again Q...lol.
http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/product/829967/rei-quarter-dome-ul-tent-2012-special-buy

$90 for that tent is a great deal, you're right about that!”

“... eh, lol ...


Mine is not a 2012.

I weighed mine, packed, it comes to 3.5 lbs. I don't use standard stakes or stuff sack, perhaps that, in concert with the generous weight given by REI, is the reason for the mistake ... no pun intended.”

“you might want to check out henry shires website-tarptent. he's got a couple free standing tents that are pretty light weight. the rainbow comes to mind.
Im considering geting one.”

“I've been eyeing the Sublite for a while now. Can't justify another tent though”

“I just think "free standing" is an idea that hasn't been thought through. I've been backpacking a long time and haven't had the need (or desire) to put a tent on a flat slab of rock. I know you see this a lot on the cover of "Backpacker" magazine, but those spots are often illegal and generally would be undesirable in all but freakishly calm conditions.

If you wanted to camp on exposed flat rock in calm conditions, why would you need to pitch a tent? Just lay your bag out. If it's not calm, your tent won't maintain it's structure without stakes.


Kinda like a bivy sack is a bad idea. If the conditions warranted it, you'd wish you were in a tent.”

“Toejam, the flat slab of rock was NOT on an exposed ridge. It was in thick forest and was literally the ONLY place clear of trees and brush enough that I could find in the dark to even set up a shelter...It was RAINING and I was getting very cold and exhausted so no I was NOT going to just lay my down bag out....
And in the winter, as well when the ground is frozen solid and stakes are near impossible to get into the ground with no rocks around to pound them in...
For me, free standing would be better in my opinion FOR ME. If you don't want free standing toejam that's fine :) It's what I want. My first tent ever was a free standing and I loved it (and it was just a cheep $20 tent)....more so then the ones I have now that are not which are more of a hassle to put up in the dark to me.
I have thought through free standing well enough.

And you are right about the bivy....I hate it for winter time as I cannot lay flat on my back for too long of a time and have to sit up and move around. So I generally take it in the summer instead when the nights are not so long.”

“Maybe you need some better tent stakes. I like the Nobendiums cuz you can pound on them and pull them back out without tearing up your fingers.”

“A bivy is great for winter shelter camping”

“A bivy is great shelter as long as you don't have to zip yourself up, in which case you'll soak everything inside with your breath. This condition is worse in winter when it's cold - you get that much more condensation on the inside.”

“Yes, I have had ice in my bivy many times”

“Just trying to get a spirited gear discussion going during Trail Daze. What do I gotta do to get SC to scream in caps at me again?”

“:P

I found what tent I want...now I have to find a place that sells it. I asked some REAL backpackers by my camp about their tent which I had been starring at and scheaming about stealing while they were out of thier campsite lol
http://www.kelty.com/p-490-gunnison-31-pro.aspx”

“I've pitched non free standing tents on rock plenty of times. My cloudburst has three main pitch points, so 3-5 big rocks and I am set. Free standing are convenient...”

“That Kelty is a bit heavy for my taste, but to each his (or her) own. happy camping”

“Wouldn't want to carry it far, but that would be great for car camping.

$180 at Campmor & Backcountry.com. Sunny Sports has the Kelty Trail Ridge for $175 - it has a little more head room (wider dome).”

“free standing tents - reminds me of how a woman recently got her trail name on a trip I was on - it was up in Rhododendron Gap - her new trail name is Tumble Weed - care to guess how she got that name?”

“Rolling a number?”

“well - not once but twice she had to chase down her free standing tent as it was blowing away like a Tumble Weed”