Re: [Paddlewise] TENT HUNT - "PLEASE"

From: Peter Rathmann <prathman_at_attbi.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002 22:50:59 -0800
Doug Lloyd wrote:
> 
> Rick,
> I usually stay away from camping gear threads, but can't hold back on
> this one. 
...
> Non-freestanding tent
> 1.   Very difficult erecting in high winds.
> 2.   Difficulty dealing with stake-out lines with wet, numb
> hands/fingers.
> 3.   Frozen stake-out lines.
> 4.   Tangled stake-out lines.
> 5.   More prone to soak-out in heavy rain prior to full erection (of
> tent).
> 6.   Footprint generally bigger therefore less placement options.
> 7.   Line tensioners slipping in night wind -- clumped up tent=poor
> condensation dissipation.
> 8.   More lines to trip over, and uneven terrain difficulties more
> acute.
> 9.   Some designs require stake-out of main tent, and _then_ the fly --
> better land early in the day!
> 10. Looks of derision and pity from fellow paddlers at camp.

While I appreciate your sincerity Doug, it looks to me like your two
lists are comparing good tent designs to poor ones and not free- vs.
non-freestanding.  I use my non-freestanding (NFS) tent without any
lines (except in siuations like the Everglade chickees where no staking
is possible), so your item #s 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 don't apply at all.  In
fact they are more applicable to my older freestanding (FS) tent which
does have a few lines extending from the tent.
Comparing my particular FS tent to my NFS one, 8 of your points above
apply more to the FS tent and only one is more applicable to the NFS.  I
have not noticed any signs of point #10 with either tent.
Similarly, most of the items on your list of supposed FS advantages are
more applicable to my NFS tent than they are to my FS.

So I'd suggest to Rick that he definitely consider Doug's lists as
characteristics to consider, but not to rule out an otherwise good
design just because it isn't freestanding.
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Received on Fri Feb 08 2002 - 22:52:00 PST

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