Re: [Paddlewise] TENT HUNT - "PLEASE"

Doug Loyd, who I usually agree with, but now is quite wet on this one, wrote:

-- top ten lists:

(My comments follow DL's statement)

Non-freestanding tent
1.   Very difficult erecting in high winds. HUH? NOT SPECIFIC TO CONSTRUCTION 
FORMAT.
2.   Difficulty dealing with stake-out lines with wet, numb
hands/fingers. FOR CANVAS WALL TENTS MAYBE, BUT NOT QUALITY NFS DESIGNS. I 
CAN JUST SEE DOUG IN A POWDERED WIG AND TRI CORNERED HAT ERECTING HIS 
REVOLUTIONARY WAR ERA NFS.
3.   Frozen stake-out lines. OH BOY, THAT FROZEN PARACHUTE CORD IS A REAL 
DOOZY!
4.   Tangled stake-out lines. YOU'D HAVE TO BE A REAL CLOD TO TANGLE UP 3 
FEET OF PARACHUTE CORD.
5.   More prone to soak-out in heavy rain prior to full erection (of
tent). ANY ONE WITH CAMP SENSE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO PUT THE FLY OVER THE BODY 
TO PROTECT FROM RAIN. ANY BUT SINGLE WALL TENTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
6.   Footprint generally bigger therefore less placement options. WRONG: A 
FOOT PRINT IS A FOOTPRINT, CONSTRUCTION TYPES OF EQUAL SQARE FOOT PRINT TAKE 
UP THE SAME SPACE.
7.   Line tensioners slipping in night wind -- clumped up tent=poor
condensation dissipation. DOUG, I'M SORRY YOU HAD A REAL PIECE OF TRASH FOR A 
NFS, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALL LIKE THIS.
8.   More lines to trip over, and uneven terrain difficulties more
acute. HUH? A TWISTED NIGHT OF SLEEP IS A TWISTED NIGHT OF SLEEP. DON'T BLAME 
NFS TENTS ON THIS.
9.   Some designs require stake-out of main tent, and _then_ the fly --
better land early in the day! THIS IS ALMOST FUNNY. YOU ARE JOKING? RIGHT?
10. Looks of derision and pity from fellow paddlers at camp. ...AS YOU PULL 
OUT A QUALITY NFS TENT THAT GOES UP FASTER, IS LIGHTER, AND JUST AS USEFUL AS 
THERE FS TENTS.

Freestanding tent
1.  More options with placement and moving it after erecting the tent. WRONG. 
QUALITY NFS TENTS MOVE JUST AS EASILY.
2.  Higher wind ratings. WRONG. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CONSTRUCTION FORMAT, 
BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH SEASON RATING GIVEN TO TENT.
3.  Fast set up. IF YOU CAN BEAT A SINGLEWALL TENT, THEN I'D AGREE, BUT SINCE 
NOT, YOU'RE BACK THERE IN THE SAME TIME RATING AS A QUALITY NFS.
4.  Usually more compact for packing. WRONG. SQARE FOOTAGE (THE AMOUNT OF 
MATERIAL ONE HAS TO CRAM INTO A DRYBAG)HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TENT 
CONSTRUCTION FORMAT.
5.  Easier to dry out in morning sun as one can easily present different
faces and bottom to sun. OH YES, THAT FREE STANDING GEOMETRY HAS A REAL 
EFFECT ON THE RATE OF DESSICATION! C'MON DOUG!
6.  Easier to initially place gound sheet and then keep in place (mine
clips right to the bottom of the tent). IT'S CALLED AN *ADD ON SALE*, ALL 
OUTDOOR RETAILER SALESPEOPLE ARE TRAINED TO LOAD YOU UP WITH OPTIONS AFTER 
YOU SELECT THE TENT. WE MUST HAVE HAD THE SAME GUY CAUSE HE SOLD ME THE SAME 
CLIP ON FLOOR FOR MY NFS TENT.ARE'NT WE SUCKERS, I COULD HAVE MADE MINE WITH 
TYVECK AND GROMMETS FOR 2 BUCKS.
7.  Night star-gaze versions (lots of netting on top) are fun, and the
fly is easily added later if clouds move in. STAR GAZING IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE 
FIEFDOM OF THE WELL TO DO SET TRAVELING WITH FS TENTS. US LOW RENT NFS TYPES 
LIKE TO DO THAT TOO. IT'S REALLY THE CAREER, FAMILY, BILLS THAT PREVENTS STAR 
GAZING, NOT NFS TENTS.
8.  No main ridgepole, therefor better distribution of sideways wind
sheer forces. I DON'T HAVE ONE OF THESE EITHER. I GUESS THE MFR WANTED MY NFS 
TO HANDLE SIDE WINDSHEAR BETTER.
9.  Quick tear down for fast dawn camp breaks (very important for open
water paddling). BOY, THOSE NFS GUYS ARE REALLY SLOWIN US DOWN. LET'S DUMP 
THEM IN THE NEXT TIDAL RAPID AHEAD.
10.Thumbs up from paddling partners...FROM WATCHING TOO MANY HAPPY DAYS 
RERUNS.

Some general things to consider about freestanding (OR NON FREESTANDING) 
tent:
1.  Buy aluminum poles (of course) -- but take a spare section.
2.  Overall joined pole lengths are best if each unit is the same
overall length for faster setups under duress.
3.  All poles are not created equally. Some all too easily have their
male joints pushed back inside the pole after bonding agents let go,
leaving the female furrel (sp?) end of the adjoining pole to easily
break when the overall lengths are curved under pressure. Pay the bucks
for a good tent. SO TRUE
4.  Some offshore tents have really poor thread counts for the
stitching. Get the best you can within your budget or better. Knock offs
are not as good if you look a little closer, though don't pay full price
for top name brands if avoidable. 
5.  Get as waterproof a floor as you can. Sealed seams are much
preferred.
6.  Cheaper tents and even certain expensive designs allow certain spots
to make contact between tent walls and fly, which then drip on you and
your gear.
7.  Avoid tents that use a lot of velcro to align fly to main tent.
Tents just don't stay taught enough to retain alignment. DOUG'S ANTI VELCRO 
NOW, I SEE!
8.  Get a tent with enough headroom and overhead arm swing room for
proper clothing changes, etc. OR EXPECT A BOXING MATCH WITH YOUR TENT MATE.
9.  Pay close attention to the clip mechanisms. Some snap together
easily, but are a pain to unclip. AND THEY BREAK EASILY. BUY EXTRAS OF THE 
SAME SIZE AND KEEP THEM IN YOUR REPAIR KIT.
10.Always stake-out the lee side of your tent if erecting it in the wind
or put some gear in first. ALL TRUE AND NON CONSTRUCTION SPECIFIC.


I also prefer a tent that opens along its longer length, as opposed to
the smaller end (applies to a rectangular length). This allows easier
entry and egress, especially if the vestibule area is clogged with wet
gear. SEE ABOVE COMMENT #6 AND TRY TO RECONCILE WITH THIS ONE, I CAN'T. I've 
also had to move a tent in the middle of the night due to
torrential rains and flooding, and once to a tide miss-prediction. THAT'S 
EASY TO DO IN BC.
Freestanding means freedom.FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! Also, pay attention to 
fly taughtness and design around the distal (?) perimeter. Loose flys can 
drive you batty during the night in a bad blow. I WORRY MORE ABOUT THE TREES 
I CAMPED UNDER THAN THE SOUND OF WIND ON MY TENT FLY.And don't be afraid to 
use a tarp above your tent in heavy rains or snow if you have an extra one. 
And oh yes, speaking of, um, erecting, a tent fly that extends all the way to 
close
to the ground not only keeps the sidewalls dry, but avoids embarrassment
during early morning sunrises due to backlighting (if you get my drift).
(PG-13 rating on this post Kirk). I WON'T GO THERE.


MORAL OF THE STORY: DON'T BUY DOUG'S OLD NFS TENTS.
Dos Centavos,
ROB G

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