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From: Paul Murtaugh <murtaugh_at_stat.orst.edu>
subject: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 08:57:39 -0800 (PST)
Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person
tents?  I have a nice two-person Marmot tent, but would like
to get something with a smaller footprint, for camping on thin
slivers of Northwest beaches in (potentially) cool and rainy
weather!

Thanks in advance.
-Paul
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From: James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 11:34:55 -0800
Paul Murtaugh said:
Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person tents?  I
have a nice two-person Marmot tent, but would like to get something with
a smaller footprint, for camping on thin slivers of Northwest beaches in
potentially) cool and rainy weather!


Reply:

When I spent two weeks paddling in the Queen Charlottes last Sept. I used
my North Face Arches.  It has a screen canopy with a full-coverage fly. 
It is not free-standing, but that has never been a problem yet, I use
deadmen on rocky ground.  We had rain most nights and got pinned down by
a rainy gale for two days near the beginning of the trip.  I had nary a
drop of water in the tent.  I don't think TNF makes this model anymore,
but the Canyonlands or Mountain Marathon should be similar, with the Mtn
Marathon being better because of the larger vestibule.

Jim Tibensky
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From: embro <embro_at_sbcglobal.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 09:33:29 -0800
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> Paul queried:
> Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person
> tents?  I have a nice two-person Marmot tent, but would like

I have a Sierra Designs Light Year CD--it is easy to put up in high winds
and easy to pack into a small package.  The only drawback I have had is
25-40 kt winds on the beach sand tends to come in under the fly and in
through the ventilation screens.
Mike Brown
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From: Robert C Cline <rccline_at_swbell.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 11:21:29 -0600
Paul:

I found a reference to a large bivy bag...large as bivies go.
It was made of a material similar to Goretex.
I have a Goretex bibler, but it's much to small for me.

Hmmm.  Maybe you want a bibler?  Never used.

Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Murtaugh
Subject: [Paddlewise] one-person tents

Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person
tents?  I have a nice two-person Marmot tent, but would like
to get something with a smaller footprint, for camping on thin
slivers of Northwest beaches in (potentially) cool and rainy
weather!

Thanks in advance.
-Paul
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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 15:10:47 -0500
On 17 Feb 2004 at 8:57, Paul Murtaugh wrote:

> Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person
> tents? 

I picked up an out-of-production 1.5 person tent from MEC for a song 
a while back.  Slightly bigger than a one person but you'd have to be 
really good friends to get two inside.  Two 3/4 length pads will fit 
in, but only one full length.  It's an older Quail model - the new 
replacement is slightly taller at the front.

<http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=6
79157&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=135337&bmUID=1077048045008>

Which brings to mind my recommendation - if you anticipate being tent-
bound at any time, or if you like being able to move around and dress 
sitting up, make sure the tent has sufficient head room at one end.

Many of the smallest one-person tents are not free-standing.  I have 
mixed feelings about this.  Free standing is nice, but I always end 
up pegging out a free-standing tent.  The non free-standing uses 
fewer poles and pegging out isn't such a big deal.

The new(ish) MSR one person looks good, but a tad pricey.

http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/ultralight.asp

The Zoid or Microzoid, not sure which I've seen, looks like a decent 
tent - well made and with decent features.  I'd bet these can handle 
a stiff wind.  There's a 1.5 person version as well.

One thing I like in some of these tents is the ability to rig just 
the fly (as a wind/sun shade or for hot, bugless night sleeping) or 
just the tent w/o fly.

Mike
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From: John March <jsmarch_at_acpub.duke.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 16:50:26 -0500
At 03:10 PM 2/17/2004 -0500, Michael Daly wrote:

>On 17 Feb 2004 at 8:57, Paul Murtaugh wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person
> > tents?
>

Bibler i-tent.  Will sleep 2 in a pinch. Lots of  room for one plus 
gear.  I use the Awahanee just for the view.

http://www.biblertents.com/2002/itent_eldo.html
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From: Keith Wrage <keith.wrage_at_charter.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 17:03:17 -0600
I'd consider the Sierra Designs Clip CD 2 - technically a 2-person tent but 
at about 4 lbs I think it might work for you.  Only $150 too (last years 
model).  Not free standing though if that is a hang-up for you.  I believe 
this is a favorite with thru hikers.  With 2 people in this tent they'd 
better be pretty darn good friends!!  I have the 3-person version of this 
tent....which works well for two people.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=29352439&prmenbr=226

There is also a true one-person in this same line for $120 (again, last 
years model)
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=29352440&prmenbr=226

I have a friend who *swears* by the REI-branded tents too.  You might look 
thru the REI site - they seem to have tents that look a whole lot like many 
more expensive tents.  Again, I've heard they are very good tents for the $$.
Here is an example of one of theirs - under 4 lbs, 2 person, $170.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=47600029&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1

Certainly not the high-end tent like a Bibler...but 1/4 of the price 
too.  I suppose one can argue you get what you pay for...

Of course, not connection to any of the product/companies mentioned....
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From: David Flory <daflory_at_pacbell.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 00:07:58 -0800
Another approach to compact shelter is: 
<http://www.hennessyhammock.com/>
-- 
Check out the marine mammals, dog & Bengal cats _at_ 
<http://homepage.mac.com/dflory>
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From: Gordon Snapp <grsnapp_at_charter.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 17:43:05 -0800
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I have a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight CD.  It's small, but very light.  I
chose it for it's lightness.  I do a lot of backpacking and bicycle touring.
I'm 6'4" and I use it as a one person tent, but I have a friend with the
same tent who sleeps both he and his wife in his.  He says it's a tight
squeeze, but it works.  It's not free-standing.

I also have an old Eureka Timberline I use for kayaking.  It's a bit
roomier, though heavier.  Weight doesn't seem to be as much of an issue to
me when paddling, as it is when cycling or backpacking.

A friend I've paddled with has a Gore-tex bivy.  I'm not sure how I would
like sleeping in it, especially in a rain storm, but I have to say it looked
pretty attractive when I saw how quickly and easily he "set it up" and got
ready for sleep.

I would think the following criteria would be important:

Uses - Is ultra light weight an issue?

Freestanding - Are you going to paddle in slickrock country?

Quality - A tent that works fine to keep out mosquitoes and a light drizzle
in benign conditions might be totally unacceptable in typhoon-like
conditions.  A good quality tent will also last longer and stand up to hard
use better.

Does the manufacturer stand behind their product? - I had an L. L. Bean tent
that "threw a zipper" after many years of hard use.  I phoned the company
and they sent me a new replacement, no questions asked.  All I had to do was
send them the old tent (at their expense!)  I had a friend who had a Moss
tent that was ancient.  The zipper broke.  They no longer made that tent, so
they instructed her to send them the broken tent and they would fix it.
They did, for free.
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From: Peter Treby <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 08:22:59 +1100
Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person tents?
Paul: The Macpac "Microlight" at 1.6 kg is fairly popular as a one person
paddling tent here. Single pole hoop, see it at
http://www.macpac.co.nz/layout/do,products/. Now Asian made.
Lately I have fancied a Wilderness Equipment "Dart", which has the advantage
over the Microlight of being a free standing  tent. 1.95 kg. Of course, made
in Vietnam, not Australia. See it at
http://www.hikelight.com.au/prod189.htm. or
http://www.wildequipment.com.au/tents_dart.html
Cheers, PT
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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 17:00:56 -0500
On 19 Feb 2004 at 8:22, Peter Treby wrote:

> Does anyone have advice or opinions about particular one-person tents?
> Paul: The Macpac "Microlight" at 1.6 kg is fairly popular as a one
> person paddling tent here. Single pole hoop, 

Looks like a classic design - several companies used to have on with 
the same single pole design.  Amie once picked up a Moss tent like 
that at a garage sale for something like C$10! Gave it away :-(

>  Lately I
> have fancied a Wilderness Equipment "Dart", which has the advantage
> over the Microlight of being a free standing  tent. 1.95 kg. Of


Now that's a cool tent.  I like the length - 2.4m.  It was obviously 
designed by someone that understands that not everyone is 5'7" tall.
A tad pricey at A$400 (US$316 or C$420).  

Mike
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From: alex <al.m_at_3web.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 18:42:05 -0800
> Lately I have fancied a Wilderness Equipment "Dart", which has the
advantage
> over the Microlight of being a free standing  tent. 1.95 kg. Of course,
made
> in Vietnam, not Australia.

Most of them are made in Asia now.  Eureka Backpaking 1-person, for example
(I think all Eurekas).  Vietnamese tents without brand names are much worse,
even though sometimes look  decent and cost accordingly (from $90 up).
Fragile plastic clips, regular steel sleeves on fiberglass poles, zippers
that stop working due to dust and salt deposits and so on.
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From: alex <al.m_at_3web.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 20:43:53 -0800
> The Macpac "Microlight" at 1.6 kg is fairly popular as a one person
> paddling tent here. Single pole hoop, see it at
> http://www.macpac.co.nz/layout/do,products/.

May be it's only my impression, but seems like in those places where tent
space is at premium, it tends to have access from its narrow side, rather
than from wider. Like narrow ravine between two rocky slopes or roots of
trees.  I like such tent designs with a side door, and had such tent a while
ago, it is very convenient - if you can pitch it so as to have this side
access.
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From: Peter Treby <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au>
subject: RE:[Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 11:32:02 +1100
Michael:
...Wilderness Equipment "Dart"
A tad pricey at A$400 (US$316 or C$420).
True, but the MacPac microlight and this tent both have robust floors. Most
very light tents, like the MSR Zoids, and Clipflash or whatever have light
material in the floor, so you end up taking a footprint or tarp and adding
back the weight you thought you'd saved. As ever, you get what you pay for.
Cheers, PT.
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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: RE:[Paddlewise] one-person tents
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 01:01:30 -0500
On 20 Feb 2004 at 11:32, Peter Treby wrote:

> Michael:
> ...Wilderness Equipment "Dart"
> A tad pricey at A$400 (US$316 or C$420).
>
> True, but the MacPac microlight and this tent both have robust floors.

I saw the 8000mm rating - that's good, not like my big 4 season, but 
much better than most tents.  I don't doubt it's worth the money, but 
there is a bit of sticker shock.

> Most very light tents, like the MSR Zoids, and Clipflash or whatever
> have light material in the floor, so you end up taking a footprint or

True.  With the solo tent I got, I've decided to forgo the footprint 
and sacrifice the tent a bit.  It was marked down as discontinued, 
then put on sale.  When I bought it, the last one in stock, they 
found it was missing the pegs, so they discounted it further.  It was 
so cheap that I'm treating it as a throw-away.  It should only last 
about ten years* :-)

Mike

*my Timberline lasted 21 seasons of abuse, so ten years is a short 
life.
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