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Posted by calamity on February 23, 2008 at 3:25:04 am EST
In reply to Solo Tent posted by Spion on February 23, 2008 at 2:05:33 am EST

Among the relatively recent, affordable solo tents, I like Eureka Spitfire a little bit, and similar tents by Sierra Designs. I like OR Haven and similar GoLite series probably more, but arguably, these aren't full "tents."

Wenzel makes a nice tent for under $50, supposedly for two, but good for one, with complete floor and netting, but it's coated single wall, and only good for three seasons, given impermiable floor and related drainage problems.

Hillenberg and Montbell are other obvious possibilities. But given cost of some of these options, one must also consider Black Diamond First Light, a slightly larger tent, supposedly for two people at under three pounds and nearly $300, apparently offering good, full protection.

Most free-standing solo tents out there are not good weight/value/space propositions, in my view.

I own and use the long discontinued, 2.5 pound Sierra Designs solo Divine Light tent, single wall, advertised at 20 sq. feet.

Its angled front arch and resulting wide door remains a unique and slightly brilliant innovation for miniature tent design, unaccountably now not available.

Yet despite its advantages, this solo tent was simply too small for me to tolerate, I concluded after many years and nights.

Subsequently, I purchased several alternatives, none entirely satisfactory, including a slightly larger, heavier, taller and more bulky, Mountain Hardwear solo tent, now also discontinued, and similar to curent Spitfire.

I ditched the thing and my favorite tent is currently 3-pound, 50-sq. ft GoLite Hex, with 5 feet of headroom and no floor or bug net.

I continue to occasionally use SD tent in severe bug environments, but the Hex alone, without bug insert, has provided somewhat effective protection in moderately severe bug infestations.

I also own and use quite a bit, the Integral Designs SilShelter at 1 pound, and nearly large enough for two people. Though I have a few objections to this item, I do wish to acquire slightly heavier bug net for this rig, for total of slighly more than 2 pounds.

The SilShelter and bug insert rig I describe is much more fussy to erect than the BD First Light as well as many solo tents on the market. But it is probably as large as BD and a fair bit cheaper.

I continue to believe, or imagine, that OR Night Haven and similar Golite series are good compromises, considerably more space than a "solo" tent, with insect netting, low weight and slightly moderate cost.

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