I'm looking to buy a tent for weekened excursions. Any recommendations for something lightweight and easily packable?
I've been looking into the same thing as I do a lot of backcountry hiking and a light tent is key to logging serious miles. At present, I have a North Face tent that is 3+ seasons and sleeps two. It's reasonably compact, but weighs about 6lbs and was ultra light when I bought it 7-8 years ago. They're making some crazy compact ultralight tents nowadays. A hugely popular tent is the Hubba Hubba tent by MSR, it's light (3 1/2 lbs) and compact but for a 2 person tent, you had better be damn friendly with the person you're sharing with as it's quite compact. The lightest tents out there happen to also be made in the USA: tarptent and the Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Both of these tents are in the 2 to 2 1/2 pound range and are quite spacious. IF I was buying a new tent, I would buy from one of these two companies. Hope this helps. Check out REI.com for a good selection and good prices.
I've got an REI Quater Dome -- I've used it for a long as a week at atime, and it's been great -- packs reasonably small, the poles fit in my Givi e36 bags, and it's kept the rain off me. Oh, and it was on clearance. As for a name, perhaps Clarice?
MSR Hubba Hubba two person tent. Works great if I'm all by myself, but not big enough for two people and gear. D.
I've found that to be true for me, too. A two-person tent is fine if it's just me. If there's going to be two people, a three-person tent is more comfortable. Oh, and I own a Mountain Hardware Lightwedge 3.
I have an ALPS Taurus 2, works great for me. Not sure they still make it but it was under $100 on sale and has held up great and does everything I need it to.
That's exactly the way my MH is shaped and my Dana Design (Garuda) Arja before that. That is a very stable and easy to set up design. Each pole bends all the way across the tent. Three straight poles. There are no joints which gives it fewer points to fail.
I have a Marmot Taku. It is not lightweight (6+ pounds) and is not inexpensive (I am pretty sure they don't make it anymore). I also have an EcoTat 'shelter' which is four pounds and is more of a bivy shelter that also doubles as a parka/poncho: It is smaller, lighter and if I get stuck in the woods I think it might be more useful because I could use it as a poncho while I walk out.
Eureka Back Country Tent- new last Spring If I had it to do over, I'd buy the Catoma Tents. They were at the RA rally and their twist and snap poles looked great!
ems (aka expensive mtn. shite) tristar. It's a great backpacker for two. Bit much for solo but it's nice to sprawl.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=328336&highlight=tent oh,, mutha hubba <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jZ7PCV5k5yNk3AOj9j4ubw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_afLP6MWRW4U/SsluQd6lb_I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/gEOPGYQ8LEk/s400/muthahubba.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/rboettch/Camping?feat=embedwebsite">camping</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bRXzX4sYTHDb6y8wRs-FLQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_afLP6MWRW4U/Sslu9Nk37EI/AAAAAAAAA6U/cD0qfnbrZn4/s400/MSR_Mutha_Hubba_w_Fly.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/rboettch/Camping?feat=embedwebsite">camping</a></td></tr></table>
I'm always on the lookout for a good 1- or 2-person tent. One of my main criteria is that it be dark colored. Dark green, dark blue, preferred. Currently using Eurkeka Back Country 1 and Back Country 2, depending on usage. Both of them have dark green rain flies. Lots of good tents out there, but most of them are bright orange or red or white or somesuch. What's a good modern tent which comes in a dark color for stealth camping? Or maybe I'm overthinking the importance of being camouflage. Jamie
Eureka El Capitan, in my case a "three" man version. I just got it late this summer but have slept in torrential downpours as well as temps down to -6c (21f) and been quite comfy. It also packs down very small and will fit in a Givi E41 sidecase (although I usually put it in a bag on my back seat.) ..Tom