Tent weight

[The scout]

I have used them both had floorless first now have the big agnes copper spur. I am supprised there is even a debate of floor or no floor. couple more ounces and you have a sealed waterproof setup. I wasn't speaking of his magical 1lb tarp and sack, it was the other with the 2lb tarp and bivy on top of that.comparing a tarp to a tent was you not me. I said tarp and bivy

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I have used them both had floorless first now have the big agnes copper spur. I am supprised there is even a debate of floor or no floor. couple more ounces and you have a sealed waterproof setup. I wasn't speaking of his magical 1lb tarp and sack, it was the other with the 2lb tarp and bivy on top of that.comparing a tarp to a tent was you not me. I said tarp and bivy

What's "magical" about the 1 lb tarp and sack?

[AKBowman]

Pretty much anything will work if the weather is decent. In September if the weather is good you don't honestly NEED a tent. Just wrap up in your rain gear and crawl on the leeward side of a pine or rock and you're set.

Great weather aside you will want a tent with a floor that you can zip up and escape in. Without a floor you will be much more limited on where you can set up your tent (tarp?). If the wind/rain really kicks up like it can in the mountains you will damn wish you had a floor and enclosed area to escape to. Don't always need it but it sure allows you to set up camp without having to think too much about it.

Never wasted an ounce carrying stakes. I have always tied my tent down to rocks with parachute chord. Don't waste your time with stakes just figure you need 20' of parachute chord to loop around rocks. You can always loop it around a small rock then stack bigger rocks on top to add weight. Chances are the ground will be rocky and not suitable for steaks any how.

For my mountain hunting I use the Northface TadPole  now called the Big Fat Bullfrog. You can find it for under $200, it's a 2 man that I use as a 1 man and is under 3 lbs dressed down.

[Rock7]

If you are looking at a good tent without breaking the bank, look at the Kelty Gunisons 2.2. If I remember right it weighs in at just over 4 lbs. I have used it on the north slope of the brooks range in AK and here on the Olympic Pen. It has held up to snow and rain and easy to set up. There are plenty of tents out there and IMO having a place to hide out from the weather when it gets crappy is worth the extra pound or so over a tarp.

[RadSav]

Never catch me without a floor.  Worth the extra weight IMO. 

First time you setup in the rain you'll be happy you have a floor.  First time you get back to camp after a long day hunting to find all your mountain house has holes and mouse poop in it you will wish you had a floor.  First time you find your $400 sleeping bag is now vented and full of vermin poo you will wish you had a floor.  First time you wake up and realize you are sharing your tent with 2 million blood sucking mosquitos you will wish you had a floor.

On the flip side, the first time you get a midnight wakeup from a bear breaking your tent poles...you will wish you had NO floor!

[wooltie]

I have a MRS hoop and this year will be the first time using it.

Contemplating leaving the tent itself at home and taking only the fly, frame, footprint, and stakes.

The entire packages weighs over 5 lbs, 2 lbs of that is the tent body.

Footprint + fly might be enough cover, so long as you don't setup in a hole and awake in a lake of rainwater.

With two guys I'd take the whole thing and split the weight.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Never catch me without a floor.  Worth the extra weight IMO. 

First time you setup in the rain you'll be happy you have a floor.  First time you get back to camp after a long day hunting to find all your mountain house has holes and mouse poop in it you will wish you had a floor.  First time you find your $400 sleeping bag is now vented and full of vermin poo you will wish you had a floor.  First time you wake up and realize you are sharing your tent with 2 million blood sucking mosquitos you will wish you had a floor.

On the flip side, the first time you get a midnight wakeup from a bear breaking your tent poles...you will wish you had NO floor!

I almost 'ventilated' a bivy one night.  My mistake was that I layed down right in the middle of the trail! With all the stomping and coughing going on, I thought sure that they were going to trample me.
 
-Steve

[RadSav]

I almost 'ventilated' a bivy one night.  My mistake was that I layed down right in the middle of the trail! With all the stomping and coughing going on, I thought sure that they were going to trample me.

   When I first started back country hunting I had some 9# camo tent from Big 5 and an army surplus wool blanket instead of a sleeping bag.  I'd found a deer trail in the Strawberry Wilderness the muledeer were using the size of a two lane highway.  Each time I scouted it I would take a pine bow and broom the trail so on return to the spot I could determine what was fresh and what wasn't.  My plan was to set up the "Camo" tent 20 yards from the trail and use it as a blind as well as a sleeping spot.  Figured if I didn't cook and kept camp clean I'd be fine.  Sounded reasonable for a 17 year old punk.

I drive all night long from the coast to John Day, pack up my gear and make the long hike from the trailhead to my spot.  I arrive well after light and got things set up, swept the trail, and lay down in the mid day heat to take a nap before prime time rolls around.  At about 3PM I'm awaken by the tent collapsing and the sound of complete chaos outside.  I get just enough of a glimpse outside to see a bear run by then panic sets in and I can't get anything to move right and escape is near impossible.

Once I finally collect myself and get out of the tent I survey the area and look at the swept trail.  Looks like about a dozen deer and the one bear have run through since I fell asleep.  Not sure if the bear hit the tent or if it was a deer trying to escape the bear.  Regardless it was quite exciting!  And made sleeping by myself the next few days a little difficult   To this day those first few nights when solo hunting the back country I hear every bump in the night and fear the worst.  I love it!

[wooltie]

LOL think I'll setup the trip wires, flares, and claymores around my tent on a first few nights....unless these predators start "using the trees.." 

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

LOL think I'll setup the trip wires, flares, and claymores around my tent on a first few nights....unless these predators start "using the trees.." 

I wouldn't worry too much about predators...


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[Crook]

I suggest going to a hammock and rain tarp at little more than 2 lbs, ENO makes great ones that will hold 400lbs and there are numerous tarp manufactures out there as well, just google hammock tarps, or use TYVEK  works well too. best nights sleep I've ever had and I am 230lbs all you need are two trees and camp anywhere. But yes most tents below $300 weigh in around 5 to 6 pounds

[Rob]

I think the OP indicated he was close to getting a Fly Creek UL2.  Here is My Fly Creek UL2 at the approach to Glacier peak on Monday.

I found if I use the dirt stakes and put them in deadman style, they work as well as snow stakes.  less than 1/2 the weight too.

[Nature Boy]

Has anyone gotten their hands on one of the new Kuiu tents?  The specs look like a good compromise between weight and durability.  I especially like the exterior pole design that allows you to pitch the tent with fly attached.  This is Kuiu's first foray into the tent market so I'm a little reluctant to drop money on it right out of the gate.   

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Has anyone gotten their hands on one of the new Kuiu tents?  The specs look like a good compromise between weight and durability.  I especially like the exterior pole design that allows you to pitch the tent with fly attached.  This is Kuiu's first foray into the tent market so I'm a little reluctant to drop money on it right out of the gate.

Little spendy for what the specs are.

I've become more and more impressed with seek outsides LBO...


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