Best Tent / Best Bag

[jjhunter]

Bag is narrowed down to the KUIU or an EE quilt.

Tent - I am now more confused than ever.   

Pad - Neoair XLight

Appreciate all of the feedback!

[jjhunter]

Does anyone know if KUIU is going to make any more tents?

[jackelope]

Does anyone know if KUIU is going to make any more tents?

I wouldn't worry about that.

[jackelope]

Bag is narrowed down to the KUIU or an EE quilt.

Tent - I am now more confused than ever.   

Pad - Neoair XLight

Appreciate all of the feedback!

Tent...
1-Do you want the tent freestanding? As in you don't have to put stakes in the ground?
2-Tent poles vs. Trekking poles. You either leave the poles and tent set up and forego using poles while hunting or take the poles out to use and re pitch the tent when you're done.
Sound like you already know you're not interested in floorless. Most free standing double wall tents you can run just the fly if you decide you want to go ultralight and floorless.

[Miles]

Tents are like boats... it all depends on what you want to do with them.  I have a hammock and tarp, a big agnes two person, and a golite sl-5.  If money isn't a factor, get a couple different setups.   Oh and floors... they also hold water in.

[jackelope]

This is interesting…
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Backpacking-Tent-Reviews

And the ultralights…
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Ultralight-Tent-Reviews

[CementFinisher]

sleeping pad- klymit Inertia O Zone 12.2 oz
 or klymit Inertia X-Lite 6.1 oz

[blackpowderhunter]

for tents i would say go into a store like REI and set some up and get in them..
I am picking up an MSR hubba hubba nx this year to replace my current tent.
I was looking at a lot of the big agnes tents, BUT what kept me away was how 1. the tent narrows at one end (will be mostly used with 2 people) and 2. how the walls kind of collapse in as you get down towards the foot end.  I tried getting in one and it just felt CRAMPED.  The MSR hubba hubba nx has very vertical walls and has a rectangular floor.  at just over 3 lbs should do quite well for what I need.  It also uses quite a bit more durable materials (in design at least) than the big anges tents.
but as many have said, it really depends on the climate you will be using it in, which will determine if you want to use a single wall (such as the tarp tent set ups) or a double wall (more standard such as the big agnes, MSR, rei brand tents)
hope that helps

[hogslayer]

I was looking into getting a EE quilt myself.  After reading a ton of reviews and putting my own experience with down into the mix i backed out of it.  To me if something sounds to good to be true it most likely is.  I can see where a quilt would be really nice, but living in Washington where we get a lot of rain i wouldn't want to risk getting the down wet.  It could get wet from a tent or condensation dripping off from the inside.  Either way, i know that if down gets wet, it's worthless.  I am going to stick with my synthetic bag.  Feel free to correct me if someone  has used one for a few season's.

[7mag.]

I was looking into getting a EE quilt myself.  After reading a ton of reviews and putting my own experience with down into the mix i backed out of it.  To me if something sounds to good to be true it most likely is.  I can see where a quilt would be really nice, but living in Washington where we get a lot of rain i wouldn't want to risk getting the down wet.  It could get wet from a tent or condensation dripping off from the inside.  Either way, i know that if down gets wet, it's worthless.  I am going to stick with my synthetic bag.  Feel free to correct me if someone  has used one for a few season's.

I haven't had a problem with my down EE quilt. I take the necessary precautions to keep it dry, it's not very difficult. If you're still not sold on down, EE makes synthetic quilts as well.

[j_h_nimrod]

Tents are like boats... it all depends on what you want to do with them.  I have a hammock and tarp, a big agnes two person, and a golite sl-5.  If money isn't a factor, get a couple different setups.   Oh and floors... they also hold water in.

Exactly!  I have a bivy, (1) one man tent, (2) 2-man tents, (1) 2.5 man tent, (2) 3-man tents, a 10'x10' canvas wall tent, and  a 16'x12' canvas wall tent.

I also lived in SE Alaska for 15 years and had only one friend use a down bag with success. Where I lived and hunted makes any place in WA look downright dry or only moderately damp. Being here (on the east side) I have went with down for weight and compactness. I still worry that it will get wet and I will be sleeping soggy and cold. The best thing with synthetic bags is that you can usually go to sleep wet and wake warm and dry. Again, it depends on where I plan to hunt. If I am road based I will have a comfy tent and synthetic bag, but if I head out it is down and a minimal shelter.

[longwalker]

I was looking into getting a EE quilt myself.  After reading a ton of reviews and putting my own experience with down into the mix i backed out of it.  To me if something sounds to good to be true it most likely is.  I can see where a quilt would be really nice, but living in Washington where we get a lot of rain i wouldn't want to risk getting the down wet.  It could get wet from a tent or condensation dripping off from the inside.  Either way, i know that if down gets wet, it's worthless.  I am going to stick with my synthetic bag.  Feel free to correct me if someone  has used one for a few season's.

You shouldn't really make comments or give advice without first hand experiance. I've slept quite warm in my down quilt after getting wet. Don't just blindly believe every thing you read on the internet. I hunt and live on The west side and I use down exclusivly. I've used EE quilts for several seasons now and taken them through some
 Of the worst rainstorms I've ever been in

[pope]

Your down was soaked and you stayed warm? That's an experience I've never had. Maybe your circulation is so good you just never get cold! I will say, if you can keep your down bag dry (which is possible through using waterproof stuff sacks, vapor-barrier bag liners and water-resistant bivouac sacks, plus a lot of caution), nothing is better than down for loft, for low weight, and for compression. Still, I get nervous taking a down bag or puffy coat to the back country with warm, rainy weather predicted.

[longwalker]

Yes I've both gotten my down quilt wet ( insane ran storm there was nothing g staying dry) and I've gotten in my down quit wet. I realize the internet tells me I died from that but Aparently I some how pulled through. It's certainly not the best practice to get any bag wet but down will do the job. I also have a downtek treated quilt and that thing is amazing. Water just runs off of it and loses near zero loft when moderately wet. I wouldn't go dunk it either of my quilts in the lake and ring them out before bed time but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to do that with synthetic either.

[longwalker]

Here's a good example of down getting wet