Tents for Alpine climbing base camps: What are you all using?

I haven't looked at tents for years and it is a bit overwhelming how many are available! Looking for a tent that'll be used for alpine cragging arenas like Sawtooths, Bugs, Winds, etc. Where you hike in, set up camp and day climb. It'll also be occasionally used for over night back packing trips. The use will be from late spring to early fall.

Requirements:
-2 persons plus gear, therefore:
-2 doors with 2 vestibules
-double wall
-4.5 lbs), but don't need the most ultra super duper light tent out there
-price: doesn't need to be dirt cheap, but don't want to break the bank either

Really just want to hear back on what people are using to get an idea on where to start looking. Thanks.

I like tunnel tents, I use a sadly discontinued Marmot Widi 2p (a steal in its day), a similar one would be the pricey Hilleburgs...

I really like my Henry Shire tent. I have the Rainbow and love it. Also its very light and has sustained hundreds of miles of use.
tarptent.com/

Try looking at the MSR hubba hubba it's just under 4lbs and is sturdy and has lots of mess to keep the bugs out. For places with lots of bugs I really like a double wall tent. The hubba hubba is a really great tent.

It breaks the bank but check out the ZPacks.com duplex. www.zpacks.com

Vinzanto wrote:I really like my Henry Shire tent. I have the Rainbow and love it. Also its very light and has sustained hundreds of miles of use. tarptent.com/

Similar to the Double Rainbow is the Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo. The weight is about the same, (2lb 9oz). I've never been in a DR, but I hear the DR can set up pretty quickly as a free standing tent. The SMD LD on the other hand is a little more spacious, and you have to use stakes. Just be sure to seam seal it before you use it!

Took it with me on a trip to Mt. Sill and while camping at Sam Mack, got pounded with rain and snow... never a leak! Plenty of condensation, nothing we couldn't handle though. Would definitely recommend!

Edit: Added Six Moon Designs link

Maybe you can buy a second-hand.

On a side note, If you're leaving this tent up as a basecamp, you may not want something that uses hiking poles, cause depending on your environment you may want your poles during the day and thus leaving your tent flopped flat on the ground.
But you can set them up without the poles if there's a tree nearby, so it depends on your location.

I've got a Betamid (with the bug netting insert since I'm on the east coast), I've added a couple mini biners and a lightweight cord to the peg bag just for hanging it.

Bill Kirby wrote: It breaks the bank but check out the ZPacks.com duplex. www.zpacks.com

I've probably spent <30 nights in my Hilleberg Jannu. It's a pretty nice tent. But damn is it heavy. About half of that has been on snow.

Recently got a 3-4 person mid. Much lighter than the Jannu, and a whole lot more space. I'm going to see how that copes with strong winds and snow. I'd suggest checking out, in addition to the already mentioned zpacks, mountain laurel designs and hyperlite mountain gear.

MLD sells silnylon mids which are a good deal cheaper as its a much much cheaper material. Both HMG and MLD sell inners for their mids.

I haven't dealt with zpacks, but I've never heard anything bad. MLD and HMG are awesome to deal with. I think the prices are reasonable for all three companies, and its made in the USA.

I'm in the same boat and I think I'm going to end up with the Nemo Kunai. It's a great, versatile tent that's not too heavy.

Just curious, why does it need to be double wall? I have had the SD Lightning UL for a while and love the single wall.

Double walls are more breathable than single wall tents (not tarps).
You get protection from insects that you don't get from a tarp.
On a double, the flysheet can be tight to the ground (warmer) or removed completely depending on conditions.
The flysheet is generally made out of polyester to survive longer in the sun (Polyester is more resistant to UV than nylon).

But it's generally heavier.

Edit:
Saw an idiot last weekend, I thought he had a single wall wedge tent, nope, it was a double wall cinched to the ground all around, the temp went to the mid 60s overnight, clear sky.
In the morning they removed the fly, the inside of the tent was soaking wet, zero ventilation...

Old Sag wrote: Is this a JOKE? $150 for a rain poncho!? And they say that with a straight face? zpacks.com/accessories/grou… Backpacks that look like they hired hobos from under the interstate to hand make? $300!?

For rugged in heavy weather, and super light, the Hyperlite mid is pretty incredible. It weighs about a 1 1/4 lbs, looks like tissue paper, but can take a real beating. It's nice and bright on the inside, too.

I've spent more time hanging out in it in bad weather than I would like to admit.

Check 'er out here:
hyperlitemountaingear.com/h…

Ain't cheap for sure, but you don't even know it's in your pack until you need it.

Bd megalight modified by adding 18" noseeum netting around the perimeter. Bomber in weather, huge human/gear capacity, 40-some oz with included fat carbon center pole, totally reasonable for typical alpine insect pressure. Probably not awesome for peak skeeter pressure periods, but otherwise badass. I went with Bearpaw Wilderness Designs for the netting and am very pleased with the work.

Even so, I'd consider the hmg ultamids if I was planning lots of trips. Love their quality, weight and durability (have an hmg pack).

I'm going to chime in here out of boredom. Why does it have to be light? When I read your post title and saw "base camps" I thought to myself, "he's looking for what I have". But then as I read a little more I see you mention hiking in/ overnight backpacking.

I spend a lot of time in the winter in my MH Trango 4. That's a heavy tent. Think it comes in at 13lbs. I could have went with a 3, but 4 is a good number for when you need it, and comfy when its less. That's what i think about in all winter endeavors, comfort. I would never ever, consider buying a 2-man tent for winter if they were sized on the same guidelines as summer tents, i.e. 24x72 floor area equals 1-person. In the winter you have so much stuff, and being able to spread it out, spread yourself out, and keep organized in the cold means alot. The extra weight, for the double-wall's associated comfort, means alot.

If I could get a second tent, it would be a winter tent for the real backcountry, through hikes and such, and I would consider one of the fancier single-wall tents. One that is easier put up in inclement weather, but has extra bells and whistles for ventilation. For example, years ago when I did research on it, MH's EV had these hooded vents that I guess provide you some breath-ability without immediately exposing you. That's yet to be seen though. I have taken the Trango on two long treks, one was a PITA because we were splitting the weight between just two. The other I was so glad I had it with the weather we got, we had the weight split 4 ways, and it was way too packed on the inside, but I think we were all a little happy to be shoulder-shoulder that night.

I guess what I'm saying is figure out what you're actually going to do with it. If you're most often hiking under a mile with occasional thought to do a couple miles, possibly once annual long backpacking trip, I would lean towards a heavier, more comfortable model. If you're hiking 5 miles minimum every time out, I guess I would start looking at UL options.

I looked at the zpacks website, I do not think anyone is saying or using those in the winter... Why would you?

When exploring the Winds and Sawtooths I use the HMG UltaMid (www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/ultamid-4-person.html). In addition to being ultra-light (just 1.3 pounds!) the 4-person sports a spacious 85 square feet of floor space – plenty of room for spreading out gear. If set up properly, the HMG UltaMid is dryer than a double wall tent as it ventilates better and any moisture drains out. When camped below timberline I often hang the apex off a line tied between two trees so there is no center pole and even more room…. very luxurious. Early season in the Winds is buggy and the mesh insert (1-pound) will keep the mosquitoes out.

In addition to both winter and summer adventures in the Rockies, I have used my HMG UltaMid on expeditions to Mongolia, Patagonia, and Alaska. After three years of heavy 4-season use it is still going strong. Look for it in the Winds this summer.