For the past few weeks I’ve been grading the choices I made during my recent John Muir Trail thru-hike. Thus far I’ve scored a “D” for my sleeping bag, a “B” for my sleeping pad, and an “A” for my stove. Next item: my tent.
Before I tell you about the tent, I should make a couple of relevant points.
First, I slept inside only six of fifteen nights. The other nights I only spread out my footprint, sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
My Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 kept me safe and warm in some pretty tough weather.
This was my first trip where I spent the majority of nights under the stars, and I enjoyed it immensely.
(I actually got to the point that I could tell the time by glancing up at the stars. I started early on the trail each morning, and I knew it was time for me to get out of my sleeping bag when the Pleiades were directly overhead.)
Second, on two of the six nights I did erect the tent, I needed it badly. Near Wright Creek I experienced a deafening thunderstorm that dumped tons of rain all around me. At Guitar Lake the rain wasn’t quite as heavy, but I also got several hours of on-and-off, pea-sized, hail. My tent performed marvelously in both. One of my favorite memories of the hike was that last night, cooking in my tent, in the middle of a hailstorm, and feeling quite warm and snug.
The tent I carried this time around was the same tent I used during my 2009 thru-hike: a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1. This is a free-standing tent with a bathtub floor, an attached bug-net suspended from three poles (which all tie into a central hub), and a rain fly which covers the bug net. It is a single-person tent, with a smallish vestibule.
I’m six-foot-three and well over two hundred pounds, and I fit into it comfortably. On rainy nights I was able to easily accommodate my body, my clothes, and my gear (except the backpack and bear canister).
It weighs about three pounds, with a separate footprint sold by Big Agnes.
But is it the right tent for someone who is going to use it less than half the nights on the trail?
My answer is, “It’s not bad, but you can probably do better.”
The Seedhouse SL1 has a lot going for it: it’s easy to pitch, it’s roomy, and it’s less than three pounds. Most importantly, it will keep you warm and dry in some pretty nasty situations, even if you pitch it imperfectly (which is the only way I do it). For me, at least, the advantages of a double-walled tent and reliable, simple shelter, when the weather turns against you, are worth the extra weight.
That said, I might retire my Seedhouse SL1, permanently. I’m considering the same type of tent, made of different materials. This Lightheart Solo comes in at under two pounds, as does this Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum, if you leave the stuff sack at home and upgrade the stakes.
The other approach that is increasingly popular on the John Muir Trail is the tarp. I saw lots of tarps at campsites, and all of them shared three characteristics that keep me from taking the plunge into tarp-land. They need to be pitched with considerable precision, they are made of very fragile material, and they are either drafty and cold (if you pitch them above ground) or subject to serious condensation (if you pitch them low). Someday I may feel differently and look askance at those with “regular” tents, but, for now, I’m satisfied. I just want to shed a few more ounces.
Grade for my choice this trip: B.
Good hiking, Ray
HI Ray,
I considered the Lightheart shelters earlier this year. I am 6’1″ and was told by Lightheart that 6 foot is the cutoff they typically use for the Solo and they directed me to the SoLong 6 as a more spacious alternative. I ended up going with the Hexamid Twin tent instead which I’m very pleased with but it is definitely more a tarp-like shelter.
I’ve read great things about the Lightheart shelters and the newer cuben versions look even more interesting.
That’s interesting, Ravi. I wasn’t aware of the limited length. Agree completely on the cuben versions. Pricey, though. Thanks!
Hmmm, I did not know about the 6′ cutoff.
I’m 6’5″ and still find the Lightheart Solo a roomy tent. I still consider it a perfect choice for my 2013 JMT thru-hike!
cheers,
Gert
I’ve found tarps very noisy in wind if you like to sleep where you get a lot of wind exposure (e.g., above treeline, near lakes) – enough so that they interfere with sleep. (Admittedly, it’s possible that I never developed proper skills in pitching them.) My favorite solo shelters are Black Diamond single wall designs – a hooped bivy (Spotlight) for most trips and a nominal 2-man (Firstlight) where I might get tent-confined by snow or am willing to add a little weight for more comfort. Both are quite stable in wind, a feature I particularly like. Both have small footprints, making it easier to use virgin or near-virgin campsites rather than more established ones. The Firstlight, due to steep walls, sheds snow well.
Thanks for the comment, John. My two-person tent is a Black Diamond and my wife and I love it. It is a hybrid design. The back half is single wall while the front half is double walled. They make terrific products.
I use the Lightheart SoLong with the awning and carbon pole she sells. I am 6’2 at 235 and this works great for me. It does require and effort to setup if you have shallow soil because it is not free standing. It packs a total of 2 1/2 lbs with everything. I would get the cuban version if I had it to do over. I have a big black dog who sleeps under the awning area. I do use a Big Agnes Flycreek 3 when I do overnights, but this is twice the weight but offers a base camp you can’t beat.
Thanks, Dan. The 2.5 pounds doesn’t seem to be worth the loss of free-standing, but the cuben version intrigues me.
I was a huge fan of the Tarptent Contrail, but recently bought the Notch, and am extremely pleased with it. For 26 ounces, you get freestanding, (when using trekking poles), double-wall (no condensation) and 2 entries with 2 vestibules, so there is a ton of space for gear. Completely remove the fly, and it’s almost as good as sleeping under the stars. I own 12 tents, and several tarps, but this is by far my favorite. There are all kinds of nice little features too, including line tensioners Hard to beat at 26 ounces. tarptent.com if you are interested in checking it out. Same price as the Solo
Very impressive, Kathy! (The full url is http://www.tarptent.com/notch.html) The price is pretty reasonable as well!
Yes, it’s currently my favorite. Best bang for the buck, so to speak. It’s also very, very sturdy. Great construction, and they have great customer service as well. I also have a cuben fiber, (non freestanding) but it was horribly expensive, and you have to treat them with a lot of care….too afraid to try a thru-hike with it.
Once again…great post and great discussion.
I currently use the lightheart solong6 at around 2lbs….great for me and my son/dog on AT….. Looking to save wt for my 14-15 day sept jmt thru…I’m planning to mainly cowboy camp…rather not carry extra weight as want to keep loaded pack under 30lbs. what are you planning to carry this year? Going sept 10…would it crazy to carry a bivy and a small tarp…would cut lil over a lb but not sure how comfortable would be if weather goes south…
I’m not sure if I’m going to replace my BA Seedhouse 1 or not. I’m definitely going to replace my backpack, and perhaps my sleeping bag. I may not want to spend quite that much this year. If you spend 14 nights outdoors in the Sierra Nevada in September, the smart money says you will get one or two NIGHTS of inclement weather and maybe three or four days of rain. A lot depends on what you like to do if it rains. I don’t mind stopping early and tucking into my tent to stay dry. I, too, do a lot of cowboy camping, but I think I’m a confirmed tent guy. Good luck!
Ray, Why do you make upgrading to the Fly Creek Platinum conditional on replacing the stakes?
Thanks for the information on cowboy camping. Sounds wonderful.
Darryl
Thanks for the question, Darryl. The stakes are a little heavy; one would have to replace them with lighter ones to get under two pounds.
Ray, what is the weight of the Fly Creek Platinum without a ground cloth? I would possibly be interested in something like that for early season, ( read: mosquitoes ), in lue of my Hexamid Solo without a bugscreen. It’s good to hear you had plenty of room in your tent, as that seems to be a common complaint in the reviews on the Seedhouse SL1.
Tarps are not for everyone, but I have to disagree with the comment on them being made out of flimsy material. I’m assuming you are speaking of Cuben Fiber, which may look flimsy, but is strong, ( its was used as sail material for The Americas Cup saiboats ), will take Cuben over Sil-Nylon any day for a shelter, as it doesn’t stretch like Sil-Nylon, allowing for a much tighter pitch. I also have had better luck with Cuben material not weeping through the seams after seam after sealing them. The early issues with Cuben Fiber of weak attachment points has been worked out long ago by reputable sellers.
“Packed weight” of the Fly Creek Platinum is 2 pounds 3 ounces, but one should easily be able to get it below 32 ounces by leaving behind the stuff sack, directions, and getting lighter stakes.
In regards to the tarps I saw, I think I said “fragile”, not “flimsy”, and many did not appear to be made from cuben fiber. I think cuben fiber is a good alternative, although it seems that the consensus is that it’s a bit weak where it’s sewn and that it does not handle abrasion particularly well. Regardless, I think I would be very happy with a cuben fiber, double walled tent.
Thanks for the comment!
Yes, I have a cuben fiber tent also, (the Zpacks solo) at 16 oz. for the tent, groundsheet, lines and stakes, it can’t be beat, but it’s not freestanding, and I agree, you have to be very careful with it, particularly with abrasion. Mine has tapes seams, so I don’t have the seam issue, but boy is it expensive! Because of the expense, I’ve only used it on trips lasting a couple of days. I’m afraid to try it for a thru hike.
Geekgirl, don’t be afraid of the durability of the Hexamid for a thru-hike. I’ve had mine for a couple of years and it has held up very well. I don’t use it most nights, as I prefer sleeping under the stars, but it has served me well in some major storms. Mine weighs a little over 6 ozs., but I don’t have the flooring or netting.
Ray, that BA Platinum model sounds pretty good! I’ll have to do some research on it. I think with ti-tent stakes and a Cuben stuff sack, it should be at 2lbs or less. Thanks for the heads-up! BTW, are you doing the JMT again next year?
Ray, I have an SL1 that I carried for about 5 years and yes, it’s a great tent. I upgraded to a Big Agnes FC1 and, it to holds up like a trooper during inclement weather. Like you mention, I also swapped out the aluminum stakes for titanium shepherd’s hooks. It got my FC1 down to 2 lbs but the Platinum version is lighter still.
I don’t use a footprint but am just careful when I set it up. One thing about these tents is that they also give you about 5-10 degrees of warmth when the temps drop.
Larry
Excellent point, Larry, regarding the difference in temperature within a tent. My experience is that it’s closer to the 10 degrees than the five, but maybe that’s just because I’m full of hot air.
My daughter & I each took a Six Moons Designs – Lunar Solo at 23 oz. Before that I used a tarp but one afternoon fishing I lost half my pack to a bear. Next time it could be other hikers upgrading their gear. Just a little more security in a tent when you have $$ invested that you need to get thru the night. Yea, but definitely get rid of the poles and the rain fly unless you hike back east.
I’ve heard lots of good things about Six Moons. Thanks, Darryl
Ray-you might be interested in a tent survey at Section Hiker
http://sectionhiker.com/twelve-ultralight-tents-and-shelters-part-1/
I won’t go into my shelter choice and reasoning–it’s a bit less than your requirements/desired features (except for the weight). One thing that stood out in your story was this “One of my favorite memories of the hike was that last night, cooking in my tent—–.” You might want to research the potential hazards of that practice.
Great link, Don. Some very interesting ideas, there. And good comment regarding cooking in your tent. As you know, there are two primary dangers: burning your tent down, and succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. I should have pointed out that it was a very windy evening up at Guitar Lake and there was plenty of air moving in and out of my tent. Also, my JetBoil (see previous post) has a very small and well contained flame.
Hi Ray, I too enjoyed sleeping under the stars most nights on JMT and meeting you near Whitney. Why do you need a tent? A bivy and tarp were more than enough, and weighed 1.6 lbs plus trekking poles. Probably could do without the bivy, though did not try just quilt on the pads. Walls and floor seem excessive when you have a pad, bivy and tarp, and no bugs. I use the Mountain Laurel Design Solomid and would rely on that for weather-proof shelter anywhere there are no bugs. If bugs, add net.
Doug (the skinny old guy with strong son)
Hi Doug! If my memories served me correctly, you were humping just and strong as your son!
That Mountain Laurel Design Solomid looks interesting. I know that Andrew Skurka used it on one of his big hikes.
Thanks for the comment!
I am a total fan of Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum – lightweight, mesh provides for excellent ventilation. For anyone concerned about the ability to be comfortable – I am 6′ 3″ and 200lbs. One of the best tents I’ve owned. Yeah a tarp works too, but can’t beat the Big Agnes. Can’t wait to head out on JMT again soon!
I’ve had good luck with my BA tent, although it took a while for me to figure out how to get in and out of it halfway gracefully. Thanks for the comment, Wil.
Hi Ray,
I attempted the JMT this past summer but had to stop after 2 nights because of anxiety I was experiencing at night. It was funny because I was physically in the best shape, had all the right gear, had all the right food, did tons of research ahead of time, yet was cut short on my hike because of a feeling of fear and isolation at night. These were things I had no idea I would encounter and so was not prepared. I could barely sleep at night because I felt like every sound at night was some bear or serial killer that could murder me. Also feeling alone and isolated was something new to me. I’m sure if I did the hike with a friend or set up my tent next to others I would feel a lot better, but I was going solo. I had never camped alone at night up until that point in my life, always with others. Also, maybe forcing myself to continue on would have probably mellowed me out at night, but I’m not sure if I would have gotten used to the anxious feelings.
I see in your post that you mainly slept outside your tent on your hike. Did/do you get anxious sleeping out in the open from the possibility of a bear encounter? By the way, during the day I don’t get anxiety at all hiking alone all day, it’s just at night. Any thoughts to help me complete the JMT in 2015?
Great question. When I do long, multi-day hikes I almost always hike (and camp) alone. There has not been a single time that I have not found sleeping outdoors by myself to be more than a little spooky. The intensity of what you describe is a bit unusual, but the anxious feelings are felt, I believe, by just about everyone. Here are the facts: there has never been a recorded attack by bear or cougar on a sleeping hiker on the John Muir Trail. With the widespread use of bear canisters bears are associating food with humans even less. The people who are out on the trail are often quirky, but almost universally harmless. On the John Muir Trail the quirkiness is even less prevalent. You are more likely to run into an investment banker than a criminal. Of course, facts don’t mean much when you are inside your tent and are hearing strange sounds. I wish I could offer a solution. About the only thing I can suggest is that you either take a pal, or find one along the way. Good luck.
I have not done the JMT yet. We are preparing for a JMT hike in mid September and in researching it I saw your post, mrm. I totally get the anxiety with the sounds at night. I think part of it, for me, is the extreme quiet, which seems to magnify the noises that do come. It’s the strangest thing, and only became an issue for me in the last few years (and I’ve done a lot of backcountry trips).For me, this only lasts the first few nights and my way to deal with I t is – drum roll, please – earplugs. Just had to let you know that they have worked like a charm for me to be able to get to sleep.
Thanks for all the great info., everyone!
Great idea, Bobbie Thanks for the comment!