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Now Available!

Thanks to samscholes for starting this poll! We've contacted the vendor on your behalf and they've made the MSR Hubba NX Tents available.

PaigeDrop Buyer

MSR Hubba NX Tents

MSR Hubba NX Tents


Please recommend freestanding 1man, no trekking poles. Should be above 30 degrees unless something unexpected happens. Thank you!
Rango45
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Hi, Rango45. Looking at the completion of seven decades on the planet in the not too distant future, my own needs are less demanding than those of some here -- for car camping, Kymco maxi scooter & Priority bicycle sojourns, two nights on the trail, or for emergency/resting shelter while afield doing landscape photography. So I've aimed for a balance among performance/comfort, ease of set up anywhere (freestanding), pack-ability, practical durability, minimal weight for the price class, a strong & effectively long mfr.'s guarantee policy (liberal interpretation), and a bargain price.
So I've ended up with these three tents, listed roomiest to UL solo: Mountainsmith Genesee 4; Big Agnes Jack Rabbit 2 (previous, non-'Glo' version of the Rattlesnake 2 design -- closeout); and the L.L. Bean Microlight UL 1. The latter is what you're asking about. I think it fits the bill on all the points listed above; but I had another requirement which was to have the most stealthy & practical 1-man "sleeping shelter" I could find for when I'm anywhere out of town in my car, it's 1 A.M., I'm getting tired, and I don't want to drop the bucks for a motel room or have the hassle of searching for one that's cheapest yet still clean & comfortable... and then getting there.
Here are the relevant additional advantages of the Microlight in that regard: • UL class (under 2 lbs., mfr.'s "minimum weight") • 90" length (all gear needed to hand inside!) & a roomy 30" at the widest point • Very large side entry door • Set up fly first or w/o the mesh tent part with Bean's own dedicated ground cloth • Light grey w/ citron accents (pleasant color palate, but still stealthy enough at night) • Low, but sufficient 31" max. height to keep the tent as inconspicuous as possible in suburban environments & to provide a wind-shedding profile (?). I figure to add some lightweight camo hunter's blind material, cut to form, as an accessory for maxing out the stealthy aspect in spots where that's advisable.
After a sale price + additional coupon discount, I think I paid $169; quite the bargain, especially considering Bean's rep for keeping the customers happy long term. A few user-reviewers on the website mentioned some condensation issues of apparently minor consequence. The current full retail price seems to have increased notably, though -- $299. I don't remember the full retail at the time ($229, I might guess?); and I don't know what kind of deal you'll be able to put together in the next few months.
I hope this information may help you and others, as well, with their own research. I myself am stoked by news of the upcoming Klymit 26" wide, Massdrop exclusive, insulated sleeping pad drop; which just seems perfect for my projected use of the Microlight UL 1.
Fly Creek UL2
I used the Big Agnes Copper Spur in the Wind River Range. It lasted 3 days and I returned it to REI. Very little abrasion resistance. Love my Tarptent Moment DW which I used on the Georgia AT and the John Muir Trail in May and August.
I know it's a little late to the game, but you guys should definitely check out the Tarptent MoTrail. It's a single-wall lightweight 2-person tent that sets up with 2 trekking poles. It's one of the lightest, most compact, and most spacious 2-person tent I've been able to find. I initially chose it to go with my Manta AG 36, but I'm now considering it as my tent for lightweight backpacking as well.
They aren't seam-sealed from the factory, but they offer it as an additional service.
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Looking for some advice on a lightweight backpacking tent. Please weight in and vote too. Thanks!
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Thank you for all your advice, coming from experience! This is very helpful to me. BTW, I think I've outlined most of my own circumstances for needing a tent, and I wonder if you could recommend the best mix (?) and sizes of lighter weight, upscale tent stakes to make my life just that much easier, applied across my three current options and perhaps, to some future non-freestanding UL model, as well. A well conceived, optimal strategy, in other words for camping from shore (sea kayaking) to woodlands. I don't expect to be somewhere far up a windy mountain, though!
C_Elegans
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For loose soils, my favorites are the MSR Groundhog stakes (and minis) and other "Y" stakes. The looser the soil, the longer you want them to be, but be careful around roots and rocks as I've snapped a couple heads off of them. For harder ground, titanium shepherd's hooks.