For the AT is a free standing tent any better than one that is not free standing? Thanks in advance.
Margaret
Free standing tents
system
#2
free standing tents are easy to set up on a platform…you can pick them up and shake them out
no name
system
#3
I sure wished my Tarptent Contrail was a free-standing tent by the time I got to Maine! But I didn’t want to carry the weight of the extra poles for 2000 miles, so I’m happy with my choice.
In northern New England, tent sites become much harder to find in the rocks and scrubby evergreen undergrowth, and you’re often limited to wood tent platforms. Free-standing tents are much easier there. For most of the rest of the trail, excellent tenting is found nearly everywhere and staked tarps and tents work great. That was my experience, at least.
I was never tempted to attempt to pitch a tent IN a shelter, though I saw that a couple of times.
garlic
system
#5
Thank you again for your information. I am planning to purchase a tarptent and like the side opening on the sublite (silnylon version) and the Rainbow. My other choice is the contrail. I certainly do not want to wrestle with a tent at the end of a long day.
Margaret