I’m wondering how important it is to have a freestanding tent on an AT thru-hike. Please let me know any thoughts. Thanks!
Nicole
Freestanding Tents
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#2
Its not that important. A large percent of the hikers use tarps, Hammocks or non-freestanding tents. Due to their light weight they may be the most popular type of tent. It takes a little bit of practice to set up the tent in difficult areas such as rock surfaces but it can be done.
Big B
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#3
Like everything else, no one type of shelter works for everyone.
If a free standing tent is light enough, and yet has the room you need, then go for it. But, the ground is usually soft enough that you can push a stake in almost everywhere, so I certainly would not select a tent based on that feature alone.
Peaks
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#5
Having a free standing tent is completely unimportant with respect to hiking the AT.
As they are generally somewhat heavier than other tents, you might wish to avoid them for this reason.
Conan
Conan
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#6
You should also check out hammock tents and/or Tarps. They are light and provide adequate shelter. Plus…Hammock tents remove the issue of finding level, dry, or non-rocky places to pitch - all of which are more of a consideration along the AT than fnding 2 trees which are 10’ apart.
Horn Head
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#7
There’s no need for a free-standing tent on the AT. Although, if you’re totally set on one… I’d look at the Rainbow and double Rainbow made by Tarptent.com. Henry (TT) has many tarptents that are not freestanding which are a bit lighter.
guru
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#8
I tend to purchase my gear with a wide range of use in mind. While some people say you may not need a FS tent on the AT, you should consider if there are other applications youd like to use it for - unless you have unlimited money and can buy all the tents you like.
I also like to be as self-sufficient as possible when im backpacking. That said, I take a tent that can stand up to extreme thunderstorms in cold conditions. I dont like to count on trail shelters or anything else.
Mad Max
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#9
Whereas I haven’t been in severe weather in my free standing Hubba yet, I have weathered many-o-storms in larger family style free standing and non-free standing tents (I just spent this past Monday night in a severe lightening storm w/60 mph winds and rain coming down sideways in a free standing tent). I would never camp/live in a tent that is not free standing ever again, because I’ll never have to worry about the tent blowing down or collapsing under such conditions. I can’t speak about the hammocks or tarptents, but I know a ton of people advocate their use and they are much lighter.
The reason I chose my Hubba versus other types of shelter are:
a) I have to sleep on a hard surface making the hammocks not an option (not to mention my knot tying abilities aren’t that great!)
b) I wanted to be able to sit up in my shelter, making many of the tarp tents not an option (but I heard through the grapevine a new model is coming out that’s awesome and allows for sitting up)
c) I wanted the ability to just pick the tent up and move it to a different spot if I got in it and realized it wasn’t quite positioned right, which is one advantage to having a free standing tent
d) I wanted a vestibule area for my gear, which the Hubba offers 2 large areas on either side, under the rainfly.
I’m also like Mad Max, this will be my tent for many years to come when I go on solo camping trips (not necessarily hiking), so I wanted something versatille.
Good luck and if you get a chance, rent some of these shelters from an outfitters and try them out.
Michele
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#10
Nicole,
Check out the Qtr-Dome freestanding tent available at REI. It is freestanding, light weight, reasonably priced and opens to either side.
Also check out Dot’s Bar and Grill when you get to Damascus.
Sidetrack
sidetrack
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#11
I have and love my Sierra Designs Lightning! I switched to it from a Shires Squall II tarptent.
Nothing wrong with the tarp, but it just didnt work for me…
The Lightning is a 2person/3seaon tent, fairly light weight (3#15oz, incl fly). I have camped many nights with the tarp, and many many times picked not so delightful spots. To un-stake and move was troublesome to say the least.
I find the Lightning so much, much easier to just pick it up and move it.
While my main reason for the Lightning was my upcoming thru hike, I did look ahead to see that it would be useful for all camping/hiking situations…
Happy Hiking (& tent hunting!)
ALH
ALHiker
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#12
The tent I’m leaning toward is the Sierra Designs-Light Year CD. Any thoughts on this tent?
Nicole