I would some input on this tent im thinking about buying. Here is the URL to view it: http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=30561844&prmenbr=226
Would any of you in your opinion find this tent an eye sore or offensive in the woods because of its color? This is important to me, I wouldn’t like to be a controversial problem on the trail. Thanks
Anthony
I doubt color would be an issue, I saw plenty of yellow tents out there and never heard of anyone being offended, though I too have heard the rule of thumb to use natural colors. The more controversial issue is that it weighs 4 1/2 pounds. There are similar tents that weigh around 3 lbs in the same price range. The Eclipse looks like it would work fine, it’s just a little on the heavy side.
Wedding Singer
Marmot makes good stuff… but this tent is unecessarly heavy. Get a tarptent from www.tarptent.com. It’s much better overall, pound for pound.
guru
A clickable link for us lazy folks: Marmot Eclipse Tent - 2003
Ditto what Wedding Singer said. I was looking at the Zoid 1.5 today and it gives more room for a little less weight then the Eclipse. There are also lighter tents out there if you are set on a 1 person tent. Not all are free standing like the Eclipse though.
Dharma
I have an MSR Zoid 1.5, and although it is built more like a 4 season tent in durability (built like a tank), it is a 4 lb brick to carry. I use it only on shorter hikes. I ordered a tarptent from Henry Shires (tarptent.com) and upon setting it up, fell in love. It feels weightless compared to my Zoid tent, at under 2 lbs (and that is with the sewn in floor included !!) Worth checking out the URL, as Guru above mentioned.
xtn
airferret
Don’t even think about a tent over 4# total.
I used a 4# Coleman Inyo, it was affordable (<$100) and served
me well. But last Xmas I got a Six Moon Designs Europa that
comes in ~2.5# . That and other weight savings reduced this
year’s pack by 8#. I could feel the difference immediately.
Tarptents are nice, but may not be for inexperienced campers.
They’re very open and must be properly pitched in poor weather
to be comfortable and dry. You’ll learn on the trail, of course,
but the beginning of a NOBO hike has the worst weather.
Don’t take a 5# pack or a 4# sleeping bag either.
(Pack should be <5# and bag <3#) My next pack will be <3#,
like a Vapor Trail or ULA-P2.
Weigh stuff. My 2.5# down bag actually weighs 3#, and my 3#
synthetic bag actually weighs 3.5#. I don’t know why.
My tent weight was really close to the advertised 4#.
Take the lightest gear that does the job. Make stuff do
double duty, where possible. If you want to try a tarp, use
your poncho sometime!
Scamp
Scamp