Selecting a Shelter

I can't come to a logical conclusion. I can't seem to prioritize all the different aspects, features, strengths, & weaknesses of different lightweight shelters for what I like to do. Maybe if I write about it all, that will get the finer points out into a well-thought-out decision.

It would be great to use one shelter year-round, but that might be where I'm having problems deciding.
In summer, I hike, but I don't like trekking poles unless it's rough going. I feel like I walk faster without them and I like walking fast. This means, in regards to my shelter, I either get one that has it's own pole(s), I bring trekking poles, or I bring a pole in lieu of a trekking pole support, which the latter seems dumb until you remember that other shelters have integrated poles and every shelter needs some sort of vertical support. But I cannot get past seeing this as 'extra weight,' since a pole that only holds up the shelter is not a multi-purpose item and is, therefore, probably not going to make it into my pack.

If the shelter uses trekking pole support, that means it's not free-standing and needs to be staked. Not a problem in summer, something I actually prefer in summer to save weight, but definitely a potential problem in winter in Interior Alaska, where our snow is like sugar: dry & as unconsolidated as it gets. Last winter, we had to stomp down a tent space in sugar snow and let it set up for over an hour and a half before it kind of held the snow stakes and snowshoes. Then we had to let the anchors freeze into the snow for another hour or so before tightening the guy-outs. It was my GoLite Shangri-La 3 and needed six anchor points. I told myself no more non-free-standing shelters after that 30 below experience. Not in Interior Alaska, at least, where we don't usually have deep snow to work with, regardless of how unconsolidated it might be. We didn't have wind, but I had a dream that night about the wind howling down the drainage and ripping the shelter out of the snow. Could have easily happened. I don't like that - both that possibility and also non-free-standing shelters in snow. I prefer finding a protected spot and setting the free-standing tent down in it, with little need to secure it to Earth... or, at least just ensure it doesn't blow away, instead of giving the shelter all its strength from being staked out tightly.

Which leads to (heavier) free-standing shelters. The Black Diamond Firstlight is the only one I'd consider. I don't like the internal poles, as I found with the Lighthouse I used to own, but nothing else is as light and proven/time-tested. I can get past the need to crawl inside and velcro the poles to the roof. Hey, at least I'm inside and not out in the storm, pushing poles through sleeves.
The new North Face Assault 2 is similar, possibly better, but it's new, looks to be a little heavier, not quite as good of a design, and hasn't seen years of testing or perfection in design. It may be good, but goodbye Assault.
I was looking into the Hilleberg Unna & (non-free-standing) Akto, but, while free-standing, the Unna is quite a bit heavier and the Akto has gotten really poor reviews when compared to the Tarptent Scarp. The Scarp & Akto use approximately the same design, but the Scarp is much more pleasant to be in and supposedly stronger in the wind. Goodbye Akto.

While the Scarp is not free-standing, it has gotten raving reviews, many from the UK, where the wind blows like mad (one more here). That's reassuring, but I don't like that it isn't free-standing and the same weight as the Firstlight, which is free-standing. The weight of the Scarp is in the double wall, which stops all drafts from whatever wind that may blow, and the struts which help solidify the otherwise weak corners. The double wall is pretty nice when it's -20F and howling, peppering any exposed skin with spindrift of little ice pellets. But guess what? The Firstlight seals up tight, too - with one wall, not two. Twin vestibules on the Scarp are luxurious, but I don't mind cooking inside my tent, either.

Speaking of double walls, contrary to popular belief, they are supposedly only a few degrees warmer, according to the legendary Roger Caffin. Worth the weight? No. Instead of carrying weight to gain an extra 5F inside my shelter overnight, I'll pick a better spot to camp that will be warmer & more protected from the weather. Here's one point to the single wall or pyramid shelters, especially since I'm looking at solo tents and will not be benefiting from having another warm body in the tent with me to help keep it warmer (and produce more condensation on the walls). PLUS, with any shelter in the cold, you must leave the vents open to reduce condensation. Open a window in your home overnight during the winter and tell me it doesn't cool your house down. You're choosing to sleep outside in winter. It's going to be cold. Face it.
Here's another link for further reading on the double vs single-wall debate.

On the note of single walls & pyramids, the lightest, most tested, best designed, & most available in the U.S. is unmistakably the Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid. However, the STRONGEST is unquestionably the Trailstar, as it doesn't have the long sides to catch the wind. I'd probably suck it up and get the cuben fiber one, as I'd most likely only be using it in summer. Although... I've used my Shangri-La 3 in the winter with success and the Duomid would be half the weight and palatial for one! Back to the non-free-standing in snow argument, though, I don't like that. So, I guess it would be delegated to summer use, even though you can stake it down to the ground and probably seal out any spindrift, which would also kill airflow, increasing condensation inside. Strictly using it in summer, though, would be fine by me. As I said before, in the cuben version, it's half the weight of my SL3 and I could get an inner net tent for it, upping the weight to about 22 oz. Not bad for insect-free, bomber summer shelter. However, jump back to my first paragraph (& rant) about how I don't use trekking poles. Well, maybe I just need to get some really light collapsible ones and I'd be happy. They could hang out either on my pack or in my hands. I'd only bring them, though, if my shelter needed it, which is probably for certain in summer, as I honestly prefer only one thin layer of fabric above me. Roman Dial agrees, and Ryan Jordan couldn't have it otherwise.

If you are wise, you've noticed I've left out the Warmlite 2C. It's been highly recommended by a bunch of my friends who have used it, but I don't like it's poles or venting options, especially the latter since it's made of silnylon, which has no breathability. They say you can get pretty wet inside and need a towel to wipe it down. Hmm, reminds me of my old Tarptent Squall in a 35F wet snowfall. The poles are theoretically stronger than anything else available, but their thin walls are really easy to crack at the tips. Oh yeah, it's also non-free-standing, although it only needs to be pulled taught lengthwise. Fragile, poor venting, & non-free-standing? No thanks. Excellent shelter for some, but not me.

    Breathe...

So where does this leave me? I'll discuss a few remaining topics before giving you my final thoughts on shelter choice.

1. How often am I going to stop and set-up the shelter for a break? Pretty much never.
I go fast, light, and don't like to stop for long breaks, as my muscles tend to not like it. Continually in motion is better for my body. I'll opt for natural cover instead of taking the time to unpack, set-up, and re-pack the tent. This summer (2011), I did a few trips where I hiked 30 miles each day, took my pack off 0-3 times per day for no longer than 5 minutes each time, and never sat down between the time I got out of my sleeping bag and the time I set-up the tent for the night. This is my style, not everyone's, but it's important that I make this a part of my shelter decision - how big of a priority is a fast-to-pitch shelter? For me, not huge. It's another deciding factor in why I like bomber rain gear that I always wear because it's so breathable. I'd rather keep moving than stop and be protected by the shelter.

2. I strongly believe people put too much emphasis on the storm-worthiness of shelters.

Yes, it's important, especially if you're climbing mountains, but there is almost always a way to get out of the major blast of the wind or under natural shelter from falling snow, the latter of which is usually less important. Hence, more emphasis should be put on the weight, internal space, and pack size of the shelter, plus site selection to erect it. However, it all depends on where you're doing your trips. I have a buddy who lives in Nome, Alaska where he gets hammered by coastal winds every second he's outside. I agree with his opinion that enclosed tents are a must in those conditions, but in Interior Alaska, in the land of spruce forests, maybe that's not the case. Farther north, beyond treeline, yes, just like Nome.

3. Consider the style of trip you will be on: hiking, rafting, skiing, biking?

Hiking & biking, I don't bring trekking poles, but skiing I do. Rafting, I have a paddle. Here's a big difference if you need trekking poles to support your shelter. If I'm biking, space is also a huge concern, as there's not a lot of room to put stuff on a bike. Less is more, in this application, especially since winter bike trails tend to be in the woods, out of the strength of the wind.

Ok, here we go... Yes, I was able to make a decision.
Summer: MLD Trailstar in cuben fiber, 11 oz. Inner net 8 oz.
Winter: Black Diamond Firstlight, ~40 oz including guylines & post-date-with-my-scissors

The Trailstar is everything a summer shelter needs to be and nothing more. That sentence perfectly defines the exact shelter I am looking for for all seasons.
The Firstlight is the same, except it also has the simplicity of being free-standing. Lay it out, insert the poles, sleep. No need to get it taught by staking to use it. There's simplicity in design & in function, both of which are not always present or important.
In this case, they are.
Regarding it's long, unsecured walls and tendency to be thrown around, I'll sew or glue on some guy-out tabs, like on the Assault.

If someone tells me to save the money and get silnylon for the Trailstar because it's stronger, I gladly will.
And if you can persuade me that free-standing in winter isn't as important as I feel it is right now (I doubt it), I'll get a Scarp 1.

The challenge is on. 
Or, just your thoughts, experience, and wisdom on this topic would be greatly appreciated :)  Thanks!

And if anyone is interested, I spent 7 hours working on this post.

***POST-POST ADDITION & LENGTHY RESPONSE TO EXCELLENT COMMENTS BELOW (PLEASE READ THEM)***

I’ve come to a conclusion after writing & thinking all this and reading all of your blog posts, comments, and in between the lines, then reflecting that back onto the thousands of nights I’ve slept outdoors.

I want a free-standing shelter in winter. Period.

(Not in summer, though!)

So, let's get dirty...

From the triple-crowner who has hiked over 10K miles on his long-distance hiking adventures and wishes to remain unnamed, comes the best description I've read, thus far, of the Tarptent Scarp 1. He didn’t comment here, but e-mailed me a massive deluge of experience & wisdom in response to many of my original questions.

'Get a Scarp. It is the next best thing on the market right now, hands down (behind the Black Diamond Hilight & Firstlight).' 

He then went on to say, ‘For me, with gloves on at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is deal with those grommets, buckles, Velcro, vent lifters, eight clips, and cord locks to get the ideal internal space. I don’t even want to eat at the end of long days, I just want to sleep, but I would rather eat than deal with clips and things.’

This is exactly how I feel about ALL my winter gear: shelters, clothing, bags, pads, stoves, etc. Simplicity rules all and usually low weight is synonymous with this. Therefore, I like the Black Diamond Firstlight the best.

Simply put, here's my explanation on shelter simplicity and view on the Firstlight, Warmlite 2C, and Tarptent Scarp 1:
Firstlight: a bag with two poles and a door
2C: a bag with two poles and a door and needs to be pulled tight
Scarp: a bag with a cover and three poles and two doors and needs to be pulled tight

For the sake of good discussion and learning opportunities for all, let’s address everyone’s thoughts.

______

Martin,

I don’t want to have to take the crossover poles for the Scarp. Triple-crowner said the same thing, that they're needed in high winds. If so, I’d rather have a Hilleberg Unna. Both of these options are heavier than I’d like, however. In that case, I’d rather take less shelter and deal with finding a safer spot to pitch it. Glad to hear the Scarp is bomber in apocalyptic conditions, though!

Regarding the Trailstar, I love my GL SL3 in summer & winter for its ability to be pitched tight to the ground (pretty much). The same goes with the Trailstar, except for the one side. Even in the Alaskan summer, with our raptor-sized mosquitoes, there are times when I just take a headnet to sleep in, instead of a mesh inner, when using the SL3. I would not be able to do this with the Trailstar, since it has the open 'door.' I also think I’d feel vulnerable with the open side in winter… Maybe I’m a little too soft to use tarps in winter…

Solid point about the long sides of the Duomid being vulnerable in winds. I’ve heard this before and don’t like that. A square, pentagon, or hex is much preferred to a rectangle for the same reason I’m not a fan of dual trekking pole or dual peak shelters… they have a long, vulnerable side. What about guying out the long sides of the Duomid? Would that help?

Is the Solomid big enough? I think the Cricket Tarp is probably a better shelter, ‘ey?

I have considered the Speedmid. Although, are the walls to shallow to pitch it tight to the ground, like I described above? Would that lose too much space? Seems like a great shelter for two in summer.

For solo summer use, Trailstar, Cricket Tarp, or Solomid? 

I think maybe an 11 oz cuben Trailstar is the perfect blend of space, weight, strength, and ability to use for two people, as well.

I was checking out the Khufu in relation to the Duomid and it seems a tad lighter, but have reservations regarding the overseas, translation, & currency thing. Probably not as good of customer service as just simply calling up Ron at MLD :)

Thanks for the wisdom, Martin! And thanks for following!

______

Korpi,

That’s the same boat I am and have been in for a while. Hmm, is the SL3 the best? No, but it’s great. So what is???

The Rabs are cool and I’ve also heard good things about them, but, yeah, too heavy.

Thanks, Korpi!

______

Steve,

You’re so eloquent. Perfect explanation of the Warmlites. So true, in every way.

(Everyone, please read his description below if you haven’t. Great insight from a Warmlite user.)

Yeah, I’d also laugh hysterically at the price tag on a cuben 2 or 3 X, R, or C!!!

Luc told me a few months ago I should look into making my own shelter from silnyl.

Maybe I should come up with the best tent in the world. Might have to put on some Tenacious D for that :)

The tent would, undoubtedly, be a single-skin pyramid, very similar to the cuben ones on the Arctic 1000, but maybe with a Velcro-on mosquito netting/floor bottom similar to summer-use Tarptent models, as to not waste weight in double walling. Hmm…

Thanks, Steve!

Oh yeah! A BROKEN WARMLITE POLE!!!  (scroll down on the page about half way)

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Dave!

I think it’s funny to have hiked through the rise and, what seems to be from some people, the potentially upcoming fall of trekking poles? They’ll never go away, because they're so good in certain conditions, but it’s comical for me to look back on how revolutionary they were when I first used them and now, years later, I almost never do. Oh, how we learn and change.

What about cuben and exposure to sunlight? I’ve read that Zpacks backpacks are only good for one thru-hike because they’ll fall apart after the sun exposure. I would imagine the same is true for cuben, in general, especially when used for shelter? That makes a cuben Duomid a pretty pricey throw-away item!!!

And yes, the Hexamid is REALLY appealing at under 10 ounces for a bug-proof summer shelter!

Hexamid or the 11 oz BOMBER cuben Trailstar?

Thanks, Dave!

______

Thank you, again, to all who have helped with this selection.

I think it’s a great discussion to have, especially the collaboration of so many experienced adventurers sharing their thoughts in one place, on one topic. I hope to see more!

I was in a training today at work and we learned how collaboration via dialogue helps people learn, find truth, produce results, and strengthen relationships. I love this and it was the exact point of this post.

Keep it up, both outdoors and on the web!

Josh