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Best Tent for Tetons
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Hello all,
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Review for firstlight: It performs best in dry conditions or when it is well below freezing (if it's precipitating), as the drier snow won't saturate the fabric as quickly. However, wet snow will have the same or even worse effect than extended rain showers. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/4-season-tent/black-diamond-firstlight Personally I would go with a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 or something similar. I can't recommend the msr lightweight tents though, I've had bad luck with those, but that was years ago. |
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I have both the Big Agnes Copper Spur and the MSR Hubba Hubba. The MSR I've used on the JMT, in the Winds and the Tetons and would recommend well before the Big Agnes, which does not adjust at the fly door stakeouts and is noisy in the wind. |
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I used the Big Agnes fly creek. It held up fine in the wind (we did have it in one of the rock circles at lower saddle), and the wind was aggressive. As for the rain, it was great! Only because it prevented it from raining... |
ddriverwrote: The MSR tent I had was the freelite and it was torn apart in wind in joshua tree. The Big Agnes is much better in the wind, but I realize this may depend on the model year. |
Tradist26wrote:looking for advice on a new tent purchase. Looking for something light for two that holds up to wind and rain. Main goal this summer is multiple routes in the Teton range. Been suggested the BD Firstlight but not to sure on how it’ll hold up on the rain. Thanks for the suggestions. I prefer the Hilight (easy to roll out and vents well). Firstlight would be fine. I used to use Bibler clones (Integral Designs) a bunch but the marmots ate a couple big holes in my last one. Heavier than the newer light BD tents. Been in sustained rain in my Hilight (18 hour heavy duty rain storm at the lower saddle). No issues. Same material as the Firstlight. Multiple trips. On my second one and still use the older one as a car camper. There's pretty good weather forecasting in the Tetons. I wouldn't want to stay up high in a prolonged storm that I knew was likely. You're never too far from the valley floor and more durable lodging options... Also have a heavier 4 season MSR tent. They're pretty sweet. Was a big fan of Moss tents but they're long gone (MSR now). I'd look at the Hubba Hubba and the lighter Freelite. 2lb for a 2 person tent...nice. Hits the space and weight for carrying a smaller pack for summer climbing in the Tetons. Well built. |
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Or don't carry a 5lb tent and instead- tarptent.com/ |
Cluster Onewrote: I had one of those tarptents, the Aeon Li. It was one the biggest piece of crap I have owned. It would not stay up in moderate wind and rain, eventually the hiking pole punched a hole where it holds the tent up. Basically, I had to use it as a bivy sack. My wife was in paria tent right next to me all warm and cozy. I literally gave it away 2 weeks ago. I replaced my tarptent Aeon Li with a Hilleberg Enan which is much roomier and robust. Without the inner tent it is large enough for 2 people. The Enan has not even hinted at having problem in harsher conditions. EDIT: I see tarptent removed my review :( Many of the tents recommended above around 3lb for a 2 person tent which is similar to a 2 person tarptent especially if do not use hiking poles. You can get some below 2 lbs for 2 person (Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO 1lbs 11 oz.) which easily beats the tarptent on weight for 2 people. I too am looking at a tent for climbing in the tetons. The trade-offs I am encountering is the very small bivy sites on some of the routes (just barely fitting the BD first-light), weight, robustness, waterproofness, freestanding vs semi-freestanding, and mostly availability. I am planning on climbing a 3 day route and want to keep our packs under 30 lbs each(food, clothing, rope, rack, harness, tent, sleeping bag, pad). Very few lightweight tents are in stock anywhere. I also want a tent robust enough that it will keep us dry and safe if a storm moves in. The only reason to carry a tent is protect yourself from bad weather otherwise I would just sleep on the ground and not carry a tent. |
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I've used a Big Agnes Seedhouse a LONG time ago (2009) and BD Firstlight just a few years ago (2017). In 2017 I actually slept outside the tent each night and my buddy slept inside. I viewed it as a shelter for if it rained I could have climbed in, but it would have been tight and shitty for two people (it never rained). I honestly think if you're just setting up camps around lower saddle, etc. than any tent flavor will work as long as you're familiar with its set up and specific limitations. It's not a expedition. There can be (a lot of) wind, so just know how to guy it out correctly and adequately. On a basecamp style trip (like it appears this is), I like to do a three-person for two people or two super light one- or two-person tents for two people. Being able to gear explode inside and get EVERYTHING out of the rain/snow, and have some comfy privacy is nice. I personally find the firstlight a little on the tight side (even as a single person, it's just too short). If you thought the firstlight was too small (82 inches in length); look for a tent a little longer. BD made a tent called the "lighthouse" (87x50) years ago which was like the firstlight just a little longer and wider (technically it was the elderado tent with lighter duty fabric). I just looked, they don't make a two-person simple tent that is longer than 82 inches (unfortunately). BD does make the three-person hilight at 86x60-55 (just an inch shorter than the lighthouse, but substantially wider). If i was going into the tetons as a group of two, I'd proabably pick up the three-person hilight or some other quality three person light weight tent (that was at least 86 inches in length). Hilleberg makes some of the best tents, and if I was looking for a serious tent investment, something to use on a future expedition or several weeks somewhere, esp in AK, this would be the brand I'd buy. |
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How tall are you? I've used the first light and own the highlight and at 6'2" there's no way another person would fit inside the tent. I have to sleep diagonally and my feet still touch the walls. If you go this route get the three person, and consider purchasing the vestibule if you want to keep your gear dry. |
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Well can not vouch for all models, but the Stratosphire 2 I have is bombproof. |
Cluster Onewrote: The Stratosphire 2 could be more robust that the Aeon Li but it also weights in at 44.3oz (tent, mesh inner tent, stakes) without poles. Tarptent's poles for the Stratosphire 2 weigh in at 8.6oz for a total weight of 52.9oz/3.3lbs. You could take just the tarp and save 15 oz on the mesh inner tent. But then you probably need something (tarp or bivy sack) to keep you out of the water if it really rains and water runs under the tarptent. That seems like a toss up. You are not saving weight over lightweight tents; in fact Stratosphire 2 weighs more than most of the semi-freestanding ultra-lightweight tents on the market and about the same as several ultralight freestanding tents. I also think tents with pole systems designed for the tent are likely to be much more robust in heavy rain and wind. Certainly the BD firstlight at 54oz (3lbs 6 oz) is much more robust. Several other manufactures make similar tents (TNF, Rab...). |
Pat, I tend to drop the inner and just carry some polycro, (which weights nothing) as a ground cloth. Yes, if expecting heavy rain having the inner would ideal. Seeing as trekking poles seem to always be available that does save on weight. The angles of the tent really do make it hold up very well in the wind. It is massive inside without the inner. Plenty of room for two, w/ packs and room to live. If soloing something lighter would be desired. I'll stick with the cottage shops when possible for my gear. Hard to beat the hand made quality and the people. FWIW- I prefer to be in by HG hammock, wrapped it down(TQ and UQ), and a Warbonnet Winter Sock w/Warbonnet Superfly. However, my love for the alpine forces me to go to ground. Anyway, each to their own...just recommend what I have found to work well for me over many years.  |
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I spent a snowy/rainy May/June in the Sierra with the Firstlight. It sucked. Small and drippy. Wound up staying below treeline with an additional tarp placed overhead and the door partially open in order to stay dry. Don’t get one for 3 season use. Don’t be tempted by its low weight. The comment above about wet snow being just as bad as rain is right on. Its tradeoffs are too limiting to be optimal for most fair weather climbers https://www.slingfin.com/products/portal-2 I’ve used various Big Agnes tents, bivies, bothys, as well as a cuben flat tarp, but this is the tent I would get now if I was looking. |
Brie Abramwrote: This is exactly the concern I have been having about the first-light. It looks like BD changed the material in the last few years(2019?) but I cannot tell if it is any better. The professional reviews seem to be the old material. In any case it is very small. Adding a vestibule ups the weight by a 1.5 lbs!! Sadly almost all the alternatives including the slingfin and most of the interesting lightweight Big Agnes tents unavailable. |
