Looking to purchase a lightweight tent/shelter. If you could only have one tent/shelter what would it be? Mainly 3 season camping, possible an occasional winter trip in good weather. Probally no snow. Mainly North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.

A tarp. Preferably a large size cuben tarp.

for 1 or 2 people? Do you like your space or do you not mind a tight squeeze?

Tarptent Double Rainbow.

I will second the double rainbow

DouMid... does it all

Solo: Hilleberg Unna (with mesh inner option for summer]

In general: Bibler Ahwahnee - best all-around tent ever made.

if you go with a tarp get an inner bug net- the southeast is bug country. Other wise go with the tt double rainbow

Yeah I like my 2010 Double Rainbow. My favorite aspect is it's small footprint. You only need enough space to fit the floor to get a good pitch.

Also, you don't need poles to set-up.
If you do have poles, it can also be utilized for the tent (rain porch, extra main pole support, freestanding option).

Lots of room for most couples/duos. Solo, it's literally a palace. Nice big duo mesh walls/doors for views and good relations with tent mate.

I"ve only tried two UL tents, so... no expert, but in my limited experience, the ease of set-up and flexibility make it worth the extra pound +/- a few ounces (if even that).

Of course, I wouldn't be adverse to checking out a Cuben version.

Pretty nifty design. Kinda goes well with my OCD.

Edited by elf773 on 10/24/2010 19:10:49 MDT.

Cat-cut tarp + bug protection (bug tent or bug bivy).

I currently have 3 shelters and frequent the same areas. These include a BPL Stealth Nano tarp which I combine with a Ti Goat Ptarmigan bivy or MLD bug bivy (depending on season) for solo trips, an HMG Echo II system for duo trips in 3+ seasons, and a custom MLD Speed Mid for deeper Winter trips.

..or some other modular mid.

See, if I could have only ONE shelter then it would have to be usable as a solo shelter or for a group. The Supermid alone isn't ridiculously heavy carried solo (24oz) and it's a palace for two people, and will hold up to four adults- snugly.

Plus, you can get the inner bug netting if you find yourself on the North Slope or something, though in that case I'd limit the group to three adults. And two is better.

It can be pitched with four stakes for most uses, or eight perimeter stakes and four windlines to make it bombproof. It's almost a four season tent- call it 3+, because it works as a great winter (non-mountaineering) tent.

I think 'mids are very versatile.

If you don't want something quite that big then I agree with one of the above posts- the DuoMid is a much handier size. And 12oz in cuben!

Edited by acrosome on 10/24/2010 19:57:05 MDT.

agreed w/ the mid choice for versatility- simply choose the right size from the very small (solomid)- to the larger (supermid)

My vote would be for the Gossamer Gear Squall Classic (a cooperative effort with Tarptent) I also own a Tarptent Sublite, MLD Cuben Grace Solo tarp, & a GG SpinnTwinn. The 2 tarps are used with a MLD Superlight Bivy for me & a TiGoat Ptarmigan Bivy for my daughter, who frequently accompanies me.
The reason I would choose the Squall Classic is that I've used it year round with 1 or 2 people. It is very wind/storm/bug worthy & has been in light snow. Its vestibule is very useful for cooking & equipment storage. Many have recommended the Double Rainbow & it has the advantage of 2 vestibules, dual side entry, & more headroom, but weighs a lb. more. Both are easy to set up & the Double Rainbow is modestly less expensive.
Tarps can be miserable in the Southeast during the summer bug season with anything but a bug bivy & if the tarp is for 2 people, this becomes problematic (during the summer, standard bivies are generally too hot). The lack of "fiddle factor" with the Squall Classic is also appealing to me. For its versatility with 1 or 2 people & the reasons above, it remains my "go to" shelter.

For your locale and those conditions, probably a Zpacks Hexamid Tent w/ the optional door for winter use.

My Moss stargazer.

or maybe a 10x10 flat tarp.... no, the Pyramid. Well, maybe.

Even if I had only one shelter I'd still carry a kitchen tarp here in Southeast Alaska.

For one person? I already have it. Zpacks Hexamid with netting. I haven't found another one person shelter that I'd rather have, except maybe the newer style Hexamid with a beak. For two people I'd want either a SMD Duo or Lightheart Duo, although either one would be nicer in cuben fiber.

I really do like my Double Rainbow for its versatility. If I could find a pyramid type with a floor and some bug netting I would probably do that. The freestanding thing really helps out when things go bad.

warbonnet blackbird

Currently using a Scarp 1.0. I'd switch it to a Moment as the Scarp is overkill in the Sierras during Summer and Death Valley during Winter.