Any recommendations on a bivy style tent or at least something like a hoop bivy that is waterproof but isn't stuffy and muggy in the humid southwest?

I kind of like the Nemo Gogo EX (full on double wall), but at pretty close to 3 pounds (packaged weight, not minimum) I might as well stick with the Marmost EOS 1 I was looking at. I'm hoping there is something out there that fits my criteria closer to 2 pounds and maybe in the 300 dollars or less range (including available sale prices).

Won't REALLY have the money until maybe early March, but has that ever stopped me from looking before?

Also, not 100% required, but if the tent does have poles, I'd prefer ones that pack pretty small. I'd be taking this on bicycle trips as well where space is at an absolute minimum.

I haven't looked exhaustively, but I've pretty much given up on bivy style double wall tents. Why get a tent that you can't sit up in when there are "real" tents nowadays that weigh just as light -- or even lighter?

If you want a good 3 season tent try the TarpTent Moment. I love mine. See their website.

This tent normally requires only 2 stakes and DOES set up in under one minute.

2 stakes but at least 4 in windy weather. The Moment proved to me to be the worst tent I have ever tried at managing condensation.

Of course, it is single walled so really irrelevant for this thread.

To the OP, there really aren't any bivy style assault shelters that are double walled except for the aforementioned Nemo.

Normally, when asking tent advice on this forum, it's usually a matter of minutes before someone recommends a tarptent. Because of this, I usually put "And no, I don't want a tarptent" in my initial post. It doesn't stop the recommendations, but I usually say it anyway.

BUT, I went to the website and looked at the moment again and thought "Hey, I like this..." Haha!

Normally I'm against it because a double wall tent is practically required in this humid area. But this does look like a really good compromise between the two. Can anyone else weigh in on their experiences in humid areas with this tent?


EDIT: looks like David beat me to the punch. So is it really that bad with humidity and condensation?

Edited by WalksOn2Wheels on 01/10/2011 22:48:54 MST.

You can / will get condensation on any shelter unless the fabric is made out of eVent (see the Integral Designs Wedge Bivy for an assault type single wall shelter), but I and others have had issues with managing the condensation in humid conditions. Part of this is the small upper vents and the narrow ends. Tarptent does now offer a 'condensation curtain' to help mitigate the issue. Clearly one's mileage may vary, but I believe the Tarptent Rainbow to be a superior design and more effective at managing condensation - much to do with its size for one person. It also simply ventilated better for me.

If you go over the www.whiteblaze.net, they would have already suggested a hammock. Be thankful it's just a Tarptent.

It's no longer made, but the Montbell Monoframe Diamond was a true double-wall tent with enough room to sit up in and store your gear and all that at only about 2.5 lbs! About two years ago they redesigned it as a hybrid single-wall without much of a weight savings. Now why'd they have to go and do that? It was one of the best tents ever, I've used it four season, and if you can find one on Ebay, grab it. New it went for $220. Happy trails!

Jonathan
Eric loves his Moment and so do I
Of course I am biased because I am with Tarptent however I do have another 14 shelters to choose from (most not Tarptents...) and in fact I turned down a few times some freebies (not from Tarptent...) because I obviously have too many already.
Not on the TT web site but you can get a liner for the Moment that with the mesh door turns this shelter in close enough to a double wall tent.
The liner is water resistant enough to hold mild rain by it self.
This is what it looks like :

(about 4 oz extra,$30)
So not such a bad suggestion after all..
Franco
franco@tarptent.com

Edited by Franco on 01/10/2011 23:31:31 MST.

So, any condensation on the roof which drips will fall onto the liner, roll down and then drip into the *inside* of the groundsheet?

That is not nearly "close enough to a double wall tent"

The liner is designed to drip onto the mesh not the bathtub floor.
Franco

Take a look at the LightHeart Solo (www.lightheartgear.com). Double walled, roomy, 27 oz., and in hot/humid weather, just flop the attached flys over the ridge line of the tent for maximum views and ventilation. If you don't use hiking poles, we offer adjustable aluminum tent poles that fold down to only 11 inches long to fit the needs of a bicycle trekker.
Marc Penansky
LightHeart Gear

Edited by MarcPen on 01/11/2011 06:12:48 MST.

I gotta second Marc- I recently received a Lightheart Solo Awning tent, and it's the closest thing to a perfect solo tent I've found (at least for me).

I thought the OP was looking for a bivy style shelter? Low profile? Something like the Integral Designs Wedge Bivy but double walled?

My issue with condensation and the Moment was brushing my bag and gear against the side walls. I can usually deal with condensation on the ceiling.

The Rab Ridge Raider may be something to look into (I have no experience with the product), but it is a hoop style bivy that uses Event and weighs roughly 2lbs.

http://us.rab.uk.com/equipment/bivvis/ridge_raider---65/

lightheart website crashes my computer.

website works on my PC

Solo looks like a nice tent

To clarify: I am not anti-tent and strictly looking at bivys or bivy styled tents. I just originally threw that out there as it seemed like the route I would have to take to get closer to 2 pounds.

The Lightheart tents do look good (and the website worked fine on my firefox browser). I'll certainly hunt around and see what other folks think of it. Any input would be appreciated.

The Hexamid looks super minimalist. Plus I'd have to buy a pole for bicycle trips that only packs down to about 17 inches. And how durable is cuben fiber exactly? (a whole separate thread, I know) And a mesh floor? I guess I saw somewhere online where it said to put a groundcloth on the inside of the mesh tent in order to create your own little bathtub shape. Lots of questions on the Hexamid...

And Franco, how long is the broken down pole for the moment?

Hi
And Franco, how long is the broken down pole for the moment?
That is funny because it was the reason why I replied in the first place but forgot about the point when i typed the other bits...
The standard pole is 20" long however I made one for a mate that is 18" the same as the built in struts.
You need to buy an extra pole section and do it yourself.
Or maybe if Henry has the time he can do it for you..
I used a Dremel to cut it.Note that I put masking tape where it needs to be cut.
(I realised that the Family Guy has run away screaming by now cause he hates fixing things...)

Franco

"I realised that the Family Guy has run away screaming by now cause he hates fixing things."

Context unknown so I will let this slide.


I will say that I really enjoy every thread on tents becoming a Tarptent marketing opportunity. If I buy a Scarp will you not post for two days?

I like the input Franco gives. It is typically well aimed and he obviously isn't making any money on US sales of Tarp Tents.

I personally think Judy from Lightheart should have named her company Tart Tents. She could have played on the theme doing some "racy" tent designs.

But I digress..... if you don't need a bivy then the Lightheart would get my vote. The awning tent looks really well thought out and there is a long history of use in the rainy and humid SW. The double wall does more than just preventing drips...it decreases the temp differential on the shell decreasing the formation of condensation. At least in theory.... once you hit the right conditions condensation forms on it no matter and the extra layer even if mesh provides some protection from getting wet. It helps to have space also. A small condensation drenched tent becomes a wet space. A large condensation drenched tent has a lot of area that is fairly dry and you don't brush against a wet tent constantly.

Edited by kevperro on 01/11/2011 13:56:03 MST.