Anyone have any opions on if it is better to build a tent that requires poles or one that operates on guylines alone. All my backpacking is done in the woods (Red River Gorge, Smokeys, ect.) Any opions would be greatly appreciated, got the pack made so its onto the shelter.........

also, whats everyone's thoughts of the safest diy stove?

a gently nudge to bump it along....

a tent that relies on guylines alone would be my idea of a nightmare. the weight savings is attractive, but IMHO there is a certain level of hassle that justifies carrying a certain amount of weight. that's just me, though. at the end of a long day hiking i have no desire at all to spend time figuring out where i could tie off my lines to create a workable shelter. sometimes it takes long enough just to find an acceptably flat and empty spot! plus i'm lazy, which is why i've moved away from tarps and on to tipi-style tents.

sorry, no opinion on the stove. i love to sew gear (or do i hate to love sewing gear?), but stove-making holds zero interest for me.

I'd probably opt for using treking poles for the support. If you use them, there's no extra weight involved. Easiest setup would be to have a grommet at each support point to insert the tip of the pole in.

thanks for the comments.....I was kinda also thinking that the savings of a few ounces wouldnt outweigh the hassle of putting up the tent with ropes alone. I too am addicted to making gear.....I have more stuff sacks than I could ever use (gotta do something with leftover fabric :) ) The stove thing kinda intreges me, but I made my first pepsi can stove last night and the fire only comes out of the middle....not the jet holes on the top that I painstakingly took the time to drill all so perfectly inline. any ideas on this from the stove guru's that I know are out there.....I used these plans

http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistoveinstruct.shtml

one more questions....how big would you all make a tent for two people? what style do you like best? I know I might sound annoying, but I love to throughly research anything before I do it....thats half the fun for me :)

Kevin,
See this tent for both size and the possibility of no poles.

http://www.ryanjordan.com/2006_arctic/2006/06/ultralight_shel.html

Instructions and plans for a "no pole tent" is in the book
"How to make your own lightweight camping & Hiking Gear" by Vick Hines

Here is one made for patagonia big walls. Uses trees or cliff.

Yes, you don't need poles with the big-wall tent, but you might want to consider using a porta-ledge. *wink wink*

appreciate all the help......my first thing is size.....I have looked at hundreds of backpacking tents online.....42" seems to be an average front height, width anywhere from 48" - 60" for a two man, length seems to be around 90" - 96".........any pluses or minuses you all can think of for this size tent? I was thinking maybe a tunnel type but with a flat roof (not really a tunnel at all)........I got a 2 man dome style tent, but am tired of packing that extra 6 pounds....I know i can shave that weight in half or so......if only we all had $300 bucks to spend on a tent......

For the stove, it's hard to go wrong with the Supercat. Easy to make and it works.
Info at : http://jwbasecamp.com/
I also think that to relay on guylines alone is a bit of a PITA . Have a look at the free on line plans for the original Tarptent, Tarptent.com (Projects)
Franco