paddling. Anybody out there got any suggestions for a solo tent that is roomy enough for a 6’/ 175 lb. guy who needs a little wiggle room? I’ve got to down-size this part of my gear. Currently I’m in a SD Comet and it’s a great tent but too big to pack for solo. Would like to be able to at least kneel in it, stay dry, well ventilated, fly, and be able to put it up easy and fast while fending off man eating bugs.
Kelty
Traildome 2 is what I use. Its considered a 2 person tent, but works even better for one person. If they still make them, check one out.
Eureka Backcountry 1
I use a Eureka Backcountry 1. Light and compact, plenty long for a tall guy and really cheap for the quality and design features. Also have had a Backcountry 2 for many years that I like even better with the clip set up. They are freestanding designs.
Tarptent makes a superb, but somewhat pricey, lightweight tent.
MSR Hubba
I got one with your criteria in mind. I’m 5’8" but I have short legs/long torso. I can kneel fine.
Lots of mesh so it vents fine. Good dry fly. Very light. 3 lbs? Packs up small.
Kind of short on wiggle room. The footprint fits my thermarest with 6" to 12" on the ends (I’m going from memory). I feel a little claustraphobic in it until I doze off.
Tommy
Solo Tent
I’m going through the same search now. Think I’m going with an SD Vapor Light 2 XL. Only REI carries the XL version of this tent…its $349. Its 93 inches long and is advertised as a tandem. I’ve found dedicated solos too cramped for me. Weighs about 4 pounds. I’ve been real happy with my other SD tents as far as durability.
Old Standby
I bought a Eurika Solitare a few years ago for solo and don’t much care for it. Too small, slow and finicky to set up, too much netting to hold warmth in the spring and fall - but it sure is small and light.
Fact is though, I still like the Eurika Timberline 2 better for solo. It sounds like it might be just what you’re looking for also. Big enough to read a book or kneel in, pitches very fast, its affordable, and parts are available. It’s big enough to spend some time in if there’s a prolonged spell of bad weather, and for a very quick rain shelter you can just throw up the poles and rain fly without pitching the tent itself. There’s a reason why so many use Timberlines of various sizes in the BWCA. Just don’t lose the “bones” that hold the poles together on a trip. It’s hard to improvise a replacement for them in the field. (Please don’t ask me how I know this.)
MSR Hubba Hubba
makes a decent size solo tent. More wiggle room than Hubba.
There is so much mesh in the tent however that it is a poor choice for shoulder seasons. I use mine in the summer only. When it gets down near freezing HH is cold. Also the one pole feature with many legs is interesting to dismantle when its cold.
I use a NorthFace Tadpole 23 when the weather gets cooler…less mesh and less interior room.
Keep your current tent
Keep your current tent. All of the solo tents are backpacking specific and on the really small side. You’re in a boat so haul some gear with it!
-James
http://www.adventurecanoe.com
Try The Hubba Hubba HP
… same design as the original but with much less mesh.
http://cascadedesigns.com/MSR/Tents/Fast-And-Light-Tents/Hubba-Hubba-HP/product
anything will do
Plenty of 2-man (= 1-man) tents out there. Check out REI’s sale page:
http://www.rei.com/outlet/category/22000022
The SD Comet is a great tent. We’ve got the Nomad (essentially the same thing). But yeah, that’s too big for 1.
Hennessey Hammock
Sure, you cannot kneel in it, but who wants to kneel whenyou can lounge?
Jim
Are you…
– Last Updated: Aug-12-09 5:17 PM EST –
...packing the poles and the tent seperately?
I'm assuming you're talking about kayak (canoe have so much hauling capacity you can pack the kitchen sink). By putting the poles way up the narrow nose and the tent wall bundle up in the tail of the boat, it takes up no usable space.
You can "downsize" into a two person tent. That's about it. Anything smaller than that, I'd be claustaphobic. And I'm not even a 6-footer.
LOL
about canoe capacity.
My solo canoe for this trip is 28.5 inches max at 15 plus feet. There is no room to carry everything…
It depends the sort of canoe trip one is taking. It would be real folly to carry the entire house for mine.
I have to pack in one pack like a backpacker and its a challenge to pack two weeks of food in one pack.
Trying to single carry everything…otherwise I would be walking all the time.
So the question might be modified by the OP to include if this is a river trip or a 100 portages a week trip where you better think like a backpacker.
I’m Spoiled
I bought a little 2-man a couple years back. Just your basic dome tent. After sleeping 2 in it a couple of times I slept in it solo. Solo is IT from now on… in that tent, anyway.
MSR hubba single
weighs ~3.5 lbs. I am 6 feet, 185 lbs, and I am happy in one. Stock stakes were a joke tough, the rest is fine.
MSR stock stakes
They ARE useful! I used two to pin a turkey’s legs in position for rosting in a Weber grille. Others worked well for skewering potatos for baking.
Jim
Hey kayamedic
how the hell do you pack for 2 weeks in one pack? I’d love to be able to do that but I can’t dope out the details. Minimum I can get is two medium size dry bags, a chair and a food bag. You must be a twenty-something with no aches and pains and able to sleep on anything, eat anything and bascially a Spartan. My hat goes off to you and others like you. I’m an old fart who needs some comforts to make the effort worth it and have my down time to recharge. Tell me your secrets. Right on about the size of the solo hull not to mention these Adirondack portages that, as Cliff Jacobson told me, “You Adirondack guys spend as much time carrying your boats as you do paddling them.”
relies on stakes
Good but relies on stakes too much. Pitching it on rocks or granite would be a hassle.