Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Spike Tents.....lets do it again....lol

I know it has been talked about a dozen or more times, but lets do it again!!! LOL
I am upgrading my last two pieces of gear for next hunting season......My tent and Sleeping bag! I just ordered a Western mountaineering puma gws -25 sleeping bag. Now I need to pick a tent.
I want to get a great tent for doing all of my backpack spike camp hunting. I would obviously like to get a great deal on one, but price is not as important to me as comfort, weight and durability. I have a couple tents that are looking pretty good to me. However, Im open to any other tents as well, so PLEASE don't hold back with your experiences......
Some of the ones I am looking at are

Sierra Designs lightning ul2
Big Agnes.....several tents of theirs
Cabelas XPG ul2
Helliberg nallo2
Big Agnes shield 2

I would like to be able to use my tent in the later seasons when snow is on the ground as well as early september archery hunts. I hate to have to carry anything too heavy, also I am a little concerned about condensation getting my new bag damp or wet. I know that a wet (down bag) is worthless.
I have never had a single wall tent design and so I am not sure how good of a choice that is with condensation issues, but I know they are a little better durability and warmth.
So, what say you? Thanks for any and all opinions and experiences.....

I'd recommend a Kifaru Sawtooth. Single wall, weight is not much at all. Can add a stove for warmth when that -25 bag is needed and knock the condensation down to just below stove level when fired up.
I love down bags and don't worry too much about water contamination. I live in CO, a drier climate for sure. But try this out if you aren't sure that your down bag is pretty water resistant:
Turn on shower, take bag in, stand for a few minutes and see how much water gets in the bag. Most runs off. It takes quite a bit of years for a down bag to wear off all the DWR (durable water repellent) applied at the factory.
DWR can be re-activated with a good washing and drying or with some specific products made to re-apply it.
If I'm worried about water, it's usually at the footbox. Simple trick is to zip up your raincoat, then slide your feet in the sleeping bag in from the waist and use your rain coat as a cover for your feet.
I camp in the snow in down, in the rain in down, even on river trips in the summer.
Good luck in your search, I love my Sawtooth and tipis.

Shag....THANK YOU!!!! That is a VERY good looking tent! I like everything about it. I just need to find some people who own it and get their thoughts on it. Thanks again for all the recommendations so far!!!

It's a Palace. With your bag choice staying warm will be easy. Its can handle snow and wind no prob. Condensation won't be a problem. My SIL used his on a couple trips with me this year. Its as nice a set up I've seen for that class of tent. Can't say it's over priced. Quality was there.. Great weight for a 2 man. Solid tent.

You'll stay dryer in a floorless tent, in my experience. Wet ground dries when covered by your fly, and snow either melts and drains or stays frozen and compacted. Use a ~3' x 7' or shorter tyvek groundsheet under your pad. Sewn in tent floors are only good for making you enter your tent backwards so you don't track in dirt, and for collecting water and snowmelt to pool under your stuff and get it wet.

Sounds like you have too much sleeping bag. Stick to the +15F to +20F range. If it's colder than that, buy a quilt from hill people gear or group 1 or kifaru and lay that over top.

If you make a habit of camping on top of mountain saddles in horrible weather, then a bomber 4-season tent is appropriate. If you are at or below treeline, it's pretty easy to tuck yourself into somewhere more sheltered. That allows use of an ultralight silnylon shelter of sorts. I've used golite stuff, but there are plenty of lighter weight options.

Bill, where are you hunting that you need a -25F bag?

Any recommendation I would make would be dependent on what type of hunt and where, and what potential conditions... also, are you a solo hunter or with someone else?

Sorry guys...I should have gave more info.
I live in Bismarck North Dakota and plan on using this setup for deep in to the late seasons. Particularly Late season Mule deer hunts and such. As for why I got that warm of a bag, I get extremely cold while sleeping. I don't know why, but I always have. Im comfortable with my bag choice, as I can always open it up and hang a leg out. Im actually wondering if It will be warm enough, (for me) in the later seasons. Especially chasing mule deer here in North Dakota around the badlands later in the year. I know even where we elk hunt in Wyoming in late september it can get in the teens or single digits pretty easy. I can always buy a cheaper 20-30 degree bag later for warmer hunts.
As far as hunting, I will be sleeping alone for sure. My partner has his own tent. I just like the idea of having a two person tent so that I have a little more room on days when its sleeting or pouring rain, and Im confined to my tent. I also like having a place to store some of my gear
hope this helps a little.....thanks
Also, Im a little old and not as tough as I once though I was, so for me....I would prefer to have a floor....lol

If you get cold at rest, then you need to be carrying around a woobie/quilt/serape from HPG/kifaru/Group1. The same quilt will add lots of temp range to your sleep setup - it's a real multi-purpose piece. Nice to wrap up when glassing in the cold.

My own opinion: you'd have to be much tougher to insist on a floor, then go without, for 95% of situations that don't involve snakes or ticks...

If cold is the dilemma, make sure your pad is up to snuff. A high rating make a 20 degree bag just that. Check out the down mat by exped, I love mine, cold camping is not the same with it or a heated shelter!