Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting single wall tents

For some reason I got this single wall condensation thing(problem) stuck in my mind. Just really how big an issue is it?

At 6'-1" I'm not gonna try a sleep sideways in a 84" tent just so I don't rub the end walls.

I really like the size,weight,price of this. I'd like it with the sewn in floor. You can click on other veiws of this. I wonder if there's enough mesh in the right places to keep the condesation at a min.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/tentdetail.cfm/TT1600

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/detailextended.cfm/TT1600

I am surprised nobody has replied, this is one of the best tents ever invented. We have slept 3 guys in the bigger version and we got some condensation. 2 guys and we don't get hardly any. Also in the 1 person tent I have stayed in it a week at a time and never had a problem.

The tarp part has a bigger footprint then the floor so if you do get condensation it runs down onto the mesh and never gets on the floor. I hope that all makes sense.

I just came back from testing my Tarp Tent, The "Double Rainbow" Model. The 1st night condensation was brutal. The 2nd night after some tweaking and using the liner it was not as much as an issue.

Shag, Why the Squall? I picked the Double Rainbow as it was the according to the people I'ved talked to the most stable in wind and the least likely to have condensation problems. The cloudburst is I guess the closest to a 3+ season tent.

The tent is well made and I think will suit my purposes as best as a single wall can here in the North East.

The Squall does get great Reviews on the backpacking sites.

I'm looking for a real lite bug proof shelter myself and am considering the TT contrail as well as the Gossamer gear "one" which must be new as I can't find any reviews.
I tried a north face sil/nylon tent called the solo something and brutal would be a good description of the condensation I experienced with it.

I've slept in a few of the single wall tents, and a few double wall tents. The BD Firstlight I was able to get condensation, fairly heavily in predictable situations. The Silnylon tents like the Kifaru tipis and BD Megalights in my Georgia environment are bad about condensation in almost any circumstances, although the tipi is big enough that you don't have to touch a side, and with a stove it is less an issue. For colder situations I've used the Rab Summit Extreme, Exped Polaris, MH EV2, and the Integral Designs MK tents and have had zero problems with condensation, but I'm careful to vent, and I do burn a candle lantern alot. At your height, though, don't try the Rab, BD Firstlight, or a MK-I Lite as they are a squeeze for me at 6'. I tend to go fetal when sleeping, thus don't use all the length. I simply prefer single wall, although I haven't fully made peace with the tipis.
Don

Doc,

Can you give some additional info on the Rab Extreme?

I'm really liking it for the eVent construction ... just wish they offered it in the olive color instead of just red ...

I need something to push me on or off the fence on this one ...

I can give you some info on the RAB Summit Extreme....very well made but not for those over 6 ft.

RAB IS coming out with a longer tent and they are demoing it at the OR Show this summer. 5 inches longer I think.

As far as the color, the choice will be easy for you....RED.

The tent, or bivy, as they call it, does have a porthole in the back of the tent in order to gather snow from the outside, for melting.

Nice tent but pretty specialized in my opinion.

The tent height is only 29" I believe. That's how they can call it a bivy AND use EVENT.

I just bought this tent. I am thinking about making the floor removable and installing a stove/jack. It seems to have the vent-thing down, but we shall see.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...ex&parentId=cat602107&id=0054766

thanks vigilguy ... I am 5'11" but may hold out and see what the new one looks like before putting the money down ...

It's between the Squall2, Cloudburst2, or the Double Rainbow2.

Monday I'll be calling to see if I can speak with the owner. I got lots of questions for him.

I think the Rab is a great tent, and I've never had condensation issues. I'm 6' tall and it is a little cramped, but I usually sleep in a fetal position, so I don't use all the length. I have measured the interior height, as it is commonly reported incorrectly, and if I remember correctly is 34". That is still too low a ceiling for comfort sitting up much, and it does get to be a pain constantly bumping your head. I went out with the wife last weekend in the ID MK3 that I have and it was a palace compared, I think it's interior height is 45"......now we're talking! I read that GE (owns eVent) won't allow companies to use eVent for tent fabric because of flamability issues; Rab gets around this by making the ceiling low and calling it a "Bivi".
Don
PS I didn't know about the new Rab expected out.....might have to check it out. I wish I would have gotten an ID eVent MK-1 lite before they quit making them! That would have been sweet for me, kind of like a tall Rab.

I have used the ID MK1 XL and MK3 tents almost exclusively for the last 20 years since they started making them. They'll ice up and frost when it's cold but in above freezing conditions they are always great. I can't say I ever have condensation problems even with 2 people. I think they work the best when kept sealed as much as safely possibe and as warm as possible because that's what forces them to breath. Venting just lets in the cold air for condensation. I was going to make tents way back in the 80s but did not bother after I discovered them and became a dealer for ID. I get them with 2 small doors and don't bother with vestibules. The small doors keep the heat in better during in and out and vent much better in summer heat. I would like to see ID start using tunnel entrances too but it's easy enough to get a single door and have a tunnel put in the other end or do it yourself - can double as a vestibule. I've never had an e-vent version either. In winter it's a good idea to use waterproof breathable sleeping bags to keep the frost from soaking into especially down bags.

Evan Jones of I.D. DID make some eVent tents, MKI Lites, IIRC, several years ago, but, some sort of legal whatever prevented him from continuing with this. I just asked him about two weeks ago if he would make a Mega Sola for me our of eVent, but, he replied, "I don't want to go there", which I take as a no.

I have used Early Winters, Bibler and I.D. S/W tents and I.D. is the best, IMO, due to the much easier setup. ALL of these were/are high quality products and cost a fair $$$$, BUT, they DO offer certain advantages in many situations.

The latest I.D. is the "Yukon" and it is the size of the MKI-XL, which is the current I.D. tent I have, plus my Mega Sola, which I consider a tent, but, they sell as a "shelter". I would be REAL keen on one of these in the MKIII size as maybe the most versatile option for a hunter with an occasional pard; there are two vestibule sizes and this would be a hell of a rig.

Integral makes superb gear, some of the finest I have ever seen/used, however, it IS pricey and not suited to everyone's needs/tastes. This is one area where, "try before you buy" is a wise idea.

That's funny Kutenay, I edited my post, I turn around, and there you are!

Dan,
I'm glad to see we have the same tastes in Backpacks, and tents!
I just got an ID MK1 light in green to fool around with and compare it to the RAB. First impressions are that the light floor I would have to be careful with, and the height is MUCH better than the RAB, with the floor measurements about the same.
One would have to dress laying down in the RAB, but with the MK1 you could sit up to dress. I CAN sit up in the Rab, it's just that the tent apex rubs my noggin.
Don

Yeah, when you get the light floor you need to be careful- that's what duck tape is for. Can't beat the relative light weight and ease of situp, frees-tanding and easy to move around. They're the ultimate boyhood puptent except they're for real! I always think about getting a roomier more luxurious tent but thats when I pull out the MK3. I wish the carbon fiber pole supplier would make heavier duty ferrules. Any updates there anyone? Pre-taping seems to work. I repaired a split end just by wrapping it.