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E.g Alpkit Tarp Star. Cheap, light and looks roomy, can be erected with a walking pole if available or a single tent pole. Lots of room.for gear even if used with the inner. Surely this is the optimum solution? Any downsides? Real world experiences?
Not great if pegging is difficult.
Mire than one the freestanding nature of a tent has made a sub optimal pitch work well.
And your head ends up pretty close to the roof whrn lying down.
Not deal breakers but considerations about where you want yo use it and how you intend to spend your night slerping are key
I've got a LocusGear Khafra - you get a lot of space for the weight with a single pole pyramid. They are more difficult to get a perfect pitch if the ground is anything more than flat grass, so you can get draughty gaps. Mine's so big I reckon I could fit my bike in it if I wanted to, which may be useful in some circumstances.
In practice on bikepacking multi-day trips I use a self supported, erect all in one dome tent (a Wechsel Bella) because it's so quick and easy to put up and move around in the widest set of ground conditions.
If I'm hiking and carrying the weight on my back, I'd go for the pyramid tent.
I have walking pole tents and would agree that getting good pegs in is critical. I have the square section alloy ones that can be hammered in but sometimes a dome would be better. Very soft or very hard ground can make for an indifferent or insecure pitch
I looked that tent up. Trekkertents are significantly lighter for a one person tent
Trekker tents are 3x the price though.
If you're getting a pyramid tent, get a bigger one than you think you'll need. As said above, because of the angle of the walls, there's less livable space, especially if you have a thick sleeping pad. I've got a 3 person one and it's super comfortable by myself, and ok with 2 people.
It weighs the same as my 1p freestanding tent so I prefer to use it if I know I can get a good pitch (pyramids have a larger footprint), but sometimes the freestanding tent is a better option.
They naturally shed the wind very well if they're pegged an guyed out well.
This review of the HMG mid gives a good overview of the up and downsides. That tent is extremely expensive but a silnylon or silpoly one is way cheaper!
I know it's not a pyramid exactly, but if you are looking at the budget end then 3ful lanshan 1 or 2 person (pro version) are pretty hard to beat in terms of quality and weight for a reasonable cost. Roomy inside.
You can get lightweight (118g) carbon trekking poles in the correct length (divide into 5 sections) off AliExpress for about £12 each.
I would agree with considering freestanding for more practicality, though.
I have a big pyramid tent. It's a good laugh, but the headspace is poor, and they're not great if it's windy.
I've always fancied one like the old BD megamid but I know the reality is just going to disappoint
I have a Lunar Solo and love it - for the right conditions. I do have to be careful with pitch if it's windy.
I'm investigating lightweight freestanding tents at the moment.
I know it's not a pyramid exactly, but if you are looking at the budget end then 3ful lanshan 1 or 2 person (pro version) are pretty hard to beat in terms of quality and weight for a reasonable cost. Roomy inside.
You can get lightweight (118g) carbon trekking poles in the correct length (divide into 5 sections) off AliExpress for about £12 each
Lot's of tent for the money. Our 2 is spacious for 2 and a dog if necessary. Two porches. No pole in the middle.
What height pole are you using @el_boufador
Not keen on a single skin. I know its vented but there must still be condensation?
Making the assumption thats a reply to me.
The lanshan 2 isn't single skin.
Ah yes so I see, the pro are single skin. The Lanshan 2 is a similar weight to the Alpkit soloist or Aeronaut but of course a fair bit bigger.
Hmm.
They really are quite spacious. Zipped entry at both sides and with decent space (the inner is the rectangular portion the hex shape) so plenty storage.
I will admit i have had a little word with myself re buying stuff from AliExpress and i would think seriously about buying another one and its impacts. It doesn't detract from its overall goodness.
Not keen on a single skin. I know its vented but there must still be condensation?
Not if well pitched. The only time I've really suffered condensation in my Lunar Solo was pitched beside the sea and everything was coated in moisture due to a haar.
The Lanshan Pro 1 is pretty bad for condensation, unless pitched in a breezy place and the door left open a bit. Hard to beat for weight and pack size but after spending a week in mine last summer, I will keep if for overnighter and UL trips in future. On the bike I don't mind the size and weight of a bigger tent, the livability is worth it!
Funnily enough I would take more weight on foot as I have way more space in my bag and an extra kg or two.matters less when walking I reckon.
Yeah I do only ever use the lanshan 1 for 1/2 nighters where it's not going to be all wet or condensationy. I kind of treat it as a tarp/bivvy+. A bit more protection from the elements and bugs and more space and also a bit heavier. 120cm pole. I think it comes in at about 900g ish including all the guys, pegs, pole, stuffsack etc. (no footprint.)
Best place to buy 3ful is Https://www.Collinsoutdoors.com (or camperlists which I think is the same thing!)
For longer trips and generally more convenience and comfort I'd take my fjern gokotta 2 (msr Hubba style thing)
Cheap pole (disclaimer that I haven't used mine in anger just yet. Bought it about a month back and seems reyt)
I just found this on AliExpress:
￡16.69 | 2024 New Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole 5-Section Trekking Pole Carbon Ultralight Portable Camping Trip Folding Trekking Pole
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EGLgsZw
You don't.need to buy 6! I just bought 2
I have a Tarpstar 4. Luxurious for 2 to sleep with luggage, 3 would be ok, 4 would be a bit of a bind.
No porch / vestibule to cook / put shoes.
Really like it for simplicity.
The Lanshan Pro 1 is pretty bad for condensation, unless pitched in a breezy place and the door left open a bit.
Comparing this to a Lunar Solo, it becomes obvious why SMD left the doors somewhat shy of the ground.
I'm 6'4" with ageing knees and like them. Size up as above. Contrary to above, though, you can get them on rough ground that would be a problem with freestanding tents; you just need a body sized patch to lie on, and pitch the tent across rocks and irregularities. Thus:
Windy pitch at 700m last week. Peg out, stick the pole into the peak, push up into place, instant tent.
When I was about 16-17 yo and at "peak-camping" (I spent the whole 6 week summer holidays in a vango force 10 on the lawn for some reason!),I was fortunate enough to borrow a Fjall Raven pyramind tent. Lightweight,easy to pitch,and easily the most stable tent I am yet to sleep in high winds. Nothing phased it. TBF it was an expensive expedition type affair with silverised anti glare coating and a snow valence, but boy was it a great place tobe in a storm. We used to seek out the worst locations in the worst storms to see what it would take! I don't think a pyramid bivvi sheet and a trekking pole is in quite the same league mind.
There are two OEX cheap ultralight tents with sil nylon outers and reviews seem to indicate horrible condensation problems. Is this always the case with sil nylon?
All tents will have condensation inside, unless you have a breeze and good ventilation. The outer material won't really make any difference.
Sil-nylon does stretch more than sil-poly so it's often necessary to re-tension the outer when it sags. If you don't do this is more likely to drip on the inside as it will flap in the wind.
With a inner tent you still get condensation, but you dont see it and its less likely to drip on you.
I reckon I'll go for the Alpkit Tarpstart 1, the pyramid one. A lot of reviews say that you can get a decent pitch on uneven ground if you have good pegs. I have already made some carbon ones that are nice and long specifically for lose ground. A lot of reviews said they were great in heavy rain and wind.
But the decider for me is that I reckon you can also use it as a rain shelter in a more general sense. So you could in theory sit under it to cook during the day if you wanted. Also, if it's raining in the morning you could pack your inner and sleeping stuff away and then make breakfast without going outside. I think there's a lot more you could do inside this design tent than in most other tents (stop s****ing at the back).