Posted by jeff miller on January 29, 2010 at 9:35 PM
I realize this is a little different equipment question, but I'm planning a overnight hike into the Grand Canyon this spring, and need a one or two person tent. Any suggestions? Obviously, I don't want to carry in more weight than necessary. I would rather carry more camera and less lodging (so to speak). Thanks in advance.
Posted by Brian Gatlin on January 29, 2010 at 11:29 PM
Jeff,
May in the canyon is usually hot and dry. Usually--it could pour, you never know, so check the forecast immediately before your trip. A tent may be unnecessary for the weather (but a tarp or other emergency shelter is always a good idea), however on the more popular trails, you may want a tent to keep the rodents from running across your face at night....
Any tent from a credible manufacturer will fill the bill. Check the specs. Figure out which ones meet your needs, and get the lightest one you can afford. I'm a big fan of tarptents--I think it's www.tarptent.com--they are light and spacious. I prefer the ones with the sewn-in floors.
Posted by jeff miller on January 30, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Brian, thanks for the advice. I just checked out the tarptent, very interesting! I live in Georgia, and never heard of this manufacturer.
Posted by Jim Sabiston on January 30, 2010 at 12:40 AM
Like Brian said, there are lots of choices out there.
I spent a full week traversing the Grand Canyon in April, 2008. Covered about 80 miles and some 16 thousand feet of elevation change. Gear weight is very important, especially for the climb out, so go as light as you can. Depending on where you camp, there may be no trees and the ground may be too hard to drive a stake. My tent of choice was the Black Diamond OneShot. Light, waterproof, breathable, packs small and can be fully sealed to keep out the inevitable dust.
I was a moderator and gear tester for BGT and a field tester for Black Diamond for years. Here is my report on this tent:
http://tinyurl.com/yh9z6wu
Like all top end equipment, it is a bit pricey - but worth every penny.
If you can pack really light, you can go even smaller and lighter with the Lightsabre Bivy. I use this bivy for the majority of my trips these days.
Posted by PAPPY1953 on January 30, 2010 at 12:45 AM
I believe the next issue of Backpacker magazine will be the gear guide. They alway have the best review covering all budgets. You can also check out their website. http://www.backpacker.com/
Posted by PAPPY1953 on January 30, 2010 at 12:46 AM
I believe the next issue of Backpacker magazine will be the gear guide. They alway have the best review covering all budgets. You can also check out their website. http://www.backpacker.com/
Posted by Gene Lugo on January 30, 2010 at 4:49 AM
If you can deal with a 4lb packed weight, there are several reasonable alternatives from Eureka, MSR, and others. For a pure minimalist, the Eureka Spitfire might be the ticket - its all mesh with a fly, sets up quick, and weighs 2 lb 12 oz. for $110.00.
Campmor has a nice selection and their staff are avid outdoorspeople - who can give you good advice on what to get.
Posted by Mark Stahlke on January 31, 2010 at 2:30 PM
I'll second Gene's suggestion of the Eureka Spitfire. I've been using the one person model for several years and I'm very happy with it - inexpensive, just enough room, lightweight, easy to set up. The only downside is that it's not freestanding. Don't be fooled by the specified weight. The tent come with a dozen steel stakes. If you replace them with four aluminum stakes the weight drops dramatically.
Cheers,
Mark
Posted by Jim Sabiston on January 31, 2010 at 5:11 PM
Eureka makes an excellent line of tents - great buys and very well made for the money. I own several, one of which is the Spitfire. The Spitfire is a very good choice. It is well made, tough, reasonably light, and surprisingly roomy. You could buy three Spitfires for about the price of the Oneshot, too! That said, it has two shortcomings compared to the Oneshot that are worth considering:
1 - it requires about three times the pack space.
2 - like all screen body/fly (ieL: two-wall) tents - it allows air to circulate freely under the fly and into the tent. This is usually a plus, as ventilation is generally good. However, in the Canyon, that breeze carries an amazing amount of gritty sand.
The Oneshot can be completely sealed, but remains breathable due to the Epic fabric construction. Two of my friends used the Spitfire on that Canyon trip. I have attached a picture of a sand filled Spitfire after a particularly windy day.
Now, this is not to malign the Spitfire, which is an outstanding tent. I actually prefer it during summer canoe trips, as I love the ability to remove the fly and lie in the breezy, bug free interior - kind of like a screened porch! The Oneshot cannot do this.
If money is no object, the Oneshot (or other Superlight model) is my recommendation. If you go with the Spitfire, you won't be disappointed, but be aware of the tradeoffs in that particualr environment. That grit gets into everything, including cameras.
Posted by Jim Sabiston on January 31, 2010 at 5:16 PM
Looking up that last photo made me peruse my Grand Canyon files and I found this one that has both the Oneshot and a Spitfire (without the fly) in it. One thing I forgot to mention is that the Spitfire is roomier overall than the Oneshot and you can easily sit upright in it under the high pole.
Our campsite is at the bottom of Clear Creek Canyon. This looks like day two or three in the Canyon. Awesome trip, Jeff. I'm envious, even of an overnighter.
Posted by jeff miller on January 31, 2010 at 8:51 PM
Thanks for all the responses. Jim, I am stoked about the trip, we are going with a one nighter. I've narrowed the tent choices down to the spitfire, and the eureka zeus 2. The zeus is a free-standing tent that weighs about a 1lb. more than the spitfire. Do you have any experience with this tent? Thanks for the tip on the grit, I guess that makes sense in the desert. Thanks again for all the advice!
Posted by Tim Todd on February 5, 2010 at 10:15 AM
I have been using a Gossamer Gear Squall for years. It is durable holds two people and two Australian Shepherds and most our gear. The best thing is that it only weighs 1.5 pounds. www.gossamergear.com. The design comes from Tarptent, a popular tent used on the Pacific Crest Trail through hikers because of their lightness and roominess. They just came out with the Scarp tents and well worth checking out. www.tarptent.com.
Posted by jeff miller on February 5, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Tent search update: I bought and returned a single wall Eureka Zeus2 tent. I set it up in the basement, crawled in, and realized it was "stuffy". I've settled on the Big Sky International Evolution tent. Check it out...http://bigskyproducts.com/Big-Sky-Evolution-2P-shelter.aspx
Posted by Mike Toledo on March 10, 2010 at 12:52 AM
Hands down the Haff Dome by REI is the tent to take. I hiked Havasu falls, Keystone Mt. and Mt. Hood last year and this is a light weight durable tent. not to mention REI has the re no questions asked return policy should you not like the tent.
Discussion
13 repliesMay in the canyon is usually hot and dry. Usually--it could pour, you never know, so check the forecast immediately before your trip. A tent may be unnecessary for the weather (but a tarp or other emergency shelter is always a good idea), however on the more popular trails, you may want a tent to keep the rodents from running across your face at night....
Any tent from a credible manufacturer will fill the bill. Check the specs. Figure out which ones meet your needs, and get the lightest one you can afford. I'm a big fan of tarptents--I think it's www.tarptent.com--they are light and spacious. I prefer the ones with the sewn-in floors.
I spent a full week traversing the Grand Canyon in April, 2008. Covered about 80 miles and some 16 thousand feet of elevation change. Gear weight is very important, especially for the climb out, so go as light as you can. Depending on where you camp, there may be no trees and the ground may be too hard to drive a stake. My tent of choice was the Black Diamond OneShot. Light, waterproof, breathable, packs small and can be fully sealed to keep out the inevitable dust.
I was a moderator and gear tester for BGT and a field tester for Black Diamond for years. Here is my report on this tent:
http://tinyurl.com/yh9z6wu
Like all top end equipment, it is a bit pricey - but worth every penny.
If you can pack really light, you can go even smaller and lighter with the Lightsabre Bivy. I use this bivy for the majority of my trips these days.
Campmor has a nice selection and their staff are avid outdoorspeople - who can give you good advice on what to get.
Cheers,
Mark
1 - it requires about three times the pack space.
2 - like all screen body/fly (ieL: two-wall) tents - it allows air to circulate freely under the fly and into the tent. This is usually a plus, as ventilation is generally good. However, in the Canyon, that breeze carries an amazing amount of gritty sand.
The Oneshot can be completely sealed, but remains breathable due to the Epic fabric construction. Two of my friends used the Spitfire on that Canyon trip. I have attached a picture of a sand filled Spitfire after a particularly windy day.
Now, this is not to malign the Spitfire, which is an outstanding tent. I actually prefer it during summer canoe trips, as I love the ability to remove the fly and lie in the breezy, bug free interior - kind of like a screened porch! The Oneshot cannot do this.
If money is no object, the Oneshot (or other Superlight model) is my recommendation. If you go with the Spitfire, you won't be disappointed, but be aware of the tradeoffs in that particualr environment. That grit gets into everything, including cameras.
Our campsite is at the bottom of Clear Creek Canyon. This looks like day two or three in the Canyon. Awesome trip, Jeff. I'm envious, even of an overnighter.