[pct-l] How important is it to have a freestanding tent?

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, Swope,



1.      Free standing tents are idiot-proof, and I don’t qualify.

2.      Free standing tents are best for those people who can’t tie one or
two knots.

3.      Free standing tents can be picked up to shake all the fir needles
and dead bugs out the door, but since my tarp doesn’t have a floor that’s
not a problem for me.

4.      Most free standing tents require a dedicated pole set, but I prefer
to save weight by using my trekking poles or a local stick, or by just
guying the tarp to a nearby tree or bush.

5.      In all the years, I’ve never carried a free standing tent on the
trail, and I’ve never experienced more than an occasional minor
inconvenience in finding a way to pitch my tent or tarp.

6.      Free standing tents usually weigh more than a pitch-out tent for the
equivalent function.

7.      It is not necessary to stake down a free standing tent, but on much
of the PCT – particularly in S. California’s wind farm areas – if you don’t,
it will have gained low-earth orbit within about five minutes.

8.      If you carry a separate ground cloth with your free standing tent
it’s just extra weight.  If you don’t carry a ground cloth it is difficult
and aggravating to pitch or prop-up a tent as shade in the Mojave Desert.

9.      Free standing tents are greatly preferred by gear stores because
they are so easy to have on display, they are so easy to erect in a
demonstration, and they are expensive.

10.  Free standing tents typically require a discrete, relatively flat and
level square-footage, while a pitched tent – and most particularly a pitched
tarp – can be erected over just about any kind of surface upon which you
would likely sleep.



I could probably think of some more items but I need to get ready to go for
a day-hike today.


Enjoy your planning,


Steel-Eye
Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09



On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 6:59 AM, Christopher Swope <sswwooppee at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi everyone!
>
> I'm looking at buying a new lightweight tent for my big hike next year.
> I've
> managed to narrow it down to 2 tents for various reasons. The TarpTent
> Moment, and the SMD Lunar Solo Enhanced.
>
> They both look like good designs that would serve me well. The Moment can
> be
> set up as a freestanding shelter, which seems like a nice feature, but how
> important is that on the PCT? How often have you more experienced PCT types
> come across the situation where it was really hard to stake out a tent, for
> whatever reason?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Swope
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