The variety of ultralight double-wall backpacking tents with a path weight of three lbs or much less which might be out there immediately has grown considerably, pushed by shopper demand and advances in material and materials applied sciences. For those who favor a double-wall tent over a single-wall tent as a result of it’s extra spacious, hotter, much less drafty, and has a separate interior tent and rainfly to stop inner condensation switch, you’ll be able to have it with only a slight weight penalty in comparison with a single-wall tent.
Whereas ultralight single-wall tents will at all times have their advocates, the overwhelming majority of backpackers favor freestanding (See: What’s a Freestanding Tent) and semi-freestanding tents (See: What’s a Semi-Freestanding Tent) that don’t require a lot apply or superior website choice abilities to arrange. Ease of use typically trumps a couple of ounces of added gear weight when it comes proper all the way down to it. See for your self, beneath on this sortable desk.
Tent Materials and Supplies
The lightest-weight ultralight double-wall tents are nonetheless made with DCF (Dyneema Composite Materials) which is extra of an artificial laminate than a material. Along with being very light-weight, it’s far more waterproof than typical tent materials and doesn’t sag when it will get moist. The downsides are that it’s very costly and is bulkier than typical tents to pack, regardless that you’d anticipate the other.
Most ultralight double-wall tents are nonetheless made with extra typical materials together with ripstop nylon. These are normally coated with PU (polyurethane) or its variants together with PeU (polyethyl urethane), which is changing into more and more fashionable. These waterproof coatings enable tents to be manufacturing unit seam-taped so that you don’t must seam seal them your self, one thing that numerous single-wall tent producers, together with Six Moon Designs, Lightheart Gear, and Tarptent require to today with their silnylon and siliconized polyester tents.
Silpoly, which is siliconized polyester has largely displaced silnylon because the tent material of alternative by increasingly more ultralight tent makers together with Durston Gear and Tarptent. Like DCF, it doesn’t sag or stretch when it will get moist, which has at all times been an issue with silnylon.
A few of the tents listed above, together with these from Massive Agnes and MSR, additionally embody carbon fiber tent poles to avoid wasting weight. These grew to become out there about 5 years in the past and have confirmed dependable, so increasingly more tent producers are adopting them.
The desk above doesn’t embody tent fashions which have been end-of-lifed by producers, many who’re nonetheless making an attempt to eliminate previous stock.
Abstract
To summarize, there are extra ultralight and light-weight double-wall tents out there immediately than ever earlier than. For those who’re available in the market to scale back the load of your backpacking tent however are hesitant to get a single-wall tent as a substitute of a double-wall one since you’re involved about tent condensation or ease of use, relaxation straightforward. The burden distinction between ultralight double-wall and single-wall backpacking tents has narrowed significantly and you may follow a double-wall tent with solely a slight weight penalty.
Double-wall Tent Benefits
- Simple to arrange
- The interior tent prevents inner condensation from making your gear moist
- Can be utilized in all three-season climate circumstances and delicate winter climate
- Vestibules present lined gear storage in poor climate
- Deep bathtub flooring stop flooding if water swimming pools beneath
- Much less drafty as a result of much less airflow is required to mitigate condensation
- Simpler to arrange on rock ledges, sandy soil, or wood tent platforms
Double-wall Tent Disadvantages
- Tent poles might be cumbersome and awkward to pack
- Hotter in scorching climate
- Take longer to dry as a result of they’ve extra floor space
- The interior tent might turn into moist when pitched in rain, though some double wall tents might be pitched fly first to maintain the interior tent dry
See additionally:
SectionHiker by no means accepts fee for gear opinions or editorial protection. If you purchase by way of affiliate hyperlinks on our website, we might earn a small fee at no further price to you. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear opinions, climbing and backpacking FAQs, and free climbing guides.