The variety of ultralight double-wall backpacking tents with a path weight of three lbs or much less which are obtainable as we speak has grown considerably, pushed by shopper demand and advances in material and materials applied sciences. For those who desire 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 forestall inside 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 desire freestanding (See: What’s a Freestanding Tent) and semi-freestanding tents (See: What’s a Semi-Freestanding Tent) that don’t require a lot observe or superior web site choice expertise to arrange. Ease of use usually trumps a couple of ounces of added gear weight when it comes proper right down to it. See for your self, under 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 cloth. Along with being very light-weight, it’s way more waterproof than standard tent materials and doesn’t sag when it will get moist. The downsides are that it’s very costly and is bulkier than standard tents to pack, despite the fact that you’d anticipate the other.
Most ultralight double-wall tents are nonetheless made with extra standard materials together with ripstop nylon. These are often coated with PU (polyurethane) or its variants together with PeU (polyethyl urethane), which is turning into more and more common. These waterproof coatings permit tents to be manufacturing unit seam-taped so that you don’t must seam seal them your self, one thing that plenty of 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 an increasing number of 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.
Among the tents listed above, together with these from Massive Agnes and MSR, additionally embrace carbon fiber tent poles to avoid wasting weight. These grew to become obtainable about 5 years in the past and have confirmed dependable, so an increasing number of tent producers are adopting them.
The desk above doesn’t embrace tent fashions which were end-of-lifed by producers, many who’re nonetheless attempting to eliminate outdated stock.
Abstract
To summarize, there are extra ultralight and light-weight double-wall tents obtainable as we speak than ever earlier than. For those who’re available in the market to cut back the load of your backpacking tent however are hesitant to get a single-wall tent as an alternative 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 keep on with a double-wall tent with solely a slight weight penalty.
Double-wall Tent Benefits
- Straightforward to arrange
- The interior tent prevents inside condensation from making your gear moist
- Can be utilized in all three-season climate situations and delicate winter climate
- Vestibules present coated 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 picket 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 out to be moist when pitched in rain, though some double wall tents might be pitched fly first to maintain the interior tent dry
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