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1 man 4 season tent?

PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:07 am
by iHartMK
Does anybody make a 1 man 4 season tent? Or would that be called a bivy?

Re: 1 man 4 season tent?

PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:11 am
by stormwolf
iHartMK wrote:Does anybody make a 1 man 4 season tent? Or would that be called a bivy?


Yes, Hilleberg has the Akto which is a 1 person 4 season tent. I am sure there are other manufacturers as well. You can get a bivy and build a snow cave as well I suppose....

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:39 am
by Genesis
I know mountain hardwear made one called the bunker. Not sure if they still make them though. Might be able to pick up one used.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:49 am
by kaseri
Hilleberg Soulo. One man, four season and super strong.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:54 am
by Ski Mountaineer
Depending on use. The Soulo is sturdy, but likely overkill for most situations, and you drag a lot of weight you may not actually need. I used my Akto happily to over 6000m, no problems. Light, roomy, superb apsis, warm (double-wall!)

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:30 am
by rasgoat
I like my Hilleberg Akto

The quality is great and the tent is very diverse as is my Nallo 2 gt

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:44 am
by LazyrLegs
Sierra Designs made one, the Assailant, at a fraction of the price of the very excellent Hilleberg. It is a solid piece of gear (especially for the money), and is actually fairly light-weight (perhaps 4#) for a 4-season tent. It is indeed a real-live tent, and not merely a propped up bivy sack.

I am not absolutely sure if SD is still making it, having not checked their website recently.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:47 am
by iHartMK
wow! the Hilleberg and the MH are both over $400. Whats the deal with four season tents and big price tags?
I already own a 1 & 2 man 3 season tent. both by Sierra Designs, Iota & Orion CD. why couldn't I just use my 1 man Iota?? I would rather spend $400. on a Feathered Friends sleeping bag :wink:
I only plan on snowshoeing in 2-3 miles on my solo trips. and all trips would be up in Sequoia NP on xcrountry & snowshoe trails so evacuation wouldn't be too bad..

I'm just a backpacker that still wants to trek into the woods and spend the night, year around.

thanks LazyR I'll check that tent out.. I am a SD fan!

PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:51 am
by kaseri
Ah yes, sticker shock. After a while you'll get used to it. :)

PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:14 am
by WouterB
Hard to pitch on snow, but I still love my Jack Wolfskin Gosammer. Been using that thing for years now and it's held up great. Cheap and lightweight too.

Re: 1 man 4 season tent?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:26 am
by pjc30943
iHartMK wrote:Does anybody make a 1 man 4 season tent? Or would that be called a bivy?


You could also look at the hex-type shelters made by various manufacturers; light enough for one person, and generally four season. They're often for three people, but might be close to what you're looking for in terms of compact storage and light weight, some four season use, and half the price of a firstlight-type tent.

PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:13 pm
by spiritualspatula
LazyrLegs wrote:Sierra Designs made one, the Assailant, at a fraction of the price of the very excellent Hilleberg. It is a solid piece of gear (especially for the money), and is actually fairly light-weight (perhaps 4#) for a 4-season tent. It is indeed a real-live tent, and not merely a propped up bivy sack.

I am not absolutely sure if SD is still making it, having not checked their website recently.


I'm pretty sure it's still on the market, and I own one. It's been good for rain and very good for wind. I'm 6'1 and fit in it decently, but cannot sit up without doing some serious bending over, which defeats the point of wanting to sit up. It has enough room for my pack and myself for sure though. Super fast and easy setup, three shock-corded poles. Comes with shitty stakes. I've liked it quite a bit except....
I'm not too happy with snow performance. I haven't had it in heavy snow, but I got about 3 inches of snow @ 11,000 ft one night that was wet by Colorado standards, but not super heavy. Condensation built up a bit with all the vents open (the night was totally still though, and it's a single wall tent so no surprise this happened. The side vents were all open, but the door was totally closed so I probably could've helped the situation more by venting with the door a bit.), but what worried me more was that the roof didn't seem to be slanted enough to slough snow, so if I got a lot of snow, it would just be loading the tent directly unless I woke up and punched it. The area that collects the snow is on the backside of the tent, between the two poles. It held up the three inches of snow fine and it's a relatively stout tent, so it could probably hold up a good deal of snow before anything happened, but it was something that should be mentioned. You can get the tent for $250 from Moosejaw currently. Oh, it's 3lbs 3oz barebones supposedly, but I haven't ever weighed it.
I've also got a BD Lighthouse that I like. Similar weight, claims 4 season, and is way more comfortable. I've only gotten it exposed to some light rain, so can't speak to its 4 season-ness.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:02 am
by iHartMK
thanks everyone.
I think I will watch the weather and try and make my winter trips on sunny weekends :D
That way I can just use my 3 season until I can figure out which 4 season to buy...

maybe I should be looking into a 2 man?